Chapter Text
"Good Afternoon. Members of the board and those in the audience." I started shakily. I had experience of talking to crowds, but never on this scale or importance. I licked my lips and continued on.
The Musutafu Audatorium was filled with the hero researchers and head directors from AngeCorp, Wayland, and the EBOHP (Elom Beaurau of Human Physiology), my colleagues and rivals. In addition to the top heroes from around Japan, I heard there were heroes from as far away as America.
"My name is Seno Masuhiro. I am a researcher from AngeCorp. And we at AngeCorp believe we have made a breakthrough in Quirk physiology." My voice kept getting trapped in my throat, and my palms began to sweat. Thousands of eyes bored into me, shattering my concentration.
I clicked onto the next slide. A soulless animation fills the transition. Suddenly, I don't want to be there. A gaping feeling of anxiety fills my chest, forcing the breath out of my lungs. The room was filled with a roar, and my eyes darted about. No one else seemed to notice. It was just me. I take a deep, trembling breath, filling the hole in my chest. Silence returns to the auditorium once again. I click again. The Slidshow shows a string of DNA on a specific set of genes.
"This," I pause for dramatic effect, "is what makes a hero."
The crowd audibly shuffles. My confidence had returned. The hole was now replaced with a fire. That line that I had practised so much in the mirror sounded far better in my head.
"We have been doing extensive research on the physiology of Quirk-adapted humans since the dawn of Meta Abilities. And this," I point at a projected screen above me, letting my voice sweep over the crowd. "Is the breakthrough that will redefine heroes."
I could feel the crowd start to get nervous at the implications of our finding. I immediately noted the fact and continued on. This time a little more cautious about what I could be implying.
"Now this gene you see before you has been unnamed and undiscovered until now," I say, pacing the stage. My anxiety had all but vanished. "We believe that this is the gene responsible for the formation and manifestation of Quirks."
The audience buzzed again. This time with more genuine interest rather than hesitation or fear.
"Extensive research into the exact nature of this new gene is being undertaken to define its properties and genesis. But for now, I am here to provide our findings thus far. We have deduced that this gene is the reason why Quirk-adapted humans lack the additional joint in their smallest toe. However, this raises the question: how does a gene alter one's body so far that it produces a Quirk? And the answer to that question remains unclear. But let me assure you that strong hypotheses are in the works."
The crowd seemed to dislike the uncertainty of our findings. I had to find a way to reassure them.
"This report is only to inform of its existence. Much of the nature and causes of the gene remain unknown to us at this time. But I must remind you that we at AngeCorp are doing all that we can to expedite our research to find conclusive evidence and present a unified front on any and all findings."
The audience settled, their uneasiness suddenly soothed. I silently thanked Mihara for the inspiration before the speech. I practically quoted her word for word, and I'll never hear the end of it.
The rest of the presentation went smoothly. There wasn't much else to report on. I was basically repeating myself and using different words. We still had barely any information on the new gene, and I still can't believe that I was put up on that stage.
As I walked off the stage, no applause followed me as I disappeared into the curtains on the right side. The auditorium was still unsure if this was good or bad news. Their silence convinced me that it might be something to fear. Just as I thought upon its discovery.
Once I entered the comforting darkness of the side stage, I took a deep breath, and I realised I hadn't been getting enough oxygen. It felt like tons had been taken off my shoulders. That breath was pure ecstasy. I immediately gulped for more. My hands were shaking, and my knees went weak. I collapsed against the nearest wall. Thankfully, there was no one around to fuss over me. I just had to get my bearings. I played back all the things I said in my head. Trying to find any points I missed or sentences that I had completely butchered. None came to mind, but I still felt that I half-assed my speech. I should have prepared more. I should have practised. I should not have been such a wimp. I should not have gone up on stage. Ugh. Now I was getting into my own head. Someone else had taken up the stage, discussing