Author's Note: I don't own anything. My Hero Academia is written and owned by Kohei Horikoshi.
Tomura Shigaraki was disoriented. Was the sky spinning or was his mind playing tricks on him? Either way, he was convinced that he was going to throw up and was certain that his stomach wasn't supposed to be twisted in a knot.
For an old man, Gran Torino still packed a punch. He did not want to take another blow to the head like he did the last time Gran Torino rushed at him. Perhaps leaning forward to dodge a punch wasn't the best idea after all.
Before he could react, Gran Torino darted towards him before a fist connected with his stomach and sent him flying backwards. The middle school student sputtered out a string of curses as he landed face first into the sand. "Hey, no fair, that's hax and cheat codes if I've ever seen them!" he shouted, scratching at his neck furiously as he tried to track the yellow blur of Gran Torino darting back and forth.
Another jab hit him in the ribs, causing him to sputter and stagger backwards. "Focus more and you wouldn't get hit." his sparring partner scolded.
Tomura gritted his teeth and glared daggers at his opponent, tensing up into a fighting stance.
He'd show him focus!
Curling his hand into a fist, he waited for Gran Torino to move in closer. He smirked as he threw a punch at the silhouette of the incoming speedster.
Tomura's smirk sunk into a scowl as he felt a foot slam into his back, once again landing him face first in the sand. The blue-haired teen cringed and tried to spit. "I swallowed some!" he whined as he stood up.
"I expected a little more than that today, Tomura," Gran Torino chided. "Your form looked sloppy."
Tomura shrunk back, only for a small hand to rest on his shoulder. He flinched, a familiar feeling of self-doubt rising up inside him again as he stared his deteriorating mentor in the face.
The inability to read him, especially behind his smiles always scared him. Was he angry, was he frustrated with his lack of progress, was he disappointed with him? Shigaraki felt a lump form in his throat from the last thought. Was it only a matter of time until the man tossed him aside?
"You seem a bit distracted."
"I'm starting to have second thoughts," Tomura sighed.
"Second thoughts?" All Might echoed, giving him a perplexed look.
"What if I'm not UA material? What if I'm not cut out for the hero course?" Tomura whispered.
All Might's smile seemed to get even bigger as he shifted into his bulky muscular form. "Is that what you're worried about? So what if you're not hero course material, you have plenty of other options with your intellect and ability."
Tomura frowned. "But you told me that my goal should be UA, that I should set my sights to become a hero."
All Might waved his finger in correction. "That's not what I meant at all, my boy!" he exclaimed. "I want you to go to a prestigious school because I believe you have a gift. You have the type of drive and mind of that most people wish for. Whether you become a hero, a support, a business major, or just enroll in general studies does not matter to me. I want to see you succeed!"
The top hero knelt down to look into Tomura's eyes.
"When I told you at the orphanage I was here for you, I meant it."
Shigaraki smiled, his heart beating in his chest. For the first time, he felt valued and loved.
"The sky is the limit for you, Tomura,"
