Virtual Understanding (BnHA FanFic)

Chapter 1

"I'm sorry, madam, sir, but your daughter is... quirkless,"

One word to describe Uzu Toshi as a child was slow. For one, it took a tedious year for her to start crawling and an even longer time before she could stand on her own two feet. Toshi was also born rather quiet, hardly crying, to the point of being called voluntary mute by her family doctor; the little toddler didn't speak until she was three.

"There is nothing I can do for you, I'm sorry,"

The girl, however, was not dumb. In fact, she was quite mature for her age. Toshi knew what quirks were–those cool superpowers the heroes had to save the day on the t.v.–and she knew some people didn't have quirks. That she didn't have a quirk. But she was fine about that.

While there was a little part of her was crestfallen about the fact that she didn't also have a really badass ability like breathing fire akin to a dragon or super speed just like the Flash, Toshi didn't really mind about not having a quirk. It just meant that she was... a little different. It wouldn't change anything in her mundane life either. Overall, Toshi got over it quickly.

"I'm sorry,"

...But why. Why, why did her parents seem so upset? Her mother was on the verge of tears, her father frowning while biting his lip and even her elder brother––from being a loud and cheeky boy only three years older than her––looked freakishly solemn. She didn't like that look on their faces. It made her feel worried and it just didn't seem right.

"I'm sorry,"

Toshi hated that word; that phrase. Something just irked her about it and the little girl despised having to utter those two words, whether it'd be to her parents or elder brother or even worse, her classmates in kindergarten because of some stupid reason to which the child-carers forced her to apologize despite clearly being in the right. It gave her bad memories.

For some reason though, hearing that despicable, horrid, unpleasant and vile phrase from her mother lips in a mere whisper made Toshi's heart swell in an unknown but intense emotion. It was alike to the feeling the child felt when the main character's loved one had passed away from a film she'd recently watched, where her eyes had streamed waterfalls as she hugged her stuffed toy tightly.

"...I-I'm sorry, mamma. Papa... nii-san..."

What was she saying sorry for? Toshi didn't know yet she said it anyway, all childish pride and dignity having disappeared within that moment. That evening, the sobs of a little girl echoed throughout the clinic halls.

-----

The next day, Toshi's all dolled up, ready for school. She had on a plain but cute baby pink dress with frills and her black hair plaited in two short braids, those big red orbs of her's having not the slightest trace of irritation––the kindergartener was fully prepared to go back to her ordinary life. Only when she arrived, the young girl immediately noticed odd atmosphere and those judging stares. Really, it was hard not to.

"Hahaha!"

"My papa said..."

"Quirkless!"

Ah. They knew.

Toshi stared at the kids who had once joined her playing pretend and make-believe. They make fun of her, show off their flashy quirks and laugh while she sat at her round table all alone. Even her best friend, Junko, left to join the majority of the kids like it's only natural, like all the time they spent together since they were infants meant absolutely nothing.