Chapter Text
Hitoshi was just as excited as any other kid would be waiting for their quirk to manifest. His parents assured him that it would eventually come, but he could tell they got nervous after his fifth birthday had passed and it hadn't manifested yet. For his sixth birthday they took him to a quirk doctor, who told them there were no signs of him being quirkless, and that some quirks manifested well after puberty. They had just smiled and thanked the doctor, but he could sense the tension in their words and actions, worried about him being a late bloomer.
When his quirk finally did manifest, it was not one they were happy about. Sure it began that way, they finally had a reason to show off to the family, but quickly it turned into one that garnered looks and judgement.
How could he ever be a productive member of society? You can't trust him not to manipulate you. He could never be a hero--it's a villain quirk.
Their excitement and praise soon soured. They stopped allowing him to hang out with other kids, if they even wanted to hang out with him in the first place. When his parents had noticed other parents began treating him with the same caution his extended family had, he was no longer allowed to leave the house.
At home, they began locking him in his room. His dad would take on more projects at work and his mom would leave in the evenings to go socialize--which usually meant drinking. And when she drank, she only became angrier. She would return home late and if something were even slightly out of place she would barge into the room he was locked in and scream and create even more chaos until she became too tired.
These nights ended with him in a "quirk inhibitor" as his parents liked to claim. The morning after always consisted of being yanked out of bed by an angry father forcing him to clean the mess his mother left before leaving for work, then walking on eggshells around an even angrier mother that would only leave more bruises if she saw him. The quirk inhibitor was only taken off as an after thought once Hitoshi was ready for school, which usually meant he didn't eat breakfast. And no breakfast meant he would try to get a little extra food during lunch, which usually meant being reprimanded by a teacher, which meant a call home, which meant being placed in the inhibitor. So after a while, he just learned to go without.
It wasn't until middle school that a teacher noticed the bruises left by the inhibitor and actually decided to do something. She called Hitoshi to stay behind after school and confronted him about it. He would never forget the look of shock as he said the words quirk inhibitor. For a moment he thought he had done something wrong and froze, but his confusion only grew when tears sprung in her eyes and she pulled him in for a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry," she had said, "I promise to get you out of there."
And she had. But it didn't get better. It hadn't gotten any worse either, which is all Hitoshi could ask for, at that point. After his parents' arrest, he was assigned a case worker to help with his housing situation. He was taken to the closest family member that would take him. The same family that had judged his quirk the moment it manifested. A villain, they had called him.
It didn't take long for this household to get on the same program as his parents and use a quirk inhibitor. He hadn't even done anything wrong, they just didn't like him existing in their space with a quirk like his. His saving grace was a random inspection by his case worker. She had come by unannounced to make sure he was settling in properly when she noticed the contraption on his face. He had never seen someone so angry for his sake.
This happened many times over the course of two years until he had run out of families willing to take him in. He worked it out with his case worker and was assigned a group foster home to live in. He had honestly been looking forward to it after being removed from the third family's home. He thought having no family would be better than having a bad one.
But as he was now part of the group home, he no longer needed the services of his case worker. She dropped him off and said her goodbyes, and just like that, the second person to care about Hitoshi was gone too.
He didn't want to be accused of trying to use his quirk on someone right as he got there, so he kept his quirk a secret. Most of the kids in the group home were like him, with undesirable quirks. Some had mutation quirks, some had villainous quirks, some were just subject to a terrible situation, regardless of quirk status, and some had no quirk at all.
He spent the first day being showed around by one of the adults in charge. He showed Hitoshi all the places he would be for a majority of the time but invited him to "feel free to explore." Hitoshi almost laughed at that, but he knew better than to show an adult that kind of disrespect. He had been reprimanded enough times by adults enough to know better than to laugh or respond in any way other than yes sir, no sir or yes ma'am, no ma'am.
As he lay in bed that night, trying to fight his insomnia, he reflected on the day he had. Leaving behind his family for good, saying goodbye to his case worker, being in a safe home. It was a fresh start, these people didn't know about his quirk and he wasn't about to ruin that now. It wasn't exactly lying about his quirk if no one had actually asked. They didn't know his quirk and didn't need to know.
He had been at the group home for a few months now and had finally settled in. He had learned the rules of the house and settled into his chores. He hadn't made any friends, but he hadn't made any enemies either. The less people he interacted with, meant less people eventually hating him for some reason or another. It wasn't exactly a problem though, because no one else in the home wanted to have an issue with anyone else either. He really only interacted with other people during the scheduled cleaning time.
During the day he would go a school nearby. In the evenings he would do his homework and his chores, then go to sleep.
However, as the school year was coming to a close, discussions began of where he and his classmates would go for high school. Many of his classmates already had decided on the school they were going to, but Hitoshi had never given it much thought.
As a kid, he wanted to be a hero. What kid didn't want to be one? But now he didn't think he was cut out for it.
His teacher had approached him when it got closer to the submission deadline.
"I can see you're struggling to decide where to go. Would it help sharing your thought process out loud?"
"No ma'am. I think I'll be fine. I'm probably just going to a local high school anyway."
"You know, I think you would do well at a hero school." He looked up at her, trying to find any indication of sarcasm. "Don't be so shocked. A quirk like yours would do well in the undergound scene, but even that requires a hero license. Unless you want to become a vigilante." She laughed a little at her own joke.
A quirk like yours. Not a villain quirk. Just a quirk.
His teacher gave him all the forms he needed to fill out in order to go to the U.A. entrance exam. She told him that any required parent signature could be filled out by a guardian at the foster home. He practically ran back home that day with all of the excitement coursing through his veins.
He approached the same man that helped him when he first arrived, Mr. Katou, to help with all of the paperwork. The man had smiled when Hitoshi told him of his plans to attend U.A.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, Shinsou. The world could really use more heroes with less conventional quirks." It seemed a little backhanded but Hitoshi didn't say anything, just smiled. He let Mr. Katou continue. "I wished I could have attended a hero school, but my parents told me to find a job that was better suited for my quirk. It's good to see young kids pursuing their dreams, even without a traditional 'hero quirk'."
"Thank you, sir. I hope to become a good hero someday."
"I think you will." The man smiled again and signed Hitoshi's papers.
He could hardly fall asleep that night, and not because of his insomnia. He was too excited to sleep. He kept imagining himself in the hero program, becoming a hero, creating a change in the world of how people look at "villainous" quirks. He hadn't even turned in his papers yet, but he couldn't wait for the entrance exam.
Robots. Giant robots. There was so much quirk bias in that stupid exam. He didn't know whether to be furious at whoever designed the exam or to feel stupid for believing he actually had a chance at passing.
He had spent the months prior to the exam studying everything that he expected to be the written exam, but he didn't exactly know what the practical exam would entail. Obviously some way to show off their quirks, but giant robots? Really? Only strength based quirks did damage to them. It was unrealistic, in his opinion. In what world are heroes fighting robots in everyday situations? More often than not they're fighting villains--other people with quirks. But he could see how making students fight another person before their first day of school seemed a little unethical.
He waited for a rejection letter, but a letter never came.
Instead it was a video of All Might informing him that while he had failed to meet the requirements for the hero course, they would love to have him in the general studies course. They were impressed by his work ethic, as he had received one of the highest scores on the written exam, he had even scored some rescue points in the practical. They looked at his background as well, and offered him a full ride scholarship so the foster home wouldn't have to worry about his tuition.
When school began, Hitoshi was excited as ever, but nervous to interact with the other students. How would they react to his quirk?
He usually left any questions he had until after class, and even then, phrased them as a statement. He was sure his teachers knew about his quirk, but he was shy about sharing it with his classmates. He hadn't made any friends per say, but there were kids he would sit by at lunch. He didn't know what he would do if they found out about his quirk and kicked him out of their group.
They had all met on the first day of school and already seemed so close, so Hitoshi felt a little awkward the first time he had lunch with them. But eventually, he relaxed and became more comfortable just existing around them. He wouldn't participate in conversations very often, but he would laugh at jokes and answer questions sent his way. He felt really bad though, because he didn't remember any of their names, so he would just sit there and hope they would be brought up naturally.
At first he thought they invited him to hang out because they felt bad for him, but they were constantly telling him how much they enjoyed his company and that he should join them on some of their weekend hangouts. He politely declined that offer (as his status at the foster home was just as much of a secret as his quirk). These were the first kids his own age to say they enjoyed his company. He didn't want to ruin that by being too personal.
He did mention that he tried out to be in the hero course but failed. No one laughed at him. Instead they had all encouraged him to try and win the sports festival.
"I'm sure you could do it! You're a pretty level-headed guy. I've seen the way the hero course students interact with each other, and I think that's a trait that can be used to your advantage." His friend, a girl with long brown hair, said.
A girl with a squirrel quirk piped in. "Yeah, they're all really trusting of others. Like really trusting. I hear the kid from 1-A--the one that's always breaking his bones--is always friendly to everyone, even to the kid that's tried killing him on multiple occasions. It's crazy!"
"Yeah and it's not just him either, it's practically the whole class. I think you could use this to your advantage, ya know? Like--you're at an advantage because they don't know what your quirk is. Pull that thing out and they won't even know what hit 'em!" A guy with pointy ears said.
A guy with red hair jumped in. "Oh yeah! And if they do find out you could just rile them up until they respond!"
Hitoshi froze. "You- you know my quirk."
They all looked at each other and back at him, confused. The girl with brown hair spoke up. "Uhh yeah? Mic Sensei told us on the first day. You were late and he read off your name and quirk. Was it supposed to be a secret?" The whole class knows.
"I- no one ever- people don't like my quirk."
The guy with red hair responded, "well... we don't care about it. Right guys?" They nodded and spoke in agreement.
The squirrel girl said, "I mean, we've known your quirk this whole time and we don't mind. We don't think you're a villain or anything." She laughed a little at the idea, but to Hitoshi this was no laughing matter.
"I could brainwash you at any second. People don't trust me."
Squirrel girl smiled and responded again. "Well we trust you. Ask as many questions as you want! Even if you do hypnotize us, or whatever, we trust you not to do anything stupid."
Hitoshi stared at all of them in disbelief. They don't really mean that. They're trying to put me off guard so they can get me to use my quirk and report me.
Just then he remembered the words of his middle school teacher and Mr. Katou, encouraging him to pursue becoming a hero. He could do this. These are his classmates. Classmates trust each other. He can trust these people.
He spoke up. "Would you be okay with that?" It was uncomfortable, asking a question for the first time in however long. But all of his friends were beaming.
"Yes!" They all said in unison. As soon as they had responded, he felt the tug of their consciousness'. He pulled the string of the squirrel girl and guy with red hair. He hadn't really used his quirk before, so he was unsure of what to do from this point, but they trusted him enough not to hurt them, so he tried a few different things.
He looked at them and concentrated on what he wanted them to do. Nothing happened. He concentrated on the action and motioned at them to move. Nothing. He spoke his command. "Stand up." Both of them immediately stood.
He was shocked at how naturally it came to him. He felt like he wasn't controlling them, merely influencing them. What was it that girl said earlier? Hypnosis? He liked the sound of that much better than brainwashing.
He wondered if Present Mic had told them the wrong name on purpose or if he had been lied to his whole life about it. He didn't dwell on that thought as the bell signaling lunch's end rang. He let go of his two classmates and they smiled at him. He smiled back.
Maybe I can consider these people real friends.
----
Over the next few weeks, he and his friends began training his quirk.
It wasn't everyday that they trained, but it was most days.
As he used his quirk more, he became more familiar with how it felt to hold someone's consciousness. At first, it gave him terrible migraines, but they had lessened to just headaches now, easily fixed with an ibuprofen.
He had also come to the realization that each person's consciousness felt a little different, some people were easier to influence than others. This only supported the idea that it's hypnosis and not brainwashing. His friends had reassured him many times it wasn't a villain quirk.
"Hypnosis is a form of therapy, and that's, like the opposite of being a villain."
He supposed they were right, then. He would have to try and get a peek at his medical records sometime.
He lost.
He made it past the race and cavalry battle, only to lose in the first round of the tournament. He lost to someone who didn't even have to try. Hitoshi burned with rage and jealousy, he couldn't even force himself to watch the rest of the festival.
That kid had such a hero quirk, no wonder Hitoshi lost. After these past few months of encouragement and weeks of training, he lost to some All Might wannabe. He felt so stupid for ever thinking he could be a hero.
They would probably be waiting for him at the foster home, quirk inhibitor in hand, giving him the punishment he deserves.
He had been sulking in the nurse's office for a while, and he hadn't realized how much time had passed. Kids had come and gone as the tournament went on, but he was dissociating staring at the ceiling.
He flinched when he heard his name said from the other side of the room, but made no effort to look at who said it. A weight was placed at the end of his bed, he looked down and it was Present Mic sitting by his feet. He immediately sat up and apologized.
"No worries, listener. I'm here with ol' Eraserhead." He gestured to the man in a full body cast on the bed next to him, currently being tended to by Recovery Girl. "You know, he was super impressed with you--we both were."
"But I lost."
"So? You still tried. Don't diminish your efforts. You made it further than most other students. So celebrate yourself, ya dig?"
"I'm sure my friends and I will, but I don't feel like I deserve it, sir."
"And why's that?"
"I-" Hitoshi looked back up at the ceiling at let out a big sigh. He knew the man was only asking to be polite, he didn't actually care about Hitoshi's problems. But this was his sensei. "I was... just hoping to join the hero class."
"That's easy. I can train you." A gruff voice spoke from the bed next to him.
Hitoshi chuckled but quickly realized neither men were laughing. He looked at Eraserhead then Present Mic and back to Eraserhead. "Oh. You were serious. I apologize, sir."
"Of course I was, kid. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I didn't think anyone would be impressed by the general studies kid that can't even fight.'"
"It wasn't your ability--or inability--to fight that made me notice you. It was your determination. As a kid with a quirk people don't consider a 'hero quirk', you sure have the spunk of someone who does. I mean, you'd fit right in with the rest of my class."
"You want to train me." Eraserhead nodded and Present Mic smiled at him. "But you don't gain anything from that."
Both men chuckled a little. "Kid, I'm a teacher. I don't gain anything from that, except for the satisfaction of knowing I got to help someone. Being a teacher and a hero aren't so different--they're both pretty selfless." He looked at Hitoshi out of the corner of his eye, still unable to move his head. He saw the doubt on Hitoshi's face. "I'm not offering to make myself feel better. I'm offering because I've been in your position and I want to see you succeed."
Hitoshi started tearing up at how genuine the man sounded, but forced his tears away. "I- I don't know what to say, sir."
Present Mic poked his foot and stage whispered, "say yes," then smiled at Hitoshi.
"I mean, I would love to, but..." Hitoshi looked away as his sentence drifted off into silence.
"But what?" Eraserhead didn't sound angry but Hitoshi felt he might be getting impatient.
"I would have to see with my foster home if it was alright."
Present Mic straightened a little at the mention of a foster home. "Are you safe there?"
The question made Hitoshi raise his eyebrow in confusion. Genuine care filled the man's voice and face.
"Yes, sir. I am." He sounded hesitant. Both men shared a look between the two of them, which worried Hitoshi.
"Alright. If you say so, kid. But let us know if that ever changes, okay?" Hitoshi nodded. "There's some paperwork they need to fill out for you to start training with me, but we can start as soon as I get out of this cast. It'll be about a week."
Present Mic rolled his eyes. Recovery girl chimed in. "That's only if you start following the proper steps for healing, young man. I swear. It's always been the same with you. It's like you never grew past the age of 15." Present Mic giggled at his chastisement, almost as if he has personal experience caring for the hero.
"Why don't you head home, little listener. It's been a long day. Rest up and get the permission slip signed."
Hitoshi eagerly nodded. He grabbed the papers from Present Mic and bowed at both men, thanking them, before hurrying back to the home. One step closer to being a hero.