Chapter Text
The buildings seemed to be engulfed in flames, giving everyone a warm embrace, where their skin melted into the cement of the structures and the entire ground. The smoke seemed to replace the clouds and the sky, suffocating everything with an unprecedented darkness, accompanied by the faint orange coloration and the sizzling sensation of heat approaching the pores of their skin. All the destruction wrought ebbed and flowed, and sirens began to swarm in the sky, varying between reddish and blue. Sooner rather than later, helicopters joined in, their bright spotlights illuminating the area for as far out as possible, searching for the wounded.
However, they weren't the only ones concerned about the protection of the public. Among the buildings, if you squinted, you could see different silhouettes jumping between the rooftops in search of survivors. But while a little extra help never hurt, anything can happen when the world plunges into some kind of crisis.
Rocks and debris tumbled out from above a young man. His suit was mostly ruined, and blood was pouring from his head. He frowned, running a finger over his wound, letting the reddish liquid soak into his finger and soothe the affected area. He stretched his back, causing a crunch to emerge; he snorted in annoyance.
"Seriously, that guy hits harder than I expected," the young man expressed, his greenish hair swaying in a wind that, minimally, calmed the area.
He looked up to see a silhouette standing there, the cause of his current backache, which made him smile brightly. His clothes were torn from the intense battle they'd been waging for a couple of hours, but that didn't matter. After all, the citizens had been evacuated for a while. So, what was stopping him from holding back?
“You're weaker than you thought,” the man laughed, his presence obscured by the immense cloud of destruction and chaos that rose over the city. “Should we end this? You're not worth my time.” His Quirk was powerful; he knew it…
But his was more so.
He flexed his legs, their forms aching from the heavy sensation of activating his Quirk, but he didn't care in the slightest. After all, what was the point of feeling pain if there was no reward involved? The green-haired man cared about people's safety. Protecting their well-being, making them smile so they would forget the slightest hint of pain, panic, and fear they felt, and, most of all, letting them know he was there for them, so they wouldn't feel unsafe or unprotected.
Just like him.
When he jumped, the dust beneath the soles of his shoes rose with the force of the ground. He stretched his fist back, with enough power and evidence of wanting to deliver a punch so powerful that it would defeat him right then and there. Although his figure was invisible to him at that moment, he felt that if he failed now, he would regret it for the rest of his life. His fist, clenched and close to his face, moved closer and closer until...
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“WAKE UP NOW!” A woman’s annoyed voice burst his imaginary bubble as a sensation crept into his stomach. He opened his eyes in pain when a blow from a pillow woke him up. Seriously, did that thing have a brick inside it or something? He’d never know.
“God, bro, you’re such a sleepyhead,” the girl sighed, scratching the back of her neck with a hint of amusement in her tone.
The boy, forcibly awakened, let out a grunt of annoyance at the abrupt moment he was roused from his most beautiful dream: being a hero and defeating a great villain, just like All Might, his idol.
Sitting up on his mattress, with sheets scattered all around him, he let out a long, deep yawn. His messy green hair made him stand out, as did a pair of freckles on both cheeks. His eyes, like his hair, were a beautiful shade of green similar to the color of treetops.
A few small tears lingered in his eye sockets as he yawned.
"Good morning, sister," he said eagerly as he began a new day. He was still wearing his All Might pajamas, where a wide smile was visible, but he didn't care in the least at the moment. After all, he wanted to get some more sleep
《Name: Midoriya Izuku》
《Occupation: Aldera Student》《Quirk: None》
“Seriously, Izu-chan, can't you get your eight hours of rest a day instead of ten?” the young woman at his side asked listlessly, her arms crossed over the pillow, the cause of his awakening. He hated that thing.
Her hair was a shade darker than his, but the green hue was still present, both in her gaze and in her hair, which was tied in a ponytail that cascaded like a small waterfall behind her head.
Oddly enough, Izuku Midoriya seemed to be the only one of the two siblings with freckles on his cheeks. She, on the other hand, had a small mole under her right eye at all times. The Aldera Academy uniform was perfectly tailored, though it was slightly singed at the wrists.
Izuku watched her, noticing the stern, authoritarian look in her eyes, which made him tremble. “S-Sorry, there was an H-Hound Dog interview and I couldn't miss it,” he expressed, his nervousness rising and consuming his entire being.
The young woman sighed, scratching her brow. “Well, I'll let you play it… Later, could you play me the interview? I want to watch it too.” A small smile was hidden between that hard gaze, also a die-hard hero fanatic all her life. “Oh, by the way, I messed up in the kitchen again,” he saw her scorched academy sleeves.
《Name: Izumi Midoriya》 《 Occupation: Student of Aldera 》
《 Quirk: Pyrokinesis; allows the user to generate, manipulate, and control fire at will. Heat emanates from an internal "core" within their body, allowing them to create flames without the need for an external source. The more their emotional state intensifies, the more powerful and unstable their flames become. Just keep this girl away from the kitchen! 》
"…Did you set the kitchen on fire again?” he asked, getting an idea.
The girl cringed, embarrassed. “I-I was bothered because I wouldn't turn on the oven and…!” she sighed, calming her annoyance and slowly extinguishing the flames catching in her hair, “and maybe I burned the kitchen a bit with my Quirk because the lighter broke,” she admitted. Izuku Midoriya sighed, looking at his alarm clock.
It was early in the morning, but he had two hours to get ready. Today was a much later start, to tell the truth, so he decided to take a well-deserved break and watch an interview with the pro hero Hound Dog. However, there was his sister, Izumi, more than prepared and ready to attend, even though the school was completely uninhabited by ordinary people.
…Was he ordinary? No, no. He promised his mother he'd stop thinking like that, but it still ate at him from time to time. Why couldn't he?
Anyway, he watched Izumi, who was playing with her two fingers, guilty about messing up the kitchen.
This happened often, and even though she'd been told hundreds of times that her Quirk, though powerful, was not to be used to light the oven, even if you were trying to make fried eggs. Why, you might ask? That's a very simple answer. Her flames are so strong that the gas in the oven can't withstand the intensity. Therefore, even though she tries to do it manually, it'll just keep imploding.
He wasn't going to lie, she was intelligent. Perhaps as intelligent as he was, but she was overly emotional because of her Quirk, which was based on it. And if her flames were already a danger without any emotion involved, so just one could lead to her doom.
“Well, you'll have to pay for that uniform; it's already the eighth one this year, and I don't really have enough to buy you another,” he said in a tired tone, his form simultaneously kicking his feet off the bed while sliding on his slippers, from there, he santured over to a sign on the wall.
The girl snorted pityingly at her wallet.
All around the sign, the image of a blond man with a smile dominated the entire room.
Even when they shared a room, the two felt no shame in having a burly man with a gigantic smile on his face, exuding confidence. Although it was a little terrifying on stormy nights, when lightning lit up everything and made his presence felt on the wall. Izuku stepped closer to the sign.
"Accident-Free Days,” he read, a marker between his fingers.
The number 48 was written on it, and he had to erase it before putting a big, round zero. He did it so slowly and with such amusement that he could hear his older sister's annoyed gasp behind him. Yes, she was older for having been born two minutes earlier, but they didn't bother with counting.
"That's unfair, unfair, I say!" she snapped, a grimace on her face and a vein throbbing.
Izuku had to chuckle. "Come on, let me cook you something." His tone was already a little better than it had been a while ago, with so much sleep and listlessness. Now? He remained calm. More awake.
And that was good, wasn't it? Being woken from his deepest, most cherished sleep, only to be beaten and dragged back into reality for another day. What for...?
He shook his head, 'Well, never mind.'
Right now, he just wanted a fried egg and some toast.
-]I[-
The crunch of the bread against his teeth made him feel incredibly satisfied. The crispy sensation of the bread and its warmth in his mouth was a delicacy he'd never tire of. Even though he had doubts about continuing to get up day after day, he simply had to do it. He looked away to see his sister.
They were both dressed for school, but that wasn't what seemed surprising; it was normal for them to attend the same school, in the same classroom, with the same teachers.
At least, that's what he thought. Looking at both plates of food, the difference was stark.
"God, why couldn't I have inherited Mom's cooking skills?!" She exclaimed, questioning, crying at the taste of the huge meal her brother prepared for them, devouring everything so fast it was frightening. However, it was due to her《Quirk,》 so it didn't surprise him in the least.
“This food is divine. You always shine, Izu-chan,” she complimented him as always, making her little brother blush slightly in embarrassment.
“I-I'm not that good, you know? I still have a lot to learn.” He slowed his efforts under the rug, devouring his toast lightly.
Izumi glared at him, brushing some crumbs off her cheek. “I wish you could be a little more selfish and accept your achievements, you know? You're too good for your own good. You even put yourself down for making something as impressive as this, silly brother!” she exclaimed, tapping his forehead with her finger.
Izuku could feel the warmth of her fingertip, feeling the heat rise due to her Quirk acting on his sister's annoyance.
She sighed, calming her emotions. “I want the best for you. Mom and I want you to love yourself more. I know it's not easy, but I trust you can do it, Izuku. You just have to try.”
The younger brother sighed, nodding, but he knew himself well enough to know he wasn't going to listen to her. This was too deep to just let go of.
“A-Anyway, did you do Teacher Agatha's homework?” Izumi grunted in annoyance, biting hard into her toast and grinding her teeth in the process.
Her hair took on light flames.
He sighed. “Seriously, why do you hate her so much? I think she's a great teacher,” the older brother mocked with mild annoyance and curiosity.
Huffing, she responded. “Yeah, because nepotism shines in the air, Izu-chan,” she let out a tired sigh, ruffling the hair that took him so long to tame. “Seriously, I think she hates me or something.”
Izuku tried to fiddle with his hair while he responded to his sister's woe. “Izumi, you literally told her she was a waste of oxygen because she wouldn't let you go to the bathroom.”
She rolled her eyes while trying to smooth her green hair. “Did I lie?” she asked, not waiting for a verbal response.
Izuku looked at her, as if asking if she was serious. Seeing him, she couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. “Fine, I'll treat her better from now on…” she replied, before a slight glint of malice appeared in her eyes, “although her tires could use a little warmth, don't you think?”
Izuku tugged on her ear in response, making her whine like a little girl. He really didn't understand his sister. Her grades were, surprisingly, perfect, even surpassing mine.
From the outside, she was a genius, and Midoriya had to admit: she was, genuinely speaking. However, while his older sister did everything she could to bring the best grades home and rant about it, Izuku stayed away from the critical eye of others. Even though he was too smart for his own good, whenever he seemed to succeed at something good, a trip to a place without sight or human eyes nearby, along with a couple of hits and threats, would intentionally slow him down.
If he didn't want to get hit by them, he had to put the brakes on his accelerator. It was like putting a rock between the gearshift and going much slower than usual, allowing others to overtake him.
Being born into a world without a Quirk was a pain, and he knew it in painful detail. A Quirk was too much for a person to bear on their own. The responsibility and what it entailed were already a heavy weight on their shoulders. Literally, at five years old, your life, your future, and everything else were determined.
Now, a person without a "Quirk"? God, you were either dead or disabled, according to his school bullies. Although he knew his older sister was very strong and would defend him no matter what, Izuku didn't want to involve her in something that didn't really concern her. She knew something was up, of course; she wasn't that stupid, but he was always able to make up an excuse and get away with it thanks to the lies he ranted to mother, the only adult in the house, and...
God, why couldn't he ask for help with this...? He'd already forgotten, but who would bother to extend a helping hand to him anyway? It's not like his life really matters right now.
Anyway, it doesn't matter! With or without his Quirk, he was going to become a hero alongside his sister, and he'd be just like his idol, All Might. Saving everyone, letting them know they'd be okay, and smiling in the face of danger, giving off a sense of calm and security... That's what he aspired to be, just like his great idol.
Beside him, Izumi's plate was emptied completely, leaving crumbs scattered on the wooden table.
"Well, that was a breakfast fit for the gods, little brother. Now, why don't we watch something...?" she asked, turning on the TV, bored as one could be.
"I don't think we'll have much to watch; after all, we'll be late if we get distracted, you know?" He said at the entrance, placing his backpack over his shoulders and taking its straps in his hands. At the same time, his inseparable red shoes hugged his feet, unable to let go. He handed his sister her own, who nodded, flipping through the channels.
Izuku looked at her before shaking his head.
Glancing over, he saw a family photo. He took it in his rough, calloused hands before running a finger over the tempered glass that separated it from the original paper image. A familiar memory of everyone smiling in front of a camera. His mother, a beautiful woman with green hair and eyes, inherited her physical characteristics and, perhaps, nervousness, who knows? Anyway, the important thing was the one standing next to her, smiling and happy with his situation.
In his head, he sighed, a feeling of yearning aching for the past that's already passed.
The man next to her in the photo had messy white hair that gave him a rather fitting touch of longevity, while his dark eyes maintained a noticeable air of skepticism. In the image, he was wearing a suit accompanied by a black tie and a jet-black jacket. He always wore the same thing, without fail, and that made him wonder why; however, he was unable to find an answer to that question.
He also noticed a certain cigarette box sticking out of the breast pocket. His father, Hisashi Midoriya, had a 《Quirk》 that allowed him to breathe fire through his mouth, while his mother, Inko Midoriya, possessed a 《Quirk》 that allowed her to attract small objects towards her.
With two parents who bore useful Quirks, what was the probability of being born Quirkless? According to Midoriya, it was very low; Minuscule, even. But luck didn't listen. At least, not for him. It's been four years since Hisashi moved abroad to work more comfortably. He sends money in the form of letters and calls via video chat frequently, but Izuku always refuses to see him. Always looking for an excuse to avoid him.
He couldn't face him, feeling, deep down, that he'd abandoned them, placing a greater burden on his mother's shoulders than he could have imagined.
'He probably did it because of your genetic uselessness.'
“Brother, brother, brother!” Izumi’s exclamation pulled him out of his depressive spiral, as she handed him her cell phone with haste, happy and excited, “Kamui Woods, Death Arms, and the debut of Mt. Lady are fighting a villain near our path to school! Let’s go check it out!” she exclaimed, jumping slightly with an excited smile on her face.
Since they were little, both of them had been extremely enthusiastic about heroes, although what fascinated Izuku the most was their "quirks", something he broke down and analyzed quite enthusiastically; it was fun, in its own way. However, this news was actually comforting to the green-haired boy, who approached with the same excitement.
The last thing you could see at the Midoriya house was two twins running off, searching for the heroes who had appeared on the news to see them in action. They both wanted to be heroes, truth be told. So why not go see great professionals in action? It would be awesome!
And so, their story began.