rivals are never far.

The following day, Tommy met up with Deku again. They had agreed to meet at the local park, where they could train without any distractions. Tommy was eager to continue his training, and he could tell that Deku was just as excited to help him.

"Okay, let's get started," Deku said, grinning at Tommy. "Today we're going to work on your reflexes."

Tommy nodded eagerly, ready to learn. He knew that his reflexes were a weak spot, and he was eager to improve them.

Deku set up a series of targets around the park, and then began to explain the rules of the game they would play. Tommy listened intently, taking in every word.

"Okay, so the idea is to hit as many targets as you can, as quickly as you can," Deku said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "But there's a catch. You only have three seconds to do it."

Tommy's eyes widened in surprise. "Only three seconds? That's not very long."

Deku grinned. "I know. It's going to be tough. But I have faith in you."

Tommy took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He knew that Deku wouldn't ask him to do something he wasn't capable of, but he was still nervous.

"Ready?" Deku asked, his hand hovering over a stopwatch.

Tommy nodded, his heart racing with anticipation.

"Go!" Deku shouted, and Tommy sprang into action.

He moved quickly, darting from target to target with lightning-fast reflexes. He could feel his quirk activating, allowing him to slow down time just enough to hit each target before time ran out.

He hit the last target just as the three seconds were up, panting with exertion. He turned to Deku, grinning from ear to ear. "I did it!"

Deku smiled proudly. "Great job! You're a natural."

Tommy beamed with pride, feeling like he was truly making progress. He was starting to believe that he could become a hero, just like Deku.

As the day wore on, they continued to work on Tommy's quirk, trying out different exercises and techniques. Tommy was amazed at how much he was learning, and he couldn't help but feel grateful to Deku for his guidance.

"Hey, have you ever heard of UA?" Tommy asked, as they took a break from training.

Deku's eyes lit up. "Of course! That's the top hero academy in the country. I went there myself."

Tommy's eyes widened in surprise. "You did? What was it like?"

Deku grinned, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "It was tough, but it was worth it. I met some amazing people there, including my classmates from Class 1-A."

Tommy's ears perked up at the mention of Class 1-A. "What were they like?"

Deku's face lit up with a smile. "They were incredible. All of them had amazing quirks, and they were all so determined to become heroes. We had some tough times together, but we always had each other's backs."

Tommy listened eagerly, feeling a sense of awe at the thought of these amazing heroes. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to train with them.

"I'm sure you'll meet some amazing people too," Deku said, smiling at Tommy. "Just keep working hard, and you'll get there."

Tommy felt a surge of determination, realizing that he was starting to believe in himself more than ever before. With Deku's guidance,

As the sun began to set and they wrapped up their training session, Tommy's thoughts drifted to his ultimate goal - to become a hero and to protect others. But he couldn't shake off the thought of his rival, who was also in the running for the One For All power.

"Deku, what do you think of my chances of getting the One For All power?" Tommy asked hesitantly, almost afraid of the answer.

Deku paused for a moment before answering, his expression thoughtful. "Honestly, it's hard to say. The power chooses its successor based on a lot of different factors, including strength, willpower, and a strong sense of justice. But I can tell you this - whoever gets the power will have to be willing to fight with everything they have."

Tommy nodded, taking in Deku's words. He knew that he would have to be at his very best if he wanted to have any chance of getting the power. And he knew that his rival would be just as determined.

"Thanks, Deku. I'll keep that in mind," Tommy said, feeling a renewed sense of determination.

Deku clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll do great, Tommy. Just keep working hard."

As they parted ways, Tommy felt a sense of gratitude towards Deku. He knew that without his guidance, he would never have gotten this far. And he knew that he had to keep pushing himself, to be the best he could be.

But the thought of his rival was never far from his mind. He knew that the competition for the One For All power would be fierce. But he was ready to do whatever it took to come out on top.

With a determined smile on his face, Tommy walked off into the sunset, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.