"The person who got the highest score on the math test was Mashirao Ojiro"The teacher announced to the class.
Mashirao's eyes widened in surprise and his tail wagged in pride. Kids behind him were clapping as more of a formality because they likely didn't care. The teacher beckoned him forward and he jumped up in anticipation. When he stood up he accidentally smacked the person sitting behind him with his tail. He blushed and apologized to the kid profusely.
The kid rubbed his cheek and glared at him while Mashirao smiled at him in embarrassment. As he went to receive a sticker from the teacher he heard the angry whispers behind him.
"Ojiro just hurt someone with that monster of a tail"
"He's a walking disaster"
His feet stopped moving and his hands felt cold. He stared at them in disbelief, the words settling in his heart. Then they noticed him staring and quickly stopped talking. He timidly looked away from the direction of the people who just spoke. He continued to walk toward the teacher, head down. The teacher didn't notice anything and gave him a smiley cat sticker. His head kept ringing with the words of his classmates. Mashirao's face flushed and the joy he felt for his good grade died a bit but then returned as he forgot about the incident.
At least he got a cute sticker.
He then walked back home and put the whispers out of his mind. The comments were to be expected since he had a mutant quirk. He knew it was natural but it also meant he was different. His tail swayed behind him and for the most part he liked his quirk. It was really beefy and muscular and was like an extra limb. But he felt so inferior to everyone else even though everyone else was struggling to learn control too. Sometimes he thought it's just a tail, shouldn't it be easier to control?
He returned home and locked the door. He slipped off his shoes and bound up the stairs to put his notebook in his drawer. His parents would be so happy to see the good work he's done.
Mashirao skipped downstairs to go see his mother. He wanted to show off his grade on the math test. He was one of the best students in the class, his teacher said he was learning fast. He was proud of how hard he worked. He wagged his tail excitedly and accidently knocked something over. He stared at the mess and then back at his mother waiting for impending doom.
"Mashirao not again!"His mother scolded him with an exasperated expression on her face.
She sighed as she looked at her son who knocked over the trash bin with his tail when he walked in. Mashirao just wanted to impress his mom and then it happened without warning. He felt very regretful and upset and whispered.
"I'm sorry"
He looked down in shame. His voice was really soft like the wind would take it away. He refused to meet her eyes. Why does he have to mess everything up? Maybe he was a walking disaster after all.
She was going to lecture him but he looked so deeply disappointed with himself that she let it slide. He was looking at her with that heartbreaking expression on his face that made her feel bad.
"Just try to control your tail better in the future,"She reminded him, trying to make her tone gentle.
Mashirao nodded and held his tail in his hands as a means of comfort and keeping it from moving. She then left the room worrying how this would affect her son. She knew her son was a good boy and would figure this out. She still worried as a mother but she decided that she best left this up to him.
Mashirao quietly sat down and looked at the floor. His tail was really big and hard to control, he didn't mean to make mom angry. He wanted to figure this out and wanted to do better. It was just he tried and it was difficult. Then he realized when has that stopped him before? He always tried his best to overcome challenges. That's what a hero would do.
He visited the quirk guidance counselor at his school later. And they suggested a mutant quirk specialist or doing exercise to improve coordination. Which was solid advice and had given him a clear path forward. He smiled in determination, he had a goal and he was going to obtain it.
He then saw flyers for a martial arts seminar on the school bulletin board for a martial arts seminar.
An idea sparked in his mind like wildfire. He read lots of books and many noted martial arts as a very useful and versatile skill. Why not use it to improve his quirk? He then took a flyer from the stack and slipped it in his backpack. The rest of the school day while studying he kept learning martial arts on the back of his mind.
After school, he sprinted to the dojo bouncing up and down in quiet excitement. This was going to be fun, martial arts is so cool. Eventually he skidded to a stop in front of a dojo. There was a big hulking man who smiled down at him.
"Here to see the seminar?" The man asked with a kind smile on his face.
Mashirao was taught how to be polite and how to treat other people so he nodded. He was still a stranger and Mashirao looked away, feeling shy.
"Have fun, good to see kids developing passions young"The man motioned for him to enter the building.
Mashirao nodded again smiling nervously. This was a stranger with whom he didn't know how to interact nevertheless he was excited. And he took the motion as a clear to enter the dojo.
He stepped inside to see many students adorned in gi with various colored belts. Teachers were instructing students on their technique. Teaching them new moves and trying to uplift their students.
He looked on excitedly at the opponents' various fighting styles, they were all so cool. One day he could be big and strong like that too.
He quietly imitated the moves as the head teacher went over them. The teacher noticed this and became curious. This child seemed to have determination and maybe talent and perhaps they could cultivate it. The teacher then spoke quietly to one of his students, asking if could spar with the potential future student. The student gave a light nod of affirmation and the teacher made their way over to Ojiro.
"Young man would you like to try sparring with someone more experienced?"The teacher asked politely.
Mashirao wasn't sure how to respond. Actually getting a chance to learn? That could be informative so he nodded vigorously.
"What's your name"The teacher asked gently.
"Mashirao Ojiro"Mashirao replied nervously clasping his hands as he looked at the teacher
"Ojiro, you can try sparring with the student over there"The teacher suggested pointing to a student who waved back.
"Really? Thank you so much!"Mashirao responded with a sparkle in his eyes and he gave a quick bow before leaving.
Mashirao was going against an older kid who seemed to have a good amount of experience. Mashirao carefully watched him as he fought, keeping on the defense and analyzing weaknesses.
Mahirao didn't win but he got a few hits in and he was proud that he paid attention and was able to hold his own even for a bit.
After a bit more practice Mashirao worked up the courage to ask a question.
"I was hoping that maybe you could help me control my tail better,"Mashirao asked timidly.
"How so?"The teacher questioned politely with a curious expression.
The Teacher pushed the question as it seems to be a sore spot with the young child. And they wondered why as he should be proud of his quirk. But they understood that living life with a mutant quirk was harder than most.
"Well it's so big and it hits everythings and I've hurt people with it"Mashirao's expression turned to one that contrasted his bright sunny disposition earlier.
He's hurt people and he's here to learn how not to hurt people. That was his goal and he needs help desperately to reach it.
The Teacher noticed how quiet he got and put a comforting hand on Ojiro's shoulder. Mashirao looked up in surprise.
"The tail is part of you and you need to accept it, yes it may cause harm but ultimately that tail is you and you can't deny that."
The Teacher hoped their words of encouragement would have an impact on a conflicted Ojiro. As it looked that his lack of control clearly tormented the young child. Mashirao contemplated the words for a moment then nodded in understanding.
"Ok I'll try"
He wanted control, he wanted to prove himself. If that included accepting the parts of himself that he didn't always like, then so be it. Sensei noted his determination as impressive and offered to teach Mashirao how to harness every part of his body and wield it. Mashirao accepted gratefully and now was a student.
He nearly screamed in joy when he got his martial arts gi in the mail a week later.
He was at the dojo after school a lot. He was dedicated to his training and wouldn't disappoint someone who had put in time and faith into him.
He was doing exercises with his tail that practiced hand eye coordination. Or rather tail eye coordination and he was learning more control. He was able to move the tail with more grace and speed and efficiency.
Control your tail, it's a part of you
Like storm winds that attack relentlessly
It's a tempest and you are the eye of the storm
Deep breathes, clear mind, peaceful heart, he could brave the challenge. He carefully juggled the ball with his tail keeping the movement consistent. Don't let your tail get too wild, calm movements, it's like learning to walk for the first time. Not too strong tosses, of the tempest will spiral out of his control. He managed to toss up the ball with his tail without dropping 15 times and he looked at his mom with a proud smile on his face.
"Good job Mashirao I'm proud of your hard work"His mom congratulated him with a smile on her face.
He grinned with pride at the statement and continued working through the drills. He would keep improving and he would gain total control of his tail. Because even if it caused him trouble the tail was his quirk and he was gonna make it his own.