In a world defined by extraordinary abilities, the true strength of a quirkless person lies not in what they lack, but in the relentless determination to rise above it.
Which is true, characters in many stories have proven their worth that even if they are mere extras, they can do something, achieve something, prove something...alas but people are never born equal.
If everybody is special, then no one is.
In a world that promises equality, the harsh reality is that not all abilities are seen as equal, and many are left struggling in the shadows of others' brilliance.
Explosions shook the air as Izuku Midoriya launched himself toward the towering zero-pointer. His broken limbs trembled under the strain, but determination glimmered in his eyes, he endured the pain and with a deafening roar, his fist smashed into the robot's steel, sending its massive body careening to the ground in a discord of steel and sparks. Dust clouded the area, and when it cleared, all eyes were on the boy who had done what seemingly is the impossible.
In the observation room, every faculty member murmured in awe. Nezu, with his rat-like face, glanced thoughtfully at the display. "Remarkable." he muttered, failing to mask smile whilst looking at the heroism of the young boy. "Such selflessness, even at such a cost to his own well-being." The other faculty nodded in agreement, impressed with the young boy's courage. On the other hand, Aizawa's eyes glimmered, reflecting the screen where Midoriya smashed the zero pointer.
"It's over!" Present Mic shouted as the exam ended.
Meanwhile, Karsten Yumeno stood at the far end of the examination area, his gaze fixed on the unfolding chaos. His black hair partially obscured his sharp, observant eyes. Other students buzzed with excitement and chatter, but Karsten's expression remained neutral. He adjusted the hair that was obscuring his eyes and sighed quietly. "Exactly as I remember…" he muttered under his breath, his soft voice overwhelmed by the noise around him.
Internally, he admired Izuku Midoriya's courage. The boy embodied the essence of heroism that Karsten had always respected although it sometimes caused him to see Izuku with repugnance, and sometimes an admiration which was tinged with a quiet detachment.
"It's strange, watching events unfold exactly as in the story. It feels surreal, like watching a rerun of a series I know by heart."
Yet, that familiarity anchored him in his resolve. He had promised himself to remain on the sidelines, to avoid interfering and altering the story's trajectory. His mind wandered to thoughts of the butterfly effect , one small change, could ripple into catastrophic consequences. "Let things take their course," he reminded himself, "and the future remains secure." The events are good as it is, no need to take action.
Karsten's thoughts shifted to himself, as they often did in moments of reflection. His fists clenched involuntarily. In his previous life, he had studied as a student nurse, preparing for a future where he could save lives and make a difference. It had been a modest dream, one he was proud of. But that dream had been ripped away when he woke up in this familiar world of quirks and heroes.
Why me? Why here? Karsten always asked himself.
By all accounts, he was inadequate — an ordinary person with no stake in this grand stage of heroes and villains. "I'm just a background character," he thought with a bitter smile. "I'm not like him." His blue eyes flicked toward Izuku, who now lay collapsed and Uraraka Ochaco puking in the aftermath of their actions.
Even with his quirk, Karsten doubted himself. He could mimic and do some batschit crazy things with his quirk , but what did that mean in the grand scheme of things? A tool for emergencies, he thought grimly, nothing more.
A movement in the corner of his eye snapped him out of his thoughts. Beyond the smoldering wreck of the zero-pointer, a student was struggling under a pile of collapsed debris. No one else seemed to notice, all attention glued to Izuku's act of bravery. His eyebrows met, eyeing the struggling student.
Karsten hesitated. Helping that student meant taking a risk. His actions would be seen, recorded even. A teacher might notice and wonder why a candidate wasn't in the hero course. Rescue points existed, after all. He could inadvertently attract attention he didn't want.
He sighed. "Rescue points. Of course." he murmured a bit dissapounted, a small frown tugging at his eyebrows. It wasn't just the system he wanted to avoid; it was disrupting the chain of events. Yet, as the seconds passed, his decision solidified. "I can keep this subtle. Minimize my presence."
Karsten weaved toward the trapped student, a blur against the backdrop of chaos. His nimble fingers worked quickly to remove smaller pieces of debris before using a copied Telekinesis to lift the larger obstacles just enough for the student to crawl out.
"Th-thank you!" the student stammered, but Karsten had already moved on, blending seamlessly back into the crowd of examinees as though he had never been there. His lips pressed into a small smile.
Karsten lingered in the aftermath of the exam, his expression whilst neutral yet his mind racing. He carefully calibrated his actions during the test, ensuring that he barely crossed the threshold for the general studies department. It wasn't that he couldn't achieve more, his quirk alone was powerful enough to propel him into the hero course if he wanted, but that was a risk he wasn't willing to take.
"I've done enough." he muttered under his breath. His quirk, combined with his quick thinking, had allowed him to fend off a few small robots and help some struggling students in a way that appeared unremarkable. Every decision had been intentional, each point carefully scored to avoid unnecessary attention.
But it wasn't easy. The moment he saw a student trapped beneath the debris, panic written across their face, he hesitated. Intervening meant he might earn rescue points, an unexpected variable that could jeopardize his plan. Yet, could he really stand idly by and watch, knowing he had the power to make a difference? He is afraid, yes. But he wasn't raised to be an apathetic bastard who would only watch a struggling person.
Now, standing amidst the dispersing crowd, he ran a hand through his shadowed hair, his blue eyes reflecting a mix of relief and determination. "The general studies department should be enough. It's the safest choice. Let the hero course events unfold the way it's meant to."
But deep down, the doubts festered. Was he truly avoiding interference for the sake of the world's timeline or was it because he was afraid to claim a spot where expectations would be unbearable? His conflicting thoughts weighed heavy on him. Sighing, his decision was made.
"This world doesn't need another anomaly." Karsten thought as he turned and disappeared into the crowd. "But if something goes wrong… I'll be there, at the back that is."
"Their stage, their story." he muttered, heading toward the exit. His mind flitted to the predictable yet satisfying finale of the event.
The entrance exam wrapped up with a mix of cheers and murmurs of relief, some were hopeful, others were devastated. The results would come in a few days, and with them, the futures of countless young hopefuls.
For Karsten, none of it mattered. Blending seamlessly into the crowd, he moved with quiet precision, fading into the background like the backdrop of a play.
This world isn't mine to change… but next time, he paused, glancing over his shoulder once more toward the UA grounds, maybe I'll see how far I can go.
The future loomed before him as uncertain as his place in it, and yet… he couldn't shake the thought.