"I Reincarnated in Boku no Hero but They Forgot to Give Me a System"

Chapter 7 — The First Limit

After another grueling day of training, Aoi collapsed onto the couch in the living room, utterly drained.

His entire body ached deeply. Every muscle trembled as if stretched beyond its limits, throbbing with fatigue and soreness. Yet despite the exhaustion, a quiet, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"This is the path I have to walk. No turning back now. I just have to keep moving forward."

He drew in a slow, deep breath, feeling his chest rise and fall steadily as he tried to settle the storm inside him. Drops of sweat still traced rivulets down his forehead and temples, mixing with the dust and grime from his day's relentless effort. His mind, however, was already racing ahead, searching for the next step — the next challenge he would conquer.

"The very first limit I need to shatter is the one that binds every normal human. Only after I break free from that cage will true evolution begin. Maybe I should add more weight to my routine… if I push my body hard enough, I can force it to adapt faster."

He was lost in thought, the quiet determination shining in his eyes, when the heavy creak of the living room door interrupted him.

A shadow filled the doorway. The atmosphere instantly grew dense, thick with unspoken tension.

Endeavor had entered.

His face was the same as always — stern, cold, and unyielding. His brow was furrowed deeply, his jaw clenched as if holding back a storm. The presence he carried made the air seem heavier, harder to breathe.

He stopped when he saw Aoi sprawled on the couch, and without hesitation, his voice cut through the room like a sharp blade:

"Aoi… you don't have to strain yourself trying so hard to become a hero. We both know your regeneration quirk makes things different. No matter how much you train, you'll never reach Shoto's level."

Endeavor expected something — an outburst of frustration, tears, anger, defiance. Something that would prove him right. But instead, he found only a calm, steady gaze.

Aoi slowly pushed himself up from the couch, every muscle protesting the movement, but his posture remained firm, unyielding. Without breaking eye contact, he walked steadily toward his father.

And then, almost quietly, he smiled.

"Who said I want to reach Shoto's level?"

A beat of silence fell between them.

A flicker of blue fire ignited in his eyes — a silent blaze that spoke louder than words.

"From the very beginning, my goal has always been singular: to be the strongest. So strong that even if All Might remains the symbol of peace, when people ask, 'Who is the strongest hero?' they'll say my name. Without hesitation. Without a second thought."

The room held its breath.

At the top of the stairs, Shoto stood frozen, every word sinking deep into him. For so long, he had believed his brother suffered silently — frustrated at not having a powerful offensive quirk, overlooked by their father, ignored by the world.

But now he saw the truth.

Aoi never stopped to cry. Never wallowed in self-pity. Never begged for sympathy or approval.

He simply kept moving forward, with the unwavering conviction of someone who believed in himself and had already chosen his path.

Endeavor remained still, his usual mask cracking for the briefest instant. In that moment, he saw a reflection of his younger self in Aoi — the same fierce fire, the same reckless ambition, the same burning dream to surpass what seemed impossible.

But he said nothing. No praise, no criticism. He simply turned his back and left the room in silence.

From the hallway, Rei watched the scene unfold with tired eyes and a faint smile touching her lips.

"He's a stubborn idiot, just like his father… isn't he, Enji?"

Shoto remained still, overwhelmed by the weight of what he had just heard.

Aoi returned to the couch and sank down, the pain still lingering in his body but somehow feeling lighter, almost bearable now.

He didn't need permission. He didn't need advice. He didn't need anyone's approval.

Because he had already made his choice:

To be the strongest—not to prove anything to anyone else, but because it was the only path where his blue flame truly burned bright.

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