Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 24• Early Tales of future Heroes II

Determined Dreams.

Ochako Uraraka stood at the bus stop, clutching her worn bag tightly as she stared down the street. The UA entrance exams were just around the corner, and her resolve had never been stronger. She was going to get in, no matter what.

She wasn’t ashamed of her reasons. She wasn’t embarrassed to admit that she wanted to become a hero to get rich. Many would call her selfish or greedy, but she didn’t care. Let them think whatever they wanted.

They didn’t know her.

They didn’t know what it was like to grow up watching her parents struggle to keep their construction business afloat, to see their faces lined with stress, their hands calloused from endless work. They didn’t know the dreams she had—dreams of lifting her family out of poverty, of giving them a life where they didn’t have to scrape by or worry about what their next meal would come from.

She clenched her fists with her gaze becoming firm. "UA, here I come." she muttered under her breath, determinedly.

UA was her ticket to a better life, and she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way.

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The bell above the door chimed as Ochako stepped into the cozy cafe where she worked part-time. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries greeted her, and she smiled as she saw her boss behind the counter.

“Good morning, Mr. Tanaka!” she called out, slipping her bag into the staff locker.

Mr. Tanaka, a gruff but kind man in his fifties, glanced up and gave her a small nod. “Morning, Ochako. You’re on counter duty today.”

“Got it!” she replied cheerfully, tying on her apron.

The cafe wasn’t particularly busy that morning, which gave Ochako plenty of time to think as she worked. She filled orders, wiped down tables, and greeted customers with her usual bright smile, but her mind was elsewhere—on the looming challenge of the UA entrance exams.

She knew it wouldn’t be easy. UA’s hero course was the best in the country, and the competition was fierce. But she also knew that she had something driving her that many others didn’t. This wasn’t just about fame or glory for her. It was about family, about giving back to the people who had sacrificed so much for her.

As the morning rush began to die down, Mr. Tanaka called out to her. “You’re awfully quiet today, Ochako. Something on your mind?”

She paused, wiping her hands on her apron before turning to him with a determined look. “I’m just thinking about the UA entrance exams. I’m going to get in, Mr. Tanaka. I’m going to become a hero.”

Mr. Tanaka raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. “Becoming a hero, huh? That’s a big goal.”

“It is,” she admitted, her voice steady. “But I’m ready. I have to do this—for my parents, for myself. I can’t let them keep struggling like this.”

He regarded her for a moment before nodding. “You’ve got the right attitude, kid. Just remember—it’s not just about strength. You’ve got to show them your heart, too.”

Ochako smiled, a flicker of warmth spreading through her chest. “Thanks, Mr. Tanaka. I won’t let them down.”

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As her shift came to an end, Ochako stepped out of the cafe and looked up at the clear blue sky. The sunlight warmed her face, and for a moment, she let herself imagine what it would feel like to wear a hero’s costume, to be someone people could rely on.