All Might x Student!Reader (Boku no Hero Academia)

Chapter 31 - Breaking Chains

You felt like you were looking at everything in slow motion. Everything was moving as though trapped in syrup, but with one exception: you. You alone retained your normal speed, which, though unintended, seemed to be the perfect twist of fate. Your lips curled into a small smile. Not wanting to waste a second—since you had no idea how long this strange state would last—you hurriedly removed the bracelet from your wrist. The heavy metallic band, which had kept you powerless moments ago, flew through the air as you threw it as far away from you as possible.

"That's probably not what you expected, huh?" you said loudly, your voice cutting through the stillness of the slowed world. You took a few steps toward the man who, even in this bizarre state of suspended time, began to react. His expression shifted in excruciatingly slow increments, from smug self-confidence to a furious, almost terrified grimace. The moment of realization hit him. He had just lost his bargaining card. You were no longer his hostage.

The rush of freedom surged through your veins. "What should I do with you now?" you taunted, watching the villain's eyes slowly track your movements, his rage brewing. "No, wait—a better question. What will All Might do with you now?"

His pupils dilated as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. You had slipped out of his trap. The smile that stretched across your face wasn't just from the thrill of liberation; it was the realization that, finally, you were the one holding the upper hand. Finally, you had a chance to show All Might that you weren't so weak after all.

A flood of old insecurities came rushing back. You had never understood why you were placed in Class 1-A, the prestigious class meant for the strongest and most promising students. Sure, you'd aced the theory portion of the entrance exam, but when it came to the practical test... well, that was another story. You barely scraped by with a few points, unable to defeat nearly as many robots as your peers.

So why had you been chosen? That mystery had haunted you for months, lingering in the back of your mind during every failed exercise, every moment you struggled to keep up. Maybe, just maybe, All Might had seen something in you that you hadn't seen in yourself yet. And now, you were determined to prove him right—or at least find out what he saw.

Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed something unsettling. Time was speeding up again. The slow-motion world around you began to accelerate, reality snapping back into focus, and suddenly, you were back in normal time. The villain in front of you blinked rapidly, his movements once again fluid, though far too late to regain the advantage.

"Well..." you muttered to yourself, casting a sharp, murderous glare at him. You weren't going to let him think he could get away with what he had done. Turning away from him, you hurriedly made your way to where All Might stood, positioning yourself behind him like a soldier seeking protection behind a wall. Now everything depended on him. You had removed the shackles, and now All Might had a free hand—no longer bound by the need to protect you.

"What... what have you done?!" the villain roared, his voice trembling with fury. His eyes were ablaze, fists clenched in anger as he stared you down.

You shrugged, feeling a strange, newfound courage swell in your chest. "I think I've thwarted your plan," you said, a malicious grin tugging at your lips. "How could you not predict that I would just stop time and get rid of the bracelet? Honestly, it was so obvious."

All Might, still standing tall and imposing beside you, glanced down at you, a hint of surprise flickering across his face. It wasn't often that he saw you so confident, so sure of yourself. But you barely noticed his reaction—you were too focused on the man in front of you. His confusion, his disbelief—it was all too satisfying.