Chapter 13
The insistent buzz of my phone dragged me from the depths of sleep. Groaning, I swatted at the nightstand, finally snagging the device. The screen illuminated my face, revealing a notification bar overflowing with messages. It was the group chat. Of course.
A smirk tugged at my lips as I began scrolling through the chaos. There were the usual overly-enthusiastic good mornings from Marcus, a string of lightning bolt emojis from Diamond, and a surprisingly philosophical pondering about the nature of tape from Alex. Katsume had just sent a grainy photo of his breakfast, which looked suspiciously like toast, prompting a string of flame and explosion emojis from the others. It was a typical morning in our little corner of the world, a hilarious, caffeinated mess.
I tossed the phone back onto the bed, a genuine smile playing on my face. It was 6 AM. Time to get moving. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the cold floor jolting me fully awake. Morning training was non-negotiable. I showered quickly, the hot water washing away the last remnants of sleep, and pulled on my usual workout gear – a dark gray tank top and black shorts. As I walked downstairs, I saw Izuku already in the kitchen, practically bouncing with energy, though he did try to contain it.
"Ready, Anos?" he asked, his green eyes shining with excitement.
"Always, little bro," I replied, ruffling his hair. He swatted my hand away with a mumbled, but fond, protest.
We stepped out into the crisp morning air, the sky beginning to lighten. The gym was only a few blocks away, and we walked in a comfortable silence, the familiar rhythm of our footsteps a comforting sound. My group was already there, a cluster of colorful hair and excited chatter. We'd been doing this seriously since middle school, pushing ourselves harder each day. Izuku had started joining us after high school started, and it was good to have him.
The weights in the gym were cold to my touch. I nodded to Marcus, Alex, and Katsume, and we started on our usual circuits. The clanging of metal and grunts of exertion filling the air. I felt the familiar burn in my muscles, the satisfying ache of a good workout. The others were all in their own zones. Diamond was a blur on the treadmill, alongside Izuku. Anix was on the other treadmills, his green hair catching the light as he moved with practiced ease, and Riley was on the mats, her expression as cold and sharp as her frost quirk, going through her ab workout routine. Ryan joined our weight training group, keeping up with us with ease.
We rotated stations as the minutes ticked by, each of us pushing our limits, and even with me pushing myself constantly, it often felt like I barely even broke a sweat thanks to my powers. After two hours, we were all thoroughly exhausted but buzzing with endorphins. We gathered our things, and headed out to our favorite cafe, "The Smoothie Spot."
The cafe was a riot of colors and the smell of freshly blended fruit. We settled onto the bar stools, the familiar baristas greeting us with knowing smiles. I ordered my usual – a protein-packed berry blend – while the others made their choices. The conversation started up immediately. Laughing, loud, and full of friendly banter.
"Did you see the trailer for that new sci-fi flick?" Diamond was saying, her eyes sparkling. "It looks insane; we have to all go together!"
"Yeah definitely," I replied, nodding, "and I swear they said something about a new gym opening up not to near us I was hoping we could check it out next time."
"Definitely," she replied.
Izuku was deep in conversation with Anix, their heads bent together, their voices lowered. I couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about. Probably some obscure animal documentary or some new hero research. I was definitely used to the nerdiness of my little bro.
The smoothies arrived, a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors. We all took a swig, the cool, sweet liquid a refreshing balm after our hard training. These were the mornings I lived for. The simple joy of being with my friends, pushing our limits, and sharing a laugh. These were the moments, in the midst of all the chaos, that made everything else worthwhile.
The world felt bright and full of potential. I watched my friends, my family. Here, with them, I wasn't a reincarnation, I wasn't a god. I was just Anos, a brother, a friend, and that was perfect. I finished my smoothie, the sweet taste still lingering on my tongue, and a genuine smile spread across my face. The chaos, the banter, the shared goals. It was all absolutely perfect.