Stendhal – Chizome Akaguro

Ideological / Professional Interest

If another vigilante (such as Castellan/Nakahata or Crawler/Koichi) demonstrates remarkable efficiency, incorruptibility, and willingness to go to the finish line.
• Recruitment and mentoring attempt: Stendhal would not take a soft approach. He would pursue the man, subject him to harsh "tests of strength" in combat, and propose joining forces for a radical cleansing of the streets.
• Twisted Admiration: Stendhal has a vital need for an "ideal." If a vigilante were to pass his bloody tests, Stendhal would place them on a personal pedestal (as he later did with All Might and Deku). He would proclaim that vigilante the "True Protector" and mercilessly destroy anyone who dared to stand in their way.
• Tragic Split: Since Stendhal sees the world as purely black and white, the very first attempt by his favorite to show mercy to a criminal or save a corrupt professional hero would infuriate Stendhal. Interest would instantly give way to profound disillusionment and an obsession with killing the "traitor to ideals" with his own hands.

Comradely / Soulmates:

An option where they work in pairs, sharing the status of outcasts.
• A Brake on Madness: Having someone he genuinely cared about could have slowed his descent into madness. In canon, he was alone in his radical philosophy. A vigilante partner who could calm his ardor in time ("We catch them, Chizome, not execute them") could have prevented the Stain from appearing. Stendhal would have remained a formidable, yet controlled, crimefighter.
• Echo Chamber Effect: If this vigilante had been as broken and radicalized, they would have become a deadly duo. Instead of one Spot, the world would have two coordinated, ruthless judges. They wouldn't just attack lone heroes, but would systematically purge entire agencies.

— Falling in love:

2. Romantic or deep platonic affection

The most destructive option for Akaguro's psyche, given his emotional instability and fanatical mindset.

• "Shadowwalker" syndrome: Stendhal would conceal his feelings behind a mask of cold detachment. Instead of outright confessions, he would secretly stalk his crush during night patrols. If the vigilante was attacked by superior numbers of villains or the police, Stendhal would silently eliminate the threat from the shadows, leaving behind only piles of corpses.

• Suppressing one's own cruelty: In order not to alienate someone dear to him (who would likely adhere to more humane methods), Stendhal would try to restrain his bloodlust. He might temporarily switch from killing to maiming blows, justifying it to himself: "I do this to cleanse his/her world."

• Total Possessiveness: The Vigilante would become his greatest vulnerability and, at the same time, his greatest trigger. Any injury to the object of his affection would be punished with the utmost cruelty by Stendhal. He would literally slaughter entire gangs for even attempting to attack someone close to him.

1. Dialogue with the Crawler (Koichi Haimawari)

Context: Koichi attempts to save the former criminal Soga, who is being attacked by Stendhal. Stendhal uses his Blood Thickening Quirk and immobilizes Koichi.
Stendhal: Your action... This sincere impulse to do good. I admire it. But you are still on the side of evil, which means there is evil within you.
(Stendhal licks Koichi's blood off the knife, activating his quirk)
Koichi: I... I can't move!.. What did you do?!
Stendhal: This is heaven's punishment. Criminals must return to dust. You are sinners, and therefore no one will save you. Prepare to speak your last words.

3. The Turning Point: A Conversation About Masks and Beliefs

Context: Knuckleduster delivers a crushing blow, breaking Stendhal's nose and shattering his mask. He explains why Stendhal is truly weak.
Knuckleduster: Putting on a mask and imagining yourself to be someone else is a piece of cake. I've met plenty of idiots like that. They put on a rag and think they're invulnerable supermen, ignoring morality and their own safety. But the moment you're confronted, you crumble. "After all, I'm just a man of flesh and blood." Anyone who forgets this lacks true resolve.
Stendhal (coughing blood, rising to his feet): Your words... They opened my eyes. I finally understood.
Knuckleduster: What exactly?
Stendhal (bouncing off the side of a building and licking Knuckleduster's blood to paralyze him): There are those who are far worse than ordinary villains. Empty creatures who pretend to be defenders of order but lack any resolve. False heroes. Thank you, Knuckle Duster. You set me on the true path of justice.

The human psyche is a complex thing, and even in someone as deeply broken as Chizome, his social instincts hadn't completely atrophied; they were simply forcibly suppressed. Because he sincerely considered his daytime personality an "empty vessel," he was incredibly vulnerable to ordinary, everyday human kindness. He didn't expect warmth from the world, so he didn't build mental barricades against simple things.

• If he gets attached to you:
  At night, Stendhal, while patrolling the city, “accidentally” makes a detour and runs along the roof above this man’s house, just to make sure from above that the windows are peacefully lit and that they are not in any danger.
  When this person accidentally touches Chizome's hand (for example, when passing him change or a mug), Chizome internally flinches and pulls his hand away, because he is used to touching people only through the hilt of a blade or the steel of a dagger.
  Chizome will begin to panic that Stendhal will find out about this attachment and consider it a “weakness” or “dirt” that distracts from the great mission.

The chances of someone finding common ground with Stendhal (and not with the daytime Chizome) are extremely slim—around 15-25%. Someone who has experienced a similarly profound personal tragedy at the hands of corrupt heroes or the system might well find common ground with Stendhal. At night, when Chizome "falls asleep" and Stendhal awakens, the fanatical executioner suddenly finds himself making an exception for this man. Stendhal may brutally punish villains, but if this provocative friend gets involved in a fight, Stendhal watches over him, chalking it up to "this madman being useful to the Court," though in reality, it's Chizome's repressed human attachment speaking. Chizome will be terrified that in the heat of his madness, Stendhal will fail to recognize a loved one and plunge his blade into them. This fear will become his greatest inner demon.

Dialogue 1:
— Context: Stendhal is on the trail of those poisoning the streets with drugs. He refuses to compromise with the criminal syndicate.
Quinn Hachisuka: "You're an outlaw too, right? We could come to an agreement. This business is lucrative, and your swordsmanship could be worth a lot..."
Stendhal: Money? Luxury? You scum measure the world in such pitiful terms. You poison society for petty pranks and profit. My blade is not for sale. Your organization, your drugs, and you yourselves are nothing but filth that I must wash away for the greater good. Prepare to be executed.

Dialogue 2:
— Context: An ideological clash between two vigilantes. Stendhal considers Knuckle Duster a "true" warrior, but Knuckle Duster despises Stendhal's murder and radicalism. A rooftop battle ensues.
Stendhal: I've been watching you, Brass Knuckles. Your fists crush scum, you seek no glory or money. You're one of the few in whom I've seen a true spark! Join my mission. Together, we will cleanse this city of filth, spilling the blood of liars!
Brass Knuckles: "Listen up, you masked idiot. You're just a regular psychopath who covers up his murderous urges with pretty words. I don't care about your big ideas. You cripple people for your ego. My fists are here to protect the weak, not to pander to your whims."
Stendhal: "What a pity... You are blinded by the boundaries of the common man. If you stand in the way of my Judgment, you too will become a target for liquidation!"

Dialogue 3:
— Context: Stendhal just saved Koichi from criminals, but instead of simply helping, he brutally attacked his attackers. Koichi is shocked by the brutality.
Koichi: - Oh... Thank you so much for your help! But... who are you?
Stendhal: I am Stendhal. I am just like you—a fighter for justice, cleaning these streets. But remember: when people use force without sincere conviction, it is called a crime. And those who commit it are villains.

"If a vigilante acts completely selflessly, saving people at the cost of his own well-being and without seeking recognition, Stendhal will show him respect.
"If Stendhal encounters a vigilante whose convictions and will prove stronger and deeper than his own, it will completely destroy his current worldview. It will trigger a profound psychosis in Stendhal."
"He condemned himself to loneliness and death from the very beginning. He understood that his path as a vigilante and murderer was illegal and led to a dead end. He wasn't seeking happiness; he was seeking redemption for society. A loved one would have been a vulnerability for him. But we mustn't forget that he was still a living person, albeit one with a deeply wounded psyche. It would have been difficult for him to admit that he was worthy of more than being a mere "cleaning machine."

— Recognition of strength and ideology: Stendhal saw in Kastet not an ordinary, stupid bandit, but a man with unwavering convictions and an iron will. He admired Kastet's tough, decisive actions, and disregard for public opinion, which partially resonated with Stendhal's own radical philosophy. An attempt to understand his motives: Stendhal was genuinely intrigued by why this huge, eccentric man risked his life. Before meeting him in person, Stendhal attempted to analyze Kastet's actions, searching for self-interest, egoism, or the "falsehood" inherent, in his opinion, to official heroes. Assessment as a threat and rival: Stendhal did not consider Kastet an ally. For him, Kastet was a dangerous "elemental force" on his territory, a rival in the purifying of society, whose methods, while similar to his own, lacked the fanatical religious superstructure that Stendhal erected around his murders. Stendhal observed Kastet from afar. He saw him as the ideal candidate for his ultimate ideological test: was this vigilante worthy of living in his "perfect world" or just another counterfeit to be eradicated.

— Cruelty: He unhesitatingly knocks out criminals and Trigger users, leaving them severely injured. Intelligence and Tactics: Behind his uncouth thug facade lies a brilliant tactician and detective. Thanks to his extensive combat experience, Iwao instantly reads the weaknesses of others' quirks, using pressure points, psychological pressure, and specialized gadgets (e.g., a grappling hook, brass knuckles, and stun guns). Personality Contrast: In everyday life, without his mask, Iwao can act surprisingly polite and reasonable, hiding a storm within.
— Motivation: Day and night, Knuckle Duster wages a personal, desperate war. His greatest tragedy and driving force is the rescue of his daughter, Tamao Oguro. Her body has been possessed by the villainous Quinn Hachisuka using her parasitic Quirk, "Queen Bee." Clearing the streets of this underground infestation and reclaiming his child is the true motivation behind his brutal crusade, which also sees him become a stern but devoted mentor to young vigilantes (Koichi and Pop Step).

— Knuckleduster (real name Iwao Oguro) is one of the most profound and charismatic characters in the My Hero Academia universe, serving as the central figure of the official spin-off, Vigilantes. Story creator Hideyuki Furuhashi has admitted that if All Might is this world's equivalent of Superman, then Knuckleduster is its Batman. He is a brutal, uncompromising vigilante who proves daily that innate superpowers aren't necessary to fight evil.
Appearance and Disguise: Knuckles is a massive, tall man of 45 years old with broad shoulders, a powerful build, and a stern face covered in scars (the largest of which crosses his eye). His street attire is deliberately simple and lacks the polish of professional heroes: he wears a nondescript greenish raincoat (or trench coat), a sturdy dark turtleneck, light-colored pants, and a thick black eyepatch over the upper half of his face, hiding his eyes. The main element of his equipment, which gave him his nickname, are heavy metal brass knuckles, which he wears over his fighting gloves for devastating blows. Secret Past and Quirklessness: Knuckles is a unique fighter, as at the time of the main events, he is completely Quirkless. However, this was not always the case. In the past, Iwao Oguro was a famous and legitimate Pro Hero named O'Clock (Speed ​​Hero: O'Clock). His Quirk, "Overclock," allowed him to accelerate his brain and time perception to extreme speeds. His power was treacherously stolen by the franchise's main antagonist, All For One. Having lost his status and superpowers, Iwao didn't give up: he reforged his body through rigorous training, transforming himself into a peak weapon of muscle, tactical knowledge, and unyielding will.
Brass Knuckles's methods are radically different from the idealized gloss of official heroes. He operates in the dark alleys of the Naruhata district, guided by the principle: "Strike first, ask questions later."

Pop☆Step (real name Kazuho Haneyama) is one of the main characters in the manga and anime spin-off My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. She is a member of a trio of vigilantes in the Naruhata district, combining illegal heroism with a career as an independent internet idol. Appearance and alter ego: In everyday life, Kazuho is a shy high school student who tries to remain inconspicuous. However, on stage and during patrols, she completely transforms: she wears her signature high ponytails, draws a black mask around her eyes, and dons bright, provocative outfits. Due to her occupation, her image is highly sexualized, which contrasts with her real-life shyness and youth.
Quirk and Fighting Style: Her Quirk is called "Leap." It allows Kazuho to perform incredible leaps of great height and distance. Limitation: She can only jump off solid surfaces, and the jumps themselves require precise timing, as landing without preparation can be dangerous. Role in the team: Pop☆Step rarely engages in direct physical combat. Her primary duties include aerial reconnaissance, coordination between Koichi (Crawler) and Knuckles, and evacuation of injured people.
Personality and Motivation: Kazuho has a fiery but deeply caring nature. She often nags Koichi for his stupidity, but secretly harbors a strong affection for him (they share a past where Koichi saved her from the river). Unlike the reckless Knuckles, Pop always tries to act more rationally and cautiously. Her vigilantism initially stemmed from her desire to hold her own street concerts, breaking the law banning the public use of Quirks.

Koichi Haimawari (The Crawler) is the protagonist of the official spin-off My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. His character is a journey from an inconspicuous ordinary person to one of the city's strongest unregistered protectors. Personality and Motivation Altruism: He helps people selflessly. He picks up trash, gives directions, and saves cats. Modesty: He has long considered himself a weakling. He does not seek fame or money. Hard Work: He trains constantly and persistently. He develops his Quirk through practice. Peacefulness: He avoids cruelty. He always tries to resolve conflicts peacefully or simply neutralize the enemy. Appearance and Costumes Everyday Life: An ordinary college student. He has a simple and unremarkable appearance. First Costume: A raincoat with All Might's emblem. A raincoat mask hides his face. Character Evolution: Over time, the costume becomes more professional. Protective shields and improved goggles are added. Quirk: Slide and Glide. Initially, Koichi considered his power useless. It only allowed him to glide along flat surfaces if he had at least three points of his body in contact with them. His speed was equivalent to running speed. His Quirk evolves over the course of the story: Speed ​​Enhancement: He can overtake cars and trains. Flight: He learns to push off from the air, effectively flying. Energy Shots: He learned to shoot compressed rings of air (Shooting Star). Vector Shift: He can instantly change direction at full speed. Role in the Story and Recognition: Koichi was unable to enroll in the hero course due to being late for the exam. Instead, he became a "vigilante"—an outlaw hero. Under the guidance of his mentor, Kastet, he learns to fight and protect his district, Naruhata.

— Height: 181 centimeters. His perfect posture makes it easy to see that this young man is above average in height.
— Age: 22 years old. He dropped out of the heroic course around the age of 16 or 17; he is currently 22 years old. His birthday is June 14th.
"He possesses an athletic, lean, and sinewy build. Stendhal didn't have a mountain of muscle mass (like Almighty or Knuckles), but his body was honed to the peak of human capabilities through fanatical training."

— Psychological pressure and information gathering: Chizome trained not only his body but also his tactical thinking. Before an attack, he always compiled a dossier on the target, determining their blood type in advance so he could accurately predict how many minutes he would have after activating his Quirk. He developed a colossal bloodlust (killing instinct). His aura during battle became so terrifying that it literally paralyzed weak-willed enemies with fear even before he tasted their blood.

"The Blood Clot Quirk itself is completely useless in the open field unless Chizome has the ability to injure the enemy. It grants him neither super strength nor super speed. Understanding this, Chizome subjected himself to years of grueling, fanatical training to transform his weak Quirk into the ultimate weapon."
— Study of anatomy and surgical precision: Chizome thoroughly studied the human body. He didn't need to inflict fatal wounds outright—his goal was to draw at least a single drop of blood. He practiced quick, barely noticeable glancing blows to unprotected areas of the body (cheeks, neck, tendons). He learned to move so that the enemy wouldn't even immediately notice a slight scratch.
— Blade Mastery: Because his Quirk requires contact with blood, Chizome became an expert with all types of bladed weapons. During his Stendhal period, he trained with numerous folding knives, honing his drawing and throwing speed. Later, he added a katana, sharpened stub katanas, and hidden daggers to his arsenal. He developed ambidexterity (being equally proficient with both hands).
— Peak Physical Enhancement: To approach professional heroes with powerful combat quirks, Chizome developed his body to a level bordering on superhuman: Tactical Mobility: He trained in parkour, stealth movement, and leaping to great heights to attack from blind spots and exploit urban environments (rooftops, alleys). Superhuman Reflexes: He developed his reflexes to the point of automatism, allowing him to dodge area-of-effect attacks (such as fire or ice) with sheer speed.

— A world where 80% of the planet's population is endowed with various superpowers, or rather, quirks, as society has come to call them.
Chizome Akaguro's Quirk is called "Bloodcurdle." It's an extremely dangerous and insidious ability, perfect for stealth assassinations, though its mechanics themselves have several severe limitations.
— Activation principle: Chizome can paralyze a target by tasting their blood (licking it from a weapon, the ground, or a wound).
Effect: The victim instantly loses the ability to move. They remain fully conscious, feeling and hearing everything, but their body becomes completely petrified.
— Main Limitation (Blood Types): The duration of paralysis directly depends on the victim's blood type. The maximum duration is 8 minutes.
The most vulnerable group is B (III): paralysis lasts the longest. Next in descending order are groups AB (IV) and A (II). The most resilient group is O (I): paralysis resolves the fastest.

— Ignored by society: People passed by, laughed at him, or simply ignored the strange young man. No one took his words seriously.
— Chizome finally realized that "words have no power" in a world blinded by the glitter of false heroes. It was at that moment that his psyche finally broke.
"He came to the conclusion that since society couldn't be convinced, it had to be coerced through fear and bloodshed. To change the world, he needed a brutal, radical instrument. Chizome stopped his street performances, immersed himself in training, began studying combat tactics, bladed weapons, and human anatomy, after which he donned a white mask and brought Stendhal to the streets."

Before he took up Stendhal's mask and began carrying out nightly executions, Chizome Akaguro was a young man with idealistic views who truly believed in the nobility and purity of the superhero profession.
— As a teenager, Chizome, like Midoriya, was an ardent fan of All Might. Understanding heroism: For Chizome, All Might wasn't just a strong fighter, but the living embodiment of absolute self-sacrifice. Chizome believed that a true hero must help people selflessly, without asking for anything in return—not fame, not money, not recognition.
— Academy Entrance: Driven by this dream, Chizome successfully passed the exams and entered the private high school for heroes (Hero Academy). He trained to become an official law enforcement officer.
After only one year at the academy, Chizome was confronted with a harsh reality that completely destroyed his inner world. The commercialization of the system: He saw that his fellow students and future heroes weren't studying to save lives. They were concerned with ratings, future salaries, endorsement deals, fan popularity, and media attention.
— Voluntary Expulsion: Realizing that the modern system of raising heroes was "rotten from within," Chizome fell into deep despair. In his first year, he demonstratively dropped out of the academy, realizing that legal means were useless.
Before taking up arms, Chizome honestly tried to change society through words, not violence.
— Street Orator: For several years after leaving the academy, the young Chizome took to the streets and squares of cities. He staged solo pickets and delivered speeches, urging passersby to come to their senses.
— The gist of his sermons: He tried to convey to people that the superhero system was false, that society was mired in consumerism, and that "heroes" had become mere wage-earners. He demanded a return to the roots of true heroism.

— Split personality: During this period, Chizome showed clear signs of a mental split. He separated his civil personality from Stendhal, referring to the latter in the third person as a "punishing spirit" or an absolute concept of justice.
— Hypocrisy and Alliances: Stendhal never hesitated to compromise in pursuit of his goals. For example, he temporarily allied himself with the villainous Queen Hachisuka (who distributed the drug "Trigger"), justifying it by saying he was using her as a tool to identify and eliminate other criminals.
— Attitude toward the good of others: Stendhal could appreciate genuine self-sacrifice. When young Koichi (Crawler) tried to protect the petty hooligan Soga from him, Stendhal praised Koichi's inner goodness but still decided to kill him, since "he who defends evil allows evil into himself."

• Stendhal is a fanatical, pedantic and meticulous executioner of the criminal world.

• During the Stendhal period, Chizome's main targets were exclusively villains and criminals, not heroes.
— Punisher for crime: He believed that the police and official heroes were too soft, so he took on the role of executioner who had to “clean up the streets” by physically destroying gangsters.
— The Sin of "Lack of Conviction": His primary criterion for execution was "a lack of firm conviction." He sincerely believed that anyone who uses power (whether a quirk or a weapon) for petty selfish ends, for fun, or without a clear higher purpose is a sinner deserving of death.
— Attitude toward heroes: At this stage, he hadn't yet hunted professional heroes, but he already despised them, considering them "empty." However, the focus of his aggression was on the criminal underworld.

— Face and mask: Stendhal's main distinguishing feature is his nose, which is still there (he would cut it off later, after Brass Knuckles' words). However, no one saw his face: he wore a massive white mask, completely covering his face and reminiscent of a theater or porcelain one, with no slits for the mouth and narrow slits for the eyes. It is also known that his eyes are red.
— Hairstyle: Stendhal's long black hair did not stick out chaotically like Stein's, but was neatly and tidily gathered into a high ponytail.
— Suit: He wore a sharp, practical, dark (black) tactical suit, reminiscent of a flak jacket or bulletproof gear. The look was composed, clean, and "professional," without a trace of the primitive, hobo style with ragged bandages and a long scarlet scarf that would appear later.
— Armament: Stendhal carried six small folding knives on his belt (three on the left and three on the right) and several pairs of pockets underneath them. His movements were calculated, and his fighting style was surgically precise.