BNHA: Force Within

"But why can't I just stay home with Grandpa?" Anakin asked, clutching his All Might backpack to his chest. He stood in the middle of his room, still in his pajamas, while Megumi laid out his new school clothes.

"Because Grandpa has work, and you're a big boy now," Megumi said, holding up two shirts. "Which one? The blue or the red?"
"Red," Anakin mumbled, his lower lip trembling. "I don't wanna be a big boy."
Megumi knelt down in front of him. His blonde hair was sticking up in all directions from sleep, and his blue eyes were filled with tears. She understood his fear - she felt it too, though she was trying hard not to show it.
"You know what? I was scared on my first day of preschool too."
"You were?"
"Absolutely terrified. I hid under my bed and wouldn't come out until Gran-Gran Chiyo promised to make my favorite dinner."
This got a small smile out of him. "What happened next?"
"Well, I went to school, and guess what? I made friends. I learned new things. I had fun." She helped him change into the red shirt and his new pants. "And I came home and told everyone about my day over that special dinner."
"Can we have curry tonight?" Anakin asked hopefully.
"Sure can. Now, let's do something about this hair."
Getting ready took longer than usual. Anakin needed everything to be just right - his shoes had to be tied three times, his backpack checked repeatedly for his favorite All Might action figure, and his hair combed until it lay somewhat flat.
Ben was waiting in the kitchen with breakfast. "There's my school-bound grandson! Ready for your big adventure?"
"No," Anakin said, but he climbed into his chair and started eating anyway.
"Your mother cried all the way to school on her first day," Ben said, winking at Megumi. "And look at her now - saving lives at the hospital."
"I did not cry all the way," Megumi protested, though she distinctly remembered doing exactly that.
The walk to the preschool was only fifteen minutes, but it felt both too long and too short. Anakin held both their hands, swinging between them as they walked. He pointed out hero agency buildings they passed, naming each pro hero he knew worked there.
"And that's where Endeavor works! And over there is where Yoroi Musha saved those people on TV!"
His nervousness seemed to fade as he played tour guide, replaced by his usual enthusiasm for anything hero-related. Megumi shared a relieved look with her father over Anakin's head.
The relief was short-lived. As soon as they reached the preschool gates, Anakin froze.
"I changed my mind," he announced. "I want to go home."
Other parents were leading their children through the gates, some crying, some excited. A teacher stood at the entrance, greeting everyone with a warm smile.
"Look at all the other kids going in," Ben said. "I bet some of them like heroes too."
"They might not like All Might best though," Anakin said seriously, as if this was a deal-breaker.
"Then you can tell them all about why All Might is the greatest," Megumi suggested. "Remember how you taught Grandpa about all of All Might's special moves?"
This seemed to interest him. "Yeah... and I could show them my action figure..."
"Exactly! But first we have to go inside."
The teacher at the gate introduced herself as Tanaka-sensei. She knelt down to Anakin's level. "I love your backpack! Are you a hero fan?"
Anakin nodded shyly.
"Well, you're in luck. We have a whole section of hero books in our reading corner."
His eyes lit up at this, though he still gripped Megumi's hand tightly as they walked into the building. The classroom was bright and colorful, with children's artwork on the walls and different activity stations set up around the room.
"Look, they have a dress-up corner with hero costumes," Ben pointed out.
Another little boy was already there, trying on a cape. He waved at Anakin.
"Hi! I'm Kenji! Wanna play heroes?"
Anakin looked up at Megumi questioningly. She gave him an encouraging nod.
"Go on. Grandpa and I will stay for a few minutes."
Slowly, Anakin let go of her hand and walked over to the dress-up corner. Within moments, he and Kenji were deep in discussion about which hero costume was best.
"Parents are welcome to stay for the first thirty minutes," Tanaka-sensei said softly. "It helps with the transition."
Megumi watched as Anakin tried on a red cape, his previous fears forgotten as he and Kenji planned their hero debut. Other children were joining them, drawn by their enthusiastic play.
"He'll be fine," Ben said, squeezing her shoulder. "Though I can't say the same for you."
"What do you mean?"
"You're crying, sweetheart."
Megumi touched her cheek, surprised to find it wet. She hadn't even noticed the tears starting.
The thirty minutes passed too quickly. When it was time for parents to leave, Anakin ran over for one last hug.
"You'll come back?" he asked, suddenly remembering to be worried.
"Right after school," Megumi promised. "And remember, curry for dinner tonight."
"And you can tell us all about your first day as a hero-in-training," Ben added.
They watched from the doorway as Anakin returned to his new friends, the red cape still trailing behind him. He looked back once, waved, then turned his attention to whatever game the group was starting.
Walking to the hospital felt strange without Anakin between them, swinging their hands and chattering about heroes.
"He's growing up so fast," Megumi said softly.
"That's what kids do." Ben smiled. "But he'll always be your little boy."
"Did you cry this much when I started school?"
"Are you kidding? I was a mess. Your mother had to practically push me out the door."
Megumi laughed, wiping her eyes. "I guess some things run in the family."
The work day passed slowly, each minute ticking by until pickup time. When Megumi finally arrived at the preschool gates, Anakin burst out of the classroom with his cape still on, full of stories about his day.
"Mommy! Kenji's mom has a quirk that makes bubbles! And we read a book about Hawks! And sensei says tomorrow we're going to paint!"
All the way home, he talked non-stop about his new friends, his teachers, the toys, the books. The scared little boy from that morning was gone, replaced by an excited preschooler already looking forward to the next day.
Over curry dinner, Anakin demonstrated how he and his friends had played heroes, using his chopsticks as improvised action figures. Ben recorded some of it on his phone to send to Chiyo, who was working late at the hospital.
"And did you tell them why All Might is the best?" Megumi asked, remembering their morning conversation.
"Yeah! And guess what? Kenji likes All Might best too!"
"Sounds like you made a good friend," Ben said.
Anakin nodded enthusiastically, then yawned wide enough to make his eyes water.
"I think someone's ready for bed," Megumi said.
"No, I'm not tired," Anakin protested, even as he rubbed his eyes. "Can I wear my cape tomorrow?"
"We'll wash it tonight so it's ready," Megumi promised. "Heroes need clean costumes."
Later, after Anakin was finally asleep, Megumi stood in his doorway watching him. His new backpack sat ready by his desk, his red cape laid out carefully for tomorrow. On his nightstand, the All Might action figure stood guard.
"He did great today," Ben said quietly, joining her. "You both did."
Megumi leaned against her father's shoulder, grateful as always that he'd moved back to Japan to help her. "Yeah, we did."