"I knew it... By the way, what kind of image do you use?"
"Um... a faucet... and a cup, I suppose."
"A faucet?"
In truth, I didn't need much of an image; I just handled it with the same sensation as the Force. But no one would understand that, and it would only lead to difficult questions.
So, I improvised.
"Exactly. If you turn a faucet, water comes out. But if you turn it too far, it'll splash right out of the cup. You have to be the one to judge how much the cup can hold and how fast it should fill. You turn the handle while keeping that balance in mind... that's the gist of it."
"THAT'S IT!!"
"Whoa—?"
"That's perfect! That makes so much sense! It's way clearer than the 'egg in the microwave' thing!"
I could practically see the scales falling from his eyes. He had clearly reached some sort of epiphany. I was glad I could help, though his intensity was a bit startling.
"Once you can regulate the flow, it's just a matter of repetition. I was required to master it quickly, so I did it thousands of times. I actually got scolded for doing more reps than I was assigned... good times."
Specifically, I used to practice by amplifying the temperature of the water in the cup. I figured it was low-risk, but in the beginning, I'd accidentally flash-steam it and end up with several minor burns.
"Ah... yeah, I know how that feels... overworking yourself is a big no-no."
"Indeed. However, practicing Quirks like ours alone is dangerous. I had my father—a former Pro Hero—to help me. Do you have someone like that you can lean on?"
"Ah... well, y-yeah! I have someone I'd call my mentor! I'll try talking to him!"
"Good. Then you should be fine. Well then... May the Force be with you."
"? Eh? F-Force...?"
"Don't worry about it. Just a little prayer of mine."
"O-okay..."
Midoriya blinked at me for a moment, looking puzzled. Then, as if a lightbulb had gone off, he shouted again.
"Wait! Mashie-san, did you just say your father was a former Pro Hero?"
"Hm? Yes. Though he was a minor hero with a very short career."
"Who was he!? Analyzing heroes is a hobby of mine!"
"Banko. Have you heard of him?"
"WHAT!? Your father is the Gravity Hero, Banko!? He had to retire for family reasons, but his 'Gravity Manipulation' Quirk was legendary! He could handle everything from villain apprehension to search-and-rescue and disaster relief! He's a genius who's been inventing robots and translation devices lately! People say if he hadn't retired, he would have easily made the Billboard Chart Top 10!"
"Oh... wow. You really are an expert..."
Honestly, he might know more about my father than I do. Father never liked to brag about his past achievements.
In reality, the droids, translation units, and my lightsaber were things I developed. Since I don't have a support item development license, my father acts as the public face to avoid any legal headaches.
It's a well-known fact that he used to make his own gear during his active days, so no one suspects a thing.
"Um, if it's okay... do you think I could... maybe get his autograph!?"
"...I'll ask him."
Midoriya didn't stop talking about heroes until we reached the nurse's office.
He did it almost entirely without breathing. I learned a valuable lesson that day: never bring up a "home turf" topic with an Otaku.
[Excerpt from: Hero Analysis for the Future, Vol. 10]
Subject: The Gravity Hero "Banko"
A hero characterized by his unique costume—loose, flowing robes reminiscent of a Taoist immortal, which was very unusual for a hero!
He held both a Hero License and a Support Item Development License, and he reportedly built almost all of his own equipment!
He hid various gadgets throughout his robes, allowing him to compliment his Quirk with high-tech versatility!
He was famous for disliking unnecessary violence. Because of this, he focused largely on disaster relief. Even when facing villains, he reportedly always started with an attempt at persuasion!
His hero name apparently comes from "Pangu", related to the Pangea supercontinent!
Quirk: Gravity Manipulation
A Quirk that allows him to freely manipulate gravity in the area surrounding himself!
He could make himself incredibly heavy for offensive power or lighten rubble at disaster sites!
He had signature moves like "Tractor Beam" to pull objects in and "Repulsion Beam" to push them away!
By making himself incredibly light, he could even achieve high-speed flight! A truly amazing Quirk!
He was so effective that he broke into the Billboard Top 100 within a year of his debut! His peak rank was 87!
However, only a year and a half after his debut, he retired due to family circumstances.
It wasn't widely reported, but it seems he retired to take over a family business.
He primarily operated in the Kanto region, with many sightings in Chiba, Ibaraki, and Saitama. Given that, he's likely from that area!
Update:
His real name is Shigeo Mashie!
He's the father of my classmate, Riha Mashie! It turns out the "family business" he had to take over was a Buddhist temple!
That explains why he preferred not to fight! It makes so much sense now! Mystery solved!
"I mean, yeah, for the public, I said it was from Pangea... but actually, it was from this old manga, and I just..."
"Father..."
"It was a youthful indiscretion...!"