Chapter Text
"Look at him..."
"The hell is he wearing?"
"Pft... wannabe emo."
"Those clothes are far too big on him..."
Shota Kyanoshi kept his head down as he briskly walked through the hallway, ignoring the whispers and gossip. He pulled his sleek black jacket around himself tightly, rubbing the sleeve with his thumb as a comforting reflex. He was wearing his father's clothes... of course, they were too big.
"D'ya hear about his mum and dad?"
"Shush... he might hear you."
"I heard they were villains. Apprehended last week."
"No way!"
Shota tensed and tried to block the sound of talking out of his head. Rumours spread like wildfire. No one knew what they were talking about. All these petty little assumptions were wrong. He tried not to let the gossip around him get to his head.
"I heard that they were druggies and got arrested looking for stronger cocaine one night. These new heroes don't play, man."
Laughable. That wasn't even close. He pushed his way out of the school doors and outside, soaking in the fresh spring air. The gentle breeze whipped at his shoulder-length black hair. This moment of serenity didn't last long, as several more students walked outside behind him. He could hear their whispers.
"I heard that he killed his parents... might've said something he didn't like. What an entitled little bi-"
"He's right there..."
Shota made brief eye contact with one of the students; she was a little bit shorter than Shota himself and she had bright blue eyes, almost hidden away behind her galaxy-purple hair.
"...hey...?"
Shota shook his head and ran off into the street, ignoring the girl as she called after him with a thousand apologies. He didn't stop running until he arrived at his isolated apartment. He sighed softly and unlocked the door, walking into the house.
"Hotaru, I'm home," Shota exhaustedly spoke as he set his keys down.
"Shota Shota Shotaaaaaaa!!!!" a young girl no older than 5 ran to the ravenette and hugged his leg tightly.
Shota smiled softly and ruffled her short pink hair. The girl looked up at him, a huge smile plastered across her pale face and her magenta eyes shining almost as much as her glittery freckles.
"How was your day, Hotaru? Were you a good girl?" he carefully picked up his little sister, carrying her into the kitchen.
"Mhm mhm mhm!" Hotaru nodded excitedly and began going on about her day.
Shota held her with one arm and began to take out cooking ingredients with the other. He tried to seem invested in her conversation but found himself distracted. He hated that he had to leave his sister home alone, but he didn't know anyone who could watch her. He couldn't take her to school, but he also couldn't skip school.
Hotaru stopped talking at noticing her brother was distracted; "Bubba, what's wrong?"
"Oh... nothing, I'm okay." He forced a smile. He knew she wouldn't be able to understand.
"You miss mummy and daddy, don't you?" she whispered, making eye contact with Shota.
He tensed the slightest and nodded with reluctance.
"I do..."
Both of them were silent. It had only been a week since it had happened. Their parents weren't heroes... they weren't villains... they weren't vigilantes. Their mother, Sachi Kyanoshi, was a brain surgeon. Their father, Kazuma Kyanoshi, was a therapist. And they were killed. It wasn't fair. They hadn't done anything wrong... they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The heroes didn't bother doing a thing about it.
Shota found himself resentful towards heroes, All Might especially, as he was the first on scene and couldn't save them. Granted... All Might was a fairly new hero. Though with the reputation he had built up for himself, one would've expected him to have done better in a situation such as theirs.
Shota and Hotaru were orphaned. They had no family on either their father or mother's side to take care of them. The best they had was a social worker appointed by the Tokyo Police Department. He was supposed to be finding an eligible person to foster and adopt them, but Shota knew that wouldn't happen. After all, who would want a depressed 14-year-old and his hyperactive 5-year-old sister?
"Don't cry, bubba. The mean people at school don't know. They're all just being big old meanies... ignore them, 'kay?"
"What-?" Shota glanced at Hotaru for a moment. It only took him a split second to realise he was crying and his sister had used her quirk on him.
"Sorry I did it again..." she quickly said, at seeing the look on his face.
"It's ok, just... don't do it again. Alright?"
Hotaru nodded enthusiastically in response. Her quirk came from their father; she has the ability to look into a person's thoughts when they're in a vulnerable state such as crying in sadness, uncontrollably laughing in joy, or wallowing in depression. By looking into the thoughts, she can watch the memory that is causing the specific emotion as though it were a movie. She also has the ability to "pause", "rewind" or "fast-forward."
Shota set her down and wiped away his tears, "How about you go play, ok? I'll tell you when dinner is done."
He watched as Hotaru ran off to play in her room. When he was sure she was gone, he began to chop vegetables and put water on the stove to boil. He felt bad for her in a way. She seemed to take care of him more than he could take care of her. She was just like their father in every way...
He forcefully set the knife down and hid his face in his hands. No. He wouldn't cry. He couldn't cry. He was fine. He had to be. He bit his lip to suppress the sob he knew was coming. The words and rumours his classmates whispered around him all came flooding back into his head.
"No... Shota, no..." he whispered to himself as he silently cried into his hands.
Dammit... he was crying. How could he let himself get into this state again? He needed to snap out of it before he did something he would regret.
As if the universe was trying to distract him, the phone began to ring. Shota held his breath for a moment, peering through his hands at the house phone on the wall. He watched as it rang for a few seconds before wiping his tears away and answering it.
"K-Kyanoshi residence... this is Shota," he spoke.
"Yes, hello Shota. My name is Naoko Aizawa... I was given this number by your social worker. How would you feel about me adopting you and your sister?"
Shota was silent for a moment. "Do I know you? Your name sounds-"
"I'm your godfather, Shota... I was your father's best friend. All the paperwork is done, I just need your say. I could come by to pick you up tonight. It's up to you."
"Yes... yes. Please. I-... yes," was all he was able to muster.
"Great. I'll see you in a half an hour." At that, Naoko hung up.
Shota stood in shock before carefully hanging the phone back on the wall. He blinked thrice before snapping out of his trance and hurrying to his and Hotaru's room to pack.