Weeks later
The air was heavy, thick with everything I hadn't said yet. But I couldn't delay it any longer.
"I've made my decision. I want to go to Japan. I want to attend U.A."
My father looked up, frowning.
"U.A. ? That hero school ?"
My mother, beside him, paused what she was doing. She didn't speak, but I noticed the subtle tremor in her hands.
"It's not just a school," I continued. "U.A. trains licensed heroes with international recognition. If I get in and graduate from there, I'll receive an official hero license valid worldwide. That means… the government here loses all legal authority over me. They won't be able to use me. Or force me into anything."
My mother pressed her lips together.
"You really think that'll stop them from trying ?"
"No. I know they'll try. But it'll be different. Right now, all I have is a power they think they can control. Tomorrow, with a U.A. license, I'll have legal protection. Rights. Global recognition. They won't be able to detain me without causing a diplomatic incident. And more importantly: I'll be able to act on my own. Help where I'm needed. Be a real hero — not a weapon."
My father stood up slowly, as if processing every word.
"And you think you'll be safe in Japan ? Even with the eyes of the world turned there ? U.A. is prestigious, yes, but it's also under constant watch. A frequent target."
"Better to be a target by choice… than a prisoner by force."
My mother walked over to me, eyes filled with contained emotion."What if we come with you ?"
"I wish you could. More than anything. But you have roots here. Jobs, names, responsibilities. If you leave the country with me, the government will notice. They'll ask questions. Accuse you of conspiracy. And if they try to stop you, it won't be by legal means. They'll be indirect. Discreet. Dangerous."
"And if we stay, the focus stays on us…" my father said thoughtfully. "We keep their eyes here while you settle in."
"Exactly. A clean transition. Legal. No secrets. I'll leave with my documents. I'll tell the truth: I'm pursuing education at an international academy. U.A. has handled diplomatic cases before. They know how to protect those under their care. If I'm there, under their rules, the U.S. government won't be able to force me back."
My father took a deep breath. Then he nodded firmly.
"Then I'll help. I have contacts who can ensure your departure raises no suspicion. Resources to ease your arrival in Japan and keep you comfortable for the first few months. Once you're there, we'll begin the process for your enrollment and eventual issuance of your international license. Everything will be ready. And once you have that license in hand… you'll be free."
My mother hugged me tightly.
"It'll be hard to see you go. But seeing you free… that's what we always wanted. Just promise you'll come back. When you can."
"I will. Not as someone running away… but as someone who chose their own path."
What they call control, I call fear. They fear what they can't command.
But U.A. offers me something different: not a disguised prison, but a true choice.
A place where I can grow, learn, fight — not as a weapon, but as a person. When I hold that license in my hands, it won't just be a document. It'll be proof that I'm more than what they tried to make me.
[PRIVATE AIRPORT – SOMEWHERE IN THE U.S. – EARLY MORNING]
The hangar was cold and quiet, lit only by a few white ceiling lights. Outside, the sky was overcast, as if even the weather was reluctant to let this moment happen.
The jet was ready — discreet, elegant, with engines still warm. One last silent gesture of my father's influence.
Beside him, my mother held a small suitcase. It wasn't just luggage. It was everything they could pack of me — clothes, documents, letters, memories.
She was the first to hug me. Strong. Almost desperate.
"No matter the distance, Revan. We'll always be your family. No matter who tries to say otherwise."
"I know, Mom." My voice cracked, even as I tried to stay calm. "And I'll come back. When everything's settled. When it's safe."
She stepped back just enough to look me in the eyes.
"You don't need to be perfect. Just be yourself. That's already more than the world can handle."
My father was more restrained. But no less heartfelt. He reached out his hand, and when I took it, he pulled me into a tight hug — firm, as if passing all his strength into me.
"You'll be watched. You'll be tested. They'll try to manipulate what you do, what you say, what you stand for. But as long as you remember who you are… no one can control you."
"Thank you, Dad. For everything."
"Don't thank me. Just live in a way that makes you proud. And if you ever doubt yourself… remember you're not alone. You never were."
I wanted to say more. To tell them how much they meant to me, how much it hurt to leave. But my throat closed, and the words died in my chest.
The pilot gave a discreet signal at the jet's stairs. It was time.
I hugged them both again. Tightly.
As if time could freeze right there.
They stayed. I left. But I left my heart with them. I took only what was necessary: courage, memory… and the certainty that I was doing the right thing. Even if it hurt. Even if I was scared to death.
Sometimes, the first step toward freedom is the loneliest.
I boarded the jet. The door closed with a soft click, muffling the world outside. I sat down in the leather seat and looked out the window as the engines came to life.
My parents stood in the same place, hand in hand, looking at me.
I raised my hand in farewell. My mother smiled through tears. My father nodded, firm, never breaking eye contact.
The plane rolled onto the runway, then surged forward. In seconds, I left the ground behind. The country behind. And everything I had known.
[JAPAN – PRIVATE AIRPORT – DAWN]
When I landed, the sky was already painted orange and gold. The air felt different — not just in scent, but in weight. As if I truly was in another world.
One where the expectation wasn't to be controlled, but to grow.
Outside, an elegant man was waiting for me. A U.A. representative, sent by my father to welcome me personally. His posture was straight, professional, but his smile was warm.
"Revan, right ? Welcome to Japan. And… welcome to your new life."
I descended the steps slowly, feeling each step like a small victory.
"Thank you. I'm ready."