This was a foe he was not prepared to handle. He felt a drop of sweat trail down his spine as he looked over at the guardian of this domain. They looked at him with narrowed eyes and a menacing aura despite the calm, polite smile on their face.
Tsuna put down the mixing bowl he held very slowly, setting it on the counter.
"Tsu-kun, you know you're not allowed in the kitchen."
His mother reprimanded him lightly. The aura of menace disappeared slightly, but she still looked at him with narrowed eyes. Tsuna let out an awkward cough as he rubbed the back of his head.
Ever since he nearly burned down their kitchen when he tried to boil some instant noodles, his mother had not let him into her domain.
"I promise it's different this time, Kaa-san. I practiced a ton. I just want to treat you and Nagi-chan to a meal for once."
Tsuna offered with a slightly guilty smile.
He probably could have made the pancakes in the school home-ec room, but if he was going to make supernaturally good pancakes, he was going to offer some to Nagi and his mom.
Nagi perked up at the mention of her name and peeked into the kitchen. Tsuna had thought she would distract his mother long enough for him to finish the first batch of pancakes, but apparently his mother had a sixth sense for anyone entering her kitchen.
His mother gave him a long, hesitant look, happy about the effort he was putting in but not exactly trusting him in here.
Tsuna let out a strained smile.
"You can watch as I work, Kaa-san. Make sure I don't burn down the kitchen."
He offered, knowing this was probably the only way he would get to use the kitchen today.
His mother hummed lightly before nodding slowly.
"Okay, Tsu-kun, but try not to push yourself too hard. I know you have been really trying lately, and Kaa-san is happy about that, but I don't want you to hurt yourself trying."
She gave her own two cents, and Tsuna smiled awkwardly at her.
From her perspective, he had been changing, but he was still the boy who would fall down the stairs almost daily.
He was not sure how to bring up the truth of his situation, how to tell her he had been crippled by a Magical Seal that his Father likely knew about. Was it even his right to bring it up, to put such a heavy burden on the already stressed woman?
He did not know.
His mother loved his Father. That was the simple truth.
It was the only reason Tsuna put up with his bum ass even when Tsuna knew he was lying his ass off. Sure, the relationship was strained from the distance and his dumb ass lies, but that spark of love still burned in his mother.
He did not know if she could handle the truth if he told her.
Tsuna gritted his teeth as he turned back to the bowl to continue mixing.
A part of him worried that she would try to ease the tension between father and son as she always did. It was the part of him that still whispered in his ears to distrust the people around him, but he could not argue that it was not possible.
A soft hum of understanding and comfort burned in his chest, and that unease lifted. Hestia's presence was a near-constant hug to his soul. Although he doubted she would approve of his hate for his Father, she was the queen of keeping dysfunctional families together after all.
Another pulse of understanding came, not approval, but a sense that he was right to feel the way he did. She wished he would not let those feelings lead him to make choices he had no way of taking back.
He just continued his task and tried to avoid the non-conversation that was happening.
As he cooked, he started to use his Flames in creative ways to enhance the taste, using the Purifying Flames to burn away impurities in the ingredients and the Sky Flames to bind and harmonize the flavors.
It was a subtle thing, just tiny tendrils of flames from the tips of his fingers filling the bowl as he worked.
His mother was watching after all, well, her and Nagi, but he was planning on explaining the supernatural aspects of the world to her. He had dragged her into this world. He needed to make sure she could live in it.
Granted, it was likely she would be dragged in anyway. She held a vast pool of Flames even without any training after all.
When the pancake mix was finished, he chopped up various fruits and toppings as he waited for the pan to get hot enough to cook.
This was not really a good show of his skill. Pancakes were not that intensive a dish after all. His work with his Flames probably did more for the flavor than the rest of his actions, but he had made a promise about pancakes, so this was what needed to happen.
His mother watched him work with a furrowed brow at first, but as he continued to act carefully, that tension lifted and a soft, proud smile bloomed on her face. She even occasionally chatted with Nagi, who was watching him with a small smile of her own.
He sent a nudge through his familiar bond with Luci to get her to start her part in the plan.
Tsuna placed the first pancake on the pan as it reached the proper temperature. This one was bound to be a sacrifice to ensure the later ones came out perfectly. Even with a supernatural cooking level, the first pancake would always turn out horrible.
So this one was doomed as a snackrifice for Tsuna.
The doorbell rang.
His mother blinked as she did not expect that. She took one look at Tsuna, hesitating to leave him alone in the kitchen, but after a moment she gave in and left.
"If Tsu-kun starts burning things, stop the fire, Nagi-chan."
His mother commented lightly, and Tsuna rolled his eyes at the lack of faith. Nagi, on the other hand, just giggled.
Nana wandered over to the front door and opened it. She was greeted with Luci in a more human-looking frame, still too beautiful for mortal standards but none of the demonic traits shining through.
Luci smiled professionally at Nana and handed her a business card as soon as the door was opened.
"Greetings. I'm a representative from Vespera Industries. I understand that you are currently taking care of Ms. Yukimura."
Lucifer started with the same polite smile on her face. Nana blinked at the information being thrown at her and numbly took the business card.
"Ah, yes. Nagi-chan is currently staying here. Can I ask what this is regarding?"
Nana offered, trusting the woman before her if only because a pretty face disarms people.
"I am here to discuss Ms. Yukimura's residency. Vespera holds the contract with Ms. Yukimura's parents, so I am here as a representative to discuss what is going to happen moving forward. Can you call Ms. Yukimura in for further discussion? This talk needs her input."
Luci explained while continuing her picture-perfect professional mask.
"Oh, okay. Please come in. Nagi-chan is in the kitchen right now. I'll call her over."
Nana spoke out while gesturing for Luci to enter their home. She led her toward the dining room and seated her, then went toward the kitchen to prepare some tea and get Nagi to come in for this talk.
She entered the kitchen to see Tsuna tossing another pancake onto a stack that was already large.
"Nagi-chan, there is a woman from your parents' company. They are here to talk about your home."
Nana explained as she started to gather the tools to brew tea.
Tsuna looked over and hummed while Nagi looked like someone had kicked her puppy. Tsuna was tempted to explain the situation this instant to stop the defeated look on her face, but he wanted to keep his involvement in this minimal.
"Okay."
Nagi said numbly as she stood up, giving Tsuna one last longing look before heading toward the dining room with a slump in her shoulders.
His mother giggled at that sight.
"You think they would mind if I offered them pancakes? I'm almost done, and these are best eaten fresh."
Tsuna said as he started to make the chocolate-filled pancakes Luci wanted. His mother hummed for a moment before shrugging.
"Can't hurt, but not sure if they would accept."
Nana then collected the boiling tea and started to leave the kitchen as well. Tsuna finished up and carried several plates and bowls containing the pancake feast toward the table.
He entered the room as his mother started pouring tea for Luci, and Nagi fidgeted in her chair.
"I hope you don't mind pancakes as refreshments. We were unaware we would have guests."
Tsuna spoke out as he settled the plates with an ease that had his mother letting out a surprised hum.
Luci smiled politely, as if she was not excited about eating the pancakes.
"Of course not. I'm more than satisfied with your hospitality."
Tsuna let out a hum of his own as he started serving each person seated at the table their pancakes while making sure Luci got the chocolate-filled ones she wanted.
To her credit, Luci did not immediately start eating her food.
"Now, Ms. Yukimura, your parents have accepted a position in Tokyo in our main offices."
Luci started cutting out a small piece of pancake slowly as she looked at Nagi seriously.
Nagi tensed at her words, and the level of unease in her started to rise.
"They are going to be incredibly busy, and it is unlikely that they are going to have time to care for you. So the company has offered several solutions for your home situation."
Luci continued, taking a small bite and pausing briefly. Her pupils went slightly wide, and flecks of red started to flicker in her disguised eyes, but she collected herself.
His mother frowned deeply at what she was hearing. Nagi did not react to the words at all, likely thinking she was going to have to move to Tokyo. Tsuna patted her shoulder gently, offering some support.
She looked at him, lost, but he smiled softly at her, as if telling her that no matter what happened, he would help. She settled at that, but she still seemed nervous about the conversation.
"If you prefer to live in Tokyo, you will be provided an apartment and a caretaker for your needs."
Luci started eating her pancakes faster and faster but still appeared to be the polite businesswoman who was only here for Nagi's situation.
Tsuna was impressed she could appear so disinterested while all but gobbling the food down.
"No!"
Nagi shouted out quickly, standing up and nearly slamming the table in her haste to reject that notion. She seemed to realize she was overreacting as she blushed brightly and slunk back into her chair.
"I mean… I want to live in Namimori."
She spoke out softly and looked at Tsuna with that blush on her face. His mother giggled slightly, but the frown on her face was still there.
She had an inkling about how bad Nagi's relationship was with her parents, but she still disliked this cold, distant way of dealing with their daughter. They did not even bother talking to their daughter about the options available to her, instead sending a work colleague.
"If that is what you want, Ms. Yukimura. I am just here to show you the options available to you. I'm obliged to tell you that the educational resources you will receive in Tokyo are much higher than here, but judging from your reaction, that does not matter."
Luci explained with a light chuckle that had Nagi looking down with a blush.
Tsuna started to eat the pancakes he made as the conversation continued.
Soft, fluffy, and all the flavors danced on his tongue. Truly, the Gacha was powerful. Even his mother let out a happy hum as she ate her own pancakes.
"Now, again, we can offer an apartment here in Namimori with a caretaker, but considering your current residency, the company has another offer."
Luci spoke out while shifting her attention toward his mother.
His mother blinked at being looked at right now, not expecting to get involved in this.
"Your care for Ms. Yukimura in her time of need has been noted. The company would like you to take care of Ms. Yukimura as a ward for the time being. You will be given a stipend for her care that I assure you is very generous. You are completely free to decline this offer. We know that having a teenage boy and girl living under the same roof can be complicated, but it looks like Ms. Yukimura is truly comfortable here."
Luci explained briskly, and Nana nodded along.
Nagi froze at the offer and looked at his mother hopefully. Tsuna as well. He was pretty sure she would accept, but she had also caught Tsuna and Nagi sleeping in the same room. Maybe she would reject the offer just based on that.
If that was the case, Tsuna would just have to drag Nagi over more often.
Seeing the looks on the two children's faces, Nana let out a laugh and smiled at the two fondly.
"If Nagi-chan wants to stay here, she is more than welcome."
Nana spoke out to Luci without much fuss. She liked the girl and was already treating her as a daughter-in-law. It might be a bit early, but she was a pure love advocate! She could already see her son cared deeply for the girl, and he relaxed in her presence like she had never seen before.
Luci took in his mother's words and looked toward Nagi.
"So what is your decision, Ms. Yukimura?"
She asked with that polite smile on her face, except there was a spot of chocolate on the side of her mouth.
She also still kept eating pancakes.
"Is it really alright if I stay here, Kaa-san?"
Nagi asked after hesitating for a good long while. Nana just nodded toward Nagi and gave her an encouraging smile.
Nagi's eyes went moist for a second before a bright, happy smile spread across her face.
"Then I would like to stay here."
She spoke to Luci with a firmness that stood in direct opposition to how she usually acted.
"Alright. I will get the appropriate funds transferred to Ms. Sawada over here for your care. I'm going to need bank transfer information for that. I will also be the representative from the company for your care, Ms. Yukimura, so expect to see me often. If you have any requests, you can come to me, and I will either forward them or approve them."
Nagi smiled brightly at that. She almost ran toward Tsuna to hug him and express how happy she was, but Luci being here held her back. She could deal with the teasing from Nana, but showing off her affection so clearly in front of a stranger was still too much for her.
Nana chuckled at Nagi's current look before getting up to get the information Luci wanted. She did not need the funds from the company to take care of Nagi, but she doubted they would take that as an answer.
"I must say, these are the best pancakes I have ever eaten. My compliments to the chef."
Luci spoke out as she finally finished her pancakes and gave a brief glance at Tsuna that screamed she wanted more.
[Feat Achieved: Become Lucifer's new favourite mortal.]
[Received one Bronze Ticket (Ranked down from Platinum because of her Familiar status).]
He felt his lips twitch at that. He could have gotten a great ticket. It sucked, but at least it was not nothing.
[Feat Achieved: Fix Nagi/Chrome Dokuro's home life.]
[Received one Gold Ticket.]
He guessed this only popped now because Nagi's home situation was completely settled.
He was tempted to get up and rip the tickets, but that would probably be rude. So he waited and ate his food. He went to drink his tea but paused as he picked up the cup.
There was something odd about it. His instincts were all but screaming at him not to drink it. He frowned briefly and looked at it better.
The Harmony in it was in complete disorder. Ingredients that should by all rights work together did not, for some unexplainable reason. If he drank this, it would spread the same disorder throughout his body.
He took a brief look around the table, but it was only his cup that held this poison. He was still slightly worried, but he figured the best way to draw out the poisoner was to drink said poison.
Either they would leave thinking they were successful, or they would watch him more closely to get another shot at poisoning him.
Although he was not going to drink the poison directly.
He brought the ingredients back to Harmony with a pulse of his Sky Flames. He could have also purified them, but this was mildly interesting and something worth learning.
Disorder was just the flip side of Harmony after all.
[Feat Achieved: Foil Bianchi's Assassination attempt.]
[Received one Silver ticket.]
Well, now he had a name for his assassin.