First Stream
'I hit it, but...'
Lira, lying on the floor, could only wordlessly gaze at the beautiful starry night sky through the enormous hole that just seconds ago was the ceiling of Rei's room.
Before her strike could make contact, she saw out of the corner of her eye how Rei began to wave his hands in alarm, but it was already too late to stop the blow, and all she could do was slow it down to prevent it from being too powerful.
'How?'
When her blow connected with the drum, it sunk inward and suddenly spun upward, and a powerful cannonball-shaped wave, seeming to have the same force as the blow, materialized in the air, shooting towards the ceiling and completely destroying it.
Lira's attention turned to Rei, who was looking at his destroyed ceiling with a mix of disbelief and sadness, while his hair returned to normal and the drum began to fade into white particles.
"Mom... Weren't you a professional heroine?"
Lira instantly got up from the floor, returning her hand to normal, and cast embarrassed glances at her son. The bed was slightly crushed under Rei's weight as he looked at his mother with confusion, placing both hands on his head and grimacing slightly.
"If I hadn't deflected that..."
Lira lowered her head even further, her face turning completely red until suddenly an idea popped into her head, and she began to approach Rei while nervously waving her hands.
"What was that, Reiki?! You deflected my attack, no, you returned the attack with the same force. How did you do that?"
Rei froze for a moment, not because of the question, but because of his mother's poor attempt to change the subject, and with a sigh, he turned to his father, who was staring blankly at the hole in the ceiling while muttering softly.
"The roof of the house measures a total of two by both sides that converge at the junction, therefore a total of 4 meters with a price of ten thousand yen per meter, plus labor, the time it will take to speak with the repair company..."
Ren's lips began to move so fast that Rei couldn't keep up, and defeated, he turned back to his mother, who once again avoided his accusatory gaze.
"*sigh* It's a feature of the instrument, each instrument has one. I guess in this case, the drum's ability was for the blow to bounce back, but..."
As Rei felt liquid trickle down his nose, he brought the hand he was using to communicate to his face, and upon running his finger over the area, he saw a trace of blood on the tip.
"There seems to be a damage limit... the instruments are connected to me, so if they receive any attack, it affects me as mental damage, which manifests as a collapse of my mind."
Lira didn't wait for him to finish speaking before she instantly approached him with a concerned and guilty expression.
"Reiki, I-I-"
"It's okay."
Rei placed his hand on Lira's hair and hugged her tightly around the neck with a smile for a few seconds before realizing he couldn't let go.
"Mom?"
"Mom's sorry, Rei, I'll make it up to you with a short session of infinite hugs."
"..."
Rei sighed defeatedly at being unable to break free and looked at Ren, who had already taken out his phone to start making calls to repair the ceiling.
︿︿︿︿︿︿︿
The next day, a Monday morning, Rei woke up in his parents' bed, quite sore from not being allowed to sleep in his own room and having to endure his mother's whims using him as a personal pillow.
'My back.'
After having breakfast with his parents and saying goodbye to his father, who had to go to work, Rei finally finished grooming himself and headed upstairs to his room.
In a conversation before going to bed, the three of them had discovered that his mother's Quirk was Toolization, basically, she could turn any of her limbs into tools that she used to assist in situations of collapses, wreckage, and terrorist attacks. Because of this, she was once known in America as Tool Girl, the terror of destructions.
On the other hand, his father's Quirk was Multitasking; he had the ability to divide his consciousness in two and use each part to perform a task mentally. This was highly demanded in the administrative sector, making his father one of the most prominent workers in his company.
And at the end of the conversation, Rei managed to get his parents to call him Rei instead of Reiki, disguising it as an attempt to "feel closer to them" at the expense of his dignity.
"Rei-chan~"
Rei paused on the stairs when he saw his mother calling him from the living room and began to descend the stairs.
"Tell me, Mom."
Liria fell silent as she moved aside on the couch where she was sitting and patted the seat next to her.
"Dad and I have talked-"
"Are you two going to divorce?"
Rei received a knock on the head and looked seriously at his mother while suppressing the pain in his head.
"As I said, Dad and I have talked, and you have our full support, Rei, but... there are conditions."
Liria paused, and upon receiving a nod from Rei, she smiled and raised her hands again.
"You can't reveal your identity for now, but inevitably, there will come a time when you have to."
Rei tilted his head in confusion and gave her a questioning look, and Liria simply raised a second finger.
"What I mean is related to the third condition; the second is that you don't neglect your studies. At least, we want you to know the continents."
"Excuse me?"
Liria giggled at Rei's exaggerated offended face and finally raised the third finger.
"You will attend U.A. High School in the future, but this is entirely optional. The last thing we want is to force you to do something."
Rei was impressed for a moment but quickly raised his hands in confusion.
"Why?"
"There are two reasons. The first is that you have a powerful Quirk, Rei. Just that drum from last night is enough to make you a hero because, if you haven't noticed, if you train it well and improve your endurance, you could even return a blow to one of the top Pro Heroes. Now, if I add that you can summon hundreds of those instruments and each one could act differently... I envy you~"
Liria looked amused as Rei turned his head away embarrassedly, and she caught his attention again.
"And the second reason is because, my son, you're a loner."
"Huh?"
Rei's eyes widened, and Liria frowned slightly as she pointed at him.
"What do you mean by 'huh'? Rei, you never leave the house and just eat candies all day."
"Uhhhh."
"You don't have any friends."
"Ouch."
"You've spent your entire childhood just waiting to receive a laptop."
"S-Stop it, Mom..."
"And above all, I'm afraid you'll never get a girlfriend. My dream since I was a little girl was always to be a grandmother, as much as I love having you all to myself... Don't crush your mother's dream."
Rei lowered his head defeatedly and slowly lifted it along with his hands while averting his gaze, feeling ashamed
"But I was planning on going to school and making friends, it's just that kids my age are very... childish. Besides, it's not necessary for me to go to U.A. I can go to a regular school, and with my songs, there'll be a girl who's passionate about music, and I don't know, maybe..."
"Disgraceful."
"Eh?"
Liria looked disdainfully and mockingly at Rei as she crossed her arms, barely leaving any space to move her hand.
"Maybe what? That a girl falls in love with you for your songs and not for who you are? Based on the song I heard yesterday, I would think you're hopelessly in love. Are you, Rei?"
Rei instantly shook his head, causing a triumphant smile to appear on Liria's face, and she began to whisper very quietly.
"That's my Rei, you'll always be with Mommy and Daddy, and no girl- AHEM. Well, what I mean is that at U.A., you could make friends you can trust, and at some point, if you like, of course, become a hero. The experience is tough, and you see many... bad things, but the feeling of helping people is so... Happy, it makes you happy to see people happy, at least to me."
"Then why did you stop being a heroine, Mom?"
"...Because I wanted to experience happiness firsthand."
Liria showed a big smile and approached Rei, grabbing his hands.
"And I'm glad I did... Besides, I made a lot of money and took your father on vacation. I have enough to support you and four generations of the following family. So... just think about it"
"I'll do, mom."
They continued talking for a while longer until Liria got up from her seat to go make lunch, but before leaving the room, she stopped and reached into her pocket.
"By the way, honey, can I keep this?"
Rei saw the note on which he had written the song last night and nodded with a smile as he watched Liria raise her hands in the air and leave the room, leaving him unable to help feeling internally grateful for having a mother who appreciates something as simple as that.
︿︿︿︿︿︿︿
'Let's get started.'
A couple of days had passed, and Rei's room ceiling had already been fixed by a quick repair company that his father knew firsthand. Sitting at his desk, Rei looked excitedly at the streaming setup that his parents had surprised him with.
A nice stream pad where he could mute himself instantly, a visibly expensive microphone which his parents had refused to disclose the price of, a 200-terabyte hard drive, and last but not least, a GoPro aimed at his hands.
During these couple of days, he had been contemplating the idea of attending U.A. High School, and he wasn't entirely thrilled about it. Two years ago, the last time he went to the park, he encountered a pair of friends with green and yellow hair, who were the same age as he was at that time, so he was sure he would have to get involved in the main story if he went.
After much deliberation, he came to a conclusion: Whatever happens, happens. At least, I'll enjoy it until it comes.
Dancing his fingers across the keyboard, he accessed the HeroTube website and smiled upon seeing that his mother's account was already linked to the laptop.
On the HeroTube website, it was necessary to be of legal age or at least have the supervision of a legal guardian to register the copyright of songs, so Rei asked Liria for help since she spent more time at home of the two.
He had pre-recorded two songs, the one he sang yesterday and another one he would sing today on stream to attract people who came to see him and take advantage of the opportunity to bring them into his channel.
With a couple of clicks and reading some terms and services, he agreed to an 80% revenue share contract from stream donations in exchange for controlling the pop-up ads that would annoy viewers.
'They give a high percentage as an incentive for people to get interested in producing music? If people get into music solely for the money, it's no wonder the industry has declined so much.'
Sighing disappointedly, he moved to the uploads tab and dragged the two audio files into the window.
'Ready, now let's go live. Still, it's impressive that they allow even people with 0 subscribers to do this.'
Without giving too much importance to the matter, he began to set up the camera to ensure everything was correct, and after a few minutes, he moved the mouse to the large red button, noticing out of the corner of his eye that the songs he uploaded already had some views.
Reaching to his right, he grabbed the new electric guitar he summoned over him along with the drum set and glanced at the chat screen as he noticed it changing.
♦Live music to promote my new songs♦
Viewers: 10
'Oh... Already?'
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
[→ TheComedy: Just listened one of the songs and I can only say I'm speechless. Are you really a kid?]
[→ BlondiePitch: Lad... those songs are insane!!]
[→ Joe69: Nice guitar.]
[→ PeanutEnjoyer: His hands look so small!]
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
Rei glanced somewhat embarrassedly at his hands and cleared his throat, unconsciously gripping the guitar tightly.
﹄Ahem. Testing, testing. It's a pleasure to be here on my first HeroTube stream, as you can see in the title, my name is JAD and I sincerely appreciate the compliments... and my hands are not small, they're standard-sized. ﹃
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
[→ TheComedy: ...Haha, he got shy... HA, HA, HA, HA.]
⇝ User 'TheComedy' has been banned by the host for: 5 minutes
[→ Joe69: RIP]
[→ PeanutEnjoyer: RIP]
[→ BlondiePitch: Too strict for a child. Just sayin'~]
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
﹄...Please don't tease me.﹃
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
[→ PeanutEnjoyer: ...We must protect him.]
[ ↪︎ BlondiePitch: x2]
[ ↪︎ Joe69: x3]
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
Rei chuckled at the silliness and adjusted his guitar while testing the sound of the instruments
*STRUM* *DRUM*
﹄Alright, putting jokes aside. I'll warn you beforehand that it's only my fifth time playing an electric guitar, so I might make some mistakes. Out of the two songs I uploaded, I'll play "Tek It", hope you enjoy it. ﹃
(-Tek It / Cafuné-)
*STRUM* ♪ *STRUM* ♪
♫ Where did you learn what it means to reciprocate? ♫
*DRUM* *DRUM* *STRUM* *DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ And how much can I be expected to tolerate? ♫
*DRUM* *DRUM* *STRUM* *DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ So I started to think about the plans I made~The debt unpaid ♫
*STRUM* *DRUM*
♫ And you just can't call~ a spade a spadeee~ ♫
*STRUM* *DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ I watch the mooooon ~ Let it run my moood ♫
♫ Can't stop thinking oooof youuuu~ ♫
*STRUM* *DRUM*
♫ I watch youu~ ♫
*STRUM* *DRUM*
♫ So long nice to know you I'll be~Moooving ooon~ ♫
♫ We started off in such a nice place ~ We were talking the same language ♫
♫ I oopen and I'm closin' ~ You can't stand the thought ~ Of a real beating heart
♫ You'd be holding, having trouble ~ Ooowning and admit that ~ I am hoping ♫
*STRUM* *DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ I watch the mooooon ~ Let it run my moood ♫
♫ Can't stop thinking oooof youuuu~ ♫
*STRUM* *DRUM*
♫ I watch youu~ ♫
*STRUM* *DRUM*
♫ So long nice to know you I'll be~Moooving ooon~Moooving ooon~ ♫
*DRUM* *DRUM* *STRUM* *DRUM* *DRUM*
♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪♪♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪♪♪♪
*DRUM* *DRUM* *STRUM* *DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ Youu~Yeah I always know the truth ♫
♫ But I can't just say it... to you ♫
*DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ Yeah I know the truth... ♫
*DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ I knew! ♫
♫ Yeah I always know the truth! ♫
♫ But I can't just say it... to you! ♫
♫ Yeah I know the truuuuuuth!♫
*DRUM* *DRUM*
♫ I never thought we'd see it through! ♫
♫ I never could rely on you! ♫
♫ And few! times your face came into viewwwwwww ♫
♫ Into viewwww ♫
♫ I'm not into you ♫
♫ Into youuuuuuuuuuuuuu ♫
"Phewwwwww..."
Rei held onto the guitar tightly as he tried to catch his breath, and his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the chat box, feeling a bit nervous.
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
[→ Joe69: Fith time you say... that was insane.]
[→ BlondiePitch: I can only say it was beautiful. I have to go do something, see you!]
[→ Earphone: That was... wow.]
[→ PeanutEnjoyer: It's the first song I've ever felt identified with. You're amazing JAD.]
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
Rei smiled as he read the comments and connected the console that was next to him.
﹄Well, that's it for today regarding songs, thank you for listening. Next, I'll be playing some games on a console my parents bought for me, they say there are many games in it... Oh! I have to change the title hehe.﹃
The next hour, Rei spent playing and chatting a bit with some new viewers who appeared in the chat, unaware of what was happening on the networks.
︿︿︿︿︿︿︿
(-Hizashi(Name): Present Mic -/- Nemuri(Name): Midnight -/- Aizawa(Surname): Eraser Head; I use Aizawa because it's most know as that name.)
"Let's see."
---------------------------------
[What's up, guys! I've stumbled upon a little emerging gem while browsing HeroTube. There's this young kid named JAD who's making some crazy songs! Here's a part of the stream he made for you all~ Signing off, your favorite loudmouth hero, Present Mic.]
→ PresentMic#1Fan: You're amazing Present Mic!
→ solista: I can assure you this is NOT fake, the sound of the video is synchronized with the kid's fingers. It's real.
↪︎ KyotokuMusic: I can verify that too. It's incredible.
→ leolener: I can't believe a kid did that.
→ MidnightFeetSmeller02: I went to listen to the songs without much hope but I'm pleasantly surprised.
↪︎ Lego_aim: The hell is that name?
↪︎ MidnightFeetSmeller03: You wouldn't understand.
↪︎ MidnightFeetSmeller01: You wouldn't understand.
↪︎ MidnightFeetSmeller02: You wouldn't understand.
---------------------------------
"Hahahaha."
"What's so funny, Present Mic?"
A young 19-year-old Present Mic jumped up from the bench where he was sitting, feeling a breath on his ear, and quickly turned around, slightly annoyed.
"Midnight! We told you to stop making so many jokes!"
"And I told you to stop using your phone while we're on patrol!"
"Uh."
Hizashi turned his head to the other person sitting next to him on the bench, who just watched the situation with annoyance.
"Shota, help!"
"...You deserve it."
Defeated, Hizashi slumped his shoulders, and in his moment of distraction, Midnight swiftly snatched his phone and began to browse.
"M-MidnightFeetSmeller? I have fans already hehe~ ...Hmm? JAD?"
"Hey!"
Nemuri turned her back to Hizashi, giving him a strange look as she waved the phone around, preventing him from grabbing it back. After a few taps on the screen, a melody started playing.
Hizashi's efforts to retrieve his phone ended as soon as a song began playing, with only the voice of a child singing, enveloping the atmosphere of the park where they were.
"Good song..."
Nemuri turned towards Hizashi, returning his phone, and sat down next to Aizawa, closing her eyes to better listen to the music.
"...He sounds young. Do you know him from somewhere?"
The blonde turned to Aizawa as he brought the phone closer to his ear.
"I came across him a few hours ago while browsing for some songs. Nowadays, hardly anyone uploads anything..."
Aizawa nodded silently and pulled out his phone, which he only used to receive calls. For the first time, he downloaded an app.
"Shota, are you downloading HeroTube?!"
Nemuri's eyes flew open wide at Hizashi's exclamation, and she quickly turned her head towards Aizawa, finding that he simply shrugged and was already searching for the name JAD in the app.
"Solo patrols can be... I could use some music."
Hizashi and Nemuri shared a surprised look upon hearing him, and exchanged a small sad smile as they remembered someone who had been with them not long ago.
"If you have some free time, you could watch his live stream. At least that way, you'll have something to entertain yourself."
Aizawa nodded again silently, subconsciously adjusting the goggles of the hero gear he wore.
(SPOILER!!!!!
Oboro Shirakumo was a classmate of Present Mic and Eraser Head who died two years ago in the lore and is the one who gave his goggles to Eraser.)
︿︿︿︿︿︿︿
Liria ambushed Rei as soon as he left his room after finishing the stream and began rubbing her cheek vigorously against his.
"M-*Cough*M-Mom!"
"I'm so proud of you. Congratulations!"
Rei tried to swallow the candy that was stuck in his throat and after a couple of coughs, he looked at his mother with a slight pout.
"Oops, sorry, sweetheart."
Liria gave him some space, but Rei's annoyance didn't seem to last long as his expression quickly changed to one of confusion.
"Congratulations for what?"
"Eh? Haven't you seen it?"
Liria reached into the pocket of her green hoodie and pulled out her phone with a purple case, quickly unlocking the screen to show it to Rei.
---------------------------------
HeroTube
USER: JAD
SUBSCRIBERS: 10,023↑
♦ Tek it - JAD ♦
15,344↑ views
♦ This side of paradise - JAD ♦
16,001↑ views
---------------------------------
"...Wow."