My Hero Academia: The Hidden Pulse

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the tranquil beach as Kairo and Mei walked side by side along the shore. The cool, salty breeze tousled Kairo's hair, but today, the serenity of the ocean seemed distant. His thoughts lingered on the last few weeks—the whirlwind of emotions he had navigated since the incident with his father. It was only now, in the quiet of summer break, that the weight of everything had fully settled within him. The loss of Ryuta, the promise he made to protect his mother, the dreams of becoming someone strong… all of it pressed on him like the tides pressing against the shore.

"Kairo," Mei's voice broke through his thoughts, soft but clear. He turned to face her. Mei was smiling, but there was a gentle concern in her eyes, something he had grown used to over the years. She was always watching out for him, but now, it was as if she could see through the barriers he built around himself.

"You're quiet today," Mei said, a playful tilt to her head as she paused to snap a few pictures of the waves. "Not much of a talker, are we?"

Kairo chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess I've got a lot on my mind."

"I can tell," Mei said, lowering the camera and giving him a knowing look. "But you know, you don't have to carry all of it by yourself, right?"

He nodded, but the words she spoke were heavier than she might have known. After all, this was Kairo's burden to bear. He had already promised his father—wherever he was—that he would do whatever it took to protect those he cared about. His mother, Mei, Kenta… they were all important to him. And for that, he needed strength—strength beyond what he had now.

The sound of waves crashing against the rocks echoed through the beach as Kairo stared out at the horizon. He wondered, for a moment, what the future would hold for him. Would he ever be strong enough? Would he ever live up to the resolve his father had instilled in him?

"Hey," Mei's voice interrupted his thoughts again. "Look over there." She pointed to a lone figure on the sand, farther down the beach, practicing some form of martial arts with surprising intensity. His movements were sharp, focused—each punch and kick followed by a disciplined pause. He wore a simple green outfit, his messy green hair and determined expression giving him an air of unwavering focus.

"Hmm," Kairo muttered, narrowing his eyes as he observed the stranger. "Who's that?"

"I don't know, but he's been here for a while, practicing non-stop," Mei said, raising an eyebrow. "Kind of… unusual, don't you think? Most people aren't this dedicated in public."

Curiosity tugged at Kairo, pulling him toward the figure. He glanced at Mei. "Let's go see."

Without waiting for a response, he made his way down the beach, his feet sinking into the soft sand with each step. Mei quickly followed, her footsteps light and quick. As they got closer, Kairo noticed the boy's concentration—he was pouring every ounce of effort into his training. The boy barely seemed to notice their approach until they were only a few feet away.

He paused, wiping the sweat from his brow, and turned toward them with wide, startled eyes.

"Uh… hi," the boy said, his voice shaky but warm. He looked to be about Kairo's age, maybe a little younger, but his intense focus set him apart from the average teenager. "Didn't mean to bother you."

"No bother," Kairo replied with a small grin, extending his hand. "I'm Kairo. And this is Mei."

The boy blinked, then smiled back shyly as he shook Kairo's hand. "I'm Izuku. Izuku Midoriya."

Kairo studied him for a moment. There was something familiar about the way Izuku carried himself—he had the same determined look that Kairo often found in his own reflection. But what was more surprising was how hard Izuku was pushing himself. Most kids their age were either taking it easy, especially during vacation, or at the very least, not working as relentlessly.

"What's all this training for?" Kairo asked, genuinely curious.

Izuku scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish. "Well... I want to be a hero someday. But, uh, I don't have a quirk, so I've been trying to compensate with pure hard work. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm trying to push my limits."

Kairo's brow furrowed. "No quirk?"

Izuku nodded, a trace of sadness in his eyes. "Yeah... but I won't let that stop me. I have to be strong, you know? There's this dream I've always had… to protect others. I can't let my lack of power stop me."

Kairo blinked, an unfamiliar warmth rising in his chest. He couldn't help but admire Izuku's spirit. "That's… pretty inspiring. You're really dedicated."

Izuku smiled a bit, though there was still a hint of self-doubt lingering in his eyes. "I hope so. But it's not easy, you know?"

Mei, who had been quiet up until this point, suddenly spoke up. "Hey, you can totally do it, Izuku! I mean, look at you. You've got that spark, right?" She gave him a thumbs up, her usual bright smile lighting up her face.

Kairo nodded, feeling the truth of Mei's words. "Yeah. That's the kind of resolve you need to make it."

Izuku's face lit up with a mix of gratitude and determination. "Thanks, both of you. I won't let you down."

Kairo couldn't help but think about his own journey. He had his reasons for wanting to protect others. His father's death had driven him to seek strength, not just for himself, but for those who mattered most. But as he stood there, watching Izuku's quiet determination, Kairo realized something important. They both wanted the same thing—to protect others. The road to becoming strong, the path to being a hero—it wasn't easy, but it was one he shared with others who had the same ideals.

Before Kairo could respond, Mei stepped forward, her eyes suddenly twinkling with excitement. "Well, if you ever need help, just let us know! I'm sure Kairo can help you with some techniques!"

Kairo shot Mei a quick glance, wondering if she was trying to play matchmaker or simply being her usual exuberant self. Either way, it made him feel strangely light-hearted.

"Thanks," Izuku said, looking at Kairo with gratitude. "I'll keep that in mind."

The conversation lingered for a few moments longer, but eventually, they parted ways. Izuku returned to his training, while Kairo and Mei continued their walk along the beach.

As they walked, the sky began to dim, casting a golden hue across the water. Kairo found himself lost in thought again, reflecting on the encounter. The boy's unwavering resolve, despite his lack of a quirk, stirred something deep within Kairo.

"I think we can learn a lot from him," Kairo murmured.

Mei smiled, her voice soft as she replied, "I think we can, too. Everyone's path to greatness is different, but we're all heading toward the same goal."

Kairo nodded, but his thoughts weren't on the beach, or even on Izuku. Instead, he thought of his own future—his resolve to protect, to become strong enough to keep his loved ones safe. And, perhaps, to find a way to make that dream a reality, just like Izuku.

As the evening settled, the pair continued their walk, their hearts a little lighter, but their determination, no less fierce.