Published: 06/08/17

Edited: ?/?/?

::

*Third Person's POV*

"How could you! You damn cheater!" The sound of a broken dish could be heard through the house. It has been nearly a month since Hiro's funeral. It looked like the whole family seems to have broken down after the accident.

At first, both of their parents blamed themselves, however once the feeling of guilt started to suffocate them, they did what most humans tried to do to avoid such feeling.

They had to blame someone else.

At first the two blamed each other, but soon it only led to them blaming Mai instead. They knew it wasn't her fault at first but they needed some weight to fall down from their shoulders, and just to escape it, they haven't even realised how they actually begin to believe it themselves. They didn't say anything to her verbally, they just decided to ignore her existence for a while. Her father stopped smiling at her right after that day, while her mother would give her fake lip twitches when she is around.

"I bet those brats weren't even from me!!" Another slam could be heard down the stairs. "Well you know what?! Yes I cheated on you a while ago now but those 'brats' were from you! For a pro-hero you have no brains at all!" Her mother's screaming caused more stuff to end up broken by the smoke of anger radiating from her father.

"I've had enough of you! I wanna divorce you hear me?!"

Mai hugged her knees tighter as she sat on the wooden floor in her room. Back pressed against a book shelf with a blanket to keep herself a bit warmer. She was listening to every word that was being said, and every emotion that came with it. Her eyes started to water slightly, hugging her teddy bear while looking at the picture of her and Hiro from last Summer.

Both were cringing at the camera because the photo was taken unexpectedly. Such memories caused a small smile appear on her lips. However it was interrupted by a few screams downstairs. And like that a few drops of salty water fell on the floor beneath her.

The silent tears echoing into sobs as the dirty blue light of the room only intensified the emotion.

::

"I am not having this anymore..." A young woman muttered as she touched the black eye she received today. To her there was no more hope for them to be a family again, everything was rotten in her opinion. She needed to start over, she had a place to go so while her 'husband' was sleeping, the blue haired woman packed her bags in an aggressive manner.

"Mom... where are you going?" A small voice called. The woman froze in place. She slowly turned around, wide eyes to see her only daughter standing near her, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She backed away from the child while forcing another fake smile on her face to greet her.

"Hey darling. Mommy was just packing some stuff... To go to the shop. Come on now go back to bed, it's late already."

"You're gonna leave... Aren't you?"

The woman gulped while clenching her bag tighter. This is one of the reasons why she wanted to leave. Her last child, a reminder of her failure as a mother, her own daughter made her feel guilt all over again and that was the feeling she detested the most.

"Yes. But don't worry, I am sure that your father will take a good care of you." Lie. She knew that but forced herself to pack the bags faster.

"Can... Can I come with you?"

"No."

Mai's hands clenched into fists as she heard no hesitation in the voice whatsoever, however this didn't get unnoticed by the woman. She felt slight fear that Mai could go and get her husband right now. So instead she took Mai's little hands while giving her a fake grin.

"Hey don't worry! I promise I will visit you every single... Summer! Alright?! J-just don't cry ok?"

She said with fake reassurance while glancing around the corner constantly. Mai couldn't help but smile in content while giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Alright then, so you're gonna come back in a week!" She whispered-yelled while exiting the room. A few tears rolled down the woman's cheeks, but that wasn't enough change her mind.

'I am sorry. I am sorry. I am so, so sorry...'

Was the only thing that ran through the woman's mind as she packed her last bag while storming out of the house. A new fresh start awaited her already, but she had to leave the past behind which still existed in that house, waiting for her mother to visit them at least once.

Unfortunately, that never happened.

::

"Hey Saito! How come you don't have your quirk yet?!" A boy slammed his hand on her desk. The seven year old did nothing to react but just continued to write inside her book.

The boy got quite offended by his classmate's lack of interest in his actions so he slammed his hand again. This time though slapping the pen from Mai's grip with the other free hand.

"What. Do. You. Want?" Irritation radiating of her. She noticed that the whole class fell silent as the two were in the middle of attention.

"Are you one of those twenty percent? Or is it that you are just so weak and embarrassed of your own quirk?!"

"No. I just don't know what my quirk is yet." Was all she could reply. But it was true, she couldn't make many conclusions but she knew that she did have a quirk.

She smirked at the raven haired boy in front of her. "Hold on, are you scared that my quirk will be better than yours?"

"Why you-"

"Class please settle down." Came a teacher's voice. The boy sank back into his seat, sending glares through out the lesson at the indigo haired girl. 

::

"That stupid Saito doesn't know who she is messing with!" The black haired boy yelled in anger. Few more kids surrounded him, trying to put some sense into their friend.

"Calm down Takeshi, she is just dumb! You are not gonna beat up a girl are ya?" One of the boys asked nervously.

"Are you kidding me! Of course I will! I heard rumours that she is the daughter of the famous 'One Punch' himself!" His eyes held excitement mixed with slight fury.

"Who is this 'One Punch'?" One of them asked in confusion.

"What! You don't know who he is!? Damn you are stupid! One Punch was one of the strongest Pro-heroes! He quit not a while ago but I heard that he was a master in Muay Thai! And his quirk was unbelievable strength! He was one of the strongest before he officially quit a few months ago!"

"I doubt it Takeshi, she doesn't look like him at all..." Another child spoke, trying to think logically about his friend's outburst.

"Well I wanna test and see! So you can either come with me or get out of my way got it?" He yelled in reply.

"How are you gonna provoke her? She is like the most silent person in our class." The same boy from before asked.

"I bet she isn't as heartless as she looks. Just watch!" He yelled with a confident smirk on his face. An idea filling his mind as he noticed Mai starting to walk home.

Once he made sure none of the teachers were around. "Hey you weirdo!" He spoke accusingly.

However this yell wasn't addressed to Mai. No. It was addressed to a girl next to her.

He stepped right in front of the girl.
Takeshi's eyes were filled with excitement once he noticed Mai glancing a bit in their direction.

Takijima Suki. A girl that sat on the right side of Mai. She had short chocolate brown hair and big, coffee coloured eyes. Mai never really paid attention to her, Suki was like a shadow. Yet she would always be nice to people.

"Um, um hey Takeshi! How... how are you?" Suki asked while playing with the corner of her peach dress. She didn't feel shy just around Takeshi, she just felt like she was beneath everyone. That was the reason she would always be nice to people, she wanted to prevent from getting on their bad side.

"What's your quirk again?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Well well, its not much. To be honest I don't think it's even strong-"

"JUST ANSWER!"

She inched at the sudden change of tone. With slight teary eyes she looked up at him and gave the best answer she could manage.

"I can sense vibrations through my feet, even someone's heart!" She yelled back. Trying her hardest to sound more confident.

"What? That's it?! I thought that you were weaker! Always making those stupid paper figures of yours!"

"It's called, origami-"

"I WANT YOU TO FIGHT ME!"

"Why?"

She looked questionably at the boy in front of her. She definitely wasn't a strong person or anything so why would he want something to do with her?

"It's either you fight or I beat you just like this!" He yelled while slapping a paper figure out of her hand, stepping over it a few times. Saki's eyes watered as she stared at the now dirty, crumbled piece of paper of what used to be a Swan.

"But-"

"Do it or I will slap you!" He wanted to see a reaction, his own eyes widened when he saw Mai just watching the whole scene as if it was just a show. So instead he closed his eyes shut, raising his hand towards Suki's face.

The girl was trembling, and that was no secret. She close her dark brown orbs, waiting for the impact of Takeshi's hand on her cheek.

It seems like they stood like that for minutes. She thought that the time stopped and the hit was about to come. However the hit never came as a small hand gripped Takeshi's. Tightly. Millimetres away from Suki's cheek.

"What are you doing?" Her tone was so cold and uninterested. Which caused Takeshi to get more angrier than before.

"What the hell do you think you are doing Saito! Get out of my way you quirk-less waste of space!"

Her grip on him loosened slightly, which gave a chance for Takeshi to slap her hand away. With a satisfied smirk on his face, Takeshi's attention moved towards the silent girl near Suki.

"Are you that weak that you hit girls?"
Her voice was glazed with disappointment.

"Fine to me if she wants to be a hero. However not everyone can be one, because some of us are quirk-less. Those people have no hope to become a hero, a hero has to have powers to protect everyone. Not like you..." He spat the words harshly at her. Seeking to finally snap a nerve, and he succeeded.

Hiro's speech flooded into her memory while Takeshi kept talking. Her brother's last words that she never forgot.

'Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.'

In a matter of seconds Mai pushed Suki behind her, raising her fists at the black haired boy. And with a low voice she spoke. "Now that you are done with your speech. Leave us alone now."

"And what are you gonna do if I don't? Look I am about to slap you too! What are you gonna do about it!?!"

*SLAP*

Takeshi stood frozen in shock, everyone else around him too. The boy's cheek was now red, bright marks of a hand evident on his face. That was it? No Muay Thai cool tricks? No special kicks? Just a slap?

...

But he had to admit that the slap was a strong one.

Mai took the moment to her advantage, grabbing Suki's hand and running off while everyone was still frozen.

::

"Thank you *pant* Mai-Chan."

The two ran for a while, making sure that none of the kids were following them. Both were a panting mess, sitting on a bench near a few Sakura trees around.

Mai's eyes were wide as she stared at the girl like she had grown a second head.

'Mai-Chan?'

"Thank you f-for standing up for me! I always thought that you were a very distant person, I am sorry about that! You just helped so much!" She said while taking Mai's hands in hers.

"But I am not a hero, I don't even have a quirk. All I did was slap him, something you could've done too..." She mumbled to herself, however Suki still heard her.

"Are you kidding me!? I would have never have enough courage to do such thing! Even if you don't have a quirk, I believe that you are braver than most people in our class!"

This caused Mai to smile, something she hasn't done in a while. She noticed Suki was pointing her hand out towards her, a wide smile on her face.

"I am Takijima Suki! Thank you for standing up for me! To me your actions were one of a true hero. Mind introducing yourself, hero?"

She couldn't control it, a giggle escaped Mai's lips. She gently shook Suki's hand after which the two burst out into laughter. Suki stared at Mai with wide eyes which caused the girl to get slightly anxious.

"Is there something wrong?"

"You look so different when you smile. I think you should smile more! It suits you better than monotone!"

"Thank, I mean thanks, I will try!"

'I wonder why do those memories fly into my mind now..?'

::

Mai knocked on the door, a happy smile on her face, but it faltered as soon as she remembered that her father wasn't going to open the door.

She took the keys from her bag, opening the white door silently. "I am home..." She muttered silently.

She was greeted by pure silence. In the middle of the living room sat her father, eyes glued onto the book he was reading. Completely ignoring her existence as usual.

His jet black hair were styled beautifully, pale onyx eyes staring deeply at words printed into the book.

"I... Guess I will go to prepare the dinner..."

She was surprised when she received a nod in reply. She looked around the kitchen in disgust. There were dirty dishes... Everywhere.

'He might have been one of the strongest heroes. However he is a crappy housewife.' She thought with amusement glittering in her eyes. As she proceeded to wash the dishes, a memory popped into her mind.

'Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers that they are graced with.'

Mai groaned in frustration while sacking herself on the head. "This is way too repetitive in my head! Why do I even remember about this today."
She looked down while another memory flew into her mind.

'I am Takijima Suki! Thank you for standing up for me! To me your actions were one of a true hero. Mind introducing yourself, hero?'

She remembered them because they meant something to her. She didn't need a quirk to help them. But she knew that in real life a slap wasn't enough to defeat a villain...

Her eyes drifted towards her father who was still in the dining room. She instantly shacked her head in disapproval. 'No, he doesn't even acknowledge me as his daughter. What gives me the idea that he will even teach me anything...'

'Crap! Now this thought is gonna be stuck in my head! I guess... I could give it a shot. I have nothing to loose anyways.'

With silent steps, she walked out of the kitchen. With every step she took, her father's figure seemed more and more intimidating than it was before. He was sitting near the fireplace, a concentrated posture. She gulped before finally standing in front of him.

"...Father."

He looked up at her small figure. Eyes cold, and with a monotone voice he replied.

"What do you want."

"I... I wanted to ask if you could teach m-me your Muay Thai f-fighting style?" Her eyes were shut tightly, scared to look into his cold eyes as he spoke.

"No."

"But... But why?"

"I don't teach anyone, especially weaklings who stutter. Or someone like you, a daughter of hers."

She stared at him in pure shock. He didn't think of her as a daughter, he thought of her as 'the woman that left him's daughter'. She was a weakling for him and a disappointment as a family. But she was surprised to the strange sensation she felt, she didn't feel offended like she would usually do, neither her eyes felt watery, in fact she felt slightly angered to say at least.

And again the same words ran through her head.

'Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.'

...

..

.

And just like that she felt something snap inside of her. Mai's eyes were angry, but this time she didn't go to sulk in her room. No, not today. Her eyes sparkled with determination that the black haired male never saw before.

Without a waning she stormed off upstairs, but he knew that the girl had something in her mind which sparked a slight interest that he managed to mask perfectly with an emotionless face.

::

Mai sprang Into her room, doors banging against the wall because of such a strong force used on them. Ignoring everything she opened her large wooden closet, scanning through the insides until her eyes landed on a special set of clothing.

It was a costume, more specifically made for sport activities. It mostly consisted of black and white colour scheme, however the style of the clothing represented the one of a traditional Chinese style. A pair of loose black trousers, similar shade sandals and a white top with long sleeves.

She remembered how her father brought this as a gift to one of her birthdays, even if it was big when she first tried it he said that when she will become older it will fit her perfectly.

Wasting no more time she dressed her self in the costume, putting some bandages that she found in her dad's room around her hands. Once she was ready she looked out of her window, eyes wide in slight fear as she stared at the three floors down height.

'I can't go back now. I already went too far!' Gulping, the girl climbed out of the window, carefully climbing down to the first floor. 'Okay don't look down. Don't look down. Don't look down- CRAP! I LOOKED DOWN! Why is our house so damn big?!! Why do we even have four floors!?!'

Finally reaching down to the first floor she jumped on the ground, stumbling from the impact and falling on her bottom in result. Picking herself up while dusting her trousers off, Mai walked calmly towards the front door of her house. Acting like she didn't just club all the way from the third floor and falling miserably like an idiot.

'Alright no matter what happens... I tried and that is enough.'

And just like that she knocked on the smooth, white door three times, impatiently waiting for her father to answer. When there was no response, she knocked again, only this time twice louder and twice of the amount from last time.

With a few cursing words heard, the door was finally opened revelling none else than Saito Toshihiro himself. Mai would never notice through those cold eyes but there was a slight surprise in them.

He couldn't even think that out of all people, her daughter would be standing there, wearing a ridiculously weird type of clothing that didn't even match her size.

Yet somewhat his lips couldn't resist but twitch slightly when he remembered that it was the clothing he brought her on her fourth birthday. In hopes that one day she will be strong enough to represent their family with pride. He frowned a second later when he remembered. There was no more family. They were just broken left overs of him and someone he refused to acknowledge as his own child any more.

"How did you leave your room." It wasn't even a question. Just a blunt statement somehow rephrased into some sort of question.

'Damnit , This is gonna sound so ridiculous now...'

"SAITO TASHIHIRO! I CAME HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR PERMISSION OF BECOMING YOUR STUDENT SIR!"

He stared at her like she had grown another head. Has her daughter finally gone insane?

"Why should I teach someone like you? You are her daughter so I don't have to do anything for you."

"I AM NOT ASKING YOU AS HER DAUGHTER SIR! I AM ASKING BECAUSE YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST HEROES I KNOW AND IT WILL BE A HONOUR OF MINE IF YOU LET ME LEARN YOUR MUAY THAI TECHNIQUES AS YOUR STUDENT! PLEASE CONSIDER MY REQUEST!"

"And why do you want me to teach you Muay Thai? To just harm people you dislike? If that so than its a no so you should leave."

He was about to close the door when a little foot stopped him just in time. His dark eyes were looking carefully at Mai, examining her every move.

"I am asking you because I am quirkless. But I want to protect the ones I care about and become a hero on my own. I know I will have to work extra hard but I am ready. I wanna prove people that you don't need special abilities to be strong."

She fell in her knees while bowing her head in respect. "And who said that you even could become a hero?" His voice held no emotion, daring for the child to break down into tears and run away. However, with bangs shadowing her eyes, Mai's next words froze him in place.

"A true hero once told me that heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with. He told me that just before he risked his life to save a person he cared deeply for, costing him his life in result."

"And who might that me." He asked with wide eyes.

"...His name was Saito Hiro sir. And I want to prove to the world that what he said is true. Even if you decline I will come again and again, until I will receive your approval!" 

She expected to see a rejection or a usual reply like a simple 'No', however the next few words left her in a state of shock too.

"We start here tomorrow at five in the morning. If you are late then I will personally make sure you forget the road to my house. Got that?"

"Yes sir-I mean sensei!"

She said while bowing again towards him. He opened the door a bit more, gesturing for her to come in. She was confused at first but soon remembered. He was her father. He wouldn't make her climb three floors up now, well she hoped at least. And just like that she proceeded to walk in, her mouth twitching into a small smile as she walked up the stairs again.

'She is a weakling, but she has the attitude. So I will turn this weakling into a strong hero.' A thought ran in Tashihiro's mind. Which was soon replaced with a harsh gaze towards nowhere in particular.

'Until she has enough strength, she cannot be considered a family anymore. She will have to prove herself to me. And since her goal is to become a hero, I will asses her on the skills needed when the time comes.'

Mai walked into her room. She just noticed how large it was, white walls shining in the sunlight of the large window. So many bookshelves that she sometimes felt that she lived in a library. She close the door silently, and a seconds later it was as if her mood changed spontaneously.

A wide smile on her face, eyes glued to the floor while a few tears slipped from them. Sinking into the smooth, wood surface.

'I did it brother. My first step in becoming a hero...'

::

Saito Tashihiro

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AN: Hey guys! I am sorry if the chapter was a bit too long... AGAIN. But I hope you enjoyed it!
And if you did please don't forget to vote & comment!