A long time had passed. A little more than 2 years to be precise.
Riku Shindai, 3 years old and now aware of his new name, had taken pretty well to Braille and was capable of simple communication... with those who also knew Braille.
Many realizations had settled in, not just about himself, but rather the world.
Well, a summary about himself.
He really did seem to have a body which bore nearly exact resemblance to the "Eight Handled Sword Divergent Sila General Mahoraga."
Or short: "Mahoraga."
The only things he seemed to lack were the sword, the wheel and the muscles.
Which was absolutely outrageous. He had already decided to start lightly exercising before reaching Kindergarten.
And when he said lightly, he meant lightly. Basically just Cardio, stretching and mobility exercises to get a good foundation. No need to take risks at that age.
The lack of wheel and sword was annoying as well, but not hopeless given what he had learned of the world. But he'd get to that later.
Another thing he had learned, was that his voice probably wasn't exactly... comforting?
He had not just tried to speak gibberish, but tried to form sentences in english whenever his parents didn't pay attention and noticed that most people pulled back a little in surprise when he started doing so. And not the "oh you speak another language", but rather "ew, whats this" surprise.
Now, he remembered english to be a rather universal language and given what he had learned, it existed here too.
So english was either different from his own.... or what he said just straight up didn't sound like english.
So... he concluded that his voice probably sounded like that... of a curse. Just even more inaudible.
Which would lead him to the next point.
He seemed to have some kind of energy. He believed it to be cursed energy.
Well, he couldn't confirm whether it really was cursed energy, but the chances were high.
It started rather slowly, with him noticing the mood of his parents. His mother joyous with occasional worry. His father... slightly joyous but also a little ... afraid? hesitant? He couldn't be sure.
But, that ability wasn't like you'd imagine. When he first used it a few months ago, he had only noticed it upon holding hands with his parents. So through straight contact.
He then noticed that he was coated in a thin Aura which was probably the cursed energy he had. He had tinkered around a little and could create small ripples in his CE. But he probably needed more practice if he wanted to achieve control.
But it was already a great sign. Once his CE reserves would be big enough, he'd hopefully be able to use this as a sensor ability. If he'd manage to spread out his CE, he hoped it to help him "see" his surroundings.
Because his eyesight was still the biggest problem. Not being able to see meant being careful with everything you did, even if you were supervised by helpful parents.
Even running could just have him trip or run into a stranger and he was still only 3 years old...he had cried a lot when that happened a few days ago.
...Indeed. He still had the emotional maturity of a child. It... really didn't fit his thought process but there wasn't much he could do.
He enjoyed certain type of foods (especially chocolate) and refused to finish his vegetables during his outbursts... unless he felt calm and his rational side would have him eat them.
It was a strange rollercoaster between maturity and immaturity.
Well, that was pretty much everything about him.
Now, about the world.
He seemed to be in Japan on earth. The world was pretty much how he remembered, with only a few exceptions.
Firstly, it seemed to be the year 2206. So his birthyear was 23th September 2203.
But, despite what you'd expect from a time so far in the future, it was strikingly similar to what he knew from his past Life.
Technology, something you'd have expected to make some big breakthroughs in such a time seemed to have stagnated and was... nearly exactly the same as he knew.
But, he couldn't be sure. Not being able to see or hear about it, he only learned about these kind of things through books and a Braille newspaper.
...
But there was one thing, something that either fucked over or blessed the inhabitants of this world or timeline.
Quirks.
It had taken him a long time to understand those. For him, a quirk was a persons special trait. For example if some guy has a weird habit, you're just like "Oh, that's just his quirk."
That phrase was used here as well, albeit in a different context.
Kid spies fire out of his mouth: "Oh, that's just his quirk."
Yes.
Here, quirks were literal superpowers.
Not always the kind of superpowers people dreamed of but that didn't really matter. As long as you had a superpower, as useless as it might be, you were set for Life.
You could have an ass instead of a face and be a working member of society.
...
Another thing? They had fucking superheroes.
...
...
AS A JOB!
...
Here, you could genuinely just say: "When i grow up, i want to be a superhero!"
And the answer wouldn't come in form of a laugh but instead a nod with an answer like: "Indeed. The superhero industry is most profitable these days."
The conversation would then ensue to discuss the benefits and cons in tandem to their Salaries.
But well, ignoring this world's people skewed perception of normality, HIS quirk seemed to be... intense. Even for the locals.
And he wasn't talking about abilities, they had yet to appear.
No. Turns out, looks really do matter. He didn't have that much interaction with others due to his limitations, but his parents made sure to let him know. If you were a mutant, you better hope you look friendly.
He did not look friendly. Now, he had not experienced any bad situations because of his looks, but he was still a kid, holding onto mommy and daddy's hands every time he's outside.
But given what he had heard from his parents, your looks could easily give a guy a reason to call a hero to apprehend you.
This whole issue sounded like it was literally etched into the depths of their society.
Honestly... given Mahoraga's and now his appearance, he was sure he'd experience such stuff once older.
Having exposed teeth was apparently still seen as a sign of intimidation... sooo...
Damn.
But beyond that, everything was pretty cool. He had come to understand that his family was not rich and did struggle to make ends meet a bit, but it wasn't at a point where they couldn't afford basic necessities.
And even his father was warming up to him. Still a little distant, but at a point that Riku could only notice that while reading his emotions.
'Hmm... i wonder if it's possible to learn to speak like Hanami did..."
Indeed. The future looked bright if you ignored the possibilities of discrimination.
Because quirks tended to show up at 4 years old, sometimes earlier and sometimes a little later.
And he was already 3!
'Am i just gonna wake up with a wheel above/behind my head?'
Didn't matter. He was excited.
...
...
...
'Well, someone looks happy.'
Masaki Shindai squinted his eyes at the little weirdo and smiled a little.
The little weirdo was weird, but sweet in his own way, when he wasn't growling or snarling.
"I guess he really is alright. Hasn't bitten me yet."
Well, he did get licked at a certain point...
'Good thing he didn't develop a taste for human flesh.'
He let out a sigh and walked over to the little weirdo who seemed to be in a good mood if he read his expression correctly.
He lowered himself next to his son, took his hand and then asked him if he wanted to go visit the forest.
Met with approval, the kid was lifted up by his legs where he just limply hung down with a resigned expression.
'Man, i really can read his mood just by seeing his teeth.'
Still, he grinned. Picking up a son like that was a classic dad move he had dreamed of doing.
"Masaki... what the hell you think you're doing???"
'Crap.'
"Just going for a walk honey! We'll be back soon! Love you!"
"MASAKI! PUT DOWN YO..:"
He was already outside.
One didn't need to hear what she said in order to know what she wanted, but no way in hell would he abandon this kind of happiness.
"Yeah, you like this too, don't you?"
"RÖÖGH"
"Röögh indeed."
...
...
...
The walk to the forest did not take that much time. It was honestly more of a park... but Masaki really couldn't be bothered to find out the correct term.
'If there are lots of trees, then it's a forest.'
The little weirdo was walking next to him, still holding on to his hand.
'I wonder what blind people see... i can't imagine what "nothing" is like...'
Finding himself a little spot to sit on, he then signed that Riku should look around a little and not to worry, they'd remain in line of sight.
'Call me crazy but i'm pretty sure he can somehow..."see." '
He had noticed it a while ago, but the kid had been doing strange things at home.
Stranger than usual at the very least.
He remembered that he used to walk along the wall, his hand pressed up against it, probably in order to learn the outline of their home.
Now? Something similar was going on... only that he didn't touch the wall. Simply holding his hand close but not against it. Masaki had first simply written it off as him knowing the apartment.
But then he noticed Riku doing that shit in public.
His hands stretched out as if sensing the distance between him and an object or person.
Well, the distance was only a few centimeters but it was already a sign for his quirk.
'Ah, he's doing it again.'
Riku didn't only use his hands, but also carefully lifted his feet and seemed to "sense" the ground where he'd step.
'Looks like i won't spend the rest of my Life holding this weirdo's hand.'
Now, he could simply ask the kid about those abilities. He did know Braille after all.
But, the kid wasn't very talkative. He seemed to "talk" when it was a necessity and simply did his own thing most of the time.
'I suppose kids with these kind of disabilities have a different mindset when it comes to conversation.'
Not that he minded. He doubted a 3 year olds conversation to be that interesting anyway.
And he also thought it was better for his sake.
Not many people knew Braille and he probably wouldn't make friends that easily.
There were special institutes for kids who were in similar situations as Riku, but despite Riku's disabilities, he seemed to be rather intelligent.
When he called Riku intelligent, he mostly adhered to his understanding. Every time they explained something to him, he seemed to grasp it rather immediately.
He wasn't like in those movies in which children ask dumb questions.
...
"Mum, why am i being discriminated against?"
"Well honey, it's because you look like the fucking nun from that horror movie."
...
'Honestly, sticking him into one of "adapted learning places" might not even help him.'
Sure, it'd be good in order to have teachers who could communicate with him, but he probably wouldn't find other kids who could talk in Braille. And if he did, they'd be dumber than him.
It'd be better for his own sake to stick him into a normal school. At most maybe one of these accompanying teachers as a translator.
'Hope it doesn't cost too much.'
Given his newfound abilities, he'd probably learn how to get around by himself anyway, so there wouldn't be any need for someone to lead him to his classes.
'ah, that reminds me. I should probably tell Kana about his ability.'
He didn't really know how she'd take his opinion to put him into normal Kindergarten.
She tended to freak out when he referred to the weirdo as retarded.
"Don't treat him like he's abnormal!"
But she'd also freak out when he treated him like he was normal.
"Don't treat him so lightly! He needs special care!"
'Man, i don't understand shit.'
He sighed and stood up.
It was time to head back.
...
...
...
(A few weeks later)
Kana was worried. Or nervous? She wasn't sure.
Her husband had told her about the signs of a sensor type quirk and they had soon taken an appointment to perform some readings.
Quirks usually manifested at around 4 year old but it wasn't like it didn't vary a little.
Now, she, her husband and her 3 year old little Angel were sitting in the waiting room of a Quirk Generalist. A doctor who was responsible for general quirk check ups, not the kind you visited for Quirk identification. Quirk Generalist : KAITO YORUNE.
She had been worrying about what his quirk might be and what his abilities would entail so they had hurried to take an appointment for a small General check up. Why worry? Because quirks could very well control someone's entire life.
When it was finally their turn, the doctor merely raised a eyebrow at his appearance.
"Well. That's one hell of a mutation."
Kana didn't really like it when people spoke that way of her child. It made it seem like her child's value only came from his quirk. Nevertheless, her worry made her hold her tongue.
The check up was brief, the doctor simply checked his physique and then performed a check with some kind of apparatus.
She came back with a look of intrigue.
"Well, your son seems to be in good health although that's always a bit difficult to say with Mutation quirks. But indeed, you were right to come here. He seems to have unlocked an aspect of his quirk."
She handed them a few printouts from the readings she had done.
"As you can see here, the Emission Analysis module picked up some readings. Little Riku seems to be surrounded by a type of energy.
But it's too early to say what it is and where and how it's produced.
At his age, these types of quirks are usually still in development so it would be best to wait a little before trying to figure out anymore about it."
She gave the parents a slightly apologetic look who simply responded with a relieved nod.
"What do you mean when you say his quirk might still develop?"
"Quirks are still a mystery, even now, we don't fully understand how they work.But mutant type quirks? They're often far more complex than standard emitter or transformation types.
In fact, some argue it's like having more than one quirk at once. A single mutation can blur the lines. Part transformation, part emitter, sometimes both and more.
So it's not impossible for his quirk to become more than just a sensory type."
The parents looked a little confused but ultimately didn't question it. If there was one thing which was rampant in their society, it was how unfair quirks could be.
Having concluded their visit at the Quirk generalist, the family soon returned home.
...
...
...
(Timeskip: 1 year and 7 months.)
Riku felt normal upon waking up. Having a little more control over his CE and sensing his immediate surroundings, he managed to get out of bed and walk through his home without incident.
His CE reserves weren't enough to sense his mother working in the kitchen, but he knew she'd be there out of habit.
He let out a greeting with that cursed voice of his once his mom finally was in range for his CE, to which she turned around in a good mood.
She was about to walk over to him to greet him back, when she froze. Riku immediately sensed the shock she was in.
He was confused for just about a second.
'Don't tell me...'
His hand reached out above his head.
A grin formed on his face.
'It's here.'
Floating right at the back of his head was a dark bronze, grayish eight-handled Wheel.