The Silent Hero: Mute

Chapter 1: The School Shooter

"...My name, is Shizuka Basho."

Kindergarten. Probably one of the most memorable moments in a person's life. A time of simplicity and innocence. Thinking back, I could distinctly recall the warmth of spring and all of the butterflies I had felt in my stomach that day, mostly due to the fact that I had also just gotten my quirk. It was a day full of smiles, laughs, and new friends…

"Wow thats so cool!" one of my classmates exclaimed "Do it again!"

"Okay!" I smiled while standing up three foam blocks. I then take a couple of steps backwards and point my finger out like a gun. Bam! One by one I shot the blocks down with my air bullets, smiling at the awes and stares I was receiving...

however-

"What?! Is there anything we can do?" My father pleaded with the doctor.

What started as the best day ever took a rather somber turn. I remember the bus ride home from school as if it was yesterday. While talking to one of the girls I was sitting next to I could feel this sudden hot, stinging pain in my throat. Every time I attempted to even talk the pain would increase, almost sending me into tears.

"Well," the doctor sighed as he flipped through his notes. "Due to the fact that her quirk had rapidly developed so suddenly, her body, specifically her larynx, had sustained damage in order to compensate for the sudden rapid change."

"...So she'll never be able to talk again?" Even I, a five year old at the time could see the brave face my father was putting up as his eyes shook with worry.

"The chances are... low. Based off of the results of the biopsy and endoscopy there is about a low chance of her regaining her voice. However, this isn't necessarily uncommon. There are many cases of children having difficulty honing the use of their quirks. In the case of Shizuka, she appears to have experienced a paradoxical effect. Rather her extremities undergoing any sort of mutation, which is what tends happens with those who have strong physical quirks, her voice box was the only thing that has appeared to be affected."

"Ah-!" I remember squirming in my chair, trying to say something. Anything. But all that came out was muffles and gasps at my attempts to verbalize my feelings of frustration. Immediately my father turned to me with a look of concern and sadness.

"It'll be okay honey," He said as he embraced me. "I promise."

Latching onto his shirt I cried. I cried out of frustration, anger, sadness, and confusion. And yet with the odds stacked against me, I believed in him.

Eight Years Later

My name, is Shizuka Basho.

I held up the white board high enough for my classmates to see my brief introduction. Immediately, I was met with stares of curiosity and confusion, which didn't come as a surprise to me.

Middle School. It was another memorable moment of my life. It was when Dad, Himori (my older brother) and I decided to move the city of Saitama so we could help take care of grandma. While I was happy she would be living with us, I wasn't exactly ecstatic in being in a new school. After losing my voice, communication became a bit difficult, and as a result, making friends became a near impossible task for me. And so, I gave up on trying.

"Shizuka is unable to speak, so please lets make her feel welcome." My homeroom teacher, announced to the class. "Shizuka, if you may, please go and take a seat."

I nodded my head and took the open seat next to the window. Surprisingly the day appeared to go by quicker than I had expected, that was until lunchtime had approached.

"Hey, how'd you lose your voice?" I poked my head out of my notebook to see a couple of my classmates staring. Rather than wasting the time texting, I shrugged my shoulders. It was a question without a satisfying answer, to be blunt. As Himori called it, I had a mime quirk. Through doing hand gestures like forming a finger gun, I could shoot invisible air bullets, or hold my hands up to put up an invisible wall, and even take a seat in midair (a little trick I had just learned recently).

"Really?" Suzume, the girl who sat in front of me asked. "Wow, that's rough."

Yep, I mentally replied while nodding my head. I had no plans on showing off my quirk, especially since there was no need or use for it during school. Before anyone else could toss anymore questions I quickly grabbed my lunch and took off exploring the school. It was so different compared to what I was used to. Despite being larger than my old school it somehow managed to feel more crowded and over packed with just about every single stereotype you could imagine. Goths, popular girls, jocks, otakus, bullies...

"H-hey! Cut it out Jun!" My eyes glued to what appeared to be two upperclassmen in some sort of an argument.

"Seriously? Isn't this type of manga for girls?" laughed the one guy with dark blue hair (who I assumed to be Jun). Based off of my judgement, this one appeared to be more 'dominant' and carried himself with high standards with his hair styled as if he were in a boy band. "Wow, Toki-chan are you a perv?"

"Its Toki-kun! And no I'm not!" Cried the other guy who appeared worried and embarrassed.

How sad, I noticed as everyone else ignored their one-sided ordeal. As Jun started to get more physical with Toki, my eyes roamed around the room to see if anyone, just one person bothered to bat their eyes at them. Why isn't someone doing something?!

"Jun stop please!" Toki pleaded with tears starting to fill in his eyes.

"And why should I?" Jun exclaimed as he lifted his hand "What are you gonna do about it?"

Like I said, I had no plans on showing off my quirk let alone using it during school...

"Shit!" Jun cried as pain radiated from his hand.

"Did someone bring a gun to school?!"

"What was that?! Oh my god!"

Crap...I cursed at the realization that I had shot Jun's hand. While I didn't regret it, I wasn't in the mood to deal with whatever was going to happen next. Hopefully he didn't notice it was me-

"You bitch!" he cursed, "Just who the hell do you think you are?!"

Scratch that, looks like it was time for plan b. Reluctantly, I take my phone out to reply only to have it slapped out of my hand.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" he said in an attempt to taunt me.

"Jun be careful! Shes got a gun!" someone from the crowd yelled.

Oh great, it's only my first day yet I've somehow managed to cause an uproar. My eyes almost rolled to the back of my head from out dramatic everyone was being.

"Answer me!" I could feel Jun's anger rise as he slammed me against the wall.

"Is everyone okay?!" Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, one of the teachers showed up "Oh my goodness, what happened?!"

"What does it look like?" Jun spat at him, "This girl was trying to rob me and ended up shooting me in the hand!"

You asshole! I glared daggers at him for having the audacity to lie so carelessly.

"Well young lady, what do you have to say for yourself?" the teacher asked.

Is everyone really going to stay quiet? I was beginning to become more appalled by their silence (especially Toki's) than from Jun's bullying. How cold can these people be?! Because my phone was still on the ground near Jun's feet, I had no way of communicating to the teacher other than just shaking my head. I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn't going to be satisfied with that alone.

Dammit, I mentally cursed in frustration.

"I see," the teacher sighed in disappointment.

No you don't see! I wanted to scream. This is a misunderstanding!

"Since your so adamant on remaining silent I have no choice to send you to the principal's office. Don't think because its your first day here you'll get off the hook. Come with me."

Before following the teacher I feel someone poke my back. I turned to see Jun holding my phone. With his bare hand he crushes it, leaving it past the point of being fixed.

"See this?" he whispered as he dropped the remains of my phone into my hands. "Thats whats going to happen to you next time if you mess with me." And with a smirk, he walked away as if nothing ever happened.

Detention for a month. That's what I ended up getting as a result of all this. Even though I managed to explain the situation and clear my name (somewhat), the principal couldn't overlook that I had used my quirk to harm someone else. Honestly, I would've preferred if the principal had just suspended me for a couple of days but since he didn't want me to miss any school detention was the only option left. Along with getting a lecture from my dad about my quirk I was also left without a cell phone (first world problems, I know) which meant I had to carry a notepad and pen everywhere in case I had to ask somebody something or if somebody decided to talk to me. And to top things off I was ostracized from everyone at school due to being dubbed as Shizuka the School Shooter. Not exactly something I want to be known for, especially since I was trying to get into U.A. I only hoped that this incident wasn't going to appear on my record when the time to apply comes.

"Shizuka Basho," my head perked up to see one of my classmates staring with a look of boredom and curiosity.

What do you want? I wondered. Hitoshi Shinso. If I recalled apparently he was a future criminal in the making. For whatever reason why, I had no idea, nor did I really care.

"People are starting to spread rumors about you disappearing everyday at lunch." I wasn't surprised, especially since gossiping is what everyone seemed to love doing here. But if they really wanted to know, why wouldn't they just follow me or ask.

All I tried to do was save a kid from getting bullied. I mentally sighed. Can't they find something better to do with their time?

"If you really want to know so badly your welcome to come." I wrote down, expecting him to decline. Once reading my reply he raises his eyebrows in what looked to be a somewhat surprised expression.

"Sure."

Really? I mentally gasped. Not that I didn't mind necessarily, it was just unexpected. Don't blame me if more rumors about you go spreading around. Waving my hand, I get Shinso to follow me down the hall.

"The music room?" He murmured. I nodded my head, and opened the door before replying back.

"The music teacher lets me use it during lunch time as a way to 'keep me out of trouble'." I replied before throwing my notepad into my pocket. Opening up the grand piano, I take a seat and pat the open space next to me, gesturing him to take a seat next to me. Once I stretch my fingers I glide them across the keys and began to play a song from one of my favorite composers, Yiruma. For a brief moment, I zone out and let the music take over my fingers as I reach the climax of the song. After a couple of more minutes, my fingers slowly come to a stop as the song wraps up.

"Interesting." Shinso replied "So this is what the school shooter does in her spare time. I'm guessing you want to be a musician?"

I shook my head, ignoring the shooter comment. Picking up my notepad I write back: "You guessed wrong." While playing the piano was something I enjoyed, I just couldn't see myself making a career out of it. Not because I wasn't good, but because I only saw it as a hobby. and a stress reliever. Since I had lost my voice my dad had become a little more protective of me, suggesting I partake in something that wasn't so 'rough'. Something that I came to loathe abit. It was just becoming overwhelming and in a way I felt as though I was being belittled. Unlike Himori, who was considered the perfect child of the family.

"Really?" he said in almost disbelief.

I take a deep breathe before jotting my reply down "I want to be a hero."

"Is that so.." he mumbled.

"Don't believe me?"

"Who said I didn't?" he tilted his head.

"Not many people believe me when I tell them," and yet every time I heard someone say that I'd never make it, or didn't have what it takes I would feel this burst of ambition and find myself wanting to prove them wrong even more. "...What about you? What does a future criminal like you do in your free time?"

Shinso smirks "So you've already heard about those rumors. I'm surprised they're still going around. Well its not as impressive as playing piano, lately I've been busy studying for the U.A. entrance exams I haven't had time to do much...I'm guessing that's where you plan on going too?" I nearly drop my pencil as I write down my reply.

"How'd you know?"

"You're expression kinda gave it away."

"Let me guess, your quirk is mind reading."

"Wrong." he replied bluntly. "You really want to know?" I nodded my head, observing the peculiar expression he wore on his face.

"I don't read minds, I control them. In other words, brainwashing."

"How so?"

"Talk." I tilt my head and give him a perplexed look. "Verbally."

Me? I pointed to myself to clarify. Shinso nods his head and for a few minutes we sat in silence. I couldn't tell if he was being serious, but if he was he was just going to end up disappointed. Maybe I can try...

"Hello!" I tried to say, but my efforts were fruitless.

"You really can't talk huh.." My gaze falls towards the keys of the piano, then back to my notepad. Before I could write back I found myself distracted by the loud noises coming from the hallway.

"Oh wow he's hanging out with her?"

"You know, I'm not surprised. He's the one with that creepy quirk." As the two girls walked past the classroom I couldn't help but laugh silently.

"A criminal and a school shooter. We probably look suspicious just sitting here."

"Whatever, I'm used to being looked at like I'm the bad guy." he sighs, getting up from the bench. As I turn the page to write back I found nothing but the cardboard part of the notepad. I had run out of paper, which meant no more talking for the rest of the day.

Wow, I didn't expect this thing to get filled out that quick...but I guess that makes two of us then huh.

"Lets head back, shall we?"

AN: What you think? Kinda short but hope its to your liking!

PS- I don't own MHA