Hi, my name is Junichiro Kazama, and this is the story of how I became the strongest hero in the world.

Just kidding.

On a more serious note, this story is not the story of a man who rose to the top and became the strongest. No, this is something far worse. This is the story of a man who was robbed of his chance of becoming the strongest hero in the world. Of his chance to be the one people looked up to. His one and only opportunity to become someone of worth. This is another perspective, the story of someone who could have stood at the top; had things been different.

This story is about me. The man who would become the number two hero in the world, who is both grateful yet spiteful of a man named Midoriya Izuku, who would become the most powerful hero to ever walk the face of the earth. The one who stands behind him at the very pinnacle of power.

And lives in his shadow.

The sound of an alarm reverberated through the hollow hallways of a house, bouncing off the doors and invading the ears of all those close to it. A young boy rolled incessantly under his bedsheets, rubbing his face into his pillowcase. The alarm continued to blare, and he reached an annoyed hand up to it, slamming it down on the surface of his phone. He groaned audibly as he pulled the device off his bedside table, staring bleary-eyes at the screen. The clock said 7:03, and he made a sound of long-suffering before dropping back down into his pillow. Barely a few minutes later, the door to his room opened, and a girl stepped in.

She tiptoed lightly across the floor, her petite figure bouncing gently as she crossed over to the window. Throwing the blinds open, sunlight streamed into the room, reflecting off her sleek black hair as she crossed over to the bed. Bending her haunches, she wiggled for a bit, before launching herself square over the sleeping boy, landing heavily on his stomach. Flinching, the boy opened his eyes again, staring sleepily at the beautiful girl draped across him.

She had large, light brown eyes, sparkling with a playful and youthful energy that danced across her irises. She smiled a brilliant white smile down at the boy, her small and sharp features giving her a look of elegant yet vibrant beauty, and her soft and supple skin made her an absolute knockout. She stretched across his stomach, and he groaned at the added weight.

'Good morning Jun.' She cooed, wiggling her feet. The boy, Jun, groaned as he shifted underneath her.

'Morning Aki.' He yawned, rolling her off and slipping out from under the covers. He sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his hands over his face, and attempted to shake of the remnants of sleep.

'Hey, how many times have I told you to call me "Onee-chan"?' She admonished, bouncing across the bed and leaning over the boy. He hugged her briefly, patting her on the head, and stood up to leave. She stared at him, cocking her head to the side curiously.

'Have you lost weight?' She inquired, and Jun sighed, scratching his head. He glanced at himself in the mirror, observing his reflection quietly.

He was well muscled, owing to his intense training sessions made to boost his combat ability, covered in cords of lean, hard muscle, keeping his body well cut but strong. Despite his muscle being primarily functional, there was still no question about his size. He weighed in pretty heavily for his height, and that was something he was proud of. He stretched, feeling the muscles in his back work, and turned back to his sister, Aki.

'Have I?' He asked, frowning, and she nodded, pointing at his abs.

'Yeah. I know you want to keep lean but having too little fat is also a bad thing.' She said, prodding him. 'I know the appeal of an eight-pack, but I will not allow that to come at the expense of your health.'

Jun rolled his eyes, flicking his sister on the forehead. 'Thanks Mom, but I'm doing just fine managing my own diet.'

She stuck her tongue out at him, and he ignored her, making his way down the hall to the bathroom. There were two bathrooms next to each other, thankfully, as it would be nigh impossible to survive without them. As he passed the first bathroom door, it slid open, and another girl stepped out, bumping into him as he walked by.

'Oof! Oh, morning Jun!' She called cheerily, her silvery-white hair bouncing lightly over her shoulders, pecking him on the cheek. She smiled at him through wide silver eyes, grinning a wide grin at him. She wasn't as pretty as Aki, but the gentle curve of her jaw and full lips accentuated her beauty. She'd had many avid followers in middle school, her smaller, cuter features and large eyes popular with the boys, along with Aki, whose elegant beauty had made her essentially an idol. The fact that they were also rather…top heavy…only contributed to it. That had led to numerous fights and heated confessions, causing Jun a significant amount of trouble. Standing next to them, with his larger nose and rounder jawline, crooked lips and small, hard eyes, he was essentially the troll guarding the bridge to the princesses' castle. He poked her on the nose, opening the second bathroom door.

'Today's the daaaaaaaaaay! Are you ready?' She sang, twirling on the spot, and Jun couldn't help but break into a grin.

'Morning Yuki.' He replied evenly, pausing in the doorway. 'And not really, no.'

'Boo.' The silver-haired girl, Yuki, pouted at him. 'You have to relax a bit more, you know? Try to be like me!' She said, twirling again on the spot. Jun rolled his eyes, raising an eyebrow at the girl.

'I can't be you. I don't have boobs.'

'Perv.'

'Love you too.' He jested, pausing as he observed her. She cocked her head to the side curiously.

'What's up?' She asked, and he smirked at the girl.

'You've still got ash on your face.' He said, and she turned a bright shade of red, darting back into the bathroom, a gentle trail of ash floating in her wake. He stepped into the other bathroom and sloshed water over his face, staring at himself in the mirror. He ran a hand through his hazel brown hair, his bright-blue eyes staring back at him. Despite being related by blood, he bore almost no physical resemblance to Akiko, his half-sister, instead bearing a mix of Asian and Caucasian features, the most prominent being his hair and eyes. He squeezed toothpaste over his brush, sighing to himself, raising an eyebrow at his mismatched hair, eyes and face, and sighed again. He jumped slightly as the bathroom door shot open, and yet another girl appeared in the doorway. She was clearly older than the rest, and her face registered a look of surprise as her eyes settled on him. She raised a hand in greeting, pulling her shirt off and chucking it in the wash basket, her shorts following soon after. Jun raised his own in greeting and she pushed past him into the shower room, her long, dark purple hair trailing behind. The sounds of the shower started, and Jun continued brushing his teeth. He rinsed out his mouth as the shower door opened, and the purple-haired girl stuck her head out.

'Jun, we're out of body soap.' She called, and he rolled his eyes.

'Get it yourself.' He gargled, and she pouted at the boy. Ignoring her, he merely stepped aside to allow access to the cupboard under the sink, and a metal wire shot out from behind the bathroom door. It yanked the cupboard open, retrieving the bottle, and flicked him on the arm for good measure, before disappearing back behind the door. Jun swore at her and was instead met with the sound of running water. They eventually traded places, and she brushed her teeth as Jun showered, calling back to him to hurry up as she left to get changed.

Downstairs

Jun pulled a plate off the dish rack next to him, dumping a pancake on it and handing it to Aki. She accepted it with a quick "thanks" and dumped syrup over it. The silver-haired girl, Yuki, sat at the table, swinging her legs as she waited for her share. A head of purple hair appeared at the door, yawning as she entered the living room.

'Hanabi nee-san, Morning!' Yuki greeted, waving her into the seat next to her. The purple-haired woman, Hanabi, slid onto the wooden chair obligingly, and Jun dropped a plate of pancakes in front of the two girls.

'Thanks Jun.' She said, picking up her fork, and Yuki nodded her assent. Jun set aside another plate at the empty seat across from them and took his place at the head of the table. He shoveled his way though his pancakes, chewing noisily, and Aki flicked him in the head.

'Chew quietly, for goodness' sake.' She scolded, and Jun ignored her, continuing to wolf down his food. He flinched as a small mist of cold air was blown in his direction, and scowled at Aki. She grinned at him, the white mist leaking out between her teeth, and he tossed his plate into the sink just as a slightly disheveled, red-haired girl burst into the room. He motioned wordlessly at the filled plate, and she thanked him, tossing her bag onto the sofa. Jun scaled the steps quietly, returning to his room to pack his stuff, and the girls greeted each other at the table.

'Did you wake up late again Hikaru?' Hanabi shook her head admonishingly, and the red-haired girl, Hikaru, rolled her eyes.

'Eh, I still wind up on time, don't I?' She replied, and Hanabi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

'You know, you're practically idolized in school. It's a shame they can't see this side to you, I bet they'd be horrified.' She mused, and Hikaru laughed aloud.

'I bet they would! Thanks for the meal!' She said, tossing her plate and dropping across the sofa. Yuki made a sound of annoyance as the plate clattered into the sink.

'Could you not leave everything to me to clean up, Hikaru-nee?' She grumbled, and Hikaru laughed at the forlorn girl.

'Too bad little sis! Last one to finish cleans up! That's the rule.' She said, grinning, and Yuki grinned devilishly back.

'Yeah, but the rule also states that those who cook, don't wash. And I helped with the batter.' She declared, and Hikaru's face fell. Laughing at her older sister, Yuki deposited her plate in the cluttered sink, and patted her sister on the back as she began to clean up. Jun plodded down the stairs with his bag, Aki in tow, and made their way to the door. Hanabi slung her handbag over her shoulder, and Jun poked her.

'Do you have your costume?' He asked, and she nodded, patting her bag.

'I appreciate the concern, but make sure YOU don't forget anything.' She said, pulling on her shoes. 'I mean, it is your entrance exam after all. You've got your pencil case right? And your water bottle? And your application letter? And your student ID? You didn't forget to take your vitamins right? Don't do anything too crazy, okay?'

'Calm down Hanabi, I've got everything.' Jun rolled his eyes at his worrywart sister. 'I'm not going to die you know.'

'That's Hanabi-nee to you' She said, flicking his forehead. He rubbed the spot, annoyed, and she placed a hand on her hip. 'I know you don't usually do it since you were raised in America, but over here it's a sign of respect.'

'Yeah yeah.' He sighed, waving a hand dismissively. Hanabi smiled reassuringly at the boy, patting him on the shoulder. He was acting nonchalant, but the slight forced edge to his voice gave him away

'It's alright to be nervous you know. I was too during my entrance exam.' She said, smiling. 'I mean, you'd be pretty crazy not to be nervous for THEIR entrance exam. It's only the top hero school in the world.' She glanced over at the silver-haired girl. 'Well, unless you're Miyuki, in which case I don't think you know the meaning of the word "nervous"'

Jun laughed heartily, accepting a kiss from his older sister. 'Thanks, Hanabi. I feel better already.'

'That's Hanabi-nee to you.' She repeated, chopping him gently on the head. She ushered them out the door and into her car, pausing at the doorway for Hikaru, who shot out the doorway in a flash of red. She staggered haggardly into the passenger seat, and Aki laughed at her disheveled appearance. Hanabi glared at the girl, turning back to lock the door that Hikaru'd left wide open, and Hikaru made an "oopsie" face to the eldest sister. Their house was fairly large, painted white and blue with two stories and several rooms. Their parents were usually working, and though their father rarely came back, their mother would typically return in the evenings, albeit late. As such, Hanabi had taken on the role of parent for the other four children over the course of the last few years, after Jun and Aki's father remarried to Hanabi's mother. Hanabi started the car, pulling out of the driveway, and Jun pulled his application letter out of his bag. UA High School's logo sat, emblazoned on the top, and he ran a finger down its surface, staring at the logo. Miyuki patted him on the shoulder, grinning toothily at him.

'It'll be fine Jun!' She reassured, clapping him on the back. 'We'll be fine, and we'll get to be triplets in the same school, and the same class. I know it!'

Aki shook her head knowingly at the over-enthusiastic girl. 'Yuki, I don't think triplets means what you think it means.'

'Yeah it does!' Miyuki laughed heartily, throwing her arms over her two siblings. 'Triplets means three siblings of the same age. So, we're totally triplets!' She poked Aki on the cheek. 'I don't care whether we share the same parents or not. We're triplets. That's final.'

Jun rolled his eyes, a small smile creasing his lips. 'Yuki, triplets have to have the same birthday. We were all born in different months.'

'La la la, I can't hear you!' Yuki plugged her ears uncaringly, and Jaye sighed, glancing out the window. He watched the tall buildings pass them by in a flash, passing cars and shophouses as they went, and looked up as the tips of UA High School loomed into view. He gripped his trousers tightly, watching their approach with bated breath, and Miyuki took his hand quietly. She squeezed it, and did the same to Aki.

'Good luck to us! We're powerful, so there's no way we won't get in, right Hikki?' She called, and Hikaru grinned backwards over her shoulder.

'Of course! I already told you roughly how the test will go, didn't I? You guys have great offense, better than me obviously, but I still got in.' She said, and Yuki rolled her eyes.

'You could just tell us what the exam format will be like.' She said, and Hikaru stuck out her tongue.

'Nooooope, not telling! You'll do fine, I know it.' She threw her hands up, stretching uncaringly. 'Well…to be quite frank, Jun could probably top the entire exam.' She added, and Jun rolled his eyes.

'I don't need to top the entrance exams. That'll just put a target on my back for the rest of my first year. The entrance exam isn't important, what really matters is the hero license exams. I don't need to be seen at the sports festival either, I can just work with Hanabi's Hero agency. That's all I care about.' He said, glancing at the school gates. 'But still, nothing's guaranteed. So I'll try to get solidly in the middle.' He glanced across at his two sisters. 'You two can shoot for the top if you want.'

The two girls grinned at each other, turning back to the boy admonishingly.

'Nooooooooo!' Yuki sang, leaning in to Jun's side. Aki echoed her, leaning over as well.

'There's no meaning in getting to the top if we don't go through you to get to it.' Aki giggled, poking his cheek, and Yuki added her finger to the mix. Jun swatted them away, laughing, and they slowed to a halt as they reached the front gate of UA High School. Jun took a deep breath, trying to calm his trembling nerves, and Hanabi glanced back over her seat.

'Good luck kiddos.' She called, scratching her head. 'Though, I suppose you don't need luck, but we'll wish you luck all the same.' She elbowed Hikaru, who thrust a thumb up from her seat.

'Break a leg! Well not literally, but you get the idea.' The three rolled their eyes at the poor joke, slipping out of the car and waving goodbye. Turning, they passed quietly through the tall metal gates of UA High, and suddenly Jun was hit with a violently oppressive and heavily suffocating sensation. The intense pressure bore down on his head and shoulders, and he nearly staggered as his heart raced in his chest. His eyes ran up the massive building, where generations of heroes had stood before him, where they had taken their first steps towards their ideals, and he set his jaw in a line. Gazing up at the logo plastered above the entrance, he breathed a shaky breath, clenching his eyes shut.

He felt hands wriggle their way into his own, and he squeezed his sisters tightly. The girls smiled at him from either side, and he thanked them silently for their reassuring presence. Steeling his nerves, they advanced through the high metal walls, and took their first steps towards their future.

Chapter 1 end. We'll be having the exam next!