- "I know that everyone is worried, but I devoted myself to become a hero to prove that I am capable of taking down villains and saving people like All Might did. Who cares if I'm Quirkless? Quirks aren't what gets the best out of us, it's spirit and heart that can drive people! Why don't they understand at all? "
- —Saya to Katsuki Bakugo and Izuku Midoriya in “Deku vs Kacchan Part 2”
WARNING!!! THIS PAGE MAY CONTAIN MANGA SPOILERS AS THIS TAKES PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AS IN CANON, DESPITE IT BEING FANON. SO PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE MANGA, DO NOT READ THIS PAGE!!!
Saya Kikuyu (菊夕 小夜 Kikuyu Saya?), also known as the vigilante Ash (灰分 Kaibun?), hero name Rising from The Ashes: Phoenixeye (灰から立ち上がる：Phoenixeye Hai kara tachiagaru: Phoenixeye), her fake name Desuko Uchiki (内気 です子 Uchiki Desuko), and Onee-San (Sachan in English Dub) by her childhood friends, is an S-Rank vigilante known to roam around, being the leader of the Phoenixeye Agency organization.
She would later become a student in Class 1-A at U.A. High School, training alongside her classmates to become a Pro Hero despite being Quirkless. She is the daughter of former Pro Heroes Bolt and Phoenix Inferno, twin sister to Asayu Kikuyu, and adopted sister, mentor, and predecessor to Osoika Mikata. She is also connected to One for All, as she is the descendant of deceased Vigilante and third user of One for All, Suruka Sanira. She is one of the deuteragonists of the main My Hero Academia series and the main protagonist of My Hero Academia: Rise of The Phoenix.
Despite being Quirkless, Saya wanted to become a hero just like her idol All Might, but after being listed as weak and defenseless, she became a vigilante instead and has been presumed dead until the series. She transferred into U.A. in the beginning of the Shie Hassaikai Arc.
In the later years after her graduation from U.A., Saya would eventually become one of the top 10 heroes, taking the spot on No. 10, and is the first Quirkless heroes in years. She would also marry Katsuki Bakugo, her childhood friend and high school boyfriend, and have five children, Katsuo, Sayori, Katsumi, and twins Sayoru and Sayako Bakugo. She later becomes a teacher in Class 1-A at U.A. to train Deku's successor Yasuro Amano.
Appearance
Saya is a young woman of average height and tanned skin, and has freckles on her face, back, and shoulders because of this. In her nine years of being a Vigilante and being the main target from criminals, she grew to have a muscular and badly scarred build that made others wonder how she survived for so long, her most prominent one crossing from her chest to her stomach. She has noticeable eyebags on her round tangerine-golden colored eyes, and has long shoulder length light maroon hair on a ponytail, two bangs framing her face and goes up to her chin, with ponytail hair loops over them and two pink ribbons on them. She is said to always wear a mischievous grin when doing her duties.
As her Vigilante costume, she wears a black shirt with motorcycle chest and back armor, putting a black hoodie with red designs over it, wearing a mask that has white eye sockets. She also wears elbow and knee pads with fingerless gloves, black sweat pants, and black tennis shoes with red designs. It is mentioned that she took all of the stuff from the garbage, and she claims "people are stupid enough to throw away useful stuff". She also has a gun strap on her leg, and another strap for her pink fire staff and her retractable bow, and has a backpack that carries her weapons, the backpack having a third handle in which her sidekick hangs on to in missions.
As her disguise, Saya dyes her hair blond and styles her hair, in which her bangs covers her eyes completely and she wears two low ponytails, She wears casual clothing and wears glasses over her eyes, where she wears fake eye contacts that are fuchsia in color.
As a U.A. student, she wears the standard female uniform, which consists of a white long-sleeved shirt, a gray blazer with blue-green stripes, a red tie that is undone, a blue-green skirt, black shorts under her skirt, and knee high socks. She wears black converse shoes instead of the brown dress shoes. During summer, she wears black sleeves under her white shirt and her blazer tied around her waist.
Her hero costume is a black sleeveless turtleneck with a red bird design on her chest, resembling a phoenix, and has red flame designs, matching pants, knee high boots, and long fingerless gloves with red fire-like patterns on the edges. She also has weapons on her body, a strap with pockets on it and carries a dual swords and arrows on her back, her utility belt also having pockets and pistols on it, with a leg strap on her right thigh that contains another pistol and her retractable bow, and her left leg has a strap for her retractable staff.
Later on, prior to the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, she added armor plating on her chest, and her glove contains the Quirk Transfer Drug, in where no one can see.
During the Paranormal Liberation War, Saya gained a large claw mark on her chest, a large scar tearing the right side of her face, and her right arm and left lower leg were dismembered when fighting against Rampage.
After accidently "bonding" with some of Rampage's Symbiote Quirk, Saya has fully transformed into a monstrous appearance, having grown a few feet taller, and is a black goopy suit with arms resembling those of a bird's wings filled with goop. Her hair was flowing with lava, reaching down to the ground. She has ragged orange eye sockets and lava-like line markings resembling tiger stripes on her chest, surrounding a little glowing obsidian gemstone. She has very sharp claws and her face has been modified with a monstrous-ike expression, with jagged sharp teeth and a long tongue sticking out. Mixed with Volcanic Lightning, she has volcanic-like skin, her arms and feet flowing with lava-like veins.
In Chapter 298, Saya has been heavily bandaged on the right side of her face, arms, legs, and mostly her body, having undergone surgery before waking up days after the war. Her hair has been swept to the left side of her face, covering her other eye.
When she was a child, her hair was styled into two ponytails on each side of her face with the same pink ribbons holding them.
Gallery
Personality
Although having been described as a troublemaker and a lawbreaker, Saya is very laid-back and relaxed despite being an S-Rank vigilante, also being rebellious when it comes to the laws of Quirks. She has no problem teasing anyone who she talks to, especially heroes and villains alike. The young vigilante is quite goofy despite being an S-Rank vigilante showing "no mercy" towards criminals that threaten Japan, acting childish even when her job is supposed to be taken seriously. She is mischievous as well, loving to pull pranks on her friends and sidekicks and smirking at villains who think highly of themselves, snorting in response.
Back then, she is well known for being rebellious at even a younger age, wanting to be as strong and brave as those who smile through the toughest situations, an aspect she admired of All Might, her idol. She believes that anyone can be a hero if they have the spirit to do so, and doesn't always have to require a Quirk.
She does not understand the concepts of being a hero or a villain, believing that no matter the title, every person have good reasons for their actions. She doesn't think being a villain or a hero exists in her world, stating that even after growing up, she doesn't refer to herself as a Pro Hero despite her past goals. This is why she is able to understand what villains such as Tomura Shigaraki, Dabi, Twice, Rampage, and many more have gone through, showing pity and at least some mercy for them despite their supposed evil intentions. She states that she felt sorry for them despite them wanting to kill.
Throughout her absence prior to the series, she has been mentioned as an example of a “non-giver upper” by Kaiya Enjosuru, Atsumi Aoi, and even Katsuki Bakugo and Izuku Midoriya, displaying determination and encouragement to those who’s Quirks that were discriminated of. She had convinced those with unhealthy backstories and their unfitting Quirks to use their fighting spirit to save others in need, which eventually made one of them, Atsumi, to use her "villainous" yet powerful Quirk to fight alongside her comrades in the Paranormal Liberation War Arc. Saya was Izuku’s main reason why he still kept on fulfilling his dream of becoming a Pro Hero.
She shows a comical side even during vigilante work, and she loves to joke around, having a love for comic books and superheroes, often using references in her jokes when she fights. It is also a fighting strategy she used to distract her opponents, taking advantage of the distraction. It soon turned turned into a sort of habit throughout the years of her absence from society. She is also known to joke around and annoy the people she talks to (mostly her close friends and sidekicks). This went to the point she breaks the fourth wall multiple times in the series.
Despite her child-like behavior, she shows a strong capability of intelligence due to her experience of the world, showing multiple times of strategic thinking and clever behavior when in battle. She has adapted multiple fighting styles and, mixed with her quick thinking, can outsmart her opponents even when there's a slight chance of victory. She has done this due to the rhythm of movements she has seen in multiple criminals, calling it a "tempo". The intelligence she displays rivals Momo Yaoyorozu's.
Being the leader of a secret Vigilante organization, Saya is a capable leader and is devoted to her dreams, knowing that those who are suffering from their own problems with society would need her help, being someone who has faced the same thing. She is so devoted to it that she took a young Osoika Mikata and trained him to follow her expectations in case she gets captured and relies on Osoika to follow her steps, although gives him a choice to do so. She is shown to be a motherly/sisterly/mentor type figure to those she deeply cares for, being somewhat of a mother to her sidekicks, a mentor and trainer to her adoptive brother, and being just like a sister to Izuku and many of her other childhood friends. This would prove to be still in use after becoming a Pro Hero and mothering five children. She is usually described as "a mother duck protecting her chicks" by Aruka and Izuku.
She has deep admiration for people who are courageous and admirable, and shows respect to the people she admires, especially her idol All Might and her childhood friend Katsuki. She comes off as a fangirl type of person when it comes to the topic of heroes, often spilling facts as she shakes in excitement, a behavior she shares with Izuku. She is very cooperative with heroes who are friendly with her or don't mind her despite being a vigilante, especially heroes like Ingenium, Eraser Head, Sir Nighteye, and Arrowhead. In return, heroes who at least know her recognize her abilities and show respect for the vigilante, being praised for her overall abilities. However, the young vigilante can be judgmental of heroes who's goals are of fame and money, examples such as Yoroi Musha, (formerly) Endeavor, and Hawks, and has very strong opinions on them, being blunt about it.
Having been looked down at and being bullied by her middle school bullies, along with having no one to stand up to her due to lacking a Quirk, she is sensitive of the topic of being Quirkless, with Katsuki and Izuku both aware of it after her outburst towards the spiky blond when he mentioned that the Quirkless can't be heroes (showing concern in his own way), something Saya had misinterpreted as being called weak by him. The outburst had only made her do the unthinkable, wanting to "prove" herself by picking fights. She states that it was a bad habit but no one can blame her for doing the things she wouldn't normally do. When it happens, she emits an aura of intimidation and her expression immediately changes to an angry one, to the point that it even made Katsuki stiffen. Taunts and provocation can cause a rather sadistic side of her to appear, such as the one when facing Kiraimo, and taunts them about not having defeated her yet, although is well aware as to never bring up sensitive things that her opponent has faced. This shows that despite her behavior, she still has her usual merciful self in her sadism.
Her sidekicks' deaths had taken a toll on Saya, and she was quick to take blame on herself for not being the one to prevent this, although they were sacrifices to protect the students. Saya had carried the guilt of not being able to save them for years, up to her adulthood. She was well aware that their sacrifices were for her and the world, and yet she had been the one blaming herself, saying it was her responsibility to care for "[her] chicks". After multiple deaths of her close friends and family for the next couple of years, Saya had blamed herself for it all, wondering if she should give up her career. This showcased how much Saya had changed ever since joining U.A., even having a change in personality to the point on divorcing with Katsuki because "[she] didn't have time for [her] children due to the guilt [she] had carried ever since the war", according to Katsuki.
As a Pro Hero, Saya is very well mannered and serious when doing her hero work, much different to her usual childish persona she harbored when she attended U.A. High. Although having changed since her last battle against the League of Villains, she still retains some of her old personality, being childish when she isn’t doing hero work and being as motherly and sisterly as she was back then, meaning that she didn’t have to be all serious.
Abilities
Overall Abilities: As a Vigilante who trained on her own for nine years and lived with many sidekicks with their own abilities, Saya is the most powerful female heroine in the series, having showcased her agility and poweress multiple times, even when there was times she could have died. Her fighting style depends on her opponent, as according to Kyoka Jiro, every fighting style has a tempo, but in the case of Saya, her tempo is all out and can make her opponents trip and fall, thus breaking their tempo, although also affecting other tempos from heroes. Saya is shown to use close ranged combat, although is also good at long ranged attacks, using her blades and sword to close the distance between her and her opponent, or opponents, and goes all out when she feels like it.
Due to having the most cases of taking down criminals and leaking information to the Police Force to capture villains, Saya has been a main target to even the League of Villains, and at one point had been captured and tortured by them, although she was able to withstand the torture and barely survive, having to heal for months. During the U.S.J. attack, she and Osoika was able to dodge Shoto Todoroki's attacks and took down a group of thugs all by herself while she, Osoika, and Shoto were on their way to the central plaza. She has shown to deduce Tomura Shigaraki's plan, and even knew where to strike at the Nomu despite the strength gap, and has good predictions at where her opponents strike, being able to back away when she sensed that Kurogiri would try to warp her away. She was also able to withstand even a punch from Nomu despite having broken and dislocated her bones, and was able to fight and rush to Tomura even through her injuries, although would be barely conscious by the time Tomura and Kurogiri escapes.
Her poweress was even noticed by powerful Villains like the Hero Killer: Stain, who she usually holds normal conversations with during her patrols. When fighting against him, she was able to land a few hits despite Stain being extremely powerful and being a former Vigilante, with Shoto and Izuku commenting that she was as formidable as the Hero Killer, both equally surprised she had survived the attack from the Nomu. When being discovered by Endeavor due to her reputation, Saya was able to take the blunt of the attack from him, immediately pushing Atsumi away.
More coming soon...
- Trained Muscles:
- Enhanced Speed:
- Enhanced Strength:
- Enhanced Stamina:
- Enhanced Durability:
Master Intellect:
Adaptability:
Swordsmanship:
Marksmanship Specialist:
Temporary Quirks:
Volcanic Lightning (火山雷 Kazan Kaminari): Using the Quirk Transfer Drug, Saya was able to generate a Quirk that was similar to her sister's, allowing her to release a magma-like gas similar to smoke from a volcanic eruption and emitting lightning from that smoke. For unknown reasons, the Quirk was able to regenerate her dismembered arm, creating a new arm with skin similar to magma rock, with veins like that of flowing lava.
The Quirk is almost exactly the same as Asayu's Volcanic Thunder Quirk, emitting lightning from the smoke and secreting a lava-like substance from the veins of their arms. However, Saya's version allows her to control the flow of lava and magma from the ground, making lava emerge from the ground and aiming at her opponent. The Quirk itself can cause overheating and risks of blisters, lung cancer, and underweight, as the Quirk requires to burn calories to work. This was first used during Saya's final battle against Kiraimo Akasei, and used in conjunction with Symbiote's Blister.
Due to the effects of the drug, the Quirk has not lasted long and when Saya fell unconscious, the Quirk had left her body before the full transfer could be complete, making Saya permanently Quirkless once again.
Symbiote (シンビオート Shinbiōto): Having accidentally bonded with a small portion of Rampage's Quirk, allowing Saya to form a "symbiotic bond" with the symbiote, creating a single identity. This Quirk grants the host superhuman abilities and alters the host's personality using their "inner rage", causing Saya to think to her darkest desires. Although originally the Quirk takes over the host, Saya was able to grant control and fight against Rampage by getting help from Symbiote. Mixed with Volcanic Lightning, Saya was able to use both Quirks simultaneously, giving her the alias Blister (水膨れ Mizubukure).
Just like her other previous Quirks, Symbiote left her body after Saya fell unconscious, along with Volcanic Lightning.
Electric Shock (
Unfortunately, before the One for All transfer could be completed, Saya lost consciousness and was never able to keep the Quirk she was given to by One for All and the previous users. Saya was now permanently Quirkless once again.
One for All (ワン・フォー・オール Wan Fō Ōru?): Transferred to her by Izuku Midoriya, One for All allowed Saya to stockpile an enormous amount of raw power, allowing her to significantly enhance her physical abilities to a superhuman level. This resulted in unbelievable levels of strength, speed, agility, and durability.
For some unknown reason, Saya was able to unlock her ancestor’s Quirk, being able to wield lightning at her will and uses it on her sword to finally defeat Nine along with One for All.
After her fight, she lost One for All before the transfer could be complete, and the power was kept in inside Izuku’s body. Because of this, she also lost Electric Shock, which she was using along with One for All for some reason.
- One for All: Full Cowl - 100% ( ワン・フォー・オール フ ルカウル 100 % Wan Fō Ōru Furu Kauru Hyaku Pāsento): Saya activates One for All at its fullest extent throughout Full Cowl, granting her tremendous boost in speed and strength. Saya’s first and only use of this move was against Nine to defend Nabu Island. The power increase caused red energy to trail out of her eyes and her irises to distort. Her hair also became spicier and was waving back and forth, and her entire body glowed an orange hue with red electricity crackling around her. When fused with Electrokinesis, it became more powerful to bend and manipulate lightning around her and focused all of it to her sword, eventually using it against Nine to deafest him once and for all.
Super Moves:
- Lavafall of Destruction (破壊の溶岩 Hakai no Yōgan):
- Smoking Thunderclap (サンダークラップを吸う Sandākurappu o Suu):
- Thunderous Ashstorm (サンダラスアッシュストーム Sandarasuasshusutōmu):
- Obsidian Whip (黒曜石の鞭 Kokuyōseki no Muchi):
- Zeus's Thunderbolt (ゼウスのサンダーボルト Zeusu no Sandāboruto): This Super Move allows Saya to wield all the lightning and focuses it on her sword. The sword will then be full of electricity and Saya can use it as a weapon. Her sword was destroyed after she stabbed Nine in the leg with the electricity put into the weapon.
- Detroit Smash (デトロイトスマッシュ Detoroito Sumasshu):
Stats:
| Power | 4/5 B | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 4/5 B | |
| Technique | 5/5 A | |
| Intelligence | 4/5 B | |
| Cooperativeness | 5/5 A | |
| Power | 5/6 A | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 5/6 A | |
| Technique | 5/6 A | |
| Intelligence | 5/6 A | |
| Comic Relief | 6/6 S |
Equipment
Battles & Events
Relatives
Chapter Appearances
Trivia
- Saya is an insert OC, taking place along with the canon characters. However, she has her very own story called My Hero Academia: Rise of The Phoenix based around her origins and motivation to become a hero. This is yet to be published in the creator's Wattpad account.
- She has a dislike of sleeping, as she feels as if she's missing something when she tries to close her eyes. This was a habit she developed while being a Vigilante. This is probably a result of developing insomnia as well.
- According to Saya’s profile in Volume 3:
- Her favorite food is fruits (mainly strawberries and peaches)
- Her favorite things are archery and flowers.
- The creator of Saya had said that they had thought of "a playful character who's mischief is a great aspect to her personality". They wanted Saya's character to be "unique", stating that all their original characters had powers.
- The creator is quite confused of Saya's character, stating that "her motivations are also out of place". Despite this, they like how "simple" Saya looks, so drawing her "is a breeze".
- They stated that Saya may have an appearance in My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, a spin-off created by Betten Court.
- Saya is the first Quirkless concept created by the creator, second being Saya's sidekick Amaiko Mochida and third being Kyosoku Eisho's distant relative Reisui Utsumi. Saya's second daughter Katsumi does not count despite also being born Quirkless.
- Saya's Symbiote appearance is roughly based off of Obsidian from Steven Universe, the fusion of Steven Universe, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst.
- Her mother's ancestor is a foreigner from Mexico, making Saya of Mexican blood.
- There are rough sketches of Saya's prototype vigilante/hero costume. One of them had many weapons with robotic wings, all of which are taken inspiration from Marvel character such as Spider-Man, Ant Man, and Hawkeye.
- Saya’s chosen name contains the kanji for "little, small" (小 sa?), and "night, evening" (夜 ya?), and her family name contains the kanji for "chrysanthemum" (菊 kiku?) and "evening" (夕 yu?).
- Saya’s alias, Desuko Uchiki, contains the kanji for “inside, interior” (uchi 内), “heart, mind” (ki 気), “to be” (desu です), and “child” (ko 子). The surname “Uchiki” is the Japanese word for “shy” (uchiki 内気) implying the shy persona Saya used for her secret identity.
- Katsuki nicknames her "Seika". The name itself means "essence, quintessence" (
精 華 Seika?), and it also means "flower" (signifying her love for flowers, especially hibiscuses) and "glory" (due to her personality). She was also given the nickname "Suzaku" (朱雀 Vermilion Bird?) by Katsuki.
- Saya's rankings in the Popularity Polls are as follows (if she was an actual character in the series):
- Saya would rank 6th in the First Popularity Poll.
- Saya would rank 4th in the Second, Third, and Fifth Popularity Polls.
- Saya would rank 3rd in the Fourth Popularity Poll.
- Saya would rank 4th in the Sixth Popularity Poll.
- Saya would rank 7th in the US First Popularity Poll.
- Saya would rank 4th in the US Second, Third, and Fourth Popularity Polls.
- Saya would rank 3rd in the Fifth Popularity Poll.
- The creator thinks that BakuSaya (the slash pairing of Katsuki and Saya) would be hated due to how rushed it seemed and their initial divorce, but at the same time loved due to Saya's ability to calm down Katsuki and showing affection towards each other.
- Her hero name is a reference to the Marvel character Hawkeye, who also uses archery in his combat abilities.
- Her Vigilante and hero costume are equivalent to that of Deadpool and Spider-Man combined.
- Saya shares the same costume designer as Izuku and Shoto Todoroki.
- Saya shares her English voice actor with Melissa Shield.
Quotes
- (To Shank) "Shank? More like Skank!"
- (To Atsumi Aoi about the Police Force) "They spend too much time trying to catch me for saving people! I leak information of villain plans, capture and beat up criminals, heck, I even buy them their favorite treats! And this is how they repay me? Bullcrap!"
- (To the Sludge Villain) "Hello, fellow villain! Here to further the plot? Oh, what a coincidence, me too!"
- (To Kamui Woods and Death Arms) "Why do you guys even try to catch me instead of making sure they're okay? That's like eating sandwich without the mayonnaise that was left out for some reason, not that I had any experience ...!"
- (About society) "I hope I can change this ... corrupted society. Is that the right word? I mean, it's better than calling it piece of crap, corrupted sounds more mature and adult-like. Who am I kidding? I am no adult, and certainly not mature, ha!"
- (To Shoto Todoroki) "Welcome to the '50 Times I've Been Recognized As The S-Ranked Vigilante Known By the Media As Ash'! This is your host, the said vigilante! And my faithful little sidekick, X!
- (To Katsuki and Izuku Midoriya) "I know that everyone is worried, but I devoted myself to become a hero to prove that I am capable of taking down villains and saving people like All Might did. Who cares if I'm Quirkless? Quirks aren't what gets the best out of us, it's spirit and heart that can drive people! Why don't they understand at all?"
- (To Izuku Midoriya after waking up in Heroes: Rising) "Woo! That was the most eventful moment in my life! Well, apart from All Might's fight against All for One and the villain attacks, but still! I really hit him that hard, like really hard! It was so zappy and blam and everything! Kinda satisfying if you think about it. Wait, what exactly happened?"
- (To Kiraimo Akasei about Katsuki as Blister) "Can't kill... can't hurt..! Never ...harm my own ... never harm ...Kacchan ..!"
- (To her comrades) "I'm sorry I'm not the leader you guys looked up to, I couldn't prevent deaths, especially of my own chicks. I'm sorry I failed you as a leader, a sister, and a comrade. I'll be better from now on."