57One Week after the Trial
A middle-aged humanoid male with purple skin, pointy ears, and light purple eyes walked into the waiting room, where Izuku and Inko Midoriya patiently waited. The doctor, a psychiatrist, wore a unique outfit: black clothing with a golden lab coat and shoes, and a black skullcap with golden lining on the edges.
"Midoriya, I have your test results," the psychiatrist said, with a packet in his hands. The psychiatrist flipped through the packet briefly one last time before handing it to Inko, "We can confirm that Izuku has a form of Stockholm Syndrome." The psychiatrist looked at Izuku. "What that means is that you have an affinity to protect your abuser, despite the cruelties that occur constantly. Not that you are at fault, for Stockholm Syndrome can develop almost rather instantly. Individuals with this disorder rationalize their abuser's behavior by explaining it as 'misunderstood' or 'because of an off day.' But like every other victim, this is not your fault." The psychiatrist informed, his voice calm and empathetic.
The psychiatrist glanced at Inko, who was reading through the packet, "In the packet I have printed everything we know about Stockholm Syndrome and how to treat it. Under normal conditions, I would prescribe medications, but the current medication Izuku is taking for his migraines conflicts with our medications, even in lower doses. For now, I will put in a referral for a psychologist that Izuku can talk to so he may receive the proper therapy for his condition. I will continue to look for proper prescriptions that will not conflict with his current medications."
Izuku glanced down at the floor. Izuku hasn't seen Kacchan…Katsuki…in two weeks. It was a strange time for Izuku because the idea of not seeing Kacc -KATSUKI- now is foreign to him. Katsuki has always been a part of Izuku's life since he was born. His mother and Mitsuki raised Katsuki and himself together; it was like having a brother.
But now everything has changed, and Izuku would not see Katsuki again unless it was by some coincidence.
Izuku's head hurt.
Life was changing too fast, but if Izuku was honest with himself, it was for the better. It has been a painful process, but Izuku cannot force himself to be blind and say there isn't any good that is coming from this.
If any bad had to outweigh the good, it would be Izuku wishing that his friendship with Kacchan didn't have to end this way. Izuku didn't want to give up on Kacchan, but that decision was stripped from him a week ago inside a courtroom.
Two Weeks after the Trial
Izuku and Laura stepped off the train dressed in new uniforms. Gone were the full black dress pants and shirts, and in were gray blazers, white undershirts, and black pants. When Midoriya met up with Kayama at the train station, he found it amusing that Kayama still refused to wear a skirt.
According to Kayama, Nemuri asked Kayama one time if she would wear a skirt, and when Kayama rejected once more, Nemuri bought her pants.
Tradition was not Kayama's specialty, even if everyone else disagreed with her.
"I was not born in this tradition, so why must I care for it? If it holds me down from discovering who I am, then it is a burden I will not happily take on." Kayama said to Midoriya during their train ride.
The ride between them was a quiet one. They had already discussed their feelings about the trial to each other a plethora of times over the last two weeks in person and over the phone. The current thoughts on their minds were about this new school they were heading to. According to their parental figures, this school was the best choice overall for its academics, extra-curricular activities, and student life. Kayama was pessimistic, while Midoriya was optimistic.
The two walked from the station and into the city, where they saw other teens wearing identical outfits to theirs.
"No need for a GPS." Kayama put her phone away and followed the students. Midoriya nodded in agreement and walked beside Kayama.
"Do you think this will be any better?" Midoriya asked, feeling nervous about stepping into a new school with a clean slate. Nobody knew him or his past. This is the cleanest Midoriya will ever be in school life.
Kayama shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "It couldn't be worse. At Aldera, you had people who knew you and already set you up for failure by ruining your reputation before it even began. Here? You can stand out or blend in. No one will know, nor will they care, unless they're looking for you."
Midoriya understood the logic, but couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. Midoriya could say he wasn't quirkless, which is true, but how would he go about saying it to Kayama and his mother? The news will reach them eventually, but how will he explain this phenomenon where he suddenly defined logic and gained a quirk? Should Midoriya tell the truth about how he got his quirk or not?
Midoriya didn't know, and he knew he was running out of time on this specific secret.
They continued to trail the other students until they arrived at their new school. They were both amazed by the grandeur it had compared to Aldera.. Aldera was a little rundown, mostly because of Bakugo's outbursts causing significant damages to everything, and lack of funding to refurbish its look.
However, this school appeared immaculate. The gates were grand and showcased a vibrant silver shade. The buildings were painted in a pale pastel color with little marks or errors, and nature was thriving with trees, bushes and a variety of flowers perfectly placed in a specific location to further give life to the school. There was even a mini garden near the front entrance that was blocked off by large fences.
The biggest takeaway from Midoriya and Kayama was the atmosphere that the students had. There was no tension, no stranger-vibe, no unpleasantries. Everyone was freely talking to one another without a care in the world, with several small groups merging to become one large group. It was like witnessing what Aldera could have been if it had tamed Bakugo instead of allowing him to run rampant.
Kayama let out a low whistle with a grin on her face. This place looked much securer and professional than Aldera. Midoriya, however, was struggling to cope. The school was beautiful, but it was not the place he was familiar with. Although Aldera was a toxic environment, it was one of the few places he knew and how to live in. This school was alien, and it scared him.
"Hey," Midoriya glanced at Kayama, holding her fist out to him, "As long as we have each other's backs, we'll be fine. And I don't mind playing bodyguard to you again if I have to."
Midoriya felt his tension ease up. He was grateful for Kayama's presence and reassurance. With Kayama around, Midoriya will have a better chance of having a better time at this new school than he ever did at Aldera.
Midoriya fist-bumped Kayama and the two's hands fell, lightly brushing against each other. Midoriya flushed lightly at the feel of Kayama's soft skin, and further embarrassed himself when the thought of holding her hand sped through his mind. Kayama didn't notice Midoriya's gaze and walked ahead towards the office building with Midoriya jogging to catch up.
As the duo entered through the front doors, a fresh breeze of vanilla tinted air greeted them instantly. The main building was very similar in style to that of Aldera, where it had two floors, with a majority of the staff at the bottom and the upper staff being at the top with private offices.
The two teens walked to a large desk that was being manned by one secretary.
"Hello," greeted the secretary with a friendly smile. "Do you need help?"
Midoriya spoke first. "We're new to the school. We just transferred from Aldera Junior High."
"Our names are Laura Kayama and Izuku Midoriya," Kayama said as the secretary went onto her computer to search for them.
After a minute, the secretary responded, "Yes, I have you two on file that you transferred and accepted a week ago. Today is your first day." The secretary bowed lightly to them with a hand over her heart, "I would like to welcome you two to Yavin Junior High. We're thrilled to have you two as we continue our fourth year of operations." The secretary straightened herself. "Give me a moment to call one of our student staff members as they will give you a tour, fill you in on more details about our school, and answer any questions you may have." The secretary picked up a radio and called in, "Hagakure, please report to the front. We have two new students for you to take on a tour."
Midoriya and Kayama waited for a few moments until they saw a pair of clothes suddenly round a corner and jog to the front. They had stopped just a foot away from them and it looked like they were saluting them with their left arm.
"I am here!" The 'clothes' spoke with an upbeat and bubbly tone, "Welcome to Yavin Junior High! I will be your guide: Toru Hagakure! May I ask for your names?" Hagakure asked, still in a saluting pose.
"Laura Kayama," Kayama calmly said, despite her annoyance at the cheerfulness of this girl.
"Izuku Midoriya!" Midoriya introduced himself with his hand held out. Midoriya felt at ease with Hagakure's approachable attitude.
Hagakure shook Midoriya's hand. "Nice to meet you both! I hope I can provide you with the best information. After we're done, I'll show you to your homeroom classes. Don't worry about being late, this is the procedure. It's a unique approach we're currently testing right now." Hagakure spun on her heels and walked deeper into the school, "Follow me, new Yavin Rebels!" Hagakure looked back for a moment, "Rebels are our mascot FYI!"
Midoriya and Kayama glanced at each other and followed Hagakure into the school. If the school is anything like the attitudes of both the secretary and Hagakure, then they will be in for a smooth and less violent school year.
Bakugo walked into his new school with little of a care. Alder Junior High had expelled Bakugo and forced him to transfer to a new school. Bakugo is unaware if Deku and Kayama are still attending Alder Junior High or if they had moved too, but Bakugo isn't in the mood to care about that.
An expulsion on his resume is damning, especially one this late into his final year before High School. U.A accepts students with a clean record 99% of the time, only considering 1% as 'redeemable.' Redeemed? That implies there's something wrong with Bakugo, and that is not true. Bakugo has a method to his madness and many will call it cruel, but his treatment towards Deku was for justifiable reasons.
Bakugo showed Deku how it would feel to fight villains, and Deku never got it through his thick skull that becoming a Pro Hero is a pipedream! Deku can be as smart and articulate as he wants, but without a quirk, and a powerful one at that, Deku is worthless! Just a waste of flesh that'll need to be saved because he is out of his league! If Deku cannot defeat Bakugo once, just once, then how can he expect to defeat a villain and survive?!
That is all Bakugo is trying to show Deku! That he has no value to offer as a pro hero and only the stupid would tell him the greatest lie he tells himself will be true: that he can be a pro hero.
Funny how no one cared about Deku until Kayama got involved. The girl changed everything and for what? Who knows? And honestly, who cares?
It doesn't matter anymore.
Deku and Kayama are gone. They don't exist in Bakugo's daily life anymore. For the first time in his life, Bakugo and Deku have parted ways and Bakugo isn't willing to search the city to find Deku and continue this cynical cycle. Bakugo could go to Deku's apartment, but that seems excessive even by his standards. Not to mention he would have to come face-to-face with Aunt Inko.
Bakugo struggled internally with that. He hates Deku, but he never hated Inko. Bakugo could never raise his voice nor step out of line around her. Inko was kind, generous, uplifting, and always knew what to say, even if Bakugo never expressed what was bothering him. She just had a knack for knowing what Bakugo needed to hear or receive at the right moment, and Bakugo loved that internally.
His mom loved that.
"Would you watch him die and say you're a hero?"
Bakugo snarled as his dad's words penetrated his mind. It shouldn't hurt him at all! Deku would never jump! If he hadn't done it then, what would make him do it at that moment in time? Everyone loves to say they know Deku, but Bakugo knows him best and Bakugo knows Deku is the most stubbornly optimistic human being alive! And by god, does it piss Bakugo off more than anything in the world!
"HEY YOU!"
Bakugo's ears twitched and looked around. Oh yeah, he is in the new school: Mustafa Private Middle School.
Bakugo let out an agitated groan and glared at the voice yelling at him. There stood a tall, muscular titan of a student. He had about two feet over Bakugo.
"I remember you!" The student shouted and stormed up to Bakugo, "About ten years ago, you beat me up in front of a store when I was trying to get my hands on the new All Might action figure! I had it and then-"
"Don't care." Bakugo cut him off and walked past him. Bakugo didn't have the time to entertain this extra's sob story and was close to obliterating him on the spot.
A large hand clasped Bakugo's shoulder, setting him off.. The student didn't even respond when Bakugo spun around and delivered an explosive uppercut to the student, sending him flying into the air and onto the floor.
The events that just transpired shocked students that were walking. They never saw this student, and he knocked out someone already?!
"Hey! What the heck is wrong with you?!" a loud, angry feminine voice belonging to a pink-skinned female with pale yellow horns and black eyes with yellow irises shouted at Bakugo, "You can't use quirks on school grounds! And who the heck are you, anyway?!"
Bakugo scouted his surroundings as the students looked at him with awe and fear. Normally Bakugo would revel in this environment, but there was something about the familiar feeling of dominance that upset him now.
"None of your business," Bakugo spat, "And he grabbed me first. I don't let anyone touch me unless they're looking to get their ass kicked."
The female student huffed and lifted her fallen classmate with the help of others. Before they walked off, the student gazed at Bakugo with a determined look, "Well, my name is Mina Ashido, and I will be a pro hero! Don't cause anymore trouble or I'll step in and defend them!"
Bakugo rolled his eyes and waved her off, "Yeah, whatever. Just don't bother me. Any of you!" Bakugo shouted and walked off towards nowhere. The students let Bakugo through unbothered as all of them dispersed, with some of them going to help Mina.
Bakugo continued to walk until he found a nice shady area to relax under. For his whole life at Aldera, Bakugo adored the praise and attention he received from the extras because they knew he was the best and the future of the hero society, but Bakugo doesn't want that anymore.
Bakugo wants to be alone. No extras, no underlings, no praise, nothing. Bakugo wants nothing from no one.
"H..hey..bro…"
"Oh, for the love of…" Bakugo grumbled and eyed the stranger. "What do you want? Didn't I just say to everyone to not bother me?!"
The student recoiled a bit but stood firm despite his shaky behavior. He had black medium length hair that touched his shoulders with a little scar just under his right eye. His build was slim but there was a little muscle forming on his arms. His teeth were razor sharp, which somewhat fascinated Bakugo.
The student settled himself and grew firm with a look of fake bravado. "I'm not here for trouble. I just came to say that despite what you did, it was pretty cool. Apart from Ashido, I didn't see anyone else with that kind of reaction and quirk capability. Explosives. That's really awesome." Bakugo stared at the stranger without moving a muscle. The student shifted a bit and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm Ejiro Kirishima…and my quirk is hardening. I can make my skin as tough as rock." Kirishima raised his arm and showed off his quirk with how rigid and rough his skin suddenly got.
Bakugo felt a slight pique of curiosity. Tough skin, huh? How much damage can he take before he breaks?
"How powerful is it?" Bakugo asked, startling Kirishima slightly at his sudden response.
"I…don't know," Kirishima admitted, "I never had it tested to its limits before."
Bakugo scowled and stood up, "How weak." Bakugo muttered, making Kirishima's eyes widen a bit, "With a quirk like that you can be a pro hero, but you never pushed yourself? Get out of here." Bakugo pointed behind him as a way of telling Kirishima to beat it.
"I don't have anyone to truly train with!" Kirishima staggered to say, "My quirk is defensive! It only gets stronger when something powerful hits it! I tried to train it as much as I can but there are only so many rocks and rusty steel scrap metal I can hit before I hit a dead end! I would ask Ashido, but she's so busy with her life that I can't find the time to ask her!" Kirishima looked down in pitiful disgust, "And I don't have money to get a real test dummy to enhance my quirk."
Bakugo had a light bulb go off in his head. Kirishima wanted to get stronger, and Bakugo wanted to hit something to let out the aggression he's been building for the past few weeks. Bakugo grinned at the idea. A new test dummy, perhaps?And one who can endure for a long time too!
"Okay…Shitty Hair," Bakugo snickered with Kirishima looking at him, shocked and appalled by the supposed nickname, "I got a deal in mind…"
"Ahhh…it feels good to be back," Nemuri Kayama indulged in the familiar setting around her.
Kayama was back at U.A.
Kayama had used up all of her vacation days and spent the final few days she had to establish a plan with Inko on where to send Izuku and Laura for school. Kayama was pleased to get a plan in place before her last day had arrived. It was gratifying.
Kayama smiled and looked down to her left. Kayama smiled and looked down to her left as Eri walked with her around the hallways of U.A, dazzled by the surroundings. U.A was the biggest building Eri has ever seen, and it looked like a mountain up close. The inside was beyond her wildest dreams of what a school could look like. Compared to Aldera and the small snippets she's seen of Yavin, U.A was like its own city. And from what Kayama had told Eri, Eri had only seen about 10% of what U.A has!
Kayama and Eri continued to walk down the hallway with them passing various classrooms that symbolized a variety of different departments: Support, General Education, Management, and-
"Hero…" Eri whispered in awe.
Kayama and Eri were standing in front of the door of Class 1-A. Eri imagined what was behind that door and what could be happening. She saw a classroom of brave, strong, and heroic individuals that all stood for justice and would fight to save everyone who needed to be saved!
Kayama smiled and nudged Eri slightly to follow her. "I teach Class 1-A, you know."
Eri gasped and her eyes widened in surprise, "You teach the hero class?!"
"Well…yes but also no," Kayama laughed a little, "I teach Modern Art History. I teach the students about art pieces that were from the 1860s to the 1970s." Kayama thought about what to say next that would help Eri understand, as Eri already looked confused. Kayama can see Eri trying to find the link between heroism and art. "That period is known for artists creating pieces that were unique and rejected traditional ideals. I use the art of the past to help the students understand they should never follow heroism to a 'T' and to think for themselves. Think of new ideas, express yourself through your heroic actions, experiment! Modern Art was the era of experimentation and rejecting age-old traditions, and that is what I teach. Respect tradition, but never limit your imagination and push past it." Kayama closed her eyes and smirked. "And I should know. I changed how heroes present themselves when in public. The first to set new standards in several decades."
Kayama's ability to teach heroism through art amazed Eri! And Eri was even more impressed that Kayama helped change heroism through her own actions, too!
"Woooooow!" Eri admired and walked in front of Kayama. "What did you do?! How did you do it?!"
Kayama was bashful at the question. Kayama was proud of her accomplishment, but didn't want to tell Eri why she set a standard for the way heroes dressed.
"Let's just say that I helped heroes better understand how to express themselves through their outfits." Kayama looked at her body. She was wearing her hero outfit and was very grateful for the forced updated look she was required to comply with. Had Kayama worn her original outfit that barely covered her skin, Kayama may have had to actually fight for the right to adopt the girls instead of being granted permission.
Kayama and Eri continued to walk until they reached a section that wasn't too familiar with students. It was in the back of the hallway near an emergency exit with rooms that were primarily for staff members and janitorial services. No classes were in sight except for one special classroom.
"This is where I'll be dropping you off." Kayama and Eri had arrived at the classroom that was called 'Class Pre-A.' "This is Class Pre-A. This is a special department that was made for staff members and heroes who don't have people to help watch their young children. It is only for kids ages between 4-9 years old. Once the children have matured, they transition to Class A, which is the class just behind the regular departments at U.A." Kayama directed her gaze down at Eri, "There are no legacy admissions, so Class A students still have to take the U.A Entrance Exam like everyone else."
Eri stared at the door with interest and anxiety. Is this where Kayama will drop off Eri?
"Uhhh…." Eri groaned, trying to find her words but failing as she felt a lump in her throat.
Kayama could see Eri's distress and knelt next to her. "It'll be okay. I promise. I'll be just down the hallway." Kayama pointed towards the Class 1-A room that was just within a distance. Kayama placed her left hand on Eri's cheek and gave her a reassuring smile. "If anything happens, I will come to you. I won't be far away. This will be good for you. Laura found Midoriya at her school and became friends with him. You'll find friends here too."
"But…" Eri mumbled and trembled slightly, "I don't want to make more friends. I have Laura, Izuku, and you. I'm okay."
"And that is good that you are okay with that, but there are other benefits to this, Eri," Kayama continued, trying to get Eri to understand. "Just like I told Laura, this is what everyone has to do. They need to go to school to learn, socialize, and develop skills that will help you in life. It's very important." Kayama looked to the classroom, then back to Eri, "And I promise that whatever happened to Laura and Midoriya will not happen to you. U.A is very strict about bullying and using quirks for the wrong reasons." Kayama gave Eri a hard look. "If anything happens to you, I will come to your class to fix the issues." Kayama relaxed her expression and stood up.
Eri was still feeling dread about the entire ordeal. She didn't want to do this, but realized that Kayama would not let her get away. Eri was going to class, and that was final.
Eri looked to the floor and scowled.
Kayama sighed and led Eri inside the classroom. Maybe Eri getting experience within the classroom would help sway her mind.
Both girls entered a big, colorful room. The walls were a baby blue color with a white wide stripe just six inches beneath the ceiling that went across the entire room. The room had three sections that were specified. There was a science area on the left, a play and rest area on the right, and on the far end was the classroom area with desks and a whiteboard.
The students were currently playing around and not paying any attention to Eri and Kayama. The room had at least 18 students within it and one teacher.
Kayama and Eri walked towards the teacher, who was in the middle of the classroom, observing everyone. The teacher was a young female standing at 5'3" with the head of a Japanese sable. She wore a white dress with snowflake patterns that went to her ankles, black heels, white cloth gloves, and a Tsubaki flower clipped behind her left ear.
"Hello," the teacher said, her voice as soft as a cloud. "How are you doing, Miss Midnight?"
"I am doing well, Ms. Heiwa (Hey-Wa)," Kayama smiled and bowed, with Heiwa doing the same. "I brought a new student for you." Kayama said, and lightly moved Eri in front of her. "This is Eri."
"Hello, Eri," Heiwa smiled and knelt in front of Eri.
Eri kept looking at the floor but averted her eyes upward, moving her hair from her face, "...Hello…" Eri whispered and backed up.
Heiwa's smile never faltered. Most kids were shy when they first arrived because it would be their first time leaving their mother's…
Their mother's…
Heiwa stood up and looked at Kayama with a surprised expression. Before Heiwa could speak, Kayama smiled and nodded, "Adoptive, and there is another girl. She is attending Yavin."
"Oh my," Heiwa put a hand to her mouth, "I would have never expected this." Heiwa's smile returned, "But this is wonderful to see. You must be a happy family."
Kayama laughed with a slight break in her voice. "Ooooh and a bit tricky too, but it comes with the territory." Kayama knelt down next to Eri and lifted her head to look at her, "Eri," Kayama saw Eri's confusion and nervousness eating at her. Eri has always been around Laura and herself, and to be separated from the people she recognizes as her protectors must make her feel vulnerable.
Kayama empathized with Eri, and truthfully Kayama didn't want Eri to be alone, but Kayama has a job to get too and she can't bring Eri with her to the classroom. Kayama is lucky that U.A has this special program that allows her to bring Eri to U.A because Kayama wouldn't trust anyone with Eri. If Inko had been available, Kayama would ask her to babysit, but Inko has a job.
"Eri, everything will be okay." Kayama placed her forehead against Eri's. "You'll have fun, and when it's time for lunch, I'll come and eat with you. I won't be far. I showed you where I will be. You'll never truly be alone."
"...You promise?" Eri whimpered and hugged Kayama around her neck.
Kayama lifted Eri into her arms and pecked Eri on the forehead. "I promise. I promise I will always be here for lunch, that I will check on you when I can, and if you have any problems, I will come to help resolve them." Kayama held Eri's hand in hers. "All I want you to do is to be brave like your sister and like Midoriya. The day will go by quickly and we'll be together again, and I'll take you home where you'll be with your sister again. And you can tell her everything that happened today."
Eri let out a stressed noise from her throat and took a shaky breath. Eri exhaled and nodded her head, "I'll…I'll try to be brave. Like Laura."
"Like Laura." Kayama nodded and pecked Eri one more time on her head. Kayama and Eri hugged for a long moment before Kayama set her on her feet. Kayama smiled reassuringly at Eri and walked towards the door. Eri watched Kayama leave and sucked in a huge breath to get her nerves under control. Kayama opened the door and waved to Eri. Eri waved back and continued to wave until Kayama had closed the door.
Eri's hand fell to her side, and she kept her gaze at the door. Kayama was gone. Laura wasn't here; she was with Izuku at their new school.
Eri was alone.
The sounds of the other kids became mute to Eri as the room suddenly closed in on Eri, and Eri's heart pounded in her chest. Eri's breathing sped up, with her mind running nonstop.
"Eri," Heiwa said, walking towards Eri and getting on her knees next to her. Eri's mind came back into reality and her head snapped at Heiwa. Heiwa's eyes widened a bit at Eri's irregular action and intense focus on her. Heiwa held her hand out in front of Eri, "Let's go introduce you to the rest of the class, and I will show you around too."
Eri closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, with tears threatening to spill. Eri paced her breathing and tried to steady it, to calm herself. It was a technique that Laura taught her long ago so that Eri could get herself under control and not lose herself to her…curse.
Eri let out one final large breath, opened her eyes, and relaxed. "Okay." Eri wiped away any tears she had and took Heiwa's hand in hers.
Heiwa stood up, still holding Eri's hand, and led her around the classroom to show her what each section was and what they did in them. When they got to the rest and play area where the rest of the kids were, Heiwa introduced Eri to them, and most of the kids seemed to be put off by Eri.
Eri wasn't aware, but she was giving them all a bitter, spiteful expression. Although Eri's mind and body were relaxed, her face showed Eri didn't want to be there. Heiwa told them to treat Eri nicely and to play with her while she got the next lesson set up. Heiwa left Eri and the rest of the class alone.
Everyone was staring at Eri, and Eri stared back. Eri scanned them all and didn't know what to say or do. Eri's frustrations were filling her mind as she walked past them, with everyone continuing to stare at her like she was some sort of alien.
"She looks mean."
"Why does she look so weird?"
"What's with the horn?"
"Who was the mom that brought her here?"
"Did you see her eyes? They're red!"
"Red like a villain."
"Yeah, like a villain. Maybe that's why she's mad. She's evil."
"An evil girl."
Eri growled under her breath and scowled. Eri hated this already, and the words that her 'classmates' said about her only made her angry.
Eri's been through worse. This was child's play, but it was making her very mad.
Eri went to a corner and sat down, looking at it with a hand on her chin. Eri's dissatisfaction with the class was already getting to her. Making friends? They were already calling her a villain without even knowing her all because of her red eyes?! Eri didn't choose what color her eyes were!
Eri let out an audible growl similar to Laura's, balled up her fists in front of her, and squeezed them tightly.
Eri didn't want to be here.
Eri's getting angry!
"Do you not like them too?" Came a young, emotionless, female voice that sounded staticky, like it was from an old radio.
Eri blinked and turned her head to the left and to the right. Eri then twisted her body to look behind her and saw no one was talking to her as everyone was back to playing with each other.
"Above you."
Eri looked up, and to her surprise, saw a girl floating above her. The girl descended onto her feet and stood next to Eri, with Eri standing up and studying her. The girl was around her age and shorter than Eri by about an inch. She had long black hair with silver streaks that reached to her knees and covered her eyes. The clothing was simple: a plain white shirt with blank pants and black sneakers. The most distinguishing feature Eri noticed was an item that looked to be a mix of a spirit box and a microcassette tape recorder in her left hand.
The girl used her right hand to move her hair from her eyes and they were sapphire blue with an innocent yet deceitful look.
The girl pressed a rewind button on her tape recorder before letting it play.
"My name is Osore (O-Sore-Eh). I talk through this tape recorder because of my quirk. I like your eyes. They…" Osore pressed rewind then play, "Look the opposite from mine. And red is my favorite color. Very cool. What is your name?" The girl 'asked' with a creepy aura towards her.
Eri stared at Osore and blinked. All of her grievances were gone and replaced with curiosity and astonishment. She couldn't talk and had to use a tape recorder? And she can float? That is interesting, to say the least.
"My name is Eri," Eri replied with her head tilting to the left and Osore mimicking her by tilting her head to the right.
"Eri." Osore 'spoke,' "What a nice name. I know this is sudden, but how do you feel about scary things?"
Eri's eyes slitted a bit with suspicion. What was Osore getting at?
"What do you mean by scary things?" Eri asked, with her senses becoming more aware.
Osore grinned with her hair falling back over her eyes, "Do you believe in ghosts? Or evil spirits?"
Eri pondered for a moment. Ghosts? Eri's never seen a ghost before, but she has been with a 'demon' as Laura put it. Eri's mind flashed to him for a moment, and Eri shook her head to get away from him.
"I don't know," Eri answered. "I've never seen a ghost before."
"I can tell you…they are real." Osore raised her hand and pointed to a window. Eri looked at the window and saw 'people' walking around in the glass despite it being daytime, and in the sky. Eri's focus was on the ghosts that she didn't see Osore's hair suddenly become weightless and her sapphire eyes fill to a pure black color. Osore raised her hands with her fingers becoming sharp, and let out a demonic screech that Eri heard from inside her head!
Yet, to Osore's shock, Eri didn't flinch. Instead, Eri simply refocused back on Osore and looked her up and down, unimpressed by her attempt to scare her. Eri took in Osore's change in features, but didn't seem to care.
"I know genuine fear," Eri ominously spoke without an ounce of fear in her.
Osore's regular appearance returned with her hair still over her eyes. "That's never happened to me before." Osore's tape recorder still didn't have emotions, but Eri could tell from her body that she was still in shock. Osore let out a laugh and her body lurched forward a bit before halting. "I like you. You are brave! Everyone normally runs away and cries, but you are brave." Osore complimented and ignored Eri's statement.
Eri glanced at the other students, then back at Osore. If Osore did that to Eri, then Eri assumed she did that to everyone else. Eri watched as Osore pointed to a box and it floated. Eri watched as Osore pulled her hand to herself as the box sped towards them, but stopped in front of them. The box landed on the floor and in it were blank pieces of paper, coloring pencils, and crayons. "Do you want to draw heroes with me?" Osore asked with heartfelt, hopeful eyes.
Eri was judging Osore's actions. One moment she tried to scare her and now she's asking to draw heroes with her? Is that how Osore thinks to make friends? Osore is weird.
Yet she was the only one talking to Eri, and she called her brave and liked her eyes. Eri thought maybe she should give Osore a chance. It's not like there is a line of people right now willing to talk to Eri.
Eri smiled a little and nodded. Osore was weird, but Eri could tell she didn't mean actual harm with her scare. Eri knows when someone means to harm someone, and Osore's attempt was more of a prank.
Osore's eyes flashed and her hair floated above her eyes. Her sapphire eyes glowed a bright blue hue with her smile, though not glowing realistically, did equal it in admiration. Osore took out several pencils and crayons and a clipboard with a paper attached to it. "Thank you! I am so excited!" Osore watched as Eri grabbed her own supplies as the two across from each other and doodled together while the rest of the kids looked at the pair in disgust.
"Of course they would get along," one of them, a boy, said.
"Villains love being with villains,"another one, a girl, replied.
The students silently talked amongst themselves about Eri and Osore. Eri rolled her eyes and attempted to ignore them, but glimpsed Osore smiling mischievously.
"Watch this," Osore said and her eyes glowed once more. Eri looked back to the students and watched as items that were out of sight came into view and slowly floated above the kids. Eri felt she should tell Osore to not let them drop, but a part of her wanted to watch the kids get their comeuppance. In the end, Eri said nothing and watched as the items suddenly fell onto everyone, with the kids yelping and screaming at the rainfall of objects hitting them.
Osore fell onto her back with her tape recorder only letting out static. Eri couldn't help herself but laugh a little too and took some pleasure watching the others flail around.
Heiwa walked into the area with an annoyed look on her face, "Osore!" Heiwa scolded, already knowing who did it. "Don't scare the others! And don't make items fall on them either! You can hurt them!" Heiwa sighed and tried to get the students to calm down by getting them together and comforting them.
Osore snickered and sat back up with her expression remaining the same.
"They deserve it." Osore scowled and gritted her teeth. "I did nothing to them. They saw my spirit box and heard my voice and called me a freak. I'm not a freak!" Eri just slightly recoiled at Osore's tape recorder having legitimate anger in it. "You don't think I'm a freak, do you?" Osore asked Eri with a dark expression.
Eri shook her head, "No." Eri wasn't sure if Osore was threatening her or not, but Eri didn't think Osore was a freak at all because Eri knows who the biggest freak in the world is, and Osore isn't that one. "I think you're creepy."
"To anyone else that would be hurtful," Osore giggled with slight hysteria, "But to a Yōkai, that means the world."
Heiwa was a character I made up on the spot. As for the impact she will have, I do not know since I didn't plan this, so we will see.
However, Osore was planned. Here is a description of the Mute Yōkai: Osore.
Osore is a mute girl who has the quirk of a 'Yōkai,' a supernatural quirk that allows her to do various things that ghosts, demons, and other supernatural entities can do. However, being a young girl, Osore can only manipulate objects, create nightmares, speak through any speaker that has any frequency, and manipulate her own physical traits to a limited amount. Her powers are very limited to what she can truly do.
There are various types of Yōkai, but Osore falls under the trickster and good-hearted types; however, that doesn't make her immune from being cruel.
The drawback to her quirk is her own sanity. When Osore uses her quirk too much, she will lose grip on reality, which can lead to insanity and potentially prove fatal if used for too long.
Speaking of nightmares, Osore has a complex nature with it so I'll bullet point them.
- Osore can create 'living' nightmares. They cannot physically harm an individual, but because of how real it looks, the victim's mind believes they are being hurt for real. (Think of the Rubber Hand Illusion or OG Teen Titans when Robin was 'fighting' Slade but was only imagining it.)
- Osore's nightmares are perplexing. Without knowledge of a person, Osore uses nightmares she fears, but once Osore learns of a person's fears, she can use those to her advantage. (Example: Osore fears fire so she'll create a fire for a general fear. If Orsore knew Eri's fear of Overhaul and saw a picture of him, Orsore could use that to her advantage if she wanted to.)
- Osore can also give people 'sleep paralysis' and summon a 'demon,' and she can also give those who are sleeping nightmares.
- Osore can manipulate screens, mirrors, walls, doors, objects, and practically anything that qualifies as paranormal. However, it must be stated that none of it is real, and that it is all a fabrication. Osore is making it seem real when it is not. These nightmares are less reliable if the person she's attempting to haunt is resistant to fear.
The tape recorder she has is a mix between a spirit box and a cassette tape. Osore has very weak vocal cords and speaks through this; however, the device limits her ability to express emotions through vocal tones and this forces her to rely on physical tones. If you want an example of how Osore sounds through the tape recorder, look up Jacket voice lines from PayDay 2 and imagine them as a little girl instead. I chose that because they are stoic but with an eeriness to them.
Time for quick facts!
- Birthday: December 25th
- Likes: Horror and Thriller genres, Pokemon, Coraline, baseball, Halloween, people who aren't afraid of her.
- Dislikes: Terrifying people who she likes by accident, loud people, losing her tape recorder, spicy food, people who fake being mute.
- Favorite Hero: Ryukyu
- Has a pet dog named 'Hex' that only she can see. (Is it real?)
- Because of her quirk, Osore is into more paranormal media and has grown accustomed to fear because of it. It's very difficult to make her afraid even in life-threatening situations. Although that doesn't mean she's immune to all fear.
- Osore loves to prank those she doesn't like or to those she knows can handle her quirk.
- Osore loves to be active and enjoys physical activity such as sports. Her favorite sport is baseball.
- Osore hates fashion, hence why her outfit is as bland as it gets.
- Her mother has a Poltergeist Quirk.
- Her father is quirkless.
- Her favorite comic character is Dormammu from Marvel.
If you want to know a similar character to Osore, look up the web comic 'Erma.' I can't say Erma inspired Osore because I made Osore two years ago before I discovered Erma about six months ago. Mind you, Erma has been ongoing since 2016.
And one more thing:
The crossover poll.
The winner is: Yes.