Breaking News: Number One Hero All Might is dead.
For a few seconds, one could mistake this as a common occurrence. A regularly scheduled news program that may linger in the peoples' minds for a few hours, soon to be forgotten. For a few seconds, when it was just words on a billboard screen. Not syllables formed by a human tongue. For a few seconds, New York continued its protected monotony In the early hours of this fateful day. Children went to school and teenagers rode the subway. Parents prepared their coffee and tea, and workers went to work. For these last few, uncherished seconds the world was at peace.
"Breaking News: Number One Hero All Might is dead."
The buzz of foot-traffic and small talk continued for a few more moments before it began to taper off. An exponential wave of quiet and stillness overtook the world, but no one could mistake it for a peaceful silence. Not when everybody was looking up to see the tension and adrenaline written across the anchor's face as if he was scared he was about to be ripped apart by a mob outraged by the words he had never wished to speak. The epitome of the idiom 'don't shoot the messenger'.
"Number One Hero All Might was found dead in an apartment in Long Beach, California at 5:29 in the morning on May 8th."
The time was 7:46 on the morning of May 8th.
"Police confirm there was a struggle, based upon the multiple blood splatters found in the living area. The officials have released a statement declaring their search for individuals with a quirk-nullification quirk. If you have any information, please contact this number–"
The screen suddenly turned black, allowing citizens to murmur in denial and disbelief. The speakers blared static before they went quiet once again as a spotlight appeared on the screen. A group of five figures were silhouetted in black against the white and gray background. The city began to grow louder as citizens began to argue whether this was real, a dream, or some sick prank. People began to push and shove, but before a riot began the man who seemed to be the leader opened his mouth, as if he had planned this sequence of events.
"People of this quirk-saturated world," His voice seemed normal. Not low or high. Not demanding or charismatic. In it, though, slipped something smug. "I am Nihilist, the leader of the villain organization known as the Ghosts."
He paused as muttering, quieter than before, arose here and there.
"I am sure some of you have heard of us before. I intend to clear up any misconceptions you may have, though. We are not villains. We are the saviors of this world ransacked by serendipity and the unworthy. This world has been blinded by those who wish to continue their subjugation. This world of villains and heroes is a deterrent to evolution and advancement. Any misconstrued benefit is only that to those born lucky.
"We, my comrades and I, intend to dispel the disease known as quirks that has rendered bedridden the minds of the general populace from existence. We will not lie. There will be sacrifices, and some will be sacrificed. Sacrifice is necessary, though, for any who truly wishes to see change. That is why we killed All Might."
This time the crowd erupted in angry shouts. The speaker's message seemed to have the intended effect, though. Ad-libs of confusion undulated throughout the sea of people. Eventually, the noise settled into a conflicted silence. It seemed the Nihilist still had more to say.
"Please, do not resist. We take no joy in your sacrifice. However, we will do anything we must to make this dream a reality."
More and more lights appeared on the screen, revealing lines and lines of black silhouettes. Dozens, maybe even hundreds.
"...Kiara!"
Her head shot up as a hand slapped her desk, the impact echoing throughout the empty classroom.
Kiara attempted to open her eyes, only to find a blurry face in front of her.
"What?" She instinctually responded, voice tired and eyelids drooping.
"Wake up!" The hand came down once again. This time, Kiara winced as the sound split her ears. People in the hall were probably wondering what was going on.
"Quiet down, I'm awake," Kiara sighed as she rubbed her eyes.
"Well, you weren't a few seconds ago," Lily responded.
Kiara rolled her eyes before giving into the sudden urge to stretch. After she yawned and fluttered her eyes, she finally noticed the classroom was deserted besides the other two girls in the room.
"Is it lunch?" Kiara asked, standing up from her seat. She had to keep her legs from melting out from under her. She had slept through the whole last period.
"Yes, class got out five minutes ago. We told Mr. Greenwood that we would stay with you," Lily explained, gesturing to the other girl, Jacquie, who was checking her makeup in her hand-mirror. Kiara always got the impression that the blonde merely hated them the least out of everyone else in their grade. She would probably fit in better with the seniors anyway, if only the grades weren't separated by floor levels.
A buzz suddenly ran through Kiara's thigh. As she made her way to the doorway, she unzipped her leather skirt's pocket and fished her phone out.
It took her a few seconds to register the name under Caller ID: Qiang.
Fuck, why at school? Under her foremost thoughts, though, was a strange twinge of feeling.
"Hey," She said, turning back to the other girls. "I've got to go to the bathroom real quick. I need to take a call."
"Then let's go. It's on the way to the cafeteria anyway," Lily said, sidling up to her and hooking her arm through Kiara's. Before they continued, though, Lily called to the estranged member of the trio. "Come on, Jacquie."
The other girl rose without any hint of reluctance, though by the bright screen in her hand Kiara could guess at the extent to which she felt it.
They walked for a minute in small talk, Kiara entwined with Lily while Jacquie was walking with her head down and phone in her hands, before Lily asked the question.
"You've seemed really tired this year, Kiara. Why?"
Fuck. Kiara's heart began to race and she could feel drops of sweat forming on the back of her neck. At the same time, she could sense Jacquie's eyes on her for the first time that day.
"Uh," She couldn't think of an excuse that wouldn't make Lily worry, so she went with a half-truth instead. "I don't know. Just been really tired, I guess."
Lily looked skeptical, though, even if she didn't voice it. "Hm, makes sense."
If not for Lily's quizzical expression, though, Kiara would've missed the bathroom. She turned her face and pretended to look at Jacquie, who was once again typing away on her phone, so that Lily wouldn't see the flush of shame on her face. The plastic silhouette of a girl entered her vision, telling her it was time to abort.
"'Kay, then. Bye," Kiara did her best to sound jovial as she extricated herself from Lily, and slipped into the cordoned area of the bathroom as she heard Lily's parting "See ya."
She spent a few moments in front of the smudged bathroom mirror, splashing her face with water, before fishing her phone out of her pocket again.
After unlocking the phone screen and going to her contacts, Kiara scrolled to the 'Q's and put the device up to her ear after pressing the name 'Qiang'.
"You called?" She asked.
"Yes, Kiara," The voice on the other end acquiesced. "I didn't butt-dial you."
"Haha," Though the laugh was fake, the small smile that made its way onto Kiara's face was not. "Very funny. You know I'm in school, right? I thought we agreed you wouldn't contact me while I was at school."
"I know, but listen. The boy that you were talking about last time, the one that was constantly trying to get a date out of you?"
"Adrian?" Kiara's face quirked into a puzzled expression. "What about him?"
"The next time he asks you out, accept it. With our annou–"
"Wait, wait, wait! What–" Realizing that if anybody had walked by the bathroom they would hear her screeching about who knows what, Kiara turned her voice into a whisper yell. "What the hell do you mean 'accept it'?!"
"Okay, here me out. After the announcement, everybody's going to be on edge, at least for a bit. Anything that can be construed as strange is going to be overanalyzed."
"What's strange would be me going on a date with Adrian fucking Lexon!" Her face was flushed, though not from shame or shyness, but indignance.
"Just because you go on a date doesn't mean you're dating. It's not like he's asking for a kiss," Qiang reasoned. "Besides, if you don't want anyone else to know, ask him yourself."
"But, if I–okay, fine. I'll do it." Kiara muttered grudgingly.
"Good, thanks," And he did sound truly thankful. "How stubborn you are is stranger than anything."
"'Kay, bye," Kiara pretended not to hear that last part before she hung up. As she brought the phone down from her ear, a surge of guilt that had become a constant companion over the last two weeks welled up in her. Inexplicably, tears began to fill her eyes and she fell into a low squat. She hid her face in her knees and wrapped herself in her arms.
Her mind's voice lamented. Goddamnit.
"Okay, here me out. After the announcement, everybody's going to be on edge, at least for a bit. Anything that can be construed as strange is going to be overanalyzed."
Fumihito clicked a button on the console, and the monitor switched screens to show a blonde woman with sharp features and cat-like eyes. She was smiling as her hand fiddled with her hair.
"Excellent work, Minx." His tone was satisfied, but not congratulatory, as his word would imply.
"Of course, commissioner." The woman purred, seductive despite her background being a gray brick wall.
"You are to tail her twenty-four seven. Find out any information you can about the girl and the details of her connection with the Ghosts. Do whatever you need to."
"'Whatever', you say?"
Fumihito sighed, resigned to the woman's ways. He knew she would get the job done. That's all that mattered.
"Yes."
"Good," Seeing the gleam in Minx's eyes, Fumihito almost felt sorry for the younger girl. But she was one of them, so he easily squashed any shred of sympathy he might've had.
"By the way," Fumihito was just about to cancel the call before Minx spoke again. "What are the kiddies up to right now?"
Fumihito's smile was something sly as it took the place of a solemn line. "Preparing. Nothing can escape a raven in the night, not even a ghost."
AN: 'Ello. Wolf here with my first SYOC–unless you were here earlier. Ignore that. Anyway, first things first: If you have any interest in submitting a character to this story, please leave a review, so I know if people like this story enough for me to warrant continuing it. Anyway, everything you need to know about this story as well as the character sheet for this story is on my profile. And please remember to read the rules. I really would love to be able to continue this story, and the more you stick to the rules the more I'll be able to. And remember to have fun with your character creation!