Armored Hero

[Quillion9000]

Japan: Aichi Prefecture Hospital, September 2152
Amaya ran her hand through her short black hair as she now stood before the result of the last nine months of her life, simultaneously pleased and displeased with the result. They were her children, twins. The boy was Akio while the girl was Momo.

A doctor had told her, but she didn't want to believe it. The boy, born roughly one hour prior to Momo, would develop the second pinky toe joint. Unlike his twin younger sister, he was seemingly destined to be quirkless.

"To think, life would hand me such a cruel joke as this."

Amaya would put the boy up for adoption in a heartbeat, only if her husband weren't so taken with both children. She'd just have to stomach having a quirkless son, treat him well enough to keep her husband happy. Her eyes shifted to Momo.

"If you develop Creation like me, it will help in stomaching your brother's short comings."

Yaoyorozu Manor: November 2156
Akio Yaoyorozu understood a great deal about his life at such a young age, knew it to be far more than most children should. This coming from what he's managed to observe of his twin and read in books. They both had a fair complexion, head full of black hair, and onyx eyes.

"Despite our shared appearance, I'm the one of us who understands our family." Akio thought.

He didn't hold it against her, just as he didn't hold the favoritism of their mother against her. Momo was technically his younger sister, he her older brother. The two of them twins. He'd just noted their upbringings would be difficult and for different reasons.

Based on what he heard, Father was a businessman while Mother was a hero. Though in Mother's case, she held no agency and let people employ her for protection. This saw Father being around more as she could be gone for days or even weeks at a time.

The former was not afraid to show emotion while the latter didn't emote much at all. Even with Father around more, it wasn't enough to the point the twins could go without maids and butlers who usually took care of their needs on the daily.

Gardens
"Do you understand what I want you to do, Momo?"

The four year old nodded, though she was unable to meet the expectant gaze of Amaya. "Yes, Mother. Having studied the book you gave on the m-molecular structure of v-various objects, produce a m-matryoshka doll to show I can properly u-utilize my quirk."

"Good." Amaya stepped back, crossing her arms. "You've failed with other objects prior, but I expect you to do better with those."

From where he stood off to the side, Akio narrowed his eyes as Momo was pressured. Even if Mother looked his way, he knew she wouldn't heed a look from him. The world was full of superhuman abilities, quirks. Despite it being worldwide, 20% of the population lacked one.

Given he'd developed his extra pinky joint, unlike his sister, Akio was within that 20%. It meant he was seen as lesser in his mother's eyes. This was something Amaya had been open with expressing until she began to pick up on him being more cognizant than she thought.

Weather they had a quirk or not, Mother was harsh on them both. Upon turning four, each were bought high level books. Given Momo manifested Creation, she was required to memorize the molecular structures of objects while Akio was required to study in general.

Of course, anything he managed to accomplish wasn't acknowledged by Amaya as her attention was solely on Momo. She could use Creation, multicolored lights appeared under her hand whenever she tried to conjure something. Actually making anything was just too much for her.

"What're you waiting for, Momo?" Amaya questioned firmly. "A matryoshka doll should be easy for you."

Momo swallowed before looking at Akio with uncertainty. Akio gave her a small smile and a nod of reassurance. She smiled back and took a deep breath before laying a hand against her left forearm. The multicolored lights appeared and Momo began to move her hand away.

The younger of the twins looked ecstatic as the top of a matryoshka doll appeared, followed by the wide, detailed body. Then, the lights died down as she held a four inch tall, red doll in her left hand.

"Mother!" Momo squealed. "Look, look! I did it!"

"Congratulations, but this is just the beginning." Amaya voiced, managing to sound proud yet dismissive.

At the sight of Momo's joy, Akio smiled himself. Something like that was worth protecting, though he had already recognized it was something he couldn't do as he stood now. If anything, Momo was the one destined to protect people like him.

"To protect the joy others may find…can't exactly do that without a quirk." Akio recognized.

In such a short time on this planet, just from what he's seen with his parents to what he's managed to read, Akio had come to recognize all men were not created equally. Some people just have more power than others.

Perhaps it had something to do with his upbringing, as he imagined other kids their age were more like Momo in how they interacted with the world. Maybe while he didn't have a quirk, there was something to be said about how his parents' genes influenced him.

"In whatever way I may be different from others, some part of me just refuses to accept my inability to protect anyone." Akio thought. "I may not know now what I can do, but surely I can find the answers where I recently have been looking."

"I did it!" Momo thought, overjoyed. "I can use Mother's quirk!"

Momo almost wanted to put the doll down, run up to Akio, and give him a hug. He couldn't use Creation, which seemed to upset Mother for whatever reason. He also had the double joint, which indicated one's lack of a quirk.

"That can't be the case." Momo thought. "Akio's always looking out for me, protecting me like a hero. Someone like that must have a quirk."

As she thought this, Momo pulled the matryoshka doll apart and stared at it in childish wonder before fitting it back together. She was so deep in thought she almost missed Mother telling her to stop daydreaming and give the doll to Akio. Momo thought that was a great idea.

The first object she successfully created with Creation could be given to her older twin. Even though Akio preferred to read, he wasn't above playing with toys. He did always smile whenever she'd ask him to play with her.

Momo rushed over to Akio, presenting her creation to him. "Akio, I'd like you have this."

Her words snapped Akio out of his thoughts, seeing him take the item. "Do you want me to simply hold it for you or may I actually keep this?" He smiled. "I do find it to be something special, to the point one wouldn't suspect this being your first attempt."

Momo smiled brightly. "It's yours to keep."

"Thank you, Momo." Akio voiced genuinely, intending to put it on his shelf the second he returned to his room.

Yaoyorozu Manor: September 2158
Momo was still coming to grips with her quirk; however, Amaya felt she had surpassed whatever low expectations were set for her. Given she had no expectations for Akio, the fact he achieved anything was something. Her children also developed admiration and respect for pro heroes.

Her daughter was undecided on what pro hero she liked and lacked a prominent one to take inspiration from. Akio liked All Might, Sir Nighteye, and Ingenium. When it came to their development, Momo could now produce a matryoshka doll in a little under five seconds.

Still too long for Amaya's liking, she could make one in less than a second, but it was an improvement. To help her daughter understand her quirk, Amaya had brought her books detailing the basics of biochemistry and chemistry.

Most children her age wouldn't be able to understand such topics, but Momo was smart for her age. Though if her daughter were smart, Akio was a genius by comparison and incredibly mature for a six year old. While he studied many topics, one in particular had his interest.

Hero support items, with every topic which fed into it. While Akio may have no quirk to speak of, perhaps he could redeem himself in the area of support items. Failing that, a mind like his could do well in the world of business with his father.

She was brought out of her musings by a knock at the door of her study. "Come in."

The door opened and Akio stepped through before stopping at her desk. "Mother."

"How may I help you, Akio?" Amaya inquired. "Are you in need of more books?"

"I may need more soon, but that's not what I've come to you for." Akio held her gaze. "I've come to request you allow me to attend martial arts classes."

"What brought this on?" Amaya questioned. "Do you tire of what exercise you manage to get here?"

Akio was still young, meaning what he got up to physically was of little note to Amaya. She did hear he was sticking to a schedule of running and basic exercises. As those did not seemingly impede his more noteworthy work, she let it go.

"I still intend to do what I have been here at the manor." Akio informed. "I simply need to take things a step further if I hope to pursue my current goal."

"Martial arts would be beneficial in your pursuit of knowledge?" Amaya inquired.

"For what I intend to create, I would say it is a must." Akio returned. "As we are talking about this now, I shall also mention I will soon need adequate space to begin work on various ideas I have concerning support items."

"Giving you the space needed to begin practical work is a simple matter." Amaya voiced. "What I would like to know in relation to your initial request is if you have asked your sister about this? Is she interested in martial arts?"

"I have asked, though she's currently more invested in her books." Akio nodded. "Still, she has said she'll think about it."

"Have you looked into what martial arts you want to take, or are you expecting me to?" Amaya asked.

Akio didn't even blink. "I intend to start with karate before investing into taekwondo upon the acquisition of my green belt. Then, I shall attend muay thai and jujutsu classes upon the acquisition of my purple belt."

"Aiming high, I see." Amaya hummed. "Aren't you afraid of disappointing yourself?"

"I'm a Yaoyorozu." Akio returned. "We don't aim low."

Amaya felt the corners of her lips twitch upwards. Even if Akio fell short with his lack of a quirk, he had the sort of attitude she liked. It was something Momo hadn't fully grasped yet.

"That's good." Amaya nodded. "I'll look into dojos tomorrow."

"There's no need." Akio returned. "There's a karate dojo five miles northeast of Toyohashi Municipal Hospital."

Amaya gave him a look of surprise. "You've already done your research?"

The raven-haired boy nodded. "The Toyohashi Karate Academy, opened 151 years ago and is renowned for its quality teaching. Lessons are from 6pm to 9pm. It's open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."

"Very well." She nodded. "I'll get your father to take you tomorrow."

"You won't be taking me?" Akio inquired.

Amaya gave him a pointed look. "I'll be going back to work tomorrow morning. I won't have the time to take you, but your father told me he'll be taking a few days off."

"I see." Akio nodded. "I hope your return to work goes well, Mother."

"Thank you." Amaya waved him off. "If that's all, you're dismissed."

Without another word, Akio took his leave.

Car: Couple Days Later…
"Father."

"Yes, son?"

"You are aware of Mother's views on quirkless, yes? Why are the quirkless discriminated against?"

"We are, Akio." Hayato Yaoyorozu sighed, running a hand through his black hair. "I don't understand it myself, but discrimination seems to be a fixed thing in society. There's always somebody to knock down. Prior to quirks, it was one's gender, religion, or race.

These days, it's the quirkless and heteromorphs. In our case, I imagine it has something to do with how those with quirks often feel superior to those without them, seeing the quirkless as lesser beings who can't do the impossible."

"Given Mother's views, why would you marry her?" Akio questioned, getting his father to look at him. "I understand it is your marriage to Mother which brought Momo and I into this world. I just can't grasp how you two got together."

This was just another time Hayato found himself stunned with how mature his son was. Not for the first time, he wondered if Akio had more of his mother in him as opposed to Momo who seemed to take more after him.

"In life, one does not choose who they fall in love with." Hayato voiced. "You can certainly come to love more than one person, though never let that see you betray the one you've promised yourself to."

"So, you love Mother even knowing her views on quirkless like us?" Akio questioned.

"If your mother ever let those views see her mistreat your or I, I wouldn't stand for it." Hayato admitted. "As it stands, I know she loves us and would never do that. In fact, I've seen the ways in which I and you have slowly changed her view of the quirkless."

Akio couldn't deny Mother did love him, just in her own way. In many ways, it was the same with Momo. Akio couldn't deny, despite how she could look at him, he did love his mother as well.

"I hope to one day see Mother and society treat quirkless and heteromorphs better." Akio voiced.

"As do I, Akio." Hayato nodded. "As do I."

Toyohashi Karate Academy
The father/son pair looked up to the building before them.

"Are you ready to go inside?" Hayato asked.

"Let's go." Akio nodded. "After all, I wouldn't want to make a bad first impression by turning up late."

They walked inside and up to the receptionist, a young woman with hair seemingly made of electricity. "Oh, newcomers! May I have-" She faltered upon noticing who she was speaking to. "Oh, I never expected to see Hayato Yaoyorozu here. Are you here to take up classes?"

"No, I believe I'm too old for the class which will be held this evening." Hayato chuckled. "My son, on the other hand."

"Well, hello there cutie." The receptionist glanced down at him and smiled. "May I have your name?"

"Akio Yaoyorozu, ma'am." Akio answered.

"My, how polite." The receptionist giggled as she put his name down. "I assume you're here for the beginner classes?"

"I am." Akio answered. "Where are they?"

She pointed off to the right. "Down that hall, go through the second door on your left. Do you have your own karate-gi, or will you need us to supply you with one?"

Akio wiggled the small bag he was holding.

The receptionist nodded. "Changing rooms are down the same hall, with the under eighteen male changing room through the first door on your right."

"Thank you." Hayato patted his son's back. "Let's go, Akio."

Together, they walked over to the aforementioned door. Inside, they could hear commotion and talking behind it. Hayato pushed and held it open, allowing Akio to walk in first. They walked into a room full of boys being helped into karate-gi by their fathers. Some of the men forgot what they were doing as they saw Hayato walk in.

"What the-"

"Why wouldn't he just-"

"Yaoyorozu, why would he be here?"

Hayato sighed, rolling his eyes. "No need to act all surprised people. My son wanted to learn karate, so I'm taking him to learn karate."

One of the men looked taken aback. "Forgive me, sir. It's just-"

"You expected me to hire a private martial arts tutor, like most businessmen or women?" Hayato chuckled. "While that is one option, my boy wished to learn from a dojo like anyone else. Far be it for me to deny him."

Meanwhile, Akio found himself crowded by several boys, all of them were older than him by four or five years, as he tried to change.

"Heh, look at the rich boy. What, does he think he can just barge in like he owns the place?" One boy with watery eyebrows sneered.

"Probably thinks he's already better than us." Another jeered.

A boy with dragonfly wings stepped up, wings buzzing in what Akio assumed was supposed to be an intimidating gesture. "Don't get comfortable, rich boy. Seeing as you're the son of the Yaoyorozu family, you don't have the quirk for it."

"I don't need a quirk to be here." Akio brushed past him before looking back at the boys. "I also have no preconceived notions of my limits. If you three wish to injury me beyond the confines of what it allowed, I will not hesitate to seek help."

That left the three boys glaring, though Akio hardly cared. Once he could defend himself, he'd be less likely to seek help. Should they try anything prior, well he had nothing to prove. With them out of the way, Akio changed into his karate-gi.

"Were you okay there?" Hayato asked, free from talking with the other men.

"I've spoken my piece." Akio replied, finishing up with his gi. "If they weren't listening or choose to ignore what I've said, that is on them."

With Akio having finished changing, he and Hayato entered a room with two instructors, a man and a woman, talking amongst each other. Thirteen kids stood in-front of them with different colored belts tied around their waists and parents sat in stands.

"Good luck, Akio." Hayato started walking up some stairs to get where the other parents were. "Don't let those kids embarrass you."

Akio noticed a spot available at the end of the second row of children. He wondered if he should fill the spot without being told or wait for the instructors.

"Hey, new kid." Just before he decided, the woman called out to him. "Go stand at the end of the second row, and we'll be with you in about seven minutes."

Akio nodded and walked over, standing next to a girl with orange hair.

She looked at him, smiled, and nodded. "Hi, I'm Itsuka Kendo. What's your name?"

"Akio Yaoyorozu, nice to meet you." Akio answered.

"It's nice to meet you to." Itsuka returned.

"So, what made you take up karate?" Akio inquired.

Itsuka grinned. "I want to become the greatest female karate master in all of Japan!"

This was the point where people usually laughed at her.

Much to her surprise, Akio didn't laugh. "That's a commendable goal."

The organette smiled, happy he wasn't doubting her. "You think I can do it?"

"I'm a firm believer that anyone can do anything they put their mind to." Akio replied.

She contemplated hugging him, but hugging somebody she barely knew seemed like an odd thing to do. Also, nothing killed a potential friendship like unwanted and unexpected physical contact.

"What's your reason for taking up karate?" Itsuka asked.

"This is but one step towards my own goal, though it is one I'm not yet certain is within reach." Akio gave a small smile. "Once I see it as possible, I would be willing to tell you more."

Itsuka wondered what goal was large enough you couldn't see yourself achieving it. Rather than get into that, she merely nodded and hummed as she opted for a different question.

"Have any brothers or sisters?" Itsuka asked.

"One sister, my younger twin." Akio nodded. "I think you'd like her. What about you, do you have any siblings?"

"I've got a younger brother, but he's only two years old." Itsuka responded, her voice full of cheer. "He's the cutest thing in the world."

Before either of could say any more, one of the karate instructors whistled to get the attention of all the kids in the room. Akio refrained from saying whatever he'd been about to and faced ahead, waiting for one of the two instructors to speak.

"We'll talk later, yeah Yaoyorozu?" Itsuka whispered.

Akio nodded as the male instructor stepped forward.

"Alright, before we proceed with the most basic defensive and offensive karate routines, we're going to start with a little warmup. Is everyone ready? We expect to her 'yes, sensei'."

"Yes, sensei." The kids chorused.

"What was that?" The female instructor called out. "Neither of us could hear you. Put some 'oomph' into it and let us hear you."

"YES, SENSEI!" They repeated, louder.

"Better." The male instructor nodded. "Now, since you're all beginners, we'll start light; however, your warmups will become more extensive as time goes on. You'll be stretching your muscles, rolling your joints, squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. Push-ups first, copy us."

They both got down into angled planking position. As one would expect, being instructors, their form was perfect. The female instructor then got up and went around to each child, giving them instruction on their form.

"Don't tuck in your head, or you'll headbutt the floor before completing a proper push-up."

"Bring your arms in by a couple of inches."

Then, she came over to Itsuka and Akio. "Good form, both of you." She moved on. "Alright everyone, down."

Akio lowered himself until there was barely any clearance between his chin and the floor. Since there was an order for them to do half a push-up, he assumed there was going to be another order for them to rise.

He was proven right when the instructor shifted. "Kid with the dragonfly wings, did I tell you to get back up? Get back down."

"Sorry, sensei."

Akio felt his arms begin to tremble as he held his position, threatening to bring his chin into contact with the floor. With a slight glance sideways, he saw Itsuka's arms were shaking lightly.

"Alright, up."

He exhaled and rose to the starting position.

"Down."

He lowered himself to the floor once more.

"Up."

And raised himself. The rest of the pre-lesson exercises passed quickly. Akio found his arms, especially his biceps and abdominals, were aching. His legs also felt like lead, thanks to the instructors making them do squats in the same manner they'd done push-ups.

"Are you alright, Akio?" Itsuka inquired.

"I'll push through." Akio replied.

"Oh, it looks like Akio might be making a friend." Hayato noted.

Akio wasn't an unsociable boy, he just never really seemed to have the time for friends like his sister.

"Say Yaoyorozu, is that your boy? The one was the black hair?"

Hayato turned to see who'd spoken to him. It was a fair-skinned man with long hair tied back into a ponytail, which fell down to the middle of his back and was equally as orange as the girl who stood next to his son. He even had a similar build to his own and teal eyes.

"Yeah, he's the oldest of my twins." Hayato smiled. "Would I be correct in assuming the girl with orange hair is your daughter?"

"Yup, that's my girl, Itsuka Kendo." The orange-haired man nodded, grinning. "She's aiming to…Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Itsuki Kendo."

Hayato arched an eyebrow.

"I know, I know." Itsuki chuckled, his face going red with embarrassment, "You named your kid after yourself, but only changed one letter? My wife left the name picking to me for our first, and I had a hard time coming up with one."

Hayato waved him off, smiling, "It's fine. I let my wife name the children. If left to myself, I'd have given them nonsensical names. Anyways Kendo, I'm Hayato Yaoyorozu. What brings you here?"

"My daughter wants to take up karate, so she can one day become the greatest female karate master in Japan!" Itsuki cheered.

"Aiming high? Well I say good for her." Hayato replied, looking down at the children as they moved through routines of punching and blocking with the instructors.

Itsuki leaned forward. "You think she can do it?"

"Of course." Hayato nodded sagely. "Anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it."

Itsuki suddenly looked like he was about to cry. "Hayato, that was such a cool thing to say!"

"Uh-huh?"

"But in all seriousness, you seem like a solid dude." Itsuki smiled. "Wanna go out for drinks this weekend?"

"The Rising Sun?"

Itsuki gasped, "You must've read my mind. Sunday; 8pm?"

"Sounds good." Hayato stated.

After Class…
"So, I guess this is it."

Hayato snorted as the other man sniffed, wiping away mock tears. "Don't be so dramatic, Itsuki. You're making it sound like this is where we part ways, never to meet again. We'll be seeing each other again in the Friday class, and we've planned to having drinks Sunday."

"But-"

Itsuka cut off her father by kicking him in the shin, causing him to yelp and hop around as he clutched the 'injured' limb. "Don't mind him. Dramatic is his default setting."

"Nonsense!" He mock thundered.

Itsuka gave Akio a look, one that said, 'I rest my case'.

The raven-haired boy shook his head. "It's been nice meeting you, Itsuka. I look forward to training with you."

"Likewise, Akio." She replied, holding out a fist.

Akio extended his arm, ignoring the aches and pains of his tired body, and bumped his fist against hers.

"Friends?" Itsuka asked.

"Friends." Akio replied in the affirmative, nodding as the corners of his lips twitched upwards.

Then, without warning, Itsuka's first grew in size until it was bigger than his head. She grinned and nudged his fist a little.

Akio caught onto the unspoken question, though shook his head in response. "No quirk."

Rather than her eyes widening, or some other notable expression that might be negative, Itsuka merely nodded. "Cool."

She then turned off her quirk and walked away with her father. He must've said something that annoyed her because she yelled at him and gave chase as he ran away, laughing.

Akio looked up at Hayato, who was grinning at him. "Father?"

"I'm just glad you've made a friend." Hayato voiced.