BNHA Next Gen: Kota's Tidal Wave

Waterfalls

Down... down... down... my world came tumbling down... 

Down went my tears. Down went any self-confidence within me. Down went any aspiration toward becoming a hero...

I've never cried as much as this, not since Mom and Dad were killed. This hopelessness. This overwhelming rejection. This unbearable headache. My cries whaled across my room and outside. There's so much water that pools around me on the hardwood floor -- water not just from my eyes, but from my hands too. It started when I turned eight, when my hands would start to leak water whenever I cried. It's like my Quirk cries with me. Only this time, it mocks me. The damned Quirk that failed me from going to U.A. has me soaked in a puddle of my self-hatred. And it won't stop; my regrets pump out endless tears from my eyes and palms. I've been so choked up from sobbing that it's difficult to breath, as if I'm drowning.

I'm just not put up for being a great hero, am I? I've read that rejection letter over, and over, and over, and over again. I couldn't understand what it meant. My "best interests"? "The burden of becoming a hero"? I had my confidence built up and I just came crashing down. I will never be able to thank that nice girl who helped me at U.A., and I'll never be able to ask her why she felt the way she did... Maybe this is my punishment for doubting heroes when I was a kid, for being so selfish after my parents' ultimate sacrifice. I am a failure to my parents' legacy, and I know they're looking down on me in disgust...

Was I not Plus Ultra  enough? Would I just get in the way of saving people? It's because I'm not strong, right? Maybe not strong enough to... kill a person? ... I'm letting these dark thoughts get to me. But why does it matter? I'm not going to be a hero anyway. After all, my dream is dead. Lifeless. It's been killed. It's been killed. Killed. Killed. Killedkilledkilledkilledkilledkilledkilled-

*Knock* *Knock*

"Kota? You've locked yourself in since yesterday. This isn't like you. We need to talk, my boy."

That was... Tiger.

"G-go away..."

"This isn't very acting of a hero-"

"I'M NOT A HERO!! GO AWAY!!"

Tiger went silent, but it's clear that he's still there. It did hurt to yell at him like that...

But then...

CRAAAAASH!!!

Tiger busted down the damn door with a kick!

"No silly door will be preventing me to coming to Young Kota's aid!!" Tiger flexed as he did one of his signature Pussycat poses. "Ow! That actually hurt... I'm getting too old to do stunts like these. I hope I didn't startle you..."

I was too stunned to cry anymore. "Y-You destroyed the door-".

"And I would do it hundreds of times again if it meant saving you, Young Kota! Provided I had something for my suffering foot afterwards..." Tiger walked into my room and stood in front of me, lending a hand. "What a sorry state you're in! Heroes don't swim in their own misery after the unexpected occurs. Nothing will get better if you simply wallow like this, my boy. Do not mind the door. Let's have a chat."

Well, Tiger won't be leaving if I tell him to go away again... Nothing he says will get me into U.A., but Tiger seems dead serious about talking to me...

I try to wipe my eyes with my sleeve and I give Tiger my hand, and he lifts me up from the puddle of my tears.

"There you are! You're already halfway towards your rehabilitation. I've brought a small towel as well. Dry your face and hands and have a seat."