The Force Of Nature

New Beginning

Eleven years had passed since the enigmatic events that shook Japan to its core. Izuku Midoriya, now 15, sat at the breakfast table with her mother, Inko, who still looked eerily youthful at 23 despite being 33 years old. The years had done little to dull the surreal bond between mother and daughter, strengthened by the unspoken understanding of their shared mystery.

The kitchen was quiet, save for the sound of utensils clinking against plates. Inko hummed softly as she cooked, her aura calm yet laced with an unshakable tension. Izuku watched her, her emerald-green eyes scanning her mother’s face.

"Mom," Izuku began, her voice soft yet steady.

Inko turned, smiling warmly. "Yes, sweetheart?"

Izuku hesitated before continuing, "I’ve been thinking... about applying to U.A. High School."

Inko’s smile faltered slightly, though she quickly recovered. "Oh? What brought this on?"

Izuku shrugged, avoiding her mother’s gaze. "I don’t really have a goal or dream like most kids. I just… I guess I want to try being a hero. It might be nice to have something to do, something to keep me occupied."

Inko placed the spatula down and moved to sit across from Izuku. "Izuku, being a hero isn’t just a hobby. It’s a calling—a dangerous one at that."

"I know," Izuku replied. "But I don’t feel like I have a calling, Mom. I don’t have that drive or fire like All Might does. I just… I don’t want to feel useless. Maybe being a hero will give me some purpose, even if it’s just to keep busy."

Inko’s heart ached at her daughter’s words. She reached out, placing a hand over Izuku’s. "You’re not useless, Izuku. You’re strong—stronger than you know. But if this is what you want to do, I won’t stop you. Just promise me you’ll be careful."

Izuku nodded, a small smile forming. "Thanks, Mom."

___________________

That night, as Inko sat alone in the living room, memories of the past flooded her mind. The dreams, the destruction, the lingering suspicion that still clung to her like a shadow—it all felt so distant yet impossibly close.

"She’s grown so much," Inko thought, staring at an old photo of Izuku as a child. "But has she really found herself?"

Despite her youthful appearance, Inko felt the weight of her years. She had spent so long trying to protect Izuku, to shield her from the world and the unknown power that loomed within their bloodline.

"Maybe this is what she needs," Inko mused. "A chance to find her own path, even if it’s not what I would have chosen for her."

The next day

The following day, Izuku filled out her application for U.A. High School. She sat at the dining table, her pen gliding across the paper with surprising ease.

"Mom, do you think I’ll even get in?" she asked, glancing up.

Inko smiled gently. "Of course, you will. You’ve always had a spark in you, Izuku. It’s time the world sees it too."

As Izuku sealed the envelope, she felt a strange mix of anticipation and uncertainty. For the first time in years, she was taking a step toward something new, even if she wasn’t entirely sure why.

Inko watched her daughter, pride and worry intertwining in her heart. She didn’t know what the future held, but she vowed to support Izuku every step of the way.

Little did they know, the echoes of their mysterious past were far from silent, and their journey was only just beginning.