Chapter 249 - 8-

Chapter 8: Step By Step

There was the clink of glass on metal as Izuku set down the plates he was holding onto the dinner table, presenting his two little sisters with a pair of strawberry jam sandwiches served alongside warm tea. Leaning back into his chair, the boy tried to calm his thoughts to the best of his abilities.

Things were happening way too fast ever since that night Kiri had appeared. He wasn't exactly sure how to feel about this entire thing; he could barely even believe all this was real. Frankly, Izuku was pretty sure he was supposed to be terrified. Of the death of his dimensional counterpart, and a whole new mantle of responsibility thrust upon his shoulders. A new little sister to take care of, as well.

Sisters, huh. Realistically speaking, he barely even knew them… and yet he found himself genuinely caring for the two girls sitting across him. Was it some form of guilt or misguided sense of responsibility that had him feeling this way? He pondered that thought for a moment, eyeing the two girls carefully. A memory of himself as a child drifted across his mind, all alone in an empty house.

Perhaps he didn't want them to feel the same aching loneliness that he did so many years ago.

For two people that had been fighting to the death yesterday they seemed to be getting along pretty well, munching on the sandwiches he'd made hungrily. He noted how their mannerisms also seemed to be opposites of each other; Kiri was gobbling down her sandwich in big bites, seemingly trying to eat as fast as possible... while Mimi was taking small nibbles, almost as if she was trying to conserve her food.

The boy smiled warmly at the sight before cold reality snapped him back into his thoughts. How in the world was he going to tell his mom about this? Stifling a groan, Izuku leaned back in his chair once more. To tell her of Mimi's true origins required him informing her about the Quirk All Might had bestowed upon him. His biggest fear right now was of dragging his mother into the entire debacle with One For All, something that he deemed utterly unacceptable. If All Might's enemies somehow found out about the existence of One For All and his role as its inheritor, there was the terrifying possibility that she could get hurt in the ensuing crossfire.

He ultimately decided not to tell her about One For All for now; maybe he would reveal it to her in the future when things were more stable. Another deception atop his already growing pile of lies. Guilt flooded through him, the boy trying to reason to himself that this was to protect his family… but deep down, he wasn't sure what was the right course of action.

"U-um, are you alright?" a small voice asked from across the table.

Izuku felt himself calming down, cracking his eyes open to give his new sister-daughter a small smile. "I'm… I'm fine. It's just a lot to take in. "

Mimi nodded and glanced at her sandwich guiltily. He'd pretty much gotten used to Kiri after a few days, and now he'd probably have to dedicate some time to get to know Mimi better as well. Reaching across the table, Izuku ruffled her snow-white hair, eliciting a surprised squeak from the girl. It was soft and fluffy like the fur of a bunny; the exact same texture that he got from feeling his own hair.

"You don't have to feel bad about anything, okay?" he beamed, smiling to encourage her. "I'll just need some time to… well, get used to this. Also, the two of you should also lay low and rest for a few days."

The girls nodded in unison, knowing that it was for the best.

"Tell you what, we'll go get some ice cream soon, okay? It'll be a good opportunity to learn more about you, Mimi."

"Ice cream." Kiri said excitedly, eyes lighting up at the mention of the frozen delicacy.

"O-okay, papa. I… I'd like to learn about you too." Mimi stammered. "Um… I should probably call you something else, right?"

"You can call me whatever you like, I don't really mind." Izuku said cluelessly, too innocent to see a problem with how she was addressing him.

"You don't? Okay, how about…" A little frown decorated her features, a hand raised to the girl's chin as she thought hard. "Aniki. I'll call you 'Aniki' so you'll be like my big b-brother."

"Sounds good to me." he grinned. "As long as you're happy."

The two sisters cupped their mugs with both hands, gingerly sipping at their warm tea. Izuku hummed to himself, feeling a strange sense of brotherly love for the pair. They were similar, yet different in their own unique ways… how curious. He could see how their features clearly resembled his when he looked closely but oddly enough, neither of them had his freckles, just like his parents. Perhaps that trait tended to skip a generation.

The smile slipped off Izuku's face when the rattling of keys reached his ears, followed by the sharp clack of the front door opening. His mother had returned from her grocery shopping sooner than he'd expected, and he still hadn't thought of a way to explain the situation! Rising panic welled up within him as Inko made her way into the kitchen, two large grocery bags in her arms.

"I'm back, Izuku, Kiri-chan! Are you hungry? I'll be making dinner now—" Inko's sentence was cut short when she peered over the bags, eyes widening.

Izuku bit down on a scream that threatened to explode from his throat, his heart temporarily forgetting that it was supposed to beat.

"Oh! Who's this, Kiri-chan?" the woman laughed, putting down her cargo and smiling at the newcomer in her kitchen. "Did you make a new friend?"

"Yeah!" Kiri said enthusiastically, not fully understanding the severity of the situation. "She's Mimi!"

"How sweet. Hello, Mimi-chan!" Inko gushed, the child blinking in surprise and not sure how to react. She turned to Izuku, her tone teasing. "Why didn't you tell me Kiri-chan had brought a friend for dinner? I would have bought more snacks or something."

"Uh…" Izuku managed.

"She's my new sister." Kiri said, her cheek pressing against the other girl's in a warm hug.

A few awkward seconds ticked by, Izuku just waiting for the bomb to drop. Technically it already did but Inko had frozen on the spot like a mannequin, stiffening at that little comment. The boy had the privilege of watching his mother's face change like the phases of the moon; starting from blank confusion to rising trepidation, and finally shocked realization.

"Izuku… is she…?" Inko's eyes flickered towards the little white-haired girl, eyes as wide as dinner plates. "Did you…?"

"Y-yeah. Um, Mom… meet Midoriya Izumi. She goes by 'Mimi'." Izuku stammered, doing his best not to panic.

"H-hi, obaa-chan." Mimi blurted out awkwardly, managing a shy little wave.

Inko stared at her for a few moments, her jaw hanging open slightly as her brain contemplated what she'd just heard. The woman's eyes rolled backwards as she fainted only a second later, the two sisters darting forward and catching her simultaneously before Izuku could even take a step.

This felt familiar. Squaring his shoulders, the boy helped them place his mom on the family couch before turning to the grocery bags. He supposed he would have to make dinner in her place today.

It was a little later when Inko awoke drowsily, looking around with a tired yawn. She rubbed at her eyes, groaning when she checked her watch.

"Izuku? Sorry, I must've fallen asleep." the woman slurred, shambling into the kitchen. "I'll be making… dinner… now…"

Her sentence trailed off as she saw the two children seated at her dinner table, a large selection of inviting dishes with fragrant aromas permeating the air. The two children peered at the food hungrily as Izuku waved for his mother to come over, Inko taking her seat across the sisters with a bewildered expression.

"Hey, mom." Izuku served one final dish, sitting down beside her. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah…" Inko stammered, her eyes roaming across the table and onto Mimi, who seemed to squirm under her gaze. "I'm… just fine. Mimi, was it?"

"Yes, ma'am." the girl mewled timidly while her gaze flickered between the older woman and the table, all sense of bravado and confidence disappearing in the face of this new situation.

Inko watched her closely, Izuku not daring to breathe as she did so. The moment passed and Inko sighed, reaching over to pile a selection of food onto Mimi's plate. The girl looked up in confusion, finding a kind, motherly smile directed at her.

"Welcome to the family." Inko said warmly. "It's very nice to meet you."

Pale cheeks turned pink, Mimi nodding and accepting the plate slowly. "T-thanks."

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief until his mother's gaze snapped towards him, eyes narrowed. To his credit, he managed to give her a nervous smile in response before she exhaled slowly, unspoken words between them promising that this wasn't over.

Dinner was a rather quick affair with two more mouths to feed. Surprisingly, Inko hadn't questioned about the elephant in the room; how Mimi came out of absolutely nowhere. She had however, sent a few suspicious looks his way and highlighted how they would talk about this tomorrow. After he sent the children to bed Izuku began washing the dishes slowly, contemplating everything that he'd been through the past week. It was almost like a dream, or the plot of some comic book.

But it was real, and definitely happening. Izuku felt the crushing weight of responsibility on his shoulders. As All Might's successor, he already knew that the journey ahead would be brutal, arduous. He had big shoes to fill, after all. But now… Mimi's words echoed in his mind. Symbol of Hope. 

My Hero.

Cold, icy fear and self-doubt lanced through his chest. How could he be worthy of such a title? He wasn't anything special, not a chosen one, not a confident main character. He was just… him. Little Midoriya Izuku. Over ten years of bullying had left its mark, the words of his once best friend cutting into him like knives. Useless. Weak. Loser. Nobody. Coward.

Deku.

Izuku's hands stopped moving, the dishwater beneath stilling. His visage was reflected in the water's surface; a baby-faced, innocent, plain-looking boy staring back at him. He was still a child himself. How could someone like him raise two children, let alone bring hope to others? Then there was also the issue of Mimi. He feared he wouldn't live up to her expectations, that he would disappoint her. Disappoint them both. He felt his teeth clench in anxiety, fingers tightening.

How could someone like him...

There was a soft shuffling behind him that caused Izuku to jolt, head swivelling around to find his mother standing in the doorway.

"I… I thought you went to bed early?" he mumbled.

"Couldn't sleep." she replied and rubbed her eyes a little. "You know why."

Inko strode up beside him wordlessly, rolling up her sleeves as she too began to wash the dishes alongside him. They stood like that for quite a while, focusing quietly on the mundane task.

"The food today was great." Inko began. "Your cooking skills have gotten better."

"Must've picked something up from all those videos I saw online." Izuku answered absentmindedly. "Not that I'll ever match you, mom."

"Heh." Inko snorted, holding back a chuckle. "You said it, not me."

A heavy silence plagued the next few minutes.

"So," she said quietly. "Another one?"

Izuku opened his mouth to answer, but it was as if the breath caught in his throat. The words 'mistake' and 'accident' floated across his mind for a mere instant, and his grip around the plates tightened. No. He refused to call Mimi any of that. Not with what she'd gone through in the past. Not when he too was once addressed as such.

"She appeared out of nowhere, yes." Izuku started, glancing into the soapy water. "But she needed help and I… I couldn't just leave her, mom."

He turned to her, eyes glimmering and fearing her answer.

"From the bottom of my heart, I feel a need to care for her. F-for both of them. I know it sounds absurd to just care for someone I've just met, but I—"

His mother gave him that look, that indescribable look which all mothers gave their sons at some point of their life. Izuku shut up immediately, waiting for her to speak. Her vision seemed to glaze over with nostalgia and long-forgotten emotions, sighing to herself.

"I'll be honest; I'm worried about you. All these things that've been happening—your Quirk suddenly developing, a long-lost sister and now, a new one… these events just keep occurring one after the other." she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Izuku gulped.

"You're hiding something from me, aren't you?" Her voice was soft, trembling. "Before you ask, call it a mother's intuition."

The boy looked down guiltily, feeling ashamed. Of course she would know. She'd been the one to raise him, after all. His chest tightened, mind racing as he tried to think of something to say, anything. He wanted to tell her the truth, but the thought of her getting hurt made him hesitate. Peace and safety built on a lie. What would happen if that lie came crumbling down?

He looked towards her, hands shaking. "Mom, I—"

"We all have secrets we hold dear to our hearts, and she is one of yours." To his surprise, Inko smiled at him sheepishly. "I suppose you'll tell me when you're ready."

"I… was expecting—" The boy paused, fidgeting with nervous apprehension. "—something else."

"Believe me, I have quite a few secrets myself. I don't have the right to lecture you about that." Inko mumbled while scrubbing tirelessly. "I get it, you feel you're responsible for taking care of them."

"I am responsible for taking care of them. They're a part of me."

"Then why are you hesitating?"

The sponge in his hand made a soft squelch when his fingers suddenly closed around it.

"I…" He looked down shamefully, slowly loosening his grip. "I don't know if I'm good enough."

Inko kept silent, waiting for him to gather his thoughts.

"I know that I love them, as crazy as it sounds. But I don't know if I can take care of them well. I'm just… me." Izuku continued, biting his lip. "T-there's so many things that I'm uncertain about, to the point where it terrifies me. Is this really the right thing to do? What if I mess up somewhere? What if I teach them the wrong things? What if I…"

His mother blinked, before letting out a small sigh.

"Izuku. Look at me."

He did. She cupped his face, and he was suddenly aware of how short she was. No, it wasn't that… he was the one that had grown over the years. Inko looked right into his eyes, and images of him growing up flashed past her mind. Of course, she knew of her son's low self-esteem and confidence issues. The bullying. The broken dreams. All of which she blamed herself for. And yet he always cared for others; from that first fight defending another kid from Bakugo Katsuki when he was four, to saving that very same bully by risking his own life years later. He was young, reckless, constantly growing and changing. Always moving forward and improving.

"Look how tall you've gotten." she smiled. "I would tell you to 'be yourself', but that's a little cliche, isn't it?"

His green eyes that he'd inherited from her stared back with more than a little confusion. Inko still remembered those green eyes from the hospital, a tiny bundle cradled in her arms, then a child learning to walk towards her, transforming into a young boy sitting on her lap, the image finally changing to her son in his U.A uniform, the first day of his new life. No matter how strange the situation felt to her, she had to acknowledge that her child was growing up. Her hand brushed against his face.

"Be the best that you can be." she whispered. "Keep moving forward."

Inko hugged him tight, giving him a few encouraging pats on the back. He hugged her back awkwardly, his gaze directed out the window above the sink and at the stars dotting the midnight sky.

"You're my son. And I believe in you."

Izuku blinked and she let go, her hand on his shoulder.

"Take good care of them, okay? Raising a kid is hard. Two, I can't even imagine. The sacrifices I had to make while raising you alone..." Inko sent him a tired, weary grin. "I know they're different, but deep down they are children too. Just know that I'll be here if you need to talk."

"T-thanks, mom."

Parent and child glanced at each other, coming to a sort of mutual understanding even in silence. That quiet tranquility continued as they resumed washing the dishes, the soft sound of rushing water and clinking glass in the air.

"She's got your eyes." Inko whispered.

Izuku felt himself smile unconsciously, thinking back to that photo album they had looked through only yesterday.

"Yeah." he murmured. "She does."

[x]

Thin rays of morning sunlight shone through the living room curtains, Izuku sitting up groggily when he woke up. He stretched a bit, feeling some stiffness since he wasn't used to sleeping on the floor and the old futon he had found. The reason for his current predicament was that he had given his bed to the two sisters, naturally prioritizing their comfort instead of his own.

Checking on them, he wasn't surprised in the least to find them still sleeping. Kiri had somehow managed to flip over in her sleep, her tiny limbs spread outwards haphazardly while her head was positioned at the foot of the bed. Mimi was again her sister's opposite; she slept ramrod straight like a soldier, arms stuck to her sides stiffly. Izuku stifled a chuckle before gently adjusting their shared blanket so it covered them both.

His two sisters shone with childish innocence, subconsciously reminding him that he had to be better. For their sakes and his own. That combined with the talk his mother gave him seemed to light a fire in his heart, a determination that urged him to constantly improve on himself no matter how big or small, to be the best he could be. That determination was counterbalanced by the uncertainty and hesitation that still lurked within him; the low self-esteem and insecurity that haunted him for years wasn't just something that disappeared so easily. He still had a long, long way to go. Izuku glanced back at the children, careful not to wake them by closing the door gently.

"Big brother will do his best." he whispered.

The boy then began considering what to do next while he stumbled towards the kitchen sleepily, not paying much attention as he began to make coffee for himself and his mother. Somehow Inko hadn't questioned the fact that his new sister looked exactly like her grandmother's best friend decades ago, even sharing the same name for goodness sake… perhaps Inko just didn't feel a need to comment on that, or maybe she'd forgotten. Then he still had to tell All Might… well, how on earth was he supposed to explain the entire situation to him?

A notorious illegal vigilante was actually his long-lost sister, who was also a mental projection that had access to his mind which in turn housed the souls of those who had previously wielded One For All, four who escaped and caused several incidents, and one of whom was his clone from another dimension.

Izuku groaned, wondering how things had gotten so needlessly complicated. The boy sipped at his coffee, before blinking in stunned surprise. Had the coffee he made always tasted this good?

"Morning, Izuku." Inko yawned, sending a nod to him while she picked up her mug and took a sip. "Ooooh, this is nice. Just what I needed. Did you buy a different brand or something?"

"No, I think I just made it differently." he murmured, taking a few quick whiffs. It smelled heavenly, making him feel more awake already.

"Whatever it is you did, keep doing it." his mother hummed, sitting down at the table as she checked her phone.

The soft pitter-patter of feet echoed down the hallway a little later, Izuku's younger siblings shuffling past the doorway together sleepily. They were holding hands, guiding each other while they stumbled blindly into the kitchen with yawns and half-opened eyes. Mimi was now wearing a plain, dark blouse that fit her perfectly instead of that tattered cloak. Inko couldn't help but grin at their childish behavior, the two girls still too groggy to notice her while they pulled themselves up onto the wooden chairs.

"Moreling, omii-chan." Kiri slurred, her head rocking from side to side.

"Mornin, papa." Mimi mumbled from beside her, doing the same.

"Good morning, you two." Izuku beamed from the kitchen counter, still preparing breakfast.

Inko nearly choked on her coffee, breaking out into small, barely restrained giggles. "Good morning, children. Izuku, she calls you papa? That's so sweet!"

"Morning, gramma." they echoed in unison.

The older woman's smile promptly disappeared, replaced by a heavy yet acknowledging sigh. Izuku chuckled to himself, serving up the breakfast he had made for the family. It was nothing special; eggs and toast for him and Inko, while he had specifically made the effort to prepare some pancakes and fruits for the kids. It seemed that he had made the right choice, the two children gobbling down the pastry delightfully.

"Mimi." Izuku began.

"Mm?"

"About that ice-cream I promised you…"

[x]

Despite her excitement yesterday Kiri had opted to stay at home this time, wanting Izuku and her new sister to get to know each other. The boy was surprised at her decision at first but relented and promised that he would bring her out for ice-cream another time.

Musutafu City was back to its peaceful routine, the safety of its people guaranteed by the numerous hero patrols that scoured both the skies and streets every so often. Just by walking towards the local park they had already seen two sets of heroes, the girl making sure to stick close to her brother to avoid catching attention even in that child form of hers. She was trailing behind him a little, doing her best to keep up with her shorter legs. Strangely enough she always walked either behind him or beside him, never in front. He soon realized that she was keeping him in her line of sight, always watching for any incoming threat. Izuku thought for a moment then slowed down for her, extending his hand. She hesitated for a moment before her palm slowly slipped onto his, small fingers clinging on tightly.

"Sorry if I'm walking a little slow." the little girl mumbled. "Usually I get Aftermath to carry me around on his shoulders…"

He could imagine it. Aftermath was about as tall as All Might so sitting atop him made sense as it would allow for greater situational awareness when she wasn't in combat, even allowing her to quickly enter the projection when needed. The image in his mind was awfully adorable, though.

"Do you want me to carry you too?" Izuku asked jokingly, looking bemused.

"N-no thank you, I'll have you know that I can walk just fine!" she stuttered, regaining a bit of her confidence from before.

"Is that so." Izuku smiled and thought about what she just said. "Aftermath just follows your commands without complaining?"

"Remember; unlike you and Kiri, Aftermath isn't a separate entity from me. He's not a sentient being—he's a part of me like an extra limb." She tilted her head to look up at him. "In other words, I am Aftermath."

"Did you call yourself that?"

"Got called that, so I stuck with it." she shrugged. "It's the same with Kiri-chan, right? The public called her 'Valkyrie'."

"I see." he mused, his voice soft. "I hope you two are getting along."

"We're okay, I guess. I mean, if you look at it from another way, I'm an alternate version of her. She's really nice to me, too."

"Mmmm." Izuku smiled down at her. "It's good to hear that."

He felt a strange familiarity with her, like they had known each other for years. It had been the same with Kiri too except this time there was also an undercurrent of uncertainty and nervousness that radiated from them both. Though it was easier to talk to her since she had calmed down from yesterday, it would still take some time and patience for the two of them to get used to each other. A part of him wanted to ask what had happened to that other him but… he knew the time wasn't right. Still, he couldn't help but be a little curious about the world she came from.

"Y'know, I still don't know how you beat Endeavor." Izuku tried another topic. "You must be really strong, huh?"

"It's more of how I caught him off guard and got really lucky, actually. He didn't expect me to know exactly how he would fight and underestimated me." Mimi said slowly. "My version of One For All helped, too. Then there's this…"

The girl held out her hand and breathed a stream of green flame onto it, shaping the conflagration into a swirling ball of plasma atop her palm. Her fingers caressed the unstable, crackling orb of energy, focusing and condensing it into something all too familiar.

"Is that...?" Izuku asked, mystified.

"Forbidden Sun. I can do it too, so I know exactly how to counter it." she wiggled her fingers and the miniature sun danced and flickered in a beautiful display of embers, its curling tendrils of emerald energy looking like solar flares. "The power of the sun, in the palm of my hand."

Mimi closed her hand and squeezed, squashing the ball of energy and returning it to her. Izuku made a few mental notes, impressed. He didn't feel any heat from the psychic flame, realizing that it only burned what she willed it to. It was why there hadn't been uncontrolled fires at the areas she had fought in. Perhaps he could have been capable of doing that if his Quirk had been more like his father's. Not that he would change the one he had now for anything in the world, of course.

Soon they reached the Ice-cream shop, and Izuku couldn't help but chuckle at the scene that played out before him. His sister was tiptoeing and pressing her face against the cold glass, trying to peek over the large counter. Without a word he put his arms under hers and picked up her light body delicately, lifting her up a little to pick and choose whatever she wanted flavor she wanted. He wanted to get a nice, big treat for her but she declined, opting for a single scoop. In the end Izuku got himself a green tea ice cream in contrast to her pistachio one, wondering if she had different tastes as compared to Kiri. That stray thought was soon forgotten as he watched her eat a small spoonful, her face scrunching up in delight. He took a bite of his own, still considering what to say whilst relishing the light sweetness.

Frankly, the boy was surprised at how well he was taking this. He'd expected himself to be a nervous wreck at all these revelations headed his way, but he felt pretty calm even without Kiri consuming his emotions. Maybe this was him maturing after everything he'd experienced, a normal part of growing up. Izuku thought for a moment, then reevaluated himself. Nah, having two kids at the age of fifteen definitely wasn't normal. But seeing Mimi's eyes light up like that, happiness from something so simple… and Kiri, gradually learning how to show her emotions…

There was a delicate warmth in his heart when he thought of them. Not some artificial connection forged up by his Quirk, but genuine feelings that showed he cared for them like they were his own flesh and blood. He knew how strange it sounded; to care for someone he'd just met… he'd take this time to know her. To know both of them. Baby steps, he supposed.

"Thank you."

He blinked, opening his eyes to see her glancing down into her cup. "No problem. We can stop by anytime you'd like—"

"I didn't mean the ice cream, aniki." Her eyes met his. "You gave me a chance. Even when I appeared out of nowhere. Even when after what I did. Just being by your side is like a dream come true."

"I believe that everyone deserves a chance. To be honest, Kiri appeared out of nowhere, too. I'm still getting to know her." The boy took another scoop. "That's why we're here, aren't we? To know each other better."

"I… I see." she blinked as well, her tone awkward just like his own. "Well, I'm technically supposed to be older than you. The you-you, not the other-you, um…"

Izuku frowned. She… idolized him. Or at least, a version of him from that other world, the one that took her in and raised her as his own. Was he just a substitute to fill that gap in her heart? He didn't want her to put him on a pedestal or give her false hope, especially when she'd gone through so much to get here.

"Mimi…" he began slowly. "I'm not sure if… If I can be who you want me to me. To be like your Midoriya Izuku—"

"And you don't need to be." she answered.

"E-eh?"

"I've already said it before, haven't I papa? Deep down I… I know you're not him. But that doesn't mean you're a replacement. That'd be horribly cruel and unfair to you. My admiration is for you, the you right now in front of me who gave me a chance, who accepted me despite my own selfishness and the mess I caused." Her green eyes met his. "I've made it my mission to help you out, and you don't need to pretend to be someone you're not. You are you."

There was a short, awkward silence between them before her cheeks turned pink, the girl ducking down and trying to hide behind her ice cream cup.

"I probably shouldn't have said all that, it was really lame. S-sorry, I'm bad at conversations—" she muttered to herself sheepishly and sank deeper into her seat, eyes darting to and fro.

"I-It's okay! I'm really bad at talking to people, too!" Izuku reassured, holding up both hands to calm her down.

"Just to make things clear, you don't owe me anything either! I'm… I'm happy just being here with you."

"A-alright. I'll do my best."

They glanced at each other for a moment before both giggled, reveling in the awkwardness of the situation. That muttering she was capable of seemed all too familiar. Perhaps they were more alike than they originally thought. They technically shared the same blood, after all.

"Hey… aniki?" she said after a while.

"Mmhmm?"

"When I said I was selfish I meant it. That's something I can't deny."

He waited for her to speak, watching her fingers rub against the cup nervously. The girl seemed to be somewhat insecure at times, a reflection of his own insecurity.

"I've had a lot of time to do a lot of thinking, y'know. It made me realize something." Mimi said slowly. "Whether it's something good or bad, happiness or sadness, no matter the magnitude… once something has occurred, it is the past—a reality that one has to accept. Yuu was right. It took a long time to understand what she meant. People have to accept that the past happened and move on."

She paused to eat a spoonful of ice cream. He did the same.

"The things that I saw, the things that I did… it is undeniable that what happened to me and my world was a terrible tragedy. However, it is my tragedy, and regardless of what happened back then, it does not give me a right to alter the path of another world. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Mimi looked up at him, her serious words juxtaposed against her innocent appearance. "I came here because of my own ego, because of nothing more than my own selfish desire. I was unable to let go of the past, and in doing so I may have changed fate itself. If such a thing even exists, that is."

He did understand what she was saying. It was also why she was reluctant to give out information regarding her world besides what she had told them already. Just as how the flap of a butterfly's wings had the potential to cause a hurricane, a single scrap of forbidden knowledge from that other world could result in serious problems they couldn't even imagine; a resonating cascade of unforeseen consequences. Her coming here had already altered his life, something she felt immense guilt for doing. He didn't blame her at all, but it was clear that she blamed herself. However, the fact that it happened meant that it was possible nothing was truly set in stone, and as Mimi said; it was questionable that fate even existed.

"Hey…" Izuku tried.

"Which is why I've decided!" she blurted out. "I'm going to fight too, alongside Kiri-chan. I'm going to protect you, and this world!"

Her declaration caused him to pause, worry welling up within him. "You want to become a vigilante like her?"

"I want to change things, to make a difference! And if there's no fate but what we make," Emerald eyes glimmered with determination. "Then let us make good."

Judging by the way she was trembling slightly, it was taking a whole lot of courage for her to say this. She was struggling to meet his gaze but did so anyway, her lower lip wobbling all the while. Izuku calmed himself and contemplated what he would say next. He did recognize that Mimi was independent, as was Kiri; he wasn't there for them during the first few years of their lives. Though it was due to the circumstances at the time, the boy couldn't help but feel an immense guilt for his absence. But now he was here, and could actually play a part in their growth… something that terrified him all too much. What if he made the wrong choice, or was a bad example for them? The conversation with his mother yesterday lingered in his mind.

I believe in you.

Izuku closed his eyes. Just the people he loved believed in him, he would have to believe in them.

He opened his eyes to see Mimi still waiting for his response.

"I can't stop you, can I?" he smiled, keeping his voice level.

"You can try." she answered nervously. "But I think you'll find that I inherited your stubbornness."

"I… I see. Fine, you can join Kiri. You'd probably have to come up with a new costume or something, though. I'm sure you'll figure something out." Izuku said. "I'm just... worried for you."

"The feeling's mutual. I'm a horrible person, a coward, and perhaps this is my way of atoning for what I've done." Her face was serious, solemn. " I've spent my whole life being saved by others; this time it's my turn."

The boy felt a slight warmth at her words. No fate but what we make. He took a big spoonful of ice cream from his cup and offered it to her, causing the girl to give him a confused look.

"Ahhhh." he began, wiggling the spoon.

Mimi raised an eyebrow and looked bemused, then bit down on the offered treat quickly.

"How is it?"

"It's good." she mumbled, embarrassed, annoyed, and happy all at the same time. "Jeez, I'm not a kid anymore…"

"I'll be honest with you, I'm not feeling too sure of myself either." Izuku admitted, glancing down at his hands. "Everything that happened to me seemed to be by chance so far, by coincidence. Meeting All Might, Kiri, and you. All this power and responsibility just fell into my lap; as if it was handed to me on a silver platter. Sometimes I ask myself if I deserve such a blessing when I didn't do anything worthwhile to get it."

She seemed to understand how he felt, opting to nod in response.

"Which is why I'm gonna work hard too." Izuku looked up, his eyes glinting with that same determination he saw in hers. "Let's do this together. All of us."

Mimi blinked, before her stunned expression melted into one of newfound confidence.

"Let's."

Before they knew it the ice cream was all gone, time passing quickly while they had a small discussion about the others that lived within him. They were doing just fine, of course. Mimi seemed to have enjoyed herself more than she had expected on this little trip. The pair made their way home with Mimi's light steps pitter-pattering along that same cobblestone path that Izuku used to play on as a child, her hand clutching his. Just like how his mom used to do for him. The silence between them wasn't awkward, but rather a strange tranquility that both enjoyed. As long as she was happy, then so was he.

[x]

For the next few days the sisters laid low since both were unable to fight, Izuku spending time with them after school in an effort to get to know them better. The hubbub regarding the forest battle was mostly forgotten when new scandals and stories emerged as they always did in such a turbulent society. He managed to learn a bit more about the sisters such as their likes and dislikes, including what they liked to eat. It turned out that Kiri preferred sweet foods, while Mimi preferred spicy ones.

In a not-so-surprising turn of events, the two children exchanged information and learned from each other, resulting in Kiri now having control over her floating while Mimi learned how to alter her own physical form instead of Aftermath. Now that she was out in the real world Mimi was using her own power to manifest herself, unlike the previous time where she was using both One For All and Kiri's energy. There was a drawback, however; she was unable to use One For All now. The Quirk that All Might passed down to Izuku didn't get any weaker or stronger, Mimi just seemed to lose access to it when she was out here with them. A quick trip back into his head reassured them that she could still use One For All, but only within him. It was truly a strange state of affairs, but sometimes Quirks were just weird like that.

Izuku had given Kiri a more official-sounding name as well, just in case.

"Well, since Mimi is 'Izumi-chan'," he hummed and cupped his chin. "Would you be okay with being "Kirimi-chan', Kiri?"

"Okay." Kiri nodded, looking a little happy.

"I think it's cute! You two match now, it's adorable~" Inko cooed, hugging the two children close to her.

That brought the sisters to this conversation now, only a day later.

[You sure this is going to be okay? You know, with our names and stuff.]

[I'm sure! Onii-chan said it's fine to visit them as long as we don't say any secret stuff.]

Twin streaks of grey and white flashed across the horizon, a comet tail of green energy trailing behind the lead figure as she held her sister by the hand. Since Kiri was unable to fly by herself Mimi was doing it for her, the two sisters holding on to each other as they soared through the air. It had been three days since the battle between them and now here they were, working together as a team. Well, technically they hadn't done anything yet—this was Mimi's first day on the job. The sisters glided over a large river, flying low atop the water's surface. A foamy wake formed on the water beneath them, the jets of green flame from Mimi's feet propelling them forward with a quiet hum instead of the deafening roar that was associated with Aftermath's flying. This new body was much lighter, after all.

Mimi took the opportunity to glance at her new form once more in the water's reflection. Because of her genetic degradation due to the cloning process she was unable to grow properly, not that she had the lifespan to do so in the first place. It was why she had never thought she would ever get to see something like this—the body and face of a young woman, her as an adult. It made her nervous and excited all at the same time when she first saw herself. No longer was she hiding in a projection. This body of her looked liked Kiri's Valkyrie, a woman's featureless form that was almost a mirror image of her counterpart. A stoic and emotionless face so gorgeous she couldn't believe it was her was reflected in the water.

Instead of the snow-white skin that Valkyrie boasted hers was an unnatural steel-grey, complete with a long pair of elegant ebony horns that grew out from her temples and curved upward. She had the option of shapeshifting them away but ultimately decided to keep them, acknowledging that they were an undeniable part of her. Her expressionless face looked similar to Valkyrie's even without any alteration, another indication of their relationship as siblings. Grey pupils were paired against inhuman black sclera, her gaze radiating a light emerald glow just like her sister. To differentiate herself Mimi had short, messy hair in this body in contrast to Kiri's long, straight locks. Unsurprisingly their child forms had hairstyles that were the opposite; Kiri had short hair while Mimi's was long.

This new form of hers was composed of the same energy that made Aftermath… in essence; same engine, new chassis. A few tests earlier revealed that she could still summon her intimidating projection albeit for short periods of time, with the girl ultimately deciding to keep him in reserve.

[Mm, I have to admit…] she muttered telepathically. [This is… different, especially since it's my own body now. Even if I still have Aftermath's explosive forcefield surrounding me, it feels kinda weird.]

[Are you cold? I can give you a hug.]

[No thank you.]

Kiri wondered how her friends would react. This was their current task; she was allowed to introduce her new sister to her very small circle of friends, Izuku only agreeing after learning of who they were and because he thought it would help to prevent further misunderstandings. He reasoned that word might spread that Mimi was a new ally, not the daughter of an enemy that came back for revenge or whatever wild speculation that the Hero Association was going to cook up. He did make both sisters promise not to reveal their true nature for obvious reasons. Naturally, they agreed wholeheartedly.

[We're almost there~] Kiri chirped, pointing across the river. [Their cat-base is near that mountain.]

[That one? Okay.]

Mimi shifted their trajectory to match her mark, Kiri enjoying herself immensely as they angled upward to soar high above a busy suspended bridge. Rarely did she manage to get this much height, even with all her floating. She could see why Mimi loved flying; to sail through the air, free as a bird. It was invigorating, a complete rush that made her feel alive.

That feeling of joyous euphoria soon ended when a jagged spike of alarm and icy fear entered her range, followed by a distant crash and the screech of metal below. Looking down, the sisters found that a car accident had taken place on the bridge, a bus full of passengers beginning to tip precariously off the edge. Neither girl said a word as they immediately headed towards the scene, prioritizing the lives of innocents above all else. Getting closer revealed that the situation was worse than they originally thought—a few cars had flipped over with the occupants trapped within.

They landed in the midst of pained groans and chaotic cries, splitting up to help whoever they found. Grateful thanks and several looks of awe were directed at both siblings; Mimi extracting the trapped civilians from their mangled, overturned vehicles quickly but with utmost care, while Kiri managed to grab the back of the falling bus just moments before it tipped into the jaws of doom. Steel warped around her fingers and she began to drag the multi-ton vehicle back to a safe position when the ground much further away from the accident area crumbled unexpectedly, a car and its terrified occupants sliding forward and beginning to slip off the bridge.

Kiri snapped her head towards them, alarmed. She was the only thing preventing that bus from plunging into the river while the car began to fall…

No!

She watched in horror as the asphalt beneath it shattered like cheap plaster, the family within fearing for their lives. It was times like this she dreaded the most; when she had to choose. One or the other. Even with all her strength, she was only one person; one person alone could not always be there to help everyone. But this time…

This time she wasn't alone.

[I've got them!] a telepathic voice exclaimed.

A streak of grey burst forward and dived after the falling vehicle as it slipped over the edge, and for a moment Kiri held her metaphorical breath…

Until her counterpart rose from the edge of the bridge, green flames blazing under her feet as she held up the car gently with all four occupants safe and sound. Kiri let out a sigh of relief, though her expression clearly didn't show it. With a great heave she dragged the bus to safety, away from the damaged bridge section.

Mimi put down the damaged vehicle without a word, a small jet of flame from her index finger acting as a plasma cutter to force the warped doors open and free the passengers within. A great cheer arose from the gathered crowd as both sisters completed their tasks, ensuring that everyone was safe before turning to each other.

[We did it!] Kiri said telepathically, relief in her voice though her outward face still remained passive as ever. [You saved them!]

[I… I guess I did.] Mimi answered, opting to follow her sister's lead and keep her face expressionless. [I'm not as good at this stuff as you are.]

That was when the grateful civilians began to crowd around them, most of them just wanting to thank the pair while some were curious about who this new vigilante who looked so much like Valkyrie was. Pictures were being snapped, along with videos being taken.

[I think we should leave.] Kiri whispered.

Without a single word uttered between them the sisters linked hands, taking to the skies with a roar of jets. Below the civilians gaped, having witnessed one of the most important events of the year.

It was only a few minutes later when they arrived at the base of a mountain, staring down a set of gargantuan steel doors. The home of a certain hero team that Kiri had seeked advice from just before meeting her brother. Mimi eyed the structure cautiously, keeping her guard up.

[Huh. How do we let them know we're here?]

Kiri paused, then raised her fist. [We knock.]

Before they could do anything there was a crackle of static, followed by a mechanical click when a microphone above the door activated.

"Stop, wait! No knocking please, we just installed some sensitive equipment!" a woman's voice wailed. "I've got a hunch that's it you! Hang on, where's the button to switch cameras…"

The sisters paused, waiting for the mysterious speaker to continue. Kiri glanced at a camera near the doors patiently.

"Ooh, is it this one?" another voice asked. "Boop."

"No, that's the button for the helipad." a third voice answered casually.

"We have a helipad?" 

"There we go!" the first voice said, a note of tiredness in their tone. A mounted camera panned towards them. "Now, how can we help you this time Val—"

Whoever was speaking trailed off, resulting in a sudden pause that seemed to permeate through the forest. Both sisters waited for them to speak, opting to keep silent.

"Ragdoll?"

"Yeah?"

"I think this camera is broken. That, or I've had too much to drink yesterday."

"Nope, I can see them too!"

There was a moment of silence, then a series of heavy metallic groans as the giant doors began to slide open.

"Oh boy. Come on in, um, you two."

Kiri and Mimi strode in, the latter admiring the size of the facility within. After walking through a short hallway they opened another door to find themselves in a sort of living room decorated in cat-themed furniture, complete with various giant cat cushions and plushies scattered all over the place. The only hint of masculinity in the place was a leather reclining chair that stood out to the side, a bunch of magazines about expensive cars stacked atop it.

The Wild, Wild Pussycats soon made their appearance, this time dressed in casual wear instead of their hero costumes but only three of them were here; Tiger was missing. For a moment both Kiri and Mimi just stood there, tall and intimidating… until they shrank into their tiny child forms, preparing to introduce themselves. The three women stared at the small children, various expressions of disbelief on their features. Ragdoll however seemed to be delighted, clasping her hands together and visibly holding herself back from squealing. She was even in her pajamas for some reason whilst the other two were in normal civilian attire.

"I don't believe it. There are… t-two of you now?" Pixiebob stammered. "Two… Y-you've multiplied?"

"Wow. You girls, um, look really similar despite the opposing color schemes." Mandalay said, looking bewildered. "W-wait. Don't tell me—"

"Eeeeeeeee—" Ragdoll managed.

The girls stepped forward in a practiced fashion.

"Hello, my name is Kirimi. You can call me Kiri." Kiri said.

"Hello, my name is Izumi. You can call me Mimi." Mimi continued.

They bowed politely in unison, mirror images of each other. "Nice to meet you."

The three women stared for a few, silent seconds until Ragdoll was the first to act, finishing her suppressed squeal and surprising them all.

"—eeeeeeeeeEEEEEEE!" The woman had an expression of joy on her face, but ran back towards her room.

"Wha—! Ragdoll, where are you going?" Mandalay asked.

"Camera! I need my camera!"

Pixiebob slowly walked up to Kiri with a little apprehension, getting on one knee to match her height. Her expression was complicated; nervousness mixed with confusion.

"I saw what happened on TV," She began fussing over the smaller girl like a worried parent, looking for any injuries. "Are you alright?"

A little nod was sent her way.

"Still emotionless as ever, eh. Looks like you're just fine. But..." the woman paused. "Did everything turn out okay? Y-you know, about what we talked about last time."

"It did." Kiri said.

Pixiebob glanced at the girls' joined hands, then let out a small sigh of relief. "I see. Kirimi-chan… Kiri-chan, was it?"

The girl nodded again.

"It's a lovely name." Pixiebob smiled warmly. "It suits you."

"Um," Mimi stepped forward, bowing towards both Pixiebob and Mandalay. "Thank you for helping my sister. You have our gratitude. It's an honor to meet all of you."

"This one talks to me!" Mandalay gasped, amazed. Then what she heard slowly sunk in. "Wait. Sister?"

The two girls nodded, watching while the women exchanged amused yet concerned glances.

"You didn't tell me we would be meeting famous heroes!" Mimi whispered at her counterpart. "You said they were 'cat-people'."

"But they are cat-people. They're—" Kiri took a moment to remember the team's name. "—'The Kitty Krew.'"

"It's 'The Pussycats!'" Mandalay wailed. "'The Wild, Wild, Pussycats!' You two are adorable but please, don't get the name wrong! It happened to us once in the news and was a marketing disaster—"

Ragdoll appeared out of nowhere, breathing heavily and holding her polaroid camera along with a plate of snacks.

"I've got the camera! And some sweets!"

[x]

A few minutes later they were assembled on the living room couches, the group sitting together and enjoying their snacks. The only sound that cut through the silence was the soft munching coming from the two kids along with the occasional snap of Ragdoll's camera.

"So," Pixiebob began.

"So." Mandalay agreed.

"Nn."

"Mm."

Ragdoll was the last to speak. "I have no idea what is going on right now but I am loving it!"

"Well, uh… Kiri-chan, Mimi-chan," Pixiebob called, catching their attention. "Do you two need anything? I mean, you must have a reason for dropping by, right?"

"We came to say hi and thank you for last time." Kiri explained. "I also wanted to introduce Mimi."

"I… I see." The blonde woman nodded, then took a bite out of one of the butter cookies and found it to be delicious. Both children seemed to be enjoying the treats immensely, to the point where she was starting to get concerned over whether they were eating enough at home.

"She'll be working with me from now on." the little girl said between bites.

Pixiebob choked on her cookie, prompting Mandalay to pat her on the back. Mimi glanced around in the meantime, looking a little puzzled.

"Say, isn't there supposed to be one more of you?" she asked.

"Oh, Tiger is at the zoo with Kota-kun. Thought it would help the little tyke, y'see." Ragdoll answered.

"Wait wait wait, time out!" Pixiebob coughed a little to clear her throat, looking up to find that both sisters had did what she said and paused mid-bite.

"Kiri-chan… What did you mean by 'working with you'?"

"Helping people."

"You mean that vigilante stuff you do?" Pixiebob gasped. "B-but… is that really okay? I mean, you two, um… look really young. No offense."

"It'll be okay." Kiri nodded.

"I can handle myself." Mimi assured.

Wait a minute." Mandalay narrowed her eyes. "How old are you, Mimi-chan? In fact, how old are the two of you even supposed to be?"

"We're te—" Kiri said innocently before Mimi quickly covered her mouth.

"—teeeeechnically not supposed to tell anyone. It's a secret." she said urgently.

"Secret." Kiri agreed, getting the hint.

"Ehhhh…" Mandalay looked perplexed. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you suddenly decide to help out now, Mimi-chan? It's pretty sudden, especially since your sis has been operating solo for so long."

The girl in question cupped her own mouth, mumbling her reply. "That's a secret too."

"Is that so." The brunette woman said slowly, a gleam of suspicion in her gaze. "Well, then which one of you is the older sister?"

"It's me." both girls said simultaneously, then paused to exchange glances.

"Huh? But I'm older than you." Mimi began, raising an eyebrow.

"But I came first. I'm the onee-chan." Kiri countered flatly.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

The glare that they gave each other could hardly even be called that, both kids reacting rather differently. Mimi was squinting with cheeks puffed out and pouting, while Kiri responded with a stoic, expressionless gaze. The three women experienced an awkward, chilly silence for a few seconds until they all realized that neither girl was going to give up.

"Errr…" Pixiebob began, trying to defuse the situation.

Too late. Kiri figured out her sister's intent a split second before Pixiebob did and sprang into action. She turned her face away, eyes squeezed shut as her tiny hands reached forward to flail away childishly. A moment later Mimi launched her counterattack and she was… doing the exact same thing, her equally small hands smacking against her sister's lightly. They weren't actually hurting each other, far from it… in fact, it looked like the sort of slap fight that often occured between kids on a playground.

"I'm the onee-chan!"

"No, I'm the onee-chan!"

"Oh dear…" Pixiebob quickly reached over and quickly separated them, stopping their little scuffle. "Um, I'm sure the two of you can compromise…"

"Never compromise," Kiri shook her head, still wriggling around in the older woman's grip.

Mimi frowned, then seemed to think of something. "Okay, then how about this then…"

She leaned over and whispered into the other girl's ear, securing an agreement a few seconds later.

"We've decided." Kiri turned to Pixiebob, nodding. "We're twins. So we're the same."

"You… are?" the older woman asked.

"Yep. Twins." Mimi agreed. "Fraternal of course, since we don't look exactly the same."

"What happened to 'never compromise'?" Ragdoll joked.

"Not compromise. Agreement." Kiri replied earnestly, with Ragdoll getting excited that she was responding.

"Huh?" Mandalay glanced at Mimi. "I thought you said you were the older one."

"I changed my mind. We're twins now."

The brunette woman still wore a suspicious expression but ultimately sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "Fine, have it your way. I wish I could change my mind about my age…"

Pixiebob couldn't help it and finally laughed, the melodic sound seeming to lighten up the atmosphere. She took a few seconds to calm herself down, wiping off tears of mirth while gazing at the two children to her sides.

"So you two are close enough to fight, eh?" she grinned, nudging her brunette friend playfully. "Reminds me of when I was younger. Mandalay and I were kind of like that when we were in university, too."

The kids blinked at her then seemed to look away, a little embarrassed at their own childish actions.

"Y'know, you're still as emotionless as ever on the surface but…" The blonde woman patted Kiri on the back. "I feel like something about you has changed for the better."

Small, fragile fingers curled around each other as Kiri held her sister's hand, nodding. Pixiebob was right, she had changed. To be a little more… human? It was hard to say. All she knew that she was happier now, with everyone. Izuku. Inko. Mimi. Even the phantoms of One For All.

"I have a family now." Kiri whispered.

"So you do." Pixiebob smiled. "Are you happy?"

"I am."

"Then so am I." the older woman said, then turned pink. "I know that's a weird thing to say, especially since this is only our second meeting, but I, uh, well… how do i say this..."

They watched her fumble for a few moments before she collected herself.

"All I'm trying to say is, I'm happy for you." Pixiebob finally managed. "You always seemed so lonely in the past, but now— now things are better, I guess."

Kiri felt a small nudge at her side, Mimi urging her sister to do what they had practiced.

[Go on,] Mimi told her telepathically. [You can do it.]

The little girl nodded. At first Pixiebob thought she was making weird faces at her but slowly realized what was happening when the child's mouth eventually curled into a small, wobbly smile. The older woman felt a gentle warmth in her heart at that. The girl who previously couldn't even show any emotions was now doing her best to smile, showing her gratitude…

"Thank you." Kiri said, smiling together with her sister.

Pixiebob was simply content to watch while Ragdoll snapped a quick photo of them, Mandalay grinning in the background. The moment soon ended as the sisters suddenly stood up simultaneously, putting down their snacks.

"We must go." Kiri stated.

"S-so soon? Well, um," The blonde woman looked slightly disappointed. "You two are free to come back anytime, alright? If there's anything you girls need, don't hesitate to come find us!"

"Yup!" Ragdoll exclaimed. "I'll always have snacks on standby! Mostly for myself, but you're welcome to take some."

"It was fun meeting you two. You're always welcome in our home." Mandalay agreed.

There was a light shuffling as the two sisters bowed politely, thanking their hosts. As they linked hands and prepared to leave, Mimi suddenly spoke up.

"Tsuchikawa Ryuko." she echoed. "Again, many thanks for helping my sister. We owe you one."

"Um, you're welcome, really! You don't owe me anything, you two." Pixiebob stammered.

"Mm. I can see where your son gets his kindness and selflessness."

"H-huh? What are you talking about?" The blonde woman tilted her head, confused. "I don't have a son."

Mimi seemed to tense up at that comment, before slowly relaxing.

"You will."

With that last ominous statement they were gone, vanishing into thin air and leaving no evidence they were ever there in the first place. Pixiebob contemplated what the strange little girl had just said, completely and utterly confused. Then she realized one very important fact that everyone had overlooked.

"Did I…" she gulped. "Did I ever tell them my real name?"

"No." Mandalay said slowly, a tone of caution in her voice. "You didn't. And yet, she knew…"

"Our names are pretty well known 'cause we're public heroes, ladies." Ragdoll offered.

"Oh yeah."

"Anyways…" Mandalay turned to Ragdoll. "How did it go?"

"It didn't work." the green-haired woman answered, biting into another cookie. "My Search flowed off both of them like water off a raincoat. It seems that Mimi-chan is very much like her sister. If I were to describe it, I would say they're… untargetable? Like, it's the same feeling I get when I'm trying to use my Quirk on an inanimate object, or a robot."

"Of course. They are the same, eh. My Telepath didn't work on them either." Mandalay cupped her chin. "I was wondering if we should say something to the Hero Association about her…"

Pixiebob held her breath—

"...but nah. They trust us." The brunette turned to her team, grinning. "We'll trust them as well. In fact, I think I'll put in a good word for them if we ever get the chance."

—and let out a sigh of relief.

"And besides, talking to them made me think about a few things." Mandalay admitted. "I think… I think I'll try talking to Kota-kun again."

[x]

While the sisters were going around the city to meet Kiri's comrades, Izuku was having another normal day at school. Despite primarily being a school for training heroes, U.A was still one of Japan's top academic institutions, which meant that education was also a top priority for students. Right now, Class 1-A was in the middle of history class.

"—turn of the century." Midnight was saying, her flogger-style whip smacking against the whiteboard lightly. "Now, can anybody tell me; who was the first metahuman?"

"That's an easy one." Sero said, raising his hand to answer. "The Glowing Baby that was born in Qing Qing, China."

"Very good, Sero-kun." Midnight smiled. "The Glowing Baby, his name lost to time. Patient Zero. However, some have argued that The Glowing Baby was the first officiallycatalogued metahuman; claiming that people with superpowers had existed even before he was born. It's all a conspiracy theory of course, backed with blurry images and near-unintelligible documents without any official sources. That is why I expect to see citations on your work, boys and girls; don't believe everything you see on the internet."

The teacher thumbed a remote from her hand and the whiteboard fizzled, turning on to become a screen and showing images of the past. Crowds of people marching down the street, holding signs in protest. No Monsters, one said. Protect our future, said another. On and on they went, millions of people marching as one. Cars were flipped over, buses laid on their side. Some vehicles were on fire, belching hazy black smoke that rose in ominous columns.

"As all of you already know, similar supernatural phenomena popped up all over the world once the Glowing Baby was born. People of all ages and walks of life could wake up the next day with an ability, a superpower, something that made you different. Understandably many were scared, and society experienced a series of socioeconomic earthquakes that shook the world. The protests and riots were only the beginning."

"Cowards." Bakugo grunted. "Losers, all of them. Can't accept their betters, can't accept change."

Midnight looked slightly disappointed. "You have to understand, Bakugo-kun. It's not a matter of whether one was better than the other. Those first few years were some turbulent times. People fear what they do not understand, and what they fear—"

She pressed another button on her remote.

"—they seek to destroy."

The next image on the whiteboard wasn't all that disturbing, but the implications were clear. It was some sort of poster, large black text drawing the reader's attention. 'Do you know what your children are?' it read. Below that proclamation were pictures of four ordinary kids, but the last photo had the words 'MUTIE' stenciled across the child's face in jagged red letters.

"Back then, normal people had a reason to fear people with superpowers. Many metahumans abused their newfound gifts, committing unspeakable crimes and acts of great injustice."

"They could have just fought back." Bakugo growled, his crimson eyes narrowed. "Only the weak and useless don't fight back or stand up for themselves."

"Oh believe me, they did fight back. The problem was that innocent people often get caught in the crossfire as well. Hatred clouds the mind, and fear even more so." Midnight lectured. "Think of it from their perspective; how was one supposed to defend themselves from people who were at the time, comparable to gods? That's a question to the class, by the way. Keep in mind that this was before heroes existed."

Tsuyu raised her hand, and the teacher nodded for her to speak. "They could set rules in place, kero. Laws and legislations, combined with societal pressure. Manpower and technology to enforce those laws. Representatives to talk things out."

"Excellent point, Asui-chan! For society to function, there must be a set of agreed upon rules, which we call laws, to govern all individuals which comprise them. Without these laws to abide by, individuals would most likely work against each other and societies would collapse. Even assuming the inherent goodwill of people within a society, having laws allows us to determine the point at which a dysfunctional individual must be stopped."

Midnight paused to take a breath.

"However, laws are simply words. Spoken words or words on paper, but only words. Laws gain power through their enforcement. Enforcement via societal pressure can be a means of deterring individuals from breaking the law, but it often means nothing to those who are already too far gone. Thus, the general consensus is that enforcement is only viable through force or the implied threat of force. Unfortunately, trying to make the aptly named 'metahumans' follow even the most basic laws during those times became an insurmountable challenge when they have the power to shoot lightning out of their hands or heat rays out of their eyes. Those without Quirks understood this, and feared the future."

Another click of the remote.

"Some of the creatures are individually as powerful as entire armies and they number in the hundreds… hundreds!" a man in a crisp suit was saying, his eyes burning in anger. "These monsters ignore our laws and threaten our freedom, and yet we stand by and do nothing!"

Most of the class watched in uncomfortable silence. Izuku kept writing, taking down notes. He already knew of the turmoil that was caused by the appearance of superpowers over a century ago, having been obsessed with heroes to the point where he watched many documentaries on related topics. The emergence of Quirks led to unprecedented levels of human suffering regardless of whether you had one or not. He continued writing—

"Human?! You dare call that thing HUMAN?!"

Izuku jolted in his seat, eyes shooting upward. Had the volume of the video increased suddenly? Taking a quick look around, he saw that nobody had reacted despite that sudden proclamation. That angry statement had been deafeningly loud, almost as if someone had just shouted in his ear. In fact his ears were ringing a bit, along with a slight headache that soon vanished. And yet, nobody seemed to have questioned that increase in volume.

"These mutants must be contained, but how?!" the man continued, the video still at a normal volume like Izuku remembered. "How do you contain a being that can uproot mountains or walk through walls? How can you reprimand creatures that are indestructible, that can bend the very lightning to their will? Make no mistake, we must find a solution or it will be the end of humanity as we know it!"

"I think that's quite enough." Midnight paused the video, exactly at a frame where the politician's eyes were wide with fury. Izuku noted that beneath that fury there was also an underlying hint of fear. "As you can see, it was a horribly chaotic situation for the whole world. Hate was the spark. Fear did the rest. For a while, it looked like society as we knew it was doomed."

The woman paused to take a breath.

"But then, something amazing happened. A miracle. Ordinary people started to help others whenever they needed it. Saving lives. Fighting villains. Bringing back hope to the world." Midnight smiled, hands on her hips. "These people were known as—"

"Vigilantes." Izuku breathed, then blinked and realized he had accidentally voiced his inner thoughts.

"Exactly, Midoriya-kun." the brunette nodded. "Some might say that vigilantes are heroes but there's a clear distinction, especially when laws come into play. Law dictates that vigilantism is illegal, and people who participate in it are deemed to be little more than 'illegal heroes' who take matters into their own hands. Keep in mind that it is a crime and you can be arrested for it; I don't want to see any of you kids doing that sort of thing. From an academic standpoint, vigilantism can be defined as a system that tends to naturally propagate during periods of societal upheaval for the sake of maintaining order."

"Using chaos to create order…" Tokoyami muttered. "Without darkness, there cannot be light."

"That's a lovely analogy, Tokoyami-kun." Midnight grinned. "Note that vigilantism is a reactionary phenomenon; a response to heroes being unable to meet the needs of society."

Izuku's thought back to what Mimi had said. An Age of Vigilantes. People forgetting what it meant to be a hero. Could that really happen here? He dreaded the answer, but Midnight did have a point. The more vigilantes there were meant that people were unsatisfied with the current state of affairs, deciding to take action in response. Judge, jury and even executioner in some cases.

"We also have to remember that vigilantism is a transitory affair. As society stabilizes, vigilantes are either absorbed or eliminated by the official hero system now that they are no longer needed. It is why they are considered a rarity, relics of a bygone era in these days of peace under All Might." Midnight continued, her whip cutting through the air with a sharp crack. "In fact, this was exactly what happened during the Rhode Island Accords during the dawn of the supernatural era. One can even argue that vigilantes were the predecessors to heroes. It's simply not cost-effective to be a vigilante anymore these days, especially since the danger involved outweighs the meager gains. As such, the few remaining vigilantes are theorized to be acting based on altruism instead of personal gains such as reputation or popularity. A remnant of the first heroes."

The school bell rang in its familiar eight-tone melody, signalling the end of class and beginning of lunchtime. Midnight hummed, clicking the remote one final time and turning the interactive whiteboard back into its blank default mode.

"That's all for now, class. Make sure to read up on the Anti-Mutant Protests and Rhode Island Accords on chapter eight, along with the Paranormality Origin Theory on chapter nine for our next lesson. Remember, those who don't learn from history—"

"—are doomed to repeat it." most of the class said as one, earning a grin from their teacher before she dismissed them.

Class 1-A relaxed, beginning to mill about and preparing to leave for lunch. Izuku packed up his desk as well, but a question about Midnight's lesson still lingered in his mind. He decided to ask it anyways, both for academic reasons and his own curiosity.

"Deku-kun," Ochaco said cheerfully, giving him a bright and innocent smile. "Let's go for lunch!"

"Um, you guys go on ahead." Izuku said apologetically. "I've got a few things I want to ask Midnight-sensei about the lesson and it might take awhile."

"Hmm? Alright, Midoriya-kun." Iida nodded. "We'll see you later, then. If you ever need help in your studies don't hesitate to ask me!"

He watched as they went, before walking up to Midnight and thinking of what to say. Most of the class had already left, and the teacher was still arranging a set of papers. It was raining heavily outside, a sharp pitter-patter sound and the smell of rain permeating the room. Thunder rumbled in the distance like an ominous war drum.

"Um, Midnight-sensei? I've got a question." Izuku asked nervously.

Did Midnight really have to wear that outfit even when teaching? To make things worse, she looked really, reallygood in it. Even at a respectable distance the barely noticeable yet heavenly scent of vanilla wafted off her, likely an effect of her Quirk. So she looked and smelled great, just wonderful. Izuku made sure not to get too close.

"Yes, Midoriya-kun?" the older woman smiled, eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Always a pleasure."

Gah. Then there was the way she spoke, too. It was naturally sultry even without her even trying.

"I-I was wondering about what you said earlier, about vigilantes." Izuku mumbled, flipping through his notebook. "You mentioned that they were essentially people that were unsatisfied with heroes and took matters into their own hands."

Midnight tilted her head and made a handwave motion, urging him to go on. The boy couldn't stop thinking about the memories he had seen. That broken landscape, the sky filled with battleships. People just doing whatever they wanted, a complete loss of control. A wheel of blood, a cycle of violence and hatred.

"If vigilantes are truly that, where do we draw the line? I-I mean, um, how do we determine if their actions are right or wrong? For example, if a person is unsatisfied with society and becomes a vigilante, aren't they just doing what they're doing is right in accordance with their own ideals?" Izuku said, a complicated expression on his features. "How do we determine if that is right or wrong? Of course, there are laws and stuff, but, uh, how do I put this..."

Midnight was quiet as she held a hand to her chin, contemplating his question. As Izuku waited he tried to gather his thoughts. What he'd just asked wasn't really concerning his sisters and their status as vigilantes, but mostly about the world that Mimi came from. A world where 'heroes' fought only for their own causes and self-interests, and not for the innocent or for justice. A part of him wanted to understand what had led to that, perhaps in hopes of preventing it.

"Well, Midoriya-kun…" Midnight smirked playfully. "That's an interesting question. In other words, you're asking; 'What defines the boundaries of good and evil', yes?"

"I—I guess?" Izuku nodded nervously, still a little unsure.

"Hmm. That's an age-old question that humanity has asked since the dawn of time. Since childhood, people are taught to think in binary; things are either white or black, good or evil. But reality isn't that simple. If you were to ask me, I would say it's neither black, nor white, but grey." the older woman stated, her whip swishing back and forth. "Do you see where I'm going with this?"

"You're saying that…" The boy tried his best to follow. "Good and evil isn't easily defined."

"That's right. Good and evil, or rather; right and wrong are just words. Concepts, at best. Who has the right to say if something is right or wrong? The victim? The aggressor? Yes, there is justice and injustice, rules and rulebreakers... but many times the idea of right and wrong is subjective, based on the circumstances of one's situation and their point of view. I cannot count how many times a villain thought what they were doing was right, despite their actions causing harm to others. Villains often think they are the hero of their own story, you see—even those with the very best of intentions can do immeasurable harm. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, after all. I was going to talk about this during our next lesson, but since you asked I'll indulge you. A question to answer your question, Midoriya-kun."

Izuku nodded again.

"The Rhode Island Accords were also known as the first Pro Hero System, effectively converting then-vigilantes into official heroes or labelling them as villains." Midnight hummed. "Can you make a guess on the one deciding factor that determines if a vigilante was deemed suitable to become a hero back then?"

"Err…" the green-haired boy thought of All Might. "Trust?"

"Mmm, close. But no cigar." Midnight teased. "Its 'popularity'."

"Popularity." Izuku blinked. "Really?"

"Really. You might think it's petty or shallow, but fact of the matter is that this is how 'heroism' in our modern society works." the older woman explained. "You see, Quirks have no set boundaries to them; the possibilities are near endless. For all we know the next person you see on the street could have a Quirk that allows him to have bendy fingers, or he could be a walking nuke."

The boy listened intently while scribbling in his favorite notebook, lines upon lines marked onto the crumpled, slightly burnt pages.

"For that reason, we have no choice but to trust each individual to decide what constitutes right and wrong when it comes to using their Quirks. Using the 'popularity' of a person to judge them is basically seeing how much societal support they have; how much the public trusts them, reveres them, believes in them." Midnight continued, shrugging. "Believe me, it's an extremely flawed system, but it's also the best solution we have now. It is why the JP Hero Billboard Chart is more of a popularity contest than an actual system to measure a hero's capabilities. To summarize, the more someone is accepted by the general populace, the more they are seen to be in the right. A halo effect, of sorts. Does that answer your question?"

"I… I think so." Izuku said slowly. So society defines what is right and wrong? That answer didn't satisfy him, not at all. What about the society that Mimi came from, then? Perhaps in their own way, were they in the right for just trying to survive?

The teacher seemed to observe him frowning for a little while before clearing her throat, deciding to add on.

"You seem a bit disappointed, Midoriya-kun. Not what you expected to hear?"

"I'm not too sure..."

"Oh? In that case," Midnight crooned, her voice low and husky. "I'll give you something else to think about."

"W-what is it?" Izuku stammered, doing his best not to back away.

"A wise philosopher once said; 'A society that is built around the concept of heroes and villains is an infantile one, a dependant one'." the older woman said slowly, making sure that he heard each and every word. "I want you to consider that, think about it long and hard."

"H-huh?"

"You're a smart little boy. I'm sure you'll figure it out." She gave him a playful smirk. "Now then, was there anything else you needed?"

"I… I think that's all, sensei. I'll try to, um, think on what you just said."

"Right!" Midnight smiled cheerfully, before suddenly frowning. "Are you feeling okay, Midoriya-kun?"

"U-um, yeah? Why do you ask, sensei?"

"When the video was playing you seemed to get really startled all of a sudden. You were looking awfully pale, too." Midnight said, her expression worried. She leaned in closer and inadvertently presented her generous cleavage to him, causing the boy to blush scarlet. "Oh dear, you're turning red now! Do you need to see Recovery Girl?"

"I'm f-f-f-f-fine, sensei!" Izuku said quickly, turning away out of respect. Close, too close! "I was just startled by its volume suddenly increasing."

"What?" the teacher leaned back much to Izuku's relief. "Nothing like that happened, it was playing normally throughout. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm sure." he said, still a little confused. The video was fine? Perhaps it had been his imagination.

"If you say so." Midnight shrugged with a small smile. "If you're having any problems in class or difficulties regarding the lesson material, feel free to come have a chat with me. I love talking to my students, after all."

"I'll keep that in mind." Izuku said, closing his notebook. "Thank you, Annette."

The classroom was quiet for a moment, Midnight looking mildly confused while Izuku was wondering if he said something wrong. Then the words sunk in and he turned whiter than chalk.

What.

WHAT.

Izuku's throat felt tight, parched and dry. He broke out in a cold sweat, his heart thumping against his ribs with the force of an overcharged jackhammer. A grating itch lanced through his skull for a brief second before disappearing, the boy blinking rapidly in response.

What did I just say? Why did I just say that?! Oh no. I have to get out of here, before she—

"Midoriya-kun?" Midnight's voice echoed from a mile away. "You're looking really pale."

"I-I'm fine, sensei! It's nothing!" Izuku said quickly, avoiding her gaze. Thankfully, the teacher didn't seem to realize what he'd just called her or had forgotten that name judging from her reaction. If anything, she was approaching with some concern.

"You're bleeding."

Izuku stopped, bringing his hand up to his nose. It came away with small streaks of crimson, several small drops landing on the teacher's desk with an ominous splat. Midnight got closer, practically radiating worry now.

"Oh dear… hang on, I'll bring you over to Recovery Girl—"

"I'm fine!" Izuku cried, batting away the woman's hand with a sharp smack that echoed through the room.

For a few painful seconds she seemed stunned at his sudden hostility, but there was a definite concern for her student in those widening eyes. Izuku was breathing heavily now, a look of dread mixed with utter bewilderment meeting her gaze before he pulled away, sprinting out of the classroom.

"Wha—Midoriya-kun, wait! What's wrong?" Midnight called after him.

Izuku did not wait. He did not stop. The boy kept running for what seemed like hours, which in reality was just a few minutes stretched by the confusion he felt. He kept running down the hallway until he slowed to a slow jog, then a tiring walk.

Annette… that was the name of Johnny's wife. The woman who looked like Midnight.

He looked back, still breathing heavily while he leaned against the wall for support. Midnight wasn't chasing him, and he hoped she'd just go about her day while putting this incident behind her as another act of random teenage defiance.

Why did I say that name? And that loud statement just now during the video, like somebody was yelling into my ear, but nobody noticed. It's impossible, it can't be. I would never confuse Midnight-sensei for another person. 

I wouldn't… but someone else had.

The green haired boy gulped, his heart rate increasing by the second. The sound of rain hitting the windows of U.A intensified. Izuku stopped walking, feeling an icy, gut-wrenching fear coursing through his body that he was barely able to reign in. His head throbbed slightly, a warm pressure that squeezed his temples like a tightening vice.

Are their memories leaking into me?

Turning away, Izuku looked out of the windows that slightly reflected his translucent image. It was still raining heavily, roiling black clouds darkening the sky and obscuring the sun. Thunder crashed and a bolt of lightning speared through the sky, lighting up the surroundings for a mere instant. In that instant, that split second of light caused the window to reflect his face clearly... except it wasn't his face anymore.

Aftermath stared back at him.

Izuku recoiled in shock, stumbling and falling flat on his back. When he got up and looked once more the reflection was him again, plain old Midoriya Izuku. No empty pits of darkness for eyes, no burning green coals for pupils. Just a young, scared, plain-looking boy staring fearfully at his own reflection in the window.

The green-haired boy gulped and swallowed his fear, dusting himself off and walking away quickly. He made an effort to avoid all windows and mirrors, afraid of what he might see in those murky reflections. Something dribbled down his nose and Izuku pulled a hand to his face. It came away with smears of red again, and he felt lightheaded. Izuku felt his hands trembling before he steeled himself, pushing away the fear to the back of his mind. Don't think about it, he told himself. He decided to pursue the matter later when he was at home, in a safe environment. Now wasn't the time to focus on that.

Wiping his nose with a tissue, the boy pressed onward towards the cafeteria for lunch. He hoped that seeing his friends would help calm him down.

Thankfully, it did.