My Hero Academia: Mizumi's Story

Adoption

1st Person
"Hey, Darkness. Can I talk to you for a second?" I ask Tokoyami as we leave our work study today.
"Of course. What's on your mind?"
"Let's say, hypothetically, you don't have a family, but you have developed a close relationship with a pro hero who also doesn't have a family. How would you feel if that hero decided he wanted to adopt you?"
My friend's eyes widen. "Is that why Hawks pulled you aside earlier? This is what he wanted to talk to you about?"
I pull out some papers and show him what our mentor had given me. "He already had these for me. He told me to think about it, but there's no pressure to give him an answer right away. What do you think I should do?"
He smiles a little. "You're very lucky to have been given this opportunity. Is this what you want?"
"I'm not sure. You don't think it's too late for someone our age to be adopted? I mean, we're teenagers. That's practically an adult. It would be weird, right?"
"Not necessarily. Technically, you are still within the age range to be adopted. Take some time to think about it, but I encourage you to pursue this future, if that's what you want to do. Hawks would be a respectable parent."
"Yeah, I think so too. Thanks, Darkness." I suppress a giggle as I remember how I came up with the nickname for my friend. I was teasing him and calling him a ray of darkness, and Darkness just kind of stuck. He doesn't seem to mind the nickname, so I decided to keep it.
I stay lost in the thought as we walk back to our dorm. This is a life changing opportunity, but I don't want to feel like I'm turning my back on my family. My mother just died, and I'm already being adopted by someone else? Is this really a good idea?
But then again, I am still just a kid. Hawks was the closest thing I had to a parent when I was living at the Commission, and I need a legal adult to take care of me in case something happens. I'm a hero after all, and life for a hero is very dangerous. This could be a good thing.

Hitoshi is waiting for me when I get home. Tokoyami leaves us alone so we can spend time together. I'm not sure I want to talk to my boyfriend about the interesting development of the day, so we make casual conversation instead. We decide to spend the rest of the day inside so we go to the kitchen to make snacks together. As we carry our food back into the dining area, I hear the door open. I don't pay much attention to it until I hear a voice I haven't heard in 8 years.