Chapter Text
The afternoon heat scorched the concrete sidewalk. Two kids waited by the jungle gym with their tiny hands gripping onto silver foil wrapping. All Might cards. Collectables that made anyone stop in the store to look and to debate whether or not they'd want to spend ten dollars on a randomized card.
A small, blond-haired kid tapped his foot impatiently. Next to him, a tiny freckled boy fidgeted with the wrapping. The sounds of crinkling were heard along with the laughter of kids playing tag within the enclosed field.
Finally, a girl holding a golden wrapped All Might collectible came running to them.
She grinned as she ran, slightly panting when she stopped before them, her missing front tooth showing from the jump rope incident the week before.
The trio found themselves sitting in the shade on the dirt, none of them cared enough to move to the patch of grass a few feet away.
“Okay, but this one was wrapped in gold foil, so that must mean it's the rarest, right?” Y/N said as they held onto their unopened cards.
Izuku Midoriya gasped dramatically and leaned forward to inspect it further. “That one’s from the Victory Smile series! My mom only saw it once in the store years ago!”
Katsuki Bakugo huffed, his red eyes narrowing. “Just because it’s wrapped in shiny gold foil doesn’t mean it’s anything special.”
Y/N raised an eyebrow at him, “You sure? You’ve been staring at it ever since I got here. You better not be thinking of taking it, Katsuki.” She instinctively held it closer to her chest.
“Yeah, right, it’s probably something I have already.”
“Fine, let’s see then!” She argued back.
The three counted down and then ripped the foil open. They held the cards in their hands, inspecting if it was anything new to add to their collections or if it was among the many duplicates they’ve gotten.
They all smiled at the sight of something new. As predicted, Y/N got a rare card, which made the two boys insanely jealous. Still, they ended up wide-eyed and smiling. Each one of them held up the cards like they were prizes, medals to hold onto.
It was a day where everything felt right.
After a few minutes of bickering between Katsuki and Y/N about her rare card and Izuku trying to create solutions, they found themselves lying down on the grass. The bright blue sky was covered by fast-moving clouds, casting shadows on their bodies as they passed by. Y/N rolled a blade of grass in between her fingers absentmindedly.
“I’m gonna be just like All Might.” Izuku’s high-pitched determination rang through the breeze.
“I’m gonna be even stronger than All Might.” Katsuki’s aggressive declaration could be heard over the distant laughter.
“I don’t want to be like All Might. I want to be someone completely different, something grand. ” Y/N said, her unwavering voice cut through the second of silence.
Each declaration would unknowingly seal their futures forever.
——————————————————————————
The next day, the boys stood at the jungle gym once more. New All Might cards in hand, Izuku’s juice box in his unusually deep pocket. That was the plan. A daily routine they’ve grown to expect.
Two kids waited in the same shaded area under the jungle gym.
For five minutes.
For ten minutes, which then turned to twenty, signaling the end of recess.
“She’s not here.” Izuku mumbled.
“That idiot probably forgot.” Katsuki grumbled.
They waited as their peers started filing into class.
Y/N never showed up that day at school..
Or any day after.