Akira Tenma could be seen walking down a quiet street, his small figure moving along the roadside. He wore white-colored short pants and a blue T-shirt with All Might's face printed boldly across the front.
In front of him walked a short elderly man in a hero costume.
This was Gran Torino—a retired hero and the mentor of All Might.
"Are you interested in going to school?" Gran Torino asked casually, glancing back at him to see Akira looking at some kids in school uniform.
Akira nodded quietly as he continued walking, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Heroes patrolled the streets.
Civilians moved about freely, chatting, laughing, living their lives without fear.
Everything felt… peaceful.
'…So this is what a normal world looks like.'
"What's on your mind?" Gran Torino asked, noticing his gaze wandering.
"It's… peaceful," Akira said softly. His voice carried no emotion. Neither did his face.
Gran Torino's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then why do you look so sad?"
Akira paused for a brief second. His gaze shifted down to his right hand.
To the diamond-shaped hole embedded in his palm.
He lowered his hand slowly.
"I do feel happy," he said quietly. "I just… don't know how to show it."
Gran Torino didn't reply immediately. He simply turned and continued walking. Akira followed behind him.
Soon, they arrived in front of a tall building.
Might Tower.
The hero agency of All Might, managed primarily by Sir Nighteye.
Gran Torino let out a small sigh as they entered.
'What kind of hell did this kid go through… to end up like this?'
His fists clenched slightly.
'That bastard…'
His thoughts stopped there.
'…No. He's already gone.'
They stepped into the elevator and rode it up in silence.
Moments later, the doors opened. They walked down a hallway and stopped at a door.
Gran Torino knocked once—then opened it without waiting.
Inside, Sir Nighteye sat at his desk, calmly doing paperwork.
Across the room, a thin, frail-looking man sat on another chair, reading a book titled "How to Be a Good Dad."
"Teacher!" All Might exclaimed in panic as he dropped the book, immediately standing up and puffing himself into his muscular form.
"Calm down, Toshinori. And don't waste your time!" Gran Torino snapped.
All Might coughed awkwardly, scratching his head before deflating back into his skinny form like a balloon.
Akira tilted his head slightly as he observed him.
'…So this is All Might's real form.'
All Might noticed Akira and immediately brightened.
"It's nice to finally meet you, young Akira!" he said enthusiastically. "My name is Toshinori Yagi—but you can call me by my hero name… All Might!"
He gave a big thumbs up. Akira looked at him. Then at his own hand. Slowly, he raised his hand and gave a thumbs up back.
His face remained completely expressionless.
"…Hahaha…" All Might let out an awkward laugh, a sweat drop forming on his face as he struggled to figure out what to say next.
'This is harder than fighting villains…'
By declaring he would take care of Akira, he had essentially taken on the role of a parent—Something he had absolutely no preparation for.
"All Might, that's not how you introduce yourself to a child," Sir Nighteye said calmly.
He stood up, walked over, and knelt in front of Akira.
"My name is Mirai Sasaki," he said, gently patting Akira's head. "You can call me Uncle Mirai."
Akira looked at the hand extended toward him. After a brief pause, he reached out and lightly touched it.
Then shook it. Then let go.
Sir Nighteye stood up again. "Welcome to Might Tower."
One hour later.
Akira sat quietly on a sofa, a book in his hands. The title read: Quirk Types.
His eyes moved steadily across the pages, absorbing every piece of information.
A short distance away, All Might, Sir Nighteye, and Gran Torino sat together, speaking in hushed voices.
"How did you figure out he'd be interested in books?" All Might whispered.
"It's simple," Sir Nighteye replied. "Given everything he's been through, his mind has matured faster than normal. He likely has a cognitive state somewhere between that of a child and an adult."
"I do feel pity for him," Gran Torino added quietly. "Because of those experiments… he can't properly express emotions."
All Might clenched his fists. "If that monster were still alive…" he muttered, his voice heavy with anger, "he'd deserve to burn in hell for eternity."
Sir Nighteye sighed. "The trauma has likely suppressed parts of his emotional expression," he said. "It's not that he doesn't feel… it's that he doesn't know how to show it."
He nudged All Might slightly. "You should take him out," he said. "Spend time with him. Get to know him."
"You are a father now, after all."
"I thought I'd just be babysitting him for a few years…" All Might muttered under his breath.
Gran Torino immediately smacked his knee. "That is parenting, you idiot."
All Might winced.
'Alright… I can do this.'
He took a deep breath as he stood up, steeling his nerves before walking towards Akira.
Akira noticed him immediately and closed the book, placing it aside before looking up at him.
All Might knelt down in front of him, forcing the most natural and calm smile he could manage.
"Hey… Akira," he said. "Do you want to go out for some ice cream?"
Akira looked at him, then gave a small nod. "…Yes."
All Might's eyes widened slightly at that.
'YES!'
He mentally fist-pumped in victory.
Behind him, Gran Torino and Sir Nighteye both slapped their foreheads at the same time.
'He really thinks it's that easy…'
'He has no idea what's coming…'