Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

06: Natural Progression

"Just a little more... almost got it..."

You grit your teeth, mustering up all of the strength in your body, alongside your two braincells. It's easier said than done, and with the face you're making, someone might make the mistake of assuming you're constipated.

You are, in fact, not constipated. Rather, you are once again training your Quirk in an attempt to get used to it. There's probably a lot more to your Quirk that you have yet to discover, but for the time being, you're trying to improve the telekinetic aspect that comes with it. You're required to concentrate at great length just to successfully direct the star fragments in the direction you want them to go. Then, if you want to be able to actually pick up an object, you need to invest a whole lot of extra effort.

Granted, you are only five years old, so you try not to beat yourself up too much for struggling, but having seen how much of a prodigy Chisaki is when it comes to using his Quirk... you can't help but worry that you might not be anywhere near as talented.

But what's the point in giving up so early on? You're still just a kid. It took Izuku an extra decade to get his Quirk like everyone else, and he didn't let that stop him. Sure, he's the protagonist of the story, and that comes with its fair share of plot armor, but you still consider him an inspiration of sorts.

After all, in this world, he is no longer simply a character. He's a real person. Just like you.

If Izuku can become a hero, there's no reason you can't do the same.

That's why, even though you can feel a painful headache coming on, you remain undeterred and keep manipulating the star fragments until, slowly but surely, you are able to use them to pull a book all the way towards your body.

With a weary gasp, you cancel your Quirk, and the book falls into your hands.

"I did it," you mumble weakly. "That was... rough. I didn't realize it having a superpower would be so difficult to get used to...."

Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, using your Quirk to grab a book from afar isn't all that impressive, but you're still proud of yourself for sticking it out until the end, and you're certain that eventually, you will get stronger. All you have to do is not give up.

In this new life that you've been so generously granted, you refuse to ever give up.

While you wipe the sweat off your brow and massage your temples, which have begun to ache quite tremendously, someone steps into the room.

It's Chisaki, and surprise, surprise-he's judging you.

"Why do you even bother doing this?" he frowns. "If your Quirk is difficult to use and it causes you discomfort, then there's no point. It's not like you'll need it anyways. Didn't I already tell you before? Humans survived for countless generations without superhuman abilities. They are fundamentally unnecessary. Your life will be just fine even without using a power like that."

You part your lips to speak, but before you form the words, you reel to a halt.

As of now, Chisaki doesn't know that you plan on becoming a hero. Not even Pops knows, for that matter. You've kept it to yourself, because something tells you that disclosing your aspirations for the future probably won't go over that well in a yakuza household.

You will tell them, though. At some point. Ideally, right before you take the U.A entrance exam. And perhaps they won't take too kindly to the news, but they're your family, and you know they love you, so you suppose you'll just cross that bridge when you get there.

But for the time being, partial honesty seems to be the way to go.

"It's fun," you shrug. "I just like practicing. It makes me feel like I'm getting stronger. Challenging yourself is good, right? It helps build discipline."