A clan is a form of social organization based on a common ancestor and familial ties. Clan members consider themselves descendants of a single progenitor, even if the exact lineage may be lost or mythologized.
The Himura clan is one of the most influential clans in a whimsical world. Before the emergence of quirks, the Himura clan was nearing its end. In the old world, they were celebrated for their exceptional genetics, which ultimately led to the decline of their business. The first founder of the Himura clan was Yamato Himura, who is still revered as the creator of the great clan and its pioneer. At the helm, Yamato selectively chose each woman, paying attention to her height, hair, health, lineage, status, and importantly, her virginity and purity. With perfect genetics, Yamato wanted to leave behind descendants who would continue his legacy. The leader of the Himura clan believed that his descendants, like himself, were chosen for this world. His obsession led him to believe that his blood should only be present in a select number of people. Like most founders of large corporations, Yamato started from absolute zero, believing solely in his uniqueness and exceptionalism. Compared to other residents of Japan, Yamato had a tall stature inherited from his parents and a very strong immune system, combined with analytical abilities. In the clan, there is usually a chief or elder who possesses authority.
Hierarchy is often structured by age, merit, or relation to the founder.
By choosing the most worthy representatives of the female gender, Yamato reproduced, passing his genes to his descendants, ensuring that his ideas and blood flowed in the most deserving individuals in Japan. Throughout the development of the Himura clan, men had to present their wives to the elders or the clan leader, and based on their indisputable decision, they would give a verdict on whether the woman could be taken as a wife or not.
Yamato Himura was very adept at understanding people, as well as genetics, which played a significant role. Before the emergence of quirks, patriarchy had reigned in Japan for centuries, deeply rooted in Japanese society even to this day. Born in the twentieth century during World War I, he witnessed how Japanese society treated women. Using this perspective as a foundation for his worldview, he decided to create a hierarchy based on patriarchy, where men played the primary role. Men of the Himura clan, when choosing their brides before the official wedding, had to present their wives to the elders. By analyzing the woman based on health and ancestry, as well as through certain rituals, they would grant permission for the newlyweds to marry. The woman who was taken as a wife permanently left her family nest, joining the Himura estate and remaining a member of the clan without the right to exit the marital union.
Women born into the Himura clan primarily became commodities for arranged marriages, and their children effectively became members of the Himura clan. However, not every child from such a marriage could be considered a representative of the clan. A marriage between a woman from the Himura clan and a man not belonging to this clan was also subjected to scrutiny by the elders. Weak, soft-hearted, and morally weak men were immediately deemed unworthy by the elders to take a beautiful lady as a wife. If a man met all the parameters of the woman, the elders would determine by blood how much he inherited the Himura clan's genes. If the genes of the Himura clan exceeded 40-60%, he would permanently leave his family, becoming a Himura.
Many women were dissatisfied with this arrangement, and any signs of rebellion were swiftly quashed. Rebels from the clan were initially captured and tortured until they became submissive or were killed to prevent further disturbance. Murders occurred very rarely and were primarily determined by the severity of the crime committed by the individual.
Men, enjoying privileges, never revolted against the elders and understood the consequences of crossing them. Knowing the fundamentals of politics, Yamato Himura understood the principles of propaganda and how it influences society, having been born into an aristocratic family with a Western education in the twentieth century, something only half of Japan's population could afford during World War I. Understanding how to manage people, he selected children based on their parents' character and assigned them roles in the hierarchy.
Hierarchy of the Himura Clan:
1. Clan Leader— The most important of all, holding absolute power over the entire clan.
2. Advisor to the Leader — A carefully selected and intelligent person who understands human psychology well. At the beginning of the clan's formation, he was Yamato's brother, who also possessed a brilliant education. Sometimes he makes minor decisions on behalf of the clan leader.
3. Elders— Their maximum and minimum number is 10, helping to select husbands and wives for their clansmen. They must always be purebloods with blue blood. A prerequisite for becoming an elder was to dedicate one's life to studying and developing the Himura clan. Age also played a role, with the minimum age for elders being 50 years. Elders were determined by their position and contribution to the clan's development. Those who opened new avenues for trade and connections were held in high regard even in the eyes of the clan leader and his advisor. To those lower in status, they were untouchable, but other elders could vote for the removal of one of them and the adoption of new laws for the clan's prosperity.
4. Elite — A privileged class that has achieved more than their compatriots. Compared to ordinary peasants, they have more rights and the right to vote, and through their influence, they can lobby their interests to the elders or the advisor to the clan leader. Due to their status, they have the right to have five wives, naturally each selected by the elders. One can become elite only by one's own efforts without using the Himura status. Such individuals are highly respected among the lower castes, and slander against them is met with severe punishment. Due to the rules of patriarchy, women cannot become elders or elites.
5. Inquisitors— People responsible for discipline and morality as directed by the elders and clan leader. Inquisitors are trained to win the trust of people, especially peasants and lower castes. While suppressing dissent, inquisitors had their own divisions for each age group. They primarily acted as propagandists for all ages and genders. Those who expressed doubts or open discontent were subjected to re-education and torture to eradicate any form of dissent.
6.1 Moral Reformers— Their age ranged from 27 to 45 years. These are meticulously trained individuals who have passed checks by the elders and inquisitors to educate the children in the Himura clan. They are taught to honor those above them. They are demonstratively shown the executions of those who choose not to obey the clan rules. By capturing young minds, they turn them into obedient peasants, but some, in pursuit of their intellect and perseverance, may achieve a higher status if they prove their capabilities. Moral reformers play a significant role and have special privileges compared to inquisitors, as attracting children is a responsible decision, and only responsible and trained individuals are placed in these positions.
6.2 Informants — Spies who report dissent. They frequently check homes and may come unannounced. If a member is deemed unreliable, the entire family is sent for re-education until they become fully submissive. Their activity serves as a cleanup after inquisitors and moral reformers. However, there have been instances where even elites were subjected to scrutiny. At the request of the elders, informants may monitor elites, but without orders, they cannot surveil those who stand above them.
7. Commanders— Individuals above the executors who carry out the tasks assigned by the elders and leaders. Only those who have thoroughly passed checks for ideology and loyalty to the clan are admitted into their ranks. They are also unofficially assigned several informants to prevent uprisings and revolts.
8. Executors — They perform the work of cleaners. By order of the commanders, they carry out all the dirty work assigned to them. They primarily arrest dissenting peasants and intimidate other residents to prevent any thoughts of rebellion.
9. Peasants— Represent the most numerous, yet simultaneously the least significant layer in the power structure of the Himura clan. They are the foundation of the entire system, upon whose shoulders the existence and prosperity of higher castes depend. Despite their numbers, peasants are practically devoid of personal freedom, rights, and voice. Their lives are entirely controlled by the upper echelons of the clan, starting from moral reformers and extending to inquisitors and informants.
Social Status
Peasants are individuals whose fate is determined from birth. From a young age, they are instilled with ideals of obedience, loyalty to the clan, and disdain for dissent. Even at an early age, peasant children undergo influences from moral reformers, who, through fear and violence, shape their submissiveness and blind faith in the system.
Role in the Clan
Peasants perform all the hard labor — from agriculture to serving in the estates of high-ranking clan members. In past centuries, they performed ordinary work similar to office employees in normal society, but they also had to integrate into regular society, learning and sharing all information with inquisitors, who in turn passed it on to the elders. Half of the money earned from work in ordinary society is given as tribute for the protection of each clan member. They also serve as expendable resources: when necessary, they can be used in political games, as a show of loyalty, and in critical situations — as cannon fodder to protect the interests of the elites and elders.
Control and Oversight
The lives of peasants are under constant surveillance:
- Inquisitors monitor ideological purity and morality, can intervene in family matters, organize interrogations, propaganda speeches, and even public punishments.
- Moral reformers educate their children and monitor their worldview. Improper behavior is immediately punished, including public executions.
- Informants invade personal lives, may come without warning, and at the slightest suspicion can send the entire family for re-education.
Family Life and Children
Marriages among peasants are strictly regulated. Although elders do not participate in the choice of partners as meticulously as with the elite, any unions are still subject to approval. Children born from such marriages automatically become the property of the clan. They are raised in the spirit of blind devotion, and they have virtually no chance to change their status without exceptional abilities and approval from above.
Rights and Privileges
Peasants have no rights to:
- Vote;
- Complain about the actions of elites and elders;
- Refuse to work;
- Leave the territory without permission defined by the clan;
- Engage in education without permission from superiors.
Any attempt at rebellion is met with swift punishment. As described, instances of murder are rare, but torture, disappearances, and public punishments can be used for intimidation.
Opportunities for Advancement
Although the Himura clan is based on a strict hierarchy, peasants theoretically have a chance to rise higher — but only in rare cases, if they prove their complete loyalty, outstanding abilities, and resilience. Some particularly stubborn and intelligent peasants may eventually enter the lower ranks of the inquisitors or receive special assignments from the elders.
However, such cases are singular and usually occur only under the watchful eye of informants to exclude the possibility of "unreliable" advancement.
While the Himura clan existed before the emergence of quirks, there was a prophecy written by one of the earliest elders.
The prophecy stated:
"And a young man will appear, embittered against the world and especially against us. He will be born as a filthy wretch before our eyes, and his appearance will signify the downfall of all that we strive for. Our entire people will follow him. A defiled youth, unclean by foreign blood, will ignite a fire whose flames will melt the cold we have built for centuries. All our people will follow him, tired of their plight, ready to pursue any hope that illuminates their path to a bright future."
"He will come for our people, and not only he but a woman of dazzling beauty hidden from our eyes. With a heavy fate, having our blood in her veins, she will rise against us. Once a timid woman, she will be the one to lead the people. She will become the mentor of the abandoned young man, and he will be the one who saves or kills millions of people."
The first elders were the most respected, and this prophecy is still honored in the Himura clan. Many ignored the old man's ramblings if not for the other prophecies that came true, leaving only two remaining that would herald the end of the entire Himura era. The leaders and elders took this seriously, brainwashing children so that such a child would not appear.
In the last years of its existence in the old world, the Himura clan suffered decline and degradation, as Japan, in the final years before the Quirky Era, endured one crisis after another, leading to instability in the state's economy, which affected the Himura clan. The clan leaders and the internal economy began to crack, and soon the clan would have split into numerous independent pieces, as suddenly quirks began to manifest in everyone, including the members of the Himura clan.
By strange coincidences, the members of the Himura clan, due to their Yamato blood, possessed an exceptionally strong ice quirk that was incomparable to others. Thanks to the ice quirk, the body adapted to the cold, slowing down the aging process of Yamato. After surviving several wars and a new era, he died at the age of 167. Before his death, he managed to choose a successor who adapted all the laws of his predecessor to the modern world.
Believing in their uniqueness and superiority in quirks, the Himura clan, under the leadership of Yamato's son, began to exterminate all people in Japan who had a weak or minor ice quirk. Hanzō, as this man was called, took the best from his predecessor and developed the existing structure. To prevent the ice quirk from falling into the wrong hands, thanks to healers and doctors specializing in quirks, he achieved phenomenal results. They learned to strip quirks from people outside the Himura clan, but for other types of quirks, this technique did not work due to the absence of Himura blood in the person's veins.
Years passed, and quirks became commonplace in society. Thanks to their monopoly policies in Japan, there was only one source where those with freezing or ice quirks resided. Due to their power in the Quirky Era and beyond, they firmly integrated into Japanese society. Having access to databases on quirks across Japan, they forcibly took men, women, and children from their homes, bringing them here. If they expressed dissent, they were sentenced to death. Exceptions were made for those who agreed; they were allowed to mate with members of the Himura clan, developing an already existing quirk and creating a unique quirk based on Himura ice. Holding veto power over all ice quirks in Japan, they became the main monopolists in the field of ice quirks. At the behest of wealthy and influential people, the head and elders of the clan handed over ready and ripe women into the hands of these individuals. With an eye on influence, the Himura clan made contracts with such people, wherein the person wishing to marry a woman from the Himura clan would present their desires and goals for a fictitious marriage.
There were also a number of rules that the other party had to follow.
A person who married a Himura woman had no right to kill her; otherwise, they faced punishment and death.
No matter how selfish the clan leaders and elders were, they valued every member of the clan, and for the murder or defilement of one, all were held accountable. As society developed, people expressed interest in the closed Himura clan, just as all reporters tried to expose the Himura clan, but those who were too curious quickly disappeared. Integrating into all spheres of life in Japan from the shadows, thanks to their clan members, they had connections throughout the country. They also knew who All for One was. For the first time in a long while, while he was still around, they made every effort to ensure he did not reach them. They also cooperated with the government, presenting their demands for security. Everyone was aware of how he could steal and transfer quirks, which threatened their exclusivity and blue blood that they had preserved for centuries.
***
Morning was always the least favorite time for the Todoroki family estate, as every morning they had to part with each other and gather again in the evening when everyone was tired. Enji and Toya went on heroic patrols, Fuyumi went to work to teach students, enjoying what she did, eagerly awaiting a new day to meet her students. Shoto, like all students, attended a private school that only wealthy and affluent members of society could afford. Being the son of the number one hero, he was valued among his peers. Although childhood in this family was not easy, he was glad that his father had taken the path of redemption, still trying his best to help them forget the nightmare they experienced. Shoto, like Toya, respected his father and considered him a true hero and a symbol of courage to aspire to. Natsuo, while remembering everything, had forgotten the old grievances against his father, recalling how often he was ignored; he remained the most unnecessary member of the family and simply drifted away. Thanks to therapy, Enji apologized to Natsuo and treated his children as equals, which not every parent could acknowledge. He was studying medicine at the university, understanding the importance of this profession; he, like his father, tried his best, drawing inspiration from his strength and will.
The usual routine accompanied Rei every day when everyone left for their affairs. Sincerely rejoicing in the successes of her husband and children, she found happiness in raising her sons and daughter, even though it took all her free time. She tried to be useful and not return to the clan, where she would become just another incubator for another man.
The morning for Dabi was ordinary; lazily opening his eyes, he got up to the sound of the alarm clock. Looking at the time, he saw that there were still 1.5 hours until patrol. After turning off the alarm, he wrapped himself in his blanket, unwilling to get out of his soft bed until someone knocked on his door.
"Toya, your breakfast is ready!" — Rey, always well-groomed, knocked on the door, waking everyone early, sometimes irritating some family members. Grumbling in his bed, Toya opened his eyes wide, looking out the window and listening to the birds chirping, creating a carefree atmosphere of a spring morning.
"Ten more minutes and I'll be downstairs." It's strange how a professional hero earning a very good salary still lives with his parents under one roof. He had the means to buy his own property or apartment, but at his mother's and father's request, he did not move out. Not to say they were overly protective, but it always pained Rei to see how Toya lived in the UA dormitory, leaving their family incomplete. She protected him with all her might, and he was already an eagle ready to leave his nest and conquer the world.
After looking in the mirror and seeing his tired appearance from the recent patrol, Toya smiled, recalling how he annoyed Burnin with his behavior. Today was a very special date: every year, on the same day, a delegation from the Himura clan arrives to check all family members with Himura blood. He never understood why they needed to dramatize it, as, unlike his father, he hated the ice quirk that he could not inherit like Shoto. But thanks to his father, he had the strongest fire quirk in the entire hero community and even throughout Japan.
Toya, like all family members, valued his mother's care but was completely unaware of his mother's past, which she revealed only to Fuyumi when she was very young.
"Damn, how good I am!" — combing his white hair with a comb, he stared at his face, feeling his muscles. Toya had a high opinion of himself and stood out among others because he took his responsibilities very seriously, but outside of his duties, he behaved confidently, which frequently irritated Burnin at the Endeavor agency.
Smiling, he left his room and saw Fuyumi coming out of her room in her pajamas and glasses. On her way to the bathroom, she was half-asleep and yawning simultaneously. Toya smirked, finding another reason to tease his younger sister about her work.
"Well, well, who do we have here, Miss Homework Inspector?" — Dabi's laughter caught Fuyumi's attention, and she looked at him angrily, waking up and hurrying toward the bathroom. They both rushed to the bathroom to be the first ones to enter and take their morning routines, but at the entrance, they got stuck in the doorway, trying to push each other out.
"Hey, move! Didn't they teach you to give girls space?" — slyly smiling, Toya deftly removed her glasses. She, in turn, waved her hands, trying to get them back.
"Give me back my glasses, you'll break them!" — she could see everything, but only in a blurry way due to the damage to her cornea, making it hard for her to focus. Toya constantly teased her while smiling and chuckling in her direction. She cutely puffed up, crossing her arms over her chest and turning her back to him. With a huff of confusion, Fuyumi put the glasses on him, but a moment later, she used that to enter the bathroom first, giggling.
"Women moment," — Toya commented, continuing to smile.
"Oh, children," — Rei smiled at her children's antics, and even such micro moments brought her pleasant warmth in her soul. Going downstairs, Rei headed to the kitchen to check if the coffee for Enji was still warm. Every morning, she brewed it in a special way — adding a pinch of cinnamon, just as he liked. Placing the cup on a tray, she pondered, looking out the window. Outside, cherry blossom petals danced slowly, painting the spring morning in rosy tones. Everything seemed perfect… but in her heart, there still lingered anxiety, especially on days when the visit from the Himura clan approached.
She remembered how many years ago she, young and naive, had been forced to choose — to obey the will of the elders or become an outcast. She chose to run away, chose her freedom… and Enji. Despite everything they had been through, despite his mistakes and pain — he remained her choice. For the sake of her children, for the future.
Meanwhile, Toya, dressed in a strict dark blue suit with agency emblems, was already sitting at the table, holding a glass of orange juice. He was scrolling through the news on his phone while Shoto silently chewed on toast next to him. They did not talk — there was respect between them, but also an impenetrable wall. Shoto still felt like a stranger in the house, though he was trying to adapt to the changes.
Natsuo was the last to come in, with a backpack on his shoulder, briefly greeting them and pouring himself some tea. He was quiet but attentive — noticing every detail, every shadow on his mother's face. He sensed that something troubled Rei, but he did not ask, knowing that she would speak when the time was right.
"Fuyumi! Breakfast is getting cold!" — called Rei.
"I'm on my way!" — shouted Fuyumi, rushing out with wet hair but with a victorious smile.
The family gathered around the table — a rare moment of silence and warmth before the upcoming visit from those who still considered themselves her owners. Rei caught Enji's gaze, who had just come down from the upper floor, and in those eyes was understanding. He knew today would be difficult for her.
"They will come at noon?" — he quietly asked, sitting next to her.
"Yes. And I don't want the children to be present during this," — replied Rei, not looking away from her cup.
"Everything will be fine," — he promised. — "I will be by your side."
Rei nodded, but something still gnawed at her soul. Not fear… anxiety. As if the Himura clan was not just coming for a formal check, but with some other purpose. A purpose she did not yet know.
***
The Himura clan arrived, as always, without delay. Black cars stopped in front of the Todoroki estate, from which men and women in traditional clothing with badges symbolizing their lineage emerged. Leading them was a middle-aged man with cold, ice-like eyes — a messenger of the elders, the one who knew the truth about Rei's origins… and about her children.
He stopped at the gates, slowly lifted his gaze to the house, and said:
"I greet you, Rei-san." There was no friendliness from such people, for they could not stand Enji Todoroki. He did not wish to submit to the clan's rules, but the elders of the Himura clan saw potential and protection in him, and the clan head gave him a concession that Rei could be taken from her clan.
"I also greet you in our home." She bowed to them, although she did not want to do so out of self-respect. Enji taught her that she would be only his, and he must not betray her; such were his words to her.
Standing next to Enji, he only nodded at them, refusing to submit. Not taking his eyes off them, he burned them with his gaze. Despite being the number one hero, he still had no power to influence them. They had integrated into Japanese society so firmly that even famous heroes could do nothing to them. They had the best lawyers, comparable to unsinkable ships.
"Why have you come here? Our agreement was concluded seven years ago," — Enji replied. With every fiber of his being, he felt irritation towards them. He vividly remembered how Rei had prepared to leave in silence for them, caring even after so many years of the humiliation he had inflicted on her until he re-evaluated his life.
"Regardless of how the contract was terminated, you must understand that our duties must remain regardless of the contract," — replied the man with the Himura clan insignia in a men's kimono haori with an authoritative demeanor. Enji never liked when guests came into his home and acted presumptuously. He would usually throw such guests out without any chance of return, but this was a respected clan, and he had to swallow his pride.
With a deft motion, one of the clan medics pulled out a syringe with a needle. It was completely empty; it was intended solely for blood extraction for purity, which they preserved.
"Where are your children?" — the unpleasant voice of the clan representative ignited a fire in Enji's face. His eyelids burned with anger when anyone treated his children with disrespect.
"They..." — Rei wanted to inform them in a quiet voice but was interrupted by her husband.
"Our children are not your concern." The Himura members scoffed at the audacity of the number one hero, but they did not escalate the conflict into a forest fire and simply swallowed hard, looking at Rei's condition. The Himura clan envoy lowered his gaze, concealing his displeasure, but his face remained stone-like — the face of a man hardened by power and generations of impeccable subjugation. He stepped forward as if to remind them: they were in charge here. But at that moment, Rei raised her head and met his gaze for the first time in a long time.
"I no longer belong to your clan," — she said quietly but firmly.
"I did not raise my children for you to decide their fate. In the past, you made me silent… but now — no. You have no place here." Her voice did not tremble. It resonated with pain that had accumulated over the years and the steel forged from that ash. Enji, standing next to her, looked at his wife in surprise. In her, the woman he once tried to break was speaking again… but now he respected her.
The envoy did not back down. He merely scoffed, as if her words were dust underfoot.
"You speak like a stranger, Rei-san. But the blood in you is ours. And your children, whether you like it or not, are also our responsibility. The elders are concerned… about rumors. One of your children, they say, was seen near this quirkless one." Enji tensed. Rei paled. They meant him. Everyone knew him. The quirkless and reckless boy.
"What do you mean by that?" — Enji asked coldly.
"We only need blood. A simple check. If you have nothing to hide — you will not refuse."
"And if we refuse?"
"Then the elders will assume you have something to hide. And that means — consequences. Politics, licenses, support for heroic agencies… you know how quickly everything can collapse. Even the number one hero is not eternal, especially if he protects mutants."
"Mutants?" — Enji stepped closer.
"You mean metamorphs?"
— Hmm, — the envoy smirked slightly. — Someone has to remind you that they are not humans in the full sense. Their behavior and animal nature are unstable. Who knows what they pass on through inheritance? If one of your children got involved with a quirkless one and turned out to be close to mutants… you think about what that might mean for the clan.
"So that's how it is…" — Enji said quietly, and the flame in his eyes flared.
"If you so much as touch my children, I will burn to the ground everything you consider 'tradition.' And the elders may take this as an official statement." Silence. Unbearably heavy. Finally, the envoy slightly bowed his head — not out of respect, but because he realized that he wouldn't win today. But there was something dangerous gleaming in his eyes.
"We will return," — he said, turned, and gestured for the others to withdraw.
Enji wanted to pounce on them with his fists, but with a sorrowful look, Rei stopped him, preventing him from starting a brawl.
When the cars disappeared into the darkness and the rustle of kimonos faded behind the door, Rei sank to the floor. It was as if years of tension had been released from her. Enji silently poured her some water. He stood nearby, like a fortress wall shielding her from the storms.
The dialogue between them was heavy, but neither raised their voices at each other. Neither parent suspected that Tōya was eavesdropping on their conversation, shocked to hear new details about himself and his brothers.
To be continued