Chapter Text
Someone once said the words... That ‘a society in which quirks are an everyday occurrence’ is nothing more than ‘a society in which quirks must be restrained’. Super hearing, super vision. Physical strength beyond imagination. Invisibility of the body, release of heat and shock wave... And even something much more impressive. These powers, which most people are now born with, are called ‘quirks’. If everyone could use them freely, the world would simply go crazy. This is why people limit the use of quirks freely, so that everyone can live the life they used to have, long before quirks existed. This is to this day an unbreakable rule of modern society.
The exception is heroes who guard the order of society and catch villains using their superpower. When ordinary citizens fight a villain, this is an illegal act. Whatever the situation, an ordinary citizen who injures a criminal becomes a criminal himself at that moment. In the eyes of society, Hitoshi Shinsou's mother is a criminal. But in the eyes of her children, Hitoshi and Eri, she is a real heroine.
Hitoshi Shinsou remembers how his father was afraid of him, remembers the hands squeezing his neck. He was furious and became aggressive when his son spoke. As if a calm child of twelve years old could do anything. In theory, of course, he could. In practice, Hitoshi Shinsou decided for himself long ago that he would not use his quirk to harm.
It started in kindergarten. At first, the caretakers were afraid of him, then, as if by a chain reaction, the children around him began to be afraid of him, after which the parents of these children were already afraid of him. God forbid he should do anything to their children! The mind control quirk was by no means a harmless thing in the eyes of others. This is not a second pair of eyes that could amuse caretakers and children. It is not the manipulation of water into simple ball shapes that is looked upon with admiration. It’s not like having skin that regenerates after a fall from a climbing frame or tree, something that would make people say, ‘Wow, that’s a useful quirk!’
Fucking mind control.
Throughout his childhood, he remembered how the caretakers whispered behind his back. As they said, thinking that he did not hear: “such a terrible quirk, it seems like it was created for a villain.” In the era of heroes and villains, society has developed certain stereotypes associated with quirks. And it was not so easy to get rid of them, but Shinsou did try.
The first step was the entrance exam for the heroic faculty. But there Shinsou failed miserably. He didn't have a quirk that could destroy the robot in any way, let alone the fact that the quirk of mind control as a whole is not capable of resisting this entrance exam. Hiding from the robots, even then another plan matured in Shinsou’s head. He needed to get into this educational institution.
This is how he ended up at the general education faculty of UA Academy.
He didn’t know how this would turn out in the future, he only assumed that he could unlearn his studies, but still not get closer to his dream of becoming a hero. Everything changed the moment their class was informed about the sports festival. A sports festival is an event where students can show what they are capable of. Shinsou set himself the goal of reaching the end. Or at least try to get his quirk recognized as useful. After the sports festival, everything went quiet for a while. Until teacher Aizawa caught him during one of the breaks.
“Hitoshi Shinsou, right?” Aizawa waited for a nod. “Could you come see me after class?”
Shinsou couldn't imagine being offered help. He did not expect this, because at the sports festival everything did not go as smoothly as he would have liked. In his final battle with Midoriya Izuku, he showed his weakness, unpreparedness and uselessness.
But this actually turned out to be a turning point.
He was noticed.
After classes he went into the teachers' room. No one was there except teacher Aizawa.
“You didn’t immediately decide to go to the Faculty of General Education, did you?” Aizawa sat boredly at the table surrounded by papers.
“I wanted to get into the heroic faculty, but...”
“...the exam turned out to be much more difficult. At least for your quirk.”
Shinsou nodded.
Aizawa sighed, then said what Shinsou himself was thinking:
“The entrance exam is not ideal. It's long overdue to be reconsidered. The exam does not take into account many factors. There are so many fads and their applications are so wide that now is the time to do this. Do you understand why I say this?”
Shinsou scratched his neck, then said in an even tone:
“There are different types of villains. As a rule, entire regions suffer during battles. There is nothing left of houses, roads, state property and other things. Only stones and chips.”
“This hits the country’s economy hard, you’re right. But that is not all.”
Shinsou froze for a split second. He didn't understand what these conversations were for. Really...
“If you were a hero, could you fix this?”
Shinsou thought about it. He knew that, yes, of course, if he was a hero... But for some reason he could not say it out loud. Something tightened inside him, and not a sound was uttered from his mouth.
Aizawa glared at him. He scratched the back of his head.
“Find me when you can answer the question. Now go.”
***
Shinsou didn't know how much time had passed. Maybe a week, maybe two weeks. He attended school automatically, cursing himself for not being able to answer teacher Aizawa's question, although he knew the answer. May he be a hero! God, why am I slowing down? What the fuck am I afraid of?
During recess, he went to the toilet: there didn’t seem to be anyone there. Shinsou stood at the sink and looked in the mirror: he looked at the bags under his eyes, which had become much larger since the conversation with teacher Aizawa. Shinsou turned on the water, raised his hands, then washed his face and neck. Either anger or indignation twisted his face.
“Yes, I... If I were a hero... I would...” Shinsou whispered.
His breathing quickened, frustration fell on him with renewed vigor.
Damn, damn, damn. His palm clenched with overwhelming anger. He went out and, slamming the door, headed out into the street: there was plenty of time before the bell rang.
***
“Yes, it was scary, but... Did you watch the video, Ojiro? I don’t know if it was his persistence or his belief in his beliefs. Who knows... But didn't you think he was cool?”
Stain.
Hero killer.
Shinsou glanced briefly, literally for a second, into class 1-A. Before disappearing into the corridor, he glanced at the person who said this. It turned out to be a guy with black lightning on yellow hair. Shinsou remembered seeing this student at a sports festival. Kaminari Denki's quirk is electricity. A very strange opinion for a student of the heroic faculty, but not at all surprising. The surprising thing is that this was not said to someone one on one, but in a class full of students.
This is so stupid, Shinsou thought. Who talks about this out loud at the heroic faculty? In Shinsou's opinion, it's better to keep it to yourself. Or share with those you trust.
But…
Shinsou reproached himself; how can he scold someone for speaking his thoughts out loud when he himself cannot do it?
Shinsou saw some injustice in this. Why can someone just say that? And he, like a little five-year-old who had done something wrong, froze in front of teacher Aizawa a couple of weeks ago.
It couldn't go on like this any longer. If such a sensitive topic as Stain could be calmly discussed in the framework of “didn’t you think he was cool?”, then why is Shinsou’s opinion worse? Especially if it's teacher Aizawa. He made his decision. He needed to talk to teacher Aizawa after class.
But when Shinsou stood at the door of the staff room, his breathing quickened and his head began to throb. And the hand, clenched into a fist, froze at the door. Knocking seemed like something unimaginable. However, either the heavens took pity on Shinsou, or luck smiled on him. The door to the staff room opened and Aizawa appeared on the threshold. Shinsou, tense throughout his body, unclenched his palm and lowered his hand. He was caught off guard and his resolve began to slowly dissipate. Meanwhile, teacher Aizawa looked relaxed, his sleepy eyes lazily scanning Shinsou. It seems as if he was waiting for his return.
“Come in.” Aizawa stepped aside to let Shinsou into the teacher’s room.
There is nowhere else to go. Shinsou obediently entered. He waited for Aizawa to sit down at the table, then opened his mouth only to realize that he was like a fish that accidentally ended up on the shore: his mouth closed on its own.
“I knew you weren’t the talkative type,” Aizawa lounged in his chair, watching Shinsou. “But I didn’t think you’d be a coward.”
“I don’t...” the indignation that had come from somewhere was instantly drowned: Shinsou fell silent.
“You actually have something to say, don’t you?” Aizawa hooked the end of his capture weapon on his finger. “Or are you afraid?”
Shinsou frowned. What the hell is this teacher doing?
Shinsou looked at him: there was a barely noticeable grin on his face.
Is he being bullied?
Shinsou felt his hand clenching into a fist and anger boiling inside him. Shinsou looked at the teacher with open hostility.
“So will you answer the question I asked you last time?”
Shinsou wanted to say: yes, yes, I will answer, give me a second. He needed time.
“You tried so hard to go as far as possible at the sports festival and... is that all?” Aizawa pressed.
Shinsou felt the need to shout: no, of course that’s not all!..
“So are you still afraid?”
Shinsou began to breathe faster, frowning at Aizawa.
“Little scared boy?” Meanwhile, Aizawa spurred on.
No I don’t…
“Are you cornered?”
Shinsou felt like he was going to suffocate. His heart was beating so hard that he could feel frequent tremors in his chest.
“Answer me, Shinsou Hitoshi, if you were a hero, could you correct the current situation?” Aizawa stood up from the table. “Look at me and tell me.”
And then Shinsou realized that he couldn’t stand it anymore. He can't bear to keep his thoughts to himself.
“If I were a hero!” Shinsou’s voice was raised, he raised his head, and determination sparkled in his eyes. “Yes, I would correct the current situation! I could fix it! After all…”
“After all?”
“After all, I’ve gone through an infinite number of tactics in my head a thousand times... Methods of catching villains are becoming outdated. If I were at this or that crime scene, if I were there, the villain would immediately lose control of himself! And there would be no battle, no destroyed buildings, no loss of life. Or at least there would be fewer casualties. If I had been there, if I had been a hero... I could... I would have tried... To do what other heroes couldn't do.”
Aizawa chuckled.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“There is something else.” Shinsou bit his lip, looked at teacher Aizawa and realized that he was listening to him very carefully. Perhaps Shinsou should talk about his mother, about the real reason that pushes him forward. But he hoped that he would get the point across in a roundabout way, so he exhaled and then continued: “All Might is not infinite. A symbol of peace... Now they are afraid of him. But what happens next? Then, when the symbol of peace is gone? When I said that the methods of catching villains are gradually becoming obsolete, I meant it. Hero Society is filled with people who can destroy. Of course, they are trying to minimize the damage, use their power freely in the sky or in the area where citizens have been evacuated... But this is not the only correct tactic. I... If there were more heroes who had a quirk similar to mine, wouldn't things get better? Physical strength is not the only strength that heroes have. It’s not always heroes... people don’t always need to expose themselves to a direct blow from the villain in order to protect themselves!”
“Continue.”
“The prestigious UA Academy, and the entrance exam is stupid like I don’t know what, I didn’t even have a chance to pass it, because I fought not against people, but against inanimate objects. More precisely, I didn’t even fight, but simply hid from the robots. It's so stupid, funny and ironic in my situation that I still feel angry and disappointed. This exam seems to be created for truly “heroic” quirks. As if people who are in trouble need a beautiful picture before their eyes. Of course, quirks can be impressive to other people's eyes, but... In fact, it doesn't matter. The fact of salvation is important.”
Aizawa peered closely at Shinsou’s face: flushed, it expressed sadness, but at the same time, hidden strength splashed in his eyes. Shinsou didn't know what Aizawa saw in him, what he was thinking as he looked at him, out of breath from a stream of reasoning that was somewhat different from the generally accepted ones. Maybe it was their quirks. Shinsou knew that Teacher Aizawa's was not noticeable. Erasure is a quirk that can erase someone else's quirk, depriving them of the opportunity to show off. From this point of view, Shinsou could have done the same thing in a different way. Maybe they are similar?
“Shinsou, I’ll ask you one last question,” Aizawa said, knocking Shinsou out of his thoughts. Shinsou's chest sank and rose. He gasped for air, gazing expectantly at Aizawa. “Do you want to be a hero?”
Without hesitation, Shinsou replied:
“Yes, of course, I want it.”
Aizawa placed a hand on Shinsou’s shoulder. His eyes, slightly wild, held a subtle grin as he said:
“So let's try to do this.”