"Hope has arrived, because I am here!"

Mark watched the video of All Might for what was possibly the millionth time, his chocolate brown eyes eyes glued to the screen as the greatest hero of all time brought armfuls of people to safety.

"He's the greatest, isn't he Chica?" Mark sighed as he reached down and scratched his dog behind her ears, the puppy laying down by his feet with a quiet whine.

"Everyone tries to be like him, I have to try too." Mark declared as he shut off his computer and sat on the edge of his bed, picking up the weights left neglected on the black duvet.

"Gah, hate the new fifteen pound ones." Mark grunted as he practiced his curls, the few muscles he had gained through middle school already beginning to ache slightly.

"I can't get to U.A since it's in Japan, but I can go for the best hero academy in the United States....IHA." Mark decided firmly, the video of All Might playing in his head as he went through his morning work out routine.

"Maybe one day I'll get to Japan. Until then, I have to do the best with what I got." Mark muttered as he set the weights down after a few reps, moving to sit ups with his feet stuck under his dresser to keep him still.

"Mark, you're going to be late for the bus to get to the airport!"

Mark abruptly froze mid sit-up, the male scrambling to his feet to grab his already packed suitcase in his closet and run out the door.

"And don't forget breakfast." Dee added as she offered Mark a plate of eggs, the male darting out of his room with his suitcase trailing behind him.

Mark nodded in appreciation as he took the plate and scarfed the food down quickly, placing the plate back onto the table before he bent down in front of Chica.

"Bye Chica-Bica, I'll miss you." Mark cooed as he ran his hands through Chica's soft golden fur once more before straightening and facing his mom.

"I'll miss you more Mom." Mark whispered as she pulled him into a tight embrace, tears shining in her eyes as she reluctantly pulled away.

"Your father would be so proud." Dee promised as Mark turned to face the door, the teen glancing over his shoulder to smile at her before he walked out of the house with thoughts whirling through his head.

I hope you really are proud Dad, Mark thought as he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and strode down to the bus station where he would get taken to the airport.

The sun barely hovered over the horizon as Mark walked down the sidewalk, the male passing well known heroes patrolling the city along the way.

His friends Tyler and Ethan were already there waiting for him on the bench, Tyler patting a spot in between the pair where Mark could sit.

"Surprised you woke up on time." Mark joked to Ethan as he sat down, Tyler rolling his eyes while Ethan let out a yawn that sounded like a failed battle cry.

"Well, physically he's awake." Tyler corrected teasingly, earning a light slap on the arm from the tired male while Mark snickered in response.

"So, ready to fly to New York and become a hero?" Tyler prompted Mark with a more serious tone, the latter nodding eagerly.

"I'm going to make my parents proud, no matter what it takes." Mark stated with fierce determination shining in his eyes.

"I'm going to make sure everyone can smile always." Tyler chimed in, a smirk lighting up his face.

"The world will be a better place once we become heroes." Ethan declared proudly, the other two cheering in response.

"Look, there's the bus!" Mark interjected excitedly, pointing at the bus steadily approaching the trio.

No turning back now, Mark thought with a tinge of nervousness, refusing to let it overtake his eagerness as he climbed into the bus and sat next to Tyler while Ethan sat in the seat in front of them.

"Here we go!" Ethan whispered to his friends as the bus took off towards the airport, Mark staring out the window lost in thought as the world flew by in a blur of colors.

What if I'm not good enough? What if I fail? What if-no, I can't think like that, not if I want to be a hero, Mark reprimanded himself mentally.

The male turned his gaze away from the window just in time to notice a figure dressed in all black standing calmly in front of the bus, the driver slamming on the brakes.

"What the hell?!" Tyler blurted as he flew forward and slammed against the seat in front of him, the teen using his quirk of turning to stone to protect himself from getting hurt.

Without thinking, Mark used his own quirk to slow time down around him, the male rushing off of the bus and grabbing the person's arm to bring them to safety.

"You've made a mistake."

"W-What?" Mark stammered in confusion as the flow of time began to normalize, the person disappearing with a cold laugh as if they had never existed in the first place.

Mark felt a searing pain in his side as the bus slammed into him with a sickening crack of bones, time moving at its normal pace as the male flew across the road a few feet before skidding to a stop.

"Mark!"