NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Chapter 3
The ramen at the Fat Boss's shop turned out to be exceptional. Alex Carter decided he'd definitely come back again. After finishing the juice the Fat Boss kindly offered, Alex paid the bill. The bowl of noodles cost him 500 yen, which he mentally calculated to be on the pricey side, especially for someone on a budget like him.
In Japan, ramen can often feel like a luxury meal, with prices going as high as 1,000 yen in some places. However, the Fat Boss's shop was reasonably priced, and Alex could manage it—though it was still a far cry from the cheap and delicious meals he was accustomed to in his old life.
"Take care, brother! Come again!" The Fat Boss waved warmly, and Alex smiled in return, promising to visit again.
Stepping outside, Alex felt the warmth of the ramen linger in his chest. The air was crisp, and cherry blossoms danced gently in the breeze, their petals scattered across the streets like nature's confetti. He paused, gazing at the blossoms, a wistful smile on his lips.
"Who knows?" he muttered under his breath, "This world might change because of us."
By "us," Alex referred to the three other time travelers. They were out there somewhere, and their mere existence meant the story of this world could take a different path. Alex's goal was simple: to grow stronger, to survive, and to preserve some sense of stability.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"Who do you mean by 'us'?"
Alex turned to see none other than **Momo Yaoyorozu**, a future classmate in Class 1-A of U.A. High. Her presence caught him off guard. She was someone he only knew through the anime, yet here she was in the flesh, standing just a few feet away.
"Nothing important. Just thinking out loud," Alex replied with a smile, his tone light and casual.
Momo seemed unconvinced but didn't press further. She gave him a polite nod before continuing on her way. Alex watched her leave, still a little stunned by the encounter.
Meeting her felt surreal, but it also served as a stark reminder: he was in *their* world now. He needed to grow stronger, fast. U.A.'s Hero Course wasn't going to accept him unless he proved himself worthy, and his current abilities wouldn't cut it.
That night, Alex made his plan. He'd head to Seaside Park at dawn and begin training in earnest.
---
A New Morning
The next morning, Alex woke early, grabbed a quick breakfast, and made his way to Seaside Park.
The park was vast, with certain areas marred by years of accumulated garbage. Strong ocean currents had carried in debris, and illegal dumping had only worsened the situation. While most locals avoided the place, Alex saw its potential. It was isolated enough for him to train without attracting unwanted attention.
As the sun rose, painting the horizon with hues of gold and crimson, Alex began his regimen. His physical fitness was average at best. He could manage about 30 push-ups in one go, 40 squats, and six pull-ups. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't hero material either.
"1… 2… 3…" Alex gritted his teeth as he pushed himself to his limit. His muscles burned with effort, but he refused to stop. He needed to build strength, not just bulk.
For strength training, Alex knew the key was to work to exhaustion. Push-ups, squats, pull-ups—all had to be pushed beyond his current limits. He improvised equipment from the garbage around him, using iron bars and brackets as substitutes for proper gym tools.
---
Two Weeks of Progress
After half a month of relentless training, Alex saw results. He could now do 70 push-ups in one go without activating his Holy Light Quirk. With the Quirk active, he could push that number to 140. His squats had improved to 120 in a single set, though pull-ups remained challenging—he had worked up to 12 standard ones.
The Holy Light Quirk proved to be a blessing. It amplified his physical capabilities when activated, boosting his strength and endurance significantly. However, he knew better than to rely on it too much. He needed his baseline abilities to improve if he hoped to keep up with the best students at U.A.
---
The Sludge Villain Incident
One morning, Alex stumbled across the news of the infamous sludge villain attack. Watching the broadcast, he felt a mix of relief and curiosity.
The timeline remained intact—Bakugo Katsuki had been captured by the villain, and Izuku Midoriya had bravely rushed to his aid. As expected, it was All Might who ultimately saved the day, apprehending the villain and ensuring Bakugo's safety.
Alex chose to stay far away from the incident. His current strength was nowhere near sufficient to involve himself in such a high-stakes situation. Drawing attention to himself now would be reckless, especially with the other time travelers potentially watching.
For now, he would remain in the shadows, training diligently.
---
A New Chapter Begins
As the days passed, Alex noticed the signs of change in the story. All Might's strength had visibly waned, and his mentorship of Izuku Midoriya had officially begun.
At the same time, Alex's own training at Seaside Park continued. Though he trained in the same area where Midoriya and All Might worked, the park was large enough for them to remain unaware of each other.
Alex's path was clear: he would grow stronger, step by step, until he could confidently face whatever challenges awaited him.
In this world, only the strong survive. And Alex Carter was determined to be one of them.