Chapter 19
XX, XX XX, 2017
Mankind...
"Are you done? Don't you ever get tired of doing the same thing?" I'm on the ground, covered in blows and soot.
"Ah? What are you talking about, of course I never get tired of it, you're a no-power and a freak! I'm within my rights to put you in your place, you monster!" In front of me is a blond boy, slightly egocentric, attacking me with little explosions coming from his hands.
Mankind is not born equal. That's a social fact I understood when I was nine.
Monday, November 21, 2022.
My brain flashed back to my past as I walked to school with the girls. Suddenly, a noise is heard. We all look at each other and head towards the source of the noise. On the tracks is a giant man with dreadlock fighting what appear to be heroes.
"Go away !" The giant howls, chasing the hero around him.
"He must really have impressive power to be able to transform himself into a monster. What did he do wrong?" A pedestrian asks.
"Oh, he's a purse snatcher acting violently now that his back's against the wall." Replies another.
"Uh, a villain has appeared... and so the trains are at a standstill... Yeah, I don't know when I'd get to the office..." Explains a man on the phone.
"Kyaaaaa, do your best Kamui!" a group of girls support the group of heroes.
"Oh, he's a big one!" Himegami comments. Getting close enough to see the action.
"You used your skills for illegal purposes while people were on their way to work, and committed a theft resulting in injury. You are truly evilness incarnate." Says the hero fighting the villain.
(It really is a cliché spitch.)
"Oh it's the Kamui of the woods." Haruko recognizes the hero.
Kamui of the woods wears a helmet and a wooden mask. He wear a dark blue jumpsuit featuring a wooden belt, wooden knee pads and wooden shoes. A small bouquet of roses hangs from the left side of his belt.
"Yes! He's a talented youngster who's experiencing a sudden surge in popularity!" Inaho exclaims with stars in her eyes.
"Say, you know a lot about him! You wouldn't be... Fans!?" A man with 3 spikes on his head asks.
"Ah no..." Sakura replies politely.
Kamui Woods transforms his arm into a multitude of branches, preparing to deliver the coup de grâce.
"Here's your punishment." He said.
"Give us a demo of a big attack, wooden man!" The man next to us exclaims.
"Ah, here it is, the famous Arrestation Certain Presumptive..." Inaho is completely excited, having grabbed my arm and waving me around with her.
"... The prison of lacquered chains!" Kamui Woods enlarge the branches surrounding the giant.
Suddenly, another giant appears and, with a swift kick, knocks out the villain. Well, I should say a giantess.
"Canon Canyon!" She said, making her foot go into the villain's jaw.
Everyone is surprised, even Inhao is petrified.
"I was expecting it!" Says a group of journalists behind us, snapping photos of the surprise arrival.
"I'm starting today! My name is Mount Lady! Happy to make your acquaintance!" She said, picking up the villain, half standing half crouching, giving a slightly lascivious posture.
She's a curvaceous young woman with violet eyes with white pupils and elegantly long eyelashes. She has long, voluminous, creamy-blond hair that falls to her waist, with two shorter curly locks framing her face, slightly parted on the right. She's wearing a tight-fitting purple and pale beige jumpsuit, accented with orange stripes. The suit appears to have a pair of purple gloves with orange accents on the cuff edge. The design is similar for his "boots", which are cut in a deep V-shape at the thigh. The jumpsuit also features three orange diamond-shaped dots on the purple top, located below her chest, and she's also wearing a purple domino mask with horn-like protrusions on the sides.
"A titanic transformation, eh? It's true that it's quite popular these days and that it really is an impressive power, but when you consider the damage done to the city, can we fear a poor cost-benefit ratio and limitations on future use? No... It certainly depends on whether or not it can grow as it pleases..." I mumble, taking notes.
"Ha ha , you take notes young man ! You must want to become a hero, right !? That's good, go on and give it all you've got!" The man encourages me.
"Um, yes thank you." I say getting dragged along by Haruko as we're going to arrive late if we stay here.
"For as long as we can remember, mankind has possessed the ability to use the energy around us, the earth's and our own, through our magical circuits. It was even our most powerful weapon, but overuse led to premature death and great pain. So when technology and science began to appear, magic was left behind, except for certain families of mages, who continue to perpetuate their art. And our special groups, called Shinobi, who still use them, but in a lesser way. But over a hundred years ago, Humanity saw an evolution, the alters. It began with a luminescent baby in the town of Qing Quing in China, then the evolution spread everywhere. This created a real problem. At the time, only trained and qualified people were allowed to use the powers, and most civilians had lost the use of their magic circuits. But the arrival of the alters created havoc all over the world, and it was under these circumstances that the profession of hero was born." Explains Aki-sensei.
"Just as the number of alter increased, so did the number of crimes. And at a time when governments were bound hand and foot by laws whose radical revisions limited all reaction... Courageous people with the look of American comic-book characters sprang into action. With the help of the Shinobi, they kept an eye on the paranormal and defended people from evil intentions and constant catastrophes. Very soon, under the impetus of public opinion, the heroes, after acquiring specific civil rights, saw their professional activities officially recognized. And as a reward for their efforts, they received their salaries directly from the state! And they were acclaimed by the crowds!" Tomika-sensei continues.
"But why don't the Shinobi have the same recognition?" Asks one of the students.
"Shinobis have been around much longer. They're here to act in the shadows and discreetly help the heroes, and above all they're the ones who are sent to war or who just have the right to use lethal force. But don't worry, they're just as recognized as the heroes, but the scale isn't comparable." Aki-sensei replies.
"But just know one thing, each of you has the potential to become a great hero or a great Shinobi, so keep working hard and make us proud, okay?" Said Tomika-sensei with a wink.
"Madam, thank you for not lumping me in with everyone else!" Someone raises his voice to be heard.
Katsuki Bakugo is a young man of average height, with a slim, muscular build, and a fair skin tone. He has short, spiky, sandy blond hair with choppy bangs that hang over his eyebrows. His eyes are sharp and bright red in color.
"I really don't intend to be buddy-buddy with these people who possess ridiculous powers you know?" He said, putting his feet up on the table.
"What do you mean by that, Kastuki?!" Some of the class felt targeted.
"Shut up, you're secondary characters, act like it!" He replies, laughing.
"Ah yes, indeed, Bakugou, you want to become a hero, don't you?" Tomika-sensei asks.
"Madam, almost everyone wants to be one!" exclaims one student.
"That's why we're here, isn't it? Even though the competition is tough and the job is hard, this is what we want to do!" Says another student.
"Don't be surprised if you become secondary characters by gossiping the way you do! I got the maximum mark in the previous exam. I'm much better than all of you! I'll even surpass All Might, and then I'll be the highest-ranked hero of all! I'll leave my name forever in the annals of the world's richest people rankings!" Katsugi felt himself grow wings.
"Ah, but you're only second in the class ranking, Bakugou. Senji is first with the maximum mark and congratulations from Iruka-sensei." Aki-sensei tries to cool Katsuki's cockiness.
It seems to work. He's completely still, turns his gaze towards me and as soon as our eyes meet, he instantly turns his head and sits up properly. And it's been that way since the beginning of the school year.
"So it's true? Senji can make a hundred clones?" Whispers a student.
"Yet I thought he had defective powers." Said another.
(Whether you do it on purpose or not, I can hear everything...)
It's the end-of-course bell. Everyone hurries to pack up and get out. When the sensei has left. Katsuki approaches my table and knocks on it, using his alter to create an explosion, screwing up my things.
"Hey, good-for-nothing!" he yells.
"What are you playing at, moron?" I feel anger rising in me, but I know it would prove him right, so I take it upon myself.
"You have absolutely no talent, so why are you trying to enter the same arena as me, huh?! Just because you've been missing a few years doesn't mean you're any better!" He yells, drawing stares from the rest of the class.
"You're completely wrong Katsuki, I don't give a shit about your story. I have no intention of competing against you or anything. Things have changed and so have my goals, that's why I'm here today." I stare him straight in the eye, showing my determination.
"What do you mean by that?! Say your prayers! Besides, what are you capable of anyway?!" I see sparks appear from his hand. He's not really planning to attack me in the middle of class?
"Stop that right now Bakugou-san! You have no right to attack Senji-sama, he's done nothing to you!" Inaho tries to come to my defense. But I can see in her eyes that she doesn't believe it either, having known the character for a long time.
"We didn't ask you for anything, clingy." He said, glowering at her.
(Now that's too much.)
I grab his collar and force him to look at me.
"It's me you've got a problem with, isn't it? So I forbid you to take it out on her..."
"Tsss..."
He pushes me away and picks up my notebook, where I write down my progress and new techniques to learn etc...
Seeing the situation degenerate, his buddies approach.
"What the hell is this, Katsuki?" asks one of them.
""For the future..." Are you serious? Pffft, Senji, the good joke!" They all laughed.
"None of your business, now give it back."
He takes the book, wedges it between his two hands and explodes it. I can't believe my eyes, I can't move. I don't want to, because if I move, I might not be able to control myself.
"Hey! That's enough now! As a member of Maken-ki, I order you to stop or you'll be punished accordingly!" Usui approaches, wanting to calm the situation but Katsuki doesn't even look at him.
"Hmph..." He looks at me then throws what's left of the notebook out the window. "They say anyone can become a hero. But you're the exception that proves the rule. Everyone knows the fate of people like you who carry this burden inside them. They've all lost control at one time or another. And you won't escape." Then he puts his steaming hand on my shoulder. "Simply put, you've got no chance of becoming a hero, no one will trust you enough."
Then he and his two buddies set off as if nothing had happened. I stand still, not daring to move or I'll blow his ego out of his face.
"Hey! ho... At least try to answer something." Says one of his buddies.
"He can't. It's so pathetic that, even now, when he's committed to Kuoh, he still can't see things straight. There's a reason you got bullied back then. At worst, lose control now, so you'll understand what I'm trying to tell you."
I raise my head, sick of hearing him chatter. My magic circuits on fire.
I grab the back of my chair and break it, letting out my frustration and anger.
"Wow man... Are you okay?" Kengo asks me.
"Yes... it's okay, don't worry. I'll fix the chair." I glue the back of the chair back together with my magic.
"Damn, what a moron that one is. Plus you look like you've known each other a long time, what's his problem? And what exactly was he talking about?" Usui wondered.
"It's nothing, a story between us." I pack up my things and get ready to leave. "Now excuse me but I'm going."
"Oh yeah sure, see you tomorrow dude."
"See you tomorrow."
At the bottom of the building, I see Inaho guarding my notebook. Seeing me coming, she wipes her face, trying to hide her still-warm tears.
"Inaho..."
"Here, it's not that damaged..." Inaho hands me the notebook. Then as soon as I pick it up, she bursts into tears again. "I'm sorry, Senji-sama. I tried to stop him, but as always he never listens and keeps hurting you... I can't take it anymore..."
I take her in my arms to calm her down.
"Everything's fine, Inaho. I'll show him he's wrong, we'll show him together, and then it'll be our turn to laugh at him, okay? I know deep down he's afraid of me."
She nods. Seeing that she's calmed down, I release her and hand her a handkerchief.
"Come on, we'll be late and Furan-senpai won't be happy."
She laughs lightly, gradually regaining her jovial air.
'Can you see that?!' Someone's voice through the sound of a TV echoes in my head.
XX, XX XX, 2011.
I was discreetly watching the video my father was watching on TV. I knew that if I was caught watching without permission I'd be punished, but I was obsessed by what was shown on the screen.
It's an old news story, of a hero making his debut just after a disaster has happened.
"Can you see that? He's already saved 100 people! Unbelievable! And it hasn't even been 10 minutes ! Truly unbelievable ! Look at that, he's laughing his head off!"
"Hahahahaha You don't have to worry anymore! Why, you ask?! Because I'm here!"
All Might. He's a very tall man with an equally muscular and well-defined physique, resembling a typical Western comic book superhero. He has short blond hair, swept back, with two distinct tufts above his head, slightly tilted to either side, which often casts a dark shadow over his face, hiding all but his brilliant blue eyes.
As I watched his exploits play out over and over again on TV, a conflicted feeling came over me. On the one hand, I couldn't help admiring him. But on the other, I hated him and was jealous of the people he saved. Because I, too, wanted to be saved...
"Well, it seems your son has no alter." A short, bald doctor with a big mustache and big glasses finishes inspecting me.
" Oh my...! Are you sure? He's only 4, maybe it's a bit early?" Asks my mother, pretending to be interested.
"You see, as a general rule, this is where the alter complex manifests itself, and does so up to age 4." He explains, pointing to my foot, specifically the toes. "What's more, in the past, when alter matching was still in its infancy, the results of a research study on the subject caused quite a stir when it was published. These results, which spread like wildfire, indicated that everything hinged on the presence or absence of articulation in the little toes. Well, you could say it like this! Human don't need what they don't use. And when it comes to the "type" of human who doesn't have these joints, we could say that he represents a new stage in evolution! As for Senji, he has both joints. This means he has no alter of any kind."
"I see, that's not really surprising since none in the family has an alter." My mother adds.
"Indeed... Ah, but there's not one of your siblings... Takeshi is it? He's got a pretty amazing faculty all the same."
"Ah yes, Takeshi can suck up the energy around him and use it as he sees fit. He calls it the Blood Pointer. Even though everyone in the family can use it, he's perfected it so it's not comparable."
"Well that's a good start, maybe Senji inherited it too. And then... Look at that." He holds up an image of me being radioed. "Look at his magic circuits, I've never seen any like them, and yet they're all clogged up, you're not descended from a mage family by any chance?"
"Um... No? Why?"
"Well, it has very powerful magic circuits, capable of flowing enormous amounts of energy. It's as if he's already over-trained, really strange. In any case, with this, your son will be able to do great things, I'm sure."
"What?!"
Once home, my mother ordered me to go back to my room to do my homework, but how could I concentrate when I could hear them screaming in the kitchen.
"That's what the doctor told me, no alter but on the other hand incredible magic circuits. Still asleep, but if he's trained, we'll be able to take advantage of it to..." My mother explains something I didn't understand at my young age.
"No! Not a chance! This kid will be condemned to a humdrum life! just like us!" My father stops her.
"But imagine all the money he'll be able to bring us, we won't be condemned to living in squalor and asking my family to help feed us anymore!"
"Whose fault do you think it is?! Huh!? If you hadn't gotten pregnant we wouldn't be in this mess I'll have you know!"
"I remind you that we're both at fault in this story."
"Either way, this kid won't have a hope in hell. He's robbed us of our freedom, so there's no way he can have a better life than us."
I didn't know why, but I was crying my eyes out, from sadness, from fear, I didn't know... My own parents, treating me like a nuisance.
Monday, November 21, 2022.
Later in the day, I decide to return home alone, feeling a bit down because of Katsuki.
(And to think I hated heroes back then and now I wish I could be like them...)
"You can thank Kiritsugu for that. He really has been a ray of light in your tunnel."
(Clearly. Yeah, I should really avoid listening to what people say. I need to keep my head up and keep moving in the direction I've set for myself. Just like Kiritsugu).
Suddenly, emerging from the manhole cover, a monster made of disgusting viscous liquid with eyes and a mouth prepares to attack me.
"Invisibility cloak straight ahead." He said before throwing himself at me.
I dodge his first attack but he grabs my leg and pulls me towards him.
(I can't fight it!)
I summon a sword and strike where he's caught me. But the blade suddenly stops, as if absorbed by the liquid. I'm completely at his mercy, he surrounds me completely and tries to get in through my mouth. I defend myself as best I can, trying to push him back as much as possible.
"Don't worry. Stop wiggling like that. I'm just going to take control of your body for a little while, okay? It'll hurt for 45 seconds and then the pain will go away. Thanks for the favor, man. You're my hero. Still, I never thought someone like him would come to this town. If he thinks he can catch me when I'm in liquid form, he can always dream!" He squeezes me harder, as if annoyed at the mention of this person.
(I can't breathe! I'm losing all my strength... I'm not going to die like this, not now...)
I can hear the manhole cover being thrown and falling further away. We turn to see All Might himself emerge from the drain.
"Don't worry, kid!" He puts one foot on the ground and readies his fist. "I'm here!"
Then he dashes forward, shouting the name of his attack. "Texas Smash!"
And with one punch, he separates me from the monster, scattering it all over the floor and walls.
"Simply because of air pressure?!" The living liquid utters its last words.
Reflexively, I pull my bag off my back, crouch down and try to catch my breath, although I'm still suffocating. After a few seconds, All Might approaches me and gently taps my back to help me.
"Easy kid, your body's still in shock, just take a long breath in and out and it'll come back on its own."
I do as he says and after a few hard breaths, I finally find a calm rhythm, sighing to signal that all is well.
"Thank God! You look good, that's the most important thing!"
"Yes, thanks for the save."
"I'm so sorry! You finally got involved in my elimination of bad guys. I don't usually make rookie mistakes like that, but oh well. Maybe I got a little carried away since I'm in unfamiliar territory and the capture was off-screen?!" He said, striking a pose.
(What the hell is he talking about?)
"Anyway, it's thanks to you that I made it, so thank you! I "check-mated" it with no problem, in the end!"
"Since you're standing in front of a hero, and a number 1 at that, you might want to ask him, partner."
(Indeed, it's a chance that won't come again).
"Excuse me, I..."
"If it's for a signature, don't worry it's already done!" He gives me a thumbs-up, starting to walk away.
I pick up my notebook from the floor and open it to see his name written on a double-page spread with his head in a chibi version.
(Putting the villain in the bottles and signing my notebook... How could he do all that in just a few seconds?)
"Well, I've got to take this one to the station! Watch my exploits on TV kid!"
"Oh no! Please! I still..."
"You know, professionals have to constantly battle the time and the bad guys."
(Wait, I have one more question for you...)
"On that note, I'm counting on you to carry on in the future..." He crouched, preparing to jump.
But just before he disappears I rush forward and grab hold of him.
"To support meeeee!"
In one leap, we're in the air, overlooking the city, and I've just realized what I've done.
(Oh shit, I still haven't learned to fly...)
"Huh? Nope, nope!" Ah, now he's noticed me. "Let go of me! Are you crazy or something?!"
"If I let you go now, I'll will.. I will die!"
"Ah yes indeed!"
"I still have a question to ask you! You...!"
"Okay, okay, I get it. Close your eyes and mouth now!"
Suddenly, he coughs and puts his hand in front of his mouth, hiding blood as it comes out.
(Huh? Is he sick or injured?)
We land on a roof and I can't feel my face, completely blown away by the speed.
"A feeling of déjà vu..." I think out loud, remembering an adventure with Kiritsugu.
"Seriously! I was forced to land to talk to someone from the bottom of the social ladder what, but anyway. I really don't have time to waste, so I'll leave you here!"
"Hold on!"
"No! I won't wait!"
"Can I become a vigilante... When almost everyone hates me?!" I catch my breath. "Is it possible that someone who carries a monster inside him could become like you?"
"A monster...?" Suddenly, All Might was convulsed, then smoke appeared all over his body.
"You see..." I lift my top and reveal the black seal on my belly. "I have the fox-demon locked inside me and I've always been detested and brutalized for it. At the time I hated everyone, even myself, but a man saved me. And by following him on his adventures, I knew it was the right thing to do, so when he died, I decided to take up his quest. I want to save the world and see people happy, to stop them going through what I went through... Hmm?"
When the smoke clears, a blond anorexic appears in place of the large man.
"It's you again, isn't it? What's going on? Why did you... shrunk...?"
"Indeed, I am All Might." He said, spitting blood. "There are people who contract their abs at the pool, aren't there? Well, this is no different!"
"Hmmm, I'd like to say I understand, but this is beyond me."
"Save the world and see people happy, eh?" He sits down, as if exhausted. "Well, as you can see, kid, what's written on the internet isn't necessarily true you know?"
He in turn lifts his top to reveal a huge scar across his body, taking the form of a spider's web.
"It's an injury... That I received 5 years ago from a villain's attack. Result: semi-destruction of my respiratory system and total removal of my stomach. My emaciated face and haggard eyes are side effects of repeated surgery. At present, I can only work actively as a hero for about three hours a day. That's my limit."
"5 years ago? When you fought against the Poisonous Trunk?" I ask, remembering the info.
"I won't be fooled by losers like that again! What I just told you was never made public. So I'd ask you not to reveal it to anyone, please."
"Well, that makes two of us then." I reply, rubbing my stomach.
"The symbol of peace who saves people with a smile cannot afford to bow to the forces of evil. If I laugh, it's simply to distract myself from the fear I feel and the intense pressure I'm under as a hero. Professionals always have to put their lives on the line. But your case is far more dangerous, and you already know that, don't you? Otherwise you wouldn't be asking me."
I can only look down and press my stomach, knowing where the discussion is going to turn.
"You can feel it, the negative feelings and especially the hatred of the demon that lives inside you, pressing down on you with each passing year." I nod, he sighs, feeling bad for me. "I'm terribly sorry about that. I read the book about your family... I couldn't believe it, but here you are right in front of my eyes. You must have been through a terrible ordeal and I wish you all the courage in the world to carry on, but only if you go in the direction you choose. You'll end up like those who were like you, you'll lose control, kill yourself and take I don't know how many others with you."
It's like a slap in the face.
"The demon that lives inside you cannot be controlled or subdued. It devours you little by little, then when the time is right, breaks you completely, if you don't die before the activity you want to do."
"I see..."
"The more you don't put your life in danger and plunge yourself into intense stress, the less the demon will have a hold on you, and the better you'll be able to live. I strongly advise you to have a quiet life rather than follow the path you want to take. It's a perfectly honorable life choice to be a hero, but if you go for it, you'll end up badly, there's no other alternative kid."
And in a last gesture of compassion, he opens the door and leaves. Leaving me alone with the worst truth of all.
I walk down the street completely empty, alone with my thoughts, with myself and the monsters living inside me. I don't know what to think, I don't know what to do. I know my goal is the right one, it's the logical next step. Why else was I saved that day? In the flames, blood and ashes of people dying, why me of all people? If I can't follow in Kiritsugu's footsteps, my whole life is meaningless, I have nothing to live for.
"Partner... Come on get a grip, I'm sure there's another way."
'If you go for it, you'll end up badly, there's no other alternative kid.'
'It's so pathetic that, even now, when he's committed to Kuoh, he still can't see things straight. There's a reason you got bullied back then.'
'Each of you has the potential to become a great hero or a great Shinobi, so keep working hard and make us proud, okay?'
(Because do you seriously see any other solution? No, there isn't. That's why I've got to keep going and believe in the path Kiritsugu has chosen, I'll prove to them all and to myself, I'll become the vigilante Kiritsugu always wanted to be).
The words come out but not the motivation. Katsuki then All Might. They both said pretty much the same thing. I'm at the end of my rope.
As I'm moping along, I hear a ruckus to my left, and turn my gaze to see a crowd amassed at the entrance to a pedestrian street on the other side of the road. Followed by an explosion, with a strangely familiar sound. As I approached, I saw the disgusting liquid monster.
(What's he doing here?! All Might ?! The bad guy escaped?! Or did he fall? But then...)
"It's my fault!"
"Why do heroes just stand there like stakes?" asks a passer-by.
"I understand a schoolboy got caught." Another replies.
(He's been caught... He's dealing with this pain...) Remembering what he inflicted on me not so long ago.
"If not, isn't that villain the one All Might was chasing earlier?"
"All Might ?! Seriously?! You think he's coming?!"
"I caught a glimpse of him before."
"Well then, what's All Might up to in this case?!"
People are chatting and having fun, smiling and even laughing.
(What's wrong with them? Don't they realize that someone is dying? It's not a scene from a theater)
Then I turn my gaze to the action beyond, the monster, attacking the student.
(Damn it, it's my fault! And the one who got caught can't move! This muddy creature is elusive. Fortunately, there are professional heroes and Shinobis to... Wait, why don't they intervene? Why aren't they moving?)
A look, Katsuki's look, trapped by the monster. A cry for help. That's all it took for my body to run to his rescue. I made my way through the crowd, past the heroes and Shinobi and racing towards him. I activate all my magic circuits and, with a [BOOST], make my red gauntlet appear.
(The only way to free him is to reproduce what All Might did earlier, but I need more power...)
I take a deep breath, then suck in the energy all around me, creating filaments of energy around me from the surrounding flames. My body is overheating, but I don't have time to think about it. The monster has noticed me.
"You idiot! Stop right there! Stop!" I hear the pros yelling at me, but I don't care.
The monster gathers liquid on its right side, creates an arm and attacks me. I retaliate by throwing my bag in his eyes, which causes him to miss and still allows me to get closer, and charging my blow, I strike full force into the center of the monster, creating a huge hole but not strong enough to have the same effect as All Might. But it gives me time to grab Katsuki and pull him out of the liquid.
"Why?! Why are you here?" Katsuki asks, caught between gasps.
"If you can talk then you can run, come on get up!" I drag him so we can walk away.
But it's too late, the monster is already back in form and grabbing Katsuki's legs.
"I was almost done, so get out of my way, tic-tac-toe!" He grabs me and squeezes me hard.
[BOOST] With all the energy I've built up, I'm able to stand up to him, but Katsuki is at the end of his tether. I free one of my arms and pull him towards me, to slow the monster down, which has the effect of crushing me.
"What the hell are you playing at?! You think you're a hero?" Katsuki asks me, struggling less and less.
"Your face was crying out for help, of course I wasn't going to stand by and do nothing!" I reply, still pulling him towards me, feeling my body being more and more crushed.
"S...top!"
"He's going to die needlessly! It's like he's asking to kill himself!" I can hear the heroes commenting on the scene, not even trying to help.
Suddenly, a hand grabs my arm. I turn to see All Might in his muscular form, still steaming here and there.
"You were able to persuade me... that my morals aren't made for me to just listen to myself say them without me leading by example!" Then he flings out his right arm, ready to strike, spitting blood. "Professionals put their lives on the line all the time !"
Seeing his fists coming, I tighten my grip on Katsuki with all my might, to keep him from flying away.
"DETROIT SMASH"
With a sweep of his fists, the monster is spread all over the walls, the power so strong that the surge pushes everyone behind, creating a small tornado.
When the wind dies down, and we lie down to recuperate, it starts to rain, whereas a few seconds ago it was clear blue skies.
"Is it raining?"
"Wait, did he just cause an updraft, just with air pressure?!"
"The times have changed just with a straight right!"
"Huge, that's the real power of All Might !"
Lying on the ground, I can't understand their reaction. Was this a film for these people? Did they see the danger? My questioning is interrupted by a piercing glance from All Might, just before he is mobbed by journalists.
After this incident, the heroes salvaged the pieces of the muddy man. I was treated to long sermons from the heroes.
"You really didn't need to expose yourself to such danger!" But I can't take them seriously. It's just a simple look of disgust that I give.
"What incredible stamina! And that alter! If you become a professional, I'll make you my subordinate!" Katsuki, meanwhile, got compliments.
I leave and go home, starving. I wanted to apologize to All Might, but being too busy with journalists, I decided to forget the whole thing and continue on my way, whatever happens.
"Hey, good-for-nothing!" I turn to see Katsuki, gasping for breath. "I've..." He lifts his head to face me. "I never asked for your help...! I didn't need saving! Okay?! Get it?! I could have taken care of myself, yeah! The last thing I need is to apologize to a monster like you! Do I owe you one?! Never mind, I really don't intend to apologize! Fucking monster!"
He turns and walks away, hands in pockets, head bowed. The fact that I helped him must feel like defeat on his side. But it strengthens my purpose, I know I've done the right thing.
No sooner had I resumed my walk than All Might suddenly appeared.
"Here I am!"
"Huh? All Might ? What are you doing here? You were surrounded by a horde of journalists earlier..."
"It's that I can avoid them if I want to! After all, I'm All Mi... *cough*" He suddenly transforms into his anorexic version, spitting blood.
I sigh and hand him a tissue.
"Thanks kid. Well listen, I've come to thank you and make a few corrections... And I also have a proposition for you."
"Huh?"
"If you hadn't been there, if I hadn't heard your personal story... And then, you even made me say I had fake muscles! For all that, I have you to thank!"
"Fake muscles ..? No, listen, it's all my fault, right from the start. I disturbed you while you were working, and I was relatively impertinent for someone like me, who's a 'monster'..." I said, running my hand over my stomach.
"About that! At that point, no one could do anything. The only one who could, was you, a person afflicted by pain and a monumental weight on your shoulders! And that really touched me ! Everyone says that anyone can become a hero, but then what? How does the story end for the very few? It ends with these words: "my body moved on its own!"
For some reason, I remembered my parents' words.
' this kid won't have a hope in hell!'
"That's... what happened to you too, isn't it!?" All Might asks me.
"Yes!" I answer firmly, feeling a renewed sense of hope.
I see Kiritsugu again, sitting next to me, looking at me with pride.
'Yeah, it can't be helped, so I'll take your place. It's impossible since you're an adult, but it should be all right for me. Let me take on your dream. I'll make it come true.' I tell him, before he rests for good.
"Very well, then I'll make you a hero." All Might proudly says to me with his head held high.
All the negative feelings of that day vanish at once. and hope turns into a goal, to become a vigilante, once again. I will, as I promised.
And for the first time in a long time, a smile, a genuine smile appears on my face.
"Yes, please!"
Hello everyone and thank you for reading this chapter. A real emotional rollercoaster for Senji but in the end, after all the crap he's been through, he's just progressed in one fell swoop and it's a straight path to his goal, but obviously he'll have plenty of detours during his adventure.
I hope you enjoyed it, and see you next week.