- Fundamental Force - Male Reader x My Hero Academia

Chapter 24: Heavy Cavalry

[Jaku General Hospital, Jaku City, Kyoto Prefecture]

Kyudai Garaki moved through the sterile hallways of his private hospital with calculated precision, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. The soft hum of fluorescent lights overhead bathed the immaculate corridor in a cold, white glow, and the rhythmic beeping of distant machines was a constant reminder of the fragile lives around him. As he passed a young girl, her face slack and distorted, her Quirk causing liquid to drip unnaturally from her features, Garaki's hand briefly patted her head. The gesture was perfunctory, as if to acknowledge her presence without a true shred of warmth or sympathy. His focus remained elsewhere, his mind on matters far beyond these walls.

The communal area buzzed with quiet chatter, but the attention of the doctors, nurses and patients shifted toward a large television screen mounted on the wall. The live broadcast of the U.A. Sports Festival dominated the space, a rare spectacle that had captured the interest of even the most jaded medical professionals. Garaki continued his walk without glancing at the screen, at least not at first.

But then, a name, his name, floated to his ears from the speakers, and Garaki's eyes, sharp and calculating, flicked toward the broadcast. There, on the screen, stood [Y/N], victorious, the crowd roaring in approval as the commentators sung his praises. 

[Y/N] had won the first event.

Garaki's steps faltered ever so slightly. His face remained impassive, almost disinterested, as he observed the young man, but behind his thick glasses, his eyes gleamed with something much deeper than mere observation. Pride. A rare, quiet pride that he buried beneath layers of stoic professionalism. He watched for a moment longer, the corners of his mouth barely twitching before he forced his expression back into its usual mask of indifference.

He didn't linger in the communal area, didn't allow himself to indulge in the satisfaction that bubbled just beneath the surface. Instead, he resumed his steady pace, his hands still clasped behind him, his mind churning. [Y/N] was finally stepping into the spotlight, just as they had planned. Everything was progressing as it should.

Garaki's thoughts circled back to the boy he had raised, moulded. "Good." He said quietly, his mind already moving ahead, calculating the next steps. "You're finally stepping into the light, my boy."

As the hum of the machines and the muffled cheers from the broadcast faded behind him, Garaki's faint, hidden smile remained. All the pieces were falling into place.

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[Fukuoka, Kyushu]

Inside the rundown, dimly lit room, Hoyo Makihara slouched in an old, creaking chair. The room smelled of stale air and dust, and the constant groaning of the rusty ceiling fan above did little to stir the suffocating heat. An old, boxy television flickered weakly in front of him, its screen marred by static, but it still managed to display the U.A. Sports Festival. [Y/N] was on the screen, his familiar, intense expression cutting through the noise as he stood victorious.

Makihara's bandaged face remained unreadable, his body motionless, but a brief flicker of recognition passed through his eyes as he watched [L/N] cross the finish line. He hadn't expected to see him there. Not in this tournament. Not among the heroes.

The moment of quiet was shattered by a loud bang as the door to the room flew open. Chojuro Kon barged in, his hulking figure dominating the space as his boots pounded against the rotting floorboards. His usual scowl was fixed on his face, his eyes burning with irritation.