Chapter Text
"Hey, Yukimura, are you walking home? You're not taking the train?"
I jumped a little at the outburst. It's not often my classmates talk to me.
"Y-yeah. It's a nice day and we're off tomorrow. I wanna enjoy the fresh air." I said, waving off further questions.
"But you live in Musutafu, right? That's the next city! Why would you-"
"Well, it won't take long if you don't hold me up. Excuse me, but if I'm gonna get there before nightfall, I need to get going. Bye."
With that, I rushed off. I always walked back to the house on Saturdays. Anything to stave off dealing with that man. Though, he'll be mad as always when I show up late again. Even though he knows I walk back on Saturdays. Everything's a trigger for him. Another day, another bruise. I'll be spending the night in that closet, but I guess it's worth it to feel a little freedom. It's been like that since before I can remember. Around sixteen years ago, I was just dumped on the doorstep of the Matsuyuki-so Children's Home as a baby with nothing but a slip of paper with my name, Fuyu Yukimura, and birthday on it. The man who owned the home was cruel and more than a little abusive. Every tiny mistake earned a child a new bruise. It was always somewhere that'd be covered by clothing, too. And I was his favorite punching bag. To be fair, I put myself in that position. I'd always stand between him and another kid, taking their punishment for them. And you bet your ass he takes every advantage of that.
With a sigh, I continued on my way. It was starting to get a little dim as I finally reached Musutafu City. I've always been a fast walker, so it really didn't take me too long to get from my middle school in the next town to the city. The home was closer to the center of the city, so I still had some ways to go. Still took my time, though. I even stopped to grab a ball for a kid playing on the sidewalk. He had accidentally kicked it into the road, so I sprinted out to get it before he got any ideas. As soon as I made sure he promised he'd never go into the street, I continued on my way. What can I say? I love children. I always have. That was a weakness that man always exploited.
Damn, didn't know I was that hungry. I could hear my stomach growling. It was louder than usual, that's weird. I'm usually okay with just the free bowl of rice from the school to tide me over for the day. Shifting my bag's strap off of the newest bruise on my shoulder, I looked up just in time. That wasn't my stomach. Someone was hightailing it down the road on a motorcycle. I could hear police sirens behind them. Must be a villain, then. I had to hide and get out of the way, an alley or something. Turning back the way I came, I started heading to a side-street a little ways away.
Then I saw something that froze my heart solid.
That kid. The one with the ball. He was kicking it around in the middle of the street!
I didn't even think, my legs just started moving. I ditched my bag and rushed toward the kid, the motorcycle's engine roaring in my ears. It was getting closer fast. It was barely a block away when I took a leap. Literally, I threw myself into the street and scooped the kid into my arms. I had just enough momentum to roll out of the villain's path just in time for him to whiz by.
But I didn't stop there. It was like I couldn't just stand by. The villain's manic laughter was ringing in my ears as I took my uniform jacket off and draped it over the kid. I took just enough time to tell him to stay put before I tore after the cycle. The police sirens were still far off, they'd never catch him before he passed their jurisdiction line. I was running as fast as I could, cutting through alleys when he made a turn. As I was running, I was wracking my brain for a quirk that would help me. I had to stop the guy without actually hurting him. I can use a quirk to restrain or capture, but not to attack. The dumb laws put such a heavy restriction on quirks, even if it was only for self-defense. Not a second too soon, I found the right one.
As soon as I darted out of the latest alley, I saw the cycle tearing down the street in my direction. Taking a deep breath, I sprinted to the middle of the street and crouched down. Planting my palms firmly onto the asphalt, I concentrated on the quirk I got from one of my classmates. Within the same three seconds, the cycle passed onto the block I was on, the asphalt under my palms began to shift and sway like water, the front tire of the cycle sank into the liquid asphalt, tossing the driver over my head and into more of the asphalt behind me, and I tore my hands from the surface of the street and planted them back onto the same spots. Immediately, the asphalt solidified again, effectively trapping the cycle and the driver.
Shaking from head to toe, I sat down hard on the ground. My breathing was ragged, my heart was beating so fast that I could hear it in my ears, and I was. . . laughing? I couldn't help it, maybe it was hysteria? But that was the first time I used my quirk to stop a villain. Or at all, really. I was always scared I couldn't control it. The memories I get when I touch someone with my palm are usually enough to put me off even shaking hands.
"Hey, you damn brat! Quit laughing and get me outta here! I'll pump ya fulla lead!"
My laughter caught in my throat and I whipped around. The villain was pointing at me, he landed sideways in the asphalt which left half his body free, there was a ball of what looked like metal at the end of his finger. How the hell could I be so stupid?! Leaving a villain even a little wiggle room is a sure-fire way to get yourself killed! There's no way I could dodge before he fires that thing! Didn't mean I was just gonna sit there and let it happen, though. Another surge of unknown energy coursed though me as I launched myself at the villain, grabbing a firm hold of his wrist.
His quirk was Finger Gun. He draws minerals from his surroundings to form a lump of metal at the end of his finger. The strength of the projectile depends on how long he charges the blast. The first time his quirk manifested, he was pointing at another child who took his toy. He was so angry, since it was the third time they did this. One moment, he was just pointing to show the teacher who took his toy, the next, the other kid had a hole in his head.
I was jerked out of the memory by something grazing my cheek. I stumbled back, glaring at the guy in the ground. He was charging again, glaring right back. I was ready this time. I raised my hand and pointed right back at him. At that moment, I didn't care if I got arrested for using my quirk against him, he was going to kill me! But before I could even start charging, the little metal lump he was growing dropped to the ground.
Huh?
Did. . . Did his quirk just putter out?
The guy looked just as confused as I was, staring at his own finger like it had betrayed him. How? The only reason I could think of was that someone cancelled his quirk. But the only one with that ability was. . .
"You are such a pain."
I jumped at the sudden voice. Looking around, I couldn't see anyone. On ground-level at least. Looking up, I spotted someone perched on a street lamp. As I stared, he jumped down, never taking his eyes off the villain in the ground. He was tall and dressed all in black with some kind of scarf floating and fluttering around his head. He was kind of pale with patchy stubble on his chin and bloodshot eyes that were currently glowing red. His long black hair was standing on end.
"Y-you're Eraserhead." I said, stunned beyond belief.
"Yeah, what of it? You've got yourself a strong quirk, saved me some trouble. You hurt?" Eraserhead asked, still not taking his eyes off the villain.
"I. . . Not really. He just grazed my cheek a little. I don't really feel much of anything, to be honest."
"That would be the adrenaline. Take a few deep breaths and calm down. The cops will make sure you're checked out."
As he spoke, I heard the sirens approaching. Taking a deep breath, I ran my hands through my hair, my fingers getting stuck when they found a few tangles. God, my hair was way too long. Seriously, it's past my rear, I need to get it cut. The police arrived as I was yanking my fingers through the dark brown mess. An officer took me to the side to get a medic to check my cheek and patch it up. It only took a minute before the villain was cuffed and taken away. Then I was talking to Eraserhead again.
"You all patched up?" he asked, dripping some eyedrops into his eyes.
"Yeah, it was just a scratch. I'm more worried about that kid who nearly got flattened. Think I can go make sure he's OK?" I asked.
"There's no need. He's right here, actually." an officer said, coming up to me with the kid in tow.
"Miss hero lady!" the kid cried, running up to me and nearly knocking me over with a hug.
"Woah! Hey there, kiddo. You alright?" I asked, patting his head and rubbing his back.
"I-I'm sorry! I promised I wouldn't go into the street! But-but I didn't listen! Y-you even got hurt!"
"Hey. Look at me, sweetie." I said, crouching down to his level and tilting his chin to look me in the eye, "That part wasn't your fault. Yeah, you did break your promise, but that's not why I've got a scratch on my cheek."
"But why?! Why did you save me? You don't even know me! You coulda got splatted, too!"
"Hey, hey, no. No, honey. It doesn't matter if I know you or not, if you're in trouble and I can help, I will. It's really on me for acting without being a hero. It's not your fault, sweetheart, trust me. You understand?"
He nodded, scrubbing at his eyes.
"Good. Now, can I get a hug before you go home?"
With a smile, I gave the kid my best "Big Sis" hug and held on until he stopped sniffling. When he let go, he was smiling a little, so I smiled as wide as I could. There it is. That little chuckle was all I needed. He was gonna be okay. When he was finally led away by another officer, I stood back up and took my jacket and bag from the first officer. But before I could put them back on. . .
"Hey, did he do that?" Eraserhead asked, slightly nudging the collar of my shirt to get a look at my shoulder.
It was a knee-jerk reaction. With a shout, I slapped his hand away and clamped my hand over the bruise he had obviously noticed. He looked shocked, to say the least. While I thought of something to say, I could practically see the gears turning in his head.
"I-I just fell out of a-" I was cut off.
"That wasn't the villain and it sure as hell wasn't a damn tree. Tell the truth." Eraserhead said, his gaze piercing even without his quirk being active.
"I. . . I live at the Matsuyuki-so Children's Home. The man who owns it. . . He's horrible. If we do anything wrong, we're beaten black and blue. I'm his favorite punching-bag. Everything I do is wrong to him, so. . ." I muttered, gripping the hem of my shirt.
"Have you told anyone about this?" Eraserhead asked me, his tone scarily even.
"I did once. I was eight. I managed to sneak out when he was getting a new couch. I just ran and ran until I came across someone. It happened to be a pro hero, I couldn't believe my luck. I ran up to him and explained everything. He was so big, I thought for sure he'd help me. But. . . As soon as I was done, he. . . he said my problem was too mundane to bother a pro hero with. He said that if I can't deal with it myself, I don't deserve help. That I shouldn't even bother the police with it. I. . . I took his word for it. He was a hero, how could I not think he was right, y'know? So, I've just. . . lived with it."
The very air was still around us. I could feel the anger emanating from the man in front of me. I wasn't brave enough to actually look up at him, afraid he was angry with me for keeping quiet.
"That hero. You get his name?" he asked, his tone still even.
"Endeavor. The one with the dumb flame beard." I said, unable to keep the contempt out of my voice.
"Figures. Listen. You're going to take us there and we're going to book that bastard. You won't have to worry about him again."
"Huh?" I asked stupidly, finally looking up, "W-why? You're a pro, why're you-"
"That's exactly why. I'm a hero, kid. Heroes help people. It doesn't matter whether or not it's glamorous. Heroes care, kid."
That statement rattled me to my core. It was like a spark went off inside me, something strong. I looked at the man in front of me, looking at his extended hand. He was reaching out to me, offering to help with what I thought was a hopeless situation. His face. . . Anger, indignation, determination. All on my behalf. Yet, I didn't see even an ounce of pity. He was concerned for me, he wasn't pitying me. He wasn't looking down on me like I was weak. That's what did it for me. That's what made me reach back for him, forgetting my quirk for a hot moment.
His quirk was Erasure. As long as he keeps his eyes on his opponent and it's not a heteromorphic type, Eraserhead can nullify their quirk.
Blood. There was blood splattered around the rubble from a broken building. Children crying in the distance, a sheet covering the unmistakable form of a lifeless body too small to be an adult's. Nearby, a broken pair of goggles, shattered from the impact.
"Hey! You alright, kid?"
With a start, I snatched my hand back and blinked. My eyes were wet, almost spilling.
"Kid?" Eraserhead asked again, leaning down slightly.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. It was just my quirk." I said, clearing my throat. It felt tight.
"Do what, now? I thought your quirk was the asphalt thing."
"No. That was a result of my quirk. It's called Mimic. If my palm comes into contact with someone's skin for at least a second, I gain the power of their quirk. As long as it's not something that permanently alters my physiology, that is. I wouldn't be able to take Ingenium's quirk, for example. I can't grow engines on my arms. But other quirks are fair game. It's always a shock when I forget to keep my palm away and gain a new power. Sorry, I really didn't mean to."
"Hm. Well, as long as you know your limits. Just don't overdo it. It'll leave you with serious dry-eye. C'mon. Let's get that bastard away from those kids. Tsukauchi, Tamakawa, mind if we hitch a ride?"
Two officers walked over, one of them was the one who brought the kid to see me. He was a kind-looking man. Tall, short black hair, and kind black eyes. He was dressed more like a detective than an officer. The other one had the head of an orange tabby cat.
"Of course not. C'mon, we'll get you there in no time." the detective said, tipping his hat to me, "I'm Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi. This is Sansa Tamakawa. It's nice to meet you, miss. . ."
"Yukimura. Fuyu Yukimura." I said, nodding to them both.
"Don't worry, miss Yukimura. We'll make sure this man never steps anywhere near a child ever again. You can trust us." Tamakawa said, gently guiding me into a squad car.
"Thank you."
As soon as Eraserhead and I were buckled up, the car took off. It was a bit awkward for me, to be honest. After that memory. . . I had to say something.
"I-I'm sorry for your loss." I said, my voice small.
"Eh?"
"My quirk. . . It's not just other quirks I get when my hand touches someone. I also get flashes of their most powerful memories. And yours. . . I'm sorry."
He was quiet for a long time after that. I didn't dare look at him. I overstepped a boundary, I kew it. Should've just kept my big mouth shut. Damn, this man was trying to help me, why did I have to bring up what had to have been the worst moment of his life?! What is wrong with me?!
"Hey."
I jumped. Scared of what I'd see, I glanced over to the man next to me. I wasn't expecting to see a gentle smile on his face. Apparently, my shock was obvious because he chuckled a bit.
"It's alright. I'm more concerned with what exactly you saw, really. Take it from me, kid, that's not something a child needs to see. You okay?" he said, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.
"I. . . It wasn't the worst thing I've seen. But it was awful. A lot of blood. You weren't that much older than I am when you saw it first-hand. And. . . He was your friend. I can't imagine. . . Too young. Way too young."
"You sound like a parent."
"I kind of am. I'm pretty much a big sister and a mother to the kids at the home. They look to me to protect them, they need me to."
"And you do it. No hesitation?"
"Absolutely not. I can't imagine anything worse than children being hurt. I'd do anything to protect them."
"Obviously. From what I saw, you didn't hesitate to launch yourself into harm's way to save that kid from getting squashed. You've got instincts that could make half the pro heroes today jealous. But you're not reckless. You calculated every move you made. I could see it. The only thing that tripped you up was the shock of actually using your quirk against a person. It's one hell of a shock, trust me, nobody's immune to it. With some training, you'd make a damn good hero."
That threw me off a bit. I'd never even entertained the thought of becoming a hero. I'd been pretty disillusioned by my encounter with Endeavor eight years ago. But this man. . . He's a pro hero who's taking time out of his day to help me. It's not glamorous, it's not flashy. He's not doing it for any fame or glory. He just wants to help me. Maybe. . .
"Stop the car!" I called, noticing where we were.
"Huh?!" Tsukauchi hit the breaks harder than he probably would have, causing the seatbelt to lock and aggravate the bruise on my shoulder.
"What was that about?" Tamakawa asked, twisting in his seat to look at me.
"Listen, I know how the system works. I've read all the law books the local library has in it's archive. You can take him in on my word, but his defense attorney would slap the 'why didn't she report him sooner if he was treating her so badly' defense in a hot second. You can take all the pictures of my bruises and scars you want, but no court is going to be swayed by a teenager saying she's been mistreated by the owner of an orphanage. What you need is concrete proof. You have body-cams, right? Put them to use." I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.
"You're suggesting we get a video of you getting beaten black and blue? Are you nuts?" Tamakawa exclaimed, his ear twitching.
"It's the only way we can make sure he doesn't come anywhere near children again. If you stay outside the building and film through the window, it'll be well within your jurisdiction because the property outside the walls of the main building is considered public. As long as the camera stays on the outside, it'll be permissible in court. I can take one last beating, I just want to make sure he gets put away as long as possible. As long as he's free, children are in danger. I can't just let it happen! Please!"
I was looking directly in Tsukauchi's eyes, not giving an inch. I knew he could see that I wasn't about to let it go. The struggle in the poor man's eyes was close to making me blink, but I stood my ground. At last, he sighed and looked at Eraserhead.
"What d 'you think? Should we risk it?" he asked, obviously pleading.
"Are you sure about this? There's always a chance he'll go too far." Eraserhead said, his hand on my shoulder again, more firmly this time.
"I'm positive. You can bust in if you think he's going too crazy. But please! Let me do this!"
"Alright. I'll trust your judgement. On the condition that it's up to us to decide when this guy goes too far. The second we feel that your life is on the line, we're there. Understand?"
"Agreed. C'mon, let's get out there. I don't want him to have a chance to turn on one of the kids."
With that, we ditched the car and legged it the rest of the way. It was only about a block away, so we didn't have far to walk. As soon as I showed them where to go, Tamakawa switched on his body cam and got into position at the window that was always curtain-free to let in the sunlight. Tsukauchi and Eraserhead were right behind him. Taking a deep breath, I gripped the straps on my bag and pushed the door open. It was my usual routine, I looked around first before stepping all the way in. Once I made sure I wasn't seen, I eased my way in and gently shut the door. It was only after I put my bag down by the door that it happened.
A sharp pain seared across my back, making me yelp. That damn riding crop.
"There y'are, y'little bitch! You're even later'n usual today! Wha' the hell were y'doin'?!"
Shit. Didn't account for the possibility of him being drunk. Before I could answer, I felt a hand in my hair and a yank on my scalp. With another yelp, I was thrown by my hair onto the floor right by the window. At least they'll get a clear shot.
"I asked ya a question, fuckin' bitch!" he yelled, stumbling toward me.
"Th-there was a villain! I had to take a detour!" I shouted, twisting into a sitting position.
That was a mistake. The man took the opportunity to grab my throat and slam my head into the floor. My head rang from the impact, my eyes clamping shut and my pulse pounding in my ears from the pressure at on my windpipe. I gasped for breath, opening my mouth to try to take in some air. And something was shoved into my mouth. Something hard and cold, smelled like machine oil and tasted like metal. I opened my eyes to see. . .
When the hell did he get a gun?!
Time slowed down as my blood turned to ice. Through muffled ears, I could hear tiny voices screaming from the staircase. The other kids. There's no way I could let them see this. I stared the man down, not letting a single ounce of fear show in my eyes. If I could shock him enough to buy a single second, prevent him from pulling the trigger. . .
BANG!
I flinched as the man was thrown off me and the gun was wrenched from my mouth.
POW!
I yelped. My ears rang and a white-hot pain seared across my cheek, following the same path as the one from earlier. I gasped for breath, feeling the blood dripping from the new wound. I knew I was shaking, I could feel my heart pounding against my ribs. I've been scared of the man before, of course I have. But I never once thought he'd kill me. I've never been scared for my life.
"Kid! Hey, Yukimura, are you okay?!"
I was jerked back to the present by Eraserhead coming into view. He was crouching beside me, already propping me up into a sitting position. His arm was firmly around my shoulders, anchoring me to the here and now. I took another deep breath.
"Yeah. I-I'm okay. I. . . Where the fuck did that gun come from?!" my voice was hoarse, panic trying to grip my heart again.
"Hey! Yukimura, breathe, kid. Just breathe. Hey, look at me. Just look at me." Eraserhead gently tilted my head to look at him.
He was calm. He was looking directly into my eyes, his expression soft and gentle. The arm draped around my shoulders squeezed firmly, adding a comforting pressure like a weighted blanket. I was safe. This man saved me.
"It's over, kid. You did it." he said, brushing my hair out of my face.
That did it. All at once, tears poured down my face and I curled into myself. It was over. We were free. The wound on my cheek stung from the salt in my tears, but I didn't care. After sixteen years, I could finally let the tears fall. I didn't have to worry about being beaten up for it. And I had someone there to help me through it. A hero. My hero.
"Easy, kid. You're okay. Everything's okay."
For the first time in my life, an adult's arms felt safe. The hand rubbing my back brought comfort, not pain. It wasn't long before my quiet sobs turned to soft laughter. Relieved laughter bubbled in my chest and burst out of my throat as I pulled away from the hug. I took a moment to wipe my eyes on my sleeve before looking up again. Eraserhead was smiling.
"Thank you. Thank you so much, Eraserhead." I choked out, my voice still tight.
"Aizawa. And this wasn't me, kid. This was all you. I'm pretty sure you've just become a hero to a house full of little kids." he said, gently dabbing at the wound on my cheek with a tissue.
"Big Sis?"
I whipped around at that. The kids were on the stairs. All twenty kids were huddled on the stairs. Without a second thought, I sprang to my feet and opened the flood gates. They all rushed down the stairs (like I've told them not to countless times) toward me. I dropped to my knees when we met in the middle of the foyer floor, wrapping my arms around as many of them as I could. They were all crying and cheering, some were doing both at the same time.
"Is he gone for good now, Big Sis?" five-year-old Kaito asked, his violet eyes shining.
"Yeah, are we gonna be okay?" Kaito's little sister, three-year-old Yui, added, clinging to her brother's arm.
"Yeah, he's gone for good. He's never gonna hurt anyone ever again." I said, smiling wider than I can remember ever smiling.
"You're not gonna get any more ouchies, Big Sis?" seven-year-old Himari asked, tugging at my sleeve.
"Well, I can't promise that, honey. You know how clumsy I am. But no more riding crop. I promise you that." I said, fixing her hair.
I took a few minutes to answer all their questions, just taking it all in. They were all so young, they didn't completely understand everything. They just knew I was being hurt and now it's going to stop. Some of the younger ones were crying a little, so I spent a little more time to calm them down. As soon as the last sniffles stopped, Tsukauchi came up to me.
"Miss Yukimura? Is it alright if we have a quick word?" he asked, tipping his hat to the kids.
"Okay. Everyone, just go play in the back, okay? I'll be back there in just a bit."
They all nodded and waved goodbye to the adults, walking out of the foyer toward the back door. As soon as they were out of sight, Tsukauchi led me to the front sitting room. Tamakawa and Eras-Aizawa were already there. I immediately gravitated to the spot beside Aizawa.
"You were exceptionally brave, young lady. And that plan was solid in theory." Tamakawa said, patting my shoulder.
"However, you neglected to tell us he owned a firearm." Tsukauchi added, a little stern.
"I don't think she knew he had it. She was just as shocked as we were when he pulled it on her." Aizawa interjected before I could say anything.
"Yeah, I've never seen it before. He definitely would've waved it around at least once if he'd had it all this time." I said, tenderly poking at my cheek. Ow.
"Aizawa, do you mind patching her up again? Here's a kit." Tsukauchi asked, handing over the first aid kit, "Okay, that helps a little. The fact that he acquired a firearm without notifying the other residents of the household will only add to the charges. Now, on to the future of this home."
"Nobody's leaving this house." I said, my voice as steely as I could make it with Aizawa dabbing my cheek with a cleansing wipe.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. There are siblings here, Tsukauchi. If the kids have to leave here, they could be split up. I will not let that happen."
They all looked at me like I just pulled a rabbit out of my pocket. But I wasn't going to change my mind. I wasn't going to let these families get torn apart.
"Well, it's a good thing we weren't going to suggest relocation." Tamakawa said, smiling.
"Indeed. We just wanted to see if you'd be comfortable running the place for a few days until we can find a suitable replacement. Think you could hold down the fort until then?" Tsukauchi asked, mirroring his partner's smile.
Well that's not what I was expecting. I winced a little as Aizawa closed the gash on my cheek with those weird butterfly bandages. I still couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face.
"Pretty sure I can do that. Few days, huh?" I asked, looking from one face to another.
"Shouldn't take more than a few, yes."
"And there's going to be a thorough check on them? Because I swear I can't deal with another situation like this. The kids can't deal with another situation like this."
"Of course! Fuyu Yukimura, you have my solemn vow; neither you nor any of those children will ever come to harm at the hands of a caregiver inside these walls again. I swear on my life."
The look on Tsukauchi's face was all I needed to know that he meant business. I knew I didn't need to worry. I smiled again.
"Okay. That's that, I guess. Thank you. Thank you so much. All of you."
With that, Tsukauchi and Tamakawa each shook my hand (no palm contact) and took their leave. Aizawa stuck around a few minutes to make sure I didn't actually need stitches in my cheek, but also to make sure I was okay. The man didn't look like much, I'll admit that, but maybe that was what made him a real hero. He was one of the few who wasn't obsessed with popularity or rank. He did what he did for the sake of protecting people. That was it. Well, he couldn't do what he does here. He took his leave as well. But before he could get properly out the door, I stopped him.
"Aizawa, wait!" I called, gently tugging his sleeve.
"What is it?"
"Did you really mean it when you said I'd make a good hero?"
"Yeah. Wouldn't've said it if I didn't."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna be a hero. I'm going to apply to U.A. as soon as I finish middle school. I'm going to make a difference, bring back the true meaning of being a hero. Like you."
He looked surprised for a moment. But just a moment. Then he smiled again and gently ruffled my hair. I laughed.
"You've already made a damn good start. Keep working hard and I know you'll make it. I'll see you at U.A., kid."
With that, my hero went on his way. For once, I was looking forward to waking up in this home. Because that's what I'm going to make it. A temporary home for kids looking for their true homes. Somewhere they can be safe. That's how I'm going to start my journey.
My journey to becoming a hero.