Chapter Seventy-One
(Day Thirty: Old World)
Tsuna hummed as he opened the door to the usual meeting room. All eyes went to him as he entered and closed the door. He smiled widely as he went for his usual seat before he died. Heh. The expressions of his guardians are so funny. They range from astonishments, knowing and happiness. Regardless, Hayato stood up and the others as well. He pulled his seat back and sat down, which made them sit too.
"I'm home." He greeted before humming again. "More of I'm back but I'll be out again in a few days."
"I should've known." Lambo sighed. "No wonder the kids have been really close, except for Indra. They don't usually interact, but they started to talk and take care of each other like they had been doing it."
"Maybe you aren't just attentive." He teased, earning a glare from the youngest guardian that he laughed at.
"Same with me though." Takeshi gave in. "Although Euri and Uteki are a year apart, they don't usually talk. But after three days ago, Euri started to pull Uteki to a talk and invites him to do things like securing the perimeter and sparring."
"To think that it's your doing, Tsunayoshi." Mukuro smirked. "Imagine our shock when Lan brought us souvenirs from the zoo, and Myst brought us a cake when we can just bake in here."
"You corrupted my sons." Kyouya accused that caused him to laugh. Then the cloud guardian paused a little and narrowed his eyes. "No wait. You continued to corrupt them."
"Oi! Don't accuse things to Tsuna! It's not his fault that our kids are doing things that are supposed to be done as a family!" Hayato defended before he gratefully looked at Tsuna. "Haru has been trying her best to make the three of them spend some time together. Although they have small differences in terms of age, it's hard to make Hurricane stay put with Satsuka and Aella. So thank you, Tsuna."
Tsuna blinked and raised his hands to block the gratefulness he didn't really deserve. "Really, I don't know what you're talking about. I only took them out with Aetu, made them relax and ushered them away after our activities. It's not like I taught them something valuable. Ask Aetu. I didn't single anyone out."
"It's not that, Boss." Chrome placated, smiling a little. "You have taught our children the value of family again. The eleventh generation are having a hard time balancing their time, and mostly spend their time to their work. We understand that, but there are just times that we want them to sit down and talk with us."
"Then why don't you do it?" He queried. He leaned back as he watched their expression. "All you have to do is request. If the request can't be done, try doing another method. Or ask Aetu. You could kidnap your children and do something fun while away. All Vongola style." He regarded them coldly. "Don't tell me all of our hard works went down to drain? And Reborn's teachings evaporated to thin air after I died and he went gone?"
All of them froze.
"I declared war for the sake of our family. You tried so hard to come back to me as a whole, no possible scratch visible for the sake of family. We killed and obliterated mafia so our future generations won't get pulled again. We reformed Vongola Family as a vigilante group again from being a mafia family to keep strict monitoring of the world in case mafia families start to build again, because we know it's inevitable to erase every trace of mafia activity in this world. All because we want to watch the fireworks again."
All seven winced.
"Regardless," He waved off. "sometimes it's the child who teaches things to his parent. So all is fine." He smiled to make them relax. "I hope this won't happen again. I don't even know if I can visit you all again without rippling the tri-ni-sette. The least I can do is to leave you with a good change."
Takeshi laughed, flushing the remaining tension in the air. "But it's really good to have you back, Tsuna. We didn't really expect you to show up immediately."
"I was bored, and Aetu wanted to do something, so we agreed on it." He grinned before scanning them. "It's good to see once again though. I've been wanting to see you all alive."
"You're still..." Ryohei trailed off with a frown.
"I couldn't really." He grimaced. "It drove me to push people away. I really considered Takeshi's advice. But... One thing led to another and it went overwhelming until I broke."
"Oh, Boss." Chrome cooed as she went over and hugged him. He hugged her back. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine now." He assured. "Dad taught me things."
"Ah. That man Takeshi told us about?" Ryohei queried. "Shouta Aizawa?"
He can't help beaming. "Yeah. Dad is really really awesome. He'll really fit in with how eccentric he is. He's bat shit crazy sometimes. Have you seen someone expel his whole class then enrol them again? You'll really really really like him!"
'Isn't he happy...' His guardians thought.
"You look like you've enjoyed yourself." Mukuro hummed.
He scrunched his nose just as Chrome parted from him. "It's not fun being trapped in a toddler's body. Dad has to make sure we have breakfast together before he sleeps, a lunch inside the ref, and dinner together before going to work by nine. I'm so grateful I grew up and was able to help at home. Dad, as helpful and responsible as he tried to be, needs sleep. Being an underground hero is so hard. He had to stay awake all night and drink caffeine all night to keep awake. Good thing he became a teacher."
"Hero?" Lambo repeated.
"Teacher?" Ryohei questioned.
He blinked. "Oh. Well, the world I got dumped into is a world with superpowers. Heroes and villains are more prominent in there. There are even people who got mutated with wings, number of arms, some have different skin colors that correspond with their abilities. Other than my Dying Will flames, I also have super strength. Dad has superpower erasing ability with his eyes, so he has to maintain eye contact to erase it momentarily. They call those powers as quirk cause it's something that went unusual years before."
Silence.
"That's so awesome!"
"What are we in there? Do I have superpowers too?"
"Extreme! I want a speed superpower!"
"Kufufufu. Villains. We'll fit in there, Nagi."
"Mukuro-sama, don't even think about it."
"Was it genetic? You did say it started years ago. So maybe-"
"How many bonds do you have now, Tsunayoshi?" They all turned to Kyouya who asked that. "Yuu had told me some theories after missing for an entire day."
Tsuna put a hand to his heart and smiled. "Three. A rain, a cloud and a storm."
"It's good to hear that you're getting extremely okay, Otuotu!" Ryohei cheered. "It's not extremely fun if you're sick!"
"Ah. Speaking of fun," He turned to the window where Aeturnus appeared with his mischievous smirk. "are you ready yet?"
"Eh?" The others blurted.
"Since Xelena is out with most of her guardians, I figured I should try doing an obstacle course." The hitman informed and gestured outside.
Tsuna stood up and looked over. There were a lot. Like every course he knows is all there. And much harder than what Reborn has given them over the years.
"I might have overdone myself, but it's Vongola I'm with, so it's fine." The noiret shrugged.
The brunet chuckled at the exclaims of surprise behind him. "It's fine, Aetu. You did a good job." He hauled himself off from the floor and to the sill. "Let's go have a little fun, you old bones. Last one to finish will do it all over again."
"What?!"
He jumped with Aeturnus who chuckled. "Race you!"
"Hey!"
And the most ridiculous and fun race began.
(Day Twenty-Nine: New World)
(At eight in the evening...)
Purple eyes stared at his peaceful sleeping best friend. The four of them are here again, visiting after missing their mark because of their heavy homeworks. But it's okay. Just a day late. They rather have that instead of disappointing the brunet. They were told that Tsuna had moved on his own, like a sleeping person, but didn't really wake up. It gave them hope that everything will be alright.
His eyes glanced at Bakugou who is talking with Sinclair-sensei and Aizawa-sensei. While Midoriya and Todoroki have their own conversation, the three have been at it since they came in. It was obvious that they're talking about Tsuna and the flame thing. He looked away and stared at his best friend again.
He wants to know more about the flames. More importantly, the bonds. He's curious how that 'bond' work. How it can help Tsuna. Well, who won't want to bond with Tsuna when people get to know him? Regardless of how weird the brunet is, he's almost as endearing when he's all cheery about a video game he's playing, a manga he's reading and a song he has been singing inside his head for the last few days. Sometimes, despite his age, Tsuna is like a kid who loves to do so much stuffs but not yet ready for it.
Biting his lower lip, Hitoshi stood up. Now that he thinks about, Tsuna told him to always follow his instinct. If it tells him to ask, ask he will. So he went for the three and got their attentions.
"Yes, Hitoshi?" Aizawa questioned.
"How does the bond work?" He asked. Aizawa and Reborn looked at each other. "How can I do it?"
"Are you sure?" Aizawa queried again, frowning a little. "It's not that we're discouraging you, but Tsuna is quite possessive."
"Tsuna is a friend of mine." He stated. "He's the first person to really know why I wanted to become a hero and see my quirk in a whole different light by just telling me the benefits of it after knowing what it is. He taught me things others won't bother to teach me and he's my friend. Even if he's possessive, it testifies how protective he is. If he will protect me from getting expelled after you called me that end of summer, what more if I'm in danger? I'm fine with him being like that. He won't be Tsuna if he wasn't possessive and protective and eccentric."
"Heh." Sinclair smirked before standing up. "Let's do it then."
He followed the man as Aizawa and Bakugou stood up.
"The bond with Tsuna can be from afar or near. But since you're here, you can directly feel his flames in you." His Math teacher explained as they stopped beside the bed. "Go and take a seat."
"What are you guys doing?" Midoriya asked confusedly. Both him and Todoroki are looking back and forth among them.
"Shinsou wants to bond with Tsuna." Aizawa explained as Hitoshi sat beside the brunet. "It's a quick process, so it won't be long before you can go." Then the teacher pointedly gazed at Bakugou who looked away in a disgruntled way.
"Now relax." Sinclair said as he rested his hip to the side table and crossed his arms. Hitoshi did. "Since Tsuna's flames are low right now, it's your job to try and make his flames come to you as you go for it. As I've said before, Tsuna completes others, but right now, he needs elements that can complete him. To inform you again, a sky is the holder of all elements. Your element is cloud. The floating aloof cloud that protects the sky and the other elements in an independent stand point and cannot be cage."
"It's like no one can tell me what to do?" Hitoshi can't help interpreting.
"Yes." The teacher affirmed. "A cloud is someone who cannot be chained and restricted. Someone who will do things on his own, but always be there for the family, the sky and his fellow elements. And that's you. Your silence and solitude grounds Tsuna. The way you act normal around him makes him steady, that's why you're a fitting cloud."
He blinked, and again, pleased with the fact that they see him as someone who can influence Tsuna. "What do I have to do?" The purple head asked and gestured to the brunet.
"I want you to think of your resolve." The Math teacher stated, black eyes staring at him. "That specific something that you will never let go until you die. Something with the note of proving others that your quirk can be a hero's quirk too and you want to help people that's why you want to be a hero."
Hitoshi gaped at the teacher. "How did you know that?"
"Don't ask." Bakugou advised with a scoff. "The three of them know a lot of things."
Sinclair-sensei smirked. "With your resolve, think of your pride. That pride will fuel your resolve when it gets offended or hurt. For example, your pride is you being a hero regardless of being in general studies right now. If people say otherwise, your resolve to prove them that you are a hero and you can save others will get stronger. You'll be determined. It's literally trying your best until your dying breath."
He gazed at Tsuna and uttered it, "To my Dying Will."
"Remember, he will never like it if you're not true to yourself. He rather has you crying in front of him than smile fakely. Under Tsuna's sky, you are free to be who you want to be."
The reminder made him think.
All his life, Hitoshi was thought to become a villain with his quirk. The expectations actually fuelled his wants to become a hero. He wanted to prove them that he can be a hero with it, whatever they think. Not just a civilian that can be convicted, not just someone who will be called a 'hero' for the sake of publicity. He wants to be a hero who can save people without having any casualties and be an inspiration for those individuals who were expected to be villains for acquiring awesome quirks that got labelled to be used by mostly bad people. He wants to break their expectations, stomp on it and burn it until no ashes can be seen. He's not reaching to be as mighty as All Might, he wants to be recognized, just like Tsuna, a vigilante who inspired people to slowly lower their discrimination.
Tsuna had actually suggested that he shouldn't call his quirk 'Brainwash', that one evening they hanged out at the rooftop of Class One-C. The brunet reasoned that because he's not telling people to forget something after capturing them in a trance and do what he said after releasing them. He said he should call it 'Compel' because other than making them answer to him, having them in a trance and making them do what he wants then forget about it, he's just that compelling. He decked the brunet on that thought, who laughed and started to gush at him like a lovesick fangirl. But it was one of the things he can't help smiling at. Tsuna will always be his number one supporter. Someone who will urge him to do his best on what he wants and scold him for thinking otherwise.
Yeah. Maybe Midoriya was the first one to ask him to be heroes, but it was Tsuna who didn't hesitate in approaching him, to invite him to their home just because he remembered him after seeing the English alphabet 'S'. He was the first one to really know what he wants and offered him solutions on how can he keep up with the Hero Department, even before Aizawa-sensei told him that he has a chance to transfer. They never fight, they understand. And irregardless of their schedules, they can still find a way to hang out, either he comes or the other will.
Tsuna... He has been someone who put so much in Hitoshi's life. He will always be Hitoshi's number one supporter and motivation. So his pride is his quirk, his ambition to be a hero, those people who motivate him and the Aizawa family with his parents, and his resolve is to break the expectations, protect those he can protect and be a hero who can inspire.
And as if some phenomenon happening, he felt the familiar sense of warmth and belongingness as something 'slid' in place. And as sudden at it appeared, it disappeared. He blinked when he saw Tsuna's finger twitch before it moved and placed itself to the brunet's stomach before the brunet itself angled his body towards him. His jaw dropped in shock as a small smile sneaked its way to those lips.
"It will never ever make sense." Bakugou grumbled behind him, almost whined.
"Like what Kawahira said," Sinclair started off. "The earlier Tsuna gets his complete set of elements, the more likely for him to wake up. This is a positive sign, so don't whine at it, Bakugou."
"But it just doesn't make sense!" The blond argued.
"Since when did it make sense?" Aizawa mumbled.
"But that's it?" Midoriya questioned curiously and confused. "The bonding is done?"
"What does it feel, Shinsou?" Todoroki asked to him.
He blinked. "It's normal. Well, there's this pulse that really felt like Tsuna when he's with me and went gone after a sec." Then his brows furrowed. "But there's this kinda... Thing that clicked? Like when you figured out how to answer a hard math problem and you're confident that it's not wrong?"
He eyed Sinclair-sensei and Aizawa-sensei who snickered and coughed a laugh.
"I kinda got that." Midoriya grinned. "Tsuna hates Math the most in our subject. You'll hear him grumbling in a test, even if he knew the answer. If he heard you making an example with Math, you'll hear him groan and whine."
"I'll bet it's someone's fault that he became like that." Bakugou commented.
He looked at Sinclair who smirked. "Do you have a problem with that, Bakugou?"
"Bring it on!" The blond challenged, hands sparking.
"Kaachan!" Midoriya tried to placate.
"You two-"
Hitoshi looked at Tsuna as Aizawa-sensei scolded the two best of friends.
"The bond is established, Shinsou." Sinclair-sensei stated. "You won't feel it now, but once Tsuna wakes up, you will. As what Tsuna will say, good job."
He smiled back. "Yeah."
He hooked his pinky to Tsuna's as the others banter around. It won't be long before his friend wakes up.
(At eleven in the evening...)
"The pod is ready, Shigaraki Tomura." Doctor Ujiko informed.
Shigaraki looked down to his hands and and flexed them into fists. He's ready to get more powerful, more quirk to honour his Sensei's wishes.
'Don't give yourself up.'
He's not.
'Try to hold on.'
He closed his eyes tightly.
He let himself relax, thinking of his goal and what he wants to do. What he always wanted to do. But he can't avoid thinking of a certain brunet. That certain someone who sees right through him. That someone who will ask for his permission to touch him when they meet, and never does a second thoughts of healing him. He wants to avenge his Sensei and obliterate the heroes and the society. He hates them. And he wants to make the brunet see his worst and see what will that person think when he does.
His Sensei and Tsunayoshi Sawada.
His resolve... His pride...
His heart throbbed when he felt it. A sudden surge of feeling, flooding his heart with warmth, acceptance and solace. As fast as it came, it was gone. Still, his heart was filled with something akin to assurance. And to an extent, he felt safe and hopeful. Some things he hadn't felt for a long time.
'Everything will be alright.'
He suddenly remembered the smiles of the brunet, the hugs, the apology, the respect, the casual treatment. He remembers the kiss on his forehead, like a promise that he'll be back when he needed him the most. He doesn't remember the brunet breaking promises, and he really never breaks one. He wonders what happened though. How come he felt that warmth.
Looking up to the pod that will hold him for days, he feels ready to conquer it regardless of his wonder. He doesn't feel alone anymore with the lingering warmth in his heart.
"Watch me do my worse, Tsunayoshi." He murmured before stepping forward. "I'll show you my determination to destroy everything."