Wings of Awakening

Part 3

When Izuku came to, he felt a strange sensation, like someone was slapping his cheek. "Kid, wake up!"

His eyes fluttered open, and as his vision cleared, he found himself staring up at All Might, the Symbol of Peace. Relief washed over him, mixed with lingering panic.

"All Might...?" he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.

All Might's broad smile softened into one of concern. "You did well to fight back against that sludge villain! I'm sorry I was late to arrive."

Izuku blinked, still processing the encounter. "Where... where's the villain?" he asked, glancing around frantically.

All Might gestured to two empty soda bottles in his hands, each filled with the remnants of the sludge. "I've got him right here," he said with a hint of pride, placing the bottles securely in his pockets.

Feeling a surge of excitement, Izuku scrambled for his backpack, rummaging through it to find his notebook. "I need you to sign my notebook"

As he turned the pages of his hero analysis number 13, he froze, noticing that All Might had already signed it. His name sprawled across two pages, a sight that made Izuku's heart race with awe.

"Wow, you already did it! Thank you, All Might!" Izuku exclaimed, his spirits lifting "i will keep this as a family heirloom"

All Might chuckled, preparing to jump off the rooftop. "I've got to go now, kid. Keep working hard!"

"Wait! All Might, before you go!" Izuku shouted, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he ran toward All Might.

In a split second, as All Might launched himself into the sky, Izuku grabbed onto his leg, holding on tightly.

"Let go, kid! I know you're a fan, but this is going too far!" All Might called down, his tone a mix of amusement and concern.

"If I let go, I'll fall to my death!" Izuku replied, panic lacing his voice.

With a sigh of resignation, All Might decided to land on the nearest rooftop, the wind whipping around them as they touched down.

"Okay, okay! Just... be careful next time," he said, looking down at Izuku with an amused yet exasperated expression.

Izuku's heart raced, exhilaration coursing through him as he stood beside his idol on the rooftop, the reality of the moment sinking in.

As All Might landed on the rooftop, he took a moment to gather himself before starting to walk toward the nearest exit. "See you later, kid," he called over his shoulder.

Izuku watched the retreating figure of his idol, a wave of determination washing over him. This was his only chance to ask the question that had been weighing heavily on his mind.

"All Might! Wait!" he shouted, his voice echoing against the concrete.

All Might paused and turned slightly, curiosity evident in his stance. "What is it?"

"Can someone with a dormant quirk be a hero? I always wanted to be a hero, to help others with a smile like you, even when my quirk shows no sign of emerging," Izuku blurted out, his heart pounding in his chest.

All Might's expression shifted, a serious look crossing his features. "No," he replied firmly. "Hero work is a dangerous field where you can get hurt easily if you don't have a quirk to defend yourself."

Izuku's heart sank at the response, but All Might continued, "It's good to have dreams, but make sure they are realistic. You can be a doctor or a police officer if you want to help people."

With that, All Might turned and walked away, leaving Izuku standing there, a storm of emotions swirling within him. Realistic dreams? The words echoed in his mind, mingling with his hopes and aspirations.

Izuku gazed at the horizon, feeling the weight of All Might's words pressing down on him. Can I still be a hero, even without a quirk?

Izuku stood on the rooftop, the cool breeze brushing against his skin as he stared out at the sprawling city below. His heart felt heavy, weighed down by the crushing reality of his dreams slipping further away. Tears glistened in his eyes as he thought of All Might's words, the hope he had carried now dimmed to a flicker.

Katsuki's voice echoed in his mind, each word a stab to his heart. "Why don't you take a swan dive off the roof and hope to be born with a quirk in your next life?" The cruel taunt lingered, drowning out the distant sounds of laughter and life below. Would anyone really care if he was gone?

As he walked closer to the edge, the world around him blurred. Images of classmates and friends flickered through his mind, but they were overshadowed by the gnawing sense of loneliness that had become all too familiar. Izuku felt a pang of regret as he thought about his mother. She had always been his anchor, believing in him when even he couldn't.

The thought of her brought warmth to his heart, but it was quickly swallowed by the chill of despair. What good was it to dream of being a hero if he couldn't even manifest a quirk?

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes, wrestling with the desire to turn around and walk away, to seek comfort in the one person who truly believed in him. Just as he made up his mind to leave, a whisper floated through his thoughts: "Fly, little bird, and soar the sky."

In that fleeting moment, a spark ignited within him, and the gravity of his emotions shifted. Izuku felt a rush of adrenaline, a primal instinct urging him forward. Before he could overthink it, he leaped off the edge, the world falling away beneath him.

As he plummeted, a wave of exhilaration surged through him, and he screamed—part fear, part freedom. This was it!

And then, just as he felt the finality of the ground rushing toward him, something miraculous happened.

Wings burst forth from his back, unfurling with a powerful force that caught the wind. In an instant, he was no longer falling; he was soaring. The air filled with the sound of flapping wings, and Izuku felt alive for the first time, the sky opening up before him like a vast, welcoming embrace.

He glided through the air, the weight of his doubts lifted, replaced by a rush of clarity and purpose. I can be a hero, he thought, a grin spreading across his face as he took in the breathtaking view from above. I will be a hero.