Chapter 3: Graduation

{Ryo Kurokiba, Age: 14}

"Say... are you sure that you don't want to be a hero?" Kaina asked Ryō, as they were walking back to their home.'

"Yeah, I'm sure. Call me a coward and all. But I'm not ready to put my family in danger," Ryō said while thinking 'Technically I'll be doing vigilantism and as per the rules that is illegal, and they can only punish me if they catch me. But the problem is, I can't shapeshift. I tried many times but all of them ended in failure.'

"You could always hide your identity, you know?" Kaina said.

"I could, but the officials will have my identity and if one of the villains who I captured has the capacity to influence the officials or any other heroes, they can easily find my identity and take away those who are precious to me." When Kaina heard what Ryō said, she thought to herself 'Well there goes my last string of hope that we could become a team in the future.'

"Do whatever you want then." Kaina said out loud with a little bit of frustration.

Ryō just smiled at her and said "That's what I'm gonna do, Kai. I'm gonna do what I want."

"Argghhh. I hate that smug smile of yours!" Shouting at Ryō, Kaina ran away from him in a different direction.

Shaking his head he made a clone of himself and said "Make sure she reaches her home safely."

"Sure bossman." Saying that the clone went after Kaina, Ryō resumed his walk towards his home.

As usual, his mother was standing in front of the house waiting for him, and seeing him Hiyori asked "Where is Kaina?"

"She got mad at me and ran away." Ryō said.

"And you made a clone to follow her?" Hiyori asked.

"Yeah, he will make sure that she reaches home safely." Ryō replied.

"Good work. Make sure to look after her, okay?" Hiyori told Ryō while ruffling his hair.

Giving a side eye to his mother, Ryō said "Mom, are you her mother or mine?"

"Both of yours. She's going to be my daughter in law, no?" Hiyori replied in a jovial tune and went into the house.

Ryō closely followed Hiyori while saying "How many times do I have to tell you that we are just friends?"

"I don't care how you think your relationship with her stands now, I know that she is love with you." Hiyori said as she sat down on the chair near where her husband Yato was sitting.

Sitting opposite to his parents, he asked "How so? She hasn't told me anything."

"Well let's call it a woman's intuition. I just know that Kaina-chan loves you so much, and I know my son very well enough to understand that he is head over heels for a girl."

Sighing, Ryō said "I do love her, but she wants to be a hero and I don't want to distract her from her goals."

"Well son, if you love a girl, you have to tell her as soon as possible or you will lose her forever to someone else." Yay it said while moving the magazine to one side so he could have a good look at his son.

"Well in this case you don't have to worry about that, I can see that she won't leave you for another one." Hiyori said while giving her husband a side eye.

Shaking his head, Ryō said "I'll be in my room."

Seeing him going to his room, Hiyori said "See that? What you said must have hurted him."

"Well did I say anything wrong?" Yato asked her.

"No, but we should have told him that in a different manner." Hiyori said.

"What's done is done, there's no way to change that. He got the message right, so it's alright." Yato said.

"I hope it is." Hiyori said while she was looking at the direction Ryō went.

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["Students of Mustafa Private Middle School, I conclude my speech with the hope that all of you will be successful and happy in your future venture."]

As soon as the principal finished his speech, the students threw their graduation cap into the air as a form of tradition.

They graduated from middle school and everyone was looking forward to their bright future that they had ahead of them. Some wanted to be Professional Heroes in these times where All Might is inspiring the kids to be a hero and save as many as possible.

Apart from the hero aspirants there were also students who wanted to get a good job and have stability in their future, some who don't have heroic quirks want to be helpful to the society in any way they can.

In the middle of these children who had an inkling of an idea of what to do in their future, Ryo observed them. He also has a dream, but that is different from most people around him. All he wants is to have a happy family and a stable life in his future. For that he already had a plan, a plan that is only possible thanks to his Ditto Quirk. 'But still, if I could help someone, then I would gladly do so. But not by risking my life or the life of my loved ones.'

He had to halt his thought process as two hands wrapped around his waist and a head was supported on the crook of his neck.

Smiling, Ryo tenderly creased the hands around his waist and spoke "What is it Kai?"

"We won't be in the same school now." Kaina said.

"That we won't. But that doesn't mean that we don't have to see each other." Ryo said.

Kaina didn't say anything, and Ryo continued while turning backwards and embracing her "You know, I didn't want to say this and distract you during your hero studies, but.."

Before he could continue, a finger was placed on his lips and he saw Kaina looking at him with tear filled eyes, which confused Ryo.

Shaking her head and wiping the tears from her eyes, she said "Don't say it now. I will come to you when I have become a pro hero. Then you can tell me. Until then please wait."

Smiling, Ryo leaned in and kissed Kaina on her cheeks and said "I'll wait for you. I don't care how long that takes, but I will wait for you."

"Thank you." Saying that Kaina hid her face on his chest, and Ryo felt his shirt getting damped. Smiling softly, he moved his hand on her back in circles to calm her down.

A couple of meters away from the two teenagers, Hiyori and Yato watched them. Wiping her tears off from her face, Hiyori told Yato "See, I told you that she loves my son."

"Yes you did honey, yes you did." Yato told her as he hugged her from the side and Hiyori rested her head on his shoulder.

Ryo, who had sensed his parents, whispered to Kaina "My mom and dad are here."

She quickly jumped away from his hug and looked around to spot his parents. When she saw them, Kaina smiled and walked towards them with a smile that looked like a flower had bloomed.

Hiyori hugged Kaina as she had known her from the age of twelve and Yato hugged Ryo and congratulated him for graduating from middle school.