Chapter 3: Life in the Orphanage
Author: Geraint
(MC's POV)
It's been three days since my last mission, where I hunted down that assassin with a bounty. Today's the day I receive my reward. After coming back from nursery school, I'm now sitting on a swing at the playground.
Ring! Ring!
My phone rang — a secret one I got from the barkeeper for our transactions. Even the orphanage doesn't know about it.
I opened the message:
[The ¥5,000,000 bounty reward has been sent to your bank account, Mr. Falcon. Thanks for the patronage.]
This puts a smile on my face.
"Haha! Easy money!"
[Thanks as always, old man. You're the best!]
I replied.
I checked my savings account:
[Remaining Balance: ¥69,569,900]
I'm filthy rich.
I closed my phone and jumped off the swing.
"I should buy some snacks for everyone at the orphanage."
Feeling excited to go home.
"Huh?"
I saw a group of kids showing off their quirks to others.
"That's mean, Kacchan!"
A young boy with fluffy, dark green hair stood trembling in front of a crying kid.
"Look, you made him cry..! I won't let you hurt him anymore!"
Tears welled up in his eyes.
He was facing another boy with short, spiky, sandy-blonde hair and choppy bangs — his hands flickering with small explosions.
Behind him were a bald, chubby boy with red wings and a skinny kid with long fingers.
No doubt about it — those two kids are Izuku and Bakugou.
"You trying to play hero, Deku? You don't even have a quirk!"
Bakugou and his two mob friends ganged up on Izuku, attacking with their quirks.
I didn't really want to get involved in some kids' quarrel. I wanted to head home peacefully. Getting involved would just give me a headache. My hands are already full — supporting the orphanage, finding my missing parents, and investigating All for One...
But seeing Izuku getting beaten in front of me...
"Hey! You guys stop or I'll tell your parents!"
"Huh?"
Bakugou stopped and turned toward me.
"You didn't hear me? I said stop, or I'll report you."
"What's with this pink-haired kid? You got a problem?"
I was getting annoyed.
"Yeah, you're in my way. Move."
"Listen up, pinkie. If you don't wanna get beat up, then scram!"
Bakugou shoved me, but I didn't budge — just grinned.
"Tough guy, huh? Let's see what you can do against my quirk!"
He grabbed my shirt and tried to punch me.
…
I caught his fist with my right hand.
He tried pulling back, but I held him firm.
"Damn you!"
He let go of my shirt and grabbed my face with his other hand.
"Haha! Die!"
…
Nothing happened.
Bakugou froze.
"M-My quirk… Why won't it activate!?"
"You done yet?"
He backed off, clearly shaken. Gritting his teeth, he charged at me again.
I simply raised my left fist—
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
Bakugou and his friends dropped to the ground, defeated.
I walked past them when I noticed Izuku trembling, staring up at me.
"Want some candy?"
"…Yes?"
He was confused.
I placed a piece of candy in his palm.
"Have a nice day."
I waved and walked off.
"Eh…?"
One week later, after receiving another bounty reward, I was back on the playground swing.
[I sent the ¥10,000,000 bounty reward to your bank account. It's always good doing business with you, Mr. Falcon.]
"Hey, you bastard!"
It was Bakugou again — Izuku trailing behind him, trying to stop him.
Sigh Not again.
"I'm gonna pay you back for what you did! Let's fight!"
A few minutes later…
Bakugou was lying on the ground. Again.
"Ugh…"
"Kacchan!"
Izuku ran to him.
I stayed on the swing, sipping juice.
A few days later, same playground.
"You pink-haired guy! Let's fight again!"
A few seconds later…
Bakugou: down again.
"Kacchan!!"
"Hey, wimpy kid!"
"My name's not Wimpy Kid! It's Midoriya Izuku!"
"Then… Deku."
"Ugh… Not you too…"
"Can you tell this spiky-haired idiot to stop picking fights with me? He's ruining my peaceful time."
"Well… he is really stubborn."
"Want me to send him to the hospital?"
"No! Please don't!"
Izuku begged.
Sigh
"Anyway, I'm Fujiwara Ichika. Call me Ichika. I'm 4 years old."
"Wow! You're the same age as us? You sound older!"
"Yeah."
"Oh, and this is my friend — Katsuki Bakugou."
"This loudmouth?"
"Yes… Sorry about him, Ichika-san."
"Well… it's fine. He's never going to beat me anyway."
"Ichika-san, you're really strong…"
Izuku sat on the swing beside me, looking down.
"What's wrong?"
"Do you think… a quirkless kid like me can become a hero?"
…
I stood up.
"Well… that's up to you."
"Huh?"
He looked up at me.
"Instead of crying, why not think about what really makes a hero — and train yourself to become one?"
…
"Some people rely too much on their quirks. If they suddenly can't use it, they become useless — like that guy."
We both glanced at Bakugou, still on the ground.
"It's not quirks that make heroes. It's selflessness — saving others in peril — that makes a true hero."
Izuku's eyes widened in surprise.
"See you around, Deku!"
I waved as I walked off.
"Yes!"
Two years later
It was night, and I was preparing dinner.
"Kyaa!!"
Suddenly, a scream echoed.
I dropped my apron and rushed to the hallway, where two little girls were running toward me. They clung to my waist.
"Ichika-oniichan! We saw monsters!"
"What?! Where?"
"In Osaka! People are turning into monsters and attacking others!"
"They're destroying buildings!"
"…Osaka? But we're in Musutafu!"
"But we saw it on TV!"
"You two wait here."
I went to the living room. What I saw made me frown.
Other kids were gathered around the TV, terrified.
[CHAOS IN OSAKA]
People were running in fear as villains rampaged. It was a live report — the city in ruins, evil running free.
This was the world the goddess reincarnated me into.
I didn't really hate it. As long as I could live in peace, I didn't care. But seeing this kind of destruction…
I couldn't ignore it.
Not much different from my past life — back then, I fought in the ring, hoping to represent my country. I felt like a hero then, too — someone who inspired others.
Now, with the "cheats" I received from the goddess…
With great power comes great responsibility.
I grew up watching heroes on TV. But here, heroes were more about fame and money.
I want to show the world what a real hero looks like.
I ran out of the living room.
"Sorry, I forgot to buy some milk! Going to the store!"
"Ichika?"
I dashed down the stairs of our rundown orphanage, grabbed my bicycle, and pedaled away — into the dark, quiet streets.
"Captain Falcon!"
My body burst into flames and transformed into my hero form.
(Img <<<)
I picked up speed, overtaking speeding cars — on a bike.
Ahead of me, I spotted someone running fast.
All Might.
I grinned and overtook him.
"Huh? Captain Falcon?!"
"Slowpoke."
"You're heading to Osaka too? That's a big help!"
"BOOST FIRE!"
My speed multiplied as I flew ahead.
"Eat my dust! Loser treats dinner!"
"Captain Falcon! Haha! I won't lose to you!"
He laughed and sped up, trying to catch me.
(To be continued.)
Author's Note:I don't know why, but writing this chapter felt kind of cringey… I'll fix more mistakes later.I also corrected my timeline — it should be two years instead of five. (I messed up because of Mirko's age during the incident.)