{CHAPTER 6: A Cringy Protagonist}
The night air was cool, crisp, and filled with the distant hum of a city that never truly slept. Kuroshio stood in the dim glow of a flickering streetlamp, his hands buried in his pockets as he gazed at the empty lot before him. The ground was uneven, patches of dirt and stray tufts of grass scattered throughout. A perfect, secluded place to train.
He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. His fingers twitched at his sides, anticipation running through him.
Tonight, he was going to push his quirk to its limits.
Or at least, try to.
Kuroshio extended his right hand, palm up, and focused.
Electricity. Water. Wind.
Theoretically, he should be able to manipulate them all.
In practice?
Nothing.
A minute passed. Then two.
His hand remained completely still—no sparks, no shift in the air, no sudden feeling of connection to the world around him.
He clenched his fist and tried again.
Nothing.
The muscle in his jaw tightened. This wasn't new. His Quirk had always been weak, barely capable of anything noticeable. But now, with Miraculouses in his possession, he had to become something more.
He needed to improve.
Taking a slow breath, he shut his eyes and tried to feel the currents around him.
There was static in the air, electricity in distant power lines. He focused, trying to grasp even a single thread of it. Pull it in. Redirect it. Make it move.
Minutes passed.
Nothing.
A cold gust of wind blew past, ruffling his hair. He opened his eyes, exhaling sharply.
Pathetic.
It wasn't like he hadn't tried before. The former Kuroshio spent years experimenting, trying to force his Quirk into something useful. No matter what he did, the results were always the same—insignificant.
And yet, despite his frustration, he still kept trying.
Because he had to.
Shoving his hands into his jacket pockets, he paced across the lot, breathing deeply to settle the irritation building in his chest.
He wasn't delusional—he knew his Quirk had limits. He couldn't shoot lightning like some overpowered anime protagonist, and he definitely wasn't controlling ocean currents with a flick of his wrist. But there had to be something he could do with it.
Right?
"Interesting."
Kuroshio tensed. He turned sharply, finding Sass floating nearby, golden eyes gleaming with curiosity.
The kwami had been watching him.
Kuroshio let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "Didn't hear you there."
Sass tilted his head. "What exactly are you doing?"
"Training," Kuroshio muttered.
Sass floated a little closer, his long tail swaying lazily. "Training what?"
"My Quirk."
The kwami blinked. "Your what?"
Kuroshio, staring at him. "hmm...How long have you been stuck inside that box?"
---
Sass blinked, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean?"
Kuroshio crossed his arms. "I mean, how long have you been inside that Miracle Box?"
Sass hummed thoughtfully, coiling his long body midair. "Time is… difficult to measure for beings like me. But I suppose… a very long time."
Kuroshio exhaled through his nose. "Yeah. Thought so."
The kwami hadn't had a holder for who knows how long.
"…So, what is a 'Quirk' exactly?" Sass asked, tilting his head.
Kuroshio raised a brow. "You really don't know?"
Sass shook his head.
Kuroshio sighed. "Alright. Buckle up, snake."
He turned his gaze toward the night sky, gathering his thoughts. Kuroshio already knew Sass would have no concept of what quirks are, considering this isn't his original reality. Kuroshio would like to keep it that way.
"It started about… two hundred years ago," Kuroshio began. "A baby was born in China. The first known case of a human glowing like a damn lightbulb."
Sass floated closer, listening intently.
"Nobody knew what caused it, but after that, people all over the world started developing special abilities. Superhuman stuff. Eventually, these abilities—'Quirks'—became so common that, nowadays, almost eighty percent of the world's population has one."
Sass's tail flicked. "Fascinating. And you have one as well?"
Kuroshio let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah. Technically."
He lifted his hand, glaring at his palm as if willing something to happen. But, as always, his Quirk refused to cooperate.
Sass observed him for a moment. "Your ability… it does not work?"
Kuroshio clicked his tongue. "It works. Just not in any way that's useful."
Sass didn't respond immediately. He simply floated there, watching Kuroshio with an unreadable expression.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
"…You seem frustrated."
Kuroshio let out a dry laugh. "No kidding."
The kwami's tail curled. "And yet, you continue to train."
Kuroshio's smirk faded slightly.
Yeah.
He did.
Despite the failures. Despite the fact that his Quirk was weak, he still kept trying.
Because if he stopped now… what else did he have?
Sass tilted his head. "Why?"
Kuroshio didn't answer right away. He stared at the ground, watching the dirt shift beneath his foot as he scuffed his shoe against it.
"…Because power is the only thing that matters," he muttered.
Sass's golden eyes gleamed. "Power?"
Kuroshio clenched his fist. "Without power, you're nothing in this world. You're just another nobody, getting stepped on by people stronger than you."
The kwami regarded him carefully.
After a long pause, Sass spoke again.
"…I see."
His voice was unreadable, his expression neutral.
Kuroshio scoffed. "Tch. Whatever. Not like you'd get it."
He turned away, shoving his hands into his pockets. The conversation had left a weird taste in his mouth.
Maybe he was just tired.
Or maybe… he didn't like admitting these things out loud.
Sass floated beside him, silent.
Kuroshio didn't know what the kwami was thinking.
---
The night air was cool against Kuroshio's skin as he stood there, fists clenched.
Power.
That was what this all boiled down to, wasn't it?
Everything he's doing is about getting stronger. Because, without power, he was just another nobody.
He refused to let that happen.
And yet—
Kuroshio clicked his tongue, glaring at his open palm.
Still nothing.
"Damn it."
He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.
Sass hovered beside him, silent. The kwami had been watching him the entire time, eyes filled with something Kuroshio couldn't quite place.
Eventually, Sass spoke.
"…You do not believe in your own power."
Kuroshio shot him a flat look. "Oh yeah? What gave that away?"
Sass ignored the sarcasm. "You believe power is everything, yet you do not trust the power you already have."
"That is why you struggle," Sass continued. "You seek strength from external sources but refuse to acknowledge the strength within yourself."
Kuroshio felt his jaw tighten. "That's easy for you to say," he muttered. "You don't have to struggle for power. You just… exist."
Sass tilted his head. "And yet, for all my existence, I have never held the power of my own, at least not without consequences. I have only ever granted it to others."
Sass floated closer. "Perhaps your Quirk is not the problem. Perhaps the problem is how you view it."
Kuroshio let out a dry chuckle. "What, you think I should just magically 'believe' in it and suddenly I'll get stronger?"
Sass didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied Kuroshio with those deep golden eyes, as if searching for something.
"…No," Sass finally said. "But I do believe that understanding your own strength is the first step to wielding it properly."
Kuroshio scoffed. "Right. Thanks for the wisdom, oh great and mighty floating snake."
Sass merely hummed.
Kuroshio rolled his eyes and turned away. "Whatever. Let's go home."
Sass said nothing as Kuroshio walked off, the kwami's gaze lingering on him for a few seconds before following him.
---
The morning sunlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow across the room.
Kuroshio groaned as he sat up, rubbing the exhaustion from his face. He hadn't slept well.
Kuroshio pulled himself out of bed, stretching as he made his way toward his desk.
With a sigh, he grabbed his phone and checked the time. 8:12 AM.
Too early.
But if he stayed in bed any longer, he'd start overthinking again.
So he forced himself to move.
Sass was floating near the window, gazing outside as if deep in thought.
"You're up early," Kuroshio muttered.
Sass turned toward him, eyes calm. "I do not require sleep."
"Must be nice," Kuroshio grumbled, rubbing his temples. His head still felt heavy from last night.
For a few moments, there was silence.
Then—
"…Are you going to try again today?" Sass asked.
Kuroshio frowned. "Try what?"
Sass blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Your Quirk."
Kuroshio exhaled sharply. "I don't know. Maybe."
Another pause.
"…You do not sound very motivated."
"Yeah, well, motivation isn't exactly my strong suit," Kuroshio muttered, running a hand through his hair.
He didn't feel like dealing with this conversation again.
Not right now.
Sass studied him for a moment before nodding. "I see."
He didn't press the topic any further.
Kuroshio appreciated that.
With a sigh, he walked toward the door. "I'm getting coffee."
As they stepped out, the morning air greeted them with a cool breeze.
The streets were quiet. Not silent, but quiet.
The early morning air was crisp, the sky still tinged with the last traces of dawn. A few people were out—some heading to work, others finishing their morning jogs. The occasional cyclist zipped by, blending into the distant hum of traffic.
Kuroshio walked down the street with a slow, measured pace, hands shoved deep into his pockets. His mind was elsewhere.
What am I even doing?
He had the Miracle Box. He had Miraculouses at his disposal. He had a ridiculous amount of Karma Points.
Yet, he was standing here doing nothing.
It irritated him.
"You're too quiet this morning."
Kuroshio barely turned his head as Sass floated beside him, golden eyes watching him carefully.
Kuroshio tensed. "Get down."
Sass blinked. "Excuse me?"
"People."
Realizing what he meant, the kwami swiftly phased into Kuroshio's hoodie, nestling inside the fabric. "Better?"
"Yeah."
"You seem… restless," Sass murmured from inside the hoodie.
Kuroshio exhaled sharply. "Yeah, well, I have a lot on my mind."
Sass hummed. "Is it about your Quirk?"
Kuroshio clenched his jaw but didn't answer.
Sass took his silence as confirmation.
"You still do not believe in its potential."
"It's not about believing or not believing," Kuroshio muttered. "It's just—" He exhaled, shaking his head. "It's frustrating."
Sass shifted slightly under his hoodie. "If you don't mind, what would 'useful' mean to you?"
Kuroshio hesitated.
Power.
Strength.
Control.
Something that makes sure no one can ever stand in my way.
But he didn't say that out loud.
Instead, he just shook his head. "Forget it."
Sass didn't push further.
The two made their way toward a café.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as he stepped inside. A few people were already seated, sipping their drinks in peaceful silence.
Kuroshio approached the counter and placed an order. While he waited, he leaned against the counter, exhaling slowly.
Sass shifted slightly under his hoodie. "Would you like my advice?"
Kuroshio raised an eyebrow. "Since when do kwamis give life advice?"
Sass smirked. "Since my wielder is too stubborn to figure things out on his own."
Kuroshio scoffed but stayed silent.
Sass's tone turned serious. "If you feel weak, then you must change your perspective."
Kuroshio frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You are looking at your Quirk through the lens of how others define strength."
Sass floated just slightly, barely lifting Kuroshio's hoodie.
"But true power isn't just about what you can do. It's about how you use what you have."
Kuroshio stared ahead.
Something about those words struck a nerve.
Before he could respond, the barista placed his coffee on the counter.
The moment was interrupted.
Kuroshio took his coffee and settled into a corner booth. He carefully adjusted his hoodie, making sure Sass remained hidden.
The kwami had gone quiet...
Kuroshio scoffed to himself, staring at the swirling surface of his coffee.
"You're doing it again."
Kuroshio didn't even flinch when Sass spoke.
Kuroshio took a slow sip of his coffee before responding. "Doing what?"
"Doubting yourself."
"Tch." Kuroshio set his cup down. "I'm not doubting myself. I'm just being realistic."
Sass tilted his head. "Is that so?"
"Yeah. That's so."
The kwami hummed. "Then tell me, Kuroshio, what exactly is your Quirk?"
Kuroshio narrowed his eyes. "What kind of question is that?"
"A simple one." Sass met his gaze, unwavering. "Describe your Quirk to me."
Kuroshio frowned, crossing his arms. "It lets me manipulate currents."
Sass nodded. "And?"
"…That's it."
Silence.
Then, Sass chuckled.
Kuroshio bristled. "What's so funny?"
The kwami floated a little higher, resting his tiny arms behind his head. "You say it like that's a bad thing."
Kuroshio clenched his jaw. "Because it is a bad thing."
"Why?"
"Because it's weak."
Sass tilted his head. "Is it?"
Kuroshio shot him a glare. "You're messing with me."
Sass merely smirked.
Kuroshio sighed in frustration, leaning back in his seat. "Alright, fine. Since you're so curious, let's break it down."
He held up a finger.
"One—I can't generate currents. I can only influence existing ones."
Another finger.
"Two—whatever influence I have is pathetically small."
A third.
"Three—it's basically useless in combat."
He let his hand drop. "So, yeah. My Quirk sucks."
Sass was quiet for a moment.
Then he asked, "What's the strongest current in the world?"
Kuroshio blinked. "…Huh?"
"You said you can manipulate currents." Sass's golden eyes gleamed. "So tell me, what is the strongest current in the world?"
Kuroshio furrowed his brows, caught off guard by the question.
He thought about it.
Water currents? Maybe. Ocean currents were incredibly powerful, but he wasn't exactly in a position to use those.
Air currents? They could be destructive, but he had no idea if he could even influence them properly.
Electricity? That was definitely strong, but again, his control over it was almost nonexistent.
What was Sass trying to get at?
"…I don't know."
Sass smirked. "Then maybe that's where you should start."
Kuroshio stared at him.
He wanted to brush it off, call it nonsense. But he couldn't.
Because for some reason, he felt like Sass had just said something important.
He just… couldn't figure out why.
And the more he thought about it, the more frustrating it became.
Kuroshio clicked his tongue, grabbing his cup and downing the rest of his coffee in one go. The bitter taste burned his throat, but he barely noticed.
Sass didn't say anything else, simply watching him with that same knowing look.
Kuroshio hated it.
Because now, he just had more things to think about.
---
Kuroshio left the café and wandered aimlessly through the city. He had no real destination, his legs just moved on their own.
Some tiny snake spirit had said a few cryptic words, and suddenly, he was spiraling.
Gosh, he was pathetic.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets, exhaling sharply.
When he really thought about it, what had he even been doing with his life?
Surviving? Sure. But for what?
Maybe because he was bitter.
Bitter that he never had what others had.
Bitter that no matter how much he tried, he never felt strong.
Bitter that he still gave a damn.
The worst part?
He was self-aware about it.
He knew this whole train of thought was cringe as hell.
Some sad, brooding monologue about how the world didn't make sense, how he was lost, how he wasn't good enough, like a bad anime protagonist with a tragic backstory.
Like some edgy kid writing poetry in a notebook about how "nobody understands" him.
It was embarrassing.
And yet, even knowing that, he couldn't stop thinking this way.
He gritted his teeth, kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk.
I should shut up. Even in my own head, I sound pathetic.
But the thoughts didn't stop. They just looped, over and over again, like a broken record.
Kuroshio clenched his fists.
Was that really true?
Was he really just doomed to be like this forever?
No matter how much power he got, would he always feel like this?
The thought made him angry.
At himself. At the world. At everything.
But mostly, at the fact that he didn't have an answer.
And that?
That was the most frustrating thing of all.
{Chapter End}