MHA: Animari

The summer sun's heat beats down on Malik as he walks through the quiet streets of his neighborhood, golden hair ruffled by the wind. Each day feels like an endless loop of repetition, yet that's exactly how he likes it.

Summer isn't just about vacations or sleeping in—at least not for Malik. It's about growth, about pushing his limits.

Every morning, the same ritual.

Wake up, stretch out the knots in his back, and then head outside. No school today. No distractions. It's just Malik, the sun, and his goal.

The sound of his sneakers tapping on the pavement is like a constant reminder.

He makes his way to his training spot, the secluded forest he's claimed as his own personal gym.

Less attention, fewer people asking him questions. And anyway, the fewer distractions, the better.

Today's goal? To push the limits of his quirk. Again. The same goal he's been obsessing over for weeks now.

"Six. No more, no less," he mutters to himself as he sets up his first round of training. He rolls his shoulders, cracking his neck. It's been a long couple of weeks. His body's sore from the constant repetition, but he doesn't care. He's used to it.

The heat rises in his chest as he focuses. His fingers tingle, his quirk ready to activate. The first object in his line of sight—a discarded cardboard box, ripped up and battered by the wind. He smirks. "This should be easy."

His fingers brush against the box, and immediately, a creature bursts forth from the cardboard.

It's a strange, thin thing with long limbs and an almost insect-like appearance. It sways awkwardly, its body folding and shifting as though it's still figuring out how to move.

"What the hell is this..." Malik mutters under his breath. The monster's eyes--red slits--glow in the sunlight.

He waves his hand dismissively. "You're a little weak, buddy."

The monster whimpers in response but obeys Malik's command to move.

Malik, however, doesn't have the patience to watch it stumble around. He needs more. He's done with half-assed monsters.

"Focus," Malik mutters, his voice steady. He steps back, cracking his knuckles as he eyes the next object.

A pile of metal scraps, twisted and deformed from past use. It's sharp and jagged, perfect for creating something more powerful.

His hand reaches down, brushing against the rusted metal. The familiar pulse of energy courses through his veins, and the scrap begins to morph.

The sound of grinding metal fills the air as a massive creature, covered in spikes and sharp edges, forms before him. It's taller, stronger, and more menacing than the cardboard creature.

Malik's lips curl into a grin. "Ohh, you're way better."

The creature roars, its jagged spikes gleaming in the sunlight. Malik steps back, appraising it. He looks at the cardboard monster, then back at the metal one. His eyes narrow.

"Let's see how long you last against that one."

Malik raises his hand, and the monsters charge at each other. The cardboard creature is no match for the metal one. It's crushed in seconds, its thin body no match for the heavy, spiked form of the other monster. The metal beast continues to thrash and roar, clearly enjoying the fight.

Malik watches it for a moment, his arms crossed.

He continues through the rest of the day, creating monster after monster, testing his limits. Every new creation brings a new challenge. He pushes himself, going over and over each step until he can no longer tell if he's tired or not. His body aches, but the adrenaline keeps him moving. The sun shifts high in the sky, and still, he's there. Training.

___________________

By the fifth day, the routine's already set. Every morning he wakes up at the same time, grabs something quick for breakfast, and heads straight out. Today, his goal isn't just to create monsters, but to create multiple ones at once.

Six. He's stuck on that limit. He needs more.

Malik heads to the forest eyes scanning for materials. He doesn't need much.

Today, it's not about the materials—it's about speed. The more monsters he can create at once, the better. If he can hit that limit every time, then maybe he can push it further.

His hand touches a scrap of cloth, and instantly a small, nimble creature forms. He moves on quickly, using a broken chair leg to summon another. A tire. A discarded piece of wood. Each one forms in a matter of seconds.

By the time he's done, six monsters stand in front of him. They range in size and shape, some faster than others, but they're all under his control.

He's breathing heavily now, feeling the weight of the effort. Six is his limit—his absolute maximum. His hand is sore, his body exhausted. But he pushes through.

"Alright," Malik says, his voice quiet, eyes scanning the monsters. "Let's see if I can control all of you at once."

He doesn't hesitate. The monsters move at his command. They shift and rush toward one another, working in tandem like they've been fighting together for years.

Malik watches them, focusing on their movements. It's all about timing. The more monsters he controls at once, the harder it is to keep them all in sync.

The fight gets chaotic. The monsters collide, tumbling over each other as they try to follow his every command. Malik's hands move in swift, fluid motions as he tries to keep them under control.

He can feel his quirk draining his energy. Six monsters are a lot to handle, especially if they're all in motion at the same time.

But Malik's grinning now, the excitement building. His monsters aren't perfect, not yet, but they're his. They move under his will.

"That's more like it," he mutters, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

__________________

Two weeks into his training, Malik's pushing himself harder than ever before. The monsters are getting bigger, stronger, and more unpredictable.

He's still at the six-monster limit, but now, he's experimenting with different materials. He's seen how objects change depending on what he touches, and now he's learning how to manipulate their abilities.

He grabs a broken glass bottle from the ground, feeling the sharp edges under his fingers as the monster forms. This one is different. It's sleek and translucent, and its body shimmers in the sunlight. The glass monster roars—a strange, musical sound, like the chime of a bell.

"That's new," Malik grins, feeling the excitement bubble up inside of him.

With the glass creature and the rest of his monsters in play, Malik begins testing his physical abilities, using his life-force power to amplify his punches.

Every blow is stronger, the impact resonating through the air. He's working hard to refine this part of his power, making his strikes more effective without causing too much strain on his body.

His monsters follow his lead, attacking with a coordinated precision that even Malik himself wasn't sure he could pull off. The feeling of control is satisfying. He can almost hear the whispers of progress in the back of his mind.

But he's not done yet. Not even close.

"I'll keep pushing," he mutters to himself as the sun sets, casting a golden hue over the park.

______________________

Three months into the summer, Malik feels a change. His body's stronger. His mind is sharper. His monsters are more controlled.

This is the final stretch. The last day before the U.A.'s entrance exam. He can feel the tension in his chest, but this time, it's not fear—it's anticipation.

Malik stands in front of his six monsters, their eyes glowing red in the evening light.

He feels his heartbeat steady, his muscles tense. His control is almost perfect now. He smiles, knowing he's done what he set out to do.