The Autistic and the Trustworthy Heroes

Izumi Akagi: Origins

                   "Izumi, come on honey. Hurry up or you'll be late for school," A woman called to her daughter. "Coming!" replied her four-year-old daughter. Izumi came running to her mom. Her bluebell hair, tied up in a ponytail, wiggled as she ran. 

"Woah! Looks like someone is excited," Izumi's mom said, giggled. Izumi just got her quirk yesterday and she couldn't wait to show her teacher. Izumi jumped up and down in excitement. 

"Come on! I wanna show her my quirk!" Izumi said, pulling her mother's hand. "Okay!" her mom laughed. They got in the car and drove to school. Izumi couldn't sit still. She was jumping up and down on her seat. Once they got to school, Izumi waved good-bye to her mom and went to class. 

 Later, Izumi told her teacher about her new quirk. "That's an amazing quirk you got there Akagi," her teacher said. "Why don't you show it to your classmates? I'm sure they'll love to see your quirk." 

Akagi's smile suddenly faded. None of her classmates wanted to be her friends because of ...her syndrome. "I-I don't know," she said. "Nobody in here wants to be friends with me because I act weird. Plus I'm not good at talking to people."

"Don't worry, Akagi. I'm sure once they see your quirk, everyone will want to play with you," her teacher comfort her. Izumi nodded with a smile, but deep down, she had her doubts.

Soon, the class started. Everyone went to their seats. "Alright, class," the teacher said. "Before we start, one of your classmates wants to show you something." Everyone was confused. "Akagi, why don't you show the class what you showed me," Akagi felt everyone's eyes on her. She shyly got out of her seat and went in front of the class. 

"U-um," She stuttered. "W-well, I just got m-my q-quirk yesterday and..." "Wow, you got your quirk? Cool!" someone interrupted. "Can we see it?" another person asked. Izumi got surprised. Many of her classmates wanted to know what power she got. "S-sure," she said. In just a split second, Izumi glitch from her seat and back to the front of the class. 

Everyone wowed. "I can a-also touch any old p-phones and computer t-that don't w-work anymore and make t-them malfunction u-until they explode," Akagi said, shyly. "That's impressive Akagi," her teacher said. "Are you going to become a hero when you grow up?" Akagi was about to answer her question until someone interrupted her. 

"P-lease! How can someone as pathetic as she wants to become a hero," a boy shouted. "All she can do is destroy electronics and glitch like a virus on a video game!" Everyone started laughing. "I mean seriously, she always gets scared at loud noises, never talks to anyone, and always acts weird. She'll never become a hero because of that stupid-" "That's enough Monoma!" the teacher said. 

Akagi burst into tears. She had been bullied so many times by him. "You want to go sit down now?" asked her teacher. Akagi nodded and went back to her seat. She sat down in her chair with tears in her eyes and glitched, but this time, she stayed in her seat instead of teleporting to another place.

Recess soon started and everyone went rushing outside. Akagi went to the swings to play. Luckily, no one was there yet, so she sat on a swing and started swinging. 

Everything was fine and calm until someone pushed Akagi out of her swing. "Looks like the 'hero' can't even 'stand' up for her self," Monoma laughed. 

"L-leave me a-alone," Akagi cried. "Or what? You're gonna cry! 'Wah wah I'm a stupid girl who can't stand up for herself'," Monoma mocked Akagi. "You don't stand chance agents me. Once I touch you, I'll have your quirk and you will have to fight me. Oh wait, you can't because you are such a scaredy-cat,"

Akagi didn't say a word. She knew that he was right. How can she become a hero if she has autism?

When school was over, Akagi's dad went to pick her. "So Izumi, how was school?" he asked. Izumi didn't say anything. "Hey, baby what's wrong?" her dad asked again. But Izumi didn't answer again. When they got home, Izumi ran to her room and shut herself in. 

A few minutes later, her parents came to find out what was wrong with their daughter. "Izumi, what's wrong honey?" her mom asked. Izumi's eyes were red with tears in her eyes. "Is it that boy again? We'll have a talk to his parents on the parent meeting," "Mommy, Daddy," cried Izumi. " Do you think I can become a hero even if I'm different?" 

Her parents looked confused, but they knew what she was talking about. "Of course, you can become a hero. Every hero is different that's what makes them special." her dad said. 

"But none of the heroes have autism like me!" Izumi sobbed. "All Might doesn't have autism, Endeavor doesn't have autism, and neither does Hawks or the other heroes. I've never seen a hero with the same syndrome as me. Maybe that's why everyone thinks I can't become a hero. Because I'm always scared of everything. Even Monama says so."

Izumi's parents knew what struggles she has gone to. Yet, they want to make their daughter believe in herself. "Izumi," her father said in a gentle tone. "Just because you have autism, doesn't mean you can't become a hero. Your quirk is amazing and can defeat and villain that come s in your way. Even All Might might think you are amazing. Autistic or not, I believe you can become a great hero."

"But like I said, I've never seen a hero with autism," Izumi said. "Well," her father said. "You can be the first one. You can inspire children in the world that are like you and make them believe they be a hero. And when you're finally ready to test your ability, your mother and I will be there to cheer you on."  

With those words, Izumi started to believe again. "I won't let you down, Dad. I promise."