"HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?"
An incredibly beautiful girl with long silver hair shouted as she glared at Izumi.
"Dad, did you secretly give him lessons behind my back?"
"What secret lessons? Do you think you'd even let him do that?"
Izumi retorted at Ayaka's outrageous claim.
"Then how did you already copy everything?"
"Well, I am a genius, little sister."
"Genius? Genius!? We are twins! If you are a genius, then so am I!"
Shouted Ayaka, her cheeks puffing up.
"Calm down, Ayaka. And Izumi, stop teasing your sister." Jin said calmly.
Ayaka huffed and leaned back in her chair, clearly displeased.
Seeing her pout, Izumi and Jin grinned in amusement.
The two bumped fists under the table.
"Don't be upset, my cute little sister. I can spar with you. Combat should help you grow faster. You've always had a knack for getting stronger through experience."
Her pout vanished instantly, replaced by a proud grin.
Aoi just shook her head, watching the whole exchange with a faint smile.
"How are your swordsmanship and martial arts classes going?" She asked.
"Our swordsmanship instructor keeps sparring with us," Izumi replied. "He says we've learned enough techniques and now need experience. We've been using real swords for a few months to gain it."
Ayaka continued where he left off. "We got our black belts in Judo and our Jiu-Jitsu instructor said we've entered the advanced orange skill group. He said it'll take about two more years to complete our training. But we might reach green level before our first year of high school ends."
"Good!" Jin said with a nod. "Descendants of samurai should at least have that much skill."
"Have both of you finished preparing for the recommendation entrance exam?"
"Yes, Mom!" Ayaka answered eagerly.
Aoi smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm, then turned to Izumi, who met het gaze calmly.
"Mother, I have a condition if you want me to go to U.A."
"Brother, what are you talking about?" Ayaka asked, confused.
"Ayaka, dear. Please allow your brother to continue," Aoi said gently, motioning for Izumi to continue.
"If you want me to enter U.A. or any other hero school, you'll have to meet my conditions," Izumi said evenly.
"First, you need to stop all hero work. This shouldn't be a problem, since I've noticed you haven't been doing much since Father's last battle. While the two of you don't run a hero agency directly, there are plenty of agencies under our family."
"Second, you'll need to gradually and discreetly spread the word that your quirk has deteriorated, become unstable. You can put out the information that you're only able to use a portion of your ability in the form of barriers. You'll need to update your hero registry data, but don't make any official announcements. Let the news spread quietly through our hidden channels and rumours so no one doubts its authenticity.
If there's ever an emergency where you must use your quirk, limit yourself to barrier-type applications only. It should be more than enough for most situations"
Aoi studied her son's face for a long moment before replying.
"I can accept your conditions… Is this because you're worried about my safety?"
"Yes… Mother."
Aoi's expression softened briefly, then sharpened with knowing calm.
"From the thought you've put into these conditions, I can tell you've been snooping in places you shouldn't have… otherwise, you wouldn't know what we're truly dealing with."
She turned her head toward her husband.
"It wasn't me," Jin said quickly, raising both hands in a mock surrender.
Izumi replied before his father could say more.
"I have my sources."
Aoi turned back to him, her gaze unwavering. For a few seconds, silence hung between them. The silence felt heavy but not hostile. Then she spoke softly to the air, as if addressing no one in particular.
"It seems my son has finally begun using our family's resources for their intended purpose."
A moment later, the shadows near the wall rippled, and an elderly man in a butler's uniform stepped forward into the light. His short hair and beard were neatly trimmed, and though his age showed on his face, his posture remained straight and strong.
"I hope the lady of the house isn't offended that I didn't consult you first," the old man said respectfully.
Aoi didn't turn her gaze from Izumi. Still watching her son, she answered calmly, her tone steady.
"He is the heir. He is mature enough to act like it."
The butler bowed slightly. As if on cue, he stepped backward into the darkness, his presence vanishing completely as the room returned to its quiet stillness.
"I accept your conditions," Aoi said finally. "I look forward to seeing what you have planned for the future."
Izumi nodded and smiled at his mother.
Jin watched the exchange with a soft grin.
The moment was broken by Ayaka, who alternated between staring at her brother and the spot where the butler had disappeared.
"You and Mr. Tadashi definitely rehearsed that! There's no way that just happened naturally. You're not that cool!"
Izumi gave a mischievous smile and turned toward her.
"I am that cool, little sister."
"Hah! As if I'd believe that!" Ayaka scoffed. "Miss Chiyo, we need to step up our game and pull something off next time!"
"I'm ready at your command, my lady," came a refined voice form the opposite side of the room. The direction opposite where the butler had appeared.
Ayaka tuned to find an equally elegant woman in a maid's uniform standing there, smiling politely.
Ayaka pointed dramatically at her brother. "Look forward to what I have planned, brother. It's going to be better than what you did!"
Still wearing his mischievous grin, Izumi replied, "It's not cool if you plan it ahead of time."
The twins immediately started bickering again, their voices echoing through the hall.
The maid, her presence almost ghostlike, quietly disappeared back into the shadows without a sound.
Jin watched his children argue, then turned to his wife with a warm smile.
"They look ready."
Aoi smiled softly in return.
"They do."
***
We finish dinner, and I return to my room.
With this, all my preparations are complete.
Still, I should double-check everything.
Just to be sure.
I walk to the window and look out at the town.
"Mr. Tadashi, let's go through this one more time, shall we?" I say, my eyes still fixed on the streets below.
The old man steps out from the shadows of the room, his movements soundless.
"As you command, young master," he replies, bowing slightly.
I climb onto the window rail and leap into the open air as I activate my quirk. The wind whips past me as I zip though the night, vaulting from building to building.
After roughly ten minutes of travel, I land on the roof of a worn-down warehouse. One among many scattered across this desolate industrial stretch. The metal beneath my boots groans softly.
I walk the length of the roof until I find a small puncture in the steel plating. Closing my eyes, I extend my senses.
No electrical signatures nearby.
Clear.
Without hesitation, I drop through the opening.
I land in a small clearing amid collapsed pillars and crumbled walls, debris casting jagged shadows in the faint light filtering from the hole above.
To my right stands Mr. Tadashi, already waiting.
He wears a grey field suit; the kind of lightweight support-gear used for covert hero operations. It was airtight, static-free, and designed to leave no trace. He holds another suit folded neatly in his hands.
I take it and change silently. Once I'm dressed, I double-check the mask, seals at my wrists and neck, then scan the area again.
Nothing unusual.
With that assurance, I ascend back through the roof and step out into the night air.
I move toward the edge, climb down, and make my way across the industrial stretch until I spotted a collapsed section of the outer wall.
A faint trail lead from there toward the forest.
I follow it, taking a route only I know. Changing direction several times, leaving misleading tracks. An hour later, I reach a clearing near the base of a cliff.
I scan the area focusing on the ground.
'There it is.'
Carefully, I place my hands on the premade indents. With a precise pressure, I lift the section of earth. The ground rises as a single, solid slab. The lid I had designed myself, revealing a hallow beneath.
Inside, a container, fused seamlessly with the earth as if grown from it, holds a transparent liquid that glimmers faintly in the dim light. The organic material of the container curves naturally, almost living.
I study it for a few long seconds, my mind drifting to the choice I've made, the path I've set myself on. The weight of it presses on me. What I am planning on doing, the consequences that will follow.
But as always, clarity comes.
My purpose, my responsibility, and the future of those I care about demands this.
With deliberate care, I lower the slab, returning the earth to its original state, leaving nothing to indicate I had been here.
I stand up to hear leaves rustle; I turn to the direction of the sound.
Mr. Tadashi emerges from between the trees, his composure unbroken.
"Young master," he says, "I have scoured the surroundings for any traces of activity. Nothing so far."
I nod silently and begin walking in the direction he came from. He falls into step behind me. For a moment, his shadow stretches unnaturally long, swallowing the clearing before retracting to normal.
After several minutes of quiet walking, he speaks again.
"Is all this truly necessary, young master? If you wish to dispose of someone, I can complete that task for you. You do not need to use such an outdated method."
I keep my gaze forward. "I know there are faster ways, Mr. Tadashi. But this way keeps things cleaner with no traces, no unnecessary attention."
He says nothing for a moment, the sound of our footsteps the only thing between us.
Then, in a measured tone, "You will soon be entering a hero school. Your father and mother wouldn't approve of this. I advise you to reconsider. Keep your hands clean. Please allow me to handle such matters."
I glance at him briefly, then back to the path.
"Thank you for worrying, Mr. Tadashi… but this is something I must do myself. I need to experience what I plan to do. I need to feel it and understand it, the full weight of it. Only by facing that reality can I become a part of this world and understand what is really costs."
"I am going to U.A. to sharpen my skills. I must be strong enough to face what lies ahead. All of this… it's necessary. Necessary if I'm going to keep the people I care about safe."
Mr. Tadashi remains silent for a few seconds, then bows his slightly.
"I understand, young master."
The rest of the walk passes in silence until we return to the warehouse yard.
I scan the surroundings one final time.
Nothing.
Then I leap back onto the roof and drop down into the hollow space below.
Mr. Tadashi is already waiting in his usual butler attire, holding the clothes I wore earlier.
I take them, nodding in acknowledgement and change back.
"I'll see you at the mansion," I say.
Without another word, I shoot up through the roof and vanish into the night.
Minutes later, I slip through the open window of my room and land lightly on the floor.
The silence is broken by a familiar voice.
"Where have you been, brother?"
***