Mizu laid still, swinging against the ocean breeze on his hammock, waiting for his next shift to begin. Through a strict routine and intense physical labor, he had come to understand the value of rest and relaxation. However, he was still unsatisfied with the direction his life was going in. He chidded himself, consumed in thoughts of what he might want to do in the future.

“I don’t want to be a fisherman forever, but I don’t have what it takes to be a damn hero!”

His seemingly eternal slumber turned into another brainstorming session, pondering whether or not he should pursue the path of justice. A few months ago, Mizu had expressed his interest in such a field to his father, but was rejected shortly thereafter without a valid reason. He knew his father had his best interests in mind, but why didn’t he believe in him?

“Maybe dad’s right, maybe I’m not cut out for this after all…” 

Before he knew it, his break was over, and his father came over to remind him. 

“Wake up Mizu, there is work to be done!” he hollered.

The abrupt command startled him and made him fall out of the hammock. He stood up sluggishly, scratching his still damp, shaggy hair.

“Sorry, I just lost track of time.” he responded.
Mizu’s father knew him very well as he was the only family he had since his mother’s passing. Naturally, he could tell when something was wrong.

“Are you alright? Is there something troubling you?”
“No, well, I’m not feeling the best right now.”
“Let me guess. You’re thinking about what you want to be again?”

Surprised at his father’s ability to read him so accurately, he stumbled over his words before being able to reply.

“No… Well… It’s just… I don’t know anymore!” he cried out.

His father sensed the unrest in Mizu’s voice and offered to go out in the ocean for a little while to talk things through.

“Sure, I guess. The ocean has a way of calming me down.”

Shortly thereafter, Miku and his father went out towards the crimson sunset in a small row. The gentle ocean breeze and refreshing, salty scent always energized him, brought him at ease. However, once they reached a considerable distance away from the coast, Mizu’s father revealed a letter from him back pocket.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought and it wasn’t easy to make a decision. So I’ll leave the decision making to you.” he said proudly.

Mizu held the envelope in his hands, perplexed at what his father was trying to say.

“Go ahead, open it!” he said with a wide grin across his face.

He opened the envelope  gingerly, revealing and embossed UA symbol on the letter contained therein. Mizu was utterly shocked. He believed his father wanted nothing to do with heroes and villains, yet here he is giving him a letter from the most prestigious hero academy. Small droplets appeared on the paper as he began to sob.

“I… don’t know what to say dad.”
“You don’t have to say a word yet, read the letter.”

His hands were shaking intensely, Mizu could barely control himself. In the midst of such an emotional rollercoaster, he only managed to read the first line.

	Congratulations, Mizu Yashu, you were one of the few candidates selected to participate in our entrance exam. 

Mizu stood perfectly still, unable to grasp everything that had just transpired. His father broke the uneasy silence after a few moments.

“The first time you told me you wanted to be a hero, I didn’t take into consideration what you wanted. But after seeing how much you've grown and developed since then, it’s difficult not seeing you saving lives and fighting villai…!”

Mizu interrupted the touching speech with a bear hug, While he was still unable to speak, he was more than able to express his gratitude for his father’s acceptance. After a minute or so, he released himself from his father's arms and finally replied triumphantly.

“I will be the best hero I can be for you and the village and that’s a promise!”

They both smiled at each other, their aquamarine eyes shining brightly, excited for what the future would hold.