MHA: Exchange

Sorahiko Torino, also known as Gran Torino, wasn't in his yellow hero costume, nor was he the short old man with a cane he would become later, but it was unmistakably him. He honestly looked like a mix of his younger and older self. He was still around average height but was far from the massive build he had in the flashbacks from the original story and clearly shrinking with time. He looked to be in his 50s but still had a powerful physique compared to your average person. 

As Jugram and Yuto studied the aging man, Torino did the same to the boys. Over his years as a hero, he had seen many pitiful children who had experienced horrific trauma, but he didn't see the telltale signs in the two children before him. Sure, there were the red-ringed eyes and other signs, but their eyes were steeled and full of what looked to be determination.

Before he could examine the two boys further his attention was drawn away by a government agent with a new host of papers that he needed to sign. Why did I decide to take in two strays again? Torino wondered as he resigned himself to the veritable mountain of paperwork. 

Likewise, Jugram was asking himself that very same question. Why is Gran Torino adopting us? he asked himself but found no answers. The old man had never seemed like the sentimental type in the series. Of any of the possibilities he had considered, Gran Torino had never even crossed his mind for a moment. The man seemed disconnected from everything other than All Might and maybe Nezu. 

Not that he was complaining. Of anybody they could have gotten adopted by, Gran Torino was a decent choice. The man was one of the more intelligent characters in the series and one of the best mentors. However, that also meant it would be hard to sneak around and try to do things independently when living with him, which also threw a big wrench into Jugram's plans.

There is no way I can make contact and work with the Meta Liberation Army when living with Gran Torino. Not just because he's smart, but he's a hero too. I'll have to start planning from scratch again.

While Jugram lamented the loss of his plans, he quickly got over it. After all, plans are meant to change and shift over time as new obstacles arise and new opportunities emerge. Gran Torino may have closed some doors when he adopted them, but that in and of itself opened some new doors. He just needed to consider what those doors were before he could move forward, which was fine.

With the timeline more secure in his mind, everything was suddenly a lot less stressful. Problems could be solved in time, especially since they would likely be forced to attend school. Since everything he learned would be essential information he already knew for a long time, he could use time in primary and middle school to come up with more detailed future plans, not everything needed to be solved right away.

The most important current thing was to adjust to living with Gran Torino and training. Jugram had yet to experiment with his new awakening for Blood Manipulation and how that would interact with his quirk. Plus, he hadn't started training by trying to give conditional offers or trades that only lasted for limited times or under certain conditions yet. Just because he wouldn't be planning didn't mean he would be idle.

After a minute or two, Yuto pulled Jugram from his thoughts with a comment.

"I think the man who adopted us is a hero," Yuto said.

"What makes you say that?" Jugram asked, curious how the boy could be so astute. The only reason he knew Torino was a hero was his prior knowledge.

"Look at his face, specifically around his eyes," Yuto said.

"Tanlines!" Jugram exclaimed, seeing what Yuto had noticed.

There were very slight tanlines on Torino's face. The skin around his eyes, under where his mask would sit, was a shade paler than the surrounding skin. The man had evidently tried to hide the difference since it was so hard to spot, but it was still there. 

Jugram couldn't help but look at Yuto in amazement. 

"Does your quirk do more than boost your strength? Maybe it's an all-around physical boost to everything, including your senses." Jugram said, initially saying it as a joke, but his statement left even him wondering.

"Maybe," Yuto said, shrugging. 

"What does that sign say down there?" Jugram asked, testing his impromptu theory by gesturing toward a sign far away down the street so that its letters were just a blur.

"No left turn on red," Yuto said easily, "Why do you ask?"

"I can't read that sign from here," Jugram said.

"So...Do you need glasses then?" Yuto asked, giving Jugram a pitying look.

"What? No, I don't need glasses. Has your quirk always let yo-" Jugram began but cut off.

A Quirk Awakening. he thought, facepalming at how he could have been so blind. If I experienced one from the village, what's to say that Yuto didn't also experience one? No, it makes even more sense for him to have undergone one since he's less mentally mature.

Jugram shook his head, wondering why he had never considered that possibility up until now. What a busted quirk, though. Super strength, durability, and senses. Although mine's still better, He thought a bit petulantly, knowing it was childish. 

Yet, before he could mention his theory to Yuto, the signing process was done, and Sorahiko Torino stood before the two boys. They looked up into the weathered face of the pro hero and saw him smile warmly. Then, the Torino crouched low until he reached their eye level and spoke gently.

"You boys are going to be living with me from now on. Do you have any problems with that?" he asked.

Despite knowing Gran Torino's character, Jugram still looked to Threat Detection to see if there was a possibility that this was an AU and the old hero was evil or otherwise held malicious intent, but there was nothing. So, Jugram just shook his head, and Yuto followed his friend's lead. 

"Good, let me show you two your new home," Torino said, putting his hands down and allowing Yuto to hold one hand while he extended the second to Jugram.

Jugram raised a brow at the gesture but rolled his eyes and grabbed onto the proffered hand. Torino, obviously having caught his expression, let out a small chuckle before leading them toward the small apartment building. Meanwhile, the government goons packed up their stuff and drove away. The fact that they wanted to recruit the boys into the secret hero/assassin training program is no longer relevant now that a high-ranking pro hero adopted them.

Inside, Torino led Jugram and Yuto into the reception area of the apartment building, but it was completely empty. There was a section of the wall where all the resident's mailboxes would go, but they were all empty except for Torino's. There were also elevator shafts, but there were no elevators inside, only the doors blocking off the elevator shafts. There wasn't even a panel to call for the elevators since they weren't there.

"What is this building?" Jugram couldn't help but ask.

"This isn't a regular apartment building," Torino said, scratching his head. This place didn't get enough funding, and they were about to stop building it, but I bought the property and requested that they only put in one apartment. I figured there was no reason to let the building go to waste, but I didn't want to deal with neighbors." 

"Must have been expensive," Jugram commented.

"Yeah, but I have too much wealth lying around. I have nothing to spend money on, so I figured I would indulge myself a little." Torino said.

All the while Jugram and Torino spoke, Yuto had been looking up at the man with a question barely restained until he finally couldn't take it anymore and asked.

"Are you a Hero?" Yuto asked.

"Yes. I am," Torino said.

Jugram noticed a brief expression flash across Torino's face. It was too quick to catch clearly, but he was sure it had been there. It was uncertainty. It seemed that Gran Torino wasn't sure if adopting them was the right choice. Must have something to do with Nana Shimura. Jugram thought.

The Seventh holder of One for All had been a close friend of Torino and had sacrificed herself so that her successor, All Might, and Gran Torino himself could escape from All for One. One of her big regrets in life was being forced to give up her son after her husband's death. Gran Torino had been her shoulder to cry on while she was still alive. Perhaps Torino was trying to honor his friend by doing what she couldn't during her life, but it was hard to say for sure.

Gran Torino hadn't done anything like this or even expressed any desire to during the series, so the adoption and the man's motivations for doing so was new territory.

"Cool." Yuto said, but his excited smile quickly faded into grim determination, "I want to be a hero, too," 

"Is that so?" Torino asked. Seeing Yuto's hard expression, he patted the boy on the head. "What is your dream then, Hoenheim?"

"Originally, I wanted to be a businessman, but I'm unsure. Maybe a vigilante. I'll have to see how things work out from here." Jugram said honestly, prompting Torino to give him a look of surprise.

Jugram figured there would be no point hiding his true quirk from Gran Torino. He trusted the man a fair amount from what he had seen in the series. Plus, it would be hard to hide it while training it in the future. Plus, getting the hero's insights into it would be helpful, primarily due to Gran Torino's intelligence.

"Not much job security as a vigilante," Torino said.

"Fair point," Jugram conceded.

"Now, let me show you two to your rooms," Tornio said, moving past the brief conversation, probably leaving it unpacked later.

With that, he led them to a second furnished apartment, which was right next to his own. The only difference was that there were only two rooms in this apartment. Most of the room was split into different sections, with the open space acting as part bedroom, living room, and general open area. It was an odd layout but not unpleasant. There were a few cabinets and dressers by the beds for some storage, while a decently sized bathroom with a shower, tub, and sink branched off from the main room. 

"Once you boys get unpacked and settled in, come over to my apartment, and we can get started with introductions and everything while I make us some dinner." Gran Torino said, exiting the room and shutting the door softly behind him.