At the heroes publicly safety commission, Touya and Keigo were on their way to their next class. It was early spring, and they were going to the Support Gear course. It wasn't necessarily the flashiest of classes, but it would certainly be helpful, especially to those with a quirk like Touya's.
It was early spring, and students were all whispering in their desk about the upcoming test, The Trial of Ascension. It was a rather grueling test that would put the students' tactical knowledge, resourcefulness, and skill to the limit to assess if they have what it takes to begin their first assignments for the HPSC.
Touya listened and smirked. "Hey Hawks... Do you think that test could be my ticket home? I mean... if my dad's watching... he'd have to take me home if I literally passed a test saying I was ready to be a hero, right?" He asked, looking to him with a small, determined smirk.
Keigo considered this question before nodding, "I mean... Probably. But do you really think you can pass the test?" He asked as he'd heard of many upper classman dying in attempts to do so. Touya was just at the age where he could take it. Meanwhile, Keigo still had another year to go before he'd even be eligible.
Touya scoffed. "You're doubting me? What happened to my number one fan?" He asked, feigning hurt, "Angela and I have been training, and there's still five months. Surely I'll be ready by then." He said with confidence.
Keigo couldn't explain why, but the familiarity with which he spoke that monsters name made him shiver. The traumas she enforced upon Touya seemed to only roll off his shoulders now, and Keigo simply couldn't comprehend that mindset. Truth be told, Touya had to convince himself he enjoyed it, or he'd have likely broken and given up...
Keigo was lost in thought before he looked to Touya unsettled. "Okay, so say you do get out of here with that test... what about your plan?" He asked. "To take this place down, together?" He asked softly
"All in good time, pretty bird. All in good time." He said with a chuckle. The sudden Nickname brought a soft blush to Keigo's cheeks. He wasn't unused to such names, but they sounded so much nicer in Touya's voice.
Before more could be said, the click of heals on linoleum stopped the chattering as a stunning woman with pale white skin and luminescent blue eyes stepped into the room. Her long, raven hair cascaded down her back with pieces of white scattered throughout. Her black dress held to her curvy form as she looked over her students with a small smile that adorned her black stained lips. "Good morning, you maggots. Let's begin today's lesson." She spoke cooly as she took an expo marker in hand and began to dictate upon the board the course of today's lesson.
"It's a new semester, and for some of you, this is your first class with me. To you students, my name is Volt Start. Or miss Volt for short." She explained."I am what you will all become whenever you reach your limit as heroes." She added, rolling her eyes as she pulled a mug of spiked coffee to her lips, easily noted by the whiskey on her desk she had just poured into the cup. "Mm, okay, and this class is all about support gear. Can anyone not be a dumb ass and tell me what support gear is? You incenaroar." She said tossing an expo and bonking Touya in the head with it.
He jolted, having been taking notes on his plan, suddenly brought to earth by her rudeness. "It's incinerate, but... I like that better than this shit name." He spoke honestly.
She laughed. "Yeah, their shit at names, but answer the question bacon bits whats support gear for?" She asked
He furrowed his brow. She was unlike most instructors and had a clear dislike for the establishment as well as seemingly himself for some reason, even still he decided to answer. "Well... Its as the name suggests gear to support a hero to give more power." He said as if the question really didn't deserve an answer.
She threw another marker, hitting him in the head once more. "Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong, you couldn't be more wrong. " She stated, shaking her head "No my little mindless drones. Support gear is to support the hero, yes, but not just in power. It's meant to make up for what we as heroes lack, especially! Those of us with a self damaging quirk." She said, looking straight into Touya's eyes.
"For example, my quirk is called, can anyone guess, that's right its jump start. No one wasted any brain cells coming up with my hero name, did they?" She hummed, taking another drink."My quirk is an emitter quirk, meaning I create my power inside my body and push it out." She said opening her palm for a small spark of electricity to dance in her palm "My ability takes electric neurons both positive and negative that fire through the body and changes it to kinetic energy which then travels through currents and can be directed in any direction at any voltage I desire, however the current runs through my heart, so each time I use my quirk strongly I gamble with an internal defibrillator." She explained "If I fuck up in battle and don't restart myself in time I'm a goner." She said honestly.
"Now, why would I share that with my students though? What the hell do you care how my quirk works?" She asked point blank "The short answer is you don't. You don't give a fuck at all. However, you should now be considering your own quirk drawbacks, no?" She asked "like hawks here, he's useless without his feathers right? Run those out and what have you got just a scared boy with no defense. Or Vapor... no water around what will you do? Sent to the dessert you only have water stored in catacti to manipulate... or Inferno, you burn yourself up with each flame... How the hell do any of you intend to keep fighting when you're at your limit? Limitation should only be an obstacles to over come and in this class we will work and build and create our own gear. No one will know how to support your quirk better than you so rather than depend on prototypes from people who do not fully understand. This class we will be learning how to make our own support gear." She explained openly passing out text books by throwing them at desks."Its a lot of shit to learn but I believe in you kids."
The class went on for an hour before it was dismissed however she called on Inferno to hang back. Touya sighed "Why do I feel like she's picking on me...?" He huffed.
Keigo smiled softly "Ill catch up with you at lunch. I'll grab your tray and save ya a seat." He said warmly.
Touya nodded and patted the blonde's shoulder. "Thanks Hawks." He replied simply before the two went their separate ways and Touya went to see what it was the crazed drunk wanted. "Yes miss Volt?" He asked annoyed.
She was quiet a moment and took another drink before looking over his face. A certain sadness seemed to linger in her eyes as she got up. "Come with me a moment would you." She said placing her bag on his shoulder.
He blinked "Come with you wear?" He asked softly he carried the bulky thing along. She didn't exactly answer and so he didn't ask again. They walked down the halls passed the other students and toward the restricted section. Touya tensed up only using this door with Angela. He had no idea what this woman had planned for him and he didn't like the idea of it at all.
She reached down finding her card key and wiped it making the door click unlocked as she pushed it open with her hip. The stairs that went up chilled Touya to the bone. It was bad enough to endure the mistreatment from one adult. Had word gotten out... was there to be two now? How sick was this place. He wanted to run but he took a shaken breath and tried to keep his cool. "The hells up there...?" He asked like he didn't know.
She sighed "Just go kid. It'll be clear soon enough." She spoke coldly as her heels began to clatter against the cement steps. He gathered up his nerve and followed her up. She stopped at a door similar to the other instructors... There was no getting out of this one it seemed.
She opened the door to unveil a small apartment like room. Walking inside she kicked off her heals haphazardly. Before him was a well lived on couch and coffee table with booze bottles decorating it messily. A TV was on the news droning on about current events and the walls seemed covered in scribble drawings of unidentifiable figures.
"The real names Sayuri kid." She told him walking to her fridge and finding a bear as the pulled the dress off of herself discarding it in the floor. Underneath she had on a black halter top and shorts. She ran her hand through her thick hair fluffing it a bit before she sighed heavily, "Thats better." She spoke clearing her throat. "I'm sure your dad never mentioned me before." She furthered softly
"My dad?" He asked "Wait... you know who I am?" He asked
"Of course I do, Touya. I've kept my eye on you." She said with a chuckle. She got out a beer and passed it to him. "Here have one. Takes the edge off of this shit hole." She said honestly.
"I-Im not old enough to drink..." he said softly.
She clicked her tongue to the roof of her mouth, "If you're old enough to fight and fuck here... youre old enough to deserve a drink. I'll make you something to eat. You like soba?" She asked.
He blinked a bit surprised and taken back "I– well... yes. But why would you... you didn't like me in class. Wait what's going on?" He asked genuinely confused by the woman with him.
She laughed "So many questions haha. Hmmm couldn't show to much favoritism could I?" She asked playfully "Ill tell you my story and then you can decide to trust me or not. Sound fair. Now sit your ass down and let me cook." She said.
"No way. I'm helping. I dont want drugged by another crazy person." He said seriously coming to the kitchen as the two began to make the soba together. As odd as it was the woman didn't seem to dangerous but one couldn't be to careful either.
She laughed and nodded leading the way as they cooked. "As I said, my name is Sayuri Gekko...when I was a girl people still had some odd misconceptions about quirks and my parents found mine to be extremely unfortunate because it would make me so ill. When your father was a boy, before his father died and he became obsessed with power, he had always been so kind. I really admired him. However, after I was sold to the HPSC by my family... and went through all the training... I came to hear rumor he was looking for a wife. Of course... he'd always said how beautiful and sweet I was and I thought I'd had a chance." She said honestly as she watched the noodles boil.
Touya looked with raised brow, "If you like me because of my dad then get in line. I have enough creepy old women who–" He started but she smacked the back of his head.
"Dont be disgusting and just listen boy." She said laughing. "I asked your father but he'd already purchased your mother and told me that I was unacceptable because my quirks defect would breed defective children which would be counter productive to his goal.." she explained with a heavy breath "I loathed your mother. I was obsessed and when I had heard of your quirks plight I couldn't help but be elated and find the ordeal hilarious... especially in light of my own miscarriage at the time with my ex husband." She explained rolling her eyes at the idea of him.
"I watched your progress though and... damn if you weren't so much better than either of them... haha He sees you as defective. I want to make you the most powerful hero this world has seen. I've already been working on support gear for your quirk... it needs work still and test runs but... I think with your help it can serve you well." She said with a smirk.
"So you want me to succeed... but as revenge on my father for throwing you away for being defective...? Do I have that right?" He asked.
She nodded taking a drink of her beer "Thats about the size of it kid." She replied.
He debated that. "You'll help me become the best I can and prove him wrong... heh.. how could I refuse that sort of offer." He said honestly as the meal finished and she plated their bowls she lead the way to sit on the couch. Touya slurped the noodles contently. For a moment it almost felt like he had a parent who understood him.
She brushed her hand through the boys hair in a very motherly way before pulling back embarrassed "Sorry." She said softly "you just make me wonder what my little boy might have been like had he survived." She said softly.
He smiled a gentle smile and placed her hand back on his head "Its fine... its good to have a motherly touch when here... this is to much for anyone to truly survive... I wouldnt mind having a mom in this hell." He said.
She smiled misty eyed but bonked his head "Haha you're a mess.. finish up your meal and ill take you back down... I do have one question for you though." She said softly
"Hm? What is it?" He asked
"What on earth were you writing in my class? Something about bringing this place down?" She asked with a raised brow.
His blood ran cold "You made that much out?" He asked worriedly she might still not be the most trust worthy.
She nodded "I did. I wouldnt plan that on paper anywhere. Other teachers don't all feel the same as I do about getting this place closed down."
He smiled "So you want to too?" He asked "why haven't you tried?" He asked.
"Who said I havent?" She countered. "May be a suicide mission but...best advice is to–"
"Collect the security footage from punishment rooms, get the student records that have been sold here, get the hell out and talk to television studios that will broad cast it." He said seriously having thought about it long and hard.
She nodded "That could work if they don't catch on and fabricate false documents making you seem the liar... or if you get to the studio they don't work with you because of the funding the hpsc has for them..." she warned "it's not so easy..."
He shook his head "then I'll get upstanding heroes who will do what's right like... like my dad or all might!" He said seriously.
"Your dad? The man who sent you here to force you to quit... hes watched what she's done to you. You know that right?" She asked. "He wants you to quit."
"What... no – how could he have... how could any father watch that and... he wouldn't you're lying my dad's a hero! Heroes don't act that way." He said his eyes filling with tears. Was this even about him proving himself? Would his father keep his word... what if he was trapped here.
She nodded grimly "Yes... heroes wouldn't but... he... " she shook her head "Hes disgusting. Hell do anything to see you quit." She said truthfully.
The rest of their meal was rather quiet. He swallowed hard and looked to her "Miss Sayuri...? If– if he doesn't come when I pass this test... will you help me to escape? And to free Keigo. If you do... I swear I will set you free too! This place will be closed down for good."
Sayuri giggled at such determination and nodded "of course you can depend on me Touya. Now... come on. I'm sure Keigo is bound to be getting worried by now." She said softly.
He nodded "Yeah... he definitely is freaking the hell out. I'm sure of it."
Keigo had waited and lunch period ended. He never suspected Volt Start for the same type as the Commissioner and Funambulist but... maybe...she was? God he hoped not. Had Touya not had enough issues...? His mind was racing a mile a minute when Touya walked into their next class with his tardee excuse taking his seat by Keigo.
"What took so long?" He mouthed his golden eyes gleaming with concern looking for any sign of what had happened to his friend.
Touya smirked "Got me a new alli." He winked "five months from now and this place goes down. Starting this month we begin our attack." He said softly. "You have access to the restricted reading section right?" He asked curiously.
He nodded "Yeah, but it's just a bunch of old records." He whispered back.
He nodded "Perfect... while I get the evidence I need... you look for inconsistencies in the archives... be careful though bird brain. Don't need anyone catching on to fast." He said with a devious smirk.
He was going to prove his father wrong and save everyone under the HPSC... he could do it. He had to. For him this would prove he really was meant to be a hero.