Tides of Change

1. introduction

New York City is known as the city that never sleeps. It's also one of the most diverse cities in the United States. You can find all sorts of people of different races, ages, and sizes. What you don't see often, however, is Quirks.

In the United States, less than 20% of the population has developed a Quirk, unlike other parts of the world, where the likelihood of developing a quirk at the age of four would be closer to 80%. In other words, being born with a Quirk in the United States was considered abnormal.

Those who beat the odds protect those who often cannot defend themselves. For example, Cathleen Bate is the most well-known and popular hero in the United States, known as Stars and Stripes. Unfortunately for those in New York City and the rest of the U.S., Cathleen is a hero based in California. Yes, she's the number one hero of the United States, but even so, she cannot be in every state at the same time.

Cathleen Bates can't protect everyone,

So, who protects the people of New York?

TAP

TAP

TAP

A finger bounced up and down against the plastic armrest of the aircraft's chair, the reminisce of a broken acrylic nail tapping the plastic as it made contact.

TAP

TAP

TAP

A weight lifted off her shoulders as the jet took off, finally leaving California.

The girl looked out the window beside her and down at the world beneath her. She watched the clouds go by at rapid speeds. She often pretended that the clouds were animals, people, cities, or anything she could imagine. She cringed at the feeling of her ears popping as the aircraft ascended further into the air. She hated the pressure-like feeling that lingered in her head.

TAP

TAP

TAP

"Kaiyo cut it out. Have you even been listening to me?" a male's stern voice echoed in her mind. He looked up from his phone as the girl's finger stopped before her nail could again tap the armrest. She reluctantly placed her hands in her lap, staring down at her fingers as she let out a stubborn sigh. The male's voice continued; with each word, his voice grew distant as the girl retreated into the depths of her mind. Instead of tapping, she began to count in her head, popping a knuckle with each number.

"One, two, three..."

Kaiyo Nintai was no ordinary 20 year old. Her circumstances were far more advanced and complex than those of others her age. The average 20-year-old is still figuring out what major suits them best in college, while Kaiyo, on the other hand, had her life mapped out for her.

A noticeable thing that differentiated her from others was her appearance. Her white colored hair was long and straight. Her hair shimmered silver like fresh snow as the light directly hit the strands. At the roots of her hair, Cornflower blue peeked through her white strands. Her eyes were a pale, almost translucent purple, a shade that was both beautiful and unsettling.

Kaiyo has always been a pencil-thin girl. Even with extensive training, she struggles to build muscle. However, even though her appearance made her seem fragile, she was far from it.

Unlike most 20-year-olds in the United States, Kaiyo Nintai had a Quirk, a Quirk she could use to help save lives.

Or ruin them.