"You're next", a blond man feebly pointed at the camera.
The man was very weak, his face covered in blood, his skinny dishevelled form barely standing. But the look in his azure blue eyes seemed as strong as they'd ever been.
A male teen was watching television, which showed the full encounter between this man, a hero, and a villain. But this wasn't just any hero. It was the Number 1 hero, also known as the Symbol of Peace. The villain he was fighting was equally potent, being the Symbol of Evil. Their fight was intense, as a range of different powers collided with each other, and the young teen's eyes were glued to the screen. He absentmindedly scratched at his own arms a bit, but he was too entranced to notice.
The villain was defeated, signifying a return to peace at last. Seeing the well-built muscular form of the public shrink into an emaciated shell surprised the male greatly. Everyone was surprised; it marked the end of an era.
"All…Might", the boy muttered as he looked at the television screen, his eyes glazed over.
A week passed and the boy barely had any sleep throughout. He was worried sick about his favourite hero; the number one hero, the Symbol of Peace. Due to his mere existence alone, villains wouldn't dare commit any crime. However, it had recently been confirmed that All Might was retiring, a fact which would shake the very foundation of society.
A lone crow soared through the air, arcing through the sky and swooping ominously into cover with a shriek. The boy followed its path with his eyes solemnly. The news had also confirmed that Best Jeanist, the number 4 hero was in critical condition and that the Pussycat's heroics were suspended as well. It was a dark time, and he could do nothing to fix it. He felt powerless. He instinctively reached to scratch is arm, but a noise from under the bridge nearby distracted him.
He approached to find a younger boy wearing the same uniform as him. The young boy was surrounded by three older boys, and was shortly after kicked in the stomach by what looked to be the ringleader. The All Might fan wanted to step in but…he couldn't risk another incident. Not like before. However, when he was one of the older boys reach for the victim's pockets, he instinctively picked up a rock and threw a rock in their direction.
"Huh? You got a problem?" the closest of the three snarled. His arm turned into rock. "Wanna see a real rock punk?" he gestured and approached the other teen. The other two teens also approached menacingly. One reached into his pocket and pulled out a plastic ruler. He did something to it and it started glowing with energy. The third one didn't appear to have a power, or if so, he didn't use it. He assumed a boxing stance. "I knew this would pay off, who needs a Quirk?" he smiled amusingly.
The All Might fan felt heat rising up inside him. "These scum…" he thought immediately, and one of his arms felt unusually hot. However, he calmed down very quickly after. "I-I…"he stammered but then looked away dejectedly. It didn't take long until the teen was covered in bruises. He tried to fight back, but his heart wasn't in it. And he knew that. He didn't have the guts. A whistle was blown, and a light shone into the tunnel bridge. Immediately, the older teens ran away, leaving both victims on the ground. A police officer with his bike approached the victims.
"Are you okay?", the office asked the bruised boy, to which the boy ensured him he'd be fine. "Man, ever since All Might's retirement, things have been getting ridiculous around here. Children attacking other children in broad daylight? This isn't right…not right at all. I'll investigate into those hoodlums mark my words".
They both turned to the first victim who had approached them without notice. He turned to the older boy, "Ummm…thank you", he said while fidgeting nervously.
The older boy smiled at him, and he suddenly felt a lot happier "no problem".
The police officer escorted the younger boy to school. Before they left the bridge, the boy turned around and asked "Who are you?" with fresh and renewed curiosity.
Is watching society burn and the weak suffer all I can do? No. That wasn't it. No way. A fire sparked in his heart.
"I'm Mitsuji Saiga! A hero-in training!" he spoke with determination, with a serious look on his face.
HERO: A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.