Chapter Text
How can two people be so alike and yet so utterly different?
That question perfectly captured the essence of the Midoriya twins. Identical emerald eyes, the same warm smiles, and closely same green hair—they were mirror images at first glance. But the moment they spoke or moved, their worlds diverged like parallel orbits, each pulling in its own direction.
It was a crisp morning in Musutafu, the sun filtering through the curtains of the Midoriya household, casting golden rays across the modest kitchen. The air was filled with the comforting aroma of freshly cooked rice and sizzling eggs, a staple of their daily routine. Inko Midoriya hummed a soft tune under her breath as she meticulously packed their bento boxes, her maternal love infusing every careful fold of the wrapping. It was a ritual born of necessity—no one in the family wanted to risk Izuku's infamous attempts at cooking, which often ended in minor disasters.
Izuku sat hunched over the kitchen table, his freckled face illuminated by the glow of his phone screen. He was deep into yet another hero analysis video, his green eyes wide with unbridled fascination. You could almost see the gears turning in his brilliant mind, calculating trajectories, Quirk efficiencies, and hypothetical battle strategies.
"Izuku," Inko called without turning from the counter, her voice gentle but firm. "If you keep slouching like that, you'll turn into a turtle."
He straightened up immediately, cheeks flushing a deep red. "O-Okay, Mom. Sorry."
Before Inko could offer a satisfied smile, rapid footsteps echoed from the hallway, accompanied by a faint, acrid whiff of smoke—like embers from a dying campfire.
Takuto burst into the room, rubbing sleep from his eyes with one hand and adjusting his glasses on his face. His hair was shorter and neater than his brother’s, but where Izuku carried a shy demeanor, Takuto wore a confident grin that seemed etched permanently on his face. Small, lazy flames in shades of teal flickered along his forearms, dancing harmlessly as if they'd woken up with him.
"Takuto, arms, please," Inko said, still not needing to look back—mother's intuition at its finest.
"They're under control, Mom," he grumbled, shaking his fists until the flames dimmed to mere embers. "Morning, everyone."
"Good morning, dear," she replied with a warm smile. "Just don't set your uniform on fire... again."
"That was one time!"
"It was yesterday," Izuku muttered under his breath, stifling a chuckle.
Takuto retaliated by flicking a grape across the table at him, earning a playful glare in return.
Breakfast passed in a blur—Izuku scrolling through hero forums and jotting mental notes, Takuto wrestling with the mirror in a futile attempt to tame his hair before giving up after exactly five seconds. Soon enough, the twins grabbed their bags and headed out the door together, the morning sun warming their backs as they stepped into the bustling world outside.
The twins sprinted down the sidewalk, backpacks bouncing wildly with each step.
"We're gonna be late!" Izuku complained, huffing for breath. "If you hadn't stopped to chat with that taiyaki vendor about 'what it'd be like to fight while shooting fire from your mouth'..."
Takuto threw up his hands in mock innocence. "That was field research!"
"It was seven in the morning!"
"Morning field research, then!"
They dashed through the park, where cherry blossom petals drifted lazily down, carpeting the path in soft pink like a scene from one of their mom's favorite soap operas. Izuku was tempted to comment on the poetic spring weather, but Takuto picked up speed—probably to dodge any more scolding.
As they hit a busier avenue, the sidewalk came to a dead stop. A thick crowd blocked the way, murmuring and craning necks, while police officers held up caution tape and called for calm.
"What's going on?" Takuto asked, stretching to see over heads.
Izuku stood on tiptoe, but all he caught were glimpses of hair and shoulders.
Then, a thunderous metallic clang rang out.
Up on the elevated metro tracks, a massive man lumbered forward—his muscles grotesquely swollen, skin stretched taut like overinflated rubber, ripped jeans and a black jacket straining at the seams. Dreadlocks whipped with every chaotic step, and his braided goatee quivered as he yanked another steel beam from the rails.
The beam slipped from his giant grip, plummeting straight toward the street below.
"LOOK OUT!" someone shouted.
But in a blink, Death Arms charged in, arms raised, catching the girder like it was just another day at the office.
"Ah! It's Death Arms!" a civilian exclaimed. "The punch hero who delivers justice with raw physical power!"
"Everyone, this area's dangerous! Stay back!" Backdraft ordered, summoning walls of water that rippled like living barriers.
"It's the rescue specialist, Backdraft! He's here too!" someone else said, impressed.
More murmurs rippled through the crowd:
"Man, turning into a monster is a cool Quirk... wonder what he did?"
"Heard he mugged someone, but lost control when cornered."
"A Quirk like that on a thief... what a waste."
Izuku desperately tried to get a better view, squeezing between two people without so much as an "excuse me."
Takuto sighed. "Fine, fine, go ahead, nerd."
"I'm not a nerd—I just want to see what's happening!"
"Yeah, sure. The guy with binders full of 'rising heroes,' 'favorite techniques,' and 'alternate costumes' is totally not a nerd."
Izuku ignored him.
Nearby, a citizen argued on his phone: "Boss, I swear, I'm gonna be late! There's this giant blocking the whole street—I can't get through!"
Suddenly, a blur shot overhead like an arrow. A group of fangirls squealed:
"AAAAH! Go, Kamui! You got this, Kamui! Crush him!"
The figure perched on a lamppost, light glinting off his wooden armor. Kamui Woods.
The giant villain roared: "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"
Kamui leaped, swinging from branches sprouting from his arms like living vines.
Izuku finally pushed to the front. His eyes lit up.
"W-Who's fighting...? Ah! It's Kamui Woods! The rising star hero!"
The man beside him chuckled. "You ask, but you already know. Fanboy?"
Izuku flushed a bit, but Takuto chimed in: "Oh, he's a fan alright. Studied for hero entrance exams before he could even spell 'entrance.'"
Izuku elbowed him, cheeks burning.
Kamui landed on a beam above the villain. "Illegal Quirk use during rush hour. Assault and robbery. You're the embodiment of evil."
One arm twisted, branches coiling and growing.
"Look at that...!" Izuku murmured, enchanted.
"Go, tree-man, do something cool!" a bystander cheered.
Izuku saw Kamui raising his arm for the finisher: "This is—"
"Preemptive—" Kamui mouthed along.
"Laquer— Izuku continues.
"CHAIN PRISON!" they said in unison.
Takuto lightly smacked his brother's shoulder. "Oh man, did you two rehearse that?"
But before Kamui could strike, a massive shadow loomed from the side.
"CANYON CANNON!" a female voice bellowed.
A colossal woman soared in with a flying kick, slamming the villain like he was an empty soda can. Photographers erupted in excitement:
"Look, look, look!"
"Newbie spotted!"
"Perfect angle! Perfect angle!"
She landed, towering and posing with hands on hips. "Today is my debutt! Call me Mt. Lady — and yes, the pleasure is all mine!"
The crowd cheered—and stifled giggles.
Kamui stood frozen. "S-She... she stole my spotlight..."
Mt. Lady shrank slowly back to normal size. Police swiftly moved in to cuff the villain, who also reverted to human form.
Izuku was still mentally noting every detail, face alight with awe.
Takuto tugged his backpack. "Hey, Izuku, snap out of it. Class won't wait for your thesis on Tree-Man 2.0."
"I-It's not a thesis, it's just... observation!"
"Uh-huh. Write it solo later, professor."
They bolted off again, vanishing into the dispersing crowd.
The walk to school was a familiar path, lined with cherry blossom trees just beginning to bud and the hum of early commuters. Takuto matched his brother's stride, tapping his foot in rhythm to some internal beat, his flames occasionally sparking in excitement.
"So," Takuto started, nudging Izuku with his elbow, "have you finally picked a hero name yet?"
Izuku took a deep breath, a spark of excitement replacing his usual self-doubt. He'd spent nights analyzing options, and last night, it had clicked—names that not only fit their Quirks but could brand them as an unstoppable duo, he hadn't told Takuto yet, planning to discuss it later when they could brainstorm tweaks. "Y-yeah, actually. I did. But... let's talk about it after school? I want your input before I finalize."
Takuto raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ooh, mysterious. Alright, but it better be badass."
"Don't you think about anything else besides that? Actually, forget it—you don't think at all, hahaha."
"And you overthink everything; how about just following your instincts and living?"
"That's why we make a great team. Balance and all that."
The world around them buzzed with Quirk activity: a woman with delicate wings fluttering to retrieve a fallen bag from a high branch, a man whose body glowed like a lantern guiding a group of giggling elementary kids across the street. Izuku absorbed it all with starry-eyed wonder, his mind racing with possibilities. Takuto, on the other hand, watched with a fiery gleam in his eyes, his hands itching to join the action, flames flickering subtly at his fingertips as if eager to ignite.
And then, as inevitable as the morning alarm, Bakugo Katsuki stormed into view. His backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder, a smirk twisting his lips, and tiny explosions crackling from his palms like irritated fireworks.
"Sup, Dekus," he snarled, blocking their path. "You two better not get in my way today."
Takuto responded before Izuku could even open his mouth, his voice laced with easy defiance. "We'll beat you there, Katsuki. Try to keep up."
Bakugo clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I'd like to see that. Head-torch and Deku-notebook won't even make it past U.A.'s gates."
Izuku swallowed hard, the banter feeling like an old, worn-out script. "G-good morning to you too, Kacchan."
Bakugo paused, eyeing them both with a mix of disdain and something almost like reluctant concern. He huffed. "Hmph. Just don't die before the entrance exam starts."
With that, he shoved past them and continued on his way.
Takuto raised an eyebrow, watching him go. "He cares. Deep down."
"Yeah, he just hides it terribly," Izuku agreed, a small smile breaking through his nervousness.
School dragged on as usual: lectures about future careers, the teacher droning about U.A. High's prestige, and crumpled notes flying across the classroom—courtesy of Katsuki, who scribbled taunts like "YOU'LL BE CRAWLING BEHIND ME" in bold, explosive letters. It was all par for the course in their quirk-filled world.
On the way home, the twins retraced their steps through the quiet neighborhood, chatting about the day's highlights. But midway, Izuku froze, his senses tingling with an unnatural awareness.
"...Taku?"
"Hm? What's up?"
"Did you feel that?"
Takuto paused, tuning out the constant warmth from his own flames. At first, nothing—but then, a faint, wrong vibe crept in. A thick, sewage-like stench hung in the air, heavy and oppressive.
The nearby manhole cover rattled ominously.
In an instant, a grotesque mass of green sludge erupted from the sewer, viscous and bubbling, with sickly yellow eyes and a twisted, toothy grin.
"Two bodies... strong. Young. Perfect for hiding in," it gurgled, its voice like wet gravel.
Izuku's heart pounded, but his mind sharpened like a blade—short breaths, measured steps. The air around him hummed with latent energy, his telekinesis Quirk buzzing just beneath his skin, ready to unleash.
"Taku, back up," he whispered urgently.
"No way in hell," Takuto growled, stepping forward instinctively. His arms ignited with teal flames, adopting a defensive stance. He wasn't cleared for full combat use of his Quirk yet, but with fire-wreathed fists, he could intimidate most threats.
The sludge villain lunged, a tidal wave of ooze aiming to engulf them.
Takuto raised his arms, flames roaring in a protective barrier—not to attack, but to sear and repel. The heat forced the slime back momentarily, but the mass's sheer force shoved him off-balance.
Izuku reacted on pure instinct, using his mind he pulled Takuto's shirt and yanking him back with a surge of telekinetic force. The air rippled like an invisible wave, shoving the villain aside for a precious second.
"Damn it," Takuto snarled through gritted teeth. "This thing wants to possess us."
The sludge reformed, grinning wider. "Just for a little while..."
And then, a thunderous voice shattered the chaos:
"I am here!"
The ground trembled. In the next heartbeat:
"DETROIT SMASH!!!"
A whirlwind of power erupted—wind howling, dust swirling, sludge splattering in every direction like defeated confetti.
There he stood: All Might. Not the legend, not the symbol of peace—the real man, towering and grinning as if dismantling villains was as routine as brushing his teeth.
"Young ones! Are you alright?" he boomed, his voice carrying that unmistakable heroic timbre.
Izuku's jaw dropped, words failing him entirely. Takuto stood frozen, his flames sputtering out in sheer awe.
"Good job staying out of harm's way!" All Might continued with a thumbs-up. "But leave this sort of thing to the pros!"
He swiftly bottled up the villain's remnants in soda bottles, let out a hearty laugh, and with a mighty leap, vanished into the sky.
Silence descended, broken only by the twins' ragged breaths.
Takuto exhaled shakily, still processing. "Izu..."
"I... I think I'm gonna pass out."
"No, you're not."
"I really might."
"If you do, I'm leaving you here for the pigeons."
Izuku sank to the ground, hugging his knees as laughter and tremors mixed in his body. The adrenaline crash hit hard, but so did the exhilaration.
Takuto glanced skyward, a grin slowly forming. "If this is our first real step toward being heroes... we're gonna need a lot of coffee to keep up."
Izuku could only nod, his mind already replaying the encounter in vivid detail.
And that was the day everything truly shifted—not just because All Might had appeared like a force of nature, but because, for the first time, the Midoriya twins felt the hero world staring right back at them, beckoning them forward.