Chapter Text
That evening, Yuga saw his mother cry for the very first time.
***
In a world where 80% of the population has super powers, the Aoyama family had nothing to envy to anyone. Somewhere in the North of France, Mr. and Mrs. Aoyama used to live a calm and tranquil life, in more luxury and comfort they could ever enjoy. Him, Jean- Marie, was from Japan with French roots, and Her, Isabelle, left France for her job. Their relationship thus started in Japan, but they decided to go to live in France once for all together. Both of them had a wealthy heritage, contacts in high society and an enviable job, which allowed them to satisfy most of their desires. They where forming a happy and loving couple, and their marriage was the happiest day of their lives.
Their happiness only did grow when they learned that they were expecting their first child. Their surroundings congratulated them a lot, wishing them best luck and happiness for them and their kid to be born. And when the child was born was the second happiest day of their lives.
It was a healthy and lovely baby boy who looked exactly like his mother. The young parents wished nothing but to offer the best possible life to their beloved child and promised to give him all the love he needs and all that could make him happy.
However, that one afternoon, the perfect path the Aoyama had been following until then seemed to be falling apart. That damn afternoon, Isabelle had taken her son to the doctor, at first for a simple routine check.
« Comment- ça, il n’aura pas d’alter ??! »
She refused to believe what the doctor had just said. He would never have a quirk. Yuga was 4 years old. At the time, he wasn’t that much affected by the news. He loved heroes, but never wished to become one himself yet. Of course, almost all of the kids his age, with or without their quirk already, wanted to become like their idol when they grow up. But Yuga had never shared this enthusiasm, which made him a little laughed at. Villains scared him. He felt better watching real heroes saving the world, from far.
That’s why he did not understand his mother’s reaction. She was so devastated Yuga thought she would ground him. He told her, however: « C’est pas grave maman… » It’s not that bad! But she seemed not to hear him. Yuga became sad too. If the fact that he would never have a quirk makes his maman so sad, then so is he. Even though he does not understand why.
It was that evening when Yuga saw his mother cry for the very first time. He heard her in the living room telling about the doctor appointment to his father. The child was hiding behind a wall, his tiny hands covering his mouth not to be spotted, listening.
« Qu’est- ce qu’ils vont tous penser de nous ? Ça va être une humiliation ! Et pour lui aussi, ça va être si dur ! Il va finir comme tous ces marginaux, c’est sûr !… »
Yuga did not understand the meaning of his mother’s complicated words, but he understood by the way she spoke that she was really sad about his situation. Maybe she was even scared. « Elle a peur que les autres m’aiment pas parce que j’ai pas d’alter ? » he thought in his French little brain. What would him being quirkless change to his life and his parent’s? He didn’t know, but surely it was not so okay anymore.
He couldn’t hold it any longer. Yuga left his hiding spot and entered timidly the living room. His parents soon noticed his presence; the young mother wiped her tears away to face her beloved son. As for Yuga, he was holding in his own tears as best as he could, but he knew he couldn’t hold them anymore and ran onto his mother’s arms. She hugged him back, and the father joined them. With or without a quirk, the parents would never break their promise: their son will never be in lack of love or support from them.
***
Unfortunately, Isabelle was right. Since the news had spread, it became harder everyday for Yuga to be accepted by his classmates. He was at first left out of their games, in particular the most popular one: playing heroes. The « heroes » were mostly the kids with he coolest quirk, and the others played the role of the villains or the police. An finally, there was Yuga’s role: the citizen in distress. But in this game, the victim was not the center of the attention at all, and it ended up with everyone fighting, heroes against villains, until the end of playtime. Yuga spend most of the games sitting and watching in silence.
And as time went by, Yuga being only a fake victim went kind of boring to certain kids. He became the target of jokes and was mad fun of so often it soon became real harassment. It took so much proportions that even the most quiet and nice kids followed the others and started to mock him. Yuga could find no peace at school anymore. No matter how hard he tried to be accepted, he was the scapegoat for everything. And if someone tried to act nice, the other kids would make fun of them too, and they would keep being mean to him not to be harassed as well.
« Papa, maman… Pourquoi je suis différent des autres ? »
One day, he begged his parents not to take him to school anymore. The rejection he constantly suffered from was hard to bear for a kid who could barely wipe his butt alone. His mother often told him they are jealous because he is the most adorable boy in the world. She said he shall never let them take away his smile, because people smiling all the time are stronger than the strongest hero. That’s how he remembers her words today. So he followed her advice, convinced that his smile, if not making him stronger, prevents him for crying.
But here, he did not manage to put back a smile on his face. He just couldn’t.
That was too much for Isabelle and Jean- Marie to turn a blind eye on the situation any longer. Of course, they expected it to happen. They know how rude can children this age be sometimes, and they knew their son would be treated differently at some points. But they were left speechless by the lack of concern of Yuga’s teacher, who did not try anything to put an end on the harassment.
« Que voulez- vous, les enfants n’écoutent rien à cet âge. C’est inutile d’essayer. »
Yeah, little kids don’t listen and it’s no use trying. What a good argument. But despite everything, they decided not to change Yuga’s school. No matter which school he attends, the result would be the same. People are the same everywhere, and so are the mindsets. Yuga’s “handicap” would always condemn him to be excluded from the society of Supers they are living in.
***
However, Jean- Marie and Isabelle did not forget about their promise to offer their son the best possible life. Not knowing what they could hope for, they looked for any possible kind of solution to their problem. And they soon understood that the only way for Yuga to be accepted by the society was to be like everybody else.
He needed a quirk. No matter how.
The Aoyama made use of any contact they had to find a way to offer their boy a quirk. Their searches had remained unsuccessful for almost two years. The best doctors had nothing safe to offer, the scientists were at a standstill, and there was not even a black market of quirks. On top of this, the more they talked, the more the rumor about them having a quirkless son was spread, covering them with shame.
As for Yuga’s situation at school, it did not get any better as time went by; the usually joyful and smiling boy had started to isolate himself more and more and had as less social interactions as possible. He could see how much his parents were upset. He knew they loved him tho, and he loved his parents more than everything in the world. But when they were out, he could see their worried glances, as if they were scared to be noticed. As if they were in the middle of the crowd and everyone was watching them.
Yuga had also started to develop this constant feeling of being the center of attention, but in a different way; the more he tried to hide himself (at school or from his parents), the more people were looking for him. And the more he exposed himself, the more invisible he became. Just like the sun: shining so much it blinds people around and they cannot see him anymore. Yuga never called into question this hypothesis ever again.
***
That’s when the Aoyama started to lose hope for real that this very hope made its way through the darkness.
« Yuga, est- ce que tu veux être comme les autres ?
This question would be forever engraved in the little boy’s memory. His parents, squatting at his height, looked so serious Yuga thought he did something stupid. They usually never talk about his difference out loud. But for once, his mother did not look sad.
« Oui, parce que ça fait trop peur d’être différent. » he responded frankly. His parents exchanged a look before his mother told him:
« Chéri… Papa et moi, on a peut- être trouvé quelqu’un qui peut te donner un alter. Tu voudrais… tu voudrais en avoir un ? »
Yuga was 6 years old. And his mother just told him someone could give him a quirk and asked him his he would like to have one. In the purity of his innocence, he put on a large smile on his face without a single question.
« Oui !! Comme ça je serai normal ! »
His parents’ smiles were forced, but the boy did not notice. They were not very fond of this idea and feared for their son’s health. But they did not have a choice; they knew for real that Yuga would suffer even more from his difference in the future. Besides, they could not live like this anymore.
Jean- Marie cleared his throat.
« Si tu es vraiment sûr, il faut qu’on déménage dans une nouvelle maison, dans un autre pays. Il faudra parler une autre langue et aller dans une nouvelle école. Tu es d’accord ?»
Yuga would have to move in another house, another country with his parents, learn a new and unknown language and go in a new school. But he nodded with pure joy. He would agree whatever it takes. He just couldn’t bear to upset his parents. And with his brand new quirk, he would finally be able to make friends! Things could only get better at this point!
That’s what his parents were trying to convince themselves. Going back to Japan was a formality for them, but it was in a very unusual context. All they wanted was their son’s happiness. And it was obvious to them that the only way to make him happy was to give him a quirk. No matter the risks.
***
Yuga was 6 years and 3 month old that day, and he felt grown up. It’s been only a week since the Aoyama arrived in Japan. Yuga became joyful and happy as he used to be. Just thinking of having his own quirk made him more excited than ever. He was so excited he couldn’t stop hoping everywhere with a wide smile on his face, wondering what kind of power he would get. He imagined how cool it would be to fly or to be able to breath under water! Or to be invisible! Or even to… to make magically appear butterflies! Or to be a butterfly himself!!
However, he couldn’t hide a kind of fear concerning his future life. Before their departure, his parents had taught him some Japanese basics, including kanjis, cultural things, manners… They even pushed the teaching even further and forced him to speak as less in French as possible for him to get used more easily to this new language. This psychological preparation was quite complicated at first, but it was nothing but a game for Yuga.
It’s only when he saw kanjis in the streets for the first time, when he could’t understand a word when people were talking, that he understood it was way more than a game.
But nothing could disturb his happiness. He was determined to learn Japanese as fast as possible to finally make friends. He knew for sure that his life would be a thousand times better than in France. He also got used very fast to his new home, not so different from the one where he grew up; a beautiful big house with a lot of flowers, in a neighborhood full of beautiful big houses with flowers, with his own bedroom and a pretty garden.
Also he couldn’t help feeling very proud when he was hearing his parents speaking so well in a totally unknown language. And he wanted to make them proud too. He didn’t want to disappoint them anymore.
Isabelle and Jean- Marie had already enroll him in a school, but he wouldn’t attend it before two weeks. They had re-contacted the person supposed to give their son a quirk when they would be installed. They have doubted him several times; they have heard about them only through rumors after all, and they could be nothing but a rogue. But they couldn’t think about telling such a thing to Yuga.
However, once they were in Japan, they were sure that this rumor was real, which reassured them a bit. They did not dare asking too much question not to raise suspicions, but what they have heard was plenty enough. This, and the sincere smile on their beloved son’s face.
***
The Aoyama family was in a dark corridor of what used to be a luxurious residence. Hesitating to retrace their steps at some times, they managed to cross the corridor, slowly, without a word. At its end was a unique closed door. The three of them walked very close to each other, the parents surrounding the little boy. Yuga’s excitement turned into a weight in his stomach when they arrived here.
In front of the door, Jean- Marie almost flinched, but knocked dryly and pushed the handle. His heart starting to beat faster, he slightly opened the door, not knowing what was waiting for him on the other side. He heard a man’s voice before even seeing him. This man was talking to another person in the room, and frowned when he noticed Jean- Marie. He interrupted himself as the other person, who was sitting in a chair, bent just enough to be able to see the newcomer.
« Ah, yes… »
The man sitting made a sign to his colleague to tell him to leave. A soon as the man left, the other stood up to welcome his visitors. Jean- Marie shivered and opened the door a little more to make his wife and son appear. He tried to say hi or something polite, but couldn’t form any clear sentence in his mind. The man before him was way too intimidating.
Isabelle still wanted to make a good first impression and talked instead.
- G- good evening, sir, we… Forgive us for disturbing you but we- we talked to the phone about-
- About your son, yes. Cut the man. Please come in, put yourselves at ease.
If Yuga had to describe the man in front of him, even if he couldn’t see him very well due to the darkness in the room, he would say he was not very good looking. He was also a little bit scary, but not a lot more than the dentist. The thing is, he didn’t understand Japanese yet, and couldn’t get a word of what the adults were saying. The boy felt his mother pushing him in the back a little, which didn’t reassured him at all.
The man showed a mischievous grin.
- Let’s get straight to the point, you already know the essential. I’m not asking for money, only your loyalty. See this as a favor I’m doing to you; you’ll just have to do me a favor as well when I need. Whenever and whatever I might ask you. Am I clear?
- O- of course! The parents nodded. We’ll do anything.
- And obviously, all of this will be unspoken. You understand, kid? It’s a secret!
Yuga felt shivers running down his neck the the men looked at him in the eyes, but he somehow managed to nod. Of course he will keep it secret. If not, the others will say he’s different again because he was not born with a quirk like everybody else.
When the man got a little closer to him, Yuga felt his parents taking a step back, but he did not dare to look behind. It was so dark he couldn’t even see the mans face clearly. The man squatted down, only a few inches between them.
- Would you like to shoot lasers?
This simple question brought back a smile on the boy’s face. He had only understood the word “laser”. He nodded vigorously without being able to contain his excitement.
- Yes!!
All for One laughed quietly, and without a warning, gripped violently the kid’s head. Yuga wailed, surprised, as nothing moved for endless seconds. Isabelle and Jean- Marie were completely paralyzed, but didn’t dare to make a move.
When the man finally took off his hand, he stood up, passed next to the kid as if he didn’t exist, as if nothing happened. He was about to leave the rom, but gripped Jean- Marie’s arm to make him following him.
- Let’s have a talk, shall we?
Isabelle looked at her husband leaving the room without knowing if she was supposed to follow, but quickly decided to check on her son, who had still not make a single move. She knelt before him and let her hand running on his face, where the man’s hand was. She saw no trace of whatever just happened.
- Are you okay mon chéri? How do you feel?
Yuga didn’t know. He waited to see if his mother notices something weird on is face, which didn’t seem to be the case.
- I’m okay… But I don’t know if it worked…
The boy rotated and pointed his fingers toward the wall like a gun. If he could shoot lasers, he had to find how. Sinon, it’s useless!
His mother stepped back and let him do, anxious and not knowing what to expect. Yuga closed an eye, took a frame on the wall as target, and whispered “pan!”. Bang. Nothing happened. he changed his target for an old dry plant, focused and repeated his action: “pan!”.
The weight in his stomach became more and more heavy. What if it didn’t work? What if he would never have a quirk after all? If they would go back to France? What would he do? He would be rejected all his life without having any friends. Without being like everybody else. Being like his parents would have wanted him to be.
Yuga’s stomach hurt so much he wanted to throw up. The thought of being different his whole life scared him more than everything. Concentrating his last hopes, he focused as best as he could, pointing his shaking fingers toward on the plant.
« Pan ! »
Isabelle jumped when a blue light crossed the room. The plant had now a burnt hole in one of its leaves, as well as the wall behind it. Yuga has also jumped, even more surprised by what he just did. He turned toward his mother, more happy and exited than ever.
« T’as vu ça maman ?! C’est moi qui ai fait ça !! T’as vu ?! »
Of course she saw that. Isabelle smiled, relieved her son was alright, but her smile soon faded; unlike what seemed to happen, the boy didn’t shoot with his fingers. He shoot with… his stomach? Obviously yes; his shirt had the same kind of hole than the plant near the belly button. But his son didn’t seem to care about such a tiny detail. He looked at his shirt laughing out loud with pure joy about what he just did. Him! He did a hero thing! Something extraordinary! Just like everyone else!!
Yuga put himself back in position to try another shot with an overwhelming joy. He pointed his fingers on his first target, the frame on the wall, and puffed his chest. « Pan ! » The blue light crossed the room once again, but this time slightly too low. The light missed its target and hit straight in the wall, making serious damages. The frame ended up falling a few seconds later.
And it was not the only thing that fell since Yuga fell backward. He felt like he shot harder than the fist time, making him even more delighted. How strong was he now, with his brand new quirk? Maybe even stronger than those who made fun of him in France! If only they could see him today!
Isabelle, who was not sharing the same joy as her son, put him back on his feet, carefully staying in his back.
Fait attention, chéri, ne te fait pas mal ! Tu-… (She remembered to switch to Japanese to accustom her son.) You can’t use it all the time, right? Not to break anything. And you have to be very careful not to shot on someone, understood? It’s a very powerful power this man gave you!
The boy calmed down a little to answer his mother, but couldn’t help laughing. Isabelle was worried, but how could she blame him? They finally managed to realize his dream.
Their dream.
- Are you happy?
- Oui maman oui ! Merci !! »
And he jumped in his mother’s arms. She tried to reassure herself. She kissed her son and hugged him back.
- Speak Japanese, please…
She felt Yuga nodding agains her. After a couple of seconds, he put an end on the embrace by himself, which surprised his mother. He had suddenly become very pale.
- Are you all right?
As soon as she spoke those words, Yuga stepped back and threw up his guts on the ground, narrowly avoiding his mother. Far from being disgusted, she ran to him once more.
- Chéri ça va ?!
Yuga wiped his chin and nodded, an edgy smile on his face, but the sparkle of joy in his bright blue eyes didn’t flinch.
- I’m okay now… My stomach don’t hurt anymore!
Isabelle managed to smile at him. She was about to add something when the door opened again. All for One came in, followed by Jean- Marie. Isabelle hold her breath: he was livid. She looked at the man before getting up cowardly.
- T- Thank you again for everything and s- sorry for the mess… She said looking at the devastated room. He doesn’t control it-
- Of course, the man cut while passing by Yuga as if he was a commodity. Be careful with your new toy, kid. (He then talked to Isabelle but without giving her a look.) But don’t thank me, please. All the pleasure is for me!
And we left the room by the second door, leaving the Aoyama alone.
***
The silence was loud in the car during the return trip. Isabelle couldn’t help taking a look behind every ten seconds. Yuga was sleeping peacefully, his head resting against the window, reassuring a little the worried mom. Everything was fine until now. There was no reason for it to change.
- Finally…
Her husband reminded silent. She knew something was wrong with him; he seemed even more tensed than she was, which in general never happened. Isabelle insisted:
- Finally, everything will be like before. We will live peacefully again.
- Yes… (Jean- Marie cleared his dry throat.) But we… we still have a debt toward this man we’ll have to pay someday…
- Of course, we’ll do it if it’s the price to pay for his happiness… For our happiness…
- I just hope we’ll have no problem to pay it…
- Why couldn’t we? He asked for our loyalty. It is vague, but what could it mean anyway? He could ask for support? Or money? That wouldn’t be a problem for us…
Jean- Marie didn’t answer. He was holding the wheel so firmly she though it would break in any minutes. She frowned and didn’t took of her eyes from her husband anymore.
- What did he tell you?
- What?
- When you were alone together, what did he tell you to scare you so much?
He gulped.
- I don’t want to get you worried…
- Jean- Marie of course I’m worried! You won’t hide thing from me in top of everything else, huh?!
- Chérie…
- …he threatened you, right?
Isabelle was not so convinced about it, but surely it was what she feared the most. She feared to have put in danger her family by doing something irresponsible. And the reaction of her husband did not reassure her at all.
- He… this man was not joking. He had… He showed me what was waiting for us if we disrespect him…
Isabelle felt a shiver rolling down her neck. She didn’t know what to answer. She looked at the back of the car, her lovely sleeping son, thought of the abominable mistake they probably just made… The threat of this man would probably never leave them for the rest of their lives.
Jean- Marie put a cold yet warm hand of Isabelle’s lap, which made her shiver a little.
- It’s gonna be okay, he… He’s got no reason to harm us if we obey, right? Besides… we did what we had to. Without a doubt.
Isabelle put her hand on her husband’s and looked once again at the back. He was right. They did not have a choice. They can’t regret what they have done. In any case, their future could never be worst than what they have been through those last years. They had to keep their heads up. Put back their mask of perfect family. Blending in the crowd.
They had to smile. Always.