章節 2: Chapter 2: Roots of Potential

It had been about a week since my awakening in this new world. A week since I discovered that I was reincarnated into the world of My Hero Academia, complete with one of the most overpowered abilities an anime fan could imagine.

It was surreal to say the least. I was Ryuu Yamato now—a kid with Hashirama Senju's wood-based powers rebranded as a quirk.

Life had thrown me into a brand-new beginning, and it was overwhelming. The people around me treated me like this was normal, like I'd always been a kid living here.

Apparently, my quirk, which people were starting to call "Verdant Titan," had only recently manifested, causing quite the stir at my school.

The sapling I'd accidentally grown in the middle of class was enough to send half the students screaming and the other half gawking.

Still, I couldn't shake the excitement bubbling under the surface. I mean, how could I not be excited?

I was living in a world of heroes and quirks, and I had the kind of ability that could make even All Might look twice.

But at the same time, this wasn't a game or an anime anymore—it was real. And real meant danger.

"Ryuu, hurry up! We're going to be late!"

The voice snapped me out of my thoughts. My supposed childhood friend, Hana, was waiting for me at the gate of our small school.

She was your average bubbly classmate, with shoulder-length brown hair and a quirk that let her create small bursts of light.

"Coming!" I called, grabbing my bag and running to catch up.

Hana grinned when I reached her, her energy infectious. "You've been spacing out a lot lately. Still thinking about your quirk?"

"Maybe," I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. I couldn't exactly tell her I was from another world where quirks were pure fiction. "It's just... weird, you know? Suddenly being able to grow trees out of thin air."

She laughed. "Weird? It's awesome! Everyone's talking about it. You're like one of those top-tier Pro Heroes in the making!"

Her words made me pause. A Pro Hero. That was the dream in this world, wasn't it? But I wasn't sure if I was ready for that. Having a powerful quirk was one thing; knowing how to use it was another.

We walked into the classroom, where the usual chaos of elementary school kids greeted us. Everyone was either chatting, showing off their quirks, or roughhousing. A boy with flame-tipped fingers was trying to impress a group by lighting bits of paper on fire, while another kid was floating pencils in midair with his telekinesis.

When I sat down, I could feel eyes on me. People were still fascinated by my quirk, and I couldn't blame them. Compared to the smaller, more localized quirks most of them had, "Verdant Titan" felt larger than life.

The day passed in a blur of mundane lessons and small moments of excitement as kids continued to show off. It was all so... normal. For a world with heroes and quirks, life still had its share of boring moments.

But things changed during recess.

I was sitting under a tree, minding my own business, when a familiar voice called out, "Hey, Ryuu! Show us your quirk again!"

I groaned internally. It was Takeshi, one of the rowdier kids in class. He had a minor strength-enhancement quirk and a knack for getting on everyone's nerves.

"Yeah!" another kid chimed in. "The tree thing was so cool!"

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to test my powers more, but I wasn't sure how far I could push them. I didn't want to lose control and accidentally summon a forest in the middle of the playground.

"Come on, don't be a wimp!" Takeshi jeered.

Something inside me snapped. "Fine," I said, standing up.

I stretched out my hand, focusing on the ground in front of me. The familiar surge of energy coursed through my veins, and with a small effort, a sapling sprouted from the dirt. It wasn't much—just a simple, knee-high tree—but the kids around me gasped like I'd just pulled off a miracle.

"Whoa!" Hana clapped her hands in delight. "That's amazing!"

"It's just a tree," I said, trying to downplay it.

"Make it bigger!" Takeshi demanded, stepping closer. "Come on, do something crazy!"

I frowned. I wasn't sure I could control something bigger yet. But Takeshi wasn't the type to take no for an answer. Before I could react, he lunged at the sapling, intent on snapping it in half.

Something inside me flared—an instinctive need to protect what I'd created. Without thinking, I raised both hands, and the ground rumbled beneath us.

Everyone froze as the sapling shot upward, growing into a towering tree in seconds. Its thick roots burst from the earth, curling protectively around the trunk. The kids stared in awe, some backing away, while Takeshi fell on his butt, his eyes wide.

I stared at the tree, my heart pounding. "Oops."

The teachers weren't happy.

After the incident, I was pulled aside and given a stern lecture about quirk responsibility and playground safety. They weren't wrong, of course. Growing a full-sized tree out of nowhere wasn't exactly subtle, and it definitely wasn't safe in a crowded schoolyard.

But beneath their scolding, I could see something else—curiosity. My quirk was rare, unique, and far beyond what most kids my age could handle. It was clear they didn't know how to deal with me.

As I walked home that afternoon, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was different. Not just because of my quirk, but because of who I used to be.

That night, I decided to experiment.

I snuck out into the backyard after dinner, making sure my "parents" were asleep. The house I'd been reincarnated into was small but cozy, with a decent patch of land behind it. It was the perfect place to test my limits without drawing too much attention.

I started small, summoning saplings and letting them wither. With each attempt, I felt more in tune with the energy inside me. It wasn't just about creating trees; it was about channeling life itself.

Next, I tried something bigger. I crouched down, placing my hands on the ground, and focused on a single thought: growth.

The earth trembled as a massive wooden pillar erupted from the soil, stretching high into the night sky. The sheer size of it took my breath away. It wasn't just a tree—it was a structure, sturdy and intricate, like something out of a fantasy novel.

"Holy crap," I whispered, stepping back to admire my work.

But the rush of adrenaline was short-lived. Maintaining the pillar took more energy than I expected, and my vision blurred as exhaustion hit me like a freight train. I stumbled, barely catching myself before hitting the ground.

"Okay," I panted, "maybe I overdid it."

Still, I couldn't help but smile. For the first time, I felt like I was tapping into the full potential of my quirk.

The next day, news of my backyard "project" spread like wildfire. Apparently, someone had spotted the massive wooden structure towering over the neighborhood and reported it. I played dumb when the teachers asked about it, but the looks they gave me said they weren't buying it.

It wasn't long before a Pro Hero showed up at the school.

His name was Kamui Woods, and I almost laughed at the irony. Here was a literal wood-themed hero coming to investigate my wood-themed quirk. He was taller and more imposing in person, his wooden armor gleaming under the sun.

"I hear you've been making waves," Kamui said, crouching down to my level.

"Uh, maybe?" I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

He chuckled. "Don't be nervous. I'm just here to make sure you're handling your quirk responsibly."

Kamui asked me to demonstrate my abilities, and I reluctantly agreed. Under his watchful eye, I summoned a tree similar to the one from the playground. It wasn't as large as the one I'd created the night before, but it was still impressive for a kid my age.

"That's incredible," Kamui said, his tone genuinely impressed. "You have a lot of potential, Ryuu. But you need to learn control."

I nodded, feeling both proud and humbled. "Do you think... I could be a hero someday?"

Kamui smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder. "With a quirk like that? Absolutely. But being a hero isn't just about power—it's about responsibility. You'll need training, discipline, and a strong heart. Do you think you're ready for that?"

I didn't hesitate. "Yes."

For the first time since waking up in this world, I felt a sense of purpose. I wasn't just some random kid with a powerful quirk—I was Ryuu Yamato, and I was going to become a hero.