She was Satsuki Kiryuin.
Sixteen years old.
Class representative of Shiketsu High School's class 2-A.
A nearly perfect grade point average since elementary school.
Dual championship titles in Kenjutsu and Kendo, having deposed every adversary in the young adult bracket two years running.
And her Quirk?
Her Quirk remained, as ever, the same.
Despite the overwhelming wealth at her mother's disposal, Ragyo Kiryuin's office was surprisingly spartan. Its appearance betrayed one with a finer taste rather than someone who bought artwork and miscellaneous items simply because they had money to spend. That was not to say her mother didn't spend frivolously. The sculptures near the door. The ancient books on the glass shelves to her right. The imported granite tiles. The chairs stitched with genuine leather from Italy. Her mother's taste was unique. It was in this setting she'd found herself summoned. A message at six oh one in the morning. A minute after she woke up. She'd quickly taken a shower, put on her pressed school uniform, informed the principal she would be leaving for the day and stepped into the company car waiting outside the academy's gates.
"Your grades have remained steady despite your extracurricular activities."
As one of Shiketsu's wealthiest benefactors, her mother sat on the school's board of trustees.
But the CEO of Revocs was generous, magnanimous and compassionate. Instead of using her position to her advantage, her mother refused to partake in anything involving Shiketsu's curriculum. That did not mean, however, if she wanted, Ragyo Kiryuin wasn't above obtaining her school records prior to their official release. For there existed a world of difference between the Ragyo Kiryuin who donated hundreds of millions of yen per year to various charities and educational funds and the dangerously cunning woman sitting behind her desk with a printed copy of her end of term grades in front of her.
A difference involving countless innocent lives, innumerable crimes and connections to every syndicate inside and outside the country.
"Despite my initial reservations, you're well on your way to graduating summa cum laude," they both knew what she meant. And if it weren't obvious, the mocking disdain radiating from her mother's matronly voice and the slight narrowing of maroon eyes provided an excellent rebuttal, "I suppose that's adequate."
Adequate.
For as long as she could remember, nothing she'd achieved with her own blood, sweat and tears had risen above the level of merely adequate.
The only praise she'd ever earned had been the day their personal doctor informed her mother she'd inherited the Kiryuin Quirk.
"I strive to do my best," Satsuki genuflected enough to demonstrate respect, but not enough to prostrate inferiority.
It was the nominal answer.
And one her mother accepted.
"That being said," the subtle tapping of a manicured fingernail drew her attention. She didn't doubt her mother had digital copies of her end of term marks on her computer. Printing out copies was a waste of resources, yet gave physical emphasis. An appreciable amount of time passed in forced silence as Ragyo Kiryuin flicked through the papers, examining them with an amused smirk, "I didn't summon you to discuss your grades," a suit of purest white, its matching blazer and waistcoat doing little to hide a matronly physique envied by most woman, made from the finest fabrics in the world, confessed everything as piercing maroon eyes shifted upwards, "I wish to know what you plan to do this summer."
A question.
Yet her mother already knew the answer.
"My plans haven't changed," which was why she spoke the truth, "I intend to continue my work-study at Yoroi Musha's agency," if she'd truly wanted, she could have interned under Endeavor. Or any of the top ten heroes, the exceptions being All Might and Mirko. Most professional heroes would betray their colleagues and allies to have Ragyo Kiryuin's daughter at their agency. Humanity was naturally greedy. Heroes were no different. There were exceptions, of course, but she'd yet to meet one, "I've already spoken with his sidekick. They've agreed to accept my application – "
"Without consulting me?"
Satsuki nearly bit her tongue.
"Forgive me," seeking to dissolve the situation, she apologized, "I didn't believe such matters were worthy of your time."
"Oh?"
But it appeared an apology simply wasn't sufficient. Lips on a flawless face twenty-five years younger than her genuine age quirked into a smirk, "You presumed I, your mother, didn't care about your well-being?"
She opened her mouth to answer yet quickly thought otherwise.
"Oh, Satsuki," the breathless enunciation trailed down her spine like cold fingers, "When are you going to grow out of this ridiculous childish phase?" it was a question normally asked by a parent concerned about their child's well-being. And perhaps something resembling concern clung to her mother's voice as a lamprey does to a shark or fish. But it was nothing more than a façade, "As your mother, I have nothing but your best interests in heart. Everything I do, I do for you, Satsuki. Or have you forgotten everything I've sacrificed?"
Her voice didn't waver, "I have not."
Cold maroon eyes expressed disappointment.
"But there comes a time when a mother must put her foot down," she took the insult in stride. It was the same argument they'd had every semester since she'd gotten into Shiketsu on academic recommendation, "I allowed you to attend Shiketsu because I believed you'd eventually outgrow your puerile fantasies. But I see that was a mistake," Ragyo's permanent smirk faltered, exposing the frustration bubbling underneath the surface, "Needless to say, my patience has reached its limit. I've indulged your little rebellion long enough. It's time you start thinking about your future."
Her future.
She knew exactly what that meant.
"You've spoken your mind on this subject several times," while her heart skipped a single beat, Satsuki kept her voice perfectly measured, not a syllable or word spoken with anything less than absolute conviction, "But rest assured, I've taken your opinion into consideration and no longer intend to pursue professional heroism," for the first time in what must have been weeks, a silver eyebrow quirked, the only sign her mother was genuinely listening, "Once I graduate, I intend to pursue a double major in business management and finance at Tohoku University."
She waited.
An eternity passed as she waited for her mother's response.
"Hmm, very well, I suppose I can indulge your whims a little longer," aware of her daughter's subtle reactions, Ragyo stood up, lithe muscles betraying impossible strength effortlessly raising her six-and-a-half-foot frame, "Provided, of course, you inform this…Yoroi Musha…" her mother didn't forget the hero's name. Her mother didn't forget anything, "…that your hobby won't last much longer."
Satsuki closed her eyes, "I will inform him as soon as possible."
"Good."
And with that, the subject was finally dropped, "Is that everything, mother?"
"No."
Her eyes momentarily widened before resuming their former expression. Of course. She'd accepted her mother's invitation anticipating another confrontation concerning her future, but that did not mean she was surprised. Her mother didn't rise to the pinnacle of power through self-abasing carelessness. Every action Ragyo Kiryuin took had a purpose. Absolutely nothing was wasted. Even now, standing behind her desk, speaking with such mocking derision one might almost confuse it with amusement, there was not a single opening in Ragyo Kiryuin's mental or physical defenses. Ruthless. Cunning. Merciless. The public naively believed her mother's brilliant business acumen was the reason behind Revocs' meteoric ascent from a humble support gear company to the third most powerful conglomerate on the planet.
But that was only a fraction of the truth.
"As you're aware, I-Expo is right around the corner," forcefully drawn from her thoughts by a familiar clack, Satsuki indifferently observed her mother strut across the office. Icy blue eyes shifted as the older woman walked towards the windows, each step possessing boundless grace and decorum, "It's the opportunity to demonstrate our superiority over worthless fools. Our competitors spend countless billions developing cutting-edge technology, hoping to break our stranglehold on the international markets. Alas, every year, thanks to dearest Nui's undeniable genius and my leadership, they unfortunately fail."
Self-righteous mirth dripped from her mother's soul as pale skin and maroon eyes reflected ominously upon the tinted glass.
And in that pause, Satsuki took a chance.
"It's a shame the high-order tailor is far too modest to demonstrate her creations on the world stage," a backhanded insult disguised as a genuine compliment.
Multicolored light radiated from her mother.
A light so powerful it filled the office, leaving no room for shadows to gather.
Yet Satsuki, despite that undeniably malevolent pressure, didn't react.
She remained unyielding.
And after a moment, her mother's cruel eyes shifted back to the window, "Hmm, yes, the whims of an artiste are fickle," the length of time that followed such an otherwise innocuous admission could be measured in seconds, "Satsuki, what is the difference between Revocs and Detnerat?"
A trick question.
"Yotsubashi focuses on designing individualized gear and clothing for those unable to afford or purchase standardized equipment," after so many times, repeating the answer Ragyo Kiryuin wished to hear was as easy as breathing, "But what is standard? There is no standard but what we choose. Revocs caters to the masses. We treat the customers not as though they're different, simply that their Quirks require individualized attention and care," each word had been rehearsed and practiced countless times until Satsuki didn't need to so much as think, "That is why we stand above the inferior masses clad in our generosity like pigs in human clothing. It is why no matter how many pathetic dregs he recruits into his pathetic army of sheep, no matter how hard he attempts to flood the black market, Yotsubashi will never stand shoulder to shoulder with us."
Her eyebrows knitted.
She waited, passive and silent.
And eventually her mother turned aside, lips quirked into a ruthless and monstrously cold smile.
"You desire to stand atop my shoulders, do you? Well, if you wish to take my throne, you'll need to start showing yourself to our clients and competitors. Not as Junketsu or whatever childish name you've chosen, but as Satsuki Kiryuin," there was no mistaking the biting undertone, "I may not believe in nepotism, but that does not mean I won't at least hold open the door," a sensuous chuckle followed the backhanded insult, "Since you apparently have nothing better to do this summer, you will be accompanying me to I-Expo."
It was not a question or request.
It was a demand.
"As you wish," she kept herself from asking further unnecessary questions, for there was nothing she could say to change her mother's mind, "Am I allowed to bring a plus one?"
Ragyo tilted her head, shifting the beams of light filling her office.
"You'll be there as a representative of Revocs, not Shiketsu," heels clacked as she turned around, strutted back to her desk and sat down, lips quirked into a smile and thick eyebrows knitted in amusement, "I don't care who you bring with you, simply that they don't embarrass Revocs. Now, unless there's something you wish to discuss, I think we're finished…"
Her mother trailed off.
But the implications were obvious.
"No, there is nothing else."
When she turned around, Hououmaru was already waiting. Her mother's personal assistant said nothing as a dark-skinned hand latched onto the handle and effortlessly opened the thick mahogany doors, granting her passage to the empty corridor and the elevators beyond. Her heels snap-clacked on polished marble reflected her warped visage. Sconces flushed the hallway with warm orange light. The sound of her breathing was faint, almost undetectable as the elevators opened and the former heroes Ragyo Kiryuin hired as her bodyguards waited for her to step inside. Heroes who lacked the genuine qualities possessed in abundance by All Might. Greedy and avaricious fools who cared more about money than fulfilling their obligations.
The perfect examples of Chizome Akaguro's philosophy wearing her mother's uniforms.
But she said nothing.
She confessed nothing.
Yet as the elevator closed, the slightest hint of hatred simmered in her eyes.