A/N:

Here are the updates. Sorry. Can't reply atm. But thank you for the reviews! I hope you're okay there! I also hope that you can breathe from all the loads you're carrying whenever you read my updates in your breaks. Motivation is the key to achieve our dreams!

Anyway, go on. Hahaha.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

"Woah!"

Tsuna grinned at the others' reactions. Of course they'll be shocked at how good Hitoshi. He wasn't kidding when he offered the combat training. Although since they had small meetings since two months ago, it doesn't mean Hitoshi slacked off, especially that his Dad took charge of him as of late.

Before the summer lodge, he'll call Hitoshi and run around their own blocks in their own town to strengthen the stamina. The last five minutes will be spent on sprinting for quick reactions. When training is on going, Tsuna will slowly build up the speed from moderate to fast. It will force the teen to react accordingly and be on reflex when they're sparring. It will put both of them in sweats and groans, but the body pain and bruises are so worth it.

Shouta honestly thinks he's lenient on Hitoshi. He'll only laugh at the accuse and would dodge it so it will be a good surprise. He might think so that he's lenient because the hero never heard them complaining. If only he knew how strict Tsuna can be. Heck, it was the way he taught Aeturnus before letting Reborn has his own fill on his son. He will never let any kid get trained by Reborn without having their first training with him. He'll die in worry and heart attack.

"Sawada?" He looked up to Kendo who called him. "Will you be alright?"

Tsuna waved off a hand with a smile. "No worries. I'm more of the solo kind of guy, being the odd one out most of the time. So being in a group is also fine. As I told you, I'll only assist you. Like carrying the prisoners to the cells. If you want me to do something, just say so. I'll gladly carry it out. I'll leave all the planning to you." He looked over to the rest of the three. "I trust you to use my abilities to the best you can think off."

The four looked at each other before they nodded at him.

Shouta looked at Hitoshi who's quietly listening to Monoma talk. As he thought, the kid didn't fumble. Although it was a little messy, he was able to catch up with his team. Almost unbeatable too. Especially with his quick reaction and reflex. Sure, he was just getting used with the capture weapon, but with how he moved with it awhile ago is like it's already an extension of his body. Did Tsuna teach him to be adaptable too?

He looked over to the screen where the second teams are playing out. He can see all four members, except for the fifth. Tsuna is missing on the screen but no one noticed his presence. He kept his face neutral as he sensed the familiar flames swirling around. As Yaoyorozu get planted by mushrooms of Komuri, the fungi quickly spread like virus on the walls, hiding everything. Shouta can see the tingles of yellow in them, surely indicating the activation property of sun flames.

His eyes scanned the videos until he saw a familiar orange flame in the dark, but it went away as fast as he saw it. He waited for everything to go down as Kendo singled out Yaoyorozu. Usually, Tsuna comes out when everything is going down. If he's in the dark, it means he's guarding someone who has no combat ability, much like Fukudashi and Komori. As they watched Tokoyami scours around to find the Kuroiro and Komori, they barely saw Tsuna going down for Fukudashi's rescue from Hagakure and knocked out the girl with a simple chop on the neck. Shouta laughed mentally at how good the brunet is in finding things with his intuition.

They watched him fly for Tokoyami and the other two Class B. Dark Shadow was able to get Komori but before Tokoyami can get Kuroiro, Tsuna came in and saved his teammate. His eyes widened a little at the cape that's around his son's shoulder. It wasn't there awhile ago, where did it appear?

In the end, Class B won after putting the Class A inside the prison. Like a medic he is, the brunet immediately looked over Tokoyami's throat as the 'mushroom town' slowly gets wiped out with storm flames. They watched Tokoyami take a deep breath before coughing out mushroom with Tsuna's guidance. But the cape is still around his shoulders.

"Tsuna surprised me." Hitoshi voiced from his side. "He has so many tricks up his sleeves."

"You think so?" He asked.

He got a nod as Tsuna came up with the other Class B. "I don't even know where to find the source of his cape-"

"Natsu." They heard Tsuna say. Then before they knew it, the cape became the little cub who is perched on the brunet's shoulder and yawning with half-lidded eyes in sleepiness. "Thanks, buddy. Sorry to wake you up."

Shouta checked his mouth if it hanged open. "Sawada."

Caramel eyes looked up to him with curiosity. "Yes, Sensei?"

"Natsu can transform...?"

"Ah. Yes." The brunet answered with a nod, albeit reluctant in sharing. "He has four forms, but the least destructive ones are the cape and the ring."

"Least destructive ones." Hitoshi repeated. "What does that mean?"

Shouta hummed, saving his son from the further questioning. "It's fine. Let's just see what Sawada can do."

Tsuna quirked them a cheeky smile, although his eyes were trained on Shouta with gratefulness.

If Tsuna doesn't want to share it, it means it has something to do with how destructive he is.

When the brunet went for Endeavor's surgery, he waited with Todoroki for the news. For someone who's 'father' is injured, his student was lax and continued to have that faith that Tsuna will help his father recover. Tsuna texted after five hours, saying Endeavor was safe. After that, they parted. When he got to his room in the teacher's dormitory, Reborn was there, with a frown marring his Italian features and asked him where his dame-student is.

To say Reborn went on panic mode after seeing that Tsuna was nowhere when he got home was understatement.

The circumstances led them to bond over Tsuna's personality. He discovered some things that his son will never be able to tell him. Even with how honest the brunet and inability to lie to him, Tsuna has some things that he cannot share because they're better off buried. Reborn told him some, after telling him how the brunet can wipe out three to four islands when he's pissed. He told him the most important ones that caused changes in Tsuna's life.

Like that time Tsuna kneeled in front of Reborn because he wants the latter to be his advisor, and laid down his boss title just to have the hitman by his side all the time. When Tsuna bravely congratulated the woman he liked for finding her love to his cloud guardian, inevitably causing him to inable to feel romantic love anymore. When Tsuna dedicated fifteen years of his life to nurture a child as his own, but never declared it, establishing his own wishes for his own family but dismissed the thought. When Tsuna expressed his wishes to die for killing millions of mafiosi during his reign, never wished to atone it nor wash it so he can carry the weight to his last breath. When Tsuna never voiced complains about his job, resigning the fact that he's bounded to it until he died. When Tsuna gave all of his to those people he loved and never remarked that he also deserves the love.

Maybe that was what Reborn was trying to say. That Tsuna learned to love himself and let someone take care of him and love him when he came to this world. And Tsuna is scared that all those love he receives will be gone by the time Shouta discovers how dangerous he is. Reborn said so himself, the cloud guardian might be the strongest, but Tsuna is limitless, unbound and always, always, always building up. There are three things that fuel that fire: Love, regret and irrational fear.

Love because his love has no boundary.

Regret because he wishes to do more than he could do.

Irrational fear because he thinks he's not worth it enough to be that someone he thinks he is.

He wonders what would Tsuna take as a job if he was a normal civilian with those kind of dedication. Will he be a psychiatrist? A councillor? Teacher? Police? Corporate owner? God. He could fit into anything if he puts his mind into it.

But for Shouta, Tsuna can be anyone he likes and he'll support him to it. Because no parents can ever deny the hard work the brunet did for his life. Just to keep on living despite the taunt and mockery during his childhood days was already a feat. Tsuna deserves everything a child could have.

He wonders...

He chuckled. There it goes again.

Vlad King called out the third set after their break. Tsuna was one of them, now teamed up with Class A. As much as Shouta is curious how well his son will move, when his friends are on the line, he coudn't fathom how to summarize the battle as a whole as they used all twenty minutes. They kept them on their toes and anticipating what will be the next. Even Midnight watched avidly. But all of them have one thing in minds...

Tsunayoshi Sawada is terrifying.

At the start, it was Class A who attacked first with Todoroki's blast, trapping Kaibara, Tetsutetsu and Tsunotori. Seems like a bad move since Honenuki was able to soften it and let some of the Class A get into his trapped spots around the battle field. Ojirou was engaged by Kaibara, Tsunotori took on Shouji, Iida faced on Honenuki while Tetsutetsu stubbornly tried to capture Todokori. It only left Tsuna who needs to pick who to assist. He took Ojirou.

The two teamed up on Kaibara as the others tried to pry off their opponents too. What Kaibara didn't see was when Iida came up and Tsuna pushed him to his teammate to get imprisoned before immediately taking Ojirou. While the latter helped Shouji with Tsunotori, Tsuna went inside Todoroki's inferno. All of them gasped and some cried for the fight to stop, but before they knew it, Tetsutetsu got flung back. Tsuna was standing beside Todoroki with his cloak on. All of them sighed in relief at the brunet's no burn appearance, although some parts of his clothes got singed.

On the other side, Ojirou and Shouji got trapped by Honenuki after Ojirou got Tsunotori in his tail. The teen made a twirl with his tails and was able to free them after repelling the 'mud' and Honenuki who was 'swimming' under the 'mud'. Shouji caught the two. Tsunotori tried making Ojirou let him go, when unable, she tried sending him to their prison, causing him to let go. But Iida was able to catch Ojirou before he can get inside the prison and pulled off the horns as Tsunotori fled with Shouji on her tail.

As if spoiling the victory, Honenuki came in from behind, but Tsuna was a step ahead. The Class B student tried to soften their ground, but couldn't because of the crystal ice that protects the ground. He opted to flood the place with 'mud' and cover the ice. It resulted to Tsuna and Todoroki losing footing. What they didn't expect is a pipe falling down on the two. Todoroki didn't see it, but Tsuna instinctively punched upward and made the pipe stop it's momentum then flung it to Honenuki's way. It was too late for the student to stop it, thus hitting him on the head.

Tsuna made his flames go rampant, forcing the mud to go away from their footing before turning them crystals and took Todoroki to run for it. Tetsutetsu came back, from the side where Tsuna made him fly, staggering from the fire output of Todoroki and the powerful pull of Tsuna. With a last come back, Honenuki softened the space around him and called out for his classmate to push the big tube standing on the softened spot to the running two. The big tube came falling to the two. As if an omnipotent, Tsuna raised his hands upward with these unusual red gloves that go up to his elbows. They saw hard orange flames expell somewhere from those elbows and before they knew it, lighter orange flames came out from those hands and made half of the big tube turn to dust. He was huffing when he turned to Todoroki who was staring at him with wide eyes.

All of them were shocked with how quick Tsuna's reaction time. It was so on point that it's as if he could read the other teams' minds and next moves. If the bell didn't ring and Vlad didn't snap out of his daze to announce who won, they won't stop staring at the screen. Some were wheeled away while Todoroki and Iida helped Tsuna to the stairs, with Shouji at their back.

The brunet was panting, and wincing a little as he tried to come up. Shouta got tempted to help, but he couldn't as a teacher. He looked back though when he felt a shove. Midnight shoved him again and waved him off. He took that as a sign and went to see his kid.

"You okay, bud?" He asked softly as he took the kid in his arms. "You should've let yourself get to Recovery Girl."

"I'm fine." Tsuna assured. "Just that Kaibara-san's attacks with his enforced fingers were painful at best, and I almost twisted my ankle awhile ago in hurry." He brought the brunet down to the ground next to Midoriya just as he said something in Italian. "Fa male come una cagna."

He blinked when the kids laughed at what his son said. Even Hitoshi chuckled. "What does that mean?"

"It means it hurts like a bitch." Bakugou informed as he walked by to get to his teammates.

"Should I learn how to speak Italian now?" He teased, earning a smile from his son. "You were incredible."

"Thanks." Tsuna expressed.

He ruffled the kid's hair before going for his position again. The reflection will come later. He wants to hear what the others think after they watched Tsuna in action.

"I'm sorry." Shouto apologized to him.

He waved it off. "I told you, it's fine. But if you want to compensate, stay beside me with your warm side. I need a furnace. I'm freezing here."

The red-white head chuckled as they announced the fourth set. "Alright."

"Are you sure you don't need to go to Recovery Girl, Sawada?" Iida asked worriedly. "Ojirou had chest pains."

"I'll be fine. I promise." He thanked Shouto who sat beside him. "If I won't, you'll be the first to know, Iida-san."

"Alright." The teen nodded before going for the others.

"Who do you think will win?" His 'furnace' asked as they stared at the monitor. "Bakugou is there."

"I dare say Class B." They turned to Hitoshi who sat at the other side of Tsuna. "They look like they know the other team's weakness."

He hummed before grinning. "I'm in for Class A. Katsuki might not look like it, but he changed." Two pair of eyes looked over to him, making him feel conscious. "What?"

"Figures." Shouto nodded.

"What does that mean?!" He asked in indignation, causing the two to laugh. "Hey!"

"We mean you have a knack of changing people, Tsuna." Hitoshi elaborated. "While Midoriya makes people realize things, you change people."

"For example, you were able to make me think that there is a possibility of me forgiving him instead of just accepting the fact that he is a great hero. You made me think that I don't have to see myself as his second coming because he literally has fire quirk only, while I have fire and ice. You told me that I should see his teachings years ago as a lesson to become stronger now, instead of using it as something to be afraid of and scorn."

"You're someone who knows what to say." Hitoshi added, making Tsuna blush.

"Shut up. I don't know everything." He harrumphed, gathering his knees to his chest as the battle started. "I just don't want to see any of you getting messed up with the thought that no one is with you when you're having bad times."

"Thanks." The purple head expressed, leaning to him a little.

Shouto did the same, and he didn't mind.

He can't help feeling proud at how Class A did it. Katsuki was able to trust his groupmates and make them pick up his first attack to do the finishing blow. It's a good strategy. The blond goes head first and expects the others to watch his back, which they will because that's how trust works for him. Tsuna guessed that the teen was able to acknowledge all of their classmates after the fight with Izuku. And he felt relieved for that.

When Katsuki came in, Tsuna didn't greet him immediately. He stared at the monitor and waited for the fifth set to do it. After their reevaluation, caramel eyes peered to the side to see expectant red eyes. He batted his eyes innocently, earning a glare. He chuckled before smiling widely. The glare softened a little.

"Congrats, Katsuki." He called out as the blond passed by to go for his usual spot. "You did good."

"Fuck you." The other cursed with no heat.

Shouta sat on the couch as he watched Togata and Midoriya cheer up Eri while Monoma just stood there. The situation can't be helped. It will be nice if Monoma can copy the girl's quirk, but given the circumstances, he can't. If only someone can teach Eri how to do it.

Huh. Well, there is someone who can do it. Two of them actually, and they're good at it. Maybe he should ask Reborn and Tsuna to do it. They know how to handle a kid, especially with Eri's personality and condition. Speaking of Tsuna...

His eyes zeroed to Midoriya. Yesterday, the greenet awakened this strange kind of power in himself. It made them alert, but it was immediately got under control by the kid. However, Shouta saw what he saw. Right in the middle of the rampage, before Uraraka and Hitoshi were able to stop the black webs, he saw orange flames surrounding Midoriya. He saw how those panicked limbs relax before the greenet can even answer Shinsou. It happened again when they thought Midoriya was going to fight Shinsou without his quirk. Tsuna did something amazing to help his classmate again.

He suddenly remembered how the brunet scolded Hitoshi for thinking like he was being selfish again. The purple head had to apologize to Tsuna, but the latter made him express his gratitude that he has the power to save people as he keeps himself safe. Maa. He knows the brunet will be ecstatic that Hitoshi is being transferred to the Heroic Department next school year. It's already been decided and done awhile ago.

"Dad!"

He looked back to the front doors to see the brunet barging in with an energy of the sun. "Tsuna."

"Dad!" The brunet shouted in glee before coming in and running for him. Shouta immediately caught the other. "Thank you!"

He shook his head. "I didn't do anything."

"Still! Thank you!" His son beamed, making him close his eyes.

"Don't attack me." He jokingly begged, earning a laugh.

"Ah. Monoma-san, good to see you." Tsuna regarded as he went off him. "So, did it work?"

"E-Eh? You know, Tsuna?" Midoriya questioned.

"Of course he knows." Monoma huffed, crossing his arms. "Aizawa-sensei is his Dad."

Shouta sighed, not minding the two. "Nope."

"Aw." The brunet resounded before going for Eri who looked down again. Tsuna beamed. "Then it's dandy! It means Eri-chan is as unique as me and Izuku!"

"Unique?" The girl asked curiously.

Tsuna nodded like a kid. "It's a trait of everyone that no one can copy. An example is Monoma-nii-san. You said he's the dark side of UA, right? That's what makes him different. Izuku is his warmth while Mirio-sempai is his smiles."

"Then why is my quirk... Unique?"

"Because it can save people! Imagine Natsu exhausted his flaming mane, if you activate your quirk and reverse his time in an exact moment, he won't feel exhausted and he'll be able to activate it again! Isn't that amazing?!" The brunet awed. "We just need to practice a lot, train a little and do it step by step until you can control it. Then when you can control it, you'll be of help in no time. Of course, we have to be careful." Tsuna leaned in and stage-whispered. "We don't want our Eri-chan to get hurt. Reborn-kun will cry."

Shouta can't help his lips from quirking upward as Eri giggled. "Okay. Thank you Deku and Lemillion."

"No problem, Eri-chan." Midoriya waved off with a smile of his own.

Tsuna stood up and sighed. "Man. I still feel tired with the activity we did yesterday."

"The great vigilante, getting tired?" Monoma mocked.

The brunet quirked a smile to the blond. "Unheard of, right? I know."

They stayed a little more before leaving Eri to the other staffs care. While Mirio went on with Midoriya while Monoma went for their class, Tsuna and him walked for the same direction. He didn't meet the eyes that gazed at him when he shifted closer. It felt like ages since he walked side by side with his kid.

"Dad."

"Hm?"

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" He turned to Tsuna who gazed at him innocently. "I really miss you."

"What about Reborn?" He questioned.

"Reborn is going for Italy. He's called out for a hit after a very long time. He said he won't mind too. So can I?"

He smiled before nodding. "Sure. I was going to ask you yesterday, but I couldn't find a good timing. Not even at dinner since Class B went to your building, right?"

Tsuna smiled wider, eyes crinkling a little. "Thanks."

Shouta moved and encaged his son in a tight embrace. Why does it feel like Tsuna's saying good bye or something? Like he's trying to make the most of everything? Well, back then, it was the same. But it's not as desperate as it sounded. He never feign innocence. He's always cheeky when he asks for favors or permission. When he wanted to sleep beside him, he'll do it without asking. He'll even sneak in.

So why?

His arms tightened at the lithe body in front of him as a sudden fear gripped his heart.

Why does it feel like the flames around his body is slipping away?

Arms snaked around his waist and held him tight there as Tsuna rubbed his face to his chest. A comforting gesture that the brunet always execute. "I'll be fine, Dad. I'll always be."

"Please don't." He breathed.

"It's fine." Tsuna murmured. "I'll protect you. You're all part of my family. So trust me, okay?"

He sighed and nodded. "I will."

(That night, Shouta didn't sleep a wink. He opted to watch Tsuna breathe beside him.)

(If Reborn slipped inside by morning, and noticed him awake, the hitman didn't say a thing and sat by Tsuna's side and watched the brunet breathe evenly in his sleep.)

(Reborn understood the fear plaguing Aizawa's mind and heart, since he, too, felt it everyday and after he came there.)

(Tsuna's flames are at their eighty percent.)