Do you have some Mute!Akira HC's? I thought he was a mute character for... Very long time in the game. I mean, he have more thoughts rather that talk, he's extremely calm, and the one time where he has a whole sentence, was in Shido's Calling card! Like 10 word or something like that. so, i highly believe this HC.
anon, mute!Akira is 110% valid and so are you
a really interesting point i’m not gonna ramble about but i wanna throw to the void is that mutism has a variety of origins- from physical to psychological. as far as i’m currently knowledgeable of, there tends to be a trauma of sorts involved in the process or development (again, this can be physical or psychological), it might be also possible from birth, but i’m not too sure.
for the sake of these hcs, i’m not gonna direct them towards a specific origin- because everyone hcs their own concepts and honestly i love them all so i would be v hard for me to decide on just one to focus on :c
ANYWAY
Mute!Akira HCs
akira was a proficient learner when it came to sign language, and picked it up very quickly- mostly because the the language barrier already felt too wide, and pressure to ‘fit in’ from society had forced him to learn fast- especially his parents, whose expectations were already too high
he always has a whiteboard and marker with him, wherever he goes. akira’s learnt from experience- if someone doesn’t understand sign language, they just won’t bother with him, they’ll ignore him and move along. so now, he has the neatest handwriting, which he can scribble at a record pace.
shujin is now all the more difficult because of his mutism, with accompanying vicious rumours and judgemental looks. people blatantly ignoring his waving whiteboard. but his confidants, his friends, and family- they’re different
akira’s not even able to sign or write when he’s first approached by ryuji and ann, who shift nervously and ask if he’ll help teach them sign-language. he’s momentarily lost for words, until the blossoming feeling of acceptance sprouts in his chest, and he can’t keep the wide smile off his face as he eagerly nodsas time bears on, and more people join the pt, akira finds more time dedicated to sign language lessons, spending countless - and when he sees them all practicing together, one day after a meeting, occasionally fumbling over hand gestures and movements, he finds he doesn’t mind at all
as a coping mechanism, akira finds himself socially withdrawing from conversation and interaction- malingering insecurity from being excluded so often in the past haunting him.eventually, the team start to notice that it’s not pure introverted habits that keep akira quiet, and they’ll always notice when akira withdraws, just as quick to pull him back to them. whether that’s with an on-topic question, or an arm pulling him into a side hug, they don’t let him isolate himself away from them
in the days after his interrogation, it’s hard to even sign. after learning of his mutism, the men had been extra sure to break every bone in his arms and hands that they could. it hurts more than anything else, because akira feels like he’s lost a part of himself. the only thing he had left to communicate with others, gone. it comes close to breaking him.
but his friends stop by every day. they sit carefully on the end of the bed, or pull up chairs and sofas, and they sign. sharing their day, talking about the others- sometimes struggling for how to continue, but some affirming nods or shakes of akira’s head help. they keep him grounded, involved. it’s all the comfort he needed.
for a long time, akira viewed his mutism with hatred. longing for a life where he could freely speak with others, no fear of inconveniencing them with his inability to vocalise. and now, he had his friends all around him, accepting of him- regardless of his mutism. it didn’t define him, it never had, and those who had shunted him because of it never truly cared. he had all he needed, and it was enough. he was enough.it was with that realisation, that in his velvet room prison, the jail cell doors swung open
