Key recommendations
- Rokuro Nomura, aka Number 6, is a bioengineered test subject with agnosia.
- Number 6 aspires to be Pro Hero O'Clock, pursuing self-esteem and identity.
- Mentored by All For One, Number 6's mental instability leads to his tragic end.
Rokuro Nomura is a complex character in My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. With a rare mental disorder called agnosia, Rokuro is the perfect test subject for All For One in a variety of ways. Master All For One's manipulation helped Rokuro become who he wants to be.
Unfortunately for Rokuro, his mental instability and desire for self-esteem would lead him to become a man of many faces. But who is Rokuro and what has he come to?
Who is Rokuro Nomura?
The self-worth mission of the number 6 destroys others in the process
Rokuro Nomura, known as Number 6, is the main antagonist of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. Number 6 makes his first appearance in chapter 26 of the manga after Hachisuka Kuin is defeated, and he retrieves one of her bees. Although several members and associates were in the Villain Factory, Rokuro was probably the makeshift leader giving orders to the other members.
The Villain Factory was created by All For One after mass-producing villains to collect data from powerful Quirk users. Rokuro was the member doing the legwork for the Factory as he would collect samples after the villains went on the rampage and were defeated by the Pro Heroes.
In chapter 111, Nomura Rokuro's true identity is revealed. Number 6 is an experimental subject of Dr. Garaki and All For One named Number 6. However, Number 6 has a case of agnosia. Agnosia is a rare disorder in which a person cannot identify objects or people. In the case of the number 6, he has no self-awareness or personality.
The number 6 is essentially seen as a blank canvas or “a bouquet of clay” that All For One can knead into any shape. All For One saw Number 6 as a potential opportunity to experiment and find out what Number 6's overall goal would be. To see what Number 6 would become, All For One allowed him to choose any Quirk he liked.
After being given the option of countless professional heroes, including Lady Nagant, Endeavor, and Gang Orca, Number 6 chose Supersonic Hero: O'Clock as his Quirk. All For One then stole this Quirk from Oguro Iwao and cut his face in the process. Since Rokuro had no sense of self, with the abilities provided by Dr. Garaki, number 6 can change into any person he chooses. The current face of number 6, Nomura Rokuro, is designed to look similar to Haimawari Koichi, the film's main protagonist. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.
Throughout the manga, Number 6 has worn various faces and personalities. However, when he shows his evil nature, he reverts to a dark face with a scar over it, similar to Oguro. However, when talking to others, he will adjust his personality to match, just like when he posed in the Manager to manipulate Pop Step.
Rokuro also played a significant role in Villain Factory. When Kuin Hachisuka and the Dealer failed to distribute the Trigger drug, Rokuro later handed over a consumable version of the drug to Hina. However, the effects of this version were reduced compared to the injectable. Although Number 6 worked at the top of the villain factory, he also had his own goal: to become and replace O'Clock.
Who wants to be number 6?
Supersonic Hero: O'Clock is the perfect candidate
Throughout the series, we've seen #6 struggle with his sense of self. After being introduced to several professional heroes and their quirks, #6 became obsessed with the Supersonic Hero: O'Clock. In an attempt to develop a personality and feel like he's become someone, Number 6 devised a plan to become Pro Hero O'Clock.
After receiving the Overclock from All For One, Number 6 continued to train to overcome the O'Clock and its limits. Because he wanted to become O'Clock, Number 6 also obtained a Pro Hero license and worked under the alias Rock. Thanks to Number 6's ability to shapeshift, assimilation with active Pro Heroes was easy.
Because of his agnosia, Number 6 is always looking for an opportunity to become someone meaningful. #6 probably chose Pro Hero O'Clock because he was already loved by the public and had an impressive Quirk. All For One took a huge interest in how far Number 6 is willing to go to become the person he wants to be. This led to All For One mentoring Number 6 under the guise of Pro Hero O'Clock.
With All For One supporting Number 6's progress, it also caused Number 6 to become more mentally unstable during the Naruhata Lockdown arc. Number 6's goal during his arc was to kill Pop Step and Koichi for disrupting his plans. However, a few notable heroes along with the police force and vigilantes managed to thwart his plans.
As the battle draws to a close in Chapter 121, Number 6's true feelings begin to surface. Number 6 believed that becoming Hero O'Clock would bring him closer to others and give him a sense of self. When #6 was younger, he was always lonely and thus sought out a Pro Heroes Quirk to feel wanted by others.
All I want is meaning. Proof that I existed, you know?
As the battle reaches its climax and the citizens begin to cheer for Koichi's success, #6 becomes more mentally unstable. Unfortunately, his overuse of his Quirk, his mental instability, and his failure to gain a sense of self led him to commit suicide as a final traumatic act in front of Koichi. While Number 6 felt it was nothing, his experiences led to the culmination of the bioengineered Nomu.
My Hero Academia is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.
