A Whimsical Complex
Summary: Just like there are two sides to every coin, Kohaku realises that certain things about life were inseparable from one another. All it took was the most driven person that hid his inferiority complex and the most overbearing that proclaimed his superiority complex over others, to show her that maybe choosing this profession on a whim wasn't such a bad idea after all. OC/?
Disclaimer: No Copyright Infringement Intended.
Prologue
Above and Beyond.
Plus Ultra.
.
Going above and beyond
A life loaded with urgency
Distant and withdrawn
From a state amidst uncertainty
Going above and beyond
A system pilling up with normality
Pleasant and well-known
Yet a single dream — remained
Rooted well in an amber core
Ringing every now and then
Reminding her again and again.
.
Everyone had their noble reasons to join U.A. High School to become the greatest heroes; increasing their already powerful quirks, wanting to be rewarded for their valiant acts to running after the popularity that came with the said profession.
However, in a world where chaos and confusion happened now and then, such a profession meant putting your life on the line was the norm. Something a lot of youngsters often overlooked as the concept of becoming a hero in this society was cool. It was something everyone had dreamt about. At least as a fleeting thought, a daydream in their tedious lives. Only those with the courage to take on that first step in applying to the greatest hero academy were able to become popular heroes for the faithful people.
While the concept of being a hero was something Kohaku understood to a certain extent, the reality of being one herself was far more complex than she had thought on a whim. Actually becoming a hero was a thought she could think about after graduation and experiencing more from this world. Right now she was too oblivious of the dangers that came with profession all she wanted to experience was a dream every junior high student had—attending the most prestigious hero Academy, U.A. High.
It was supposed to be simple for a 14 turning 15-year-old girl. All she had to do was to tell her parents that she wanted to go to the most prestigious hero Academy in the country and train in the department of heroes. She had already researched all the steps for the entrance exams and what was needed for one to excel in the academy.
But, what was once a simple wishful dream turned into complete despair.
"You're quirk is not suited for a hero,"
Her father was the first person that rejected her small dream, with a single glance and a strict tone. His blank expression behind his sturdy glasses combined with his ticking watch that reflected off the glass dining table gave her what she was already expecting from him.
No chance.
Objection.
Not against my authority.
The finality of his stern voice meant that there was no room for arguments. Nothing would change his ways. Nothing whatsoever.
"I know! But, it's because of my quirk that I want to..." Kohaku retorted clenching onto her fist ignoring the silence that came right after her statement.
What's the point of having a quirk if I barely use it!
"Kohaku dear, being a hero in this day and age is...well let's just say that out there in the real world there are so much more professions that are suited for a pretty, young and intelligent individual like yourself,"
Her mother tried to explain why he had to break her heart with his raw rejection beneath that rigid composure.
"I mean if you really want to go to the most prestigious school then a private school would be best. You wouldn't want to be around people that are far too gusty and improper?"
A broaden smile making its way across her lips as if what her daughter had said out of nowhere was nothing but a light joke to brighten up the mood of the dining table. She had already negotiated which high school her daughter would go to, and what career she should pursue after.
Kohaku mentioning U.A. High School after all the negotiation was amusing, to say the least. Clearing her throat she briefly turned to her husband and leaned over to whisper her words of wisdom.
"As I mentioned earlier on, a quirk is not meant to be understood, rather used to your advantage. Nothing more, nothing less."
Kohaku avoided her mother's gaze and waited for her father to take back his statement of her quirk. A quirk she manifested from him; the ability of a natural purifier through the use of the amber stone instilled into her core.
An ability she was grateful for. The only thing she was ever glad to inherit beside the comfort of having a family.
An ability she barely understood. The only reason why the idea of applying to a professional hero school was so fascinating to her.
An ability she wanted to understand and use to save others just like he did many years ago. Like many others, having a hero save your day and make a difference in your life and the way you continue to live your life was something she had hoped to do the same.
Making a difference with her unique ability that had infinite potential if it was used. It was supposed to be that simple. But, when it came to parents and their ways of thinking what's best for their children, Kohaku's thoughts and dreams were invalidated.
Somehow she sort of expected this outcome. Going to a hero Academy just to know more about her quirk was absurd and completely undermined those that saw U.A. High as a chance to become actual top heroes that served the nation.
"Maybe if you weren't born into this family and had a hero-like quirk,"
Her older sister, Hanako had sneered at her the same evening in Kohaku's room.
"I mean think about it, Kohaku. A spoiled little brat like yourself risking your life for others? Really? Is that what you want? When you pretty much have everything a 15-year old could only dream of?"
"What's it to you...it's not like anyone ever listens to what I say," Kohaku bit into her lips and closed her diary.
What kind of quirks were even considered hero-like?
No one understood her in this family. No one tried to understand why she desperately wanted to do this one thing that mattered to her.
"I-I'm going to UA Academy," and no one is going to stop me.
"Yeah and I'm going to be part of the upcoming Fashion Week as a renowned runaway model," Hanako laughed aloud tossing her long blonde hair back in the most exaggerated way.
"You don't get it, Hanako and you never will because unlike you I'm not going to listen and be whatever they want me to be," Kohaku snapped back, raising herself from her seat.
There was only so much she could take in from all their negativity. Her eyes glowed a bright amber embodying her anger and the amount of negative energy she had endured the entire day.
"I'd rather do something useful with my quirk than let it rot, like the rest of you!"
"Maybe it's you that doesn't get how anything runs around here. A spoiled little brat like you will never last in the real world where being a hero is so much more than being in the spotlight— " Hanako scoffed at her attempt of standing up to her.
A slow tear flowing out from her little sister had stopped Hanako from saying any more. Maybe she might have gone overboard with teasing her. But, the problem with Kohaku was sometimes she'd get carried away with her ideas, emotions and the flashy stuff that came with her youth.
"I'll go okay. Kohaku?" she lifted her brows waiting for a response and shrugged at the resonating stillness of the room.
"Just to let you know there's no chance they'd pick someone like you."
Kohaku lacked the energy to even say anything back to her and turned away from her single-minded older sister. She rubbed her bitter tears and waited for Hanako to leave. For each second her older sister stood there felt like the adversity of winter. The stillness of the room and the foreboding sensation that she was going numb if she remained the way she was expected to. Obedient like a functioning puppet and similar to the society that gave up on setting themselves apart from each other.
She grasped onto her chest wincing at the discomfort of her quirk. Throbbing against her will — calling out for Kohaku. It wasn't until Hanako left the room did Kohaku sensed her heart sinking to the ground and her body slumping to the wooden floorboard a second later.
For a moment she sat there blanking out in her quiet room. All alone in the evening gloom with nothing to soothe her disheartened heart. Perhaps her parents and sister had a point. She was clinging on to something ridiculous and a vague dream. At this point in her life, she had no clue what to do next.
The deafening silence was interrupted by the buzzing of her vibrating phone on the table. Her small moment of clouded sadness was suspended as she jolted back into reality with the sudden noise shattering her like a warm candle.
Kohaku immediately stared at the grey door anticipating for the worst until she was surprised with another buzzing sound. She stretched out her hands and reached out for her phone. She noticed the number of missed messages she had received from her close friends. The group chat filled with the latest gossip and memes from the all-girls' junior school she currently attended.
She rolled her eyes at the bizarre pictures they had sent on the chat and continued to hover through the other apps notifications.
What caught her attention the most was the news announcement headline.
Breaking News: All Might has done it again! Bringing about a rain of hope, and saving a junior highschooler with merely a single strike.
Kohaku clicked on to the news article and skimmed read the latest report on the symbol of peace. All Might was always on the move, saving the day and increasing the popularity of heroes. It was thanks to him that people were able to do extraordinary things with their quirks. She wondered if he ever got exhausted from the same tedious task every day.
She paused her train of thoughts running off and double-tapped the image of the junior highschooler who was praised in the article. There was something about the way his sharp red eyes appeared sullen as if he was shying away from the camera. Yet with the way he frowned and the way reporters huddled over him admiring his bravery, she was sure he was probably not familiar with the attention.
He was someone that had an incredible quirk suited for heroes. With such a quirk, it was inevitable to receive all sorts of attention.
"Must be nice," to have everyone fawn over you.
Realising that she was envious of his quirk and the fact that people were praising him for it — for having a quirk that only ever depends on luck and inheritance — she quickly placed her phone back onto her desk and ascended from the pits of blue. Thinking about such things would do her no good. Kohaku knew what she had to if she was ever going to be free from such bitter feelings overwhelming her completely.
She turned to her laptop, the blaring light waiting for her to continue what she had begun before being interrupted by her older sister. The answer was right there on the screen, the blue and white stark website and her incomplete application to U.A. High.
"It's now or never!"
Everyone had their honest reasons to become a hero and for Kohaku, it wasn't the spotlight she was after like her family had speculated.
For Kohaku, becoming a hero or at least going to the prestigious hero Academy meant that she'd figure out why her quirk was the way it was. Figure out the world of heroes and the unpredictable life that followed the profession behind the scenes of fame. The profession and the school that was going to change her life completely. Something she chose on a whim and grasped onto overlooking her parent's worried wishes.
What Kohaku had forgotten was that a lot of heroes had stories from their younger days, a common aspect they all had was that their bodies reacted well before they had to think about their actions, speech and consequences of what was to come next.
A/N: Kind of wanted to write an OC/? fic and with a few characters that are so alike in many ways (Bakugou + Monoma and Todoroki as an afterthought) I somehow came up with an idea for A Whimsical Complex.