Chapter 2: Maybe A Quirk, Maybe Not
Kazu-tan was the first of us to get his quirk. It was really cool! He can make little explosions in his hands! It's so cool! I hope I can get my dad's cold quirk - he can freeze anything that he touches. But Mommy's super strong quirk is also really cool. She can lift a huge truck with one arm! I've seen her do it before too!
But my big brother, Keinosuke, has a really different quirk than Mommy or Papa. He's super smart and remembers everything. And he's only 2 years older than me. Kei-tan is six but already a fourth year in elementary school! That's super cool. I have a really cool big brother.
After Kazu-tan got his quirk, everyone started to get their's. But not my or Izu-tan. Kyotani-san told us that we just might be late-bloomers and to just wait, they'll probably be the best quirks ever. We believed her, she's never lied to us. But she did this time.
Izu-tan came in late one day, a weird smile on his face and tears in his his. I look up at his mommy. She had tears in her eyes too. Frowning, tears in my own eyes, I grab Izu-tan's hand as Auntie Inko tells Kyotani-san and Hibichi-sensei that Izu-tan won't have a quirk.
My eyes go wide as Izu-tan starts shaking, I look at him and see him crying without making any sounds. I cry too and hug him as Kazu-tan comes over, worried and confused. "What's wrong?" He asks, looking up at me. I am the tallest right now, but not by much.
"Izu-tan..." I shake my head, I can't say it. I just cry for one of my best friends as my other just frowns at us. Not getting what was wrong.
o0oo0o
Today was the start of first grade and I still haven't gotten my quirk. Not long after Izu-tan found out he doesn't have a quirk, I got tested. I do, but it hasn't shown yet. The old, fat doctor wasn't sure when it would show, but was certain that it would show before I turned six.
Frowning to myself in frustration, I glare at my worksheet. It was a 'get to know me' sheet. Fill it out, then hand it back to the teacher - who wasn't Hibichi-sensei. It was a mean old lady with white, curly hair and a lot of wrinkles - Tatsunki-sensei.
What's your name? Tsujima Kontaru.
What's your favorite color? Red.
When is your birthday? October 31.
Who is your favorite hero? All Might.
What is your quirk?
I glare at the question, wishing I had an answer. But I didn't have one, so I left it blank and finished the rest of the worksheet. I put down my pencil and stand up with the worksheet in my hands and walk up to Tatsunki-sensei. Handing over the worksheet, I try to walk back to my seat, but she called me back in her scratchy, low voice.
"Tsujima, come back here." I walk back over to her. "Why did you leave one of the questions blank?" She questions and I feel my cheeks burn pink. I push my light grey hair out of my face as I shrug.
"The directions said to fill every one of the questions, I expect an answer. Take this back and fill it out properly, before turning it in." My head hangs as I take back my worksheet, going back to my seat as my table mates quietly giggle.
I glare at the question, tightly holding on to my pencil. After a minute of staring at the question, I write 'to be determined'. That last word I learned from my big brother yesterday. It's really cool having a super smart big brother like my big brother.
I hand in my paper again, and her frowns gets deeper. But she doesn't say anything, just waves me away. I sigh as I sit back in my chair, leaning forward as my classmates finish up theirs. Izu-tan leans towards me, big eyes wide and mouth in a small frown.
"What was that?" He whispers and I shrug, scowling as I look down at my hands. "Are you-" He didn't get to finish his question as a rolled newspaper slams down between us, making us both jump as Tatsunki-sensei glares at us.
"No talking." We didn't talk for the rest of class.
o0oo0o
Spring passed okay, summer was fun. Izu-tan, Kazu-tan and I played volleyball at the beach and hunted bugs at the local park and had family get togethers. It was already October and I still hadn't gotten my quirk yet. I'm turning six in a few weeks, the doctor better not be lying.
Mommy keeps asking what I want for my birthday and I keep telling her I want my quirk. But she just sighs and says she can't control when I get my quirk. No one can.
Kicking at a rock, I'm not looking where I'm going when I bump into some big fourth years. I look up at them, surprised to see them there suddenly. They scowl and glare at me.
"Look where you're going first year." The one I bumped into, spit at me. I take a step back, scared. They were bigger then me and had quirks. They were grinning now, they looked scary and mean. It wasn't like Mommy's or Izu-tan's smile. It looked cruel. I never knew a smile could look so mean.
"Aw, look, he's gonna cry." A small brunet with a lisp, hissed, getting spit everywhere. Also I was not going to cry. I wouldn't.
I stand up tall, and scowl back at them. "No I'm not." They laugh at me.
"Go cry to your Mommy, first year, like the baby you are." The biggest one, there were three of them, had dark purple hair and band-aid on his cheek, and looked the cruelest of them all.
"Hey guys," The one with a lisp started, a wide grin on his fat-lipped face, "I heard about this one - he's quirk-less." He cackled, and a look entered their eyes that sent shivers through me.
"Is that true?" The purple haired one asked as he took a step towards me. I take a step back.
"NO!" I yell. "I'm just a late bloomer!" I protest, tears burning my eyes as I tried to stand my ground. They only laugh at me.
"Name one person who was a first year in elementary school and was a 'late bloomer'." I open my mouth to answer, but nothing came out and they laughed at me again. "That's right, no one. You're quirk-less, just accept it." They are so cruel.
"NO!" I scream and run, their laughing echoing in my ears as I hide in the bathroom, crying. I stuff my fist in my mouth to quiet myself as the door opens.
"Kacchan, have you seen Kochan? He left class the second lunch started." I hear Izu-tan as the sink turns on. For some reason, I cry harder.
"How am I suppose to know Deku. I'm not in your class." He points outs, his tone put up, but I could hear worry too. But I couldn't move from my spot, my fist muffling my hiccups and sobs as the bathroom went quiet. Izu-tan and Kazu-tan leaving quickly and I felt my tears flood my cheeks.
I wanted them to stay, but I couldn't call out to them. I feel useless. I feel like a cry baby.
