Everyone has skeletons in their closet. It's a fact that everyone should know; a fact no one can possibly refute.

Because...

HUMANS ARE NOT ALL EQUAL AT BIRTH.

When you live in a world where "Paranormal" is the new "Normal", and the "Normal" is considered "Abnormal", even the young ones aren't spared from collecting their own skeletons to hide.

THIS IS A FACT I REALIZED WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

.

.

.

[Sunset orange eyes stared in horror at the motionless form hanging from the ceiling and lifeless brown eyes stared right back]

.

.

.

"THIEF! STOP HIM!"

A distressed shout was heard and not a few seconds later, a disfigured-ape-like person came barreling down the crowded street. As soon as the figure came in the line of sight, coal-black eyes shifted to sunset orange. As the fleeing figure came in close range of the beholder, he came crashing down from a protruded foot.

"G*DD*MN*T!" He cursed and glared at the offending limb. But before he could retaliate, he was knocked out by swift chop to a pressure point at the back of his neck.

Sighing, the savior of the day could only look at the sky while waiting for the victim to come forward. When the stolen items were returned, the figure let out another sigh before grabbing the offender by the collar and subsequently dragging him towards the nearest police station.

The police officer silently took the filled up form. His large yellow eyes studied the woman in front of him. Abe Chizuru had been a former classmate back in middle school until she transferred out in the middle of their last year. She was popular among their year level for her beauty, brains, skills, and confidence; but looking at her right now, he couldn't see any trace of it. Dirty white baseball cap sat atop her short black locks as her coal-black eyes flitted around the station, taking in every individual. Dark bags were prominent under her tired eyes, and she slouched on her self. She wore a plain white loose shirt, tattered jeans, and dirty white running shoes.

"Hey, Sansa!" The voice of his colleague floated up from somewhere inside the filing room, taking his attention from studying the shell of what was once his former classmate. "Can you help me find the -"

Tsukauchi Naomasa poked his head from the room and promptly stopped from his inquiry as he took in the woman sitting in front of Tamakawa Sansa's desk.

"Chi?" The detective called out, unsure. He stood by the door, hand lightly gripping the frame.

Blinking, the woman looked back at the caller. Minutely taking in the figure before tilting her head slightly to the side. "Nao?"

And as if his earlier hesitation never happened, Detective Tsukauchi grinned widely and strode towards the woman. "You're back!"

Sighing, Chizuru waved a hand tiredly. "Yeah, but I still have no answer to your offer though"

Nodding in understanding, the taller man placed a hand on her shoulder. "Take your time"

Turning to his co-worker, the detective asked whether they were done with everything, and the officer with a ginger tabby's head nodded; his bell collar clinking at the action.

"Let's talk in my office" The tall detective gestured at the room across the hall.

Chizuru looked around the room of busy officers and handcuffed offenders. "Rooftop"

Nodding once, he gestured towards the stairs and a quick "I'll join you in a minute"

"Is it possible for someone without a quirk... to become like you?"

Chizuru stopped in her ascend to the rooftop when the hesitant question reached her ears. The voice sounded young and frail.

Stepping aside, she leaned on the wall near the rooftop door, quietly listening as the kid rambled on his experiences and beliefs. In the corner of her eye, she spotted Tsukauchi approach. He looked at her in confusion and she placed a finger to her lips in a motion to keep quiet.

"I want to save people with a smile that knows no fear!" The kid sounded hopeful. "I want to become the best hero, just like you!"

There was a sound of a startled shriek and a shout of "You narrowed!"

The detective who was now beside her slammed a palm to his forehead. She raised a brow at that. It seemed that her companion is well-aware of what is happening on the rooftop and judging by the way he's tugging her away from her place, it's something that she isn't allowed to continue knowing.

"... You're a fake aren't you?! ... "

She sharply tugged her arm back and glared at the other, keeping an ear focused on the conversation on the other side of the door.

"I am All Might" An unfamiliar voice that she was sure didn't belong to All Might replied.

"WHAAAAT?!" The kid sounded in denial. "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!"

Narrowing her eyes, she studied the now sweating detective as his resolve to remove her from the hearing distance began anew. While one arm was being tugged away, she latched her other arm to the metal rails to keep her grounded.

"This is a wound I got 5 years ago by the attack of a villain" The voice of the supposedly Number 1 Hero was pained. He went on to explain what such a wound had resulted in his life. "... Currently, I can't work actively as a hero more than about three hours a day. This is my limit."

Belatedly, Chizuru felt the lack of tugging and realized that Tsukauchi returned to leaning against the wall and looking at the ceiling in understanding sadness.

"... What I just told you was never publicly disclosed ..." There was something in All Might's voice that sounded defeated. "I will, therefore, ask you not to reveal this to anyone, please"

Her companion looked at her with a heavy gaze and she returned it. His eyes pleading her of the same thing and she nodded in response. Tsukauchi Naomasa had known her for a long time and he trusts her more than anything to keep her word.

Then things seemed to go downhill when the supposed Hero cut down the dreams of the child. His words were true and cutting, but Chizuru knows more than anyone what such discouragement could lead to. And the vivid image of a hanging lifeless body that she had long since suppressed came to the forefront of her mind, unbidden. With great effort, she shoved the image back to the box that she 'Doesn't Want To Deal With Right Now' and focused back to eavesdropping the conversation between All Might and the child.

"It is not a bad thing to dream" His voice sounded closer, meaning he was approaching their location. "But be careful not to obscure the facts, kid"

Chizuru stood upright, as the door opened. The emaciated figure that appeared before her didn't match the picture that she's familiar with. Sunset orange eyes studied the startled man and his sunken eyes jumped between her and to the detective beside her.

Continuing her previous action to ascend the stairs, she walked passed the lanky man with only a sharp glare. And even though the man towered her by over 40 centimeters, All Might felt like she was looking down on him and it made him inwardly bristle but outwardly kept a stoic face.

She stepped on the rooftop and took in the kid at the far side of the rooftop. Gleaming orange eyes took in every detail and the tell-tale signs of suppressed emotions.

"That was the biggest bullshit I've ever heard in my entire life"

She could feel both All Might and Tsukauchi's presence at the edge of her sensory range, quietly listening in just like what she had done before, but she doesn't give a fuck right now. Her attention is focused on the stiffened form of the kid, curling to himself in no doubt self-deprecating thoughts and memories.

"Anyone could be a Hero!" Chizuru declared. "You don't need a quirk for that! All you need is to extend a helping hand, kid"

Slowly, the kid in question raised his head to look at her with glistening green eyes and trembling frail form. Not long after, tears tracked down his freckled cheeks, and sniffles were heard in the silent rooftop.

"You don't need a quirk to be a hero" She repeated, "What you need is 'Courage' "

"Train under me" She offered, and she could hear the faint sound of Tsukauchi's sharp intake of breath. "I'll make you into a Hero"

"Kid..." When green eyes looked at her in overwhelming disbelief, Chizuru knew that the kid never received such support before. It was as if nobody had told the kid any motivation at all. And Chizuru knows just the words that would encourage this poor soul.

"YOU CAN BECOME A HERO!"

And the heart-shattering wail the kid had let out spoke of stories of countless heartbreaks that words could never truly convey. And it was only the start of how he'll heal from then onwards.