Chapter Sixty-Two
"What are you doing here?" He looked back to Katsuki who is leaning by the jamb of his door. "You should be on your jog at this hour."
"Just not in the mood for it today." He answered as he turned back to the view.
"Was it what you did?"
He 'pft'-ed. "I don't regret it a bit, Katsuki. When I saw how frightened Natsu..." He made a contemplative face. "Natsu-nii, my anger flew up. It's the reason why I didn't help you apprehend that," He took a deep breath. "because I might kill him before I can even talk some shit on him."
"You're becoming a bad mouth." The other grumbled.
He blinked then chuckled. "My mind is in a mess lately, and cursing is the best way to describe how messed up it is." He looked up to the clear sky as his intuition started to jitter. "I don't like what's going to happen today."
"How would you know?"
"I have this feeling." He then gazed down to see Izuku running. "It's fine. I don't think I'll have a problem today or something. Just some..." His brows furrowed. "Confusion, I think."
"You're being cryptic."
He swung his feet to the inside and hopped off the railing he was sitting on. He smiled at the blond. "You'll understand someday. Soon, but not today."
The other scoffed before turning around. "Go get dressed, Stupid. It's first day of class."
"Aye, Sir." He saluted before turning to see the sky again. Even for a bright weather, there's this forboding feeling in it.
After a few minutes of staying, he went inside to get ready. He greeted Reborn who opened his eyes with Leon and watched him tinker around. The hitman asked if he's okay which he answered that he is. His flames are at less seventy. He can feel his intuition going less on point and more on danger sensing again. The hitman asked if he has been experiencing attacks, that he only smiled at. It can't be helped if he had been at it again.
He greeted the others when he went down it his complete uniform. Shouto handed him a mug of hot water when he went near the counter. He mixed it in. The red-white head had told him about Endeavor's decision for the four of them, namely Rei, Fuyumi, Natsuo and Shouto, to live in a separate residence in the convenient suburban. Tsuna felt conflicted for the man. He knew how hard it will be for the hero to let go of them after changing. Maybe he took his answer to the heart? Or probably cemented his decision with Tsuna's answer? It's the right thing to say too, anyway. Cause the brunet thinks that the four will think of Endeavor once they realized how they miss his imposing presence.
They went on with their breakfast. Some even looked at him curiously but didn't mind them. They started their walk for the main building. Tsuna's intuition continued to jitter as they entered their room. To ease it a little, he popped a candy to his mouth and played it inside his mouth as it melts. He watched his classmates interact with one another. When the bell rang, Iida and Yaoyorozu came in from the faculty and stood in front, with Iida standing at the podium.
"Happy new year, my fellow classmates!" Iida greeted with a smile. "For today's class, you'll be given practical reports on your internships. Be prepared to share what you've learned through your experiences." Then he raised one arm behind his head with a finger pointing to the door, and the other by his chest with a finger pointing to where their hero suits are. "Now then, let's suit up and head to Ground Alpha."
Tsuna moved his eyes to the door just before it opened with a bang, and his Dad stood there with his sleeping bag under his armpit. The hero glared at them. "Stop talking and get moving!"
He stood up as his classmates did. He took his ever trusted packet and walked with those who moved. He listened to their babbles as they went out of their classroom. He smiled at Shouta who was listening to them too. The other quirked a smile too.
Shouta has been really clingy. Reborn told him that the hero is suspecting something that they're keeping a secret from him. The hitman informed him because he wants him to explain. Tsuna couldn't. He couldn't break his Dad's heart so he asked Reborn to do it. The hitman only sighed and told him he'll be harsh because they both know how hardheaded Shouta is. Besides, Tsuna loves how clingy his Dad is. It's only once in a blue moon.
Both looked at each other when the intercom called for him. His intuition tapped on him in a jittery manner. His eyes narrowed as he started to question. Shouta saw his reaction and shooed him away. He pouted, but he's still trying to connect facts and past information. He cursed mentally when he couldn't as he moved to follow the others. This is why he hates this 'disease' of his. He's slowly weakening until he dies.
When he got to the changing room, he immediately took off everything and kept on checking his phone. He waited impatiently, even caught Katsuki's head accessory he was going to throw to Izuku. It could've injured the greenet. When his intuition told him to 'leave', he excused himself and went out hurriedly. No one paid him mind since all of them were talking about their internship. He went out of the building, put on his headphones before his mittens and let his flames lit before propelling himself to fly for the sky. He got directed to a road, so he followed. Knowing who he's going for, he contacted him.
"Contact Dad." He ordered to his headphones.
"Contacting Dad..." The voice informed.
"Tsuna. I'm not-"
"Open the locks of the backseat doors." He cut off as he went for the busy road. "I don't know what's happening but I know you're with Uncle Hizashi. I can hear him breathing beside you."
There was a sec of silence. "Alright."
Tsuna landed in the middle of the road where the traffic is. He walked through the slow moving cars until he reached the car he knows so well. He was about to open the door when he heard someone calling his hero name. He looked back to a little girl inside the backseat and waving at him with a big smile. He smiled back and went over.
He remembered the girl as the one he saved a year ago, before he entered the UA. The mother is by the passenger's, smiling too and thanking him. The little girl, Kazuha, gave him a tab of chocolates she was going to eat. Tsuna moved alongside the car and tried to convince the child to eat it for him. The child pouted, so he tried to compromise. They'll split. He waved goodbye to the girl by saying he's with his Dad and Uncle. The girl nodded and said goodbye to him and the car which is moving alongside with them.
"That was unexpected." He chuckled before splitting the choco to three and passed one to his Dad. "To keep your nerves relaxed. You look like you're going to thrash the car or something with this traffic." Then he gave the other one to Hizashi who took it.
"Thanks." Shouta mumbled as he nimbled on it.
"How did you find us?" Hizashi queried, peering at him from the rearview mirror as they drove off to the main road.
"Intuition." He shrugged as he leaned back. "I'm just coming along."
"You skipped class." Shouta murmured, still eating.
"Not my first time. I do this a lot in middle school." He waved off before looking down to his phone. "I heard Reborn applied as a teach. He was smirking at me yesterday."
"He got accepted." The blond chirped. "Who knew he has a doctorate degree in Math? Nezu was fairly impressed and conversed with him theories about Math that it made my head spin."
He chuckled as he looked up and pocketed his phone. "Professor Boreen?"
"You know?" The blond questioned, as black eyes looked back to him.
"Duh." He flipped his invisible hair with a cocky smirk before sighing. "So why are we going for Tartarus? I presume we're not visiting Chizome-san. I already did a week ago."
The air around them tensed up, Tsuna let it be.
"Gran Torino and Naomasa caught Black Mist with the other officers involved." His Dad informed. "They did it during our operation with Nighteye to save Eri-chan."
"Hm." He hummed.
"They said that Black Mist is related to both of us." Hizashi added, hand gripping the steering wheel went tighter. "They said he's Oboro."
Silence.
"Do you believe so?" He questioned.
"No." Both answered.
"I saw his body." Shouta gritted, glaring outside.
"He's dead and this is a bad joke." Hizashi scowled.
Tsuna sighed. "Relax, you two." Two men did. "I'm not saying this is him, but if he is, what will you do?"
The two kept mum.
"Don't you wanna talk to him? Relieve the memories you had? It's probably the reason why you're going there."
"Shirakumo is dead." His Dad emphasized.
He closed his eyes. "I know." Then he glared at the noiret who froze at his cold answer. "I was there when you cried because you think it was your fault why he died. I was there, listening to your sobs when you told me what you felt. Don't make me sound like I wasn't there when you said you wanted to be alone to the point that you forgot taking care of yourself. You cried to me, Shouta Aizawa, so I know he is dead."
Hizashi winced from the driver seat. He knew how scary Tsuna is when he's angry. No one can calm him down except when he's talked with plausible reason.
The tension lowered.
"I'm sorry." The Eraser hero apologized softly.
He sighed. "Now, let's see this visit as a closure for you two. You both know what you've done to move on. If Oboro is Black Mist, then be it. Let's figure out the next step after we determine that. Got it?"
The two nodded.
He sighed again. "Seriously, sometimes I just have to take care both of you."
Hizashi snickered. "Yeah. Thanks a bunch, Tsuna."
He smiled lightly. "You owe me a cake, Uncle."
The two chuckled.
The brunet let silence prevail inside the car as they travel for Tartarus. Tsuna memorized the way like the back of his mind. He can even draw the whole lay out if he wants. Just some things his intuition have given him. He let himself relax and be on no-flame Hyper Dying Will. He had been practicing, but it's really hard to maintain it. It's like he's on his toes every second and he can't relax. What worries him the most is if he's wasting his sky flames over it.
When they started to cross the bridge, Tsuna removed his coat and vest, then stuffed his mittens inside his pants' pocket. He started to fold the sleeves of his white button up shirt and freed two buttons from confinement. When the car stopped in the parking lot, he went out with the two. He gave a wave to Gran Torino and Naomasa, who stared at him wide eyed, as he grinned widely. He pouted though when his Dad bopped his head.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have class?" Gran Torino interrogated as they waited for the steel doors to open.
"I may or may not become a help." He offered as they get inside. "I know Kurogiri-san personally."
"Of course, you do." The old timer scoffed, making Tsuna raised a brow.
"Just so you know, I helped him cook when they were in hiding and went to get them supplies too." He smiled innocently to the hero who stared at him dubiously. "It was during summer, eighteen days after the showdown between All Might-san and All for One-san, and a day after I visited Chizome-san and All for One-san."
All of them stopped in tracks as the four men stared at him in wide eyes.
"You don't believe me?" He chuckled then. "Let's see later. I'll open up Kurogiri-san a little for you before you attack him with your plans."
"All right." Naomasa sighed and beckoned them to move. "It cannot be helped if he is here, Gran Torino. Tsuna will always support a family if he can. Especially if it's Aizawa and Yamada we're talking about. Anyway, as you three are well aware, the Noumus are created by modifying human bodies to withstand the simultaneous possession of multiple quirks." The officer looked back to them. "However, these are not living human bodies. From their brains to their hearts, their bodies are complete mess."
Tsuna reached for his Dad's right hand and Yamada's left hand then squeezed them both. Those trembling hands gripped his hands tightly that he didn't mind. They needed the support, and he'll gladly give it.
"In other words, the Noumus are puppets. Marionettes without souls." Naomasa finished off his explanation.
"Or so we thought." Gran Torino contradicted.
"Gran Torino-san," Shouta called, taking a calm breath as Tsuna squeezed his hand to ground him. "I have to leave class to come here. Please get to the point."
"Things have an order for them." Naomasa replied apologetically. "This is all necessary so that you can prepare your heart as well."
"Please go on, Gran Torino-san, Uncle Naomasa." He urged as he squeezed both heroes' hands who are gripping his. "I'll take care of these two."
Naomasa smiled gratefully. "I know you will, Tsuna."
"This guy is the center of the league of villains." Gran Torino informed, nodding to his request. "If we can somehow get him to talk, we could get straight to the heart of the issue. Unfortunately, he hasn't given us a single piece of information." They stopped in front of a steel door as the old man continued to talk. "He'll talk about tons of useless stuff, but not a word about anything we could use against the league. When it comes to the league, he'll suddenly become unresponsive, like his power's been cut or something."
"In other words..." Hizashi trailed off as the door opened the they walked in to see Kurogiri bonded to a chair.
"It's quite complex, so it took us a while to notice." Gran Torino elaborated. "In his case, multiple factors have been combined to form a single new quirk. And at the root of all this factors is the man who once worked with you two in UA through thick and thin, and made to lose his life at such an early age. It bears an incredible resemblance to the man once known as Oboro Shirakumo."
They all stared at the unconscious Kurogiri.
"In other words, Kurogiri is a Noumu, and Shirakumo's corpse served as a base for it. That possibility is high." The old man concluded.
"We used to be called the three stooges of Class A." Hizashi uttered in shock as he gripped Tsuna's hand so tight that it made the brunet enforce some super strength to his hands. "What the hell am I suppose to make of this?! What does it mean?!"
"As what All for One worded, UA is a bundle of top tier quirks. So the logic adds up, doesn't it? It's like inconspicuously scrounging for leftovers from a five-star restaurant. Or so he said." Gran Torino elaborated patiently. "Most likely, they swapped out his body for another during the cremation process. And then transformed him into one of the sickening playthings; a Noumu. Searching for meaning of that is worthless, DJ. All that's left inside him is evil."
"I can't wrap my head around this." Hizashi hissed.
"We knocked him out because he was trying to use his quirk." Naomasa explained for the unresponsive captive.
"May I?" He asked as he let go the hands he was holding. He showed his flames. "A simple trick so no interruption will happen later."
"Sure." Naomasa nodded, knowing well his quirk.
Tsuna walked for Kurogiri.
"Why did you call us here?" Shouta questioned to them as the brunet let his flame harmonize the mist around the body. "If you're expecting some miracle to happen because of our 'strong bonds', I'd say you watched one too many movies."
"With a strong enough basis, even a miracle becomes possible." Gran Torino countered. Tsuna went back to them and held both hands again as they went out and the door closed behind them. "According to the reports, the Noumu Endeavor defeated in Kyushu has a distinct personality. It had an attachment to, or obsession with fighting strong adversaries. And from the burnt corpse's DNA test results, we learned that its original body was from a thug who made his living in underground cage fight."
Shouta's hand gripped the brunet's hand as he talked. "So you're saying... It retained his personality from when he was human. I'm sorry to say but I already battled Kurogiri at UA once, and not only did he speak differently, but he only didn't react in the slightest when he saw me."
"They may have experimented on him. So that his altered, or perhaps erased memories have an effect on him that focus him to carry out orders." Naomasa explained. They went inside a room. The usual room they enter before Tsuna gets to talk with Chizome. "I'll say it once more. If we can get him talk, it will help tremendously with our investigation. Present Mic, Eraserhead, we want you to bring back Oboro Shirakumo's lingering attachments."
Tsuna let them go and pulled out his phone. "You know the drill, Dad."
"I know." Shouta answered softly.
"So that's it? We're just going to comply? We're just going to take a nice stroll down in the memory lane?" Hizashi protested as he took out his phone too. "What about his family?"
"If it pains you just hearing this," He waved off to Kurogiri who is being wheeled to the other side of the glass. "What more of his family, Uncle Hizashi?"
"I'll be damned if I let his family hear that sickening story." Shouta gritted.
Tsuna took the blond's shoulders and stared straight to the latter's eyes. "I'm only talking now because I want to know what they want you two to do, Uncle Hizashi. As I've said, what if this is really Oboro? His body was experimented, violated, and was unable to rest in peace because of what they did. What All for One did. We prayed every obon for his peace. You both cried when Dad finally, finally visited him. I saw how hard for you to move on, Uncle. How hard it is for you to think that Dad is beating himself over your friend's death. I was there, and if it means bringing back that lingering 'attachments', I'll be here.
"Joke with him, cry for him, shout for him, because we all three know that Oboro will always see you two as his friends, yesterday, here and to the hereafter, and regardless of what form he is. You become as you are now because of him. Because you want to commemorate his death by being good heroes. You teach aspiring heroes to be good and cautious so they won't end up like him. Thank him for that. Thank him for giving you strengths and ask him to forgive you for being unable to be there for him. Ask him to cooperate with you because you are his friends. And friends never ever abandon each other. Got it?"
Blue eyes watered and Hizashi bowed his head. "I hate this."
"No. You need this." He gave a loose hug. "I'm not saying I want you to move on and never look back. It's not the same. I want you two to always remember him because he made you as you. He made you two as my family, and I will always be grateful for him."
He sighed when he felt another pair of arms hug both of them. It was Shouta. "I don't know what to do without you, Tsuna."
"This is what family is for." He whispered. "You were there when Kaasan and Tousan left me. I'm here as you recall Oboro." They stayed like that for a minute before they stepped back. Tsuna wiped Hizashi's tears with his fingers and smiled. "Ready, Present Mic? We're going to see the Loud Cloud with Eraserhead. You don't want the Cloud to cover the Sunshine, do you?"
Hizashi chuckled. "I'm ready."
"Let's go." Shouta said as he opened the door for the three of them.
Tsuna let the two go in and take their seats. He glared at them for taking all sides and leaving the middle chair where he can talk face to face with Kurogiri. Hizashi grinned at him while Shouta looked around, not meeting his eyes. The idiots. He took the chair anyway and stared at the unconscious Kurogiri. For someone who is Shigaraki's caretaker, Kurogiri is so kind. His priority will always be Shigaraki. Duty bound as they said it.
He blinked when his intuition told him to touch his Dad with sky flames in hand. He did. Shouta gazed at the brunet's hand that enveloped his then to Tsuna who took a deep breath. Tsuna feigned ignorance as he pulled his hand away and leaned back as Kurogiri awakes.
"Oh? A rare visitor indeed. I haven't seen you since the UA attack." Kurogiri regarded to his Dad before those eyes looked at him. "Tsunayoshi. A pleasure to see you."
Tsuna chuckled. "Good morning, Kurogiri-san. Sorry if this is my first time visiting you. I didn't know you were here."
"It's fine. Although I'm curious what happened to Shigaraki Tomura. He hasn't been captured yet, has he?"
He shook his head. "He's fine, the last time I checked. He did receive some nasty wounds I had to heal myself. Same with the rest of the league. Thanks for the summer. Really."
"I see. So you have mended." The villain stated.
"Have you heard anything from All for One-san? He's here, right?"
"Ah yes. But no. I haven't heard anything. With how strict the security here."
"I'm worried about Tomura-san though." He simply opened up, feeling all eyes on him. "When I got there, he was talking with this Doctor Ujiku before he collapsed. Do you know what that means? I'm just worried. He's being reckless again."
"I'm sorry, Tsunayoshi. But I cannot answer that..."
Tsuna beamed. 'Success.' "No prob. I understand. So may I officially introduce to you my Dad and Uncle?"
"I don't know why that's necessary?"
"Oh. A friend is a friend. This is Hizashi Yamada, the Present Mic," He gestured to the blond. One beat.
"There's a change!" Someone from the intercom shouted.
"and Shouta Aizawa, the Eraserhead." Then he waved to his Dad to gain another beat.
"Wha-"
"I'm not gonna say anything lengthy, Shirakumo." Hizashi called calmly, staring at his friend. "But thank you. For everything. Let's become heroes again, yeah?"
Another beat.
"I don't..."
"Even when I walked straight by a stray kitten without picking it up, you were the kind of guy who would take it without a second thought." Shouta said as his hair started to float and his eyes went red. "I always hesitated and left things half-done when it really mattered. But in spite of that, you always lit up the room and kept looking ahead without worrying of the consequences. I have a son now. I adopted him three years after you died. He's the one who kept me afloat with Hizashi. He kept me alive and he made me accept that you died.
"Hizashi and I, we're teachers now. And I'm always strict with my students." Shouta removed his yellow goggles as he stood up and dangled it in front of Kurogiri who look starstruck. "I want you- I want people like you to become heroes who can pull other people along. I want you to live long and fulfill lives, so that's why Shirakumo, if you're still in there somewhere,"
Tsuna stared at Kurogiri who's system is clearing.
"then let's become heroes, the three of us together." Shouta begged, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Slowly, the mist around Kurogiri's body slowly let out orange tingles. Tsuna stood up and let his flames respond to the ones he put inside the villain. The intercom buzzed and he heard Naomasa's voice shouting questions, but he didn't mind. With Shouta's quirk, the mist slowly dissipated until a familiar face graced them. He pumped the flames to harmonize the body to what the heart and mind want as he clutched Shouta's arm who froze with Hizashi.
It was Shirakumo Oboro.
"Sh- Sh- Shouta..." Oboro said in a strained voice.
"Shirakumo!" Hizashi yelled, standing up as well.
"Oboro-san," Tsuna called as he slowly, slowly forced his flames to strip the mist from the body. "can you tell us who did this to you?"
"Do- Doct- or..."
He clutched his Dad's arm tightly as he felt himself getting weak and some wind blocking his throat. "Where is the Noumu manufactored?"
"Hos- Hospi- Hospital..."
He was going to open his mouth when he coughed.
"Tsuna!" He heard some voices call his name.
"I can only hold it for so long." He gasped putting a hand to the mirror to steady himself. "Tell him what you want to tell him." He breathed. "He's dead, but there are lingering attachments so he remembers both of you. So please..." He winced as he coughed again. "Tell him."
"Shirakumo!" Hizashi cried. "We'll avenge you! We will take them down! Just wait!"
"We will." Shouta promised.
Tsuna keeled as his flames let go. He put his hands to his mouth and chest as he coughed hard. He can feel his whole body heaving and rocking with the effort to let go of this 'thing' in his body. He closed his eyes as tears streamed down. It just won't stop.
He felt a hand rubbing his back. It took seconds to minutes for him to stop. When he did, he leaned to the side where he can feel Shouta still rubbing his back soothingly. He can hear murmurs and whispers before he got off the ground and went airborne with an arm under his knees and another as a support to his back. He opened his eyes a little to see his Dad's face. Reaching out, he brushed away the tears, causing the man to be attentive to him.
"You okay?" Shouta asked, brows furrowing in worry.
He moved his hand to soothe the brows. "'m fine. Don't worry. A little rest will make it go away."
"You sure?" He heard Hizashi from Shouta's left. "That was a harsh coughing fit, Tsuna. You overworked yourself."
"Don't mind." He smiled as he leaned his head on Shouta's shoulder.
"Thank you."
He only hummed.
(Flame percent: Fifty)