Over the Top

by papireaz

When I died, I expected a few manga volumes. Maybe to learn what the One Piece is. Instead, I found myself in a world that I recognised, a story I had read and what's worse was that it was a story I had no interest in wanting to involve myself in! Then and again, the offer to become a Hero is far too tempting...

6. Issue 6 REMADE

EDIT:

It looks like this needs a lot of work.

I mean I write these before I write the chapter lol.

Anyway here is a reminder to join the discord for updates and idk just for a cool and chill community. We speak about a bunch of random things there, not just this story. And I'm sort of active there so…

Join!

The code is:

p6HcDQpxuk !

---

The chapter would have come sooner but I was busy, ya know revising for my exams, doing my exams, rereading One Piece, playing Persona 5 Strikers and pissing off Persona 5 fans by saying it's the worst game in the series.

Normal things. So, sorry for the radio silence, this fic hasn't been abandoned!

What song for today's chapter?

Baku - Boruto opening 8.

Why? Eh, despite being disappointed in Boruto's current direction I still have a soft spot for the entire series/: Summary:

Take it from the top. It's me, Sora Yamazaki. I guess the summary up to now has been a little too jokey, apart from the fact these past few years in my life have been occupied by "filler" characters. Anyway, better than being alone? Right? Right...?

---

With a vein popping out of her forehead, my teacher read out my essay in a thunderous voice. Being forced to listen to it made me cringe a little, my vocabulary wasn't good enough. Was that the correct term? I think so. I was mostly using a bunch of long words, stringing them together in an effort to sound more sophisticated than I was - If it worked in my previous life, it would work here, right?

Wrong.

Oh so very wrong.

Shiyama-sensei dramatically put her hand on her forehead, as if she was about to feint as she finished reading my essay back to me. "To conclude, my life in middle school was nothing short of disastrous. With the only saving grace being my friends, how could I possibly put to words the annoyance I feel coming to this school, especially when I'm called a brute, or something along those lines." She sighed deeply. "Listen, Yamazaki. What was the assignment I gave to you in class?"

I scratched my head in confusion, did she not know? She just read my essay on it, didn't she? "Uh, it was to write an essay on our middle school life so far, and what could have been better."

She nodded.

"Exactly, so where exactly is what could be better in your essay? To me, all it is written here is you complaining about it, not what could be better or how you see yourself in the future."

I blinked.

"See yourself in the future? I don't remember you saying that!?"

Shiyama-sensei sighed again, worriedly ruffling her hair. "Maybe Yamazaki if you paid more attention in my class and then continued to raise your blood sugar levels, you would have met all the criteria for a top mark. As it stands this doesn't even pass, so maybe you should slow down on the convenience store one hundred Yen steals, and instead focus on doing your work!" She yelled at me.

"What's the problem with sweets Shiyama-sensei, what if I told you there were necessary for me to live 'cause' of my Quirk? Wouldn't that be discriminatory or something?"

The corner of her mouth twitched upwards. "Yamazaki, if it weren't for the fact that you are my student, I'd have you hanged up here naked right here and now for insubordination."

I stared at her.

"Insubordination? We are in a school sensei, not in the army."

She sighed yet again. "Curses. Naturally, the gifted kid is snarky, snarky enough to verbally spar with me. Honestly, I deserve a pay rise..."

I awkwardly stood there as she passed me back my essay, most of it highlighted red.

"Redo your essay, this time tone down on the self-pity humour and try to do what I asked. You made a joke of this assignment, I bet half, No what you wrote doesn't even apply to you. Annoyance at coming to school? Maybe a year ago, but not now. Were you writing this from the version of yourself a year ago? Maybe you should spend less time playing games so that you have enough sleep during school."

I scowled.

"But teacher don't you always get my references? If you know the games I play, then you understand it's not as simple as just 'stop playing', it's more nuanced than that. I have to play them."

"Then maybe you should stop talking like a drug addict Yamazaki, as your teacher I should be calling your guardians and having a talk over your... circumstances in this class," She said. "If it wasn't for me and that Fujiwara, you probably would have been kicked out a long time ago. Sure your behaviour has been better recently, but your attitude in class still needs a massive overhaul should you wish to go to a hero school. U.A. aren't going to accept someone who has a crippling sugar addiction."

"Yes sensei, whatever ya' say. When's the submission date?" I replied, rolling my eyes a little when she stuffed her hands in her pockets and pulled out a packet of sweets. She was just like me?!

What a damned hypocrite!

"See this Yamazaki," She started, pointing at the bag in front of her. "Work hard, play hard. Eat some sweets after you are done with your work, not before. Diabetic people don't become heroes - It's a safety hazard apparently, according to some school's rules. And... give me the new and improved essay in about two months. That should be plenty of time for you to write something acceptable. Oh and wipe that look off your face, you look like a prelude to a school massacre. Are you a terrorist? Or just a fool?"

"No. But I think you are thinking too much of me, expecting me to write something perfect."

She scoffed. "Perfection? Everyone strives for perfection, but perfection is not so easy to narrow down. It would be like explaining the sun to someone who has never seen it before, it entirely is up to you. I'd rather you came up with an imperfect essay that comes across as you, rather than a 'perfect' boring essay."

"I don't suppose you find heroes perfect then do you?" I asked curiously.

Shimaya-sensei shook her head as she ate another sweet. "Perfect heroes? Kid, have you ever studied philosophy? Heroes don't exist. Heroes are a childish fantasy, those 'pro-heroes' are nothing more but an imperfect police force that uses their goodwill to its advantage. Open your eyes and really look around, what can the so-called 'Symbol of Peace' do to human nature, always looking for perfection in imperfect things."

I studied my teacher for a moment.

"Yamazaki, I won't bash you for trying to be a hero. But I do have to ask, what does a hero mean to you? Do you wish to be a 'perfect' symbol, or an imperfect man trying their best to help? Would you rather strive to protect our current society, or help it from within? I think what a lot of current heroes lack is the drive for change, the drive to change the 'grid' which we call human life."

My brows shot up. Grid?

"I can tell you're confused, don't worry it's not exactly something I understand either. Sora, to me life is like a grid. In a computer grid, many components work together to create something as a whole that can develop, can improve. Sounds idealistic, right? A former student of mine wrote a thesis on it, she called it the tragic nature of us humans. That the 'grid' we live in can evolve, can become better yet we don't allow it to evolve. That our imperfections stop us from becoming perfect as a society."

I scoffed.

"Sounds like they were trying to be edgy and philosophical while using concepts that most people don't understand."

Shiyama-sensei nodded.

"True, she was a pain to teach since she constantly preached about heroes being glorified villains. She was shunned you know, by the student populous, for being too 'radical'. She committed suicide months after."

I flinched slightly.

"Sounds like that was rough for you," I said. "And rough for the student's family."

My teacher nodded. "Yeah... She was gifted, a bit like you in a way. She too had struggled when writing this essay."

I smirked slightly as I asked cheekily, "So you gave this essay to the other years as well? Seems a bit lazy to me." She threw a sweet at me, luckily I managed to catch it in time before it hit the floor I popped it in my mouth.

"Oi, being a teacher isn't easy. We have to deal with smart-asses like you all the time, people who can't see perfection in front of them despite searching for it," I scratched my head in confusion. "Honestly Sora, being a 'genius' so to speak won't help you in figuring this out. You're always constantly looking to be even better and you don't understand that you are already good enough. Instead of revising, or playing all those games, why won't you hang out more with people, with the real world, not ones and zeros."

I laughed.

"If it was as easy as that Shiyama-sensei, I wouldn't be here right now."

"Well, at least you don't seem like a total shut-in, at least you have friends that you care about. Anyway, enough of my ramblings, at this rate I will miss the soap opera at seven. Leave, and don't forget your essay, or else I will have you punished for your transgressions against the school rules."

Tch, another reference. I waved goodbye as I walked out of her office, pulling out a lollipop from my pocket, strawberry and cream. My favourite flavour. Luckily it wasn't the Wasabi flavour, I still had nightmares from that incident. Shirou, with tears in his eyes who was supporting Sakura from collapsing to the floor, while Miwa and Jiro were trying their hardest to help me. Stupid essay, stupid teacher, stupid school. It's kinda hard to write about your middle school life when you didn't have one. I mean sure I have friends now, when I'm gonna graduate in around about a year.

School had already ended, meaning everyone had already gone home. That meeting took over forty minutes! Forty! Within that time I could have gone home, bought some snacks and already read a few chapters of a new series. Instead here I was, basking in the February sun as I walked to the train station. Alone.

Sometimes, life was a pain.

---

C

H

A

P

T

E

R

Six

'Hit the ball in the centre!'

---

"No," I managed to say. Honestly, who did he think he was? Ordering me around like that?

"But come on Sora-chan! Stop being a stupid baka and come play sports with us!" Sui moaned as he tapped on his phone furiously, playing some random gacha game.

"First of all Miura, don't stupid and baka mean the same thing? Second of all, stop playing mobile games in front of me you peasant. What are you trynna do, grind for a jpeg?" I yelled at the bastard.

"Maa, maa Sora-chan you didn't need to grill me that hard. I get sunburned easily you know?" I sighed. Trust Sui Miura to grind on my nerves like no tomorrow. "Anyway Sora-chan, the captain is asking when you'll be able to come to the next session. He says it would help him if you helped coach him cause' you are crazy good. His words, not mine."

I had a feeling a tic might have appeared on my forehead as I hit the boy on the head, not hard of course. Just enough to put him in a coma. Hopefully.

"Oww, Sora-chan you know that's not nice?" Sui said in the same tone as always. "What if my Quirk decided to pop up right then and there? It would be a pain to handle the police after killing someone."

I growled.

"Oh yeah? What the hell is your Quirk then if it would put you in trouble with the police?!" He smiled at me.

"I have no Quirk."

I stared at him silently, hoping to god that I'd burn a hole in him.

"Only joking Sora-chan, I do have a Quirk but it's not that good. I can locate things within five metres away from me, so if you are going to ask for me to locate your social skills I'm afraid you didn't lose them, you just never had any," He said plainly. "I can't even find your girlfriend as Miwa-chan isn't here either-," I cut him off as I pushed him forward slightly, his head bumping into a nearby pole.

"Ha!" I yelled. "She's my sister you freak!"

"Then why is your face so red-,"

He was cut off again as he walked into another pole, this time causing me to burst out laughing.

"Seems like the poles don't like you today, Miura. A shame."

Sui rolled his eyes.

We were always like this.

He and I.

Our friend group always made fun of it.

"Seems like no girl likes you. A shame."

"You have no girl that likes you either, idiot."

"True," Sui then smirked at me. "But what if I dated your sister?"

I growled.

"Shut up bastard, before I make you shut up permanently."

He smirked slightly as he gripped his knees with his hands, mocking me slightly as he yelled, "Oh, scaaaaary! Shiver me' timbers, Sora-chan is going to kill me! No way!" If it wasn't for the fact the bastard was on the school football team and the fact that if I killed him our captain would then kill me, Sui Miura would have been tied up and thrown on the road a long time ago.

I sighed as I pulled out a bag of sweets from my bag.

"Oh, Sora-chan can you pass me the sour ones-," Unfortunately, he was cut off as a cloud-shaped fist smashed into his face, knocking him to the ground with a thud. That put a smile on my face.

"I'm sorry Miura, did ya' say something?" I asked politely, shoving a sour-sweet in my mouth.

Sui sighed slightly.

"You are such a sadistic person, Sora-chan, how can you be a hero like that?"

I laughed. Is the pot calling the kettle?

"Says the guy who loves to enjoy making people's lives hell in the most minuscule of things." Sui hummed slightly as if he was agreeing with me.

"You aren't exactly wrong there Sora-chan. Maybe I should now call you Sora-stalker 'cause' you seem to know a lot about me. What's your opinion on it?" I ignored him as I felt a buzz inside my pocket.

It was my phone.

Miwa: Sora

Miwa: Call me as soon as you see this

I stopped slightly as I stared at my phone screen. Did something happen? Obviously, something did happen, but Miwa didn't even call me the usual 'stupid idiot brother', that was cause for suspicion at least. Sui sensed something was wrong as he walked forward without me, plugging his headphones in as he waved at me.

"Ja ne Sora-stalker," He called to me, probably resulting in one of my veins popping.

Seriously, that guy has issues.

Even still, I wouldn't lie and say he wasn't a good friend of mine.

Pressing the call button, I raised my phone to my right ear, anxious as each ring passed by without Miwa picking up. Was she in trouble? My fists tightened slightly as my head kept coming up with possible situations Miwa could be in. None however were entirely correct once the phone picked up and a male voice greeted me.

"Hello? Who is this?"

Oh shit.

I managed to keep calm as I checked to be sure I called the correct person. After all, why would the principal at our school pick up Miwa's phone?

"Hello? Mr Yamazaki? Your daughter here has been caught up in an altercation with another student and we would like to set up a meeting, preferably today." My mind blanked. And altercation? Miwa? "Mr Yamazaki? Are you there?"

I quickly scrambled around as I coughed slightly.

"Oh yes, I'm free today. I'll come right away." I replied, putting on a deeper voice. Hopefully, the bastard wouldn't notice.

"Ah perfect, please drop by the school premises preferably at six PM today." I nodded before my mind went into full panic. How the fuck was I supposed to go to the meeting pretending to be our adoptive father?

I was short-,

...

I had blue hair. Seriously, the school knew I was adopted! If they saw 'Mr Yamazaki' with blue hair it would be a red herring, not to mention with such a familiar voice and knowing where to go inside the building. So then, the question was who would take my place? It's not like I knew many trustworthy adults to help me in my endeavour, not to mention Gekko and Hinata could not be told, or informed.

This was my mission.

Mission...

Ah Ha! I got it!

I had hoped his number was saved, and luckily enough his number was right at the bottom of my phone. Pressing call, he immediately opened it as I shouted down the phone.

"Oi, I have a job for you. Wear a suit and meet me here by the three today. It's easy money." Odd Job's Dai, or should I say former Odd Job's Dai greeted me as he wore a grey pinstriped suit that looked recently ironed, his beanie still on his head. He looked just the same as I remembered from a few months ago.

It was now April.

I was now a year away from going to U.A.

If I got in, of course.

"Hey kid, what's the rush?" Daiki greeted me.

"I need you to pretend to be my adoptive father for a school meeting."

Daiki owlishly blinked at me as he nodded shortly after. "Sweet, always wanted to go back to school. Anything I need to know?"

"Your name is Gekko Yamazaki, and you adopted me as well as a girl called Miwa. Pretty sure that's it, I'll answer most of the questions. Also, put away the beanie, it makes you look young."

"I amyoung," I rolled my eyes at his comment.

"Suuuuuure," He huffed slightly louder this time.

"Oh come on, I'm not even twenty-eight yet. How's that old?"

"Never said it was."

After all, wasn't I seventeen plus nearly fifteen? Or Was I just close to fifteen?

Either way, Odd Job's Dai complied with my request as he took off his signature maroon beanie and put it inside his pocket, instead he pulled out a cigarette. At the odd look I gave him, Daiki explained to me, "Need to play the part of a dad you know, and don't they all smoke?"

I shrugged my shoulders. I think Gekko didn't smoke, but if it helped him get into character, it helped.

"All right then, let's go," I said as I led him towards the location of our school.

"Damn kid, you and that other girl go to such a big school. I remember our school was up a mountain, trekking towards it each morning was a journey itself."

I rolled my eyes, obvious over-exaggeration.

"Oh and let me guess, you had to fight a yellow octopus as your teacher? What's next, you had an assassin as your English teacher?"

He grinned as he responded with a middle finger.

"You know kid, as your 'father' I really should be disciplining you for disobedience." I scowled.

"What am I? Your dog?"

"Isn't that what children are? Go fetch me the remote, or go bring me my glasses. Hell, my own dad asked me to bring his packets of condoms sometimes." I cringed slightly.

"Why?"

He ruffled my hair as he replied, "Cause' he said he didn't want any more mistakes like me. Anyway jokes on him, now I have a kid of my own... for a job at least. Want one?" He asked, offering me a cigarette.

I shook my head. "Can't smoke yet, too young."

"Oh come on, just one. What's the worst that can happen?" I grabbed the cigarette and I threw it in the nearest bin.

"Apart from you potentially being seen as an unfit caretaker, and social services are called to arrest you for child endangerment, then it coming out that you aren't really my adoptive father, I don't know 'dad', what could possibly go wrong?"

He sniffed slightly.

"Tch kid, I thought your mother raised you better than this! We told you to never waste money and look at you now! She would be rolling in her grave if she saw you right now!" I slapped the back of his head, hard.

"She's still alive dumbass. Can't have you going around claiming your 'wife' is dead, would get us in trouble." Daiki's grin grew predatory at that however as he cut me off with a single question that made me regret everything.

"Does that mean I get a wife on this job?"

Unfortunately, he was interrupted as a piece of cloud flicked his ear rather aggressively.

"Ow, what the shit was that?" He exclaimed, rubbing his right ear in pain.

"Are you that desperate for some female action?" I asked slightly disgusted. "God damn. How the hell are you going to convince Chinoike that you're my father? Damn. I'm so lucky Gekko didn't meet the fat fuck."

"Why can't your Mum be here?"

"Because then my Dad would be here! And I don't want either of them to know that my sister got in trouble," I explained to him once more. "Like I said, your role here is to shut up and pretend you are our Dad. That's all. If anything, just shut your mouth and let me do the talking."

"You know, after that whole business with Saki and Makoto, and now this, you're a good kid," Daiki told me. "I'm proud of you… son-, No, that doesn't sound right." I rolled my eyes at the man I had hired.

"My Dad always tells me he's proud of me."

"My Dad said I was a horrible son and should be punished," Daiki replied with a grin. "Oh, should I pretend to be disabled? That way you can talk and I can nod every now and then! Ha, what a foolproof plan!"

"That's… no."

"Why not?"

"Because," I began, punching him in the arm. "That's a bit of a stupid plan. Just follow my lead, okay? Dumbass. Don't fuck it up and maybe I'll even give you a tip, alright?" The way Daiki's eyes shone brightly at that was sort of pathetic.

Was that all the motivation he needed?

"So, any hot chicks around here? Adult chicks, I mean."

"I didn't doubt you were speaking about the adults."

"Well, a few months ago you thought I was trying to sleep with that Saki girl," Daiki replied. "I just wanted to make sure, you know. Clear the air properly. I don't like children romantically, you know, like any other normal adult."

"It never crossed my mind," I told him honestly. "Could we, I don't know, not have this discussion in a school?"

"But-,"

I shook my head at him.

"Alright. Anyways, I would never cheat on my lovely Aimi-,"

"Hinata."

"I would never cheat on my lovely Hinata! I'm a perfect husband and father!"

…I sighed.

There was no way Chinoike would believe this farce.

I mean, I didn't and I was the one in charge of directing this 'play'. Seriously, why did I think that Daiki would be able to pull it off?! He was incompetent at best and downright awful at worst. I mean seriously, he was picking his nose and scratching his arse!

In a school!

On the way to meet his pretend daughter!

Leering at the female teachers who looked at us!

"She's hot," Daiki said a little too loudly as he pointed at Shimaya-sensei. I sighed as she overheard us and began to walk this way, kicking Daiki in the ankles as he groaned in pain loudly. "Ow! Oh, why's she walking towards us-,"

I kicked him again.

"Sora?"

"Yes, sensei?"

"Who is this?"

We both stared at Daiki who spun around on the spot.

"This is…" I sighed heavily as Daiki tried to grin at Shimaya-sensei, I suppose he thought it was a 'sexy grin' but if anything, it made him look stupid. "He's my… father."

"Oh."

"Howdy," Daiki began. "How's my son doing in your class? You know, if he's doing horrible, I'm sure we can arrange some one-on-one lessons at my house…" Shimaya-sensei looked at him, turning back to me as I slapped my forehead loudly.

"Sora…"

"I know," I nodded. "I know."

"Know what?" Daiki asked in confusion. "My son, what's wrong? My SON?! SON?!"

I simply kept quiet as his shouts got the attention of more teachers.

"SOOOOOOOOOON-,"

Daiki was finally shut up when I kicked him in the balls, really loudly.

Not very 'heroic' but I didn't care.

"Sorry," I apologised to everyone. "He's a bit loony. His Quirk makes him act like this, something about reducing the cells in his brain to have more of a perfect memory. Or something. I'm not very good at science. Anyway, I'm going to go now. Bye!"

I rushed down the corridor, dragging Daiki along with me.

"Ow!" Daiki yelled. "Why do you keep hurting me?!"

"Because you-,"

"Ahem."

We both looked around and saw a middle-aged, heavy-looking man staring at us slightly amused, and slightly annoyed. We had kept him and Miwa waiting, which wasn't a good thing for us.

Not at all.

"Mr Yamazaki, I presume? You even brought your other ward, not like we discussed on the phone. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk," He said rather bemused as he held his hand out. "My name is Jinta Chinoike, the Head Teacher of the school your children are in. Please, follow me."

I scowled as the fat man turned around and waddled towards his office, strutting around as if he owned the place. Bastard infuriated me a lot, even more considering he never gave a shit about his students. He was only in it for the paycheck, he had no regard as to what happened to his students.

"So I guess he's important, right?" Dai whispered to me as I nodded.

"Let me do the talking, I promise I'll put the fat shit in his place," I replied.

"It's rude to be fat-phobic you know, I raised you better than this."

I rolled my eyes, tuning him out for the time being.

"So Mr Yamazaki," the principal said as he opened the door for us, Miwa sitting inside. "Come in, come in. Sit anywhere."

Miwa looked at us, in surprise, confusion and thankfulness.

"So Miwa," Chinoike began. "Do you have anything to say to your father?"

She giggled slightly.

Come on.

Don't bloody give it away already!

"This isn't a laughing matter young lady, what you did was a serious offence-," Chinoike was cut off as Daiki ran up to Miwa and started to rub his cheek against hers. It was slightly embarrassing, especially as Miwa reciprocated.

…

"Oh, Miwa-chan, how could you do this to your mother and me?! We raised you to be so much better than this, how dare you be caught with boys in the toilet! I thought you said you would marry Daddy when you were younger. What happened to our promise?"

Chinoike looked at Dai confused as Miwa turned as red as a tomato, struggling to find the correct words. What the fuck was this guy talking about?! I panicked, rubbing my temples as Chinoike turned to look at me in a mixture of surprise and annoyance.

"This is…?"

"Yeah," I nodded shakily. "Sadly. I had to get him out of the mental ward for this meeting.

"Oh."

"Hey!" Daiki snapped at me. "I'm not retarded!"

"Mr Yamazaki, I believe your son wasn't trying to belittle you. And please, do not use that word. It is highly inappropriate."

Daiki snorted.

"Alright. Now, why was I called here?"

"Your daughter savagely attacked a classmate, using a pair of scissors to cut a ponytail off another girl," Chinoike explained. "This is because they said something nasty about Sora here. Now, had Sora been in the class, your son would have likely gotten involved - Thankfully, that didn't happen."

"What kind of bitch speaks about me behind my back?"

"Aimi," Miwa answered. "But I told that bitch off."

"Ah. Good."

Daiki simply grinned at us.

"My two children have grown so fine! Ah, well thank you Chibinosuke-sensei, I think we'll now take our leave-,"

"Please, the meeting is not over. We have to discuss your son's future as well," I gulped at my Head Teacher who turned to look at me seriously. "It would be a shame here if young Sora wasn't able to complete his form of application for U.A. because his father didn't listen."

Daiki too realised this was serious as he gave me a look that could only be described as 'I think I will shit my trousers mate'. Miwa bit her lip nervously as I sat forward in my chair and stared at Chinoike.

"As I was saying, Miwa here was involved in a physical altercation with another student. Very unusual of her," Chinoike sneered as he looked in my direction. "Although considering who is around her it's not a shock given people change depending on who they surround themselves with. Someone who has historically been a bully and hurt many people."

Miwa too frowned at his, shooting me an apologetic look but I grinned at her. It wasn't her fault. It could never be her fault. I couldn't exactly deny what Chinoike was saying, I had historically hurt and bullied people.

That was-,

"What are you trying to say here?" Daiki said unexpectedly. His hands were trembling slightly. "You're blaming everything on the mistakes of one kid? Historically he may have done it, but you can see with your own two eyes that he's changed. You know, good teachers are a dime a dozen. You, however, there are many teachers like you. You people never change, you only live to ruin your students ' lives." I was stunned.

What the heck was he on about?

"Blaming a kid like him for her actions, don't you understand that people can think on their own? That maybe it ain't always the student's fault?"

Chinoike scoffed. "Oh really? Young Sora has nearly been kicked out of this school multiple times. Refusal to follow rules, getting into multiple physical altercations, and in some cases even bullying. Maybe you should take a look into your own actions of raising this delinquent."

Daiki nearly stood up from his seat, ready to charge at the man. It was only a stern look from me and Miwa holding him back as best as she could that made him regain his composure, ever so slightly.

"...Don't blame him or my Mum for my actions," I told Chinoike. "I was a bully because I thought I knew better. I thought I was better. Now, now I know I'm not better. They tried to change me, but I didn't listen. So don't make accusations of them raising me badly because they did the best they could with a horrid son."

"...Sora," Miwa whispered.

"No, I'm not going to take shit from him," I told her, glaring at Chinoike. "Listen up, you fat fuck, Miwa didn't do shit because of me. You know what, even if I was in the room, I wouldn't have done shit either. Do you know why? Because I don't care. I can put up with it now, a helluva lot more than I could before. So you can chat all the shit you want about me but don't chat shit about my family."

"...Duly noted."

It was funny how despite how much I tried for it not to, how much of a lid I had over it this past year, my anger still was there. And it threatened to spill as I glared at Chinoike, who simply glared back.

"I'm goin' to make it into U.A."

"With your record, it's unlikely they accept you."

"Then change it," I replied. "I haven't been in trouble for nearly a year now, I keep up my behaviour and that'll be two. That means I only got in trouble for a year at his place. Can't we just call it a rough time for me? That I could settle down in this school properly?"

Chinoike scoffed at that.

"You wish to bargain with me over changing your school record? That's illegal, Yamazaki," Chinoike replied. "Take a look at your family, see how shocked they are! How could you ever be a hero if you are so nonchalant about breaking the rules."

"I was joking."

But deep down… I wasn't joking.

And everyone in the room knew it.

"And yet you wish to be a hero? You, who is the most selfish out of all the students in your year? You constantly drag your so-called 'friends' into breaking the school rules. Congrats, you haven't bullied anyone in a while but that doesn't mean the constant disrespect we face from you is acceptable behaviour," My lips tightened at that. "That's right. Not to mention all that business with young Keiko all those months back during the school trip, your entire profile is full of misdeeds. And you wish to become a hero? At U.A. no less?"

I shoved my hands deeper down my pockets as I stared at the floor.

"Fuck, I changed! You keep on saying this shit like I care! Sure, I can be a little disrespectful sometimes, but not to everyone! What, Shimaya-sensei and Fujiwara-sensei joke back! Hell, they're the only two teachers I really speak to!" I told him. "And just because I'm rude to you doesn't mean shit. You called us in here about Miwa just to take shots at me, how the hell do you expect me to keep quiet?!"

"I'm the Head Teacher here!"

"And I'm still human!" I shouted back at him. "I'm still just a kid, no matter what you want to say. I changed, damn it. Yeah, I still have my anger issues. Yeah, I'm still disrespectful and maybe I'll cut class every now and then. But I'm doing it because I don't care about anyone, I'm doing it because I do care. Because I've been taking everything seriously, and you can't deny that. I'll slip up, but I still won't give up! I'm still getting back up and fighting."

My Head Teacher was silent at that.

"Sora… don't listen to him," Miwa told me. "Listen, we can just go home and Mum and Dad can make you transfer schools. Don't… don't make another mistake that'll hurt your chances of getting into U.A.-,"

Chinoike snorted at that.

"I decide who gets to apply there or not. You forget, U.A. asks us for references on the students who apply, and I'm forced to give one every year," Chinoike explained. "I could so easily tell them how you would not be a good fit for them. But I don't agree with that at all."

Huh?

I watched as Chinoike smiled at me.

"Listen well, Yamazaki. You have changed. You are well aware of your negatives, things you should continue to improve on, and I do mean it - But to say that the past can just be swept away is also untrue. I have to mention your past to U.A., they can access your file and request answers from me anyway," Chinoike told me. "I can't hide that fact. While I did call you all in here today for Miwa, I'm concerned about her behaviour."

"Then… what's the point in me being here?" She asked him.

"Originally, I just wanted to talk to your parents about this incident not occurring. And of course talk to them about how we can truly help Sora shine in his application to U.A.," Chinoike replied. "But then I saw Sora walk in here, and I had to truly make sure you understood. I tested you. And you failed the test, and if you think U.A. won't test you even harder, then I'm afraid you are mistaken. You say you've changed yet that temper of yours will get you into trouble."

I shrugged my shoulders at that.

"So I'll put a lid on it."

"That's not going to work, you know yourself better than anyone here and look at you," Chinoike said, shaking his head. "All you've done is come here and scream and shout when things haven't gone your way. In that sense, you have rubbed off on young Miwa here. Because neither she, sitting in her seat, can sit still without glaring at me. I understand I'm not particularly nice, but no Head Teacher is nice. This isn't a school, we shape you - the next generation - to become leaders."

…

"I don't care about leading-,"

"We shape you students to become better. Say what you will about me or my staff, but the truth is, Sora Yamazaki, you just can't accept that we'll always treat you differently," Chinoike cut me off. "Just because you've changed doesn't erase your past. The people you hurt aren't going to be healed because the person who hurt them rejects what happened. In that sense, how do you truly believe that you've changed?"

I gulped at that.

I…

I…

"You look at me as if I'm horrible. But look at it from my perspective, I'm having to deal with the most volatile student that's ever darkened these halls trying to change things around without ever apologising, without ever truly accepting what they did to many students in this school," Chinoike said. "Not to mention the constant rudeness and disrespect shown to my staff who shouldn't have to deal with it. You say we are at fault, yet you still can't take a good look at yourself. Isn't that hypocrisy at its finest? You're just running away from the truth."

Ah-,!

I-,!

N…

"Sir," Miwa cut in. "That's… harsh."

"And no less true for U.A. They can't see that you've changed for the better, all they can see is your record and whatever the reference says about you. Teachers who've had to deal with you. The positive and the negative all rolled into one," Chinoike told us. "You can claim I'm wrong, but I've seen it happen before. You aren't the first, nor the last student to act out and be rejected from a path they wanted because of their past actions. I can't guarantee you that U.A. won't take a look at your record and reject you. That's what I want to talk about."

"...So what can I do?"

Chinoike grinned at that.

"Truly? Just truly continue how you've been, continue to change and grow. You still have a few issues to iron out, that anger for one, but you are a student here. One who despite having many turbulent times throughout your two years here has constantly remained at the top of your classes, one who is gifted in many ways," Chinoike praised me. "And yes, even now you break the rules. I cannot condone that, even if it may be for someone's sake. The rules are the rules, just as the law is the law. A hero must follow them. And, so so do you."

Tch.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

"What's the point in all this? You're just telling me shit I already know," I replied. "Yeah, I was a bastard and I could pay the price. But you're also telling me that U.A.'s probably gonna give me a chance, so what the hell is this conversation for?! Are you trying to motivate me or are you telling me to give up on my dreams? Which is it?!"

"Neither," Chinoike answered. "I'm telling you that no matter what, the school will look for your best interest. We will fight hard to ensure that you get a fair chance, despite your historic record here. All I'm asking you to do is not mess up. Not falter… And not bring in people claiming to be your father in a serious meeting."

Daiki chuckled at that.

"Is it obvious?"

"I taught you. Twelve years ago. English."

Daiki blinked at that.

"Oh yeah, I forgot I went to this school," Daiki muttered, scratching his head in embarrassment. "Man, you guys really spruced up the whole place. Wait, isn't this a new building? Oh. That's why the old building is abandoned every time I drive past it. Huh."

I sighed, slapping my forehead.

"Will this…"

"No," Chinoike told me. "This won't go on your record. Funnily enough, I haven't ever seen a student someone bring in a fake parent so that their sibling wouldn't get in trouble. As I said, Yamazaki. I don't want to see you fail, but the only one who can fail you is yourself. Don't be the reason why you can't be a hero. Your family, your friends, and even us at the school are pushing for you to get into U.A. After all, it looks good for the school."

That's the only reason?!

I couldn't help but shake my head in disappointment.

I got played like a fiddle.

"Alright, alright. I'll try to stop with the disrespect, no promises though," I said to him. "If a teacher or student gets on my nerves, I ain't gonna just shut up about it. And I'll try and stop getting angry so easily. Whatever. I guess you're right."

Chinoike chuckled.

"Of course I'm right, I've been teaching for over twenty years. You're a good kid, and you can be better, just don't ruin it for yourself," He told me. "And please, if a teacher asks you to do something, just do it. And if you want to do some extra credit, just ask. It'll look good on your application form. And once again, please don't break the rules. Like today."

Okay, okay.

I yawned tiredly.

I got the memo.

"Are we done, now?"

"Just remember, Yamazaki. As the football players would say, 'hit the ball in the centre and don't miss.'"

…

No football player had ever said that.

Even as I left his office with Miwa, Daiki had chosen to stay behind to speak to his old teacher, I couldn't help but sigh loudly. Miwa reassured me silently, tapping my back lightly as we walked through the empty hallways of our school.

In a year, I wouldn't be here anymore.

Despite everything that had happened in this school, I couldn't help but feel saddened by that. The 'future' I had dreamed of, going to U.A. and becoming a Hero wasn't that far off. The vision I had seen of Jiro at the USJ…

That wasn't far off either.

"Sora?"

"I'm fine, honestly," I told Miwa with a smile on my face. "Everything's gonna be alright. Don't worry about it!"

If I didn't believe that, then no one else would.

---

I sighed.

After that meeting with the principal, he agreed to look for extra-credit programs to help me prepare for U.A. Needless to say, I regretted a lot of things. Attending this hell hole was number one. Firstly, I began to help around the school.

Not in an 'oh, the cleaner needs some help!' kind of way.

Had it been that maybe I wouldn't have felt so tired all the time.

I was running around between different teachers and clubs helping them out with various tasks, such as managing a club's finances or helping mark tests and homework. It ate away into my spare time, lunches that were once spent with friends messing about and relaxing were now spent stuck in a stuffy room with a mountain of paperwork awaiting me and the flattened sandwiches I hastily prepared before I even got to school.

Largely, it was concerning how many times I had skipped eating lunch just to finish some work.

But that was the life of an adult.

Day in, day out monotony.

When I became a Hero, at least I wouldn't have to deal with it.

The only positive of my new arrangement was that the days seemingly passed by faster, April quickly turned to June as I wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead and began to finish the last essays Shimaya-sensei had dropped on my desk. At the very least I was able to get closer with my teachers since most now owed me favours, which meant the already easy schoolwork became practically a non-issue for me.

Even essentially now fifteen years removed from my previous life, I guess some skills would never fade away.

Yawning, I finished marking the final essay from a random first-year and got up from my seat. Shimaya-sensei would be back any moment considering lunch was starting soon, but then that meant that I'd have to run all the way to the Maths office and deal with even more numbers.

Uh.

I liked Maths when it wasn't forced down my throat.

Opening my packed lunch… wasn't a pretty sight.

It looked like I was off to the cafeteria to get some lunch early.

There was something to say about a school five minutes before lunchtime was supposed to start - An almost bubbling sense of joy. Some students had already been let out by teachers who were either annoyed or inexperienced at keeping a handle on the students, and you could see the envious faces of other kids who could see their contemporaries joyously mucking about even if all they had was an extra five minutes.

Paying for the chicken pasta pot, I sat down at a table by myself and ate my food at a blistering pace. It was technically my first meal of the day. Within a few minutes, I shoved the empty pot aside and yawned, resting my head on the table.

I'd have a small nap, just a few minutes…

…

"Ooh, senpai look at Sora-stalker! He's sleeping at lunch, such a rule breaker, maybe we should wake him up by spilling his Fanta-," Sui Miura didn't get the chance to finish his sentence as I woke up and automatically slapped his freshly bought sandwich out of his hands and onto the floor. "Tsk, such a naughty boy. You know you shouldn't be playing with your food like that, there are some people in the world who can't eat food Sora, you should be more grateful."

I sighed once more, this lunch break was looking to be a long one.

"Sui, shut up or else I'll make you run one hundred laps to the EXTREME!" Shoichi-senpai said, waving his arms around like a crazed maniac, but the grin never left his face. He then turned to face me, his grin widening. "Sora, I have a favour to ask. I know you've been helping out the other clubs lately, and while you're technically in the football club, you haven't shown up to a game in over a year."

"I've been… busy."

"Still, as the Captain of the squad, we're in our final year together. The three of us joined the team at the same time, when we were young lads dreaming of making it to the finals of this country's football divisions, of eventually becoming pros!" Shoichi passionately declared. "But… that dream has failed for both you and me."

Huh?

"I never wanted to play football professionally."

"Truly?"

"Well," I slouched at that, scratching my cheek. "Maybe when I was a kid. Back in my old-, When I was younger, I played a lot of it. Was a part of a Sunday league team and everything. But my coach dropped me. Said I just wasn't good enough and I guess… Well dropping that on a seven-year-old just to boost your son who plays in the same positions isn't exactly going to do wonders for the kid. Especially not me."

"So you grew disillusioned from the sport?"

"I guess," I jerked my head at that. "I don't know. I love the game, just not playing it."

That's what happened in my old life.

My old man - He pushed me too hard in one way, and my coach pushed me too hard in the other way. Ultimately, all I wanted to do was just play and love football like I always did but it just wasn't possible as I grew up and repeatedly tried to play professionally.

Try-out after try-out.

But after what my coach had done to me…

Well, I didn't exactly blame myself for giving up on that career path.

Then a few years later I was hit by a truck, died, and got reincarnated in a world full of heroes.

Even in this world, I was still outclassed even as a kid.

I just wasn't cut out for the sport I loved.

"Your help is needed here, Sora. At our club. Are you interested?"

I nodded as I sipped my strawberry milk in peace, hoping his favour wouldn't be too 'extreme'. That was primarily the reason I called him Shoichi-senpai, the fact was that he didn't look fifteen but he was the youngest in the year, even if he stood over a head taller than me with more facial hair than possible.

"Ah, glad to see you are drinking milk. It's good for the bones and height growth." Shoichi added, promptly causing me to spit out all the milk I had.

"Hey, what-, I'm not drinking this for height growth! I just like milk!"

Sui giggled a little as he pointed at me, and then to the bottle of milk. "Ha." He said, causing my nerves to flare up in annoyance. Or whatever, the point was being near the guy made me ache, but hearing him speak?

"Miura, stop antagonising Sora. My apologies for my rudeness, Sora," Shoichi said, bowing his head a little.

Wow, he must really want my help.

"What do you need help with?" I asked and he smiled a little as he scratched the back of his head.

"Ah well, see the thing is right..." He began before trailing off slightly.

"Go on?" I said intrigued, what could he possibly want my help with?

"Ikindaneedyoutobecomeourmanagerforthetimebeing," He said faster than humanly possible, and processable.

"Huh?"

"I said Sora," Shoichi said this time, thankfully much slower. "I need you to become our manager for the time being, coach Isagi is taking paternity leave, and I can't be the captain and manager at the same time. So it's up to you. Please, help us this once! I know you're disillusioned from it all, but I'd very much appreciate it if you help us! We are so close to reaching nationals! I want to make nationals in our final year here!"

I nodded.

On one hand, it was football.

On the other hand, it was a more extra credit.

And on my third non-existent hand, I had no experience in coaching.

Really, the decision wasn't that hard to make.

"Cool, when do I start?"

"Eh, you'll do it?!"

"Well, it is our final year at the club," I replied. "Might as well try and win something. Plus, you wouldn't ask me unless it was serious. You love footy more than me, mate. This does mean a lot to you, I can tell. So what's eating at you?"

"I…"

Shoichi didn't respond as he took one look at Sui and walked away.

Huh?

"He has a knee injury," Sui told me honestly. "Doctor says he can't play for much longer, not unless he gets surgery in Italy. And even if the surgery is successful, by the time he'll be cleared to play again Shoichi says it'll be too late. I call bullshit, he's just afraid of failing."

Ah.

Shoichi despite all that grinned.

"C'mon, one last campaign for the boys!"

…

"Yeah, yeah. I can't promise I'll be a Klopp or Fergeson, but I can try."

"That's all we're asking!"

---

"Come on team, we can do this!" Shoichi shouted, the rest of the team nodding as they all shouted: "LET'S DO THIS!"

I smiled from the bench, I did miss the sensation of hitting the ball in the centre. Watching as the ball flies in the air just before it hits the back of the net, the world seemingly comes to a standstill as the goal is scored.

There was nothing like football.

Currently, we were one - nil up, with ten minutes left. Aldera Junior High was a tough game, but we were making progress. Pushing back their defence, one by one. Pass the ball! Pass the fucking ball you dumb fucking-,

"PASS THE BALL!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, watching as our teammate passed the ball to Shoichi, who was in the box and gave a shot and-,

"GOAAAAALLLLLLL!"

I found myself yelling and screaming like a lunatic as I rushed over to Shoichi with the rest of the team in pure joy. There was nothing like it. We were now two goals clear of Aldera Junior High who already had defeat written across their faces.

"YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Shoichi screamed as he fell to the ground, tired.

We had basically won the game.

Even as play started again, the other team wasn't really putting their heart into playing the game properly as they lost possession of the ball so easily - The final minutes continued to count down mercilessly. It wasn't as if I had asked the team to play that much of a different strategy, with Sui and Shoichi being played on the wings so that they could cut into the defence and score.

Everyone else's job was to just pass to them and clear the ball from the opposition.

It was a crude but simple tactic that worked in our favour as we dominated the pitch, not letting the other team control the ball for more than a few seconds at a time as we kept on trying to attack and attack.

I found myself enjoying it.

More than I thought.

It was all just strategy, and ultimately I could use that strategy.

Fighting opponents also needed strategy, knowing their skills and who was with them along with the strength of your own side. To say that my mind wasn't drawing the parallels between this and being a Hero would be a lie - Especially for something such as the attack on the USJ. Knowing each key player's strengths and weaknesses along with how to properly deal with them was a valuable skill to have.

Just like how Shoichi and Sui were tearing apart Aldera Junior High's defence, I was thinking of ways to potentially try and avoid the USJ attack. But then that meant doing something I had been afraid of doing this entire time - Changing the timeline.

My knowledge, no matter how limited it was, was vital in keeping me alive.

In keeping everyone alive.

And considering how important the USJ attack is for the development of Class 1A, I wasn't going to just erase it. But using every skill and trick I had, I could avoid that vision of the future. No one was going to die again-,

Ah.

I thought of it.

Again.

As the whistle blew, signalling the end of the game, I watched as our team celebrated loudly. I could only clap and strain a smile as I sat down on the bench and opened my bottle of water to splash my face heavily.

Damn it.

Now I couldn't-,

"Sora?"

Sui grinned as he sat down next to me.

"Nice game," I managed to say as I stared at the ground heavily. I hadn't thought of him in years. "You all played great out there. Genuinely. I mean it was just my first game in charge, and it's not like I'm a great manager but I don't think you even need me."

"...Cheers. You know, you shouldn't put yourself so down. That's not like you."

"You don't know me, not really," I replied truthfully. "You don't know my life before this school."

"Is that why you have such a bitter look on your face?"

I-,

Chuckling, I just nodded my head in response.

I was caught out.

As always, I was a terrible liar.

"Do you wanna' talk about it?" Sui asked me.

"I…I had a friend when I was a kid. He was a few years older than me. Back then I wondered why he was so alone most of the time, so I made friends with him through football," I told Sui. "I don't even remember his name now, it's been so long. But he always supported me, not to play professionally or play to win but just play for my enjoyment. I didn't know it at the time, but he was terminally ill. One day the bastard dies and I'm left alone, then after that I get dropped from my team and… It's been a while since I thought of him."

Sui nodded at that.

"I see. Sounds rough."

"I was a kid back then," I replied with a smile. "I didn't realise he had died until I was a teenager. Er, I mean now. Like I said, I don't think about him often, so it's fine. It doesn't matter."

"Sounds like you gave up on football after him."

It wasn't a question.

I simply shrugged my shoulders.

"I guess. Never thought of it that way."

And wasn't that a bitter truth?

"Shoichi... he's sorta like you. But you changed to be a Hero, something that you are passionate about. More than playing football," Sui said. "Shoichi doesn't have that alternative path. All he does is put on a smile and pretend everything is alright, but it's like he's already failed. I... I want to continue to play with him. Even if it's after ten years, I don't care. Please. Can you help him?"

Yeah.

I nodded in determination.

I'd save him.

---

The next two games were as easy as I thought they would be, posing little to no challenge to our team. It was sorta funny that my crude tactics were working as well as they were because it surprised even me.

The next big team we faced was in the quarter-finals, against another top team but we managed to scrape a win, but not without some injuries. Shoichi was injured on his foot, a worry for concern but the captain decided to still play despite his other major injury. It infuriated me to no end, which was why when he showed me who our next opponent I had a permanent scowl etched upon my face.

Ah, fuck.

"You didn't tell me we were versing against the Kings of Shizouka," I said annoyed. Shoichi's expression matched my own - That being fear. And why wouldn't we fear playing the

"I haven't told anyone, I didn't want to break their spirits. It's our last year here, and I wanted us to continue fighting despite the odds. Just like All Might," Shoichi told me honestly. "Considering they won the entire nationals competition last year… We have no chance of beating them. But I don't want to give up."

"This goes beyond that, this is insane. Have you seen their team? We have more of a chance of getting All Might to play for us," I complained. "When everyone else finds out who we'll be playing they'll quit right away. I'm not joking. We stand no chance."

Shoichi laughed at that.

"Sure, there are unfavourable odds for us - But we have to continue fighting! Only then will we win."

My scowl deepened.

"No, Shoichi, we won't win. Nada, nope. Not because we will give up, but because we have no hope," I pointed at his knee. "And our injury there isn't helping us. Don't pretend like it's no big deal, you've been limping ever since our last game. You can't even make it up the stairs to our Maths class anymore."

He winced slightly.

"It's our last year, our last shot. I'm doing this whether I want to or not. I want to show that hard work beats talent-,"

I cut him off.

"Don't be ridiculous. Hard work never wins in the face of talent, only a spirited fool says that. Maybe if you weren't injured I'd believe you, but right now chances are slim. We're fucked, don't make me forfeit the game before we even play it just to prove a point."

Shoichi shook his head at my antics as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine-,"

"Are you playing for us? Or for yourself, so you don't feel like shit after you never play football again," I interrupted him. "You said it, even if you get that surgery in Italy you might never play again. And you injured yourself some more. If you think of playing this game as a last-ditch 'farewell' I will stop you. Fuck hard work and fuck talent."

"I don't know what you have against hard work beating talent, but it can happen. It has happened, and it will happen again. You just need to believe." I scoffed at that. Believe?! Me?! I believed in hard work my entire life-,

Oh, it was back to that.

It was always about that.

I tried my hardest and was rejected at football.

And now Shoichi was just like me.

He had spent so much time and effort in football just to be rejected because of something he couldn't control. At my look, Shoichi's face softened as he realised that I was comparing my circumstances to his.

"I know Sora, I know it feels like we can't make it. Compared to those lucky bastards, those natural-born geniuses who have everything go right for them we are nothing. But we try, try and try again. We pick ourselves back up and start again. No matter how many times it hurts, or someone says we can't make it. Cause we can't lose to ourselves, no, I refuse to lose to myself," Shoichi said, pointing at me. "And I know you lost to yourself, I can tell from the fact that you barely come to sessions anymore."

"I was busy," I said, but it sounded more like an excuse. "And I'm going to be a Hero."

"You could have easily fought for it. The point, Sora, is that after we leave you, won't play football anymore, will you?" He asked me. We already knew the answer to that. "I have my surgery, so I won't be able to play either. It'll just be Sui, and he has the chance to make it big. Sora, what if a scout is watching? We could help him make it big."

"That's a big if."

"Weirder things have happened! We can't give up because we think we'll lose, even if it's hopeless. I know that you have your own thoughts on the matter… But think about it," Shoichi tried convincing me. "You can't give up. That's just betraying everything you've worked toward, if you give up here what won't you give up at-,"

"Giving up during a football game against a better team with our captain heavily injured and giving up trying to be a better person is very different," I told him. "It's even more different than giving up as a Hero. The stakes are entirely different, you could be seriously hurt and never play football again. At least if you go through with the surgery, you have a chance."

"A small chance."

"Then take that chance, don't you dare give up now, you bloody hypocrite," I replied. "Tch. Fine. We'll play the game, and if you get hurt once I'm subbing you off. No matter what complaints you have, I ain't gonna listen. Even if you want to fight me, go ahead. I'm not giving up and I won't let you give up, alright?!"

Shoichi grinned at that.

"I knew you'd see to reason."

Reason?

He was twisting my arm here, using Sui and his own pride as a bargaining chip. Hell, he was even trying to use my pride as one too. I had my issues. But they were also a lifetime ago for me, and I had moved on.

I was forced to move on.

Which was what annoyed me even more.

---

"C'mon! We can do this!" I shouted as best I could.

We absolutely could not do this, not one bit. Twenty minutes to go, and two goals down. Three - One, it was doubtful we would win. They were just monsters to put it simply, they used everything against us. Physicality, technical prowess, tactics.

We were outmatched in every way.

Yet instead of giving up, instead of giving in the entire team was looking at Shoichi, who was trying to win, continuing with his passion that was infectious. That's why he was our captain, why he led us.

"Yeah," A teammate said. "Let's win this!"

KRRK!

A loud scream of pain tore me from the field as I looked over and saw-,

"Captain!"

"Shoichi!"

Lying on the floor, Shoichi was holding in leg as he writhed around in agony, trying his hardest to stand up while a player stood behind him, a sadistic grin on his face. Simply put, the player was a lizard man. A mutant Quirk that made him look like a lizard, with a massive physique that made him stand over seven feet tall. I scowled. Curse the rules to allow someone like him to play, after all, it's not like he could turn it off.

It was simply allowed, but even the referee had some troubles as he sternly talked to the lizard player. He was rough for no reason, and as I looked at Shoichi who was struggling to get up despite his desperation and determination, I sighed.

Fuck.

It was just so…

Pathetic.

It reminded me of myself back then, ready to play whatever position just to play the damned sport even though deep down I knew I wasn't good enough. Deep down I had no passion left for the game, but Shoichi wasn't like that.

I moved on from football, but looking at him now?

Even if it killed him, he still wanted to play.

And I wasn't going to let that happen.

"Shoichi," I said. "There is no way you can play now. It's over." He shook his head, gritting his teeth as he tried to get up over and over again, despite his legs buckling under the pressure and failing him.

"No, it's not over yet. Admitting defeat... admitting defeat means that you don't win either, Sora. That we hard workers won't get validation." My face scrunched up in anger at that, he was just being foolish now!

"Still going on about that? You can't play, you're done here. Give up, there isn't a point in fighting. You've lost. I don't care about this-,"

"I do care," Was the only reply I got.

I clicked my tongue in frustration.

"Shut up! I'm sick and tired of you playing like this is your last game, people have recovered from worst injuries!" I yelled at him, surprising everyone on the field as I grabbed him by the collar. "You still have a chance. What are you so afraid of? Failing? The road to recovery? Even if it takes fifteen years, that's still better than nothing! Don't be a coward and use this as an excuse to give up!"

"Sora-,"

"Don't even try and defend yourself! You call yourself our captain, but you've given up on ever trying to play football again. I recognise that look on your face. You won't win this game, but that doesn't mean you can't win more. You've done enough, now get some rest. Please," I begged him, hoping that he'd at least see reason. But he wouldn't budge at all.

"Sora, I'm going back out there. And I'm going to win. For the both of us, for our final send-off. Sora, I'm backing you. I support you trying to be a hero, so please," Shoichi told me with a grin. "Let me save you this once."

"Please coach, let me play this once!"

I found myself remembering. A long time ago, in my previous life, I was a reserve as I begged my coach to play. I already knew the answer back then, he told me to sit back down. That I'd probably score an own goal. Back then I found it harsh, it broke my motivation to play football - That coupled with the loss of my friend that made me want to play football for myself, I just didn't see any worth in it.

But in this world?

Where Quirks were everywhere, the impossible was possible. I could become a hero, no, I was going to become a pro-hero. Just like those heroes I admired as a kid from those comic books and movies, those amazing fantasies. And I owed it to that kid to fight, to not give up here like I did all those years back. Not to budge even if Shoichi was being a stubborn idiot. I had to make sure that even if he thought he had no future in this sport-,

Even if he thought it was useless-,

I wasn't going to let him give up.

"Give me your uniform," I whispered, his eyes widening. "I'll play."

And… he accepted my answer.

Even if I thought it was useless to fight, I'd fight on his behalf.

As I looked around, I saw our teammates looking at the floor in despair. They were giving up, just like I did not so long ago.

"S-Sora," Shoichi said as he gave me his top. It was sweaty, and it felt like a weight to put on. But it was a weight I was comfortable with. The weight of not giving up, of persevering. It was a weight I was going to use from now on.

Luckily I was already wearing shorts as I helped Shoichi get back on the bench. The referee looked at me confused.

"I'm the sub, start the game," I shouted at him. "I'm replacing Shoichi."

"But you aren't on the roster, your team will be disqualified-,"

"Old man, start the damn game!" I cut him off angrily, turning to look at the rest of the-, my team. "Listen up, I don't like you and you don't like me. But I frankly don't give a flying fuck, we all love football. So get the fuck back up, and drag your sorry asses onto the field and defend. When you get the ball, attack. Got it?!"

Sui stood up from the crowd, a small smirk on his lips as he saluted me.

"Aye, aye captain."

Sui raised his hand for a high five.

Respect.

He understood what I was doing, not for myself, but for Shoichi.

"Thanks," Was my reply as I high-fived him, grinning manically. It was my final game.

My final send-off.

Shoichi was looking at me from the bench, tears in his eyes. He already made his peace, so I guess it was time to make mine. It was weird, I hadn't played this game at all - Not properly. At least, not in this life.

And I was really nervous as kick-off started.

For the young boy who dreamed of playing football.

For Shoichi, he had the courage to continue playing in the future.

The lizard guy got the ball and was charging towards me, lucky for him, I had a better idea. Strengthening my body with a layer of my Quirk, more specifically in this case, my legs and arms as I battled with the stunned lizard, and won the challenge easily.

It was an attack I was working on when I eventually became a Hero-,

"SORA! OVER HERE!"

Sui shouted from across the pitch as I passed the ball to him, but it was intercepted unfortunately by another monster. But instead of feeling sad, or giving up hope, my legs moved forward without thinking as I ran to get the ball back.

I wasn't going to give up here, no, I wasn't going to give up at all.

I chased after the boy as fast as my legs could carry me as the layer of my Quirk tightened around my legs, providing a slight boost of speed. Another attack I had come up with for U.A.

But before I caught up to him, the number four of our team tackled him successfully, managing to get the ball off him as he passed it to me with a speed that blew me away.

"Go Yamazaki, trust this area to the defence. Go win for Shoichi-senpai!" He shouted at me.

Nodding, I turned around and gave the ball away to a fellow midfielder, who quickly passed the ball to Sui. He was running down the wing, looking at me as I ran across him to meet him in the middle.

"Here," Sui said as he passed the ball to me, allowing me to run across the field all alone as everyone else managed to push them back. How the referee hadn't called a foul yet, I didn't know. But what I did know, was that the hulking lizard guy stood in front of me.

"This is as far as you'll go pipsqueak! Give up!" Our opponent shouted at me as he ran towards me, in an effort to stop my dribble.

I looked at the ball.

It was similar to the first football my parents bought for me.

I couldn't help but remember the promise four-year-old me said to them.

"I'm going to win!"

Shoichi had stood up from the sideline, begging for me to win.

For him.

"I'm going to win!", I smirked as I told the opponent, mirroring myself a long time ago. Mirroring Shoichi now. I could help him, help save my friend. Help save his dream. And I wasn't going to let this cunt stand in the way of it as I readied myself. The lizard guy tensed up as I prepared to shoot right in front of him.

"From here? More than thirty yards out, how the hell do you think you can score with me here?"

I smirked.

"Who said I was going to score?"

From our right, Sui shot out like a bullet, with no defenders chasing him. And he was onside. The lizard guy knew something was wrong, as his eyes comically widened once he saw the ball leave my feet and onto Sui Miura, the guy who understood Shoichi and I's feelings the most.

Go on.

I let a smile form as he took the ball from me and dribbled forward, scoring effortlessly.

Even as the game ended, our goal not even counting.

Even if our side was disqualified due to me taking Shoichi's place.

No one could stop Shoichi's tears from flowing.

"T-Thank you," He yelled at us. "I-, I-, I thought I couldn't do it. That I'd never have the courage to go to Italy and take the surgery, because it was pointless. So I thought that this was going to be it. But watching you play… watching everyone play without me… I don't want that to ever happen again. I never want to be left behind!"

Sui laughed at that.

"We're never going to leave you behind, captain."

As more and more of the football team chimed in, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of them. They looked happy together. Shoichi looked happy as he realised he didn't really want to give up on his dream, that he wanted to continue to fight and not give up. Even though the chances were low, at least in this world of Heroes he wasn't going to just give up entirely - He was going to continue to try.

Try…

And try again.

Sure, we lost the game.

But Shoichi won something more important.

"Sora," Shoichi yelled my name, wiping his tears away. "I wanted to save you but… you're the one who saved me."

"Well, I'm gonna' be a Hero," I replied with a smile. "Might as well get used to it."

"Thank-,"

"Don't thank me," I cut him off. "And don't thank anyone else here either. You just go get that surgery and come back ready to play more football. That's all I'll ask, alright? Don't ever give up 'cause I'll kick your arse for real this time, not just on the pitch."

Shoichi grinned at that.

"My fucking hero."

I couldn't help but match his grin.

"Yeah, yeah. Cut it with the sarcasm else I'll make your other knee dodgy."

---

EDIT:

This chapter was originally about Sora learning the lesson of not giving up, but he already learned that lesson in chapter 3. So… I changed this chapter to be about Sora helping a friend.

About Sora helping save those he cares about in the truest sense of the word.

And that's something integral to his character after he was a bully for a while, after everything that's happened in his past life, and even when he becomes a hero truly helping those he cares about is what Sora is about.

This chapter was just a bridge to that development in later chapters.

Now, onto the next proper edit!

---

And the chapter is done.

This was difficult to write at first, after all this hit home for me. I too wanted to play football, I was constantly told I had no talent because instead of working hard I goofed off. I was naturally left-footed, I had the speed and the technique. Instead, I chose to play games, no doubt making my parents and coaches, not to mention my team disappointed in me.

I was a lazy person who didn't care, I didn't understand the passion I had for football until I left the sport completely, so I guess very different from Sora. But the point here was to show that Sora has made peace with who he was, both in his previous life and current life.

And football here was used as the vehicle.

The next chapter is UA exams, and then after that is the start of canon! Woooop Wooooop! It's been a long journey, but I guess here we are guys and gals. Leave a review on what you think so far.

Yamazaki's Corner

Le Bomb: Hope this chapter answered your question. It wasn't that Sora didn't want to train, rather he was afraid. He was imperfect in his previous life, he had no talent for the career he wanted to be in. No matter how hard he worked, it just wasn't meant to be. And in his new life, the problem persisted. He was afraid of failing as a hero, and so he never trained at all. He just hoped it would magically go right, now obviously, that has changed. He wants to train, he's not afraid of those monsters, of the naturally gifted cause now he won't give up.

Oh and not writing your story is more common than you would think. I know from experience, and from talking to many people who also write. Mostly speaking, many people write towards a specific scene in mind. For example, this fic originally started out as a Naruto SI/OC but then developed into MHA once I wanted to do something with Sora that was not feasible, as a result, my Naruto SI/OC is now completely different from what it intended to be. Yet the specific moments, both here and there are incredibly similar.

And about swords, or pole-arms and cleavers. Interesting. Sora can do a lot of things with a cloud, who says he can't do all three at once? :)

Tony McNucklz: Uhm...

Listen in school, especially Japan (This is from a personal story from my friend who actually lived in Japan from 11-15) along with my own research, breaking the rules in any way is frowned upon, and is seen as a black mark on the school. Sora yes, not initiating most of the fights, still fought them, and with no regard to them.

As if they were trash, cause he thought they didn't matter. That they weren't important, yet he treated Miwa (And still does) like a human? It IS hypocritical of him and is supposed to show him as a bully. As a mean person, someone who doesn't care.

And with what you said about Sakura, if you really think about it he wanted to improve his reputation, and he goes ahead and acts insensitive. He made a shitty joke about suicide, now not get all sensitive here or anything cause I do appreciate dark humour and think that it is needed more in today's society, but what Sora did is kinda shitty.

Sure he didn't know, but what was stopping him from not making it in the first place?

You aren't wrong. If that's how you act in real life, fair enough. But I do think that especially in a place with villains and heroes, people would be more sensitive towards death or suicide, especially in Japan, which has alarming suicide rates.

So yeah, that's basically it.

EL20030408: Maybe, Maybe not.

Oboro (Cloud guy) is a really interesting character. Didn't he die at like 18, and Aizawa is like 31? So if you think Oboro is his long lost dad (Which I did get a whole long PM describing the theory btw, thank you, random guy!) The timeline does not add up.

Maybe a relative?

Maybe they are older? Who knows (Apart from me)

But Aizawa will be interesting to write, very much so. Midnight and Present Mic as well, hell even Nezu cause I have plans for them all.

Maybe Oboro is related to Sora? Maybe he isn't?

Read on soon to find out!

Zahahahahaha!

Everyone please leave a review, I know it may be annoying. But reviews do really help, just for me:)

Next time on Over the Top:

Oi, oi, oi. Who's this bastard that eats sugar and gets strong? Or his orange-haired girl that gets big hands... she's kinda cute I think. UA exams babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy - Along with a short time skip (Of sorts). What does that mean? Find out on the next chapter of Gintama Junior featuring heroes and an annoying main character!