chapter 2: awakening

At that moment, the nurse handed the baby to Toshinori. He looked at the small bundle in his arms, awestruck. Within that tiny body, an adult consciousness was awakening. Clark Kent, as he would be called, was no ordinary baby. He was a reincarnated soul, with memories of a past life.

"Wait... what's happening? Where am I?" Clark thought, confused. His newly opened eyes widened at the sight of All Might's familiar face. "It can't be... All Might? But how?"

Memories of his past life flooded his mind. He remembered falling asleep in his old room, surrounded by superhero posters. Then, a surreal encounter with a goddess who promised him a new life in a world of heroes, with Superman's powers.

"So it wasn't a dream..." he reflected.

Meanwhile, Toshinori held the baby carefully, tears in his eyes. "Emily, he's perfect."

Looking at his father, Clark pondered his new reality. "All Might is my father... I'm really in My Hero Academia. But... the heroes here... they're not like the ones I admired."

Superman, Spider-Man... they were true heroes. They helped people without expecting anything in return. But here... it seems more like a celebrity show. Heroes for fame and money. Is this what it means to be a hero in this world? No... it can't be. All Might... he's different. He's the kind of hero I've always admired. But what about the others? Can I change this? With Superman's powers and the knowledge from my past life... maybe I can show this world the true meaning of being a hero."

Soon, a warm and hopeful smile formed on the baby's face, as his blue eyes turned to Toshinori.

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The first rays of sunlight penetrated through the curtains of Toshinori Yagi's apartment, illuminating the room decorated with heroic motifs. Clark's cry echoed, waking the number one hero from his brief sleep.

"I'm coming, little one!" Toshinori jumped out of bed, his blond hair disheveled. He tripped over one of the toys scattered on the floor, almost falling face-first onto the carpet before reaching the crib.

At six months old, the baby looked at his father with bright blue eyes, his crying ceasing instantly at the sight of the familiar face. His tiny hands reached out, eager for his father's embrace.

"Breakfast time, huh?" Toshinori smiled, picking up the baby and inhaling the scent of baby powder. "Let's go, champ!"

In the kitchen, Toshinori balanced the baby in one arm while trying to prepare the bottle with the other. The counter was a mess, with jars of baby food, utensils, and toys scattered about.

"Right, how was it again? Ah yes, milk first, then water... or was it the other way around?" Toshinori muttered, furrowing his brow in concentration.

Clark watched with amusement as his father struggled with the seemingly simple task. "For the number one hero, making a bottle seems more challenging than defeating villains," he thought, letting out a little giggle.

"What's so funny, little one? You think it's amusing to see your old dad confused?" Toshinori laughed, finally managing to prepare the bottle correctly. "Aha! We did it, we make a great team!"

Two years passed in the blink of an eye. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and Toshinori was running through the busy streets of Tokyo, Clark secure in his arms. The boy, now with messy black hair, wore a t-shirt with All Might's emblem.

"Daddy, why are we running?" asked Clark, his childish voice full of curiosity, his blue eyes shining with excitement.

"Well, son, daddy forgot to buy milk, and now we have to get to the market before it closes!" Toshinori replied, breathless. "Your favorite cereal isn't the same without milk, is it?"

Suddenly, a group of five masked bandits emerged from an alley, blocking their path. People around started screaming and running.

"All Might! Prepare for..." the leader of the bandits began, brandishing a knife.

Toshinori stopped abruptly, his characteristic smile appearing on his face. "Oh ho! Looks like we have some troublemakers here!" He looked at his son, who seemed more excited than scared. "Son, how about helping daddy with a special trick?"

Before Clark could respond, Toshinori launched him high into the air. "Wheee!" the boy shouted, rising several meters above the buildings.

"Don't worry, citizens! Why? Because I am here!" All Might proclaimed, his voice resonating through the street.

In a matter of seconds, All Might moved in a blur of speed. Pow! Bam! Crash! The bandits didn't even have time to react before being knocked out by precise and powerful blows.

Meanwhile, a young woman with a cellphone in hand was filming the whole scene, mouth agape.

Just as the last bandit fell, Clark began his descent. All Might, with perfect timing, leaped and caught his son in mid-air, landing softly.

"Wow, daddy! That was amazing!" exclaimed the boy, his eyes shining with admiration and excitement. "Can we do it again?"

Toshinori laughed, ruffling his son's hair. "Maybe another day, champ. Now, how about we go buy that milk?"

The crowd that had formed began to applaud and take pictures. The young woman who filmed everything ran up to them. "All Might! That was incredible! Can I post this video?"

All Might smiled, striking a heroic pose with his son in his arms. "Of course! It's always good to show citizens that they can count on heroes... and that heroes also need milk for their children!"

As they walked to the market, Clark rested his head on his father's shoulder. "Daddy is amazing!" he murmured.

Toshinori smiled, his heart filling with love. "Not as amazing as you, my little hero. Now, let's buy that milk before the market closes!"

And so, father and son went on their way, leaving behind defeated bandits, impressed citizens, and a video that would soon go viral on the internet.

On Clark's fourth birthday, Toshinori organized a small party at home. The apartment was decorated with colorful balloons and banners with superhero themes.

A table in the corner of the room displayed an impressive cake in the shape of All Might's shield, surrounded by carefully wrapped presents.

As he cut the cake, Toshinori couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt and sadness. His blue eyes, usually full of confidence, now reflected a mix of conflicting emotions.

"You're growing up so fast," he said softly, his voice laden with emotion. "Your mother would be so proud. I just... I just wish I could be here more often for you."

Guilt weighed heavily on his heart. How many important moments had he already missed? How many times had he had to rush out in the middle of a special moment? Being the Symbol of Peace demanded sacrifices, but it was his son who often paid the price.

Clark, noticing the change in his father's tone, hugged his legs. His blue eyes, so similar to Toshinori's, shone with understanding beyond his years. "It's okay, daddy. I'm sure mom is watching us from somewhere. And I understand that you need to help other people. That's what heroes do!"

Toshinori knelt down, hugging his son tightly. The smell of baby soap and birthday cake filled his senses. "You're right, my boy. She's always with us. And you... you're the greatest hero I know, you know that?"

At that moment, the phone rang, its shrill melody cutting through the air. It was an emergency - a villain was wreaking havoc in the city center.

Toshinori looked at Clark, conflict evident in his eyes. "Son, I... I'm sorry. I really wanted to stay..."

"Go, daddy!" Clark smiled, pushing Toshinori towards the door. His eyes shone with admiration, even in the face of disappointment. "Others need you now. We can continue the party when you get back!"

Toshinori felt his heart swell with pride and love. He knelt again, placing his hands on his son's shoulders. "You're amazing, you know that? I promise to come back as soon as possible. Save a piece of cake for me!"

He hesitated for a moment, then added with a determined smile: "And you know what? Tomorrow, it's just us two. No villains, no emergencies. Just us, father and son. We'll have the best day ever, deal?"

Clark nodded vigorously, his smile lighting up the room. "Deal, daddy!"

With one last hug, Toshinori transformed into All Might and went out the door, determined to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. He had a promise to keep.

The sun had barely risen when Clark jumped out of bed, his heart pounding with excitement. The room, decorated with hero posters and scattered toys, was left behind as he ran down the hallway. His bare feet slapped against the cold floor, echoing through the silent house, until he reached his father's room.

"Dad! Dad! Wake up! Today's the day!" Clark shouted, jumping onto Toshinori's bed. The mattress sank under his weight, causing All Might to wake with a start.

Toshinori opened his eyes, initially confused, but soon smiled at the radiant face of his son. The room was bathed in the golden light of dawn, illuminating the enthusiasm in the little one's eyes.

"Good morning, champ! Ready for our adventure?" Toshinori asked, his voice husky from sleep but full of affection.

"Yes!" Clark exclaimed, his blue eyes shining like sapphires.

Toshinori laughed, ruffling his son's black hair. "That's the attitude of a true hero!"

At the amusement park, the air was filled with the aroma of popcorn and cotton candy. The flashing lights of the attractions competed with the sun's glow, creating a festive and vibrant atmosphere. Shouts of joy and lively music filled the air.

Father and son were the center of attention. People whispered and pointed, taking photos and recording videos with their smartphones. The crowd's buzz was constant:

"Look, it's All Might and his son!"

"They're so cute together!"

"Imagine having the Symbol of Peace as your dad..."

The duo ignored the looks, focused on their fun. They rode the roller coaster, Clark's screams of pure joy mixing with those of other passengers. They ate cotton candy, leaving their fingers sticky and faces smiling. They participated in arcade games, with Toshinori pretending to lose to see his son's victorious smile.

Suddenly, in the middle of a laugh, the young boy felt a sharp pain course through his body. It was as if every cell was on fire, his skin seemed to be tearing from the inside out. He fell to his knees, letting out an agonizing scream.

"Clark!" Toshinori shouted, running to his son. The panic in his voice was palpable, echoing through the park. The crowd around began to stir, murmurs of concern spreading like wildfire.

The boy looked at his father, his eyes pleading for help. But what he saw terrified him. All Might's skin disappeared like a curtain being raised, revealing an intricate network of pulsing veins. Then, the muscles became visible. Finally, only the skeleton remained, white bones gleaming under the afternoon sun.

"D-dad?" he stammered, closing his eyes tightly, trying to erase the terrifying image.

When he opened them again, they were red as embers, with a threatening glow emanating from them. The ground shook with the energy emanating from his body, the pebbles on the ground began to float a few inches from the ground.

A roar of pain escaped his lips, creating a sonic wave that made everyone around stagger. Nearby window panes shattered, and the ground trembled as if an earthquake had begun.

Clark stood up, his muscles trembling with effort. He took a step towards his father, and the ground beneath his feet gave way as if it were made of paper. The entire park sank five meters below street level, creating a gigantic crater. Rides collapsed, metal structures twisted, and screams of terror filled the air.

The crowd was chaos. Some ran desperately, stumbling over each other in their haste to escape. Others, paralyzed by shock, remained motionless, their cell phones still pointed at the surreal scene before them.

"Calm down, everyone! All Might is here!" someone shouted, but their trembling voice betrayed their own fear.

"My God, what's happening?" another cried, panic evident in every word.

Toshinori was paralyzed, his muscular body visibly trembling. His heart was torn between the overwhelming fear of losing his son and the helplessness in the face of the unfolding situation.

'What's happening? Is it his quirk? But how...? Why now?' he thought frantically, his mind a storm of unanswered questions.

The young boy, now floating a few meters above the ground, looked at the terrified crowd and then at his father. A bluish, translucent force field surrounded him, crackling with energy. Tears streamed down his face, but there was an iron determination in his eyes that greatly resembled his father.

"Dad," he said, his voice trembling but firm, echoing strangely through the force field, "I can't put these people's lives at risk. I'm finally going to be a hero, like you always taught me."

Before Toshinori could react, his son shot into the sky. The impulse was so strong that it created a shockwave, knocking down several people and making the park's debris tremble. A deafening boom accompanied his departure, leaving a trail of disturbed clouds in the blue sky.

Seconds later, a colossal explosion illuminated the horizon. The distant mountains crumbled like sandcastles, and a wave of shock and dust advanced towards the destroyed park.

All Might fell to his knees, tears streaming down his usually smiling face. "CLARK!" he shouted, his voice laden with anguish and despair echoing through the ruined park.

The crowd watched in shock, cell phones still pointed at the sky, capturing the moment when the Symbol of Peace's son apparently sacrificed himself to save everyone. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the muffled sobs of a father who feared he had lost everything.

The dust began to settle, revealing the destruction left behind. And in the midst of it all, All Might, the symbol of peace, seemed more vulnerable than ever, kneeling amidst the rubble, his broken heart echoing the devastation around him.