BNHA: Force Within

"Anakin, please put your shoes on," Megumi said for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. Her three-year-old son darted past her, blonde hair flying, one shoe clutched in his tiny hand like a prize.
"No check-up!" he declared, diving behind the couch.
Megumi checked her watch. They were already running late. Normally she'd have her father's help with the morning routine, but Ben had taken a quick trip back to America for an important meeting
"Don't you want to see where Mommy works?" she tried, peeking behind the couch. Anakin giggled and scooted further away.
"No shots!"
Ah. So that was the real issue. Megumi sat on the floor, giving up on keeping her nurse's uniform wrinkle-free. "Who told you about shots?"
"Kenta from daycare," Anakin poked his head out, blue eyes suspicious. "He said doctors are mean and give shots that hurt."
"Well, Kenta doesn't know everything." Megumi held out her hand. "And guess what? Your check-up is with Great-Grandma Chiyo today. You like visiting her at work, remember?"
This got his attention. Anakin crept out from his hiding spot. "Gran-Gran Chiyo?"
"Yep. And if you're good during your check-up, maybe we can get ice cream after."
"Chocolate?"
"If you put your shoes on right now, yes."
The promise of chocolate ice cream and his favorite great-grandmother finally got them out the door. Megumi balanced Anakin on her hip while juggling her work bag and his backpack full of distractions – coloring books, small toys, and snacks she hoped would keep him occupied during the appointment.
The train ride to the hospital was its own adventure. Anakin wanted to stand on the seats to look out the windows, talked to every stranger who made eye contact, and asked approximately eight million questions about everything he saw.
"Mommy, why is that lady's hair green?"
"Probably her quirk, honey."
"Why does that man have a tail?"
"Also his quirk."
"When will I get my quirk?"
"We'll have to wait and see."
The quirk question was coming up more often lately. Most of Anakin's daycare friends were starting to show signs of their abilities, leading to endless discussions about what his might be. Megumi tried not to worry about it. Given the unusual circumstances of his conception, the doctors were monitoring his development closely.
They finally reached the hospital, where Megumi's coworkers greeted Anakin like a celebrity. He was a frequent visitor to the nurse's station, especially on days when Megumi's childcare fell through.
"Look how big you're getting!" Yui exclaimed, offering him a lollipop from her desk stash.
Megumi intercepted the candy. "After the check-up, remember?"
Anakin's lower lip trembled dangerously. Megumi steered him toward the elevator before a full meltdown could start. "Let's go see Gran-Gran Chiyo first, okay?"
The pediatric floor was decorated with bright murals of heroes saving the day. Anakin immediately forgot his candy disappointment, pointing out each character he recognized.
"All Might! And Endeavor! And that's Present Mic!" His knowledge of pro heroes was encyclopedic, thanks to Ben's endless supply of hero merchandise from America.
Chiyo was waiting for them in the exam room, already in her doctor's coat. Despite technically being retired from regular hospital work, she still handled special cases – particularly those involving quirk development in children.
"There's my favorite great-grandson!" she said, holding out her arms.
"I'm your only great-grandson," Anakin replied seriously, a phrase he'd clearly picked up from hearing it often. He ran to hug her, previous fears about doctors forgotten.
The actual examination went surprisingly smoothly with Chiyo in charge. She made a game of checking his reflexes, let him listen to his own heartbeat with the stethoscope, and explained everything she was doing in terms he could understand.
"Now," she said, making notes on his chart, "any signs of quirk manifestation?"
Megumi shook her head. "Nothing definitive. He knocked over a glass of water last week without touching it, but he might have just bumped the table."
"I'm gonna have the bestest quirk ever!" Anakin declared from his perch on the exam table, legs swinging. "Like All Might!"
"I'm sure you will," Chiyo said, ruffling his hair. "But remember, even All Might had to wait for his quirk to appear." She turned to Megumi. "His development is perfectly normal. Try not to worry so much."
"That's like telling water not to be wet," Megumi sighed. "It's just... given how he..." She glanced at Anakin, who was now completely absorbed in making his All Might action figure fight invisible villains.
Chiyo patted her hand. "I know. But he's healthy, happy, and right on track for his age. That's what matters."
The rest of the exam passed quickly. Anakin only cried a little when he needed a shot, quickly soothed by both the promised lollipop and Chiyo's healing kiss on the band-aid.
"You were so brave," Megumi told him as they left the exam room. "Just like a real hero."
"Can we get ice cream now?"
"Yes, we can get ice cream. Let me just drop some paperwork at my station first."
They made their way to the nurse's station, where Anakin immediately became the center of attention again. He soaked up the praise from Megumi's coworkers, showing off his band-aid and recounting his bravery to anyone who would listen.
Megumi watched him charm the entire staff, his earlier fears completely forgotten. He was so much like her father sometimes – the same easy way with people, the same bright smile that could light up a room.
"He's going to be a handful when he gets his quirk," Yui said, watching Anakin demonstrate his "hero moves" for an admiring audience of nurses.
"He's already a handful," Megumi replied, but she was smiling.
Later, as promised, they sat in their favorite ice cream shop. Anakin had chocolate all over his face, and Megumi was pretty sure some had ended up in his hair. He was chattering excitedly about his check-up, the shot already relegated to ancient history in his three-year-old mind.
"And Gran-Gran Chiyo says I'm gonna get my quirk soon maybe and I'm gonna be a hero like All Might and save everyone and—" he paused for breath, spoon hovering halfway to his mouth.
"Eat your ice cream before it melts," Megumi reminded him. She reached across the table with a napkin, making a futile attempt to clean his face.
"Mommy?"
"Hmm?"
"You're a hero too, right? 'Cause you help people get better?"
Megumi felt her heart squeeze. "That's very sweet, baby. But I'm just a nurse."
"Nuh-uh. You make people better like Gran-Gran Chiyo. That's being a hero."
She looked at her son – ice cream-covered, earnest, and somehow wiser than his three years would suggest. "You know what? Maybe you're right."
Anakin beamed at her, then went back to demolishing his ice cream.