Hiro stood just outside a gas station, looking down to his feet emptily. His eyes looked dim and without color. He reminisced about a time where he didn't have to worry about whether he could pay tax for his classmates, or if he would develop some sort of heart disease. What happened.. How could he let himself go this far? Has it always been him? He used to blame others for his problems all the time.. but maybe the only problem in his life was him. Some would wonder how a boy only 16 years of age would do what he did.. lust, eat, sleep, shut himself in his dirty room like a pig. As he stood there in deep thought, he pondered if it was worth it to continue on with this life at all. Maybe it would be for the best if he was gone; then people wouldn't take advantage of him because they wouldn't even notice his existence. The pale light of the gas station in the cold night of Shinjuku made his gross features clearer than before. He had short, rough brown hair and generic brown eyes, a short, bulky build that made him stand out everywhere he went. He wore a grey hoodie with no particular design that made his plump stomach pop and black baggy joggers to match his cheap black shoes.
As he continued to gaze downwards, he was knocked to the side. Landing hard on the ground, he scrambled on the floor to pick up his glasses. He put them on and looked to where he was previously standing to find nobody. The door closed shut, so he figured he'd just been knocked aside like the loser he is.
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After checking out tonight's meal: 5 instant noodles, a pack of seaweed, and 5 chocolate bars, he made his way back home. Deep in thought, wondering what it would be like to be a hero, like the ones on tv that fight villains and save the day. To be able to soar through the sky with the power of Wind Runner, or manipulate water like Ana Mayfair. Pipe dreams, but they gave him a sense of false hope that was oddly fulfilling compared to stifling in his misery all day.
As he continued to walk along the street, the lamp posts around him started to flicker, electricity starting to pulse around him ominously almost. Suddenly, a sonic boom echoed through the area. A figure was launched through a nearby building right next to Hiro, it caused a small explosion that launched Hiro off his feet and a few feet away. "Shit.." Hiro heaved out, coughing with every breath he managed to get back onto his feet although with much difficulty. As he brushed dust from his hoodie and adjusted his glasses, he noticed the silhouette of a figure lying still where the explosion had torn through the building moments ago. And as Hiro mustered up the courage to investigate he walked cautiously towards it. "What are you doing Hiro." He would remind himself of how stupid he was but still carried on. It seemed to be a man wearing some sort of super suit, none of the kind any heroes wore, at least to Hiro's knowledge.
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Hiro saw a vial glowing with a golden color that contained some sort of serum in the man's hand as he lay dead on the floor. The man's burnt appearance looked straight out of a horror movie, it almost had Hiro off his feet with surprise and moreover, fear. "What could have done this..?" Hiro questioned himself.. but there was no time to figure out an answer. Behind Hiro multiple explosions could be heard, their shockwaves were enough to stagger him even from a mile away. Hiro snapped back to reality, quickly taking the vial and putting it in his pocket and running away as fast as his little legs could get him to. Cutting corners between streets to get to his house quicker. The explosions started to become more frequent and alarms started to sound out throughout the neighborhood. After about 10 minutes of Hiro's peak cardio performance, he arrived at his house. The sounds of explosions began to subside as he unlocked the door to his house and hastily shut it behind him. He rushed to his room, slamming the door behind him and burying himself underneath his bedsheets.
It was times like these where Hiro found it his own superpower to SLEEP! And so he did, shutting his eyes he dreamed away so that he could forget about his reality. It was something he did often..
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The alarm Hiro had set for 6 was the first thing that he heard that morning, "Huh?! What where is he-" he attempted to demand, still fresh out of his dreams, jumping out of bed and landing on his face on the floor. "Oh," he said, muffled being upside down on his carpet floor. After getting himself together he decided to go check on his parents who somehow were undisturbed despite the loud events of last night.
Opening their room door slowly so as to not wake them up, he found them sleeping soundly on other ends of the bed. Hiro let out a sigh of relief, glad that they were okay, but he wondered about what actually happened last night as well. "I should get ready for school I guess," he said, closing their door and going back to his room.
After putting together his usual clothing consisting of a black hoodie, baggy white joggers and a pair of dirty sliders, he is about to head out when he notices a golden glow radiating off the pocket of his previous pants. It was the vial from yesterday, glowing incandescently with power. Manta oozed from the vial—immense, immeasurable, and alive.
(Manta is the energy found within your Trigger which is an organ found attached to the right side of everyone on the planet's heart. In its raw form Manta is pure life energy however, depending on the amount of manta you have in your Trigger and how refined your Manta is, the rank of your Trigger can increase we call these ranks "Core ranks" and the individuals able to utilise the awakened Trigger ability "Core users". More on Triggers and ranks later.)
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Later, we find Hiro in school sitting quietly at the back of his fashion and design class hoping not to be noticed by anyone. He had his airpods in and was listening to 'Lil Ant' who was a popular rapper in Tokyo before succumbing to lung cancer. Then suddenly the bell called for the end of class and Hiro stopped his humming to get up and leave. That was when he felt their gazes; Kazumi Hinata (Core rank C), Ant (Core rank D) and Tanielu (Core rank B-).
(Kazumi, a well built young man with pale skin, black hair and black eyes. He's a known member of a delinquent gang of core users named; Black Hound. He's quite Tall at 6 '0 and around 170 pounds. His core ability is called "Rebel" it allows him to blind his opponents vision for around 20 seconds of the fight, it also allows him to buff his physical capabilities if he provokes combat.)
(Ant, a towering hump of muscle. Not much needs to be said about him, also a member of the Black Hound his core ability allows him to alter his size from 5 to 9 feet Tall. This ability also increases his strength depending on his size.)
(Tanielu is an overseas lowerclassmen who is commended by the Black Hound for his attitude, strength at a young age and his unfeeling personality. He is quite short and skinny but he makes up for it with his immense power. His core is awakened but he has no core ability however he has a great amount of manta reserves, and so the output of his attacks is greater. He has smooth brown skin and eyes)
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((Core users can use their Manta in many different ways, this does not just include core abilities, it can also be used to:
Strengthening. This technique is called Tsuyoi (強い) which literally translates to strong or potent. If you output a certain amount of Manta into your Tsuyoi, the potency of it can decrease or increase exponentially. These principals go for all applications of Manta. Going into more detail, Tsuyoi can be used for Defense and Offense, defense usually involves enveloping the body with Manta and creating a slight repulsive force. Offense usually consists of enveloping the body once again, but this time you Manta is in a more refined form.
Projecting. This technique is called Nageru (投げる) which translates to throw or cast. The technique involves outputting Manta outside of the body in many different ways. Healing Nageru which as the name implies can heal wounds, stabilize vitals and even reverse cellular damage. This variation is Rare and requires high life focused-Manta control. Binding/Shaping Nageru an extremely small number of Core users are able to manipulate Manta into constructs like chains, shields or tendrils.
Core Ability. The ability you gain from awakening your Trigger. Depending on how you use it, you can expend a ton of Manta and this could result in you fainting or needing to cooldown. Anyway!))
Hiro sighed tiredly. This had been the daily routine for over a month since the new school year started in September. Hiro would come to school, hand over a 10,000 yen tax to the three of them. It was fine at first but.. since Hiro's Dad had recently lost his job, money's been tight. He didn't know how he'd do it..
Ant was the first to speak out, his deep voice sounding out with authority, "The roof. Now." Hiro knew the procedure, they would take him up a flight of stairs onto the rooftop and hold him against the edge, then he'd eventually give into his fears and hand over the money. And so it began.. Hiro was escorted all the way up the stairs until they reached the rooftop of Shintech High. His breathing intensified, it felt as though his heart was in his stomach. Ant and Kazumi were at either side of him, gripping onto his arm hard as to not let him get away whilst Tanielu stood behind them as they led him to the edge of the roof.
"Back here again. How's it feel like? Is that feeling of hopelessness washing over you again?" Tanielu said, his cheeks flushing with pleasure. His twisted smile was aimed at Hiro, who's expression was one of despair, sweat dripping down his forehead. Tanielu chuckled heartily. "Can we just get on with it? Seriously Tani, I have a class after this? Also keep the psycho stuff to yourself for the 100th time dude." Kazumi sighed with boredom through his sentences. "Listen.." Hiro said with jaded breath, "I don't think I have the uh. Money. Today.."
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Silence was what followed. And for a few moments it stayed like that.. And then it was laughter. All 3 of them broke into a fountain of laughter, Kazumi and Ant let go of Hiro and dropped to their knees. "This.. is not going to end well for you Hiro. We will get our money." Tanielu managed to squeeze through his laughter. "I-I. I'm sorry.. but I don't have the money.. right now." Hiro said, looking down to the ground, silently anticipating what was going to happen. "Well then. We'll just have to force it out of you.. whether that be through your wallet. Your pocket. Or more enjoyably.. your family." Tanielu replied, clearly enjoying the suffering he was causing Hiro.
But something clicked inside Hiro.. They were threatening his family. [We flash back to Hiro as a young child, it was just after he had gotten beat up by kids in the school playground. Him and his father (Jura Takamura) are in the principal's office, discussing Hiro's place in the school. "Mr. Takamura you have to understand that we've tried everything. Your child simply isn't the right fit for our-" "So what are you saying! My child has been abused verbally! Emotionally! And Physically! Time and time again and all you can do is nothing!? You are a disgrace!" With that, Hiro's Dad took him out of the office by his wrist. They went back into the car park and got into the car. "Sorry you had to hear that my boy.." Jura sighed.
Hiro stayed silent.. "Hey. How bout we take a ride to Dave's Din-" "Enough Dad! This is all YOUR fault! You didn't need to step in. This would all have been FINE! Besides.. it was just play. I HATE YOU!!" Jura stayed silent in the driver's seat.. he turned forward and started the car.. Flashback cut] Hiro remembered how he felt.. angry. How he feels now.. but at himself. For blaming others for his problems.. For disappointing his parents. And for having such little self-respect. He wouldn't have any of it anymore. And now, he has the chance to be better. As their laughter continued, Hiro reached into his pocket feeling the immense power of the glowing vial, resonating within his grasp. Knew it would come in handy..
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Deep within Hiro, in an organ attached to his heart, a burning sensation began to rise. And outside Hiro pulled the golden vial out his pocket.. instantly the laughing stopped. The bung on the vial was plopped off by Hiro, meanwhile his eyes began to glow a pale golden.. All three of them froze.. Hiro emptied the vial down his throat, it flowed and entered his Trigger. Instantly an immeasurable amount of Manta surged through him. Hiro's eyes and hair started to glow an incandescent golden. A massive gold shockwave knocked the 3 off their feet and even more so, it caused a huge black out across Shinjuku. Hiro, now levitating in the air covered in a golden aura, looks coldy upon them, like a God. His figure illuminates the entire area in that divine hue. Indescribable amounts of Manta irradiated off his body.
Hiro looked at his hands. His entire body was glowing.. What was this? Had he awakened his Trigger? Or.. was this something else. But he wouldn't be able to answer these questions now. He couldn't maintain this form any longer, and so with one last display of power he decided.. to sleep..
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Chapter 1 End..