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Shoko whistles when one of her best friends practically crawls into Medbay.
“Wow, you look like death warmed over,” she comments in place of a greeting.
“I feel like that too,” Tsuna grumbles, plopping into the seat. “At times like this, I wish that gunshot was fatal.”
Shoko pats her shoulder in sympathy, taking the disinfectant to treat scrapes and bruises the other brunette got from her mission. “So, did they get the Grade right this time or did they misclassify it again?”
Tsuna winces as disinfectant-coated cotton touches a bruise. “They misclassified it again; it was a Special Grade instead of Semi-Grade One as was reported. Either the higher-ups want me dead or they want to see how much I can take with my Phoenix Technique before I end up dead for real or snap like Suguru.”
“Could be both,” Shoko surmises with a shrug. “It’s not like they cared that Suguru nearly went off the rails; they merely suspended him, placing his missions either on you or Satoru. Plus, I think they still carry a grudge that your merger with Tengen-sama didn’t go through.”
Shoko was right on both accounts. The reactions to her miraculous resurrection were mixed. A lot of clans looked down on Setsuna, thinking she was defective for failing to merge with Tengen. As for the higher-ups themselves, they simultaneously carried a grudge for her being the latest Star Plasma Vessel to have failed the merging and exploited her technique for all that it’s worth, especially after Suguru’s near defection and suspension from his work as a sorcerer. They send her on harder missions with a lot of misinformation each passing day despite her being only Grade One and not a Special Grade. The latest misclassification was a Special Grade. Thankfully, her Technique allowed her to survive and complete the missions alive and barely injured.
Still, she isn’t sure how much of this she can take.
“Yeah, you're probably right,” she agrees, not saying all of her thoughts aloud. No need to burden anyone with this.
Only, Shoko has always seen through her friends’ bullshit no matter how much they tried to hide it.
“You should tell Satoru and Suguru what you are struggling,” she says, finishing disinfecting the minor wounds and using a band-aid, knowing Tsuna’s Cursed Technique would kick in soon enough. “They are worried, you know. Kept pestering Yaga-sensei on when you would be back from the mission.”
“I know,” Tsuna admits quietly. Those two always worried about her, even when they should be worrying only about themselves and the kids. “But Suguru is still recovering his mental health, and the two of them just recently started dating. I don’t want to jeopardize it.”
Shoko rolls her eyes with a scoff. Due to her upbringing, Setsuna was so oblivious despite her good intuition and empathy. In Shoko’s opinion, Tsuna wouldn't “jeopardize” anything; the two dumbasses would jump at the chance the second Tsuna let them.
But as much as Shoko cares about the three, she won't touch this messy relationship with a ten-foot pole. Let them figure it out themselves. So all she says to Tsuna’s words is:
“Yeah, the only good thing that came out of that mess is that those two finally gathered their guts and started dating. You should have seen those two during our first year and before they met you. The pining was unbearable.”
Tsuna laughs. “Yeah, I can imagine,” she stands up from her seat. “Thanks for patching up, Shoko.”
“No problem,” Shoko waves her off. “Just get some rest. You need it.”
“I will,” Tsuna promises.
But first, she needs to check on the boys and the kids and then meet up with Yaga-sensei.
She begins to make her way towards their place.
Following Suguru’s suspension and adoption of both the Fushiguro siblings and the Hasaba twins, they were allowed to use one of many living quarters spread around the school grounds which worked in their favor since Satoru was set on becoming a teacher. Tsuna visits them often enough that she has her own key and can come whenever she wants. “It’s her home too” Satoru had said when presenting her the key with an impish grin when they first got the place.
The gesture has implications she doesn’t want to think about, so she uses the key only when she absolutely has to. Usually, she just knocks and then enters.
She does the same this time around. Smiling brightly, Tsuna enters the house. “Hi, everyone!”
Nanako snaps her head from where she and Mimiko are doing the puzzles on the floor of the living room. Her face brightens. “Onee-sama!” she exclaims happily, running to hug Tsuna’s legs. Her much shyer twin follows at a more sedate pace.
Tsuna smiles gently at the girl. “Hi, Nana-chan,” she greets softly, ruffling the blonde hair. She looks at Mimiko. “Wanna hug me too, Mimi-chan? Or you don’t feel up for it?”
The younger Hasaba twin shakes her head, showing she isn’t in the mood for physical contact.
“Got it,” Tsuna nods in understanding. “I’m happy to see you regardless of the hug.”
Mimiko smiles in response, hugging her doll to herself. Tsuna considers it a win. Compared to the beginning where the twins shied from any kind of contact, this reaction was significant progress.
Namako is about to say something when there are footsteps coming from upstairs.
“Mimiko, Nanako, is something wrong?” Tsumiki asks, with Megumi following close behind. When they see Tsuna, the Fushiguro siblings rush down the stairs. Tsumiki joins the hug as well. “Setsuna-san, you are back!”
“Yep, I am,” the older brunette confirms with a smile. Megumi crosses his arms.
“You were gone for a long time,” he says. He tries to sound accusatory, but there’s a subtle hint of relief in his tone. Thanks to Toji’s parenting skills and Tsumiki’s mother’s skills — or lack thereof — both Tsumiki and Megumi had abandonment issues and were sensitive to long absences, Megumi more so than Tsumiki. It made the trio itch with anger at the Fushiguro couple whenever they saw it. “Gojo and Geto were worried too.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” Tsuna apologizes sincerely. As the girls let go of her legs, she asks, “Where are they, by the way?”
“Geto-sama and Gojo-sama went to get groceries,” Mimiko speaks up, her voice quiet. “Said they will be back soon.”
“Then let’s wait for them. What do you want to do in the meantime?” she asks.
The kids look between themselves. “Miki and I can do your hair while Mimi and Megumi finish the puzzles?” Nanako suggests.
Megumi shrugs. “I don’t mind.”
And so Tsuna sits on the floor; Nanako and Tsumiki do her hair while Mimiko and Megumi finish the puzzles. The atmosphere is so soothing that Tsuna doesn’t notice dozing off.
“We are back, little rascals!” Satoru announces as he and Suguru come back half an hour later with the promised groceries. “Did you behave—Oh!”
“What?” Suguru questions, looking over Satoru’s shoulder. What he sees makes his expression soften.
Tsuna fell asleep on the floor with the kids cuddled up to her, creating a pile, her braided hair spread around. It’s a very beautiful sight. One they don’t see as often as they’d like due to their conflicting schedules.
“She looks peaceful,” Satoru murmurs, so as not to wake Tsuna and the kids up.
“And tired,” Suguru adds, noting the signs of exhaustion and the band-aids. “The higher-ups are working her to the bone,” the guilt twitches in his chest. “I should be out here as well, doing my job, not letting you two do all the work. I’m useless.”
“Hey,” Satoru grabs Suguru’s chin, making him face him. “None of that self-blaming stuff. You are not useless; you are helping with the kids. And those old fucks would have been running her to the bone regardless of your presence; her technique is that invaluable to them. And you are still recovering mentally. Neither she nor I are ready to lose you because of the pressure. The last time was more than enough.”
“I know,” Suguru admits quietly. “Back then I was angry that she stopped me. Still, I am, sometimes. But most of the time, I am happy. If not for Setsuna-chan, I wouldn’t have this life, you or the kids.”
“She really brought us together, huh?” Satoru hums. He looks down at the sleeping girl. “Do you think we will ever tell her?”
Suguru knows what his boyfriend is referring to.
They have been in love with one another since the first year; when the fateful Star Plasma Vessel mission and Tsuna came along in their second year, they had never expected to fall in love with her. But they did. And now, they can’t imagine their lives without her.
She completes them.
When they both had that realization, Satoru suggested they should tell her straight away, but Suguru held him back. Their situation is strange as it is: two guys in a relationship taking care of four kids along with their female friend while pining for said female friend. Not to mention, Setsuna-chan grew up very sheltered; how she, a girl raised for erasure, would react to being in a threesome with her two friends?
Suguru thinks the answer to that is simple: she would react very badly .
So they hold back.
Still, he needs to answer Satoru’s question.
“Maybe someday,” he settles on after a bit of thought.
“Yeah, maybe someday,” Satoru agrees. After giving a quick peck on Suguru’s lips, he walks over to the pile and gently shakes the brunette awake. “Tsu, wake up, the floor is a bad place to sleep.”
“Hm?” Tsuna stirs, opening her eyes. “You guys are back already?” she mumbles. Her gaze falls on the clock. “Shoot! I fell asleep!”
“You all did,” Suguru laughs softly. “It was cute. How was the mission?”
Tsuna flushes to the roots of her hair, gently getting to her feet, so she won’t wake up the kids. “Same as usual, now I gotta go, need to see Yaga-sensei, bye!”
And she’s gone in a blink, face still red. Both Satoru and Suguru chuckle as they don’t stop her and watch her leave.
“She’s cute when she’s flustered.”
“Very.”
Thankfully her face cools down by the time Tsuna meets up with Yaga-sensei.
“Ah, Setsuna, I see you are back,” the man greets his ward when she enters his office. “How was the mission?”
“Same as usual; they misclassified it and it turned out to be a Special Grade.”
Yaga’s eyes narrow as he looks Tsuna over. There are some band-aids, but she seems healthy if very exhausted, which is a relief. “Are you alright?”
“I am. Just tired.”
“And the Curse?”
“It was durable, but the Curse is successfully exorcized.”
“Good. Now, sit down. I’ll make you tea.”
Tsuna does as asked. While Yaga makes tea, her eyes fall on his table. Seeing a white envelope on it, she grimaces as she asks, “Seriously, another one?”
“I’m afraid so,” her guardian replies, back still turned.
This is yet another downside of having a technique like hers.
In the aftermath of her unexpected survival, Yaga-sensei and the boys tried to hide the nature of her Cursed Technique — after all, a person with such Cursed Technique that has the resurrecting and purifying ability would be highly sought after, — but the information still got leaked to the clans. And while many despised her, just as many wanted her in their clans: Inumaki, Zenin, and many others. There had been pressure in their invitations and even a bridenapping attempt once just so she would marry into their clan. It’s a bit barbaric, but that’s just Jujutsu Society being themselves; marriage in Jujutsu Society has not changed since ancient times. A lot of things not permissible in modern times are still legal in the Jujutsu Society, bridenapping, included.
Neither Satoru nor Suguru know and Tsuna doesn’t intend them to ever find out. That’s not something people in a happy relationship should deal with.
“Who is it from this time?” Tsuna wonders, resurfacing from her reverie.
“Kamo,” Yaga replies, passing her the cup of hot tea. “Specifically, Kamo Yakumo.”
“Yakumo-kun?” she repeats while taking a sip. She had met him, a fellow Grade One, a few times on missions and he is pleasant to talk to. She likes to think they are friends.
“Yes,” the man confirms. He stares into her eyes. “Setsuna, I know your heart lies elsewhere,” particularly with his troublesome students , goes unsaid. “But you can’t refuse those proposals forever. You have to choose someone. Maybe even Kamo.”
“I’ll think about it,” she says. She finishes her tea and stands up, taking the envelope with her. “Thank you for the tea, sensei. I’ll go to rest now.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll make sure you have a day off at least.”
Nodding her thanks she leaves the office and goes to her dorm room. Once she has her privacy she lies on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
“Are you truly going to consider Kamo’s offer?” Giotto asks as he makes himself known, appearing beside the bed.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“But if you do, you’ll be bound to him for life,” Giotto points out. “Don’t you love those boys?”
“I do,” she says truthfully. “But I won’t impose myself on them. They already did more than enough for me.”
Giotto sighs mournfully in response. Sometimes he wonders where she got that self-sacrificing trait from; is it a product of her childhood or is it another thing she inherited from him?
Hard to say.
Eventually, Setsuna falls asleep. As he places a blanket over her, he senses another presence.
“Come out, Alaude, she won’t hear,” he says into the space. A second later, his Cloud Guardian appears in a burst of Cloud Flame.
“I have news about Vongola as you have requested,” Alaude says without preamble.
Shortly after the close call with the village, Giotto received the news that people were targeting Vongola; Federico was already dead, reduced to the bone. It’s only a matter of time before Vongola decides to use Setsuna so Giotto asked Alaude to keep an eye on things.
Giotto frowns. “What is it?”
“Enrico was crippled in a gun duel; he’s no longer qualified to lead,” Alaude scoffs at the foolishness. “Since Xanxus is still frozen, Massimo is the only heir left. Timoteo is planning to send the Sun Arcobaleno to Japan, now that he has finished tutoring the Cavallone.”
“Sun Arcobaleno? Why?”
“Timoteo wants the Sun Arcobaleno to fetch Setsuna and train her as the Decimo's spouse to tie her bloodline back to the family.”
Giotto’s face darkens as he grits his teeth. “He wants to do what? ”
Alaude shrugs as if to say “You heard me.”
Giotto can’t believe Timoteo’s audacity. First, he seals his granddaughter unknowingly making her into Star Plasma Vessel and now he’s doing this .
“It seems I have to intervene,” he says at last, forcibly taking a calming breath.
“She won’t like it,” Alaude says, sparing a glance at the sleeping brunette.
“It’s either that or her being trapped yet again. I rather prefer her to be angry with me, but happy with those two than be miserable with Kamo and Vongola.”
“If you say so,” Alaude says, then shakes his head. “Still, two at the same time?”
Giotto laughs. “Well, they do say love works in mysterious ways.”
And so, Giotto proceeds with his plan. He takes the envelope and places the letter in plain sight in the boys’ home.
Here. Now all that is left is awaiting Gojo and Geto’s response.
Satoru is humming a cheery tune when he notices an unfamiliar envelope on the coffee table. Curious, he takes it and opens it.
What he reads inside makes his blood boil. Expression stone-hard, he calls upon finishing the letter:
“Suguru? We need to talk to Tsuna. Now.
When she wakes up to find a text message from Suguru practically demanding that the three of them talk, Tsuna doesn’t expect anything good.
Her feelings turn out to be right because when she arrives at their house, Satoru’s expression is hard, carved from stone, and eyes blazing. Suguru is smiling but it ozones fakery.
“Guys, what’s wrong?” she asks cautiously as comes into the living room.
“We should be the ones asking you that,” Satoru snaps. Tsuna flinches. The last time she heard such a tone was after Suguru nearly defected. But it’s the first time it’s directed at her. Satoru doesn’t pay heed to her reaction, throwing a familiar envelope between them on the coffee table. “Why didn’t you tell us you were getting marriage proposals?”
Her eyes widen at the sight of the letter. It was with her when she fell asleep, how did they get it?! “How did you get it?”
“Does it matter?” Satoru retorts in an angry tone. “Since when do you hide things from us?!”
On second thought, she knows who started it. Damn it, Grandpa!
“Satoru,” Suguru soothes by placing a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder before addressing Tsuna. “Why did you hide it from us, Setsuna-chan?”
His calm voice is worse than Satoru’s yelling. Tsuna looks away. “I didn’t hide it. I just didn’t tell you.”
“Okay,” Suguru nods in agreement. “Let’s go with that wording. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I didn’t want to be a bother. You already do more than enough. Besides, what kind of friends resolve such problems?”
“Oh, I dunno,” Satoru utters sarcastically. “Good ones? Those that care about you?”
“Why are you so bothered by this?” Tsuna asks, starting to get irritated and angry. “Maybe I’ll be happy with Yakumo-kun.”
“Oh, Yakumo-kun, is it now?” Suguru coats the name in venom, smile saccharine-sweet. “Since when?”
“Since he allowed it,” she says with a frown. “I like to think we are friends. Maybe I’ll be happy with him.”
“No. You won’t be, “Satoru cuts in.
“And what do you suggest then?” Tsuna asks with narrowed eyes. “Be with you instead?”
“Yes,” he nods.
She stares at him as if he had lost his mind. “Have you gone insane?! You are in a relationship! It’s not fair to Suguru!”
“I don’t mind, Setsuna-chan,” Suguru says with a smile. His gaze is loving as he looks at her, but she refuses to read into this. Even if her heart beats wildly with hope.
“No!” she denies vehemently. “Even if you don’t mind, I refuse. I won’t impose myself on you!”
‘Then why won’t you just all marry each other?” Megumi asks. Apparently, all the kids overheard the fight.
Suguru turns sheepish. “Ah, you see, Megumi-kun, Polygamy is illegal in normal society.”
“But it’s normal in Jujutsu Society,” Satoru interjects. “Actually, there’s Gojo Clan’s marriage clause that allows for more than one spouse. My ancestor from the Edo showdown had two wives. It’s how we managed to keep Limitless and Six Eyes in the bloodline after he perished in the fight.”
“So what?” Suguru asks, raising an eyebrow. “Setsuna-chan and I marry the great Gojo Satoru?”
“Yes, but it will be more than that,” Satoru says, looking at them adoringly. “You won’t just be mine, you will be each other’s as well. I will be yours as well.”
Tsuna hides her face in her hands, her cheeks hot. “This is so crazy,” she whimpers, feeling her knees buckle. But before she can fall, two pairs of hands wrap around her body.
“Feeling dizzy here, angel?” Suguru chuckles into her ear.
“Oh, shut up,” Tsuna grumbles, glaring at the two of them. “I can't believe I fell for you two.”
“Oh, so you did fall for us,” Satoru laughs teasingly.
Tsuna glares at him. “If you are going to do nothing, but teasing, I’m leaving.”
Their hold tightens. “Nuh-uh,” Satoru chides playfully. “Now that we all confessed that we love each other, we are not letting go.”
“Never,” Suguru adds, eyes shining.
Tsuna groans. “Tengen, have mercy.”
The Strongest Duo laughs before giving her a kiss: Satoru kisses her on the lips, Suguru a place behind her ear before taking Satoru’s place.
Mimiko, Nanako, and Tsumiki giggle while Megumi merely rolls his eyes at the scene, but all four are happy that everything worked out.
“So what now?” Tsuna asks, breathless after they finish exchanging kisses. Her body feels light. She feels like she can fly, she’s so happy.
“I think we should do the marriage binding vows immediately,” Satoru replies, still a little breathless himself. “Just so nobody can break us apart.”
“Marriage binding vows?” Suguru repeats curiously.
Satoru nods. “It’s how we have done marriage since ancient times. Each clan has their own ritual and procedure. We will be bound in heart, body, and soul.”
“Heart, body, and soul,” Suguru tastes the words with a grin. “I like the sound of it. “Let’s do it.”
Setsuna and Satoru grin too, mirroring his excitement.
They proceed with the plan. In order for no sabotage to be involved — be it Higher-ups or the clans — only the kids, Yaga, Shoko and Nanami (Giotto is here too, but only Tsuna feels him) are present as witnesses, with Gojo Fuyumi, Satoru’s mother, and Tengen-sama conducting the ritual. As they clasp hands, they can feel their whole beginnings connect, and once the last word of the biding vow falls from the Gojo Clan head’s lips, they exchange kisses to the applause and laughs of those present.
Now they are bound forever and no one will separate them. Ever.
This proves to be a boon in the following days.
After about a week since the event Tsuna is on the playground with kids and Suguru — Satoru is away on the mission — when she hears someone calling her:
“Tuna-fishy!”
“Huh?” confused, Tsuna searches for the source of the voice and sees the two men coming toward them: one tall, broad, and blond, and the other, basically a baby, dressed in a suit and fedora with a chameleon.
“Tuna-fishy?” Suguru parrots, just as confused. “Do you know them, melody?”
“No,” she replies, furrowing her brow. “Stay with the kids. I'll take care of it.”
Suguru looks a little unsure, but lets her do what she asked, summoning one of his Curses to watch her back.
Tsuna approaches the men. “Good day. Are you looking for me?”
“Yes, of course, we are looking for you, princess!” the blond man exclaims childishly and tries to come closer only for Suguru’s Curse to growl at him menacingly, causing the man to freeze in his tracks and for his companion to shapeshift the chameleon into a gun.
Huh. So they can see Curses, she notes to herself, and tries to remain calm in the face of the gun. Ever since being shot with one, she’s wary of them.
“Please, refrain from coming close and using such familiarity,” she says, voice neutral. “Now, who are you?”
The blond man pouts. “Tuna-fishy, how could you say such things your pa—”
“We are with Vongola,” his companion interjects, voice squeaky. “I’m Reborn and that fool here is Sawada Iemitsu.”
Sawada Iemitsu. Tsuna feels a jolt of electricity run through her at the name.
Her wayward father that has been gone for years. Giotto told her all about him. Told what he did and what he was planning to do now, which is why Giotto kickstarted the confession in the first place.
Her whole being shakes with rage, the betrayal.
On the outside, however, her face is a mask of calm. Narrowing her eyes, she approaches the man and slaps him. Hard.
“How dare you?” she hisses as he stares at her in shock. “You have been gone my whole life! And now you want to marry me off like some object just because of a bloodline?!”
Iemitsu’s eyes are wide. “How did you know?”
“I know enough,” Tsuna snaps, eyes glowing amber. “And you know nothing about me . Do you know what your sealing has cost me? I was raised as a mere vessel, not a human! I died because of it, lost friends, and a woman who saw me as her daughter! Do you even know what it cost Mom? She’s trapped in her own head, forever thinking I’m five!”
Iemitsu is rendered speechless, but his daughter isn’t done. She’s spilling everything held back ever since she learned the truth from Giotto.
“But I suppose I also should be grateful for yours and Nono’s mistake,” the brunette continues, much calmer now. “If not for it, I wouldn’t have met Satoru, Suguru, and the kids; my true family. This is the only good thing that came out of this.”
“You made a binding vow with the two of them, didn’t you?” Reborn asks.
“I did,” Tsuna nods, a little surprised he’s able to tell, but maybe that’s a side-effect of his own Curse.
“Then you and Nono lost from the beginning, Iemitsu,” Reborn informs her father bluntly. “She’s connected to them for life.”
“And nothing will break it,” she confirms. “So tell me something, father ,” she drips the parental title in venom, “would you have come back at all if it wasn’t for my marriage to Massimo?”
Iemitsu looks away. His silence is all the answer she needs.
“Thought so,” she says with a sigh. She isn’t even disappointed. This man stopped being her parent a lifetime ago. “You are not my father anymore, but if you still have any shred of love for Mom, relieve her from her misery, will you? And don’t come back ever again.”
With that said, she turns around, not looking back.
“Are you okay, beloved?” Suguru asks with concern as she comes back to them. He sees the traces of pain and anger in her still-glowing eyes.
“I will be,” she assures, smiling weakly. “Let’s just go home.”
Suguru doesn’t seem to believe her, but he nods nonetheless. Dismissing the summoned Curse, the family gathers their things and starts to walk back home. Still, the kids can’t help but be curious, “Who was that, Onee-sama?” Mimiko is the one to ask.
Tsuna ruffles the dark hair. “Just the ghosts of the past, Mimi-chan. Nothing more, nothing less.”
And that’s where they shall remain.
Suguru, Satoru, Megumi, Tsumiki, Nanako, and Mimiko are her present and future now.