Izuku Midoriya had a dream of being a hero one day.
Unfortunately he wasn't born with a quirk to help him on such a path.
His life was completely turned upside down.
But perhaps this was fate guiding the young man to a future even better than he him...
"It all happened years ago, when your mother was still just a little child. At the time, I was at top of the movie industry. People on the street would ask for autographs, offers for movies were comming left and right. Me, your grandmother Chiho, Kotaro and Inko were having time of our lives."
"So, what changed?" Izuku asked.
"One day, an old friend of mine from highschool, Yoichi Teigen contacted me. He told me that he had some trouble finding job and asked if I could arrange a job for him. Since he was desperate enought to ask others, I figured I should help him. So, since I knew he was really good in planning and numbers, I made him my assistant."
"He was grateful for the opportunity and of course, he was getting pretty good wage as most assistants did back then. As years went by, my work started getting tougher. I gave Yoichi certain level of autonomy in hopes that my paperwork would decrease, so I could spend more time at home."
"But that didn't happen,... right?"
"Not at all, in fact, it seemed that there was even more work to do. And so, tired from tedious sighning that never backfired before, I let my guard down. I started sighning all papers that Yoichi gave me without paying much attention to their content."
"Why do I feel like I know where this is going..." Izuku said nervously.
"Yup, little by little, I sighned away all that we owned without realizing. Our home, cars, stocks. I was robbed of everything that Yoichi could take. On top of that, the company started taking notice of false controversies that were appearing out of nowhere. Things like me commiting tax fraud, numerous accusations of sexual harassment and more. So, they eliminated my contract. I was jobless, my family was kicked out of our own home and pretty much hated by community. The only reason why we managed to survive was becouse Chiho convinced me to open a last resort bank account for such situation."
Izuku was looking at his grandfather, shocked by what he just heard.
"That would be about it. All that happened afterwards was me and Chiho getting a divorce, with Chiho taking Kotaro and me taking your mother, along with last few attempts to get back into industry before admitting defeat and getting an office job to raise Inko." Seichi said, looking down.
"So that's why you are so worried." Izuku said as he got up and crouched in front of his grandfather. "Grandpa, look at me..." He gently said.
Seichi slowly looked up, suprised by his grandson's expression. Izuku looked at him with a warm, compassionate smile, the same one he witnessed so many times, but there was something differend this time.
"I understand that you are worried about me after something like that. I understand that you don't want me to end up like you." Izuku said as he held his grandfather's hand. "But you must understand. I wasted years, living in a fantasy that was never meant to come true. I can see it clearly now, but it gave me new dream, one that is within my arm's reach. I just can't let myself give up again, when I am so close." Izuku let go of Seichi's hand and stood up.
Seichi looked up on his grandson, towering over him. In that moment, he realized it. It wasn't Izuku's smile that changed, but rather it was Izuku himself, who changed. From Izuku's demeanor and words, he could tell that he was no longer speaking to a naive child he once knew, but a confident young man.
"Are you truly sure, this is what you want?" Seichi asked, looking straight into Izuku's eyes.
"More than I ever was..." Izuku replied.
"Even if it might cost you your life?"
Izuku clenched his fist. "I will rather live a short life of glory than a long life of mediocrity."
"Then are you ready to make sacrifices to achieve your goal?"
Izuku stopped and looked at his grandfather. "If it is necessary."
Seichi looked at Izuku's absolutely serious face.
"There is no denying now, you truly are child of my bloodline." Seichi said as he stood up and placed his hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"You used to be such obedient child, yet now you are acting so stubborn and stupid. I am impressed my boy."
Izuku was shocked by his grandfather's comment.
"Follow me..." Seichi said, going to the next room, followed by Izuku.
Seichi kept going trough his stuff, while Izuku wasn't sure what to say in this situation anymore.
"Here it is." Seichi said as he showed Izuku a middle sized box. "Listen, I know that you will go trough this, no matter what I say." He said as he handed the box to Izuku. "But please, promise me that you will never let your guard down."
Izuku looked at his grandfather with reassuring smile. "I swear I will be careful. I will do everything I can to make I won't repeat your mistakes."
Seichi smiled at his grandson. "Good, I hope you really mean it." He thought. "Well then, open it kid."
Izuku opened up the box, but the content of the box was rather unexpected.
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"A mask?"
"After Yoichi betrayed me, I spent one more year trying to get back into industry." Seichi pointed at the mask. "My last attempt at comeback, theater play Bronze Lion. This was mask of the main character of that play. The whole thing completely flunked and I was forced to finally gave up. I stole this mask from props as a last reminder that I gave it my all."
Izuku was at verge of crying. "Grandpa..."
"I want you to have it. If you truly believe in what you are doing right now, then I will support you."
Izuku put the mask down and tightly embraced his grandfather.
