Chapter 16: Goodbye OrphanageAuthor: Geraint(MC's POV)
It's been two weeks since I talked with All Might in the hospital, and the adoption process is finally complete.
I've finished packing my things, with some help from Izuku and Bakugou. Everything's ready to go.
The kids at the orphanage are crying, but I reassured them I'll visit often. After all, I won't be living that far—I plan to attend U.A. High School in the future.
Outside the orphanage, the caretaker stood teary-eyed, waving goodbye.
"Take care, Ichika. Don't cause trouble for your new family."
"I'll be fine."
Just then, a sleek black car pulled up. I glanced at Izuku and Bakugou.
"I'm off. Deku, Kacchan—see you at school."
Izuku waved enthusiastically, while Bakugou just clicked his tongue and looked away.
"Tch!"
Typical.
I waved one last time at the children before getting into the car. As we pulled away, I looked back at the orphanage growing smaller in the distance and sighed, settling into my seat.
Several minutes later, the car stopped in front of a massive, luxurious skyscraper.
My cheek twitched.
"…This is my new home?"
I'd be living with All Might now, though he told me he wouldn't be around much—too busy with hero work. Not that I expected much. He didn't even come pick me up from the orphanage himself. Still recovering from his injuries, apparently.
"I guess he doesn't really know how to be a parent…"
But I get it. My adoption was done quietly. We both have identities to hide.
"From here on out… this is my new life."
I hopped out of the car and looked up at the tower.
"Gotta call Rumi later. She'd probably laugh at this place."
It was ridiculously expensive-looking. Then again, what did I expect? He's the Number 1 Hero. He's gotta be loaded.
"I'm kinda jealous…"
I muttered before heading inside.
[A few months later]
All Might was finally discharged from the hospital. To celebrate, he treated me to dinner at a fancy restaurant.
But he didn't look like the All Might I knew.
Now, he was skinny, pale, with sharp, bony features. His eyebrows were gone, and his whole body looked like it had deflated.
I cut into my steak and took a bite.
"Mmm… Not bad. Tastes like victory."
All Might stared at me silently.
"Ichika… about your adoption—"
"It's fine."
I pointed my fork at him.
"I was available for adoption anyway. Couldn't stay at the orphanage forever."
"You're… not angry?"
"I'm not. But… you've got guts. Adopting the son of your worst enemy."
I kept eating.
"In the years I watched you as Captain Falcon, I always saw the good in you. Even though you were a vigilante operating outside the law, you helped reduce crime and lighten my burden. People admired you. Some even saw you as a true hero."
All Might let out a heavy sigh.
"Look at me now, Ichika—no, Falcon. I can only maintain my hero form for a few hours at most. Since word got out about my condition, crime has been on the rise again these past few months."
"So, you're trying to convince me to take up the symbol?"
"I refuse."
Silence.
"You're the only one who can become the Symbol of Peace."
"There's a big difference between you and me. An outlaw like Captain Falcon can't become that symbol. I don't save people because I want to. I do it because I'm annoyed, pissed off, or just happen to be there."
"Then what about the young girl you saved from those thugs years ago?"
"That? I took a shortcut through an alley and caught them mid-act. I was in a bad mood and they were in my way, so I beat the crap out of them. Saving the girl was just a bonus."
"What about the purse snatcher you stopped?"
"I was selling orphanage cookies. Some guy snatched a purse from an old lady I was talking to. I was already frustrated from not selling anything, so I chased him down and took my anger out."
"The jewelry store robbers?"
"They were getting easy money while I worked my butt off for the orphanage. I lost it."
"And the rampaging villain—?"
"That guy knocked into me and spilled my milk juice! I nearly cried! So I made sure he cried instead."
I was out of breath by the end of it.
"See?! I'm not heroic at all!"
"Then… why did you fight All for One?"
"Personal reasons."
I looked away.
"He ruined my life."
A long silence fell between us.
I sipped my juice and set the glass down.
"Now that he's seen my real form and knows who I am… he must've realized I'm his son. I'm sure he'll come after me."
"Huh? Ichika, what are you talking about?"
All Might looked confused.
"Who else? My real father—All for One."
"But… we defeated him. We blew up his head!"
"He survived. He's still out there."
All Might's face went pale.
"T-That's… that's not possible…"
"I'm telling the truth."
He gritted his teeth, frustrated.
"So it wasn't enough…"
I finished my meal, stood up, and wiped my mouth with a napkin.
"Thanks for the food."
"Falcon…"
"No. From now on, call me Ichika."
I looked at him seriously.
"And I'll call you… Dad. We shouldn't be talking about stuff like this in public. Let's go home."
"…Okay."
We left the restaurant together.
That night, we sat on the couch in the living room.
"Oh, right," All Might said suddenly. "Ichika—you told me you wanted to apply for the hero course and become a Pro Hero someday. But you also said you're not heroic at all."
"I'm not trying to be the Symbol of Peace you were. I'm just a kid who hasn't figured out what he wants to do yet."
I leaned back with a sigh.
"Sure, I said I'll be a Pro Hero, but only because I don't know what else I want to be. Kids like me have dreams too, you know. And the right to choose our future."
All Might stared at the ceiling.
"So you haven't really decided yet."
"Don't expect too much from a nine-year-old. I could say anything now, but life changes fast. Who knows what'll happen next?"
...
I stood up.
"You just got discharged from the hospital, Dad. You should get some rest. Goodnight."
"Take your time, Ichika."
I paused mid-step and looked back at him.
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry. I felt like I was pushing my responsibilities onto you. I must be a terrible parent."
"It's fine. I get it. I know there's no other hero out there who can carry your legacy. Most of them are just clowns in costumes."
"You're horrible, Ichika."
"I'm just telling the truth."
"No wonder so many heroes hate you as Captain Falcon."
"Truth hurts, right?"
"What about Mirko? I heard she's pretty close to you."
"She's the best. I raised that girl, you know."
I gave a thumbs-up.
"…Are you her father?"
All Might asked with a shocked expression.
...
(To be continued.)
(A/N: Mental block, so I ended up writing this long conversation instead. I'll clean up the details later. Also thinking of adding a group chat in my Implosion spin-off... though that might lead to a harem situation. Anyway, next chapter will have a time skip! I'll fix my mistakes later.)