I opened my eyes to the sterile white of a hospital room. Beside me, a nurse and a woman with long black hair, white at the tips, held me gently in her arms. I realized this woman must be my mother.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Akutagawa. Your son is well and healthy," the nurse said, her voice warm.
My mother's face came into focus—sharp, dark grey eyes and very pale skin. Suddenly, the door burst open, revealing a muscular man with spiked brown hair. His gentle face lit up with concern. This must be my father.
"How are my wife and son?!" he asked, his tone a mix of worry and nerves.
"Relax, Mr. Akutagawa. They're both fine," the nurse reassured him.
Relief washed over my father's face as he saw my mother, her face glowing with joy and exhaustion, cradling me against her chest. He approached slowly, eyes misting with tears of happiness.
"Honey, are you okay? Is he okay?" His voice was barely a whisper, filled with emotion.
Mother looked up at him, her eyes shining. "We're both perfect, Michael," she said, her voice filled with awe. "Meet our son, Ryūnosuke Akutagawa."
--
Time Skip: 5 Years*
I am five years old now, and I've learned a lot about my new life. My mother, Akane Akutagawa, has a quirk called Overcoat, allowing her to manipulate her clothing, which connects to a pocket dimension for storing materials. My father, Ryusei Akutagawa, has a quirk named Night Blade, enabling him to manipulate his shadow to create sharp blades. These quirks combined and resulted in my own quirk, which I named Rashōmon.
Rashōmon allows me to manipulate the shape and properties of my clothing. However, unlike Akutagawa's Rashōmon, mine has a weakness: its durability depends on the material it envelops. The less durable the clothing, the less durable Rashōmon becomes.
Physically, I resemble Akutagawa with very pale skin, short, choppy black hair with side bangs that turn white at the tips, and sharp dark grey eyes. We live in Yokohama City, the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, where I've spent a relatively peaceful childhood—save for the occasional vase I accidentally destroyed. My life has been normal so far, and I plan to make the most of this second chance.
--
Time Skip: 10 Years Later*
At fifteen, I'm training for the UA entrance exam. Since I turned ten, I've been training my quirk with my dad. Despite my slim build, my father has taught me various martial arts, insisting I need to know how to defend myself if someone gets past my defenses.
In middle school, some kids were awestruck and jealous of my quirk, while adults kept saying I was destined to be a pro hero. My body is still thin but becoming more toned, with the beginnings of a six-pack. My mastery of Rashōmon has advanced, although sometimes I cough blood from overusing my quirk. I've replicated most of Akutagawa's moves from the anime and manga, except for Demonic Armor, which takes a considerable toll on my body. When I tried it a few months back, it felt like someone was carving out my chest.
--
Time Skip: UA Entrance Exam*
Now, the time I've been waiting for has arrived: the UA Entrance Exam. With years of daily training keeping my body and mind in top condition, I am ready.