A/N:

This will be my first time posting chapters using the website and not the app. So technically, I'm fumbling around since I'm not really used when it comes to the website. Thankfully, I have a copy of my documents here in my computer, just in case unexpected things happen (like when my phone is lowbat).

Oh. Thanks for those who gave a review, by the way. At least I'm assured that I'm not yet disappointing people. For those who are facing their final or have due dates, push through. I'll be your support here cause I know what it feels when no one is supporting you. Yie.

Anyway, go on. Hahaha! Don't mind me and my rumblings here!

Chapter Sixty-One

"Katsuki." He sighed and put an arm around the disgruntled blond's shoulders. "Shut the fuck up, will you?"

It earned some laughs from Izuku and Shouto while Katsuki gaped at him. They're currently walking inside the Todoroki traditional residence compound with Fuyumi's invitation. They were asked to come and eat dinner with the Todoroki family before they go back to the dorms. Well, living in the Endeavor agency is a lit, and makes it easier for them to follow the hero around the city and hear his lessons. It is good to see that the flame hero is trying his hardest to teach them the ropes so they'll be ready for the upcoming battle.

He shouldn't be surprised about this, really. He won't even be there for the battle. Yet, that's the thing. It's maddening him to think that he can't be there to help them. All he could do is plan, gather what he needs and let Reborn do the rest. He felt so incompetent that sometime, he just wants to scream at the world for being so unfair. If he isn't thinking of the future, he'll keep on living. Damn it.

He let go of Katsuki and lagged a little as Endeavor opened the door. Fuyumi is already by the foyer removing her apron. She must have rushed to greet them. Tsuna looked down to remove his shoes when he caught sight of familiar ones. It was Natsuo's.

"Thanks so much for coming even though you're busy." The lady greeted with a smile. "Nice to meet you! Thanks for looking after Shouto! I'm his older sister Fuyumi!"

"Sorry for intruding." Tsuna mumbled as he stepped out of his shoes and placed it near Natsuo's.

"Sorry, I know this was sudden. Having everyone over is my selfish request." Fuyumi apologized sheepishly.

"Why though..." Katsuki muttered, earning a whack on the head from him. "Oi!"

"Be grateful for the free food, idiot." He glared.

"Tsuna?!" He gazed to Fuyumi who called him. "I thought we weren't with them!"

He smiled guiltily. "I convinced Endeavor-san to not tell you I'm the fifth. Sorry."

"You're too shy for your own good." Shouto pointed out. "Natsu-nii is in by the way."

He grinned. "I know. Excuse me. I'm going to greet the snake-eater."

Fuyumi called him out to tell Natsu that they're going to eat when he went off. Since he already memorized the house after three days of going here and there, he was able to locate the white head's room. He knocked before opening it when he got the permission.

For someone who is pretty jolly, Natsuo can hold grudges. Seeing him staring at the picture of younger Dabi's face, he knew the young man has something deep inside his mind. As what Fuyumi and Shouto had told him, Natsuo thinks Endeavor killed their older brother and hates him for it. Maybe because he was a kid that's why the thought got planted on him and he dwelled on it too much that he believed it.

He suddenly has an urge to slap Dabi's head for being a jackass.

(The said villain touched the back of his head when he felt a sudden urge to rub it, before laughing it off when he remembered how Tsuna loves to slap him there when he does something stupid.)

"Seriously, Natsuo-san." He voiced in a disappointed tone, earning the white-head's attention. "I came back to eat with all of you, and this is what I get as a greeting?"

"Tsuna?!" The young man gasped.

He grinned cheekily. "Hey there, Snake-eater."

He barely dodged the incoming pillow and caught it in mid-air when the other chucked it to him. Natsuo growled playfully. "Shut up."

He laughed as he raised an arm to flex his non-existing muscle in his biceps. "Lion king is in the house, baby!"

He chucked the pillow to the older's face when the latter got up. "Tsuna!" Natsuo whined.

"What?! I was only returning it. And dinner is ready. Come on."

"You just threw my pillow at me and now we're buddies?" The young man gawked at him as they went out to the hallway.

He raised a hand. "First of all, I greeted you nicely. Second, you're the one who chucked the pillow at me in return. And third, it should be returned because you threw it at me. It's not my fault- Uwaah!"

"You little cheeky-"

"Fuyumi-san! Help!"

Both of them started to run around the hallways after he escaped from the headlock. Fuyumi was the one who scolded them for acting like children when she went out with dishes in hands. Both of them apologized bashfully before poking each other on the side as they helped Fuyumi. It took Shouto's reprimanding stare for them to stop and sit quietly on their sides. He's beside Natsuo.

The atmosphere went a little quiet when the other noticed Endeavor at the end of the table, so it took it upon himself to be a good middleman while Fuyumi is busy a little.

"So Katsuki, Izuku," He called out and gestured to Natsuo with a smile. "This is Natsuo Todoroki, an incoming graduate."

"Nice to meet you." Izuku greeted with a bow while Katsuki only stared at them.

"Natsuo-san, those two are friend of mine and Shouto's, Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya." He returned.

"Nice to meet you too." Natsuo nodded, stiff.

"Natsuo-san is a good snake and ladder player, by the way." He complimented, earning a chuckle from Shouto and a giggle from Fuyumi. Natsuo blushed. "It will take a lot of distraction for him to not throw the dice and get a six."

"I knew you were cheating." The other accused with a scrunched face.

He pointed a finger to himself and gave a shocked look. "Me? A cheater? That was called prayers and lucks."

"Now now." Fuyumi mollified cheerfully. "Let's eat."

Tsuna softly put his hands together and said, "Itadakimasu." Then started to dig in quietly.

His eyes darted around when the atmosphere got a little heavy. His eyes connected with mismatched ones, the greens and the reds. Fuyumi tried to lighten up the mood by talking with the others. Izuku answered nicely. It all went down to Natsuo jabbing Endeavor about food and the latter trying to appease his son.

And since they're generally talking about food, he butted in. Firstly, he let his sky flames wash the awkward atmosphere to make the tension relax and the boy next to him relax. Second, he took Natsuo's bowl for rice and said 'seconds' for the young man to Fuyumi. The lady complied. Lastly, he opened his mouth to speak.

"If you're talking about food, I experience so many things about it when I was in middle school." He began as he put the bowl on Natsuo's hands. "And eat. Seriously, you're so skinny. No wonder I can beat you in snake and ladders and name the hero."

The other blushed and sat down again.

"So I was saying," He said as he scanned the table for attentive listeners. Good. "I was part of a group of men, around forty? Yup. And no, I don't mooch on them because I have a Dad. Anyway, all of them can't cook except for their leader and their father figure. You think you overspice your food, you haven't seen a pan get burned to coal and explode because of a pinch of salt." Remembering those makes him wanna sigh. It did make the others laugh while Natsuo smiled. "There's this one guy who can only make sushi, the rest is horrid. Who makes sushi for the sick? Don't start me with all the nutritious energy and herb drinks. One even tried to melt candies, causing it to burn the oven. The oven. Have you seen a cat returning with a catch? This one returned with deer meat, dumped it in front of their boss and ordered him to eat it. And chocolates. One of them thought eating chocolates will make things better."

"Then what happened?" Shouto indulged.

He gave them a deadpan. "Banned. Banned them from any kitchen in their house. Even if they begged, they're banned and will never set foot in any kitchen." Then he blinked. "Oh. Well, except for one."

"One?" Fuyumi asked.

Tsuna quickly eyed their meals. They're done. "Our father figure has this lover. This lover is a sister of that guy who burned a pan with a salt. She has this ability that she was really proud of," He smiled at them. "we call it poison cooking."

"Ha?"

He nodded. "Take this as an example, we're planning to cook curry. I did the chopping, the procedures and such. Call her out, make her mix the pot. Just a mix. Usually the color of the curry is red or yellow, right? This one turned purple."

They gaped, even Endeavor stared at him horrified.

"You think I'm joking? Pft. Try imagining her baking a cake that turned purple inside out and emits purple fumes when you slice one or two." His grin went evil unknowingly. "Then she'll offer it to their father figure because they're lovers."

"Now, I'm thinking twice of eating purple things." Katsuki groused, while Izuku made a face.

He laughed as he helped stacking up the dishes. "It's not that bad. Their leader can take it in, honestly." Then his face morphed to horror as he stilled in realization. "Shit. I was a sacrifice back then."

Natsuo laughed with the others. Even Endeavor did. Izuku volunteered to help when Fuyumi pointed out that they're done with dinner, so they all did. He shooed the white head away to get ready as he followed Endeavor to the kitchen with his own stack of plates. He openly 'gaped' at the man when the latter took the dish washing duty. Well, his Dad knew how to cook, so it's not much of a shock. Just wanting to prank the hero.

"What?!" Endeavor glared.

Tsuna snickered. "I'll help you with those."

They went to a good steady pace as they do the dishes. While the pro-hero washes them, the teen will receive it to dry them up. It was silent, except for the soft clicks of ceramics, the flow of water and the squeak of the sponge on the dishes. Izuku and Katsuki come and go with the dirty dishes in their hands. He thanked them silently before they excused themselves.

"For what you did awhile ago," The brunet glanced at the man who spoke. "thanks. Fuyumi had been trying to do that for a long time now."

"I couldn't let Natsuo-san go without finishing his food. He's a growing kid like me." He put the dish on the rack and receved the next one. "Besides, Fuyumi-san wanted to greet us with the three of you beside her. The best I could do for her as a friend is give my support."

Silence.

"I've been having this dream lately." Endeavor mumbled. "I see them all together. My children and Rei together. But I'm nowhere to be seen."

That made Tsuna pause before he continued on. "Does it scare you of that thought?"

Silence. Just the tinker of plates.

"A friend of mine has a father." He started off as he received the plate. "Since he was a child, his father was never home. If he was, he will stay for three days at minimum, a week at maximum. He'll drink like he was thirsty, he'll sleep like he never slept in his entire life. After that, he'll be gone again. When he was four, he asked his mother where his father was, his mother told him he became a star. The mother meant her husband became a celebrity. The small him thought his father was dead. So when his father came back, it was hard to acknowledge him, so he tried to stir away.

"One day, they had a fight." He took the plate as he remembered. It's the same story as what he had said to Shouto. Might as well rely it. "He fought his father for the sake of his tutor's life. Of course, the lack of experience on his part was one of the reasons why he was losing. Second was his drive to defeat the man who was never there for him and made his mother cry for all those years. He almost died, you know. His father didn't hesitate to throw a boulder at him after saying he's boring to go against with."

"What?!"

"The tutor intervened. He saved his student and gave him two lessons. One is to acknowledge that the man in front of him is strong and he is his father whether he liked it or not. And two, to fight with his Dying Will." His lips quirked a little as he recalled how awesome Reborn was at that time. "He was able to compete, after acknowledging the man as his father, he's strong and he has hundred more experience in his sleeves. Too bad the time ran out. But it was plausible for his tutor. At least he learned his lesson.

"I've told this story to Shouto." He took the plate from the still man and started to dry it. "I told him the son forgave his father at the end." He glanced at the man who sagged and smirked. "After two decades, of course." The hero glared at him. "It took him time because he couldn't accept the fact that his mother forgave him so easily, so he's doing it for her sake. For all the anniversaries and birthdays he missed, for all the calls he couldn't do for ten years, and for the tears she had shed because of him.

"I think Shouto is doing the same. Their mothers were there when you and his father won't. And as much as it hurts a mother to see her child to cry for his perished dreams, it also hurts a child to see his mother cry for unforgivable reason. He can't forgive you for breaking Rei-san. Natsuo is grieving for his brother he thought you killed." He glanced at the man after catching the plate that he almost dropped. "Seeing your reaction earlier, I know to myself that you didn't."

"I never did."

"I know." Tsuna dried the plate. "I know a genuine reaction when I see one. Parents will always regret the things they couldn't do for their children. The neglect. The irresponsibility. The hardships they put them to. It's the reason why some try to make amends when they realize it." He closed his eyes momentarily when his intuition blared alerts. "I know you're changing, Endeavor-san. Fuyumi-san had. Shouto is too. Natsuo-san will in given time. Rei-san is on her way. All of them will forgive you in due time.

"Your fear for the dream you had is enough testament that you want to correct the mistakes you did in the past. You want them to be with you and see them support you as the number one. There is nothing wrong with that. No father can ever abandon his family, nor never regret his wrong doings. The positive side is, it's never too late to ask forgiveness until one dies." He folded the dump towel and looked up to the man. "Everyone can have their second chances as long as they realize what they have done and what they needed to do. As long as there is life, there is a chance for a change. All they need is to do the brave first step. And that's acknowledgement." He smiled. "You should probably go to Touya-san. He might be waiting for you."

Turquoise eyes stared at him as he went for the door before Endeavor called him. "Did you get what Hawks was trying to say?"

He stopped by door as he replied. "Yes."

"What do you plan?"

Tsuna considered. "I don't know. We are only back-ups, but the fact that there might be a chance that I won't be there to mediate between you, I'll pick up the things you'll leave and make another plan with it. My classmates aren't weak. The heroes aren't weak. Of course, villains aren't weak. The most I can do now is help the others go further with their ability." Then he let out a small chuckle. "This is the downside of being a vigilante. I cannot take sides until one part took something away from me personally."

"Took something?"

"For example, they injured Katsuki or my Dad is terribly wounded. For that, I'll make the one responsible for the damage to pay. But that's also the good side of my title." He looked back to the hero. "I can do whatever I want whenever I want. Rest assured though, Endeavor-san. As long as I'm alive and moving, no one will die."

"What do you think should I do to the scene I've been dreaming?"

Tsuna blinked in surprise. "Why ask me?"

"You're someone who knows a lot of stuffs." The hero shrugged.

He contemplated before smiling sadly. "One thing I realized in my life and from the lives of my friends back then was letting go is the best way to love those precious to us. It will hurt. It will make you feel lonely. But at least you know to yourself that they're happy and that's your way of protecting them. That it's your own way of showing them how you love them." He sighed. He suddenly remembered the war he started. "Sometimes, the happiness of those we love is our happiness too. But, this is my opinion only, Endeavor-san. And I really believe that someday, they'll forgive you. As long as you stay faithful, even if you think it's hopeless, they really will."

The hero bowed his head, looking at his hands before lifting it to see him. "Thank you, Decimo."

Tsuna knew that contains a lot of reasons, so he smiled pleasantly. "Happy to be at your service, Endeavor-san."

When he went out, he quickly clutched his head that was blaring signals. It was painful, but at least it's working perfectly well. He didn't need to see if it was Natsuo who is in danger though, because he's the only one who left early. He just hopes Endeavor finished up as fast as he could so they can confront the villain. It will be a good chance for the father and son to talk even for a little.

He joined the others in the dining room. They were talking about Touya. Tsuna sat silently at the side, already knowing everything since Natsuo told him about it when he was there. He noticed Izuku's curious peers on his way, so he met one of them, held it and smiled reassuringly. Maybe he's being easy to read that he has something in mind? He should probably practice his pokerface again. He can't have people seeing right through him that fast.

When Endeavor told them to get ready, they did. Fuyumi saw them out. She gave another invitation after Katsuki demanded her mapo tofu recipe. It was cute. She also thanked Izuku for being Shouto's friend before calling out to the him and told him to visit every once in awhile. He could only say yes without giving out any promise.

Tsuna decided to let everything play out and let the top hero see the growth of his friends. The moment his intuition blared as they see a figure in the middle of the road, they identified it as a prison with bandages, and he has Natsuo. His mind registered how frightened the young man is with this bandages around his body. The car swiveled to the left to avoid hitting the two. Tsuna touched the hood of the car and let his rain flames slow down its speed as Endeavor went out to get the villain. Tsuna 'tsk'-ed when their vehicle got wrapped with this stupid bandages.

"Go!" He shouted to the three as they hear the villain ranting off. "I'll catch up!"

The three went out without any more argue.

"You forgot these!" Their driver shouted and pressed something, causing for the back compartment to open and eject the three bags.

"I'll free the car." He informed as he lit his hand red for storm flames and touched the bandages.

"They have some adhesive." The driver remarked.

He smirked to the rearview mirror where the man is watching him. "My flames can disintegrate anything when I want it to."

He opened the door when the bandages there came off. He calmly went out and walked for the four. He noticed Izuku talking to some car owners who went out to the road out of scare. Katsuki is prying himself off Endeavor, who is talking with Natsuo. And Shouto-

He can't help himself from rounding up and give the villain a good round kick. Shouto looked back to him, eyes wide in surprise, but his focus is on the villain who skidded away. Tsuna stalked towards the villain and stomped on him a lot of times before picking him up and pushed him to the ice that Shouto had made. The man stared at him with wide eyes.

"Those Noumus aren't human anymore, Bullshit." He emphasized as he gripped his neck and stared straight at those eyes. "Heroes do not kill because they believe you people can change and you have to atone your sins, instead of running away from it. Do you understand that?"

The man nodded immediately.

Tsuna's grip tightened as veins started to pop on his forehead and neck. "Then why in fucking hell did you take Natsuo a hostage?!"

The man chokes and took hold of the hand that is gripping his neck.

"You frightened an innocent life to death," He gritted, slowly cutting off the airway. "just for Endeavor to end you. Why didn't you request for me, stupid? I can kill you because I'm not a hero." Then he gave a sweet smile. "I can hide a body well enough."

"Tsuna." He looked back to Katsuki who sighed almost exasperatedly fond. "A lot are watching."

He inclined his head to the side as he tightened his hold until the man started to claw his hand. He blinked his eyes. "So?"

"Reborn and Aizawa-sensei won't like it if they see you in the TV." The blond reasoned.

He pouted. "Aw. But he frightened Natsuo. Why can't I kill him?"

"Vigilante, remember?"

"But Natsuo is a friend. And a friend is family."

"You sound drunk."

He pouted further. "I don't like this."

"Let him go." Katsuki nodded.

He scrunched his face and slacked his grip. "Fine. But!" He took the villain's collar and turned him crystal from neck to foot as he dragged him towards the father and son. "He has to apologize."

"What?!" Three voices shouted.

"T-Tsuna, can we talk about this?" Izuku suggested, looking nervous. "I don't think he will."

"If he doesn't want me to torture him, he will." He cheerfully said before propping the villain in beside the two who stared at him in surprise. "There are four types of people in this world. The civilian, the heroes, the villains and the vigilante. It's not that I want to scare you, Natsuo. But there's this rule in my family that when a family's friend is wronged, the whole family is affected. Get it?"

"Y-Yeah." The white head nodded, looking thoughtful.

"After spending at least a night and half a day with you, add this night, I figured that I see you as a family too. In us, blood doesn't matter. As long as we see each other as brothers and we have each other's back, we're brothers. Now, there are three ways to get rid of person like this." He said as he jabbed a thumb to the villain. "One, kill them." He scanned their shocked expression. "Heroes don't kill. We know. But vigilante has a choice to do so. I haven't soiled these hands, but I won't hesitate."

Natsuo shook his head. "No! No killing!"

He smiled. "You're too kind. Then let's go for option two or three. Two, they apologize sincerely," He glared at the villain. "and let them go. And three, let them rot in jail with at least a broken bone or two." Then he batted his eyes to Natsuo. "So what's it gonna be?"

"Uhm..."

"Think about what he did to you. What if he took Fuyumi instead of you?" He glanced at Shouto and Endeavor. "What if he did, and the four of them aren't here to save her on time? I want him to apologize for frightening you, but now that we think about it, a person won't realize his mistake if he doesn't experience the pain and fear of consequence if he did again."

"Kill him." Katsuki said from behind him.

"K-Kaachan." Izuku tried to mollify.

Natsuo stared at him then glared at the villain. "Three. But not a fatal one."

Tsuna beamed and let the crystal evaporate. "Roger."

"Wait- You can make ice?" Endeavor frowned.

"Yeah. Who do you think made your subordinate pissed when he couldn't melt the crystal I made in the conflagration zone of USJ attack in UA?" He answered as he took a tight hold on one arm. "Look away and cover your ears."

After they did what he instructed, he pulled the arm with ten percent of his super strength. The villain was about to shout when he stuffed his mouth with a hankie. He smiled cheekily and stepped on one leg. After that, he let the villain fall while clutching his arm in pain.

"Either that, or I'll break every bones in your body, heal them then break them again." He chirped, earning fear in those eyes. He chuckled. "It's a rule, you know. To never mess with the Vongola Decimo's family."

Endeavor watched the brunet greet Eraserhead with a skip on his steps as they entered the school premises. Decimo waved at his three classmates and let them go along before running for the underground hero and hugged the latter. The hero did the same. He looked away, only to see Natsuo looking at the same scene from the rearview mirror before he focused his eyes on the road as their chauffeur drove.

What happened earlier replayed inside his mind. He almost lost Natsuo because of Ending. Good thing the kids were fast in the uptake, and he couldn't be any surprised with how strong they have become over the week. What he didn't expect is how Decimo reacted with the attack. Although he didn't help apprehend Ending and the rescue, it looked like he couldn't out of anger. The way he threatened and invoke fear in Ending was... Too morbid. Nothing like the indifferent Decimo at all. His declaration was loud and clear though. The Todoroki family is part of the 'family' he has been saying.

He only figured what that meant after the police explained to him how scary the vigilante is when his family is touched. Family means everyone he knows and deemed important. The brunet's very keen on sensing troubles, like someone attacked Eraserhead and he'll be right there. They said even police don't escape the teen's wrath. One time, six years ago, some police officers were badmouthing and harassing Naomasa-keiji. The brunet heard this and stormed to the police station. To say he located the group of officers, burned their uniforms and scorched up the whole room, making the whole building heat up like an oven in the same process, was an understatement of how angry he was. Those who had witnessed the spectacle have said that he thrashed talked them and made them feel so incompetent and inferior to Naomasa-keiji's abilities.

They speculated that Decimo, if given the chance, can kick them out of the building from the floor they were and let them die. Naomasa couldn't do anything about it nor apologize because one look from the brunet will make him stop and promise. It's not because he has them in iron fist, but because he stands for the rights of those who can't defend themselves. As much as he hates his family being picked on, attacked and injured, he also distastes bullying. It was also the same reason why he was there, assisting All Might in the USJ incident because the villains tried to kill Eraserhead.

He looked back to Natsuo who is smiling a little on his phone. He and Decimo exchanged numbers after the former realized that he was labelled as a brother and started to tease the brunet to call him 'Natsu-nii'. It lightened the atmosphere between all of them. Looks like they're already trolling around like how they came in the dining room. Gazing back to the road, he made his decision final. As what Decimo said, the happiness of those he loves is his happiness too.