"You know this already, but he was a great man. Never cared about himself though no matter how hard I tried. It's… God, I can't believe that we were kids back then. Anyway...we met in the middle of our eighth grade year. He was extremely shy, which he obviously grew out of. And, once we got to U.A., I… I didn't know how much our lives would change. How much he had to change in order to be a Hero he truly needed to be..."
Sanji Inochi
The wind feels nice. Not too cold. It's the kind of cold that reminds a man that he's still alive. That he is, in fact, can still feel a chill crawling his spine. It's a refreshing day in Kibo. Summer is slowly being replaced by fall. September is always a great month to walk around in. Not too scorching hot, not too freezing cold. Just…in-between. Lovely in-between. I wouldn't have this any other way.
Jeez, it's five months, six months until March. Until the Entrance Exam. I should be training right now. By no means I would call myself a weak person, but I'm not necessarily strong either. Heck, I'm Quirkless. Well, legally Quirkless to be exact. In order to pass the exam, I need to train my body to its maximum limit and go beyond that. I need to be the best Quirkless man out there, because I'm not gonna awaken to my Quirk anytime soon. No, I don't expect to awaken to it until years from now. There's no possible way to use its intended purpose. I looked on the internet and had no luck. No method could forcibly activate it. That's the life of a Quirkless, but I'm not letting that stop me. My classmates make fun of the fact that I try to be a Hero, but I don't care. Suzuki tells me that I won't be a Hero, but I can be. I'll be a Hero. It's the only thing I want in life is to help others. No fame, no fortune. Just that. I want to save people just like All Might and smile like him. I know that countless others are fighting for the same goal, but just this once, I have to win. It's selfish thinking about it, even more so doing it, but it's necessary. I don't know what the Exam's gonna be like, so I need to study and train. I can't be a hulking brute, I have to be a somewhat-educated hulking brute. That's why I spend most of my time at a gym or a library, and a couple of school clubs. Got nowhere else to go other than Gin, my foster father, but I usually call him my "foster guardian". (I don't like to use the word "father".) Compared to others, he's pretty good despite being an alcoholic. He's a retired Pro Hero, but he cares about me. Doesn't want me to get hurt, doesn't want me to suffer. He's a good man, just fell onto hard times.
It's…kinda sad, to be honest. I wish I could help him, but I don't think I can do anything. He's a man with his own regrets and secrets, while I'm just a kid who doesn't know what my family's like. I barely remember them. It's only one memory, and it's blurry. My dad definitely had short white hair while my mom had long black hair. I think… I think there was someone else, multiple "someone else's" maybe, but I can't remember. I don't know their Quirks either, so my Quirk could've passed down to me or be a mutation. Either way, I can't fix that itching question. I've been a foster kid since I was five. Family isn't much of a thing to me. (I mean, if I'm going by my first name, Sanji, then I'm the third son. I must have two older brothers.) And, about my Quirk, I can use it somewhat despite the definition of "legally Quirkless", which means I have a Quirk but cannot use it. For example, if a Pro Hero needs his hands to use his Quirk like spitting out fire or something. On a mission, their hands get amputated. Thus, they became legally Quirkless. The other way a person can be Quirkless is by birth, being incredibly unlucky. And, I'm not that kind of Quirkless. I know for a fact that I have a Quirk because I can use it to a degree. It's just… complicated to say the least.
It's called "Dreams". That's my Quirk.
My life really sucks, doesn't it? It's insulting to know about my own Quirk. For a guy whose last name is "Inochi", life had it out for me, but I'm trying to change that. I got dealt a bad hand for sure, but I'm using it to get a royal flush. I have to-
Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
Never mind, that'll have to wait. My phone's buzzing. I take it out and look at the soft vibrant screen. It's Gin. He texted me, "Sanji, come home. I have something to tell you." If he's texting me, then it's really important. He knows that I want to be a Hero, so maybe it involves that? Who knows... Only the man himself can answer. I get off of a bench and start walking. It's gonna take a while to get home.
After about twenty minutes, I'm in the main street of Kibo where stores are a common occurrence. The pedestrians mostly walk on the streets with a few exceptions who bike or drive. I usually go to the gym or the library because again, the U.A. Entrance Exam is only months away. Unfortunately, at the end of the road is my middle school: Kibo Middle School. Kibo isn't the largest town, but it's also not the smallest. It's small enough that mostly everyone knows everyone. With that, everyone knows me: Sanji Inochi, the legally Quirkless man. In a world like this, someone like me…it's not a good match-up. In fact, one of my classmates, Saito, sees me. He smiles widely like we're best friends. He exclaims like we're practically brothers, "Inochi! Wanna see me pitch a fast one? Watch, this one's goin' one-sixty!" He's unusually friendly… Must not be in the mood to jab at me.
I silently nod, watching him carefully. We're in a pitching range that's pretty much outdoors. I know Saito's pretty good at baseball. He's the star pitcher on the team. He gets into position and spits his imaginary saliva out. I watch his fingers grip the baseball, letting it get to know its texture before his arm shoots forward like a cannon, throwing it into the net at front. The speed gun calculates Saito's pitch and he's right. It went one hundred sixty-five kilometers per hour. In the U.S., that's over one hundred miles per hour. Saito laughs and taunts, "Hey! Think you can pitch like that? C'mon, I wanna see you try!"
"I-I rather not… I have to get home," I tell him, but my voice isn't strong enough. He puts a ball in my hand and pushes me to the designated mound. Crap, guess I don't have a choice here… I might as well get this over with and move on, because Saito won't take "no" for an answer.
He says, "I'm taking a video." Oh, so that's what he's doing… Saito's filming this to embarass me. I sigh, holding the ball in my palm. You know, my treatment won't get worse after this. A video is nothing compared to being Quirkless. So I get in the same position that Saito was in. I pull my hood down, letting my hair be free. I lock eyes with the net. The center: That's my target. Alright… In an instant, I pull my arm back and pitch it directly in the middle within a split second. The speed gun quickly calculates my speed to be one hundred sixty-six kilometers per hour. Huh, that was better than Saito's? Heh, guess I'm stronger than I look. My shoulder hurts a bit, which explains why pitchers don't pitch that high consistently. Saito himself looks a bit shocked. He asks, "Inochi… Did you ever pitch before? In your entire life? Because fuckin' hell, you're supposed to be a Quirkless."
I put my hood back on and stuff my hands in my pockets. I answer, turning away from him, "N-No… Never in my life. Can… Can I go home now? My foster guardian needs me for something, a-and I'd rather not keep him waiting." Saito grunts, gesturing for me to get out. I do so too eagerly to be honest, quickly making my way to Gin's. Don't know how everyone will react to that, but it's not gonna be good. I walk faster, dodging all of the people out on the streets. Some make a few comments, but most leave me alone. After more than twenty minutes, I'm at home. The sun went down already. The sky's a mix of yellow and blue, slowly getting darker as each second passes. My home's quaint. It's not the nicest place, but it's far from the worst. Our trash is out, which is mostly filled with bottles. I don't mind the smell. It's not pleasant, but I can live with it. I take my key out and unlock the door. For some reason, I hesitate for a second before I open the door. With a sigh, I go inside, taking my hood and my shoes off. At the end of the hallway is Gin, who's sitting in the kitchen, staring at me. His brown stubbles have gotten longer than before. Did he get any sleep? There's no bottles to be seen as well. The air's a bit heavier too. What's going on?
"Gin," I say his name, approaching him a bit meekly, "wh-what's going on? Is something happening?" I don't like the look on his face. It's not in a "I'm going to hurt you" kind of way, but "I'm sorry".
"Kid, I can't take care of you any longer. Look at me, Sanji. You know I'm a mess, so that's why-"
"W-What? Honestly, Gin, you're better than most. I can tell you've been through a lot, but you still have a kind heart. Rarely anyone else could do that. I—"
"You're the same, kid. Anyway, let me finish, okay? I have to let you go, but I'm sure as hell not putting you back in the system's hands. The government's great and all, but this is one of its flaws. That's why I used one of my old contacts… He's gonna take you in with his family," Gin tells me, standing up from his chair. There's a distant look in his eyes. I don't know much about him, but something happened when he was working as a Pro. His name was Vilemouth, and his Quirk shares the same name. It's uh… He could put nearly anything in his mouth and spit it out as a dangerous projectile. Absolutely disgusting, useful, but still disgusting. But, who is this "contact" of his? Gin must really trust him.
"Who is he, Gin? W-When am I leaving?" I ask, instinctively clenching my hand to my chest, playing with my hoodie strings. I could imagine a thousand faces, thousands more from this man's family. I'll be living with them, right? God, I can't be a burden to them. Who knows what kind of convincing Gin did? I can't be a burden on these people.
"You know about Master Kendo, kid?"
What?! Master Kendo?! When All Might was just a student at U.A., Master Kendo was a very popular Pro! He wasn't exactly the most powerful one, but he was a master at all martial arts in the known world! Officially recognized too! If you got into a fight with him, you would lose near instantly! Heck, his Quirk, Reversal, allows him to use his opponent's force into his own attacks! Theoretically, he could defeat even All Might because he can use his force against him! I'll be staying with him?! God, I'll be living with him?! Wait, Gin knew that I want to be a Hero. He seriously asked Master Kendo to take me in… so I could train to become one? This can't be real. This really can't be real! I'm not gonna be just a burden, I'll practically be dead weight! I'm Quirkless! How can I impress him?! What about his family too? How can I not let them hate me? This is all too much… All too much… Knowing him, I'll be hiking up a mountain with weights on my back for a punishment! Might as well scale the Wall of China because I-
"Sanji, you're daydreaming again. Snap outta it, kid. You're leaving tomorrow. I know how much those punks at school hate you, so I wanted to make it quick. You don't have to see them again, especially Suzuki," Gin says, smiling slightly. I can feel my heart trying to make its way out of my chest… God, I don't know what I'm feeling. It's fear and excitement mixed into one. I mean, this is so sudden! So out of the blue! I think Gin was planning this for a long time, but he never let me know! Jeez, I think I'm having trouble breathing! I never felt this way before, especially when I'm moving. It was always the same dull feeling. I… Ugh, just gotta take a deep breath and everything will be fine.
Somehow, I manage to say, "Thank you, Gin. I'll… I'll try to be a Hero! I'll-"
"Aw shut up. Your life's changing, kid. Now, pack your things up. It'll be a long train ride to Musutafu, where U.A.'s at. It's about time something went your way."
"A-Alright… Alright… U.A. High School… I gotta do it… I gotta do it."
"You also gotta calm down. I know it's exciting, but I'm getting kinda worried."
"S-Sorry! I'll get packed! Thank you again, Gin!"
I rush off into my room to pack what little things I have.
Sasaki Kendo
"Hey Dad, got anything to explain to me?"
"Nope," I reply, sipping my tea. Hayami tilts her head, trying to intimidate me, but I'm her father. If anything, I'm the one who taught her how to intimidate. Anyway, she must've found out about what I'm doing. Not sure how, but she's a smart woman.
Hayami says on the edge of taking my tea and pouring it on me, "Sanji Inochi. You sure his last name is not 'Inoichi'? Because I think it might've been a typo. Of course, I need this information since you're taking whoever-this-boy-is in without even telling me. Did you even think about how Itsuka feels about this? How I feel?"
"I wanted another man in the house," I joke, putting my cup down. I turn to my daughter who's looking mighty red. "In all seriousness, I have no idea if the boy's last name is 'Inochi' or 'Inoichi', but I'm going with what's written. And, if you want to know why I decided to take him in, it's…complicated."
"Complicated? Really? Okay, I know we can sustain another man in the house, but do you even know what he's like? He could trash the place, show no respect whatsoever. I'm not one to judge, but foster kids usually end up as juvenile delinquents. Why did Gin ask you to take him? He's washed up. What makes Sanji different?" she asks, sitting next to me. I take a peek over at Itsuka, who's tinkering with her father's motorcycle. (She values that thing more than her life itself. I can't blame her. Kaito was an idiot, but he was a good father. Better than me.)
I sigh, recalling the phone call with Gin. "Gin is a lot of bad things, but he's also honest. He told me a lot about Sanji. The boy has a kind heart, doesn't want to make anyone upset. And, he wants to be a Pro Hero even though he's legally Quirkless."
Hayami continues to argue, "Dad, I know I'm being insensitive, but so what? There's a lot of Quirkless in the world who wanna be a Hero. You know that Itsuka is bummed out for failing the Recommendations Exam. Not only do we have to worry about Sanji, she has to worry about him too. What separates him from others besides from having a distant dream?" Hmph, she makes a lot of good points. In this world, you can only be a Hero if you have a Quirk. Sanji has one, but he can't use his. Or, so he thought. That's what Gin told me about. Normally, I wouldn't accept even with that, but my instincts are telling me to take this kid in. They're telling me that, somehow, this boy is special. It's unexplainable otherwise.
"Gin told me that his Quirk, despite the fact that he can't use it, allows him to learn physical tasks quickly. That, and he told me Sanji trains every night. I mean, literally every night. The boy doesn't sleep, Hayami. One or two hours, but that's all. I never heard of anyone so determined. If you're not convinced still, my instincts are ringing in my head. Each and every one of them are saying to take him in. It's unexplainable until you feel it yourself," I tell her, standing up. I walk towards a window where nothing of importance is outside. Heh, what Tatemi would think about this? She would accept Sanji instantly, no convincing needed. I'm supposed to be the logical one, but I'm acting on my instincts. Heroism taught me to always act on those, "following your gut" they would say.
"Gosh, Dad… This could change everything, y'know? We have to live with him until we get tired of Sanji or until he becomes a Hero. But, I know how stubborn you are. It runs in the family. No matter what the hell happens, I trust you," Hayami says with a smile in her voice. Good, because I'm supposed to be her father. She's supposed to do what I say despite me being senile. Now, here's a bigger problem: How do we break the news to Itsuka?
"Good, so that means you're telling my granddaughter?" I ask, turning around with a smirk. Hayami puts a finger up and shakes her head.
"Nuh uh. You're the one who decided this, so you get to tell her. I'll be cleaning out the spare room, Dad. Let's hope Itsuka doesn't feel the need to throw a wrench at you, because you surely threw one in her plans," she declares and immediately walks upstairs. Okay, guess she doesn't do everything I ask. Every time I talk to her, I'm getting more and more convinced that she isn't Tatemi's daughter. Tatemi was a sweetheart, but Hayami? If Kaito got through her thorns, then he would probably see a tiny, itty bitty rose. And Itsuka's just like her mother in a lot of ways…
So, Master Kendo, how are you going to tell your granddaughter without dying? Well me, that's a very good question. A question that would require a lot of thinking and possibly body armor.
"Why aren't any of these wrenches working?!"
CRASH!
I need to pick out a grave…
Itsuka Kendo
"Hey Yui, is it normal for a granddaughter to have an overwhelming desire to murder her grandfather? I'm just asking for a friend, but is it normal?" I ask her. She stares at me blankly. That's about the look I was expecting to get.
"Uhm, why? For your friend," she asks back, going off of my hypothetical. Well, how do I explain this without yelling my head off? Hmm, here's the simplest explanation I could give.
I calmly explain, not raising my voice whatsoever, "Okay, so my friend's grandfather decided to take in a random foster kid from who-the-hell-knows-where because one of his old students told him to. Why? Well, this foster kid apparently wants to be a Hero despite the fact he's legally Quirkless. Of course this had to happen after I failed—I mean, my friend failed the U.A. Recommendations Exam. Naturally, my friend's mom is taking her grandfather's side on this, so I'm- I mean, my friend is alone on this." I look around my class, making sure no one else is trying to listen in on us. Good, no one's being nosy.
"Did you meet him yet?" Yui asks, knowing full-well that my friend is me. Looks like the cat's out of the bag… God, just as I thought life couldn't get any worse. Grandpa and Mom assured me that he isn't a delinquent, but do they really know for sure? Statistically, foster kids are more likely to end up as Villains. Inochi could be a good guy, but I can't one hundred percent know that. Chances are, he's a disrespectful jerk that I wanna punch.
"Nope, he's coming tomorrow. Watch, he'll be a delinquent. Ugh, God… Currently, you are my only anchor to sanity. Thanks for dealing with a girl like me," I say, smiling slightly. Yui nods and hums. What did I do to deserve someone like her? She doesn't complain about me. Even though she says a few words, she knows exactly what to say.
"Hey Kendo, I couldn't help but hear your conversation…" Ito, one of the more persistent boys in my class, butts into our conversation. He has a crush on me, and frankly, the way he goes about it is kinda creepy. "I… uh… can help with that delinquent… Gotta hammer the nail that sticks out, right?"
"I can hammer him myself, Ito, but thanks," I tell him. He awkwardly smiles and backs away nearly into a desk. He's uh… definitely nervous. I wouldn't mind otherwise, but there's just something off about him. Anyway, I look back at Yui who's just staring at Ito. (Good thing no guy tries to make any advances on Yui, otherwise they'll have to meet my fist.)
Yui shakes her head and turns to me. "So… He's joining our class, right? It sounds like he's the same age as us."
"Yup and yup. I almost forgot, but his name is Sanji Inochi. I don't even know what he looks like, Yui," I tell her, getting in close to whisper, "and if he's like half the guys in school, then I'm going to hurt him."
"Oh c'mon, he can't be that bad!" Tokage exclaims across from us. Seriously?! She was listening in too?! She doesn't have a right to comment on this… If anything, she's the reason why I'm sour. Tokage gets up and stands in front of us. "This guy, Inochi right? He wants to be a Pro, so we can assume he's a nice person. Could be a cutie too."
I grumble, laying my chin on my arms. "Frankly Tokage, have you seen some Heroes nowadays? Yeah, they're Heroes, but they're also jerks. I'm sorry that I'm not having much faith in him, but it's hard. He might be your type though. You two gonna get married and have kids?"
"Nah, you're living with him already. I'd rather not take this boy from you. Watch, he'll be the envy of the school. We both know how many guys have a crush on you and Kodai," Tokage says, naturally drifting to love and relationships. I don't know why she keeps mentioning it, but it's annoying. It's like she's compensating for something.
"Can you not obsess over my relationship? Don't you have something better to do? Like, you know, being a capable heiress?" I snap at her. Tokage puts her hands up and takes a step back, showing her jagged teeth.
"Right in the heart, Kendo! I got the message just fine. I'll leave you two be. Tomorrow, there will be a reckoning once the guy comes. Can't wait to meet him!" Tokage takes her bag and leaves. Good, I don't have to worry about that snake anymore. She's too much of a perfect girl. That's why she beat me in the Recommendation Exams. Even without her father's influence, she's just…flawless in general.
"She's trying to be nice, Itsuka," Yui tells me, and I know. I totally know that, but doesn't she see it?
"There's something off about her, Yui. I mean, someone can't be that good at life. Tokage is just…you know what I'm trying to say. Anyway, I need to take my mind off of this. I need to relax, so wanna just roam around the city?" I offer.
"Sure."
"Eee."
"Yui, if you want to act scared, you should try moving your body...and be a bit louder."
"Eeeeee."
"That jumpscare literally knocked the shoes off of a man once, and your friend didn't even flinch! She doesn't get scared much, does she?" the worker asks, watching in amazement with me. Let's see though…nope. I have no idea what terrifies Yui. She loves cute things, so maybe something creepy? Eh… At least this VR store is pretty neat. Personally, I wouldn't be able to do what Yui's doing. I would scream so much, especially since there's clowns in that game.
"She's the most fearless girl I know. Honestly, if she gets scared, then I'll be terrified outta my mind. Or, if she shows any feeling that isn't indifferentness. She's still my best friend though," I tell him, walking up and pulling the VR headset off of her. Yui looks at me unimpressed/indifferent as always.
"Hi," she says.
I reply, "Hi, Yui. C'mon, we bothered the poor worker enough." I usher her out of the store, thanking him on the way out. He simply smiles and lets us be on our merry way. We go back out to one of the shopping districts of Musutafu. It's an amazing place with a low crime rate, beautiful districts, and of course, U.A. High School. Grandpa always lived here. He created the Dojo to help train future martial artists. He's personally training me since I'm his granddaughter, and aiming to be a Pro like him and Dad. For far back as the Kendos go, we are a city family thriving on being the best fighters in the world. Well, for Mom, she became one of the best support scientists. She even made Dad's motorcycle and outfitted it for heroism. One day, I'm going to use it just like him.
Let's see, what else can we do though? We can check out the latest western comic books, or watch an action movie. What would Yui like though? Maybe a shop dedicated to animal plushies and toys. Or a clothing store. She's a little bit of a fashionable girl. Don't know why since she looks cute in virtually anything. I got enough money to sustain us… Oh, speaking of sustaining, we could go to a cafe. But, that also increases the chance of us getting harassed by a guy. Eh, I can always protect Yui. What's nearby—?
"Hey! Watch where the hell you're going!" A middle-aged man in front of us yells. Oh, a guy in a white hoodie and a black backpack accidentally bumped into him. He's scrambling on the ground to pick up his phone, but the man takes it before he can. "Do you know who I am, kid?!"
Hoodie whimpers, taking a step back. He stammers, "I-I'm so sorry! I… I'm just—"
"Just what?! I could ruin you, you know! I work for Hawks! He could tear your future apart," the asshole threatens him. Seriously?! Did he have to make a commotion on the middle of the street? Hoodie looks like he's my age. He must be nervous out of his mind! Doesn't help that this guy here is tormenting him.
"Uhm… C-Can you—?"
"Don't—!"
"Hey, that's enough!" I stand out from the crowd, getting their attention. The man stares at me like I'm a threat to this imaginary power. Hoodie looks at me too, bowing his head slightly either from shame or anxiety. I tell the man, "Give him his phone back. I'm sure that someone here is recording this. It'll be a shame if Hawks catches wind. You could lose your job. We don't want that, do we?"
The man stutters some kind of insult out before throwing Hoodie's phone at him. He catches it as the other guy storms off flustered and embarrassed. Good, I handled that situation well. I walk up to Hoodie with Yui as everything slowly gets back to normal. I ask him, "You okay? You seem a bit rattled."
"Heh… K-Kinda. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. I'm… I'm new to Musutafu, so everything's pretty much new," he shakily says, holding his phone to his chest. I barely catch a glimpse of Hoodie's hair. I think it's black and white. He can't maintain eye contact, but his eyes are gray. He's attractive in a cute, anxious boy kind of way. (Yui is silent like always.)
"Heh, Musutafu can get overwhelming quick. Glad you ran into me rather than someone who'll take advantage of you. So Hoodie, what's your name?" I ask him, briefly looking over at his phone. Damn, his phone's cracked from the fall. I feel even more sorry for him. Alone, lost, and nervous in a giant city? It's a recipe for disaster.
"Oh! Uhm… My name… Name… I'm sorry, I'm just so nervous… Can I calm down first before I tell you it? B-Because my heart feels like it's gonna explode. I hope you c-can understand," Hoodie says with a shy little smile on his face. Okay, I'm not going to let this guy roam around Musutafu by himself. I hope Yui doesn't mind an extra person in our group. (She doesn't look like she minds, but she doesn't look like anything most of the time.)
"It's fine. I'll just call you 'Hoodie' 'til we get your name. If you wanna complete the naming scheme, then call me 'Fists' and my friend here 'Size'. Anyway, how about I treat you to some famous Musutafu ice cream? Well, it's not exactly famous, but it's delicious nonetheless," I ask him, but I'm not giving him an option. Hoodie is getting ice cream with us whether he likes it or not.
"You really don't have to! I can p-pay for it myself. I don't wanna be a b-burden, you know? It's not right for me," he says exactly what I think he'll say. Not only Hoodie's anxious, he's also a really decent guy. I wonder what brings him out to Musutafu of all places? Maybe it's for U.A.? Japan needs people like him.
"Hoodie, you can't argue with Fists. She's stubborn," Yui warns him, and she's completely right. Hoodie can't talk himself out of this. With how his eyes look, he knows it. He'd better see the stubborness in my two God-given eyes. He sighs and nods, letting me take control of him. I pat his shoulder and I take him to the nearest vendor. Yui points one out after a few minutes of walking. It's a mochi stall. Ooo, there's coffee-flavored mochi. I know what I'm getting! And, it's really cheap too. Perfect! Hoodie gets his first positive introduction into Musutafu that isn't a screaming man on a power trip.
We wait in line. Hoodie has his hands in his pockets. He's calmed down a bit. He's not as jittery as before. Yui is staring at a picture of mango mochi, can't blame her. Other than coffee, orange is the most delicious color. Hmm, back on Hoodie, I wanna get to know him better. He might go to my school. Heck, if we both get into U.A., he might be in my same class! I ask him, "Hoodie, you aiming to be a Hero? You look like you're the same age as me, and most teenagers in Musutafu want to be one."
Hoodie answers, "Y-Yeah… It's why I moved here actually… I can tell you and Size want to be Heroes too. I-I kinda have to ask though, but from the nicknames you told me… It seems like those are your Quirks… You can do something with your fists, a-and Size can alter size, right?" He got it. What kind of Quirk does he have? From his physique, he's pretty fit. He's way taller than me too. It's funny seeing him so shy when I'm literally forcing him to get ice cream with me. Hmm, don't think I can figure it out. It's not blatant like a Mutant-type Quirk.
"Yeah, Fists can enlarge her fists. She can punch out a concrete wall if she tried. I almost died, that's how we met," Yui explains, and she's right too. When we first met at the beginning of middle school, I was testing out my strength on a concrete wall. Unbeknownst to me, she was on the other side of the wall. Long story short, Mom yelled at me, Grandpa was proud, and I made a best friend.
"Heh… sounds l-like a fun story to tell," Hoodie comments, smiling. He slightly glances at me, letting me see more of his black and white hair. As I see it, his hair is more white than black, but I'm not sure. He does have a hood on. For all I know, the tufts of hair I see are the only ones there, and the rest of his head is just pure baldness. Anyway, it's time for us to order. I go ahead and—
"M-Mister… Can you help me?" A little boy tugs on Hoodie's jeans. He's crying. Hoodie gets down on one knee, getting face-to-face with him.
"What's wrong?" he asks in a soft voice, trying not to upset him further.
"I-I'm lost… I dunno where my Mommy and Daddy's at…" the boy says, wiping away his tears. Hoodie nods and looks at the vendor. No, he looks at the menu for some reason before pulling out his wallet.
"We'll find them. For n-now, you should get something sweet. Want mango? O-Or maybe strawberry?" Hoodie offers. I would step in by now, but jeez… When I think that he couldn't be even more of a good person, he gets better. Who are this kind soul's parents? I want to thank them for raising their son like this.
"M-Mango, please…" Hoodie nods and tells the vendor that, but the vendor isn't accepting the money, offering to give the mochi for free. Hoodie, despite everything, insists that he pay because "it's the least" he could do. Before they could get into an argument, the vendor shoves the mochi in his hands. Hoodie sighs and gives the boy the mochi, letting him eat it. Without a second thought, he takes off his hood and lifts him onto his shoulders, higher than the crowd of people.
"See your parents anywhere?" he asks, looking up at him. The boy shakes his head. He searches for his parents with a delicious treat in his mouth. Okay… Maybe I'm wrong. Hoodie is an angel sent from God. I look at Yui and she looks back. We both have the same look in our eyes. This guy is great, our eyes say.
"Let's go walk around," I tell Hoodie. With a nod, we do that. The four of us walk around the district, looking for the boy's parents. While Hoodie and the boy were looking for the parents, Yui and I were searching for any officers. The parents would've gone to them immediately to report a lost child. It took about thirty minutes, but we find an officer. Hoodie puts the boy down while the officer calls it in. Ten minutes later, we get to meet the parents. His mom runs up to his son crying tears of joy while the father shakes our hands, thanking us for finding him. We all say it was our pleasure. Well, I do. Yui and Hoodie simply hum. After all of that excitement and no mochi unfortunately, I think we should call it a day.
I take my two friends off to the side, saying, "So, great job Heroes! We rescued our first child. I'm kidding of course, but Size and I gotta get home, Hoodie. Oh, do you know where you live? I might escort you there myself considering how clueless you were earlier."
Hoodie nervously chuckles, scratching the back of his head. (I get to finally admire his hair. I was right: It's mostly white. His fluffy hair trails forward, being slightly unkempt and a bit spiky in some areas. Some tufts of his hair covers parts of his forehead. Most of it, like before, is white with some of it being black. I estimate it being a seventy-thirty percent split. If Hoodie wasn't so nervous, I'd bet he would look like a mature man.) "I-I would say 'you don't have to', but look what happened… Anyway uhm... I live here."
He shows me the GPS on his phone and…
…
Huh, I should've known. I turn to Yui who sees it too. I say, "Well Yui, looks like I'm going home. See you at school tomorrow."
"Fists…? Y-You really are gonna escort me back? R-Really! You don't have to! It must be out of your way! I can use m-my GPS to take me there! Please, don't—!"
"No, Inochi. It's not 'out of my way'. It's in my way. In fact, that's where I live. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Itsuka Kendo, Master Kendo's granddaughter, and this is Yui Kodai, my best friend," I finally greet him with a big smile. Yui smiles too. I want to take back everything I said about him earlier. Inochi is a great person. Not a delinquent by any means. Let's hope he doesn't hear the things I said though...
Inochi, meanwhile, is dead quiet. "..."
"Itsuka, I think you broke him."
"Really, that's how we met. Biggest, but the best coincidence in my life. Heh, that's where it all began. That's where I knew he would make a great Hero. But..."
