Iron and shadows

Disclaimer:

This is a fan-created work inspired by the world of My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia), created by Kōhei Horikoshi. All rights to the original characters, settings, and concepts belong to their respective owners. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended for commercial use. The original character Yami Kurogane and the plot of this fanfiction are my own creation.

Yami's fourth birthday was an event carefully planned by Haruno and Masato. The house was decorated with pastel balloons, a homemade cake, and a few new toys. Although Yami maintained a facade of childish enthusiasm to please his parents, his mind was occupied with much more important thoughts.

For the past few years, he had been observing and analyzing his surroundings. Since waking up in this body, he had realized that he was in a different world—one where heroes and villains were not abstract concepts but tangible realities. Each passing day brought him closer to an unavoidable truth: his peculiarity. He had patiently awaited answers, but the uncertainty was beginning to wear him down. How powerful was he? How far could he go? These questions tormented him while he played the role of the perfect son.

The party went off without incident. While he enjoyed the superficial interactions with the children who attended, he knew he couldn't afford to get emotionally involved. As the other kids laughed and played, he observed from a distance, analyzing every movement and every laugh as if they were pieces of a puzzle he needed to solve. To him, they were merely variables in a larger equation.

As night fell and the guests departed, Yami found himself alone in his room. The small desk that Haruno had given him was cluttered with children's books he had read multiple times. His advanced cognitive abilities had allowed him to learn to read and write long before other children his age. He spent hours flipping through illustrated books, absorbing words and concepts like a sponge.

That night, while reflecting on his life thus far, something changed. A strange sensation began to course through his body: an internal heat that seemed to intensify slowly. It wasn't the first time he had felt this; there had been fleeting moments over the past few years when his strength appeared to surge briefly before fading away. But this time was different. The heat did not dissipate; it grew until it became almost unbearable.

Yami closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Is this my peculiarity? he thought as he tried to control the energy within him. At that moment, he decided to take action.

The next day, during breakfast, Yami strategically chose his words to elicit responses without raising suspicion.

—Mom... I feel strange lately —he said while playing with a piece of toast—. Sometimes I feel... very strong.

Haruno looked at him in surprise before exchanging a worried glance with Masato.

—What do you mean? —Masato asked seriously.

—I don't know... —Yami replied while lowering his gaze as if embarrassed—. I just feel heat inside me... like something is changing.

The reaction was immediate. Haruno insisted on taking him to the doctor to ensure everything was alright. Yami feigned resistance at first but ultimately agreed; he knew this analysis could provide him with the answers he sought.

Dr. Takeda was known for being one of the best specialists in childhood peculiarities. After conducting several physical tests and detailed analyses, Takeda called Haruno and Masato into his office while Yami waited outside, pretending to play with a children's puzzle.

When they finally called him in again, Yami noticed the tense expressions on his parents' faces and the professional tone of the doctor.

—Your son has a fascinating peculiarity —Dr. Takeda began as he adjusted his glasses—. Based on the analyses performed, it appears that Yami's body has been adapting since birth to support an extremely demanding ability.

Yami listened attentively as the doctor continued:

—In simple terms, it seems that he has a power that allows him to temporarily multiply his base strength using internal multipliers based on his current physical level and familiarity with the power. However...

Yami maintained a neutral expression throughout the conversation but was internally processing each word carefully. **This is interesting, he thought as he felt a mix of satisfaction for understanding more about himself and anxiety over the implications of this discovery.

Dr. Takeda continued: —There are significant consequences: visible overheating of the body when used excessively, extreme fatigue, and even accelerated consumption of calories and lipids during prolonged activation.

Haruno looked worried while Masato frowned thoughtfully.

—Is it dangerous? —Haruno finally asked.

—Not necessarily —Dr. Takeda replied— as long as he learns to control it properly and does not exceed the natural physical limits of his body.

Yami observed how his parents processed this information before intervening with a calm voice:

—Can we do more tests? I want to understand it better...

Takeda nodded slowly before organizing a series of demanding physical tests to assess Yami's limits regarding "Overload." He wanted to understand how his power really worked before using it publicly.

In the designated testing room at the hospital, Takeda set up different stations to evaluate Yami's strength, speed, and endurance. The first test involved lifting adjustable weights; Yami started with light loads before gradually increasing them to much heavier weights. As he lifted more weight, he felt how the heat within him increased; it was as if each repetition brought him closer to understanding his true potential.

The next test involved running a short distance against the clock. Yami focused intently as he ran with all his might; each step resonated with determination as he pushed his body to its limits. At the end of the run, although exhausted physically, he felt profound satisfaction at seeing how he exceeded the medical team's expectations.

Finally, Takeda decided to evaluate overall endurance through a circuit that included explosive jumps, short sprints, and combined strength exercises. As Yami moved through each station of the circuit, he noticed how his body began visibly overheating; he could feel sweat soaking through his clothes and fatigue accumulating quickly.

When he finished the series of demanding physical tests, Yami paused to catch his breath while watching Takeda take detailed notes on his performance.

—What name would you like to give your peculiarity? —the doctor asked with genuine curiosity.

Yami pondered for a moment before responding:

—"Overload." 

The word came out wrapped in cold confidence; it was a term that encapsulated both the explosive nature and consequences of the power he had begun to understand.

As they drove home that night, Haruno tried to comfort him by saying everything would be fine. But Yami didn't need comfort; he needed absolute control over himself... and over what would come next.