Mha: Sand Sand Fruit

Haiyuan Town was a quaint coastal town with a modest population of nearly 60,000. Known for its vibrant fishing industry, the salty sea breeze and gentle waves gave the town its charm. It had been three years since Akira had last visited, and much had changed. The streets, buildings, and even the bustling port felt somewhat foreign to him now.

As the car pulled into his grandparents' driveway, his mother called out cheerfully, "Mom, Dad! We've brought Akira to see you!"

The soft shuffle of footsteps echoed from the house, and moments later, Akira's grandfather emerged from the hall, his face lighting up with joy.

"Akira! My boy, it's been too long," his grandfather said warmly, standing up from the sofa with surprising energy for his age.

From the kitchen, Akira's grandmother appeared, wiping her hands on her apron. "Oh my, you've grown so much taller and more handsome, Akira!" she said, beaming.

Indeed, Akira had grown. Standing at 175 cm with a lean and athletic build, his presence was striking. He smiled warmly, feeling the familial love. "Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa. It's good to see you both again."

As they settled into the living room, Akira's mother couldn't contain her excitement. "By the way, we have great news! Akira has been admitted to U.A.'s Hero Course!" she announced, her voice brimming with pride.

The room fell silent for a brief moment before Akira's grandfather's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hero Course? U.A.? The most prestigious academy? Akira, my boy, you've done us proud!" His loud exclamation startled everyone, but his infectious excitement brought smiles all around.

His grandmother laughed softly. "Oh, Akira, you truly are a genius! Your parents must be over the moon."

"Thank you," Akira replied modestly.

But his grandfather, unable to contain himself, sprang to his feet. "I need some fresh air," he muttered before dashing out the door.

His grandmother chuckled knowingly. "Fresh air? More like he can't wait to tell the entire neighborhood that his grandson got into U.A."

Akira joined in the laughter, feeling a rare warmth in his chest. The familial love and support were a stark contrast to the hardships he faced growing up.

Later, his grandmother mentioned an old friend from his childhood. "Akira, did you tell Kyoko you'd be visiting?"

The mention of the name caught him off guard. "Kyoko?" he echoed.

"Yes, Kyoko. She used to be your best friend back in elementary school," his grandmother reminded him. "That girl has been asking about you for years. She's grown into a fine young lady and is still living here in Haiyuan Town. Why don't you go see her tomorrow?"

Akira nodded. He had almost forgotten about Kyoko in the whirlwind of his training and new life. But hearing her name brought a faint sense of nostalgia. "Alright, I'll visit her."

---

Later That Evening

After dinner, Akira retreated to the guest room his grandparents had prepared for him. As he turned on the lights and pulled back the curtains, a sudden tapping sound came from the window.

Startled, Akira looked out, and to his surprise, a familiar figure stood outside.

"Kyoko?" he called out instinctively.

The figure nodded, her face partially obscured in the dim light. Akira opened the window, and before he could say anything further, she slipped inside and threw her arms around him.

"Akira!" she exclaimed softly, her voice tinged with emotion.

The faint scent of flowers reached him as Kyoko tightened her grip. Her presence instantly brought back memories of their childhood.

"You haven't grown taller at all, have you?" Akira teased, half-joking.

Kyoko's cheerful expression turned into a playful pout. Letting go of him, she pinched his side. "And you've gotten cheekier! You're talking too much!"

She was petite, standing no more than 160 cm, and her fiery personality was just as he remembered.

"So," she said, her tone turning serious, "I heard from your grandpa that you've been admitted to U.A.'s Hero Course?"

Akira nodded. "Yeah, I made it."

"That's incredible," she said with a soft smile. "I bet the kids who used to bully us in elementary school would be shocked out of their minds."

Back then, neither Akira nor Kyoko had awakened their Quirks, making them easy targets for the other children. It was Kyoko, after awakening her own Quirk, who had shielded Akira from most of the harassment.

"Back then, I protected you," Kyoko said, her voice filled with affection. "Now that you're aiming to become a Hero, it's your turn to protect me, alright?"

Her words struck a chord in Akira. He smiled softly and said, "I'll always have your back, Kyoko. If anyone dares to mess with you, they'll regret it."

Kyoko's pout turned into a grin. "You'd better keep that promise, or I won't forgive you!"

The two spent the night reminiscing about their childhood. The years apart seemed to vanish as they fell into a comfortable rhythm of laughter and stories.

---

The Next Morning

As Akira stared at his reflection in the mirror, his bloodshot eyes betrayed his lack of sleep. He muttered to himself, "Chatting all night... What were we even talking about?"

The thought made him chuckle. Despite the exhaustion, Akira couldn't deny how good it felt to reconnect with someone who had been such an important part of his life.