The first incident was in Qingqin City, China, with news of the birth of a miraculous child who radiated light. Shortly thereafter, similar phenomena popped up all over the world. The tigger for these newfound powers was never determined, but as time progressed, what was once extraordinary became ordinary. Dreams became reality. Of the planet's population, around 80% have developed unique abilities, or 'Quirks'. We have entered a new age, a society of superhuman. In this world whirling in chaos, a certain profession that used to exist only in daydreams has stepped into the limelight. That of the Hero.
"Mom, dad…I'm aiming to become a hero. I'm sorry."
Why did I say that, you're wondering? After all, what kid wouldn't tell they're parents they wanna go for a job like that? High-paying, exciting, noble even. Everyone wants their kids to grow up to be heroes nowadays, so what's the problem? Why did I have to find all the courage I had to just look mom and dad in the face and say those words?"
Well, you see, it's cause my mom and dad, they're musicians. Mom's quirk, which is my quirk, it's called Earphone Jack. We've got these little plugs that extend down from our ears and we can use for all sorts of music stuff. Listening good, amplifying sounds, filtering. And since I was a kid, like Mom and Dad, I figured I'd be a music type too. I mean, that's what my quirk is good for, isn't it? And I like music, you see. It's not like I don't. I can play most instruments, I figured them out before I even finished learning how to read and write. That's not the problem.
Problem is…that's just not what I wanna be. What I wanna be is a Pro-Hero.
I can't really explain it. I don't have some big dramatic reason why I want to be a pro-hero and not play music for money. A lot of people love talking about how were inspired, as young kids, to do amazing things, and that made them perfect heroes. I don't have a story like that. I just knew. I knew that's what I wanted to be. And I couldn't stand the idea of disappointing Mom and Dad, so for a long time I never said a word about it.
But finally it was April of my senior year of middle school, and I couldn't keep quiet any more.
"Mom, Dad. I wanna become a hero. So I don't think I can become a musician. I'm sorry."
Mom, who kinda looks like me - we've both got dark hair, and long earphone jacks, looks over at dad. There's a moment of consideration. He looks back at her. Dad has long stringy blond hair and slacker clothes; he just looks like a punk rocker. You can tell. I sit there waiting. I'm terrified. I can't even look them in the eyes. My own are getting moist.
Dad reaches across the table and pats me on the head.
"Ah, come on! That's nothing to cry over. You're free to do whatever you like. Your mother and I chose to be musicians because we liked it so much, after all.
Mom chimes in. "At first, it was nothing more than "I like this" "This is cool" or "yay, I did it! Trivial stuff like that." But as you continue to play, you start thinking, 'What can I give to people with my sound?" When you put it that way, heroes and musicians aren't so different."
I found the courage to look up at them. They're smiling at me. In the end, I didn't have anything to fear. Mom and dad aren't mad at me. I'm good to go.
I'm going for it, too. My plan is UA. The Top institution of Heroes the world over. Everyone's favorite maker or breaker for Pros. That's my dream and that's my goal. One day, a year from now, I'm gonna stride into that school with my head held high.
