Ashes To Ashes, Power to Power: Chapter 2.2

My fingers tightened around the note, staring at what was probably the opportunity of a lifetime right in front of me.

On one hand, I didn't have to do this. I could just reject it, go on to live a normal life...but that was what I did last time.

Working from 9 to 9 twelve hours a day, never getting a chance to enjoy life and do what I want to do.

'I can't let this pass.' I thought with a frown as I looked to Mom, who looked back at me with a whirlwind of emotions flashing in her eyes. As she saw the resolve in mine, I smiled softly as she sighed and nodded.

"I won't stop you, Kevin. Do what you wish to do."

"I...I'll meet him." I answered as I looked to Rei, who gave a firm as she stood up.

"Very well. I shall inform All Might and shall pick you up after your meeting with the Bakugo family tomorrow."

"I'll be waiting." I spoke with a smile and a hand raised, to which she simply nodded and shook my hand.

"A good evening to you, Ms. Nagamoto."

"T-The same to you, Ms. Rei." Mom greeted and I escorted her out through the front door, closing it behind her with a sigh before looking at the other envelope.

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In regards to saving our son, Mr. Nagamoto, we ask if you would be willing to meet us at this address so we may thank you in person.

XXXXXX

Mr. and Mrs. Bakugo 

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'Huh, so they actually wanted to meet me.' I thought with a hum as I folded the note up, putting both notes in my pockets before stopping in the doorway when I saw Mom still sitting with a frown.

The silence was tense and I didn't want to break it as I watched her looking at the coffee table before she spoke up.

"All Might...why does he want to see you?"

"Maybe because he was the one who stopped the villain. I was just the one that stalled him long enough for him to get there."

"I suppose so." She muttered and I walked over before sitting down besides her with a wry smile. Wrapping my arm around her, I was not surprised to feel her do the same as she sighed.

"You're scared."

"What mother wouldn't be? I almost lost you today and I don't know if I can stay strong when something worse happens to you?"

'That's to be expected.' I have seen a few cases where parents blame themselves when something happens to their child that they could have prevented and the end result where they try to end the pain is not pretty.

"But...if this is truly something you want to do, if meeting All Might could lead to something for you, I won't stop you." Her words surprised me as I looked down to see her smiling up before she pulled back.

"You sure?" I asked and she giggled, though it sounded a bit strained as she nodded.

"I'll worry and stress of what could happen every day, but I know better than to stop my son from doing what he wants."

"Honestly, I don't know if this is what I want. I just...there's just this feeling that I need to go. That I would regret it if I didn't." I wanted to see if All Might wanted to meet me for the reason I was thinking of.

After all, Izuku was not the one who saved Bakugo so he didn't get a chance to show him how heroic the Quirkless boy could be.

"That's enough for now, then. Just...promise you'll be careful. For your mother?" She asked with a pleading stare and I smiled before nodding.

"I promise."

"Okay, then. I...I think I'm going to lay down for now."

"Don't worry. I'll dry the dishes." I answered and she gave a shaky yet thankful smile before standing up, watching her walk up the stairs towards her room before shaking my head as I stood up and made my way to the kitchen.

All this thinking is just going to make me stressed. For now, I just need to do some chores and clear my mind.

'...Something tells me I'm not getting much sleep tonight.'

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Standing in front of the mirror in the hallway, I adjusted the collar of my jacket before looking to Mom as she stood waiting, looking both concerned and amused at my own nerves.

"You ready?" She asked and I looked back at the mirror before smirking as I nodded.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I answered and opening the door, looking a bit confused while I raised an eyebrow at the car parked in front of the house.

'Black sedan model with a woman in a suit and black sunglasses in front of it. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we're being kidnapped to see a CEO.' I thought to myself with a smirk as I walked over to Ms. Rei, Mom following besides me as the U.A. official took off her sunglasses.

"Ms. Nagatomo, I was half-expecting you to come with." She said and I smiled as Mom shook her head.

"This feels like something Kevin will have to do on his own. I'm fine just waiting here for him to come back."

"Very well. Are you ready, Mr. Nagatomo?" She asked and I nodded before blinking as she opened the door.

"You don't have to, you know?"

"It is simply courteous behaviour for a U.A. Official to do so." She answered and I just decided to let her do it as I looked to Mom with a smile.

"See you when I get back?"

"I'll have a hotpot waiting." She answered as she hugged me and I just grinned as I hugged her back.

"Did I ever tell you you're the best Mom in the world?"

"You're in your twenties, Kevin. I think you were more concerned about making sure I didn't make you look lame in front of the ladies."

"...Please don't ever say that again." I answered and she giggled as she pulled back, nodding to Ms. Rei as I climbed in before taking a deep' breath as she closed the door.

'Alright, time to meet explosion boy and his parents.'

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"Katsuki! Check who is at the door!"

"I'm busy! Do it yourself!"

"Don't you tell me what to do, you ungrateful brat!"

"Oh, go jump in a lake!"

"...I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." I muttered to Rei, who just shook her head with a sigh before looking up as the door flew open.

"What the hell do ya want?!" The woman at the door with wild ash-blonde hair, a sharp smile and piercing crimson eyes asked, to which I turned to Rei only to watch as she immediately turned and walked towards the car.

"The name's Kevin. Kevin Nagamoto. I got your le-!"

"Ah, the kid that saved Katsuki! Why didn't you start with that? Come on in!" The woman grabbed me by the hand and pulled me in before I could even say a word, looking at the brown-haired man standing in the doorway to a rather lavish living room with a knowing smile.

"Apologies for my wife's eccentric behaviour. I am Masaru Bakugo and this is my wife Mitsuki Bakugo. It's a pleasure to have you here."

"Don't sound so formal, Masaru. Makes you sound like a dork."

"I thought that's why you like me?" Masaru asked and the woman grinned before turning to me as I bowed.

"Thank you for having me in your lovely home." I spoke and smiled as she rolled her eyes while Masaru nodded. A heavy thud on the stairs behind them drew my attention and I looked up to see the familiar scowling face of Bakugo standing at the top of the stairs.

With his hands in his pockets and a disgruntled look on his face, I smiled as he walked down with narrowed eyes.

"Tch, Can't believe this is happening." He muttered before I blinked as his mom's hand swung fast and smacked the back of his head, earning a yelp from him as she huffed.

"Katsuki, manners!" Mitsuki spoke and he grumbled with a glare while I chuckled.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you as well, Bakugo."

"See, he's being nice. Why don't you do the same and introduce yourself?"

"The name's Katsuki Bakugo, extra, and you're looking at the next number one hero. Deal with it."

"That's not what I meant!"

"It's what I wanted to do!"

"So...you get used to it?" I asked as I turned to Masaru, letting the mother and son shout at each other as the man smiled and nodded.

"You get used to it. Why don't we take a seat and we'll discuss this?"

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Surprisingly, the Bakugo family had a lot to discuss with me for the past couple of hours, with Mitsuki asking questions about my background and family while Katsuki's were more focused on myself at a person and my Quirk to be more specific.

Masaru on the other hand was there to keep things from getting too chaotic, offering snacks and tea which I accepted so as to not be disrespectful while also asking me what I did for a living.

"You actually used to work for Detnerat's Technology Department?" Masaru asked with wide eyes and I chuckled while nodding, the memories of my previous itself being surprising to me as I didn't expect myself to have worked for one of the big villains that got introduced at the arc I was reading.

Then again, that made me wonder if they fired me for the reason they said about me having made mistakes on important documents...or if it was because I didn't have a Quirk/ Meta-Power to fit with their agenda.

"It was a fun job, but unfortunately, I made a few mistakes on a few documents and they decided that it couldn't stand."

"I see. Well, what are you doing now?" He asked and I shrugged as I put the empty tea cup down.

"Job-hunting to be truthful. However, U.A. High's Recruitment Division and I have been talking and I'm being taken to a meeting this afternoon for a job interview."

"Wow, from Detnerate to U.A. Those are quite the big moves. Not bad, kid." Mitsuki spoke with a smirk and I gave a thankful smile before feeling my phone vibrating.

Rei: I am outside. The meeting is in half an hour.

"That is U.A. The driver's here to pick me up." I said and the parents nodded as I stood up, bowing to them which they returned before Masaru spoke up.

"Ah, before I forget, we forgot to give you something in thanks."

"T-There was no need. The snacks and tea was enough." I answered, watching as Mitsuki snorted while Masaru just waved his hand while walking out the living room and up the stairs.

"You can forget about not accepting his offer. The guy is a doormat, but when he's adamant on something, he doesn't take no for an answer." Mitsuki answered and I smiled before turning to Bakugo who was still seated.

"It was nice talking to you, Katsuki."

"Eh, sure." He muttered dismissively and I shook my head as Mitsuki frowned.

"Can I tell you something, Katsuki?"

"Is this going to be a lecture?"

"Nah, just some words of wisdom from a guy older than you."

"So a lecture, then." He muttered and I smiled before continuing.

"One day, you're going to find out that being the Number One Hero isn't just about being the strongest or winning fights. I mean, those help considering how strong All Might is, but what people look at when they see him is not just his strength. It's his charismatic smiles and his personality, the joyful atmosphere he creates when he arrives on the scene and the feeling of comfort and security he provides even when he's not around. The sooner you learn that from him, the faster I think you'll get to becoming the Number One Hero in Japan."

"Tch. Sure, whatever you say." He spoke with a scoff, but I just laughed as I saw that my words had struck a nerve considering how in thought he looked when I finished speaking.

"Ha! I've tried telling him that same speech, kid. Let's get you out of here and to that meeting of yours." She spoke and i nodded as we walked out of the living room right as Masaru came down from the stairs holding a briefcase.

"Here you go. A small gift from the Bakugo family for saving our son."

"You didn't have to , but I appreciate it all the same. Thank you once again for the hospitality." I spoke with one final bow, the couple smiling and nodding before I took the briefcase and walked out of the house.

"Hey." However, I stopped halfway to the gate at the sound of Bakugo's voice, turning to see him standing in the doorway with his mom looking amused behind him.

"Don't get the wrong idea 'cause I still think you're an extra...but that thing with that Slime bastard? You didn't suck."

"...Is that your version of a thank you?" I asked before chuckling as he grumbled and walked away.

"Hell no! I'm just saying it how it is."

"Sure, Katsuki! Whatever you say." I said, watching as he left before nodding to his parents as they waved and closed the door.

"You took your time. Also, what's with the briefcase?" Rei asked as I walked out of the yard and I smiled before shaking my head as she opened the door.

"The Bakugo family had a lot to talk about. As for this, I was just told it was a gift."

"I see. Well, we best not keep All Might waiting." She said and I climbed in, resting the briefcase on my lap and looking out the window before back at the object on my lap as we began driving.

'Yeah, I'm too curious.' I thought with a smile as I unclipped the locks before opening it, my eyes widening as I stared at the objects inside of it.

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Mitsuki picked them out herself, but didn't want to say it was her choice. Said it was too sentimental and sappy. Once again, thank you for saving the light of our lives.

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In the centre of the briefcase sat a pristine, dark aquamarine watch, its straps made from a dark black leather and the numbering and dials made from a vibrant gold that shone even in the dim light of the back seat.

Stacked all around it as well as its sign of authenticity were stacks of 10,000 yen bills, probably a hundred or so stacks to make sure that the watch stayed in one place and I blinked slowly before closing the briefcase once again.

'...You know what? Bakugo isn't that bad of a kid, man. Probably my favourite character in the universe.' I thought with an excited grin as I closed the briefcase before remembering where I was heading and took a deep breath to calm the nerves.

Time to meet the man who defeated the Embodiment of Evil of this universe.

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'You're just meeting All Might, Kevin. You know, the guy who can punch a storm into existence and has more political pull over the world than most presidents have over their countries. Nothing much.' I thought with a deep breath as I stood next to the sedan, the briefcase still in hand as Rei broke the silence.

"Nervous?"

"Considering that I'm meeting the All Might, a little bit." I answered and she smiled as we looked back at the scrapheap that covered Takoba Beach.

"Did he say what he wanted to talk about?" I asked before sighing as she shook her head.

"No, only that he wished to talk to you. He said it's about 'seeing potential worth nurturing'."

'Damn, the guy has a way with words.' I thought with a blink before shaking my head as Rei then gestured for me to walk forward while climbing back into the car.

"I'm not allowed near the discussion area. Just wait near the beach area and he'll find you."

"Got it. Thank you." I answered before beginning my trek to the beach, my eyes going from side to side to make sure I didn't miss a single person while the sound of gravel echoed from under my feet as I made my way down the stairs and onto the sand.

It was as I did so that I saw him, tall and commanding. He exuded presence just by standing there with his golden hair shining in the light of the sunset and as he turned around, I had to admit I could feel excitement as he had his iconic smile on his face.

"Ha ha ha~! I was wondering when you'd arrive!" He called out with a wave and I watched as he walked over while barely keeping my awe in check.

"Uh, h-hello, All Might. Nice to see you again."

"Indeed it is. Last we saw each other was when you did that act of bravery to save the young man's life, an act that I have not forgotten about."

"O-Oh, I just did what any regular person would do in the same situation."

"You would be surprised by how wrong that statement is." He answered and I blinked at the blunt honesty as he continued.

"I also saw the footage of what happened before the event. You had many ways to get away and to safety, but you risked life and life to save a young man that you did not have to. You showed courage and initiative by attacking the villain from a point he least expected and risked your future to make sure young Bakugo got away."

"When you put it like that, it makes me sound like a hero." I joked lightly and he chuckled while nodding.

"Because you are. That is also why I wanted to meet you personally again. To offer something more than praise and a path forward."

"A path?"

"You are past the age where one would be allowed to join and graduate from U.A., which is why I wish to offer you a personal apprenticeship under myself."

"...Say what?" I asked and he chuckled before nodding.

"It would be a part-time apprenticeship since I also have a new job to do as well as my hero work, but it would allow you to have a hero license to use your Quirk to save others without facing legal repercussions. If not, I can still recommend you for a support course license which will allow you to use your Quirk in public places if it is to do work." He answered and I blinked at the choices before thinking them over.