AN: Hope the Title is factually correct.
(January, 2218) (Timeskip: 10 fucking years.)
The morning stretched lazily over the city, whose citizens slowly rose into activity. A thin fog hugged the streets, seemingly thickening the frost and adding to the cold atmosphere of January.
Footsteps echoed on the slick pavement and a faint white mist left each and everyone's mouth at every breath as people hurried to work or to open their shops. Hachioji's train-station was swarmed with commuters, soon leaving Hachioji's streets empty, leaving the place in a ghost town like stillness.
One of those empty streets however, was far less devoid of people than expected. In said street rested an open garage, light, thuds and grunts emerging from within, promising a warm atmosphere of effort and energy, channeled into improvement.
Among the many sounds emerging from the gym, one was more distinctive than others.
"DARK SHADOW! NOW!"
BAM! The sound of impact ensued, catching the attention of several people in the gym.
Standing in the midst of the cage, was a bird-headed boy, wearing black clothes. His eyes were narrowed in focus and his posture was slightly hunched forward, seemingly on guard.
And right in front of him, was his quirk.
Dark shadow, towered over both Tokoyami and his opponent, seemingly forming a wall. A black fist-like appendage applied pressure to it's opponent as it steadily pushed him back.
Steam emerged from the opponent but ultimately failed to deal any damage to the entity as the two of them seemed locked in a contest of strength, Dark Shadow having the advantage.
"Hahaha... you brat..."
Hearing the strained voice, Tokoyami's eyes sharpened and in that very moment, Kenzo, who had been pushing back Dark Shadow's fist, disengaged from his strength contest against Dark Shadow, side stepped the entity and darted towards Tokoyami with explosive speed.
Tokoyami raised his hands in defense, but the ensuing punch still rattled him, nearly throwing him off his feet. Stabilizing himself, his gaze as narrow as ever, he retaliated, but every punch and kick he threw was narrowly dodged by the grinning Kenzo who wound up for more.
But Tokoyami smirked as well.
Whoosh! Kenzo didn't have time to dodge as the dark entity swung it's closed fist to his back.
"Kch..hchh!"
His guard broke as he stumbled forward, narrowly stopping himself from hitting the ground.
But... he didn't have time to recover as Tokoyami immediately followed up, aiming a punch into his face. Kenzo wore a pained expression as he barely stopped the punch, only to be met with another fist to his back.
"You... brat... hahaha, you're using Riku's advice now???"
"It would be foolish not to. Honorless as it might be, it is most effective."
A last exchange ensued, Tokoyami coming in from the front, aiming a knee into Kenzo's face while Dark Shadow unfurled it's palm and threw a palmstrike to towards Kenzo's back, aiming to press him into the ground.
Kenzo's only reaction was to protect his face while he attempted to shift his body out of Dark Shadow's reach.
BAM!
---
---
(Pov: Tokoyami)
"Good work, Dark Shadow."
His stance relaxed as he retracted his quirk while his sparring partner stood back up. A handshake later, the two of them left the cage and sat down on a bench.
"Goddamn it kid, what happened to the old you facing me like a honorable knight?"
Kenzo's complaint only solicited a Smirk from the birdheaded boy as he mulled over that topic.
It just so happened, that the reason for his change entered the cage with his opponent.
"My comrade happened. Riku."
Kenzo answered with a snort, a slight mix of exhaustion and pride in his demeanor.
The two of them remained silent for a while as Riku and Genzo were about to start their match.
It's beginning was announced with a resounding boom as Riku barged towards Genzo, his arms spread wide, as if embracing him in a hug.
Watching this, Tokoyami grew slightly melancholic. Riku had used that exact first move as a starter when they first sparred... outside of that time with Dark Shadow's rampage. Riku's large frame had felt absolutely unstoppable as he had barged forward.
'...that time, huh?'
Yeah. A lot of time had passed...
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(Narration, Flashback)
Indeed, many years had passed since the acquiring of their friendship. Both Tokoyami and Riku had exponentially grown in Power, yet neither of them felt like having reached their ceiling.
The incident at Nishisato's Children's Park, during which Dark Shadow had rampaged, left a heavy impact on Tokoyami. For several months, he had been afraid of his Quirk, summoning it only in well-lit rooms as he readjusted to its dark nature.
In the meanwhile, Riku had not been idle either. QSB's constraints had limited the time he spent training, so the child instead focused onto his newfound hearing ability... and most importantly, learning Japanese.
QSB's regulations only lasted for a few months, although the same could not be said for his Japanese studies, which lasted 3 years to be somewhat fluent.
By 3rd year of elementary, his Japanese had finally gotten to a level to which he could understand an adult's conversation. At that time, Tokoyami had already recovered, joining him in middle school and more ready than ever to become a Hero.
Which was, when Riku invited his friend to the gym.
It was early for a child without a strength quirk, but both Masaki and Tokoyami's dad had been present, not trusting the other people at the gym to give healthy advice.
It was then that the two of them first sparred. It was also then that Tokoyami understood that beating Riku in any battle of atrition... was downright impossible.
It was also then, that Riku introduced his bird-headed friend to a secret Technique.
Jujutsu Jumping.
A technique with a 0% failure rate, which consisted of... teaming up against someone. And beating the shit out of them in a coordinated fashion.
Soon after studying this sophisticated technique, he understood. Positioning himself so that his opponents would remain in between himself and Dark Shadow... was the most effective way to initiate that technique.
The only downside was that he'd have to master martial arts... but that was an endeavor worthy of the "Darkest blade of oblivion."
Having found his Life's calling, Tokoyami fully invested himself into Martial arts, practicing and exercising relentlessly.
Meanwhile, Riku did the same. Minus the Martial arts.
He got BIG.
And... that wasn't just to refer to his muscles.
2.30m. Or 7.6 feet.
For reference, All Might stood at 2.20. Or 7.2 in feet.
In addition to that, he knew the Basics to Boxing and grappling, but soon had to give it up along with other Martial arts, his enormous size simply not meshing with any kind of existing Martial art he knew of.
Adding further problems, he now had to duck a lot when doing literally anything. Nevertheless, his size was still manageable, he only hoped the Wheel to adapt his knees and back.
When at the topic of Adaptation, it was worth noting that... he had adapted to a bunch of things.
Blunt force, slicing, piercing, heat and cold, but his most notable adaptations for both himself and others were his strength, size, CE range, toughness and most importantly... reflexes.
His mind reacted to minor details and CE fluctuations with incredible speed. Mental blocks that had once interrupted his fights had been severely suppressed, giving him a near immediate reaction time.
But despite having Adapted to them, he had not gained a full immunity to any of these things. Spars and training tended to end at the wheel's first turn after all.
Almost all of his adaptations focused on defense. Due to Riku's slight paranoia about being one-shotted, he emphasized strength, reflexes, and toughness, neglecting his speed and evasion.
That being said, his speed was still a terrifying thing when it came to short bursts, his powerful legs capable of having him cross distances in a single leap. The problem was more focused on maneuverability.
There were 2 more abilities, not granted by his Adaptation, but his own research.
One of the abilities long expected... and the other one a surprise... albeit a welcome one.
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(Pov: Genzo)
VLAM!
A fist crashed into the corner where Genzo had stood a second ago. The entire cage rattled and the place which had been hit was clearly bent.
"...Didn't he say he'd hold back?!?"
Despite the very real shock at the sight, Genzo's demeanor remained calm as he quietly side-stepped another punch, effectively entering Riku's guard, aiming for a hit... into his nuts.
Which was when the knee shot up.
'This kid...'
Calling Riku a kid felt both weird and right at the same time. On one hand, they had coached, trained and sparred with him for many years, on the other hand...
'He's taller than fucking All Might!'
The knee did not deal any damage as Genzo jumped sidestepped him again and sneaked in a punch right into Riku's Liver.
Which did absolutely nothing.
'Fighting tall opponents is like the fighting the goddamn rain. I have to crane my neck to see his moves...'
Still, Genzo remained calm as he attempted to circle the Freak, narrowly dodging the tail which lashed out like a whip.
Because... he had an advantage.
Riku struggled to sense him. 'I've been described like an invisible man in water'
His Quirk was his saving grace right now. That and the fact that the kid had said he wouldn't use Cursed Energy.
'...I'm getting old.'
To fight someone while they handicapped themselves was just... lame.
'Tch, is there even a point in fighting him by myself.'
Genzo was a grappler. He usually won by restraining or immobilizing.
'And that frame is not immobilizable.'
And the kid had become a Nightmare to fight, ever since throwing away every notion of Martial art he'd been taught. He reverted to beast like instincts and did not overcomplicate his movements, simply adhering to strength and speed.
"Alright, let's end it here!"
Genzo stopped the match. 1v1 was not enough to fight the kid. The only reason he hadn't lost was because his presence was slippery, but that was it. He had no means of countering Riku.
Who, in turn, immediately halted his movement and held his fist out for a fist-bump.
'...What a weird contrast.'
They bumped fists.
Then, a light ring resonated in his ears. Genzo mentally braced himself for the discomfort as Riku's deep voice resonated through the gym.
"ER'UOY SA YREPPILS SA REVE."
(You're as slippery as ever.)
Riku's voice sounded downright wrong. His language a form of gibberish, similar to that of an Alien.
Yet in his head, Genzo's own voice, slightly distorted, resonated in parallel with Riku's gibberish, spelling out the sentence word for word. Genzo just clicked his tongue, wearing an annoyed expression.
"Tch, the hell am i supposed to do against you? I can barely reach your chest!"
Riku's answer came in form of a Shrug, his ever-present grin widening a little as he walked out of the cage.
'Brat is just 15. UA better watch out.'
He highly doubted anyone of the other contestants to be on Riku's Level.
-
-
(A few minutes later.)
Training wrapped up earlier than usual, and after taking a quick shower, Tokoyami and Riku headed to School together. It had become a comfortable habit for them to start the day with an early gym session before heading to school.
The morning fog was still present, mixing with the thin layer of fresh snow which coated rooftops and sidewalks in white color. Tokoyami's frame was covered in a thick layer of clothes and scarfs, while Riku simply wore a Hoodie/Coat hybrid, modified for his size and physique.
(AN: Imagine it however you like, i won't give the Sacred treasure a Clothing style beside his Hakama for Hero-ing. And... possibly a suit later on.)
Underneath his coat/hoodie, he wore simple clothes, loose pants and a oversized shirt. Riku wasn't really fashionable and his clothes consisted of doing the basic Human thing known as "covering up his body."
His personality had not changed much over the years. He still enjoyed making people uncomfortable with his appearance or noise, although he restrained himself to avoid getting a Villain label slapped onto him.
His telepathic ability had been figured out along with another ability, one which had surprised him given how overlooked it was.
But even though he now had the ability to speak, his need for interaction through speech had naturally been reduced given his silent past, and he'd become more of a Listener than a speaker, usually speaking when spoken too, sometimes even responding in Braille with those knowing it.
The two friends closed in on the school with a relaxed pace, their steps leaving imprints in the snow, one's noticeably deeper than the other's.
The school gates loomed ahead, and a cluster of students was already trickling in. A few glances were thrown at Riku, their gazes carrying different feelings such as Awe and intimidation, but the majority was a little more negative, not downright hostile, but rather... apprehensive.
Tokoyami greeted a few of his passing classmates with solemn nods as they walked through the corridor of the building, while Riku simply walked ahead, indifferent to most, only responding with a upwards-nod to a few select students who greeted him in passing.
His large frame had to duck to enter the classroom, a bizarre sight, yet one his classmates had long gotten used to.
Despite that, some strange looks were still thrown his way. While Riku had been peaceful throughout Middle school, his frame, mentality, looks and way of speech simply threw most people off, leading to him becoming a "silent Mascot" of the class. Not scorned or feared, just a bit secluded, only a few people talking to him from time to time.
Tokoyami got similar treatment, although less for his looks and more because of his personality. While never outright scorned, his mature personality combined with the slight Chuuni he enjoyed (AN: He does NOT suffer from it), conversations simply tended to end on abrupt or awkward notes.
The two friends soon joined their seats which were at the back of the classroom. The desk groaned under Riku's weight, but ultimately held. Nevertheless, his awkward and careful way of sitting down earned a few stifled giggles.
The chatter in the classroom soon dimmed as the Teacher entered, his gaze sweeping through the class for a few seconds before he started to speak.
"Good Morning to everyone. Before we begin today, i'd like to talk about your future Aspirations."
He gave a slight pause before continuing.
"Well, the answers you all gave really don't differ much from each other. Still, some of you had some interesting choices. We're closing in on our last day as a class, so how about we all tell each other our goals?"
The classroom immediately brimmed with excitement as Quirks were shown and hands rose, some even elongating all the way to the ceiling.
One by one, answers were given, half the class set on their dream of becoming a Hero, the other having more... grounded aspirations.
Soon, it was Tokoyami's turn. He stood up with all the dignity his future hero name, Tsukuyome could offer and spoke.
"Fumikage Tokoyami. Dark Shadow. UA-high."
Then, he sat down. Excited murmurs reverberated through the class. Doubt surfaced, not really about Tokoyami's competence, but rather about UA's high requirements. Yet, given the student's seriousness and strength, no one believed it to be impossible.
The same could be said for his friend.
Riku stood up and his distored voice reverberated through the classroom, the annoying ear-ringing sound alongside it.
"UKIR IADNIHS, HGIH-AU."
(Riku Shindai, UA-High.)
A few grimaces appeared on people's faces given the sound, but not even a shred of doubt appeared. In term of ability, the giant angel-like being showcased strength, resilience and character in his day-to-day demeanor.
But the biggest reason was simply... his size. A body the size of All Might's despite the lack of a recorded Strength Quirk? His performance would have to be abysmal for UA to reject him. At least, so the Students thought. Appearance was one of the Heroes most important aspects after all.
And Riku's appearance was... up for the individual to judge, but there was no denying the fact that he was memorable.
The teacher chuckled, adjusting his glasses. "Impressive! Ambitious and… unmistakably memorable. Now, let's hear the rest of you. Don't worry. No need to top that."
As hands shot up again, Riku quietly sank back into his chair, his CE extending towards Tokoyami and transmitting "excitement." He in turn, simply shot Riku a look, then crossed his arms and closed his eyes with a thoughtful smile.
Their confidence in their Success was at an all-time high. If UA wouldn't accept people of their strength... then who could possibly qualify?
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CHAPTER END
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AN:
All right, i tried to write this post time-skip while explaining what happened throughout their past and how they developed.
I didn't want to write big blocks and lists of adaptations and abilities so... it looks like that. I hope its clear.
I'm quite confident in my guess that i did a lot of Grammar mistakes, but i don't like to use apps for correction. So please Mark them!
Something i'd like to know, is about the registered Quirk Name of the MC. It was registered under "Cursed energy" but he was now monitored by the QSB and his quirk certainly got updated.
So, we need a new name. Cursed Energy is not nearly good enough. And i also want to know how much the QSB and UA should know about Riku's Quirk.
Riku is not some high level schemer, so hiding aspects of his Quirks seem unnatural to me. At most, a bit of undisclosed information or even a fake weakness. The stuff a regular guy could think of.
And the name for his Quirk... "Sacred Treasure"? "Adaptation?" "Cursed Wheel?" Please drop ideas.
Another problem is the hero name. Helpo!
But yeah, tell me what you think. If there are details about Riku you think i should include, let me know!
Ohh, i'll add here. I'm thinking of updating/changing chapter 2 and 3. Something less weird. Still with God, but instead a bit faster paced, so the chap might be downright deleted. ADVICE HERE TOO.
MUCHAS GRACIAS.