"Are you sure this is a good idea?" A particularly very young Tsubasa asked, anxiety masking his interior as he along with Tesaki and Hashiga eyed the abandoned warehouse that stood before them.
The structure stood tall and ominous, bombarded by the color of rust with vines clinging to it like desperate fingers. It creaked and groaned as the wind pushed against it, sending a shiver down the three's spine. And located right at the center of it was an entryway, acting as more of a deterrent than an invitation.
To anyone with a sensible brain, they would just run the other direction. However, the ever so confident Bakugo could be described as anything but sensible. Ever since the birth of his explosion quirk very recently, his craving for danger every now and then has skyrocketed to a level that none of his friends could reach. That reassuring feeling made him ecstatic.
The boy dawns a cheeky smile that he loves to showcase before whipping his head around to face his group of friends, posing a mighty stance in the process "No duh! There's nothing more fun than a little action to spice up the day!"
"I don't know dude…I'm all for some action, but this place?! What if it's haunted???" Hashiga pointed out, his sharp teeth beginning to chatter with fear while the remaining two scaredy cats nodded in agreement.
The cheeky smile on Bakugo's face falters for a split second before it forms into an overfamiliar grin "And that's why I'm here! Thanks to my raw power, nothing can get in our way! So trust me, this will be a piece of-"
"Hey! Wait for me guys!" A voice called out in hopes of attracting the attention of all four of them who groaned in disgruntled annoyance the second they realized who it was. Once arrived at the scene, Bakugo and the others were met face to face with a panting Midoriya, his entire state appearing as if he had just ran a marathon.
"You've gotta be kidding me. This guy is joining too?" Tesaki in utter bewilderment, gazed at the green haired boy with disgust followed by a heavy sigh courtesy of the blonde's lips "I didn't ask for him to join. Do you seriously take me for someone like that? Anyways, what're you doing here Deku?"
"I-I just wanted to hang out with you guys! That shouldn't be a hassle, right Kacchan?" Midoriya's insistence left Bakugo face's creaking, yearning for nothing more than to just leave him to the side. In spite of his wants however, he knew there was practically no use in even trying to.
No matter how hard he tries, that wannabe hero always comes back one way or another. He was like a cockroach that never seems to go away, its presence lurking under every crevice he walks on.
With no other option but to let Midoriya tag along, he relents, turning on his heels as to no longer be forced to endure the quirkless boy's existence and opens his mouth once again "Fine, but you better not ruin it for us. Now c'mon, let's get this show on the road!"
Once frightened, Bakugo's courageous character aided in fueling his three companions who all beamed with pride before pumping their fists into the air as high as they could "Yeah!"
Midoriya on the other hand was way too nervous to cheer alongside them, his heart repeatedly thudding akin to a drum in his chest. Wanting to become a hero, the kid knew he had to keep up with the others, especially with the fiery leader that was Bakugo. If he can manage to do that, then surely everything that comes after will be smooth sailing from here.
Finally with enough bravery, Midoriya gained the strength to join in on the fist pumping, ready to embark on a daring crusade. The group then proceeded forward with Bakugo predictably being the one in front, entering inside the building only to be met with a horrifying atmosphere.
Every wall was cracked and covered in a layer of dust, with the occasional spider web swaying at each corner. Not only that, but each step they take creates a creaking floorboard right beneath them, echoing through the desolate scenery. And with no sign of comfort anywhere around, it left all three followers' recent dignity descending into the darkness.
"U-uhmmmm…maybe it would be cool if we just leave right now." Tsubasa uttered, petrified at the frightening details scattered around. Tesaki and Hashiga reacted just about the same, with the latter adding on to his friend's statement "Yeah, I mean what's there to search for? Looks pretty empty to me…!"
"Heh, you guys scared? C'mon, there's no harm in admitting it. Well…other than being ridiculed for all your life." Bakugo happily expressed with a huge smirk planted on his face, watching their fearful spirits rise with amusement.
"N-no, of course not! It's just…why waste our time here when we could be-" Suddenly, a group of bats came flying through the area, cutting off Tesaki's protest. One by one, the trio exchanged glances at one another, each more paler than the last before beginning to turn their bodies.
At that instant, they scurried their way outta the abandoned warehouse with Tsubasa being the last to leave. He paused right at the exit, glancing over his shoulder at the sight of Bakugo and Midoriya remaining still, confused as all heck.
There was no surprise to be had that the more self-assured of the group wouldn't be feared whatsoever, but Midoriya? He's the most useless kid around the block, and yet he stayed behind?
With little time to process it, the chubby boy turns and bursted out of the building, using up all his stamina to flee. For the longest time, this was the fastest he's ever ran, and knowing exactly why made him want to forget that moment entirely.
Not only was he running away from the face of danger, making him unfit as a hero. But to run away while that quirkless boy of all people didn't even move a muscle was a major kick to the groin.
Ever since that embarrassing memory, Tsubasa couldn't recall a single time where he had run the opposite direction. And now with the loss of his quirk, he could never imagine that possibility to even occur.
That was until this very day, where he began to move without even thinking about it. He couldn't fathom why in the world he was doing this, why he was running towards a villain about ten times his size just to save the one person who he harbored a deep hatred for 'Huh?! What the hell is happening to me? Why can't I stop?!?!"
"Hey!! What do you think you're doing kid?! Get back here or you'll die!" Death Arms instructed profusely, urging for Tsubasa to return back while Hoshi who stood right nearby watched the scene unravel with intrigue "Hmmm, the boy for sure has some guts, I'll give him that. But just what the heck is he planning on doing?"
Quite simply, nothing.
He had planned nothing.
The only thing that was on the boy's mind right now was to save his former friend, and by the looks of it…he needed to do it fast. He's already halfway there, why stop now?
"Wha? Oh…well would you look at that. If it isn't the one I almost smothered to death! Did you wanna join in on the party? The more the merrier as they always say!!" The sludge villain with extreme glee, launches his gunk at the quirkless boy who quickly dodged just in time before he went back to running with his two feet.
'God damnit! What is that idiot doing?! Doesn't he understand we're in a life and death situation over here?' The punching hero's faith continues to sink the more he's forced to witness all this carnage transpire 'At this point, we're looking at the possibility of an extra life being taken away'
Arriving himself right at the center of destruction, Tsubasa took immediate action in removing the slime covering Bakugo's mouth, finally allowing him to breathe properly. Upon doing so however led to the blonde's ferocious anger that he's been acquainted with "Huh?! What the hell are you doing?!?! You're a quirkless nobody! You can't do anything!!"
"Shut it! Just shut up with all this nonsense! It's true I don't have the power like all those other heroes…but it's not like I'm just gonna stand around and watch you die! Do you really wanna die Bakugo?!"
Watching the daring act unfold, All Might couldn't help but feel even more pathetic than before. By all accounts was he more powerful than the kid within each and every facet. And yet here he was, standing around and doing jack squat while Tsubasa, without a quirk to back him up, was out there fighting to save that boy's life.
Stepping away from the crowd to avoid being spotted, the number one hero bulks up slowly but surely as motivation consumes him 'There's no excuse. I need to act…no matter the cost!' He thought, having just now finished forming into its recognizable build.
Meanwhile, things weren't looking too good for Tsubasa. As he ravages through the gunk, it has been continually shaping itself to prevent Bakugo from escaping. In spite of his full force, it would prove no match for the wrongdoer's insane abilities.
"Ahh…how laughable! Some tough guy wannabe thinks he has the power to stop me; a force of nature that can't be reckoned with!!" The sludge villain taunted, their voice booming into the teen's ear as they continued speaking "Because of you, I now have to wait a little bit longer before I can take full control of him. Say, you want some piece of advice kid? Stop getting in people's way! If you can't be bothered to listen, then I might as well make myself another plate!"
"He'll die in vain if someone doesn't put a stop to this! Seriously, is he suicidal?" The arbored hero queried with a look in his eyes that were just as despairing as the rest of the heroes. With no way to diminish this nightmare of a situation, they were left worried at the idea that this was truly a lost cause. And right when the villain launched their attack on Tsubasa, a mighty figure dropped down without warning, producing heavy amounts of smoke that covered the entire area.
Once everything clears out, the figure in question was revealed to be none other than All Might; the symbol of peace! He had arrived, dawning that well known smile of his. The world was gonna see him in action yet again.
The hero grabs the chubby teen by the wrist and pulls them away with ease, extracting any ounce of worry in a matter of seconds "I've told you the traits that make a great hero! But as it turns out, I wasn't living up to my own ideals. I say it's about time I start practicing what I preach!!" All Might then pulls out his free hand, getting ready to initiate an attack while blood spews out of his mouth "Pros should always be ready to risk their lives, that is the true test of a hero!!!"
"God damn you All Might!!" The sludge villain yelled out, bracing themselves for the incoming onslaught. The tension in the air thickened, and the two teens, Tsubasa and Bakugo, watched with bated breath as the symbol of peace drew his fist closer.
"Detroit…SMASHHHH!!!" All Might in one fell swoop, dissipates the villain with a tremendous punch. Alas, Bakugo was now free and the fire that previously spread had vanished due to the hero's sheer force.
As the climax has settled, rain began to patter down from the sky, gently kissing the scorched earth. It was a stark contrast to the fiery battle that transpired very recently, leaving many citizens gazing in awe. Their astonishment was then replaced with utter confusion when the raining itself stopped right away.
Soon enough, they quickly caught on to the fact that it wasn't nature's doing. It in fact came from All Might himself, showing off just how strong he is once more.
"Don't tell me, the rain just now was…"
"Look at the clouds, they're moving at a rapid pace!"
"My god, he changed the weather with just one single punch!!"
Moments later, all the civilians cheered their hearts out while the symbol of peace stood tall and proud with his pumped fist held high. The crowd may have seen him as the amazing hero he was, but in his eyes…All Might can't help but still see a pathetic man.
Several minutes passed, and Tsubasa had just awakened from his unconsciousness. "W-what happened??" The boy mumbled groggily, rubbing the back of his head before sitting up to witness a completely different world.
Before, he was in deep peril. And now he found himself in a realm bathed under a soft, ethereal glow. The villain's scattered body was collected, and everything surrounding him returned back to utopia. For Tsubasa however, that utopia would unfortunately not last very long for he was forced to endure a couple of angry pro heroes who all glared down at him.
"There was absolutely no need for you to put yourself in danger!" Death Arms approached with visceral intensity, his eyes blazing in a weird mix of anger and relief. The same could be said for the more lesser known pro hero by the name of Slugger who was shooting daggers from behind the mask "Yeah! It's almost like you had some sorta death wish!"
"Whatever the case may be, there was no reason for you to act so reckless. This is only a job for heroes, not a teenager who is currently going through puberty." Kamui Woods added to the boy's irritation, looking away from the valiant figures as to not gaze at their disappointment.
Thinking back to the conversation he had with All Might not too long ago, Tsubasa was beginning to wonder if every hero was like this. On one hand, it's not like he could exactly blame them for being so angry. As stated to him, he was being very reckless in his actions. But on the other hand, it felt incredibly nauseating having to hear people he admired so much act so dismissing of his ambitions.
"No reason, huh? Well when a guy you know is in danger, you can't help but want to do something about it. Is that not a reason? Or are you just too warped in your head to realize that!" Tsubasa shot in retaliation, receiving stunned looks from the pro heroes with Death Arms in particular gritting his teeth "Why listen here you-"
"Woah! Hold on now, why don't we all take a chill pill for a second." Voiced from behind, the others looked over to see a middle aged man staring back at them so nonchalantly. To the pro heroes, it was just some random citizen who decided it would be best to join in on the parade. But to Tsubasa, it was Sotaro Hoshi; the only person in this godforsaken city capable of encouragement.
"Errr…and just who are you exactly?" The hero made entirely out of wood asked, waiting for any form of response to come his way. As for Hoshi, he stood there in silence while the question hung in the air, realizing just how peculiar the situation was.
While he wanted to back Tsubasa up, him being a complete stranger doesn't necessarily make the predicament any easier to swallow. Were he to be his relative, then he wouldn't have such a hard time coming up with an answer. Once that thought came to mind, Hoshi's eyes twinkled in amusement before he finally opened his mouth to speak "Well if it isn't obvious enough, I'm his father! So why don't you leave the berating to me fellas."
"Mmmm…you better make sure you keep that kid on track next time. Otherwise, you might as well get reported due to negligence." Death Arms informed before he along with the rest of the pro heroes dispersed from the scene, leaving both Tsubasa and Hoshi to supposedly have their father and son talk.
"Heh, thanks for the help. But uhh…just a quick question though. Why???" The boy asked, his curiosity ranging at its peak. With how Tsubasa has been ridiculed countless times throughout the years, the fact that there was someone with a heart felt almost surreal to him.
Beforehand, he would've guessed the very man labeled as the symbol of peace to break that harsh rule. But no, it would turn out to be some random guy he met off the street today. Speaking of which, Hoshi stood in awkward silence before taking out a cigarette and lighting it, giving him ample time to fully grasp the reasoning behind his own actions "Honestly…I don't know. Maybe it's because I find myself relating to you? I mean the similarities are there. You're quirkless, I'm quirkless. You want to be a hero, I wanted to be a hero. We're practically two peas in a pod."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. You know…if I was just as powerful as Bakugo, I'd probably be the biggest jerk known to man." At that very moment, Tsubasa spotted the aforementioned seated on the pavement floor, looking pissed off as always while some random pro hero was indulging in his presence "You were real tough out there! And that quirk! Please consider becoming my sidekick once you turn pro!"
The pudgy teen couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Even at his worst moment, Bakugo still receives constant praise while he continues to be made a mockery for all to see.
Why is life so unfair?
"Hey." Hoshi's voice called out, cutting through the cluttered thoughts that jumped all around in Tsubasa's head. He narrowed his eyes over to see the man watch with heavy concern smeared across their face, the smoke from his cigarette rising in a lazy spiral "You okay? Cat got your tongue or something?"
"I suppose that's one way of saying it." The boy answered, gazing back at Bakugo with a raging jealousy. It was quickly noticed by Hoshi who faced the same direction as him, pinpointing the source behind his bitterness "So i'm guessing that's the guy?"
"Yep, that's him alright. The one and only Katsuki Bakugo who can do no wrong. A day never goes by without someone worshiping the ground he walks on…god, now i'm starting to regret trying to save his ass."
"Woah now! Those sound like words coming from a villain! Would definitely advise against saying that out loud if you're planning on keeping your teeth intact." Hoshi spoke with great alarm, his voice accentuating a humorous tone.
Despite the man's clear unseriousness, Tsubasa couldn't help but take his statement to heart. The idea that he may in fact succumb to evil sends a chill down his spine. Never before had he felt so vulnerable, so…human.
It wasn't something he'd ever consider for even a fraction of a second, and yet the possibility lurks just right under him as if it was waiting for the perfect time to strike. With that wintry thought in mind, the boy immediately forced a smile, hoping it would shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled into his bones.
News flash; the feeling still remains.
Seeing as he was merely a few steps away from complete anguish, Tsubasa decided it would be best to stop the conversation before his brain deteriorates any further. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm that was brewing within him as much as possible. Finally…as he gazes towards the man, his lips proceed to move "Yeah, I hear you…uhhh anyways, I better be headIng off now. No point in sticking around and watching that shit for brains getting all the glory, see ya."
Hoshi nods. not quite understanding the sudden shift in tone but was grateful nonetheless for the reprieve in tension "Take care kid! Oh, and just in case you're in need of anything, don't hesitate to come find me at my designated fish market! Trust me, you won't have a hard time searching. Just keep your nose peeled for a guy that remotely smells of sea salt and squid ink!"
The man's laughter echoed through the city as Tsubasa walked away, contemplating everything that had occurred today. From being a couple of seconds away from death to meeting All Might himself only to then cause one of the biggest disasters ever seen in Musutafu was without a doubt one mighty roller coaster. And while it all turned out okay in the end, he couldn't help but feel as if it amounted to nothing.
Even after committing what would be considered to be a noble sacrifice, the boy somehow felt no different than before. It was without a doubt the greatest thing he's ever done, and yet the world kept spinning like usual.
Tsubasa figured a change of sorts would be in motion, just anything that would congratulate his heroic feat. But no, he was once again looked down upon just like every other day. The only other thing missing was…
"Hey!! Blubbermouth!!!"
Appearing right on cue, an angry Bakugo enters his line of hearing. He turns to face him, noticing the fumes that surround his entire body like a living aura. Whatever the blonde came here for, Tsubasa could only expect nothing but the worst of the worst "Alright…what the hell do you want Bakugo?"
"The hell do I want?! I want to fucking know why you had the nerve to pity me like I'm some god damn weakling!!" The blonde's words struck like a bolt of lighting, darting its way right on through Tsubasa who gazed in bewilderment "Huh? Are you serious?! I know you can be a knucklehead at times, but this is just getting out of hand. How could you possibly think I was looking down on you? Answer me that!!"
"As if I'd listen to a quirkless failure like you! Now just so you fucking know…I never asked you to save me! I was fine by myself! In fact…you didn't help me! You did nothing! So quit trying to mock me, because those so-called dreams of yours ain't happening!!"
Bakugo was really getting under Tsubasa's skin to the point that he wanted to lash out at him harder than he ever has before. However, there was one thought in his mind that prevented him from doing so. That being…he was right.
Everything his former friend just said was a heap of unfortunate truths. He didn't help anyone in that situation. He only made things worse. How could having such high hopes lead to so much harm? On top of that, was it truly wrong to believe in becoming a pro hero?
Tsubasa stood in defeat as he watched Bakugo leaving the perimeter, his teeth gritting in anger at the realization that he would never be able to make people smile. In fact…it was the complete opposite. Whether it came down to standing by idly or jumping into action, he will always bring disappointment one way or another.
A sense of vengeance began consuming him, his need for retribution acting out as a siren's call that grew louder with each passing moment. And right as it nears towards the tip of the iceberg, a prosperous voice came just in the nick of time to unknowingly prevent his vindictive side from ever reaching into fruition "I am here!!"
Setting foot was All Might who popped into the scene with a hearty laugh that seemed to shake the very air around him, appearing in his more muscular form like last time. That smile of his seemed to never wavered even after facing off against the sludge villain. It's the reason why everyone around continues to be inspired by his very presence, showing off just why he deserved that number one spot.
"H-huh?!?! All Might?! What the…the hell are you doing here?!" Tsubasa asked, taken aback by the hero's surfacing. He wasn't at all expecting him to come and have a bit of a chit chat, especially after what happened back at the rooftop "Did you want to apologize or some crap? Because there's really no need for it. I get it now…it was wrong of me to believe I could do anything at this state."
"Well that's just the thing young boy! I came here to-" Just then, the symbol of peace spat out a large quantity of blood, returning back to his true form in a matter of milliseconds "Bleh…as i was saying, i came here to thank you and revise what i said earlier."
"Uhhhh…thank me?" Nothing was making any sense at this point. First he gets condemned by him and now all of a sudden is receiving a thank you? Tsubasa could only come up with the only logical reasoning behind this "I'm sorry, but I think you got me confused for someone else. Because why on earth would you be thanking me?"
"Isn't it obvious? If it weren't for you, telling me that awfully tragic life of yours and running off to save that kid…I would've kept being a coward among the large crowd. So sincerely, thanks. I really do appreciate it."
"I…that really does mean a lot to hear. But to be quite frank with you man, I'm not sure if I really deserve this praise. It was because of me that the villain was able to escape, not to mention my lousy attempt at a rescue. Thinking about it now, i did way more bad than good to be honest with ya" Even after hearing those encouraging words from All Might, Tsubasa still felt the weight of his constant failures weighing down on him, and today massively contributed to it "Seriously, there was no reason for me to run out there all willy nilly without some quirk to back me up."
"And that's the point! Of all the people to act at that moment, it ended up being you, a kid with no powers whatsoever. You were the one that led me to charge into battle! As far as I'm concerned, spurring others to take action is one of the many traits a hero possesses. You know what else they possess? A story detailing how they became so amazing in the first place. Most of these stories claim that their bodies move before they could even think! Isn't that what happened to you back there?!"
Tsubasa's heart thumped at the legendary hero's implication, dropping to his knees as a newfound dawning sank into his thoughts "I-i…what are you saying…??" He needed to hear him say it. He needed to hear what he was searching for all this time. The heartening prowess that can uplift even the most hopeless of mankind.
"You too, can be a hero."
Those words, spoken with a gentle confidence by the symbol of peace, seemed to rung through the vast open space, resonating in Tsubasa's very soul. He looked up, eyes wide with astonishment as All Might stepped closer, his determined look speaking to him in countless ways.
As it turns out, dreams can become reality. This was the story of a boy who would later become the number one hero.
