Hoshito

Hoshi was born to a family of Red-Core Miniors somewhere deep in Noir Vale, where the city lights dim, and the stars in the night sky shine brightest. His mom was a loving caretaker, but miniors are known for their large, extended families, and his was no exception. When you’re fighting six siblings for attention — one a samurai, one a performer, the other a skilled artisan — it’s hard to feel noticed. Even harder to feel loved. Despite her care, the inferiority set its seeds early.
Hoshi knew he couldn't compare, but there was always one thing that set him apart. Something he had that his siblings didn't. Ever since he was little, she'd told him about how, when he was born, something unexplainable happened in the night sky: A bright flash, followed by a loud BOOM. "Like a star exploded," his mom described it. It never went farther than that, no-one else questioned it, but something in him fixated on it. Became obsessed, almost. And as his insecurities stretched into his teen years, Hoshi finally asked himself: What if this is what makes me special?
What if... He was meant to be the one to find it?
The treasure hunters had a slot open. A little after he turned sixteen, he applied for the job in secret. His quest had begun.
In truth, he knew his family wouldn't be the most approving. His family were mostly crafters, creatives in a way -- specializing in the handling of gems and precious ores, not exactly precuring them. Let alone from places explicitly prohibited from public scavenging. But the ache in Hoshi's chest, the longing to be something, was stronger than his shame. Donning thick, brown robes to hide his features, he'd scour every ruin with even a lick of historic important. Old temples, ancient battle fields, collapsed homes in the woods, even if illegal -- not for some selfish dream of treasure, but out of the desperate hope he could find anything, anything that seems to somewhat match his childhood story. So far, he's found a grand total of nada.
He lies and claims to be a miner whenever the topic comes up. The little trinkets he finds is enough to hold him off financially, though the desperation grows by the day.
The shame prickles at him at night. He knows its wrong. He knows he shouldn't. Every time he overhears some local gossip about a mysterious break-in overnight, the guilt comes back like a slap in the face, a reminder of what he risks every time he steps into the dark. He tells himself that as soon as he finds his answer, it'll all be worth it; and he can finally stop lying to the good-hearted strangers who make small talk with him at his mom's jewelry stand. Even if he's guilty, even if it's illegal, it'll be okay. Because then, he'll have the confidence to be himself around them.
He'll be... good enough. That's all he ever wanted.
It's just a question now of when that big discovery finally happens.

Likes: His mom, gemstones, jewelry making, sweet berries, the water, the stars (He stares at the night sky whenever he's lost in his head)
Dislikes: Spicy food, dust (These forbidden ruins sure are dirty...), being the center of attention, sake (The thought of him embarrassing himself or spilling all his insecurities while drunk terrifies him. What if he trips?!)
Voiceclaim: Soyogi Soyogi (CeVIO) (JP), Caleb Yen (EN)
Theme Song(s): Kyu-Kurarin (iyowa), Telepathy (Deco*27)

• When ‘Shield’s Down’ activates, his little halo snaps in half, and the pink glow flickers out. This doesn’t hurt or anything, but it does make him sad. It takes a few days for the two halves to fuse back together.

• The swirl pupils in his eyes change shape depending on his mood! Stars when he’s excited, jagged spikes when he’s spoked, hearts when he’s flustered, and a faded-ombre when depressed. The minior-spirals are just the default.

• He giggles a lot when he’s embarrassed! It’s like a compulsion, he can’t help it. Unfortunately, this only spirals into even more embarrassment..

• The star on his necklace is a comet shard! It's the most valuable thing he's found in his time treasure hunting, and his mom (thinking it was a mining discovery), decided to hollow it out, and make it into jewelry to celebrate. Doing so made it worthless, of course, but it means more to him now that ever. Seeing her beautiful craftsmanship is what got him into jewelry making as a hobby.

• He is woefully susceptible to one-sided crushes. He has a history of keeping himself up at night, dreaming about people who don’t even know he exists.

• He loves the water! Lakes, beaches, hot springs, doesn't matter -- normally he's constantly aware of the space he takes up, but when he's ready to dive in, all the hesitance fades away. He has too much fun to be insecure, its one of the rare times he's truly himself!