"Hngh... so why have you come to see me?"
Tokoro Hatsume, who stood before me, asked why I had come.
"This Taka-kun here wants to take the Hero Course exam, but he’s worried and came looking to use some support items."
"Hmm? Well, people with Quirks unsuited for combat do come looking for me, but are you one of those too?"
"I’m Quirkless."
I calmly stated that I was Quirkless. The hospital tests had determined that I had no Quirk. There was no point in lying, so I told the truth. At that, the old man’s face darkened.
"Is that so? And yet you still want to take the Hero Course exam?"
"Yes."
Tokoro covered his face with one hand, bowed his head toward the floor, and not long after burst into hearty laughter and said to me, "Ahahaha, you’re so calm it’s funny!! Good!! The item you need!! I’ll make it for you!!"
"Um... sir, I only need to rent it."
"What are you talking about? You saved me, so I’m repaying the favor. I’ll make it for you myself, free of charge."
"Good for you, Taka-kun. That old man’s a cheapskate, so I never expected him to do anything for free."
"Who are you calling a cheapskate!!"
Watching the two of them trade banter right in front of me, I felt my lips soften into a smile. That was my first meeting with the boisterous old man, Tokoro Hatsume.
______________________________________
"I can’t make exactly what you want right away. Still, I’ll do my best to have it ready by the entrance exam."
After our talk about the support item I wanted ended, it was 8 p.m., and I was heading home with Minori.
"So, how was he?"
"The only way I can describe him is boisterous."
"Haha, that sounds about right."
Minori laughed, agreeing with my answer.
"But that man looked like he ran away when he saw you. Do you know him?"
Minori was talking about the man who had shouted at old man Tokoro. I answered casually.
"Who knows? Maybe he mistook him for someone else."
Minori tilted her head and thought about it, saying, "I see?" And as we walked, we arrived at the orphanage where I lived.
"Then, Taka-kun, you need to work hard until the entrance exam. Promise me, okay?"
Minori spoke playfully, but she was still cheering me on.
"Yes."
______________________________________
Midnight.
I got up, dressed, and was about to head outside.
"Brother? Where are you going?"
Sleepy but curious that the older brother living with him was going out, he got up and asked me.
"Sorry, did I wake you? I’m just going out to exercise for a bit."
"Now?"
"Yeah, now."
Then I left the orphanage and started running, kicking off the side of a building and climbing upward. I vaulted onto rooftops and moved quickly by leaping between buildings.
"I’m getting used to it after all."
While dreaming of "him" and imitating "his" techniques, at some point I had become able to use them myself.
With my "sense," even the dark night was no problem to see through.
"I’m here."
The place I had arrived at was an abandoned building. With no people around, there was no better place to practice. I kicked off the wall again and moved. At the end, I climbed to the highest point.
"I can definitely see well."
Looking down over the town, I let out a cold breath.
And then
I spread both arms and jumped down.
As I fell, my speed increased, and I curled my body forward to lessen the impact while turning my back toward the ground. Then I landed in a pile of straw. Straw I had laid out in advance.
I climbed out of the straw and brushed the stalks and dust off my clothes.
"Good."
Then I activated my "sense."
The world lost its color, and "he" appeared before me.
"He" approached me, and I approached him, narrowing the distance between us. Then "he" moved first.
"He" suddenly threw a punch.
I dodged the punch and aimed a kick at his thigh, but "he" grabbed my leg and used his own foot to kick out the supporting leg, toppling me.
I fell, forcibly pulled my trapped leg free, and stepped back.
Once again, there was distance between "him" and me.
I closed my eyes and opened them again. Color returned to the world, and "he" vanished from in front of me.
"Haha... am I crazy?"
Getting stronger by fighting illusions. Even I thought it was ridiculous.
There were ten months left until the entrance exam.
I would do whatever I could.
In order to get into the Hero Course..."
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