27 Interlude - Hitoshi Shinso

People will think whatever they want to think. And you can't change their minds no matter what.

It was a lesson Hitoshi Shinso had learned early on as a child.

Ironic that, given his quirk.

All his life he'd been taunted for it.

At first they were open about it, straightforward, even. But as time went on, as he grew, the taunts became passing remarks, subtle judgements, and obvious prejudices.

It's a villainous quirk they'd say. Or at that was what it would eventually boil down to.

It was always the same. The wariness, distrust, and fear he could see in their eyes, hidden behind the smiling faces and middle distance stares, and awkward laughter.

"So easy to misuse." turned to "You'd make a perfect villain."

"Don't mind control me!" turned to "Don't touch me!". His quirk didn't even work by touching. But that didn't matter to them. They'd think what they wanted to think, do what they wanted to do. It didn't matter what the truth of the matter was or how he felt. It was always all about them.

Them them them them! Always!

And he was of half a mind to prove them right. See how they liked it when they had to feel the pain. The sting of shame and guilt for something they were entirely innocent of.

But he held himself back. He wouldn't give in. Never. He was stronger than that. He knew it.

And yet with each passing day, with each new bit of wisdom, he grew weary of it all.

Perhaps there was no hope. Perhaps there truly was no other way to this.

Perhaps this was how it was meant to be. It was his cross to bear.

Yet he never cursed his quirk. After all, it was the only thing that was ever truly his own. And he prided himself for that.

Then, day he began watching these videos from a certain boy. They weren't life changing or earth shattering revelations. Things he had already known or guessed at. If anything, they reinforced his worldview.

But there was something odd about them. Perhaps it was clarity of the topics or the nuetrality of the tone. Or maybe it was that it presented not only the problems but also possible solutions to them. Something he'd never seen before. A tone that suggested that the world could head for something better. That the future held promise untold.

Just subtly, if not a bit oddly, the videos communicated that to him.

And it brightened his world just a little, not like the sun in the morning, but more like an led lamp in a pitch dark room.

Then it happened. The case with the serial killer girl. Himiko Toga.

The boy gave her a way out. With all the kindness and compassion he bleated on and on about like a broken record.

And Hitoshi was certain he'd pay for it with blood. After all, no good deed goes unpunished in this world.

He'd expected to see a murder report soon. Instead what he saw was a miracle.

Not only had he not been murdered, he had fought for justice, for someone Hitoshi was told was irredeemable, and come out in one piece.

And unlike every other person Hitoshi had seen, he did what he preached.

He fought against the might of the corrupt and broken world, with nothing but kindness and compassion.

And he won!

Himiko Toga was acquitted within weeks in a society where cases dragged on for years.

Then it hit him like ton of bricks. And something cracked within him. Change wasn't just possible, anyone could do it!

And he finally believed in something.

He had always wanted to be a hero. If only to prove wrong those who'd taunted him his whole life.

But now? Now he wanted something more. Something tangible. Genuine. Something he could reach for and grasp with his own two hands.

Now he had a target. A goal to be reached. He wanted to be a hero that could bring change. To solve these oft ignored problems hiding in the niches of the world gnawing away at its roots like Nidhoggr. The problems he had faced as a child. Problems no doubt others did too.

Then came the latest or perhaps the final video. Some talk about kindness and hope. Other useless drivel. But then he said the three important words. UA entrance exam.

Almost as if lightning had struck him, his attention was grabbed.

He himself had applied for the UA entrance exams not too long ago.

A peer. A comrade. A friend. Hitoshi thought.

Maybe, finally he'd have one who understood him. Someone who didn't fear what he could do but rather saw the potential for good in his quirk the way he himself tried to.

Maybe this would be his hero academia!