The day I unlocked my quirk, everyone assumed it was a straightforward telekinesis ability. It seemed logical; all signs pointed to telekinesis. I could lift objects with my mind, check. Overexertion led to headaches and nosebleeds, check. There was a clear limitation – lifting objects significantly heavier than myself proved challenging, check. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that something about it was off. Quirks were meant to be an extension of oneself, after all. It wasn't until I turned eleven that I unearthed the hidden truth.
Seated amidst a chaotic assortment of nuts, bolts, and various objects in my room, I dedicated myself to training my quirk. The dream of becoming a hero burned within me, and if I aimed to earn a spot at Yuuei Academy, I had to master my quirk. In a world where countless aspiring heroes possessed similar abilities, I needed to be the best at utilizing mine.
I closed my eyes and fixated on the objects around me. They usually felt like seamless extensions of my thoughts, responding to my telekinetic control with an almost uncanny familiarity. However, this time, there was an inexplicable shift in the air, a sensation both alien and strangely recognizable. As I delved deeper into my own consciousness, it was as though the world itself held its breath, waiting for me to discover this hidden facet of my power.
In an almost surreal moment, I transitioned into an intangible state, like a specter slipping free from the physical world. The room I had known so well became distant, like a fading memory.
In this new state, I lost all command over the objects that had previously danced to my telekinetic whims. Instead, I felt an eerie sense of control over myself. My gaze fell upon my own arm, which had taken on a transparent, ethereal quality. The objects I had tried to manipulate no longer yielded to my powers, leaving me in a state of confusion. With a hesitant attempt to pick up an object using my hand, it passed right through, sending shivers of disbelief down my spine.
"Yume, are you ready? School is almost starting," my mother's voice chimed in from outside my room. I replied hastily,
"Yeah, just give me a moment!"
"Is everything alright? You sound a bit flustered," my mother's concern resonated in her words as she approached the door.
"Oh, yeah, just a little trouble getting ready," I stammered.
"You can't be having that much trouble. Let me see what's going on," she remarked, pushing the door open to find a translucent, floating version of me.
My mother, clearly baffled, approached me cautiously, reaching out to touch me. As her hand passed right through my intangible form, a visible flicker of panic washed over her face, swiftly replaced by her trademark calm composure. My mother, Keiko Higasa, had always excelled at maintaining her cool in the face of the unexpected or stressful.
"Alright, don't fret. I'll call the school and let them know you're not feeling well. After that, we'll pay a visit to a Quirk Doctor. Just, um, try not to sink through the floor, alright?"
My mother exited my room, immediately launching into a series of phone calls. One was directed at the school, while the other was likely to a hospital, her aim being to locate a doctor with expertise in quirks. Hopefully, this process wouldn't consume too much time.
While my mother handled the calls, I once more closed my eyes, attempting to reconnect with that paradoxical, familiar-yet-unfamiliar sensation. After a few moments of concentration, it began to take shape within me. I honed in on it, and like a burst of energy, I regained my tangible form. No longer translucent, I could once again perceive the objects around me, feeling their textures and weight. With this newfound control, it felt as though I had uncovered an entirely uncharted part of myself.
Several more minutes passed before my mother returned to the room.
"There's a doctor available to see us in an hour and a half. It's a bit of a drive, so please, change out of your school uniform quickly. You can tidy up your room later."
Following my mother's instructions, I changed into something more casual. Soon, we found ourselves on our way to the hospital.
—
We entered the hospital, and it was relatively quiet, with only a handful of people scattered about the common area. Nurses were calling out names, ushering patients forward for their appointments.
My mother led us to the reception area and provided our names to the nurse on duty. The nurse instructed us to take a seat and wait to be called. Ten minutes ticked by, and then, the nurse's voice rang out.
"Yume Hisagi, the doctor is ready to see you," she announced. We followed her guidance, making our way to the room where we would meet with the doctor.
Upon entering the room, a doctor sat at a desk, with two seats arranged in front of it. As we stepped inside, he extended a welcoming gesture.
"Please, both of you, take a seat. I'm Doctor Tenma, nice to meet you," he greeted with a small, amiable smile. He shook hands with my mother before diving into the heart of the matter.
"So, I heard that you were able to enter some sort of ghostly form, is that right, Yume?" His question directed at me prompted a simple nod in response. I was never particularly skilled at conversing with new people.
"Are you able to show me it or do you know how you entered it in the first place?" he inquired further.
I took a moment to consider his request, then decided to close my eyes and attempt to reenter that peculiar state. However, I found that I couldn't. The sensation that had been present earlier had given way to an entirely different feeling, one that felt almost weary.
"Uhh, sorry… I don't think I can reenter it right now. I can tell you how I did it, though," I admitted.
Once more, the doctor offered an affirming smile. "That's fine. It's something new about your quirk. Learning to control it properly can be quite challenging. Explaining it to me is good enough."
I went ahead and shared my experiences, explaining how I utilized my telekinetic abilities and the unique sensations I felt when manipulating objects, as well as the distinct feeling I had experienced when entering my intangible form.
Doctor Tenma leaned forward, his expression attentive as he absorbed the details of my explanation. His eyes remained focused on mine, displaying genuine interest in my account.
"Um, well, you see," I began hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper, "my telekinesis, it's kinda like... I can, you know, feel the objects. It's like they talk to me, sort of."
Doctor Tenma nodded empathetically, his encouraging tone putting me a bit more at ease. "That sounds incredibly unique, Yume. Please, take your time. I'm here to listen and understand."
I nodded timidly, grateful for his understanding. "Yeah, it's like they trust me, and I know how to make them do things."
He continued to listen intently, occasionally jotting down notes on a notepad. "Now, let's talk about this, um, ghost-like thing," he prompted, leaning in closer, clearly curious.
I hesitated for a moment, my shyness making it hard to find the right words. "When I first found it, it was like I... I disappeared, kinda. It was strange, but also a little familiar, like a dream, I guess."
The doctor's eyes softened with encouragement. "And you can't do that right now?"
I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. "No, I can't. It's different now. I think I need something special to make it work, but I don't know what it is."
Doctor Tenma leaned forward once more, offering a warm smile. "Yume, what you've got is truly unique. It might be a bit tricky, but I'm here to help you figure it out."
As time passed, Doctor Tenma contemplated our conversation, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Well, it's quite evident that your quirk is more than just a telekinetic ability," he remarked, "so we'll need to update it on the quirk registry. It's reminiscent of those old stories about certain ghosts named Poltergeist. If you'd like, we can call your quirk that."
I nodded, the name resonating with me. "I like that name."
Doctor Tenma offered a warm smile. "All right, you and your mother are free to leave. Thank you for your time, and thank you, Yume, for explaining your quirk to me. It's quite a unique power you have, even if it didn't seem that way at first."
He handed a card over to my mother. "If you ever need any help or have any questions about your quirk, feel free to call me. I can arrange a meeting whenever possible. It was nice to meet you both."
I waved goodbye, and my mother expressed her gratitude before bidding her farewells.
"I think I know what to do with your new ability, honey," my mother said as we headed towards the exit.
"What?" I asked, curious.
"Let's scare your father, like the scary ghost you are!" she said mischievously, a twinkle in her eye.