Solstice and Eclipse: Part I

Chapter III: I Am Here!

(L/N) hadn't always been blind. At birth he had been entered the world perfectly healthy, free of any disabilities or health conditions. All that changed when he was four years old. It had been over eleven years since the incident, yet the memories were fresh in his mind as the day it had happened. The day his quirk had first manifested. As a side affect of his abilities, he had lost his sense of sight. Without it, his brain began rewiring the neurons that would have been used to process vision, enhancing his other senses. Not to the level that some quirks granted, but enough that the bustling street traffic was an almost constant presence. One would think that he would grow accustomed to its presence, or learn to ignore it, but this wasn't the case. Instead, it only served as a constant annoyance, like the ever-present buzzing of a particularly persistent insect, or when your bedroom door is open just a crack. He could only escape it by retreating outside of the busy city of Musutafu.

There was a particularly pleasant grassy knoll he had become quite fond of. One that he had found in his youth. It was a long climb up a steep slope to reach its peak, but the journey was well worth the destination. A quiet expanse of grass far from the city with a single cherry tree to provide shade when the sun beat down. The side facing Musutafu was a sharp drop off, a jagged rocky cliff edge that fell some twenty-five feet, making it nearly impossible to approach from the front. It was a peaceful place. His place. To others it might seem like just another tree on just another hill, perhaps a nice spot for a picnic. To (L/N) though, it represented everything he loved. Silence. Tranquility. Peace. It was a place to which he could retreat from the troubles of home. Home. He hadn't been home since he was four years old. The place he slept most nights was no home. And the people were certainly no family, at least, not to him. He much preferred the solitude.

He sat with his back against the sturdy trunk of the cherry tree, one knee brought up to his chest. His hands languidly trailed through the tall grass, rolling the green blades between his fingers as the rays of the setting sun warmed his face. The stars would be out soon. He loved the stars. Beautiful sparkling droplets in an endless ocean of darkness. He couldn't see them, but he could feel them. Their light. Such purity they held, not like the artificial lights in the city, clumsy and tainted. They filled him with a sense of calm, their glow washing over his body completely. It was the only positive aspect of his quirk.

He hadn't returned to UA since the first day, and he had no intention of ever doing so. Being around so many people was too dangerous. What was more, they were encouraging him to use his quirk. Those two things in combination would only end in disaster, of this (L/N) was certain. Instead, he had spent the past three days sitting underneath his tree, falling asleep to the calming presence of the stars above. He had returned to the city briefly for a quick bite to eat and was just about to return to his spot on the hill when a familiar presence stopped him.

"There you are Mr. (L/N)." A soft voice called out. "We were beginning to worry."

"What do you want?" (L/N) asked, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his black jeans.

Turning, he came face to face with the individual who had addressed him. Many passerby's gaze lingered on the two as they passed, heads turning to take in the odd sight before them. A blindfolded teenager in a brown leather jacket talking to... a dog? Mouse? Bear? All that mattered was that he was the principal of UA Highschool, Nezu.

[My Hero Academia]

"It's come to my attention that you have yet to present yourself for a single class." Nezu said as he climbed onto the couch in the school's faculty lounge.

"So?" (L/N) shrugged.

"So, I thought we agreed that attending UA was the best course of action for you." Nezu said. "It will help you gain control of the more... volatile elements of your quirk. That is what you wanted, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but no one ever said anything about playing hero."

"I don't know what you were expecting." Nezu chuckled. "After all, UA Highschool is famous for its hero academia. And with a quirk like yours, it seemed the best path for you to take to gain a better handle on your abilities."

"I don't know." (L/N) said, his hair falling in his face. "It's just... doesn't seem like the right fit for me."

"I thought you might say that." Nezu said. "That's why I brought you here today. I want to introduce you to someone that I'm hoping will be able to help you gain a new perspective on life. You can come in now."

A hearty laugh sounded from outside the room, and the door burst open as an extremely tall, even more muscular man stood framed impressively in the doorway. His bold features were lit up in a huge smile, the dark lines that framed his face only adding to his impressive stature.

"All Might!" (L/N) exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

"So, you don't think you can be a hero, do you?" All Might said with a hearty laugh. "Principal Nezu's told me about your quirk. That's quite an impressive power you've got, young man."

(L/N)'s head fell slightly, his body instinctively turning away from the symbol of peace at the mention of his quirk.

"I can see you don't agree." All Might said, taking note of (L/N)'s reaction. "Trust me, I know how you're feeling. To wield such an incredible amount of power is both an extraordinary blessing, and an unimaginable burden. That's why it's your responsibility to master it and use your abilities to help those in need."

"But what if something goes wrong, and I end up hurting someone?" (L/N) asked desperately. "What if I can't control it?"

"Ah, But what if you can?" All Might countered. "Imagine all the good you could do. All the people you could save, and even more, all the people you could inspire."

"But..."

"Listen, young man. I know you're scared. Let me let you in on a little secret; so is everybody else. But it's that fear of failing that pushes us to go beyond! That is the true mark of a hero! Overcoming your fears, and inspiring other to do the same! And that is why I am here! To tell you, that you too can become a hero!"