Ashes to Ashes, Power to Power: Chapter 2.3

Looking at the smile on his face, I almost wanted to accept the offer, but I stopped myself as I began thinking of everything.

On the one hand, I would be trained by most likely the strongest man in the world who also had access to help and tutelage opportunities from the best of the best.

That meant potentially getting David Shield, the best Support Tech specialist in the world, making me gear and other gadgets if I ask All Might for it. There were probably still so many things I wasn't thinking about, picking All Might was the guaranteed golden ticket to life.

On the other hand...

'Shigaraki and All For One would be focused entirely on my mother and I. No matter what, I'd be forced to fight a battle for the world, something I don't think I want to do.' I know I said I wanted my life to be different, but I'd also want to enjoy this new life and not be forced to take part war that's been lasting for generations.

"Thank you for the offer, All Might...but I think I'm going to have to pass."

"May I ask why?" He didn't seem disappointed by words, looking more intrigued by my explanation instead.

"I really do want to accept, but becoming your student is going to make your enemies come at me whether the knowledge becomes public or not and when that happens, I have my mother to think of." I gave the more vague reasoning instead of just blatantly saying what I really wanted.

Thankfully, it seemed to please All Might as he smiled and nodded.

"I understand." He spoke and I nodded before I remembered what I wanted to ask.

"Before I go, can I ask one thing?"

"Of course."

"How does one exactly go about acquiring a hero license even though they are far past the age to go to high school?" I asked and he smiled amusedly at my sheepish smile before answering.

"Well, you have spoken to Ms. Rei of the Outreach and Recruitment Division, yes?"

"I have."

"Well, if you tell her that you wish to be a hero, she will put your name with many others that are to take part in a physical assessment test and psychological review test. If you pass both tests, you will be assigned a probationary Hero Course License along with a monthly stipend from the government. You will then have another month of classes to attend and when you pass the tests after those, you will be allowed to join society as a full-fledged Hero with a legal Hero Licence."

"...How have I not heard of this?" I asked in shock and the man chucked as he patted my shoulder.

"Hahaha~! I do not blame you for your disbelief, young Kevin. There are only so many Hero schools that would accept students and thousands of those that wish to be heroes across Japan. Most are also far too old to be in high school and/ or had unforeseen incidents that led to them not being able to become a hero. That is why this was proposed by myself two decades ago and it has only been five or so years since this was made legal, especially after the string of incidents that happened all those years ago."

"Incidents?" I asked, having not heard of it as All Might simply smiled and shook his head.

"No need to worry about it. The villains responsible for said incidents have been apprehended." His quick response just made me frown for a brief moment before I shrugged in response.

Eh, most likely going to bite me in the ass so I'll find out on my own.

"Okay, then. I think I'm going to head back home now."

"Of course. Good luck in your endeavours and if you ever do decide to accept my offer..."

"I'll ask Ms. Rei to tell you." I said with a grin and he nodded before walking back over to the shore, leaving me to watch him leave before I shook my head and made my way back to the car.

All Might could have pushed for me to accept it, told me of how important it truly was for him to get a successor, but he made it easy to walk away as if it was nothing important and I think that's what stumping my mind the most right now.

There were kids all around the world who would have jumped at the chance, who dreamt of exactly this moment for their entire life.

To me, I wasn't looking to be a symbol or a replacement and I'm not even sure I was looking to be a hero right now.

I just didn't want to be that close to death again.

'I guess it messed me up more than I thought.' I thought with a sigh as I walked up the stairs, walking up to the car where Ms. Rei was waiting besides the door.

"From your look, I'm guessing the offer was rejected, then?"

"Yeah, it's a bit too much for me right now." I answered and she nodded before letting me climb in, leaving me alone in the backseat as she climbed in before slowly driving back home.

'I wish I could accept it, but for this life...I want to live for me...and my mom. Can't forget to add her in.'

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The wind was blowing softly across the beach covered in scrap and rubble, All Might standing alone with his hands in his pockets as he looked out at the sea.

He stood not in his transformed state, but in the weak, fragile form he has begun to see as his normal state, taking a deep breath to be refreshed by the sea air before looking down at his hand.

Before, it was strong enough to level mountains and destroy cities, but now...now it was but a flicker of his former self.

His attention then turned to the young man he had spoken to earlier and he couldn't help the quiet chuckle filled half with amusement and half with exhaustion.

"He turned it down. A smart young man." Toshinori Yagi spoke out loud to himself as he looked back at the sea with a soft smile.

There had been a steadiness in Kevin's voice when he refused, like that of a man who had already seen too many close calls and knew exactly what kind of weight All Might was offering.

'Too many enemies. Far too many ghosts from All For One's time still roaming about.' Kevin was right to be cautious of the power because the power does not just make you stronger.

It also marked you and turned you a symbol to the world. Symbols do not get to run and symbols do not get to break and Kevin had seen this.

He knew the young man was not afraid because he did not see the fear in his eyes. No, Kevin turned it down because he was thinking clearly and that in itself...was strength.

It was a silent strength, the strength the world never notices until it is needed.

'He has already chosen his path now and I wish to see where he is going.' The man thought with a smile before taking a deep breath, flexing his body and transforming into his empowered state before picking up a fridge on his shoulder.

After all, he had about three hours a day and he wanted to use at least one hour to clean this beach up as much as he can.

A/N: And there we are~!! I was going to give him OFA, but since you guys don't want him to have it, we're going the original route.

Next chapter, power experimentation and...meeting someone important? Who that is, we'll have to wait and see.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...

Ba-Bye~!!