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Name; Kaneshiro Kyo
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Superhero Name; Shield
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Age; 22
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Pronouns; They/Them
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Appearance; Kaneshiro stands at around 5’4, with broad and muscular shoulders. They are very fit, and have a graceful and acrobatic body type that still contains a lot of strength. Their entire body is very streamlined and flat, which reduces drag in their fast and efficient movements - one of their trademarks as a hero.
Due to the training Kaneshiro completed in order to master their power (before it got taken away), they are able to complete long and arduous exercises and tasks with little oxygen intake, making their endurance something to be feared. If Kaneshiro cannot overpower someone with their strength, they will play the long game, and tire them out.
Although they do cut an imposing figure, Kaneshiro also has a kind and approachable face. Their facial structure is rounded, with a soft, yet defined, jawline and chin. They have wide and expressive eyes that are light brown in color, with flat brows. Kaneshiro’s nose is small, with a flat bridge, and full lips.
Their ears are pierced in multiple locations, with small gauges in their lobes. Kaneshiro has black hair, with the sides and black nearly shaven, and the top long. Most of the time, Kaneshiro wears their hair slicked back, and out of their face.
(In their hero costume, Kaneshiro wears a headband under their helmet to make sure their hair doesn't get in the way.)
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Kaneshiro prioritizes function and comfort over fashion in their clothing, but still often wears rings and necklaces.
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Kaneshiro’s right arm - from the shoulder and down - is a prosthetic. There are two versions of the arm - one is meant to be worn around the house and used in everyday life, as it has better sensors, and acts more like a normal arm, while the other is meant for hero work. That arm has enhanced strength and durability, at the cost of duller sensors - as in, Kaneshiro cannot feel temperatures, texture, or pressure, although they can still tell how much force they are exerting.
Even though the “working” arm is meant to only be used during hero work, Kaneshiro hates leaving the house with the “normal” arm on, as they are very paranoid, and fear being caught off guard.However, even if they were caught without their stronger arm, Kaneshiro would (most likely) still be able to handle themself well. They have also trained extensively without their stronger arm, so Kaneshiro can still fight and live without the use of their right arm, and in their own home, will often forgo either of their prosthetics to give their shoulder a break.
Kaneshiro does not attempt to hide their prosthetic in any way - rather, their everyday arm is a sleek silver, with light blue accents that draw attention to it, and in their hero wear, it is pitch black, although it is hidden by their suit.
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Personality; Kaneshiro is a very practical person in most situations: they firmly believe in function over fashion, being properly prepared for any situation, and can create plans on the spot.
In other situations… they are not so practical. Kaneshiro won't give up until every last person has been saved, even if it means the cost of their own life and wellbeing. While many believe it is better to stop and live another day, Kaneshiro would rather die than let anyone down.
They also tend to work themself too hard, which is why back home it was good that Kaneshiro worked with friends, since they all looked out for one another.
Kaneshiro puts the well-being of others over their own, and has a hard time following their own advice about taking breaks or accepting defeat.
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Kaneshiro is fluent in Japanese, as it was their first language, and JSL (Japanese Sign Language) after a classmate's power resulted in them being hard of hearing. That same person is also Kaneshiro’s queerplatonic partner. Kaneshiro is aromantic and asexual, and their partner is aromantic as well. The two have been partners since their second year of high school, and have a strong bond.
Even though Kaneshiro misses their partner, they keep in close contact (Kaneshiro does so with their entire class), so the separation isn’t that bad.
Kaneshiro is also semi-fluent in English, although they are better at reading and writing than speaking. Still, they know most of the regularly used vocabulary, although colloquial language (ex: contractions, or words like “yonder”, or words with dual meanings (wicked having both positive and negative connotations)) can be more difficult to understand, and will trip Kaneshiro up in conversations.
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Kaneshiro is very stubborn, and can out-last most people both mentally and physically. Once they set their mind to something, it is very difficult to change their mind. This makes them a great hero, but difficult to get along with at times.
They have a strong sense of justice, and cannot stand by when other people are in danger, or a threat is present. Kaneshiro’s body almost moves on its own at times, going on autopilot at the first sign of danger.
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Kaneshiro isn't a very tactile person. They don't like physical contact with most people (unless it is driven by necessity), and instead will show their love and affection through hand-made gifts (most often it is gear to protect someone in the field) and acts of kindness rather than through touch or words.
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Powers; Kaneshiro currently has no superpowers, being one of the few non-powered heroes in the industry worldwide. When Kaneshiro originally lost their powers, they were dismayed, but now that it has been a few years, they've seen the strength in it.
Not only does it inspire the non-powered youth to not be limited by their lack of enhanced abilities, but Kaneshiro also exists outside many laws and regulations that are meant to keep supers in check.
Since they have no powers, Kaneshiro's movement between countries is much less restricted than other powered people. As well, Kaneshiro doesn't require a direct commander or a license (although they do have one) to do hero work, like most powered individuals are required to have.
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Hero Outfit; Kaneshiro prioritizes protectiveness and functionality over looks when it comes to their attire while working. Since Kaneshiro often works at night, and does best in stealth scenarios (that being said, Kaneshiro is no one-trick-pony, and can work in nearly any situation), their clothing is pitch back. The base of their costume is similar to a jumpsuit. The loose fabric is made with protective fibers, but in order to add extra protection, Kaneshiro has a tactical bulletproof vest that still allows them to have great mobility.
At both of their hips are supply bags that contain medical aid supplies, and simple tools that allow Kaneshiro to build or adjust gear on the fly - Kaneshiro creates most of their own gear (and their friend’s gear), after all.
There are also knee and elbow pads included in their costume, although their right arm does not require an elbow pad.
Kaneshiro’s right arm was lost in a car accident, and although many thought their ability to become a hero was lost, Kaneshiro would not be so easily overcome. Kaneshiro’s mechanical arm is covered by their hero suit and gloves, save for an exposed interface panel on the inside of their forearm.
Kaneshiro’s costume is also equipped with a helmet that, similar to a motorcycle helmet, covers their entire face. The visor doubles as a tech interface that has heat sensors and analysis capabilities. As well, the helmet constantly filters the air going in, so no toxins or chemicals are accidentally inhaled.
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Weapons/Gear; Kaneshiro is a weapon in their own right, with their training in multiple martial art disciplines and easy disregard of honor in a fight. They will fight dirty and hard if it means the fight is over sooner, and less damage is done.
The physical weapons Kaneshiro uses is their staff, which is used in both transportation and battle. A small 6 inch cylinder when inactive, and staff can extend anywhere up to 20 feet on either side in an instant. It is controlled by the original cylinder. The extension works based on how much pressure Kaneshiro applies to either side of the cylinder. It was a precise and difficult skill to learn.
Kaneshiro has built all of their own weapons and tools, though, and is adept in working the technology. The other main weapon Kaneshiro uses is their arm.
Kaneshiro’s strength and physical ability are increased beyond normal human limits, due to the training needed to master their power. After their power was taken away, Kaneshiro still maintained their skills and abilities - they just didn't have the edge their power had given them. Their arm, though, is twice as strong as Kaneshiro’s base strength, and can easily crush bricks, and break through walls, as well as support massive amounts of weight and pressure, and high temperatures.
The arm also has a few other additions that Kaneshiro only uses when necessary. When they first got their prosthetic its only feature was that it was highly durable. Kaneshiro took that experimental technology and improved upon it, making their arm a fierce and high quality weapon.
(Kaneshiro got permission to adjust the arm from the original company, in exchange for sending them ideas and adjustments needed on their prosthetic line, and doing some marketing. Luckily, those ads didn’t run in Japan - only America and a few other English speaking countries.)
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The tools that Kaneshiro uses, outside of weapons, is their helmet, with its advanced capabilities, a blade that is stored in the sole of their boot in case of emergencies, and their tool kit bag, which resides on one of their hips.
Along with tools, the bag also contains several mech-spiders. They have spy and surveillance capabilities, and are able to pass into many areas unnoticed. They can also pick locks, and can be directly controlled by Kaneshiro through the helmet, or they can operate based on coded protocols, or instructions Kaneshiro or another administrator has given them.
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Extra/Backstory;
*Note: In Japan, high school only lasts 3 years, with summer break in the middle of the school year.
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Growing up, Kaneshiro’s life revolved around training and becoming stronger. Their guardian was a highly ranked villain, and attempted to raise Kaneshiro to follow in his footsteps, and continue on his legacy.
However, Kaneshiro wanted to help others, and become a hero. They kept that wish a secret, and instead excelled in the harsh training that their guardian put them through.
At the age of 13, Kaneshiro demonstrated near-mastery in multiple different fighting styles, and was encouraged to learn the ins-and-outs of programming and engineering. Because of this, when Kaneshiro ran away later that year, they were able to avoid being found by their guardian and make money by selling low-grade spy equipment on the black market.
When Kaneshiro was 15, they enrolled in a high school that had the purpose of training its students to become heroes. Kaneshiro was at the top of their class, due to their previous training, although they hid most of their abilities and acted as if they were normal teenager.
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Halfway through the first year of high school, Kaneshiro’s guardian unveiled his new gang of villains, and Kaneshiro, knowing many of the man’s weaknesses and hideouts, disappeared for three weeks along with a handful of other students, silently taking down the gang, resulting in the crumbling of a criminal empire before it could cause the wide-scale harm that they intended to release. In the fight, though, Kaneshiro was hit with an experimental drug that erases a person’s power, with no ability to get it back. Still, that did not slow them down, and after convincing the school to accept them and their friends back, Kaneshiro firmly remained at the top of their class.
They delved further into their interest in technology and engineering, and built many new items and weapons that helped them fight, and remain on the same level as their superpowered classmates.
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The rest of the first year passed by uneventfully, as did much of their second year. Then, a tragedy occurred during the summer.
Kaneshiro was in a car accident. The other car hit directly where Kaneshiro was sitting, completely crushing their arm in the wreckage, and putting them in a medically induced coma for four days. Kaneshiro's arm could not be salvaged, and ended up being amputated. Many thought that Kaneshiro’s chance to become a hero was ruined, but they would not be so easily taken down.
Kaneshiro volunteered to try out an experimental prosthetic in America, and ended up being one of five people chosen to partake in the experiment. The prosthetic took, and Kaneshiro spent the rest of the summer figuring out how to work the prosthetic, and adjusting to the change.
When school started back up again, Kaneshiro went back to Japan. Their place on top wavered for a while, but eventually they secured themselves back in the top ten.
Now that Kaneshiro permanently had a piece of technology attached to them, they took an even greater interest in engineering, and by the time they graduated (they were 3rd in their grade of 50 graduating heroes), they were well versed in both the combat side of the hero industry, and the part that makes gear and technology.
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After graduating, Kaneshiro decided against becoming a mainstream hero. They knew that by working in the shadows, they could do more for Japan and its citizens.
So, at 18, they started their own hero agency alongside a couple of friends (becoming the youngest people to do so) who were also going to remain on the down-low.
For the past four years, Kaneshiro has worked as the hero “Shield” - a hero who helps every person, even those who are not fighting against villains. “Shield” works at night, making sure people get home safely, and defending those who cannot defend themselves. That being said, Kaneshiro also has taken down their fair share of criminals, and has been known to partner with more flashy heroes when the occasion calls for it.
Despite not trying to gain any public attention, Kaneshiro has many fans, and people who genuinely like them, and the work that they are doing.
Even outside of their hero persona, Kaneshiro themself also has fans, even though they are careful to keep the two identities very far apart.
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Kaneshiro Kyo - the civilian - is the writer behind a blog that quickly gained popularity in Japan. The most popular articles released included revealing how one of the most popular heroes in the industry secretly worked and collaborated with high ranked villains, calling out the hero industry on its failure to secure citizen safety, and the demonizing of people with certain powers.
Through their actions as both Kaneshiro Kyo and Shield, Kaneshiro greatly assisted in creating a hero society filled with people who actually should be heroes, resulting in a Japan having some of the lowest crime rates in the world.
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Since Japan is nearly on the other side of the globe from Italy, and knowledge of what was happening to the Italian supers was very limited, Kaneshiro didn't find out what was truly happening until the rebellion had already crumbled years before, and they were 20 years old.
Still, their curiosity had been piqued - especially after reading a book written by a person from Acindina.
Kaneshiro (illegally) dug through metaphorical tons of classified information, and after finding considerable proof of the government’s wrongdoings, brought it to the Japanese government. It was too late for Japan to help the rebellion, and they couldn't personally try to solve the matter without needing to admit how the information was obtained. So - nothing could be done officially, but if someone casually mentioned that there were many flights to counties around Italy from Japan… and it was casually mentioned that a powerless person wouldn't be breaking any laws by checking out the situation…
Well, then it really is a coincidence that Kaneshiro started to check out the situation, wasn't it?
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Two years later, when the rebellion started its resurgence from the small island nation of Utaria, Kaneshiro decided it was time to actually do something.
Once again, the government couldn't officially be involved, but unofficially, Kaneshiro was sent to Utaria to help the rebellion, and attempt to help the corrupt hero system become stronger, much like what had happened to Japan in recent years.
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Kaneshiro, while eager to help, still worried about leaving Japan and her citizens. They weren't egotistical enough to think that their disappearance would throw the country into chaos, but the idea of even one person getting hurt when they could have prevented it…
Luckily, Kaneshiro has wonderful friends, who promised to cover their routes and take care of things at home. As well, to assure the people that “Shield” did not abandon them, Kaneshiro Kyo “interviewed” Shield, and released a small article stating that Shield was going away on business in order to try to help people overseas, but would return to Japan as soon as possible.
Kaneshiro decided to continue posting articles to their blog as well, since they still had ways to collect information about what was going on back in Japan.
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Spring 
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