Porcelain Doll

'For the longest time, I've wanted to see the sky. To grasp the clouds and to feel the sun were my dreams. I've only ever read of them, in the never ending darkness that composed my life. But I'm embracing the winds now, roaming free and caressing everything in my wake.'

Canon, non-canon, alternate universe, idk, whatever goes. First try at a BNHA fic good luck me.

As far as she knew, her hearing was good. They didn't have any hearing problems in the family at all.

You have been accepted to Yuuei Academy.

Perhaps she was hallucinating?

As a recommended student, you are exempted from taking the entrance exam…having taken and passed the Advanced Placement Examination…

It was a dream, maybe.

You have been placed in the Department of Heroics, Class 1-A!

She needed to wake.

Come, Yukinokouji Maiko, to your hero academia!

It was the end of her world.

But the beginning of her new reality.

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'They just appeared with her.'

'She grants wishes.'

'She can give you anything.'

'She'll be our trophy.'

'She'll bring much great fortune to our name.'

'The child looks like—'

'Sssh! The master doesn't like hearing that.'

'She looks more and more like the great master.'

'The little miss was caught trying to get out yesterday. The one guarding her has… disappeared.'

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There was something about the passage of time, the actions of people, and the consequences of humanity. As they said long, long ago, time was merely a concept of humans, no one can really measure time, so they gave it something to measure with. Seconds, minutes, hours. It passed without people knowing, so why bother to keep track of it. Within the boundaries of time, people acted, created groups that evolved into something more wonderful, a society. It was a concept she didn't really understand, despite the countless books that have been drilled into her.

Maiko stared, wide-eyed, at the buildings the car passed by. Not that she was able to see much, considering how darkly tinted the windows were, but she savored the sight. She turned her hungry gaze towards the windows once again, taking in every piece of scenery and etching them to her mind. She took in the looks of different people, some Quirks affecting their appearances. Curious grey skin, a couple of tails here, floating bags following a woman with glowing fingers. There was a whole new world of different people out there, and she didn't know what to feel when she finally met them. The only physical manifestation of her Quirk was the discoloration of her hair.

Quirks. It was another thing that she didn't fully understand. Neither did anyone, for that matter. For all experts claimed to know a lot about the phenomenon, no one could really explain it. They just appeared one day, a handful of humans blessed with the ability to do certain things on their own. Was it a blessing though, if they were hunted before, back when they had been the minority?

But now, in this society, almost everyone and their mother had Quirks. There was a minority of Quirkless people, but she hasn't really read much about them aside from the fact that they were just that, Quirkless. She had wanted to know how they survived and thrived in such a society where Quirks defined the person and their path. But there were no materials on such things.

Quirks defined the person and their path. Or so they said. But in a way, it was true. In a society filled with people with abilities, said abilities guided them on what road they should take. A black-and-white way of seeing things, but it was also the reason as to why Heroes and Villains were scattered all over the world now. There hadn't been any reason before, aside from internal motives. Although, the same could be said until now, but people also consider a person's Quirk's attribute before dumping them into one of three categories: Heroes, Villains, or a normal person.

Maiko couldn't really give her two cents about it. There were too many perspectives written about Quirks and their attributes, if one should be good or evil due to the nature of their Quirks. But she supposed she could say that it would all boil down to the person wielding it in the first place. If they are able to see the good side to their own human nature, or if they will go spiralling down the abyss of evil doings.

"Maihime, please sit properly,"

Her thoughts came to an abrupt end. Although she had been expecting the reprimand since she found herself leaning against the car's window.

Today, she was going to Yuuei Academy to see her fellow recommended students. And then, she was moving to her new apartment provided by her father. She was finally able to flip a new page in her life. Or at least, she would be as soon as she arrived there and the old man left her alone.

Pale red eyes barely glanced at the man beside her, but she moved anyway, fixing her posture. She ignored the now ranting old man, having done it for a long time now, it was practically habit by this time. She knew she was being rude, but she's already heard the sermon for god only knows how many times now, Maiko needed a break. Besides, she knew he knew she wasn't listening anyway.

"Your actions in Yuuei Academy will be reflecting upon the family," she managed to catch. "So please act according to your station. Your father has also deemed it necessary for you to start your network of connections as soon as you begin your classes."

She didn't say anything, opting to stare at the large building looming over them as the car approached the gates of her new school. Stepping out of the car, she managed to stop herself from gaping at the building. Yuuei's campus was definitely more magnificent than what she had seen in the pamphlet they had given her. The photos certainly didn't do it any justice.

"Here is your student identification card, please have it in your person at all times," her companion slipped the card inside the breast pocket of her coat. "Now follow along."

She blinked, slowly walking towards where the main door probably was. There was a black-haired man, looking like he hasn't slept in ages, waiting for them. He was tall, and Maiko had to look up. (Everyone was taller than her, really). She jumped minutely when they started to move.

"I'm Aizawa Shouta," the man introduced himself, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "I'll be your homeroom teacher in Class 1-A."

"This is Yukinokouji Maiko-sama," her companion talked for her. "But of course, you already knew that."

Aizawa simply grunted in response, and silence once again enveloped their tread towards wherever they were heading. She was meeting with the other recommended students today. And without even knowing them, she already knew that they wouldn't like her. Probably. She knew her faults. At least she thought she did. She shook her head as the door to what seemed to be the principal's office opened. Pulling up her scarf to hide her face more, she couldn't resist the small flinch that resulted from the small cough coming from her companion. Pale red eyes looked up at him, blinking as he sighed.

"Well, it looks like we're all here now!" a rather squeaky voice came from the large office desk in the middle of the room. "Come, take a seat, Yukinokouji-kun."

Maiko barely had any time to react before she was ushered into the only vacant seat in the room. She didn't even had the time to observe her fellow recommended students, but she supposed there would be time for that. For now, she needed to pay attention to what Nezu-sensei was telling them.

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Maiko didn't consider herself a sociable person. How can you be sociable if you weren't able to talk? She didn't go out of her way to communicate, despite having the means to do so. She was sure, the moment they realized she wasn't talking, they'd discard her and never look back.

'Sit still and be pretty, that's all you need to do.'

So she didn't know what to do now that the five of them were left alone in a room, as the principal, Aizawa, another teacher, and her companion—she really should call him by his name, she was sure Yoshitsune wouldn't appreciate it if she called him her companion all the time—talked.

"I'm Yaoyorozu Momo," the tall girl with a large ponytail introduced herself, bowing slightly. "Nice to meet you."

"…Todoroki Shouto," came the short introduction from the boy with half red and half white hair. White, like hers. Maiko tilted her head. He looks… familiar. A family friend perhaps? Or maybe she was just mistaking him for someone else. She didn't really know anyone from her age group, so it doesn't make sense for her to know him, nor for him to even strike her as familiar.

"—you?" Maiko's head snapped up, her hair flying with her abrupt movement. Her eyes widened as she took in all the eyes directed on her. She shook slightly. Her hands flailed as she went to find her phone, quickly typing and showing them: "Yukinokouji Maiko, nice to meet you."

And there was silence.

Did she do it right? Did she offend anyone by not speaking? She peeked through her pale lashes, unable to gauge their reactions.

"Nice to meet you, Yukinokouji-san!" Yaoyorozu smiled at her. Smiled. Someone smiled at her. And it felt like the sun was finally shining down on her. Was this how it felt to have someone pouring their attention on her? How long has it been since she last saw a genuine smile sent her way? She didn't really remember anymore. Maiko simply nodded weakly, noticing that the other two had moved closer to her, Todoroki simply sitting where he was. She listened as the three chatted around her, making small nods along the way to show that she was listening.

"Maihime," and just like that, the light atmosphere vanished with the appearance of her compa—Yoshitsune. She had wanted to stay longer, to talk more with her new… friends? Schoolmates, about which heroes they liked best. They even took her into consideration and patiently waited for her to type in her response on her phone. "We'll be settling your belongings in your new home, come along."

It took all of her training to not let her disappointment show. But she knew an order when she heard one and Maiko wasn't about to let Yoshitsune tattle to her family should she disobey. Not now, not when she can finally be on her own. She stood from her seat, bowing at her fellow recommended students before she followed Yoshitsune out of the room. She would be classmates with at least one of them that much she knew, so she wasn't entirely worried about not seeing them again.

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Perhaps, this had been a mistake, Maiko thought as she stared at her reflection. She reached up, her fingers touching the soft material of her scarf, tugging it to rest against the skin of her face. It obscured her mouth, which was the main goal. Aside from that, she wore her school uniform normally, no additions. The necktie she tied like a bow, preferring it over the traditional neckties. It made her look less formal, in a sense. She looked…

She looked like a student.

She didn't know if she was ready to be one, but by the gods will she try. This was her life now. She wasn't about to waste the opportunity. Sending one final look at herself in the mirror, she grabbed her bag before heading out of her new apartment. It was smaller than her own wing back in the family home, but it was hers. And there was no one here aside from herself and the occasional maid who will come in to make sure she's still alive. It had been an option presented to her once she had received the acceptance letter to Yuuei. And while she had been suspicious as to why she had been given this chance to live alone, she had taken the moment she learned about it.

Maiko huffed, the long fringes over her eyes floating with her breath. She'll be fine. No need to worry. You just need to worry about what impression you're going to make.

Family. Reputation. Image. Three words that they practically pinned in her brain. Having been the result of a Quirk marriage, Maiko certainly looked like a mix of her parents. Her pale red eyes came from her father, albeit toned down considering how vibrant his were. Her white hair had been black before, inky and deep like her mothers, before they lost their pigment due to Quirk overuse, but Maiko retained the porcelain white complexion. Maybe her less than considerable height was also an inheritance from her mother? But right now, she was her own person. No one should recognize her unless she mentions her parents' names.

And yet… Her Quirk wasn't anything like her parents'. Not a trace of her father's water manipulation nor her mother's weapon-summoning Quirks were found in her own. Perhaps, manipulation and summoning were, but all in all, she didn't get anything from them. Her Quirk was her own. And at the same time, it wasn't.

A failure, they called her. Sometimes she had wondered if they were going to leave her behind and try to create a child who would be a perfect mix between the two of them. Someone who could create weapons out of water, summon water from the barest of air. And yet she was still here. Alive, with no siblings to follow her. Maiko didn't know what that meant. But at the same time she did, having lived there for her entire life, having her life controlled to the smallest detail.

I wish… Wish what? That she was more like her mother? Always with a smile even when the tip of her swords were kissing the skin of someone else. Or like her father whose Quirk was to control water and everything in between, water which she always attributed to coldness but his eyes were red and so warmwarmwarmtoohotitburns. She's learned a long time ago that wishing for such things were rather futile. She was her own person. She could do as she pleased. And yet, even as she looked around the street to see different types of people now within her reach, she felt stifled. Chained.

Has her mind always been this… wandering? She hadn't even realized she was already in school until she found herself staring at the large door to her new classroom, and suddenly, Maiko didn't know why she just froze. There wasn't anyone outside aside from her, but she knew that people where already inside. It was early in the morning, too early for most of the students to come in, but not too late as well. She breathed in, before sliding the door open.

Pale red eyes closed as she got blinded by the sunlight coming in from the windows. So this is a traditional classroom, huh, she thought to herself, blinking as she saw Yaoyorozu and Todoroki among the three people in the room as she entered. She paused, looking around to check which seat she could take. Not that there was no choices left, but she wanted a spot where she could be a bit more in peace. A window seat maybe?

"Yukinokouji-san!" Maiko's head snapped up as Yaoyorozu finally noticed her presence. The taller girl smiled at her and Maiko could only squint at how bright she looked. Was this her Quirk? Sunshine sparkles? "It's nice to see you again!"

She bowed slightly, her hair following along with her movements. Her hands lifted as she started to sign, before stopping as she took in her classmate's clueless face. She winced a bit, taking out her phone so she could use it to communicate instead. She'd have to remedy that and get a whiteboard next time.

"It's also nice to see you, Yaoyorozu-san," she typed in. "I'm glad we're classmates." Looking up as she showed her phone screen to the other girl.

She was. Glad, that is. Glad that the first one to ever talk to her yesterday was her classmate. Not that she wouldn't like being classmates with the others, but Yaoyorozu simply exuded a calm aura, a leader. Her presence soothed her, and if possible, Maiko would really like to be friends with her.

"Take the seat in front of me!" Yaoyorozu beamed, pulling her towards the window seat in front of where she had claimed one. "And call me Momo! We're going to be together for three years, it's good to get to know each other."

Maiko put down her bag, fixing her scarf as she typed in another reply. There were several ways she could answer. Straightforward, in a way that she wished she could convey how much she wanted a person she could call her friend. Cold, brush her off because she didn't really know how to act around sincere people. Or formal, the way she was taught to approach everyone as she grew up. In the end, she settled for one. She would be here for a long time, and while the first thing that came to mind was to make allies for the future, one part of her desperately wanted a companion.

"Then please, call me Maiko, Momo-san," her brows furrowed at the slight smile on Momo's face. "Did I say something that offended you?"

"Well, I suppose it would take a while," the taller girl patted her head with a wry smile. Maiko stared, not knowing what the issue was. She simply nodded her head, before her attention was taken away by the loud conversation between three of her classmates. A tall blue-haired glasses-wearing boy, a green-haired boy, and a brunette. Something about the entrance exam. Which was then cut off by a rather explosive blond boy with glaring red eyes.

Maiko's eyes narrowed as the green-haired boy stiffened, his body language clearly saying he was uncomfortable and scared. A bully? She thought, before shaking her head. It was… none of her business, really. And she'd rather not get involved in fights, her body wasn't made for such things.

She took her time to look around the classroom now that it was starting to fill up. Aside from the three of them, it seemed like the other two recommended students were in the other class. But beggars can't be choosers, and she was actually looking forward to getting to know all of her new classmates. It would probably take her a long time to remember their names, but that should be fine, right? Pale red eyes glanced around again, taking in the eclectic collection of people. From her spot, she could already tell the groups forming in a tight circle. Maiko sighed, looking down at her hands, how nice.

"They're rather loud," Momo muttered from where she was seated behind her. "Our teacher's going to be here soon, I—"

Maiko lifted her gaze to find the teacher who had greeted them yesterday coming out of a yellow sleeping bag. Once again, he looked like he needed sleep for gods only knew how long. She tilted her head, barely flinching when she was caught his glare. From within his sleeping bag, packets came out and settled over their desks.

"Wear those, and meet me in the field," came the curt instructions. Maiko looked down at the package on her desk. Another uniform then. A hand on her shoulder caused her to look up again to catch Momo's eyes.

"Let's go?" she smiled. Maiko could feel the corners of her lips turn up as she soaked in the taller girl's presence. She simply nodded, standing up to follow her to the dressing rooms. "Do you have any idea as to what we're going to do?"

Maiko shook her head, removing the scarf from shoulders as she started to take off her uniform to wear the other one. It was the right size, she wondered about how they even got it. From beside her, Momo leaned towards her a bit.

"Maiko-chan's really small, huh?" there was a teasing undertone to her voice. Maiko glanced at her, looking at the taller girl's more than ample curves, and compared them to her own. She was, for the lack of a better term, petite with almost a child's body. She had several theories as to why, but she liked to think that it was from her mother's genes that she was this tiny.

Pulling out her phone again, she hid a blush underneath her scarf. "It is not my fault that I turned out this… small." Her reply was met with a small giggle. She didn't notice the way the other girls turned their attention to them until they were suddenly surrounding them as they headed to the fields to meet their teacher.

"Hello! I'm Uraraka Ochako!" the brunette from earlier this morning chirped, her hair bouncing along with her steps.

"Ashido Mina!" the pink-skinned girl introduced herself as well, mischievous eyes peering at the pair of them.

If it wasn't for the floating clothes, Maiko would have flinched at the sudden voice that came from her other side. "Hagakure Tooru, nice to meet you!"

"Jirou Kyouka," came the monotonous voice from the other girl, the earplugs attached to her ears waving at them.

"Asui Tsuyu, kero," okay, so Frog Quirk then, Maiko noted. From the seven of them, half of them had their Quirks manifesting on their appearances. She nodded her greeting at them, letting Momo introduce her to the others.

"Yukinokouji-chan can't talk?" Uraraka asked, her hands flailed as she realized what she had asked. "A-Ah! Sorry, that was rude!"

Maiko took her phone yet again, shaking her head as she typed in her reply. "No, it is fine," she waited before the others nodded at her response. "My voice is gone."

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Maiko's brows furrowed as the other girl flailed around, her actions gaining the attention of everyone else. She tapped the brunette, showing her the phone screen again. "Please calm down."

Anything, anything to take the curious eyes away from her. She sighed as Uraraka finally calmed down, before she flushed as she realized everyone looking at her. Maiko sighed again before heading to where the assembly of her classmates were. As everyone settled, Aizawa-sensei finally deemed it the right time to actually show up again.

"We're doing a Quirk Apprehension Test," he stated, holding a board on his hands. "Eight tests, same as what you did back in middle school, only difference is that you're allowed to use your Quirk here. We're going to see your base scores as a basis of your growth while you're in the Heroics Department."

Maiko tuned them out as she looked down at her hands. Like in middle school? She thought. I don't have any experience.

Those normal things that teens went through in their lives, she had never experienced herself. Perhaps she may have watched a video or two, but she didn't know the feeling of having to go through such things. Using her Quirk was easy enough. Her control over her abilities were nothing less than what was expected of her.

"Good luck, Maiko-san," Momo's serene voice rang beside her. She looked up, noting at the back of her mind how she's apparently the smallest out of everyone aside from the boy with grape-like hair. Nodding, she tightened her scarf. It wouldn't do for it to fly when it was her turn.

Once, there was a doll. Displayed in the middle of the room in a glass box, dressed in only the finest clothes and jewelleries. Her long hair shone light blue under the fluorescent lights, her glass eyes never blinked, and her porcelain body glowed gently.

She was a masterpiece, the guards and servants said. Never moving, never changing, always there watching. The doll was never taken out, for they were afraid that her beauty will vanish under the light of the sun. The air outside was also different from this room, polluted unlike the sterile air the doll was in.

The doll never really cared. Because she was just that, a doll.

A/N: Welcome to sporadic updates. I'm testing out the waters of fanfiction again after god knows how long of a hiatus. Also, this will be cross-posted in AO3 (username: Ciel_hime). I might post a photo of Maiko later on? Wait for updates, I guess.