Chapter Sixty-Five
Tsuna wrapped his jacket around his body tighter and pulled the hood over as he entered the same old room. He gave a smile to Chizome who stared at him.
"Yo." He greeted and raised the bag he's holding. "I baked cake."
"You look paler than usual." The ex-hero killer said instead.
Tsuna turned to the side and brought his fist up to cover his small cough before shaking his head. "I'm fine."
"You said the fucking same thing the last times you visited."
He chuckled at the concern as he sat on the usual seat and placed the bag on the table between them. "I really am. Just some coughs here and there." 'And getting weak too.'
"Seeing you're here, it means you said the same thing to your parent." Chizome speculated with narrowed eyes.
Tsuna nodded as he opened the bag to take out the boxes of sliced cakes. "Yup. I'm just here to enjoy a day with you. Grant me that?"
"What are you planning?"
Caramel eyes stared at the man in front of him. Chizome has been his constant companion for the past years. During those times they encounter each other, the man will either indulge him to a talk without voicing his worry, or just blatantly point it out so Tsuna can say something about the things inside his mind. The vigilante just knows when there's something in his mind, he's not okay, or he's hiding something. He can never be assured with just mere words. Chizome can detect everything, so unlike Reborn and Shouta. Maybe because they're platonic and they look out for each other?
"I'll be gone for a month and a half or so." He answered as he took a plastic fork and slid it to the open hole for both sides. "I won't be able to visit. This is probably my last."
"Is that so?" The other rhetorically questioned, watching him.
Tsuna hesitated from pouring the juice to a plastic container. "If something happens," He gazed up to those white ones. "can you promise me to do the right thing? It will probably too late for me to do anything."
White eyes gazed at him with consideration. "We have different definition of 'right', kid."
"I know." He poured the juice. "I'm not expecting you to do my right thing. Just do yours."
"Fine."
He smiled and slid the cup inside as he starts off a new topic. "So we kinda had this..."
(If only Chizome knew.)
"Yo, Uncle." He greeted with a smile behind his medical mask.
"Tsuna!" Naomasa called with a smile of his own against the exhaustion that looks prominent. "What brings you here?"
He dangled the paper bag. "I had a feeling you need lunch." He took his uncle's hand and let it clutch the straps. "Eat well, Uncle."
"Your hands are cold." The officer commented, looking down to his hand that the brunet gripped. "Are you sick?"
"Just cold." He answered with a smile. "Keep safe, yeah?"
Naomasa slowly nodded as he stared at those caramel eyes. "I will. Thanks for the food, Tsuna."
"Until next time." He bid as he walked back, only to almost trip in midair. He caught himself and laughed. "Clumsy."
The officer chuckled, forgetting the cold hands. "Careful."
"I will!"
(If only Naomasa knew.)
Tsuna reeled back his arm with his hand as a fist and punched the villain with his super strength. The opponent flew off while he almost fell on his knees if someone didn't catch him on time.
"Oi." Endeavor chided.
"Sorry." He apologized as he kneeled on one knee. He closed his eyes as he panted. "Just give me a sec. I need to breathe."
Silence.
"You've been lagging behind." The flame hero said.
He nodded. "I... Apologize. It won't happen again."
'You've been saying that.' Endeavor wanted to say. "I expect you so."
Tsuna nodded.
"Tsuna! That was awesome!" The brunet opened his eyes and hurriedly stood up to welcome his friend. The greenet is grinning widely. "You're so fast even without your flames!"
He waved off. "You did well too."
"Let's go!" Katsuki shouted.
They followed.
(If only Endeavor knew.)
Tsuna sighed as he stared at his kiddy pictures. He's so childish sometimes. Good thing he upgraded to sketches for Rei's sake. If Endeavor sees this, he'll kill him.
"I like your recent sketches." The lady by the window commented. "Those were your Dad and Reborn, right?"
He looked back to give her a smile. "Yup! They're not, you know. But they're the best fathers I could have."
"The two dancing couples were your parents?" Rei guessed, pointing at one of the sketches where Iemitsu and Nana were drawn.
He looked back to the papers and nodded. "Yup."
"What about those seven people?"
His eyes went for his guardians' sketch. "They were my friends. They're not here anymore, though."
"Oh."
He looked back and chuckled. "They're not dead. Just somewhere I couldn't reach them." He stood up and moved his chair to the window too. "Brr." He murmured as he wrapped his jacket securely around himself. "Why in heck the weather is warm yet I'm cold?"
"You sure are wrapped." Rei commented.
Tsuna grinned. "I can be a present now?"
The lady giggled. "Maybe."
He pouted before smiling lightly. "I hope Natsu-nii and Fuyume-san-"
"Fuyumi-nee." Rei corrected.
"Fuyumi-nee," He relented. "told you that you're transferring?"
She nodded with the same smile. "They had."
"Yie. Someone is excited." He teased, earning a blush. "But it's good. I hope someday, you'll forgive though."
The lady looked down to her hand. "I hope so."
"If you do, tell me. Let's make a crystal ice out of him and let him be like that for three days before freeing him as a revenge for all the things he did to you physically."
Rei laughed nervously. "That's not nice, Tsuna."
"Or maybe make him run around to buy things one by one to gain patience?"
Tsuna continued to suggest things that made Rei sweatdrop and laugh. Fuyumi came in hearing him plan how to barbecue their father. The girl stared at him in horror, which made Rei giggle.
(If only they knew.)
"Ah. Tsuna."
The brunet straightened up and turned around to see All Might walking towards him. He gave a smile. "All Might-san."
"How was class?" The hero questioned.
"It was alright. Same as ever." He replied as he inspected the man. "You're filling up nicely. That's good."
The Symbol of Peace, in his now acceptable looking body, patted himself at the praise. "Am I? I don't really see any difference."
Tsuna chuckled. "You won't because you see yourself everyday. You're gaining muscle mass, which is good because your body is recovering nicely. You'll be doing some intense exercise in no time."
"Oh." The man uttered before giving his brilliant smile. "Thanks to you, I can now."
He smiled back. "Have you visited Sir Nighteye?"
"Ah yes. He has been asking about you too." Blue-green eyes searched his. "He seems worried."
"Please assure him that I'm fine. Everything will be alright." He said with positivity.
The man nodded, relaxing. "Can I invite you with some tea? You don't look like you're busy on something."
Tsuna put his phone on his pocket as he nodded. "Sure."
(If only All Might knew.)
"Chiyo-san?" He called for the old maiden who perked up. "Can I have some painkillers?"
"What for, deary?" The nurse questioned while instructing some robots.
"Muscle pains." He lied smoothly. It was for his chest pains and headaches. He ran out of aspirin. "Been getting them a lot in PE and the internship."
"Given you rather have them go by naturally, I'll grant you." The hero nodded before giving him a critical eyes. "You look bundled up, child."
He gave a smiled. "Felt cold this morning."
"Come here. Let's check your temperature."
Tsuna complied. He let the old lady fuss over him by doing the standard procedures she must do. It's not like she'll see anything. Reborn did them himself when he first felt the chills. They concluded that it was because he's flames are dying out that's why he's feeling cold. They resorted to more clothes instead. Heck, his intuition is like a buzz to him now. He could only rely to his basic instincts and second quirk.
"Maybe you're just cold." The medic nodded, still frowning though.
"It's fine." He waved off. "I'll just take a bath to the sun later."
That put a smile on Chiyo's face. "Okay."
He took the bottle of painkillers from the robot with a murmur of 'thank you'. "I'll be going now. Thanks for this, Chiyo-san."
"Shouldn't it be obaa-san?" The old lady questioned.
Tsuna chuckled. "I rather call you miss. It has a nice ring to it."
(If only Chiyo knew.)
"You received a bento too?" Hizashi asked to Nemuri who nodded while staring at the lunch box by the side of her table. "Tsuna is on full throttle these days."
"He is?" Nemuri queried and took her bento. "He looks normal."
"Nope. He's not usually like that. He's doing things when he's planning something." Hizashi replied as he took the small note and read it. "I wonder what it is."
(If only they knew.)
"It's today, huh." Reborn commented nonchalantly.
Tsuna nodded weakly, adjusting his bag in painstaking slow movements.
His advisor sighed and took his bag from him. "Give me that."
He smiled. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Reborn gritted before sighing again. "You did your best to hold on."
"I just really hope Dad understands." He clenched his hands a little tighter. "I'll miss him."
"You're awfully dependant on him."
"Jealous?" He teased before shaking his head. "But do I?"
"It's just brings back memories of how dependant you were on me."
"I depend on those people who keep me sane." He answered as he looked up to the sky. "I'm worried he'll cry." 'That you'll cry.'
Onyx eyes looked away.
Tsuna came in to class with a smile on his face. He greeted his classmates with enthusiasm. He slumped on his seat with a sigh before taking his phone to set the things he wanted to send later. When his Dad came in, he slipped his phone back to his pocket and listened for homeroom. He could feel his heart palpitating in pain as time goes by. He didn't meet Shouta's eyes when the announcement was done. The day went on, until he felt a sudden lurch.
Class One-A all looked to the back when they heard some harsh coughing right after coming in from lunch. Bakugou immediately stood up from his seat and rushed to the brunet who's trying to ease his coughing after collapsing to his seat. Todoroki and Midoriya did the same as Yaoyorozu stood up to see what she could help. They could hear him trying to breathe deeply only to get small intakes.
"Breathe, Idiot!" Bakugou instructed.
"I-I-"
"Tsuna-"
"C-Can't breathe." A rasped voice said, pained and breathless. Tsuna shook his head as he tried to pound his chest.
"Call Aizawa-sensei!" Bakugou shouted.
Iida ran out of the door.
"Don't close in!" The blond shouted so the others backed away.
"Let's remove his jacket or something." Izuku suggest hastily, already shedding Tsuna off his jacket.
"Why does he have so many layers?!" Bakugou complained and he removed the sweater as he tried to fan some air to Tsuna's face. "Breathe, damn it!"
"Where is he?" They all perked up to their homeroom teacher who came in with Iida.
"He's trying to catch his breath." Bakugou informed.
"We should take him to the infirmary." Todoroki suggested as Aizawa took Tsuna in his arms. "Maybe Recovery Girl knows what to do."
"Clear the way." Aizawa ordered.
They immediately made a wide berth as Aizawa went out with Tsuna in his arms. Bakugou and some others came past him to clear the way for them. Recovery Girl was surprised when Izuku opened the door for them and Aizawa went in straight for the cot. They told her what's happening, and immediately, she ordered the robots. The others stepped back to let the heroine do her work.
Aizawa just stood there by the side, watching the process. If Iida's voice didn't register in his mind, he would've forgotten that most of his advisee students were in the infirm. He ushered them back to the class, and like how Tsuna does it, entrusted them to Iida who snappily saluted. He promised he'll tell them what happened to their classmate when everything is done. Most relented, others, specifically three people (Todoroki, Midoriya and Bakugou) were a little stubborn if the girls didn't reason them out.
When he went back to what's happening inside, his body went cold at the sight of oxygen mask covering Tsuna's nose and mouth. His mind swirled with questions of what's happening and why did Tsuna need an oxygen to breathe. It doesn't add up. It doesn't make sense. He was just fine and... Breathing awhile ago. When he last checked. Before Iida came running- barging in the staff room and informed him that his son collapsed.
"How is he?" He turned to Reborn who walked in. Onyx eyes went to him then to Tsuna. "I heard he collapsed. I came in as soon as I could."
"He's having a hard time breathing." Recovery Girl informed, brows almost knitting with how much she's frowning in worry. "His heart beat is slow, it's almost like it's having a hard time pumping. I don't understand what caused this."
A hand was put on his shoulder and got pushed forward. "Come on. Tsuna needs you."
He stepped up and went for Tsuna's side. He took the brunet's hand. "Tsuna."
The eyes under those lids moved before they opened sluggishly as puffs of breaths fogged the mask. Unseeing caramel eyes stared ahead before they went to him. "D-Dad..."
"Hey buddy." He greeted.
The finger slowly tightened around his in a weak grip. "E-Ev-Everything... Will be... Alright..." Tsuna assured with a small smile, heaving a little harder, causing Aizawa to panic a little inside his mind.
"Yeah." He nodded reassuringly.
"I called the hospital. They'll be here in five." Recovery Girl informed.
"You stay here." Reborn ordered as he pulled away. "I'll go and ask permission from the principal that you're going to accompany Tsuna to the hospital with me. I'll tell Present Mic on the way." The hitman glanced at the brunet. "Tsuna needs us both, but it's better we get things done before we go."
He nodded. "Got it."
It didn't take long for the ambulance to arrive with its own set of medics. Tsuna was transferred to a stretcher and got wheeled away with his oxygen tank. Some students peered from their rooms, whispering and murmuring what happened to the brunet. He saw Hitoshi looking stricken with the sight of his friend on the cot. Class A was by the door of their room, appearing to be worried. When they got to the entrance of the building, Reborn was already there. They let the medics put Tsuna inside the ambulance first, then the two of them before one of the medic came in and close the door while the other took the passenger seat at the front.
In Shouta's mind, everything is going too fast. His mind can't keep up. It felt surreal staring at Tsuna on the ambulance stretcher with an oxygen mask on his lower face and some machines attached to him. Hospital and Tsuna never really felt good for him. Although seeing his son doing some healing on the operating room is amazing, it doesn't mean it eases him. It's just that ambulance and Tsuna never mix well.
Hospital for Tsuna. Ambulance for Tsuna.
Just thinking of them makes his gut churn.
What more seeing it right in front of his eyes?
The ambulance stopped in front of the hospital. They filled out and waited for Tsuna's stretcher to get down. The doctors and nurses he remembers seeing in Nighteye's surgery were the ones who meet them. The nurse, who is always at Tsuna's side during the surgery, instructed her fellows to help her wheel his son. One of the doctors assured them that they already have a room for Tsuna, but they still need to do the SOPs. They nodded in understanding.
He and Reborn waited by the lobby, just outside the Emergency room. It took almost an hour before they saw the door opened and Tsuna is being wheeled again to somewhere. But instead of his usual uniform, he's wearing the hospital gown. Shouta's gut dropped in realization as they followed.
It was a good thing no doctors came to talk to him when they settled Tsuna in the room they were talking about. He watched the nurses hook some IV drops on the brunet, a vital monitor and his oxygen mask. After nodding to the nurses who excused themselves, he collapsed on the seat near the bed and stared at his son's pale face. His eyes flitted around and just stared, watching the rise and fall of the chest, glancing at the small puffs of air inside the mask, and hearing the rhythmic beep of the machine.
He was just like that for who knows how long. He didn't notice the time, or if Reborn was in, or some doctor or nurse checked on them. He just wants to stare at his son's face that looked so pained and bothered, instead of the usual peaceful grinning expression. He wanted to do something to ease the pain. Ease the bother. But he just doesn't-
"Shit!"
He looked up to Reborn who clicked a button on the headboard. Only did he realize the erratic beeping. "What's-"
The hitman hauled him off his chair as doctors came in and started to see what's happening. "Tsuna needs space."
"Ha?" He blurted.
"Stay here." The man ordered when they got by the door.
"Just what the fuck is happening?!" He yelled.
"Tsuna is experiencing a heart attack!" Reborn hissed between gritting teeth.
His world stopped. "You mean-"
"If they can't revive him..." Reborn pulled the brim of his fedora down to cover his eyes. "He's dead."
He found himself falling on his bums at the news. Realization hit him so hard.
Tsuna is dying.