Yanbaru Beach, Okinawa - Year 2xxx
Where they are, it's in a stark veil of raindrops; never-ending of reach, touching on all sides about themselves. Thick and unrelenting as it smacks on a vast expanse of sands shifting under the motion of the tide upon which a tight bundle of young men and women in ill-fitting uniform stand motionless amidst turbulent winds that, in themselves, render it difficult resist the excruciating cold.
In speaking of illness, pallor colours their skin the whitest of whites. None appear well-fed except for one – although they're equally as pale. They stand, facing the head of the formation and speak loud enough to undermine the weather brought on by an unseasonal typhoon:
"Welcome to U.A Hero Academy, I'm Matsumura Suzu. I'll be your captain for the duration of your Hero Service," she's monotone as if unenthusiastically reading a script. "During your service you'll be expected to perform not to the best of your ability, but to the standard or beyond. If not, you'll be put to use in other ways."
Capt. Matsumura dresses in the standard regalia: a double-breasted black blazer cropped at the waist which features parallel columns of silver buttons, a white undergarment beneath that, white gloves, black trousers feeding into riding boots of a high polish. In spite of this clean, her black hair is let to crash over the shoulders in a wave – undone by the wetness. In looking at her, 'well-bred' comes to mind. Features sculpted; not to say they are sharp. To say they are rounded in the 'correct' places; sharp in the 'correct' places. Eyes, nose, and lips obey this 'correctness.'
Capt. Matsumura's brows curl. "Why are you all quiet? When I give orders I expect 'Yes Captain Matsumura!' in response. Now," Like a conductor, she wags her finger metronome-like. "One, two—"
"Yes C-Captain Matsumura!" They sheepishly cry out in unison.
"Again!"
"Yes Captain Matsumura!"
It repeats over and over again. No less than a hundred times until she gets some satisfaction from the dryness of their hoarse voices
"Hmph, I guess that's enough," Spinning on her heels, she turns. "Now follow me, I'll show you to your dormitories... Oh, that's right. When we move, you're to march in step. I'll not waste time drilling this into you just yet."
She plants her feet in the sand and moves forward mechanically, leaving a trail of equidistant footprints leading to the impenetrable looking rainforest ahead. "Single file! Step where I step!"
The new recruits shuffle into single file, carefully following in the footsteps of the captain which lead to U.A.
U.A. Hero Academy, an academy responsible for the development of Heroes, the former items of fiction. These individuals possessing abilities – 'Quirks' as one may call them – never thought to be possible. In Okinawa – an independent state from mainland Japan – Heroism, 'Hero Service' is mandatory.
Today is the very day Okinawa's young adults undergo the draft to service.
***
Damn it's cold out here... I can't feel my legs because I've been standing so long, and this uniform is uncomfortable. My throat is dry, eyes heavy. There's an endless list of things I can complain about.
Murakami Toshiyuki. My name, me.
I'm eighteen years old, standing here among the others like me. The unfortunate few who were born with a Quirk, well, that's all of us really. As for family... Whatever. I don't really have any family waiting for me back home. That's 'cause I'm a Yakuza's kid, the heir to the Murakami Family.
Learned the business, loan sharking. Seen a lot of things, used to feel a lot of things. Got used to it.
Didn't have many friends. If I did, they were older than me, the company paid to protect me 'cause I couldn't protect myself. That's what got me sent out here y'see? Yakuza don't do Hero Service.
Parents got tired of me picking fights at school, during jobs, or wherever I could really. Can you believe it? They call themselves Yakuza.
Anyways, they think the discipline will do me good... Right.
I don't care about anything in particular. But I care because I don't care. Every moment of my life – from birth until now – has been out of my control. I don't like to do what I'm told but I don't know what to do otherwise, yet I know I don't want to live like this. However, my will is about as fierce as a flame in a rainstorm.
I'm irritated.
I'm mayhem and wreckage.
Now, I'm a 'Hero'—
"Hey... Hey. You're walking too damn slow." A low voice comes from behind Toshiyuki who looks back to see a man – a fellow conscript – with a blonde mane, his forelocks unusually long. So long they hang down to the collar.
Abyssally black pupils, bright blue iris encircling them. Those are the eyes staring at him from above. But he isn't one to flinch at that sight.
"What the? No, you're walking too damn fast," He spits back. "Got a problem—"
"My problem's you, rookie. Walk faster or I'll kick your ass," They shove Toshiyuki forward, making him stumble before holding onto the back of his neck to stop him from standing upright.
"No talkin' back. I'm Renji, and you're gonna do what I say from now on."
Toshiyuki stops dead in his tracks, holding up the queue. He straightens his posture despite the force bearing down on his neck and cranes his face around to Renji whose veinous arm is visibly struggling to keep the reins on him.
It's barely started and I'm already being tested. If only I had my bodyguards here, they wouldn't even get near me. Now I have to waste my breath.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't touch me." He gives a sharp glare, body tensing in anticipation.
Renji ignores him, seeming to look through him instead of at him.
"Looks like this one talks back; you've really got an eye for these things Ayane. How'd you know it was him?"
"I could just tell." From a woman marching ahead of the two, the one Renji calls 'Ayane'. "Might wanna keep it quiet back there unless you want to earn a beatdown. Heard they don't mess around with the punishments here since we're a thousand miles from the law that is."
Toshiyuki's eyes narrow. "Who are you guys? How would you know, been here before?"
"I know a thing or two. Siblings y'know? I'm Ayane by the way if you couldn't tell. What are you?"
Bubbly, energetic, frenetic. An upbeat attitude one shouldn't have right now in the miserable weather conditions, yet she speaks with a youthful excitement with all the body quaking animation to go with it. And a touch of air-headedness.
She's made of contradictions.
Ayane's build is a far cry from slender. Simply, she fills out her uniform as she's slimline but clearly grossly muscular underneath . Cool eyes the colour of silver, hair the same way; not swept by the wind. Nor is her voice.
Bewildering. If only these people knew who I am.
"What am I? I'm Toshiyuki," He points at Renji with a slight smirk. "You can call me Kami—"
Before he knows it Ayane's entering his space, by his ear before he can respond. Staring him down with a weighty gaze that silences him. "Hey, it doesn't hurt to have friends in this place. Remember that. Now, shut the hell up Kami!" Her voice strains, delivering peak aggression at the lowest volume like a feral dog as her otherwise smooth features crinkle.
"Captain's lookin' our way, the woman can hear us even with all this rain and wind. Let's try to make it through the first day alive." Flashing a smile.
She got close to me like it was nothing. I can't predict her too well either. I'll punish her for closing the distance.
"I don't take threats. Sorry." Toshiyuki's head whips forward, crashing into hers.
Her knees buckle as she's sent down to the sand, grasping at the nose and lips from which eagerly blood pours. Although her eyes avert his, she's still smiling. Speaking through the pain:
"Threats? I'm saying it's good to have friends, Toshiyuki of the Murakami. Surprised I know who you are? I, no, we're from the Kitakami and Kamizawa branch families. Sent under orders to monitor you..." She kneels further. "My Master."
"I assume that was all a test." Toshiyuki cringes at the sight of her bloody teeth.
"Ha! No way I could recognize a coward." She says shamelessly. "I'm Kitakami Ayane," Ayane gestures to Renji, speaking in place of him. "He's Kamizawa Renji."
"We've been dragged down to hell because of you, don't expect me to like you." From Renji, barging past Toshiyuki to continue following the group. Ayane does the same, though gently urging him along by the wrist.
He doesn't resist.
Is this academy such a dangerous place that I, heir of the Murakami, need protection? Interesting.
No laws here, and a threat of not making it out alive. According to Ayane. Best be careful then.
Toshiyuki grins somewhat.
"Hurry up soldiers you're falling behind!" Capt. Matsumura's shout echoes across the beach.