Chapter 49 – Gran Torino
Using his stick, the old man began to rise from the ground, his legs trembling and his body unsteady.
Gran Torino has deep wrinkles, a thin build, a fair complexion and brown eyes. His short, pointed grey hair has a few bangs falling forward, and he wears a beard. His hero costume is a full-length monochrome suit, with a yellow cape, a belt marked with the letter "G", thick yellow gloves and boots, and a black mask shaped like two diamonds.
«Damn, I was planning to enjoy some sausage and ketchup, but I tripped…» he began, then turned to the two guests «Who are you?»
«I-I'm Melissa Shield, from UA.» Melissa said shyly, after setting down her suitcase containing her hero costume.
Izuku Midoriya. UA student."
«Ah? Mellissa Shield? Izuku Midoriya?» Gran Torino asked «But who are you?» he repeated, his expression lost in the void.
Izuku lifted one eyebrow slightly, hinting at doubt. Gran Torino is clearly elderly and shows clear signs of senility… but I'm not convinced. He thought, suspiciously, while Melissa didn't know what to say.
Suddenly, the old man sat down on the ground, his expression lost in the void, before speaking again.
«I want to eat something.»
«What is it?» Melissa asked incredulously
«Toshinori!» he exclaimed, turning back towards Izuku and Melissa.
«IT'S A PERSON!!!» Melissa exclaimed in fear
Izuku stood silently watching. The more he saw that comical exchange, the more convinced he became that Gran Torino was playing with them. Meanwhile, Melissa's frustration grew, and she lifted her cell phone, ready to call her uncle for an explanation.
«Come here, One For All!» Gran Torino spoke, stopping Melissa «There's a nice costume in here; put it on and show me how you manage to master that quirk.»
Melissa looked at him doubtfully, with a note of disgust, almost as if she were facing an old pervert who seemed to have reached into her underwear drawer. In fact, something similar was happening, given how Gran Torino looked at Melissa's costume.
«Wait, but who are you?»
Melissa's grip on her cell phone tightened, and a vein on her forehead swelled as her eyes shone with intense murderous intent. Izuku placed his hand on Melissa's shoulder, a silent gesture telling her to calm down.
«Gran Torino-dono, stop the drama.» Izuku stated calmly «We weren't sent here, neither to waste time nor to nurse an elderly person.»
At the affirmation, Gran Torino looked at him. Izuku caught Gran Torino's eyes: clear and aware of his actions. Then the light changed: a clear, amused expression, full of expectation. This old clown…
Several bursts of air followed, and after three leaps, the old hero was above the front door, laughing with his eyes fixed on the couple.
«You have a spirit of observation and composure, boy, I grant you that.» Gran Torino stated, then shifted his gaze to Melissa «But if it's true that you don't have time to waste, girl, then you have every reason in this world to show me what you can do.»
Gran Torino's intention was clear: he had to test Melissa and see how much the latest All For One recipient could grow. Melissa took the suitcase and went to change, leaving the two alone.
«You,» Gran Torino began, coming down to face him. «they told me you reappeared after 10 years, still quirkless but with considerable experience.»
«Do you want to test me too, Gran Torino-dono?»
«Actions speak louder than words, after all. I won't go easy.»
«If you do so, it wouldn't make sense.» Izuku said, flashing an amused but fierce smile.
With the same blast of air as before, Gran Torino moved at a speed the human eye could not follow. Izuku didn’t move; his eyes, however, continued to follow Gran Torino, and he was perfectly visible to him.
He stepped to the right and avoided Gran Torino's first strike. He tilted his head slightly to the left and avoided another blow.
«Impressive...» Izuku complimented sincerely «but I can see you.»
He reached out and took Gran Torino by the neck, as if the hero was a ball thrown at him.
Gran Torino's eyes widened with doubt and surprise. No one had ever caught him before, and the young man had done it with frightening ease.
«I just need to apply a little more strength, and you could say goodbye to your life, Gran Torino-dono.»
«It seems like something you would do without batting an eyelid» Gran Torino said with an amused smile, but full of terror «Your eyes say it clearly: you are used to killing.»
Izuku's face remained calm and placid. He laid Gran Torino on the ground and released his grip.
«My hands are stained with the blood of billions of lives, Gran Torino-dono.» he stated with the same calm «War and necessity look no one in the face. Kill or get killed, there is no middle ground. But don't get me wrong, I've never rejoiced in taking other people's lives, especially when I did it out of mathematical necessity.»
Gran Torino's expression was clear: he wanted to ask for more details, but Izuku's tired, heavy tone, typical of a veteran returned alive from the fires of battle, prevented him from pursuing it out of pure respect for the person.
«I understand. I will not ask any further questions on this issue.»
«I would be grateful.»
Melissa had finished changing and returned seconds after the exchange between Izuku and Gran Torino.
Melissa wore a full white jumpsuit with golden-yellow trim, tight enough to define her feminine curves. Her armour included a breastplate, shoulder straps, armguards, gloves, and armoured boots, all ultramarine blue. Instead of glasses, she wore a visor, and her hair was tied in a bun. Her determined gaze was fixed on the elderly hero.
«I'm ready, teach me, please.» Melissa said, then asked «But is it really okay for us to train in here?»
«Heaven, are you worried about these details?» Gran Torino asked amusedly «In this case, I'll start.»
Gran Torino disappeared again to the human eye, but not to the Custodian's. Izuku watched as Melissa was struck from behind by Gran Torino. Gran Torino remained ruthless, continuing to move and hit Melissa, while Izuku stayed silent, occasionally moving his head to avoid the elderly hero, unaware whether Gran Torino was targeting him willingly or out of spite for what had happened before.
This enclosed space favoured Gran Torino. Izuku began to analyse his movements more carefully His quirk let him expel air from the soles of his feet, allowing him to fly a limited distance and move faster than the eye could follow. But air could not be generated inside his body. Where did it come from? Breathing? An organ similar to a third lung? Whatever the source, his movements were linear and direct, and changing direction required another blast of air.
As Izuku gave vent to his mental analysis, Melissa grew increasingly frustrated at failing to follow Gran Torino, let alone hit him. But eventually she calmed down: her expression became focused, her breathing steadier. She then managed to see the last hit, turning and releasing enough energy to avoid breaking her arm. Melissa tried to hit Gran Torino, who was intent on attacking her from behind as he had often done, and the elderly hero was pleasantly surprised by her reaction.
«Analysis and prediction, huh?»
Gran Torino deflected Melissa's shot, discharging All For One's energy towards the ceiling, then pinned her to the ground by taking her face with an Iron Clad. Stuck on the ground, Melissa gritted her teeth in frustration.
«Damn, I thought I did it.»
«I tell you, girl, I'm slightly disappointed.» Gran Torino began to free her from his grip. «Compared to your clash with the ice and fire type, you seem weaker to me. It makes me think you had some kind of agreement with that guy.»
«She is not weaker.» Izuku spoke, attracting Gran Torino's attention «As her teacher, I have forbidden her to reuse that martial art until I believe she is actually ready.»
«Hou, so besides being a student you're also a teacher, huh?» asked the elderly hero as he went to get the stick to lean on «Anyway, as far as All For One goes, because of your admiration for that fool Toshinori, you're setting boundaries, girl. You're focusing too much on the quirk itself…»
Hmm, I see. thought Izuku Shield-san, is using the quirk like he's All Might. She's not thinking of a way she could use it.