Ch. 1 - Prodigy
"District 13 has been ranked top 3 on the most active student gang territories in the nation— isn't that so worrying Kamo? Especially since there is such an abundance of young children in that area.."
"Yes Natashii, it is a huge problem. Both the students and parents live in constant fear of what awaits them the second they step out their doors. Many complaints have been made about the lack of police surveillance in the district as well, only adding to that fire."
My name is Ren Akuma, I was born 17 years ago to a loving family, my mother is a nurse and my father is in sales. Both of them work extremely hard, however since I also have 2 siblings, taking care of all 3 of us is financially demanding. Because of this, we are unable to afford housing in any other district besides district 13, which has recently been classified as the 3rd most dangerous district in Japan. Living in this district, I've learned that I need to stand up for myself. I was blessed from birth, always having intelligence that surpassed my peers, and even some of my teachers. Relying on my photographic memory, superior intuition, and surprisingly athletic body, I was able to learn multiple forms of martial arts, molding them together, adding elements of kick boxing as well. After years of studying, I was able to create my own style of fighting which I call "Infinity" as I endlessly adapt and anticipate my opponents.
I was 14 years old when I discovered my love of fighting. It started as a way to protect myself and my siblings on our way to and from school, however the more fights I got into, the more I fell in love with the art. Fighting to me was living on a different level, my senses felt heightened, and my brain overloaded itself with so many thoughts that I even surprised myself with all the possibilities that could happen. As I grew older, I found myself sneaking out of school and even my house to go find and fight gang members, developing a reputation as a scrap fighter, someone who doesn't belong to a gang. Of course, I avoided trouble, never revealing my identity by wearing a hood and tying a bandana around my nose and mouth.
When I was 15, I was given a piece of sheet metal, a spare product sent home with my dad that he couldn't sell. Since I was interested in engineering, he figured it could potentially be a material to use if I ever got a creative urge. 3 weeks later, I had that urge and created my first version of a mask. It was a simple square mask that could be strapped around my head and only had two horizontal rectangles for eye slits. The reason I made this mask was to hide my identity while I fought people, as well as sort of protection against sharp scratches on my face.
I remember going out onto the streets that night, finding 3 gang members harassing an innocent girl, most likely trying to coerce her into sexual acts. Yet— I wasn't even mad. Usually, I would be enraged seeing injustice, violence, or crimes of that kind. But that night, with my new mask comfortably fixed on my face, I was excited. The next 10 minutes felt like pure ecstasy. I felt more bold, more confident than ever before. I no longer had to hold back in fear of my bandana slipping off, my new mask felt almost like my normal face. No scratches or eye pokes could affect me, giving me more of a boost to go in. I brutally read each of their moves, using my athleticism to fulfill the moves I envisioned in my mind and utterly destroyed them. All three slumped to the ground and the girl ran off. I stood there. Staring down at them, 2 unconscious and one trying to soldier crawl away from me. I felt so powerful that night. This was the new me, the new Ren Akuma. The unknown warrior created from the worst conditions.
That leads me to today, tonight is one of my fighting nights, and I plan to sneak out in 10 minutes. I just finished the 7th version of my mask, which now is reinforced with 8 layers of steel. It has a sleek design that is shaped roughly like the outline of my face. While remaining lightweight, it has glass eye protection that has the capability of illuminating, aiding me in fighting at night. After a quick check of all my family members' bedrooms, I swiftly jumped out my window into the streets. My mask lightly illuminated my view of the streets as I saw countless shadows and eyes lay on me.
Down the street I heard a sickening crack followed by a boy's scream. Listening to the subsequent whimpered pleading, I ran down the alleys appearing at the front of the last alley's entrance. I froze as I saw who it was: Kashiha Yorozu– the 7th strongest student in district 13. The moment he saw me, he dropped the half unconscious kid and grinned. Yorozu was huge– 6'4 and 260 pounds. Estimating by looking at his arm, I can guess he was around 12% body fat. I am 6'0 and 175 pounds, barely even human compared to this goliath.
"Who are you? And what's with that stupid mask." He retorted.
I didn't respond, or, I couldn't respond. I didn't know what to say, and I was intimidated. He towered over me, stepping over huge distances every step. The floor splattered with blood as he walked. He was going to charge me, I could tell by his posture. In a flash, he dove at my legs, going for a wrestling shot. Anticipating this, I jumped up, soaring over him and slamming my leg onto his back. I didn't mess up, I didn't time my stomp wrong, yet he didn't even flinch. I landed on my knees a few feet away from him as he got up, scowling.
"You can really jump, can't you. Impressive to see through that.. Especially since it's dark." He laughed, not out of humor, but out of playfulness.
I took the initiative this time, dashing at him, using the darkness as my accomplice and stagger feinting my jabs, making an unpredictable hitting pattern. My hits landed precisely as he stumbled back. I went in again, swinging my fist back preparing for a strike straight to his nose, but he acted quicker. He grabbed my arm and twisted it, spinning me around before smashing my leg with a swift kick. I fell onto my knees, and he picked me up slamming me onto the ground once more. My mask cracked and the illumination went out. All I could see now was his towering shadow winding up for a huge smash aiming for my ribs. I rolled out of the way, but since my eyes were used to the light, I was unable to see clearly in the dark, despite the fading street lamp outside the alley. He continued to swing at me, his shadow the only thing allowing me to see his movements. My mask's lights flickered back on right as his fist slammed point blank with my mask, shattering it. Pieces of steel pierced my face and my nose bled furiously. I was on the brink of passing out, the light from my mask, which had cracked and lightened up the whole area, illuminated Kashiha. His stoic build was only further reinforced as intimidating by the blood which was smeared across his hands.
As Kashiha raised his fist to deliver the final blow to my skull, someone jumped from the roof of one of the buildings lining the alleyway. Around 3 feet before he landed on the ground, he swung his leg up, almost completely vertically, snapping Kashiha's wrist, definitely breaking it. I was amazed- that flexibility, that timing and sheer power, it was superhuman. After snapping his wrist, he landed on the ground before springing up again and slamming his fist straight into Kashiha's mouth. Taken aback by the pure power of this man, -who was around 6 '2 and only around 180 pounds- Kashiha swung his fist blindly hitting a wall, leaving a crack in it. The unknown man jumped up again and leaned back, slamming his foot backwards into Kashiha's chest, displaying his inhuman flexibility once again. Kashiha's chest snapped with a sickening crunch as he fell, slumping over soon after as blood leaked from his mouth.
The man turned to me, his eyes were expressionless and his white hair slightly covering his face.
"Yo. You look pretty beaten up."
"Y-yeah.. Thanks- a lot.."
He extended his hand to help me up. My leg was still affected by Kashiha's earlier leg sweep, but I was able to stand on my own.
"Your flexibility.. It's insane! And that power.. How did you-" I was interrupted by cracking of his bones as he stretched his shoulder.
"Yeah, I've been told that a lot. Gymnastic coaches especially." He continued stretching parts of his body, loud pops and cracks emanating from his body.
His power, speed, and flexibility were incomprehensible to me- all my life, I had mistaken myself for a natural born genius gifted by God with intelligence and a brain capable of processing thoughts multiple times the speed of a normal person. I had never lost a fight by being outsmarted, yet, I felt as if he could beat me to a pulp before I could even strategize against him. His movements were almost zombie like, and his fighting style felt off. After a second of thinking, I understood exactly what didn't make sense: he could move his flexible body freely without ever losing speed or power. At this revelation I stared at him in awe. Before me stood a different creature, one that wasn't bound by the limits of physics and anatomy.
It took me a moment before I could speak again: "How long have you been fighting?"
"Fighting? Oh, I'm not really interested— it just looked like you needed some help out here." He pointed to a window in the alleyway, "That's my room, I saw you getting roughed up pretty bad from above."
"Ah.." I felt slightly embarrassed— I usually was a fairly good fighter, but I guess I never really had a run in with one of the top 10 strongest in the district. I noticed his voice was quite monotone and he-
"Wait what?! You're.. not interested? You mean you've never fought before..?" I stammered, cutting off my own thoughts.
"Yeah, I've never been into that sort of thing." He replied, staring off into the horizon.
So he really was a prodigy. Someone blessed with an incomprehensible set of physical attributes that could carry out any of his mind's ideas. His limbs could move in whatever way he wanted them to without losing speed or power, and he was athletic enough to jump down from a 3 story building while performing acrobats. He embodied my ideal self, someone who was born strong, and could continue that path through the passion of fighting.
"What's your name?" I asked suddenly.
"My name? Oh. It's Teiru, Teiru Hanayama."
"Hanayama.. I think I've heard of you before. Wait, do you go to-"
"Yamato High? Yeah, I think I've seen you around there once or twice."
"Wow.. so we really do go to the same school"
"Akuma right? You're pretty popular in school, since you're really smart and everything. You should help me with math."
I laughed. Even at a time like this, he could ask for a math lesson. It just further showed that fighting like this, pulling off his earlier move, was just second nature to him. That moment, something inside of me formed— a new goal: to see Teiru Hanayama go all out in a fight.
"Fight with me. I'll do all your homework or teach you.. everything you need I'll do."
"You'll do my homework? I guess that's a pretty good deal. I don't know about fighting though— if that's all this is.. it's boring."
"B-boring? I guess for someone like you. You took out the 7th strongest student in this whole district just like that, without any struggle. Fighting with a challenge, with someone to force you to push past your limits.. that's what it's all about! I want to teach you everything there is about fighting.. my philosophy, my skill sets.. I believe with your physical gifts, you could become the strongest in the world!"
"The strongest..?"
"Yeah! Tell me Teiru, what is your dream?"
"My dream.. I guess.. I never really thought of that"
"You don't have anything to work towards?"
"Not really, I've always wanted to just be respected."
"Then that's perfect! If you become the strongest in the world, even in just this district, everyone will respect you!"
"Really? Is fighting that popular?"
"Fighting is like sports if you get rid of the points and the balls. It's all about who's stronger or smarter. Winning proves you're better than whoever you beat. It's the ultimate hierarchy!"
"Huh, I guess when you put it like that.. it does sound pretty fun."
"Yeah! And you have a huge advantage Teiru, your flexibility and power.. it's a weapon you can use to bring yourself to the strongest there is."
Teiru stared at his hand and clenched it. I could see something working inside his head as his eyes began to form a sense of life within them. He looked up at me, his once lifeless expression turning into a fiery aloofness.
"Hey Akuma. I think I'll give it a try- there's something I want to see."
"Something you want to see? What is it?"
"My maximum."