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Daizos reflection staree back at him in the mirror. Hair uncombed, skin pale, eyes sunken into his face like black orbs of endless night. The only thing that stood out were the red of his eyes staring back in disappointment. Against the odds he had gotten in and proved he had the makings of a hero but it felt like a lie. It was hollow and fake, like himself. 

The knock at the bathroom door broke his concentration as he mumbled for them to come in, and despite his mood cracked a smile for his mothers shining face. She was in her late forties with graying hair and wrinkled cheeks but time hadn't robbed her of that infectious positivity she and her husband had.

"Ohh, my little raven. You look so handsome today! Mommy made you a special lunch yo celebrate the big day and- and-." There were tears in her eyes as she shuffled forward to wrap Daizo in a big hug. "My baby is going away! You'll call every day right? You'll eat healthy? I'll make sure to send you fresh food since I know its hard for you sometimes." Elissa wiped away her tears but refused to surrender her smile.

Daizo could only smile and nod. "Yeah Mom. I'll take care of myself.. You know I cant stay still for long.." his words sounded empty even to him but Elissa, bless her heart, saw through the emotions behind them and only squeezed tighter. "Just leaving for a few months, Mom. No need to be so cling- EEP!" She pinched his neck and gave a soft laugh at his high pitch as Daizo squirmed and flushed his face beet red. "Maaaaa. I have to go! I love you, ok? I'll.. be safe. I'll be kind.. I'll make you proud." Now it was his turn to tear up a little as they broke the embrace, Elissa holding him at arms length. "My sweet Raven could never do anything else!" 

Daizo swept her up in another big hug, lifting her clear off the ground for a moment as he pulled her close. Mom never failed to put purpose back in his heart when the tank ran empty.
The two went about their tasks as he prepared, putting on his uniform and combing his hair, brushing teeth, and grabbing his two most prized possessions: The notebook containing every poetic scrap he had ever written, and the prickly cactus that was the only plant he knew that could survive through his care.

At the door he hugged his mother one last time and marched off to the waiting taxi, determined to continue overcoming his own quirk.

[hr]

The gates of UA were packed with protesters, screaming their fears to the whole town, but Daizo largely ignored them. His quirk wasn't fancy or flashy so you could never know who was using one like his. Gliding past the front gate with slow shuffling steps he recited his poetic verses in a whisper as he passed, the negative emotiond it sparked in people was a miasma of invisible force dancing among protesters as they briefly ceased their shouting to grasp their signs tighter and whispwr their own tragedies. By the time anyone realized why he was gone, flashing his ID at the gate and mustering at with the others.

The first thing he noticed was the cactus. A massive one. It moved, talked, it even went to pet the dog person! Moving.. uncomfortably close to Seri, Daizo was looking between his own cactus, labeled 'stubs', and Seri with a mixture of surprise and excitement. 

"Stubs! You've got family!" He whispered excitedly, having talked to his only friend so long he didnt even realize he talked out loud anymore.