Yumi

---

I could hear the sound of faint shuffling and curtains being pulled wide open, allowing the sun's faint rays to enter into my room. When I felt the feeling of sunlight on my eyelids, my first instinct was to cover my face with my arm. Admittedly, it wasn't that bright, but nevertheless, I pulled my blanket over my head. I groaned softly as I felt someone shaking me. Maybe I could pretend I was still asleep?

"Yumi, I know you're awake."

Groaning even louder than before, I pulled the blanket down from my head to face Dad, who looked way too happy to be up and about at - I glanced over at my alarm clock - 5:30 am.

I threw a pillow towards the face sparkling with excitement. Dad sighed as the pillow dropped to the floor, shaking his head.

"Yumi, your next step to becoming a hero is going through a set of challenges that I have set up for you. If you can't even get out of bed, then I don't know how you're going to make any progress!"

I wasn't sure if he was mocking me or being serious, but either way, he was right. Getting out of bed was a struggle, but if I couldn't do that, then I'd be completely hopeless as a hero.

Sighing, I reluctantly sat up and rubbed my eyes, yawning. In the process of leaving my cozy bed, I accidentally slipped and fell off, becoming a heap on the ground, the blankets wrapped around me. I looked up at my dad to see him stifle a chuckle, before grinning and holding up a piece of paper. I had to squint to read it.

"...'My Path to Becoming a Hero'?..."

Dad nodded, grinning even wider.

"To be a hero, you have to be willing to face anything that comes your way! Now, in order to be prepared for situations like that, you'll need to train!"

"Oh, like in the movies?" I inquired.

"Uh...well I guess so, anyway, that's why I'll help you prepare yourself for becoming a pro hero!"

I beamed and stood up, draping the blanket around my shoulders like a cape.

"Let's do this!"

---

Dad pushed open the doors to the basement, an area which the younger me had always been afraid of. A couple of years ago, my parents had the basement transformed into a sort of training area. I always thought that this area would be beyond me, that I would never have the chance to train down here because I had no Quirk. But this was my chance. My chance to prove that I could handle my dad's Quirk. My chance to show everyone that I was capable of becoming a hero. But at the moment, I didn't even have the energy to move.

"What? Have you given up already?" Dad asked as I sat on the floor, defeated.

I shook my head, trying to catch my breath. "No...No, I'm not giving up... not yet..." I told him, struggling to sit up. Sighing, he pulled me upwards off the ground and onto my feet.

"L-Let's go back... to the... obstacle course..." I spoke between pants, exhaling heavily.

Dad shook his head.

"It was too much for your first time training, let's start from the basics...that's it!" Dad exclaimed, running over to a bookshelf in an unoccupied corner of the room. I peered over his shoulder, looking down on the old books sprawled across the wooden table. His hands picked up a tattered-looking notebook, the burnt cover appearing to be in such a bad state that if it fell off it wouldn't be surprising. Dad assembled all the books together into a pile and handed them to me.

"Here, these might help."

I flipped open the cover of the book on top, reading the collection of words written on the page.

"I wrote these when I was younger. I'm pretty sure the one you're looking at right now was written when I was around your age."

Dad instructed me to start reading the notebooks in my hands while he created a training schedule for me.

As Dad left, I sat down in the corner of the room to continue reading the open notebook that was labelled 'Hero Analysis for the Future No. 13', thoroughly scanning the pages.

"'Mount Lady'... 'Kamui Woods'... Aren't these pro heroes from back when Dad was a kid?" I mumbled out loud, taking in all the information that he had recorded on them.

I flipped through the pages of the book, eyes looking at the words before they disappeared a few moments later. I stopped when I came across a page with Mum on it. There were notes about what I assumed to be people Dad met while in U.A. His former classmates were also listed, catching my interest.

Looking at the notes he had amassed, I could see how they helped him. Maybe this was the reason he was so skilled in apprehending all types of opponents. These notes...it was like he was preparing for the future. Like he was taking notes to make sure he knew what he was doing and that he could learn from them. Was that one way he prepared himself for One for All?

"If that's the case, then maybe I should start taking hero notes too...maybe I can use my diary...or would taking notes would be too similar to Dad's tactic? But as long as it helps, it doesn't matter, right? And it definitely seems like a viable strategy... Hmm...maybe I can ask Saika for help. No, she'd just scold me for getting too caught up in the pro hero world... Or maybe-"

"So, how's the reading going?"

"AH!" I jolted upright, startled as I looked up at Dad's grinning face. I forgot how fast he was. I quickly regained my composure. "Oh, ah...good. Yup, it's going good. I didn't really get a chance to read much though..."

Waving a dismissive hand, he pulled me to my feet once more and held up what I assumed to be the new and improved training schedule. Squinting my eyes for the second time that day, I scanned the page and audibly groaned.

"What? Is it too much?"

"Well, um..no...I can handle it! But it doesn't look too different from the first one you made," I pointed out, taking the page from his hands and wearily reading over it once more, making sure I got the details right. Yep. I read it correctly. He had barely cut down anything. His expectations must have been set really high.

"For a hero such as myself, there can never be too much training! You need to prepare your body for the hardships to come, Yumi! So, let's start this new training course, shall we?"

---

"C-can...I have...a break yet...? It's been almost...three hours..." I was lying on the floor, arms and legs spread out as I panted heavily, trying to catch my breath and cool off.

Dad held out a water bottle for me, forcing me to crawl over to him in order to reach it. I hastily grabbed it and chugged the whole thing, letting out a sigh of relief and wiping my mouth.

He shot me an almost disapproving look as he shook his head, wagging his finger. "I told you, this is essential. You need to be able to do this if you want to inherit One For All."

I lowered my head, ashamed that I was acting so weak. Dad's gaze softened as he saw my upset look.

"I'm sorry, Yumi. I know this must be difficult for you. Training so hard and vigorously when you've never had to before. I understand what it's like, but One for All isn't something to be taken for granted. I just need you to be prepared, that's all."

Slowly lifting up my head to look at him, I shot him a strained smile. I could tell he was worried for me. I knew that he knew the hardships of being Quirkless and didn't want me to go through the same pain as he did. I had to reassure him that I was okay, even if deep down I wasn't.

"It's fine, Dad. Please don't worry about me. You have much bigger things to take care of. The whole world needs you! I'm just...well...it doesn't matter. I think...I think I just need to be alone right now."

Dad nodded, probably understanding how I felt, before he walked out of the room, leaving me sitting in the middle of it, all alone.

I didn't want to bother him with my thoughts and problems. I was worried that if he stayed, I would have spilled everything to him, which would have resulted in more problems. I know he told me I could call on him for help but, this was a fight that I wanted to win for myself.

With a newfound determination, I stood up and walked over to the first part of the training course - heavyweights.

They were taunting me. Just sitting there, practically calling for me to try and lift them up even though I could barely carry my own school bag. I glared at them even though they wouldn't be able to feel my demeaning gaze.

"Right. I can do this. I'll beat you!"

I reached out to grab the first weight which wasn't too heavy. Maybe I could try something heavier. So I reached out for an even heavier weight, hands grasping it tightly. I fully expected it to be difficult to carry, yet I somehow managed to lift it.

Earlier that day, I remember the weight being so heavy that it strained my arms. I could barely lift it off the ground. Now, for some reason, I could manage to lift it up. I grinned, gritting my teeth as I raised the weight triumphantly. Determination really was the key.

"Yeah!" I practically yelled, probably loud enough for Mum and Dad to hear me and wonder what was going on.

I didn't care if they heard me. I was doing it. Sure, lifting weights was something simple, but keep in mind that these weights were a part of Dad's usual exercise routine. They were built to be difficult to lift. 

"Okay, okay. Easy, Yumi. One step at a time," I breathed in and out, trying to calm myself down. It was hard to, though. I was too excited! Managing to lift those weights was a huge achievement that I wasn't about to forget.

"So, what's next on the list..." My eyes wandered around the room before landing on a punching bag, next to it a pair of gloves.

Grinning, I walked over and put the gloves on, getting myself into a fighting stance before hitting the punching bag with all my might.

---

Saika

---

I sat patiently at my desk, waiting for Yumi to arrive. She was always here before me, so I don't know what could have made her later than me today. My gaze drifted to the clock, eyes resting on the ticking hands. Five more minutes until class. As my eyes left the circular device, I saw Yumi walk through the door and towards her desk. Something was definitely up.

Her posture was slouched, and she had large bags underneath her eyes. She croaked out a soft 'hello' and flopped down onto her chair, looking like she had overworked herself in some way. What could she have possibly been doing to look like that?

I eyed her carefully as she rested her head on the desk, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Um, Yumi, is everything okay?"

She slowly raised her head off the desk and sent a strained smile in my direction. "Y-yeah. Everything's fine. Don't worry about me."

I knew she was lying. It wasn't like her to hide something from me. If something was going on, I needed to get an answer, and there was only one way to do that.

"Yumi, if you don't tell me what's going on, I'll burn all of your hero figurines," I said calmly.

The green-haired girl squeaked in surprise, jolting upright from the wooden chair. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Ohoho, try me" I smirked smugly.

Yumi narrowed her eyes at me, pouting. "You're evil."

"I know I am" I smirked.

She sighed in defeat and face-planted into the desk. I could barely hear her muffled words. "I've been training."

"Wait...what? Since when do you train?" to say I was shocked was an understatement. I thought her response was going to have something to do with books or heroes. I knew she wanted to apply for U.A., but she seemed to be pushing herself. Didn't she realise there was only so much her body could handle?

"Since a few days ago." She mumbled, not lifting her head off the desk.

"Well, I'm not really sure what's going on, but don't strain yourself, okay? If you really want to get into U.A. then you need to stop treating your body like an outhouse."

Yumi shifted her gaze towards me before pouting. "I know that...but I still need to train more."

I picked up my workbook and smacked the back of her head with it.

"Were you not listening to me?"

"I was! But that doesn't change the fact that I need to train more!" Yumi retorted. "And you know, I was thinking, maybe I should go to that training place a few roads down from here..."

"Yumi, I-"

The bell rudely interrupted my sentence. Everyone hurriedly went back to their seats as our groggy teacher entered the classroom.

---

"I swear, I feel like the days are getting longer..." I sighed, stretching my arms out.

My footsteps came to a halt as I noticed the figure beside me had vanished. Turning my head around, I peered through my bangs to see Yumi muttering behind me.

"You really are the daughter of Deku aren't you?...Stop muttering like that. It's scary."

"Ah, sorry!" Yumi caught up to me, and we continued onwards.

"So um, do you think I-"

"No."

"Huh? I haven't even said anything yet!"

I rolled my eyes. "I know what you were gonna say."

"Oh yeah? What?"

"You were gonna ask me if you should go to that training thingy ma-bob. And my answer is no."

Yumi bit the inside of her cheek, remaining silent for a short while, the slightest pout on her face. Then she perked up.

"I wasn't gonna say that. I was going to say 'Do you think I SHOULDN'T go to the training place'." she said matter-of-factly, a cheeky smirk forming afterwards.

I pulled at her cheeks. "You're the evil one!" I muttered angrily, continuously pinching them in frustration.

"I'm sowyyyyy!" Yumi managed to get out of my grasp.

"Come on, why don't we go watch a movie or something? Or better yet, we could go to see all the new books and hero merch at the department store!"

Yumi's face lit up, obviously liking the idea, but she dropped her gaze, shaking her head in the process.

"I'm sorry Saika. I really do want to go. But I have to train. I can't rely on dad or mum or Goru to keep me in check. I can't slack off. I have to do this myself."

And with those words said, she smiled and waved, running off in the opposite direction, leaving me and my thoughts alone.

---

Yumi

---

The days dragged on, and I found that most hours were spent either training or studying. I used to take a while to fall asleep, but now, as soon as my head touched the pillow, I was asleep instantly.

I knew I was getting somewhere. The day after I picked up those weights, I was thoroughly disappointed to find it hard to do once more. But I kept persevering. And I could see that my hard work was paying off. Everything didn't seem so challenging anymore. I was now able to carry heavy objects with ease, I would lose stamina less quickly, and I was finding myself running faster than I ever had before, beating my best score each time I ran.

My newfound strong tenacity was allowing me to push through all the challenges Dad threw at me. It was helping me in my path to becoming number one. I gazed at my reflection in the mirror to find that the scrawny kid who had always looked back at me was no longer there. Instead, a much more fit and healthy figure greeted me. Still, I knew I hadn't trained as much as Dad did when he was younger, so there were still some things I wouldn't be able to do. The entrance exam was taking place tomorrow, and I was beginning to doubt myself. My confidence wavered as I pulled my blankets closer to me, embracing the warmth they provided. I gazed at the moon, it's light illuminating some parts of my dark room. My eyes gradually closed, and I fell asleep.

---

I climbed the staircase to Dad's office, knocking on the door and pushing it open.

Dad was seated at his table, daily reports sprawled and an open photo album over the wooden surface. He took a sip of his coffee as he gazed upon a photo that he was holding up with one of his hands, the other now beckoning for me to come over and look. The photo he was looking over was one of him and All Might, taken on what appeared to be a bright Spring day. He passed the photo for me to hang onto as he searched for another one from the album. His face lit up as he passed the second photo to me. It was a picture of him and I.

"A photo, of the new successor of One For All and soon-to-be Symbol of Peace" Dad grinned, flashing me a boyish smile. 

I felt tears prick my eyes. Quickly, I raised my arm to wipe them on my sleeve before smiling back.

"Dad, I'm ready to do the obstacle course."

Even if there was still things I couldn't do, as long as I could complete the obstacle course, I would be fine.

---

After an hour of overcoming all the challenges the obstacle course had to offer, I finally saw the finish line up ahead. Using the last of my energy, I sprinted towards it, flopping to the ground once I had passed the goal.

Finally. After almost a full year, I had finally managed to do it.

Dad looked at me proudly, congratulating me on my achievement. I had come so far, and it was finally time.

The first rays of the sun began to appear as Dad smiled warmly, taking one of his green strands of hair and holding it up to me.

I gave him a blank stare.

"Uh.."

"In order to inherit my ability, you're going to need to ingest some of my DNA."

After some time of just staring at him, utterly dumbfounded, with a slightly shaking hand, I reached out to grasp it. Except, Dad redrew the strand away.

I looked at him, confused. "Um...Dad?"

"Sorry, it's just that after you receive this...I won't...I mean, it'll still be quite a while before that happens, but nevertheless, I won't be..." Dad muttered, his speech trailing off.

"Won't be...?" I repeated, waiting for him to continue.

Dad pursed his lips, eyes glinting with sadness. He shook his head, lifting it upwards to smile at me. "Don't worry about it. That's something I'll tell you another time," he said, placing the green strand into my hand. 

He beamed at me. "Now, eat this!"

---

I didn't feel any different. After that traumatising experience, Dad reassured me that I did indeed inherit One For All, but I honestly expected something more. I thought there'd be at least some tingling sensation that would make me go, 'I have a Quirk now!' But there was nothing.

I took my phone out of my pocket and stared at the time. Only half an hour until the entrance exam...What if One For All hadn't settled properly? What would I do then?! Then everything would have been for nothing!

Groaning, I clutched my head and started mumbling all the possible things that could go wrong. I earned a couple of concerned glances from other examinees who were walking towards U.A. just like I was, but I paid no mind to them.

Trying to calm down, I removed my hands from my now messy hair and placed them on my heart, slowly breathing in and out. Calm — that's what I had to be. Calm, relaxed, patient. I just had to wait. Everything was going to be just fine.

"No...no, it's not..." I lowered my head, starting to argue with myself.

Before I knew it, the tall entrance of U.A. loomed above me. I gulped, feeling like a speck of dust next to the gigantic school. I could see random people slowly walking in, seemingly unfazed by the legend of a school that was before them.

I decided to wait to the side until Saika and Teijo arrived. I took the time to gather my thoughts and prepare for the challenge ahead of me.

"Alright, I'm ready. Ready to make my family proud. Ready to become a hero."

-

Thanks for reading this chapter! Sorry there were so many time skips haha...If there are any mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation or anything of the sort, please let me know so I can fix it up. Continue reading! (♡ >ω< ♡)