Holding Out For A Hero
Prologue
Eighty percent of the World’s population have some kind of uncanny superpower. Those abilities are called Quirks.
Since people started manifesting them, there’s been one profession that’s dominated our minds.
With the explosion of crime and disasters brought about by Quirks, humanity needed people to protect the innocent.
We gave the name of those brave enough to take action: Heroes.
They’re the ones who put their lives on the line. Who defend us from evil.
Without them, diabolical villains would destroy our cities, our lives, maybe even the planet.
It is because of this, I have enrolled at Japan’s top-ranking high school, U.A. High, with a close friend of mind since middle school, Toshinori Yagi.
Throughout middle school, Toshinori shown no signs of having a Quirk like myself.
While I was able to make weapons grow from my limbs, he had nothing.
It wasn’t until we enrolled at U.A. High that Toshinori finally got his Quirk.
He was never able to explain where his Quirk has come from. All he knew was his Quirk enhanced his abilities such as; strength, speed, durability, and so on.
Though it confused me as to why he suddenly got a Quirk, I chose to put it to the back of my mind and excuse it as a late manifestation.
From the moment we knew we were in the same class, let alone attending the same high school, we came up with a plan. After graduating, we were going to work together as heroes and form our own agency together.
We were going to become strong heroes, ones that will make villains cower in fear at the mention of our names.
We studied hard whilst at U.A. When we weren’t in class, Toshinori and I would be training alongside each other, helping each other develop our abilities further, sparring with one another, and giving each other tips on how to improve our fighting styles.
Everything was perfectly normal, at least until we turned 18, with graduation just around the corner.
One day, Toshinori was absent from school. There was no reason as to why he wasn’t in school that day, and if there was, the teachers didn’t tell us.
Throughout the school day, I was unable to focus on my lessons due to being constantly worried about my dear friend and his whereabouts.
My classmates and teachers noticed my change in attitude, but I dismissed them and told them I was fine.
That night, I received a text from Toshinori.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Hey
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Just wanted to let you know I’ll be back to school in a few days
Y/N
Is everything okay? I’ve been really worried about you
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Everything’s fine, just some important family matters that required my attention, so no need to worry
Y/N
Guess I’ll see you in a few days
Almost a week later, Toshinori returned back to school to resume his studies. Everyone asked him if everything was okay, and he just dismissed them with a smile and said “Everything’s fine.”
Even though he said everything was fine, I couldn’t help but feel there was something more than what he was letting off, so I decided to talk to him during our training session after school to get more answers from him.
-After school in the training court-
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Yeah?
Y/N
You gonna tell me what’s going on? You’ve been really quiet since you came back to school… It’s really out of character for you…
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
*Sigh*
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Do you remember that woman I trained under during my work study?
Y/N
Yeah, you briefly spoke about her before.
I sat down on the concrete floor, folding my legs underneath me.
During our third year, we were assigned to undergo work studies alongside our school schedule, Toshinori had a friend that was willing to take him on. Her name was Nana Shimura.
Nana Shimura took Toshinori under her wing as she had a Quirk that was very similar to his and wanted to help him further in developing his Quirk.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
She was fighting a villain and asked me to assist her with our former home room teacher.
Y/N
That was Gran Torino, right?
Toshinori nodded and sat down on the floor in front of me, mimicking my position.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Yeah, him.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
The three of us were fighting this villain, and while we were fighting him, he targeted me.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Nana pushed me out of the way and told Gran Torino to take me to safety. I refused to go, wanting to continue fighting alongside her, but Gran Torino dragged me away from the fight.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
The last thing I saw of her was her being killed by that villain…
Toshinori’s expression darkened as he lowered his head, allowing his blond bangs that hung at the sides of his face to shield his face. His shoulders trembled as he recalled the events of Nana’s death.
I frowned and got to my knees, crawling over to him and wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him into a hug. The gesture made Toshinori break down, and he clung to me tightly as he sobbed into my shoulder.
Y/N
I’m so sorry, Toshinori…
I whispered words of comfort to my friend, bringing my hand up to his ruffled blond hair and stroke it gently.
We remained silent, the only sound that could be heard was Toshinori’s soft sobs before slowly dying down into nothing.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
I’m going to work hard to avenge her death…
Toshinori pulled away from me and looked me directly in the eye. His light blue eyes that were usually filled with softness and warmth were now filled with rage and vengeance.
Y/N
Please don’t do anything rash…
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
I won’t, don’t you worry.
Toshinori got to his feet and looked up at the slowly setting sun that cast a warm glow over the horizon.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
When I’ve graduated, I’m going to go to America and work hard to become a beacon of hope and peace to citizens.
Y/N
Have you forgotten what we agreed on?
I jumped up to me feet and scowled up at him.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Circumstances have changed, Y/N… We planned on working together as heroes long before this happened. I need to do this.
Y/N
What you don’t need to do is go to America!
Y/N
I can help you achieve your goal without you having to leave Japan. Don’t you trust me?
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Y/N, I trust you more than anything. If I could, I would bring you with me-
Y/N
We can both go to America together. We can work together and form our own hero agency over there.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
It’s not as easy as that…
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
I’m going on my own for your own safety. If you stuck with me, you would get dragged into the mess I’m currently in, and I don’t want to lose you too…
Y/N
I’m fully capable of defending myself!
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
I know you are, but this is something I can’t let you get involved in.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
If you knew the real reason, you’d understand.
Y/N
The real reason? So there’s something you’ve been hiding from me?!
Y/N
You just said you trusted me, but there’s something you’re keeping from me!
I felt tears forming at the corner of my eyes. I didn’t know whether I was upset angry or disappointed in him. Maybe it was a mixture of the three.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
It’s not like I had a choice in the matter. If you learnt the real reason behind my intentions, your life would be in grave danger!
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
I’m trying to keep you from that danger… Please believe me, Y/N…
I turned on my heel, my back now to him, and let out a sigh.
Y/N
Do whatever you want, Toshinori… I’m done here. Good luck in America…
I started to walk away, trying my hardest to hold back my tears. Leaving him alone in the training court.
-Time skip to graduation day-
Graduation day finally arrived. Our entire class gathered together to go down memory lane, recalling the sudden training drills we had to do, laughing at the good times we shared together.
Throughout the graduation ceremony, I kept my distance from Toshinori, not wanting to talk to him about his departure to America.
My classmates noticed this distance I had put between Toshinori and myself and asked if everything was okay between us. I forced a smile and said everything was fine between us before glancing over to the blond that was standing a few meters away from me.
As our graduation ceremony was drawn to a close, we said our final goodbyes to each other and wished each other well for our futures.
After saying my goodbyes, I walked out of U.A. High for the last time with my diploma in hand, not wanting to look back. That was until I heard someone calling out my name.
I let out a sigh as soon as I realised it was Toshinori that was calling out to me.
I stopped walking and glanced over my shoulder to see the blond running towards me. I should have realised he would come running after me at the earliest opportunity…
Toshinori stopped running as soon as he reached me, panting softly.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Can we talk?
Since our argument Toshinori’s appearance had changed. Instead of his blond hair being ruffled up, it was now slicked back, and the two long bangs that framed his face were now sticking up in the air like they were horns.
Y/N
What is there to talk about?
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
Look, I understand that you’re upset about me going to stay in America, but I wanted to promise you something.
He reached out and took my hand in his, turning me so I was now facing him.
Y/N
I don’t want your promises, Toshinori!
I jerked my hand out of his and turned on my heel, starting to walk away from him.
Toshinori Yagi (Young)
I will come back to Japan, and when I do, we can carry on with our plan of working together as heroes.
I came to a halt, not looking back at him.
Y/N
You’ll have to find me first. Who knows, I might not even be in Japan when you come back. I might have moved onto something better by then.
I glanced over my shoulder at him.
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