Chapter Text
"You almost had it in the bag, Shinsou."
"You got beat that easily? That's weak!"
"Don't listen to them! If I was in that ring with that Deku guy, I wouldn't have lasted a second!"
"Who knows, a few companies might seek you once we graduate!"
How the hell do they view you? The hero with a villainous quirk or the villain with a heroic quirk? Which is it?
This hasn't been the first time I dreaded others' opinions. Izuku slamming my body to the ground has only bolstered the opinions that I'd be no good as a hero, I'd be eventually be consumed by his quirk, and be a villain at the end of it all. Those who fear that they would lose their sense of control simply by just greeting me. Those that doubted my sincere desire to do good.
But the other crowds... some actually cheered for you, an outcast? I heard a few voices praise my quirk. To think, Brainwashing would be handy in convincing the villains to surrender. In hostage negotiation. In interrogation. The wonders of my persuasive abilities, and all it takes is for the target would do is to answer back at me.
They'd be cheering harder if you forced Deku to punch himself with that quirk. Now, now, he was a mere competitor. He did nothing to warrant that kind of command. Yet.
Would anyone from the Hero Course even want me in Class 1-B? C? Perhaps F? A few reps and push-ups for the last two month got me unceremoniously beaten, now I think that I would survive without breaking a few of my bones? If it hadn't been night, and I haven't been watching cat videos in my bedroom, I'd probably skip class this day and tomorrow and head straight to the gym if I want to make it.
Of course, there's... this other option of... brass knuckles... armor made... from a manhole... You're getting... sleepy.
Again.
-----
Welp, no classes.
Sleep is an alien concept for Dad, fresh from working his 150th night shift. He never missed work, except when we went at Hanamura's to celebrate my victory at the Second Event. Their sun-fried steak, most delicious.
Mom hasn't talked to me, or Dad. Like anyone would do it to you.
Not verbally, at least.
She insists on communicating through sign language; wouldn't want to risk activating her quirk inadvertently. Spent hundreds of yen in buying JSL tutorial books just to know that breakfast is ready.
So, when she told us over the kitchen that we're being mugged, I knew it almost immediately.
-----
Mom is considerably scared at the sight in front of her eyes. Black jacket with worm symbol, biker boots, a helicopter hat of all things - those could give someone away in a crowd. Wearing those is a giant worm with legs and arms, holding a bucket containing more worms, of all shapes and sizes. How could he fit that jacket in that body shape?
"Give me your money, you purple-haired freaks! Or this bitch gets it!" That thug was more worm than man than he is more man than worm, holding a mass of worms directly in Mom's mouth. Now's the time, Shinsou. Do it.
"How much, exactly?" I replied.
"500 yen!" So demanding.
"Alright, then. Put down the bucket." I ordered him.
He stands still, seemingly dazed. The bucket drops on the floor, spilling its contents. Worms wriggling all over the kitchen floor. It'll take Mom hours to clean up this mess.
"Get out of our house. Now."
The worm-man did just that.
"And never come back."
Would be fun if you made him eat his own worms, though.
Sure.
-----
"What did I tell you about using your quirk in my house?" Hours later, mom sat down to talk with me, moving her arms furiously. Dad was away at work.
"Mom, if I didn't brainwash him", I replied in JSL. "We'd be vomiting worms."
"You could've just call the pros on him, didn't you know? What if I got out of this house and never came back? In fact, what if I told you to get out and never return, huh?"
Well, you definitely won't come back, Shinsou.
I could not answer back.
After a few seconds, Mom cooled down a bit.
Now I can answer back - a bit.
"Son, are you listening?" Mom takes Quirk talk really seriously. "What we've got, this Quirk we've got... if anyone else were to have this, they'd be running around town making men give up money. I don't even have to tell you what they'd do to women."
"I'm not and won't be like these people, Mom. You can be sure of that." She watched my bout against Deku, right? Making him walk away from the arena is the kindest command I can give to him.
"Toshi, the last time you did that to a mugger, you made him trip himself!"
"Mom, I'm sure you found that funny as well." Couldn't help but chuckle a little bit right there.
Did she?
"You just proved my point, son. If you laugh at people hurting themselves, what's stopping you from doing worse?"
No answer from me.
"Now, I've got worms to pick up and throw out. No more use of that Quirk around here, alright?"
"Alright, mom." was the only words I can communicate back. Guess that mugger wasn't the only one who's opened up a can of worms today..
-----
Back to the Internet for me.
The bulk of my circle of friends have always been online. In fact, I find it more refreshing to chat with them, and I've never even met them in real life. Good for them.
That, and they can rest easy that I can't brainwash them over the Internet. You could be a cyber-hero with that capability!
*You just received a new message, TheM4sterm1nd!*
Someone sent me e-mail? Wow, I rarely get these kinds of letters.
By rarely, I mean not at all.
I immediately go to my account and hurriedly click the Inbox.
"Stranger here with a few words of advice."
A stranger offering you advice? Sounds like a virus.
Or a hacker out for my credit card info.
*click*
"I've observed your fight with Midoriya Izuku. Your ruse that let his guard down, that's quite clever of you."
What a nice compliment. Don't get that much nowadays. Continued.
"However, I've thought from the start that your battle would be a short one. And it's been decided the moment Midoriya broke from your control. Did it cross your mind that there's a chance, slim it may be, that your target can remove themselves from your Quirk? Especially if he's more physically-inclined. If this is how you would act as a Pro Hero in the future, you'd be dead in an instant."
Do you want this fellow to define you, Shinsou? He's probably just one of them who'll look down on you...
"I'm not saying this to discourage you from your goal. But I'm also not sugarcoating it just because you lost earlier. Unless you mold your body, learn techniques that will be beneficial in combat, then best settle for a non-Hero career. I just know a good place where you can train. If you want me to keep sending mail, just reply with Yes. If not, either No, or block me. Your call.
-E"