Wings of Awakening

Part 5

The morning after his quirk manifested, Izuku Midoriya woke up with a sense of exhilaration and determination. He couldn't shake off the feeling of soaring through the sky, the wind rushing past him as his wings extended wide. Despite the initial shock of their sudden retraction, the sensation of flight had left a profound mark on him. Today was the day he would begin his training with Hawks.

After school, Izuku stood at Dagobah Beach, a place notorious for its litter and debris. Hawks was already there, his casual demeanor contrasting with the chaotic environment.

"Welcome to Dagobah Beach, kid! Not the prettiest place, but perfect for what we're about to do," Hawks said, gesturing at the heaps of trash scattered around the beach. "We're going to clean up this mess while getting you into shape. A hero's work isn't just about using their powers; it's also about being physically fit."

Izuku nodded, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through him. "What do I need to do?"

"Simple. Start picking up trash and carrying it to that rented pickup truck over there," Hawks instructed, pointing at the truck parked nearby. "The goal is to do this without relying on your quirk. You'll be doing this for 2 months, then the remaining 8 months will train your quirk, hand to hand combat and weapon usage. Simple right?..."

Izuku's face fell as he processed Hawks's words. "Wait, what? I thought we were training my quirk!" His hands clenched in frustration, but a comedic pout formed on his face. "You mean I have to be a glorified trash collector for 2 months? This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I thought about training with the No. 2 Hero!"

Hawks chuckled, crossing his arms. "Hey, this is crucial for your hero training! You need to build up your strength. Plus, think of it this way: Every piece of trash you pick up is one less piece of trash that's going to ruin someone's beach day!"

Izuku sighed dramatically, plopping down beside a large pile of garbage. "I'm going to be the most muscular garbage collector ever! I can see it now: 'Look, it's Izuku Midoriya, the hero who saves the world one piece of trash at a time!'" He flexed his arms, making exaggerated poses while imitating a dramatic hero.

Hawks laughed, shaking his head. "I'm sure you'd make a great hero for cleaning up litter. But trust me, this is just the beginning. You'll thank me when you can lift a truck with your bare hands."

"Yeah, right! At this rate, I'll just be known as 'Trash Hero,' and I'll get my own special school for heroes who clean up!" Izuku muttered, picking up a large piece of debris—a broken plastic chair—and trudging toward the truck. The weight strained his muscles, but he pushed through, motivated by the prospect of becoming a hero.

As he worked, Hawks kept a close eye on him, occasionally offering tips on lifting techniques and posture. "Keep your back straight, Izuku! You want to lift with your legs, not your back," he called out, demonstrating with one of his own wings.

Hours passed, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting golden light across the beach. Izuku's arms began to feel heavy, and sweat dripped from his brow, but he refused to give up. With each piece of trash he carried, he felt stronger, more capable.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Izuku dropped the last piece of trash into the truck and took a deep breath, exhaustion washing over him. "I didn't think cleaning up could be this hard!" he exclaimed, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

Hawks grinned, crossing his arms. "Welcome to the life of a hero. It's not all flashy powers and saving the day. You've got to build your endurance and strength. We'll be doing this every day after school."

"But there's still so much trash left," Izuku said, glancing around at the remaining debris.

Hawks shrugged. "We'll tackle it bit by bit. You'll get stronger each time. Now, for the next part of your training: I want you to do some physical activities every morning before school. Running, push-ups, sit-ups—whatever it takes to strengthen your body."