TWO POWERS (Todoroki Shoto x Reader)

Chapter 19: Face-to-face

You activate your quirk at a lower level, boosting your jump to reach the wall of the other building while still descending enough to lessen the impact of your feet hitting the ground straight on. This had been lucky, but you have no idea how you would have managed without another building for support.

You dust off your clothes and adjust your backpack, walking along the street. You actually have no idea where you're going, but you know you have to leave behind a teacher that doesn't seem to think that your birth quirk is important. Thinking about how he had told you that All Might doesn't want to talk to you after what your dad did angers you so much that you pull out your phone and call him.

"Good evening, Young Tsukauchi."

"Hi, All Might. I hope I didn't wake you, calling this late."

It wasn't that late (a little before ten) but you said it more because he had called you early in the morning as well. Was that before he found out what my father did?

"No worries there," he chuckles. "I'm glad you called. I'd like to know how you're doing. But what did you want to talk about?"

"Uhm, I'm not sure if you know this, but there was a post about the next symbol of peace appearing, and my dad made it to create a new symbol of peace to fend off criminals with."

"I knew about the post, but not that your dad made it. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, he came and told me about it. I am so sorry, All Might. You trusted him and he almost exposed your secret."

"Young Tsukauchi, there's no reason for you to carry the burden of your parent's mistakes. I don't blame you."

"But I also swore that I would never become what he wanted me to."

"You don't want to become the next symbol of peace? Well, that's fine. It's not like you can become the next me just because you have my quirk. Society will find its own symbol once it knows what it wants or needs."

You look around, making sure there's no one to overhear you, but you still lower your voice a little bit.

"I'm sure you're right, but ever since I started training One For All, my quirk started acting weird. I haven't been able to use it properly in a long time."

"Oh no, that's not a good sign. I'm assuming you couldn't combine it with One For All? Then it's better if you don't train One For All and only work on strengthening your birth quirk. One For All must be too strong for your birth quirk."

"That's what I also thought. Thank you, All Might."

He starts encouraging you, but you can't stand to listen to it much.

"I'm very grateful, All Might, but you should know that if I lose my birth quirk, I don't want to become a hero at all. I just couldn't. So please keep that possibility in mind. I hope you understand."

There's silence on the other end for a few seconds. "I do understand. Of course I hope that everything works out, but if not, let's meet and discuss it further. Maybe we can figure something out. Be careful."

"Alright, thank you, All Might," you say and hang up. You look around and scan the area you had walked to. It's devoid of all life, save a few cars passing by and an illuminated around-the-clock convenience store. You decide that now's a good time to stock up on some food since who knows when you'll get hungry and won't be able to buy any food. The cashier did give you a slightly worried look, but said nothing about you being alone at night.

You continue walking in the deserted town, occupied with your thoughts, when a clack of metal catches your ear. You turn to the alleyway and without even thinking, your quirk is rushing towards the deep dark. When a really nasty-looking face comes into view, you assume it is a villain and blow him away with your punch. So much for not using this quirk.