Whenever Izumi was quiet, something was wrong. Everyone in the Todoroki household knew that silence spelled an ominous beginning to one of Izumi's infamous fights with Endeavor. That afternoon her stillness didn't preclude an oncoming tantrum but was an attempt at behaving herself so that she and Shouto could play after their study sessions.

If she behaved, they could finish before Endeavor arrived and hang out in the backyard like they used to before Izumi's quirk emerged.

"Shouto," drawled Izumi. He glanced at her in confusion. Breaking the quiet was another sign of trouble. Endeavor didn't like 'distractions' and barely tolerated allowing them together for the brief two hours. Izumi didn't care.

Touya said that Endeavor was a 'jerk who didn't know right from wrong.' She felt the sting of his slap enough times to know it was true.

"Whatever it is will make dad mad," muttered Shouto, gaze glued on his workbook as he traced out the characters for the word important.

"If he yells at me, I'll go scream in the street." She grinned to herself, a look that sent a shiver down Shouto's spine. "If we're lucky, a reporter will see."

"You'll make mom upset then," he warned. His face was too severe for a five-year-old. The contrast in his hair combined with his mismatched eyes made him look older. Plus, Shouto rarely smiled.

Izumi's face fell as she looked at her twin. She fingered her own hair, the top layer completely red, only giving way to the white when she lifted it up or moved her head. A year ago, they were following the same path.

Under the eye Endeavor, they learned to stretch their bodies and start training to eventually become heroes—a dream shattered by the fact that her quirk wasn't suitable for Endeavor's ambition.

"It's fine. Forget it." Izumi picked up her pencil, doodling in her own book.

Shouto frowned, pausing his work, "What did you want?"

"Did you ask dad if I can train with you?"

He uttered a single word. "No."

Silence reigned. For four years, Izumi and Shouto were separated from their siblings. Cared for by nannies and kept on a separate side of the house, the two barely knew Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Touya.

Now, it was Shouto who was a stranger to her.

Her quirk emerged as every child's did, suddenly and without warning. Shouto's came first, the ability to create both ice and fire. Izumi waited patiently in the weeks after their birthday, growing more and more nervous at the thought that she might not have a quirk. Her father watched her unsympathetically, gaze sharp and pointed as if to say: You're already weak. There's no point in waiting any longer.

Then finally, one day, as she was in the backyard dipping her toes into the koi pond, Izumi discovered that the water clung to her skin and hands like a second skin. Panicked, she tried to get it off, only to have more spill from her palms.

Her panic turned to excitement and excitement to fury as her father's face held no hint of pride but a deep, blistering indifference. In a single moment, Izumi was tossed out and separated from Shouto.

Exchanged like a pair of scuffed shoes. Three new ones replaced the only sibling she knew. Her mother, who she saw every day, became another ghost.

When she thought of Endeavor, she thought of his anger entwined with deep disappointment whenever he looked at her. Her hurt at being tossed aside, her worry over losing Shouto, festered and ballooned into a fury so deep, Izumi didn't know where it ended, and she started.

"Shouto-nii." He sighed, placing his pencil down and turning to her expectantly. "We should run away."

"You're not very smart."

"It's not fair!" she whined, fists curling under the table. "I don't want to stay here anymore. I miss you and Mom. And he's always…he…."

"Dad won't let us—" He cut himself off firmly, turning his attention back to his book as a door slammed in the house.

Moments later, Endeavor was in the room, scowling at them—well, at her. He crossed the room, pulling her book from her hands and looked over it. Izumi's doddles covered the page, not a single question answered.

"If you're going to waste time, then do it on your own. Don't bother, Shouto." He threw the book down on the table.

Izumi stared at it for a long moment. Shouto's silence urging her not to do anything, but Izumi didn't know how to hold back. She grinned and stood quickly, her chair toppling to the ground. She gave an exaggerated salute, "Sir, yes, sir! Any other orders?"

Endeavor snatched her arm and pulled her out of the room. Shouto's pale, worried face followed her out of the room.

Todoroki Enji was proud when the last of his children were born. Shouto and Izumi were slightly early but healthy and happy babies. Rei had an easier birth than her last two. Everything was right.

For the first time since he discovered that Touya's quirk hurt him, Enji had his dream clutched between his hands. Izumi was smaller than Shouto. She cried less than his other children and would grab the nearest person's hair and yank when she wanted something.

He saw himself in her.

Shouto was everything he had wanted and more. His hair split straight down the middle, an indication of the quirk that would come.

Enji watched the two of them eagerly, waiting for their quirks to emerge so they could start the real training necessary to become a hero. He built an agency from the ground up that they would one day inherit.

He kept a careful eye on Touya, hating himself for not knowing how to stop the boy's quirk from hurting him and for not knowing the words to pull him away from the path that Enji had set him on. He hoped that Touya would forget about being a hero. But there was too much of Enji in him.

When Shouto got his quirk, it was as if every moment fell into place, each piece of his life neatly organized to create this last chance, his best chance at surpassing All Might.

Izumi was the spare part in the set, trailing behind Shouto. Her hair, though different from Shouto's, pointed to the same quirk. But what she got instead was a mutation, a combination of his and Rei's that was utterly useless for his plans.

"Dad! Dad!" She shouted, running and tripping into the training room. "I got my quirk! Wanna see? Do you wanna?"

What she showed him was not fire or ice but a little puddle of water that hung between her hands and floated in the air. Enji frowned. Her tongue trapped between her teeth, she looked at the water intently, and it turned to ice.

"See! Isn't it cool?" She waved her hands in the air, and some of the ice disappeared, the rest falling aimlessly to the ground.

It was not. There were countless heroes out there with water-based quirks. Heroes so small and nameless they don't make the ranking systems at all. What he wanted was power—sheer, brutal the kind Touya had, the kind Shouto would have.

Enji grabbed her by the arm, throwing the door of the training room open, "Get out."

"Wh—what?" she stumbled, catching herself against the wall.

"Go to your mother. Don't interrupt Shouto and me again. Do you understand?"

Shock and hurt fly across her face, and the girl who rarely cried looked close to tears as she stared up at him. Enji didn't look back as he slid the door shut, but the sound of her wailing sobs followed him into the room. Shouto stared at the closed door and then moved his gaze to his feet.

Enji went through Shouto's training with a muddled mind, dismissing Shouto after his third failed attempt at creating hotter flames. Something in Shouto's face, no matter how small he was, haunted him for years later—a cold, anger, a look that carried the weight of his hatred in every line.

And just like that, the last bridge between him and his children burned.

Touya took one look at the swollen pink skin on her arm and scowled deeply. Izumi shifted away from his gaze, uncomfortable with the tightness in his eyes. Her elder brother sighed and motioned her forward.

His hand hovered near her arm, "Again?"

"It doesn't hurt," she muttered, pressing her hand against her arm. A cool frost permeated from her palm, soothing the ache.

"Doesn't matter if it doesn't hurt, Umi-chan." Touya stuck his head out the door, looking to see if Fuyumi and Natsuo returned from the park. He was trying to leave again, realized Izumi. Touya frequently slipped out of the house to train on Sekoto Peak whenever their mother was distracted.

"Can I come with you? I won't bother you like last time." Izumi looked for her shoes, knowing if she put them on quick enough, Touya wouldn't be able to leave her behind.

He shook his head, white locks falling into his eyes, "You always say that and end up messing around."

"Please, I promise this time, Touya-nii," she begged, rubbing her hands together. He scowled, muttering something under his breath, but waited as Izumi slipped her sandals on.

Walking briskly, they crept out of the front gate, Touya's hand grasping hers as they crossed the street. She was a lot smaller than him, and eventually, he got tired of her dragging her feet. Kneeling, he gestured to his back. "Get on."

Piggy-back rides from Touya were rare. He got annoyed with her easily but often did things that surprised her, like bringing her favorite snack back from the convenience store or letting her sit in his room and watch him play video games.

"Are we almost there?" asked Izumi as they climbed higher up Sekoto Peak.

It was a sweltering summer day, and Touya was warmer than she was. Izumi didn't mind the heat, often finding it cozy compared to her icy skin. She leaned back slightly, pulling her cheek from his shoulder as he adjusted her position on his back once again.

"I told you not to come," muttered Touya. He turned his head slightly to glare at her.

Izumi motioned for him to let her down, grabbing onto his hand to cool his sweaty skin. "It's more fun with me."

"I'm not trying to have fun," Touya snapped, flicking her on the head sharply. "Training isn't a game. If you want to be a hero, you have to learn that."

Izumi fell silent. Touya was like this sometimes—brash and angry whenever he spoke about heroes. It was why she preferred Natsuo, who didn't mind when she followed him around and would even let her join him and his friends whenever they played soccer at school.

Touya glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Why'd you go quiet now?"

Izumi shrugged.

He rolled his eyes, "You're so annoying, you know that. This is supposed to be a secret. If you get hurt when I'm training, Dad's going to find out."

"I can just use my quirk," said Izumi in confusion. Water put out a fire. Didn't he know that?

"Splashing water won't do anything! My fire's too hot!"

"I just wanted to see," she said, her voice falling to a mere whisper. "You're going to be a hero, and I want to be one too."

Touya stopped walking and kneeled to her level, looking at her seriously. Izumi flinched back as his hands reached for her shoulders. He sighed heavily. "Izumi, part of being a hero, is protecting other people, right?"

She nodded seriously.

"Then you need to stay back, ok? Your quirk isn't like mine. It's fine this one time, but next time stay at home with Fuyumi or mom."

Izumi nodded eagerly. Once they reached the top of Sekoto Peak, Izumi amused herself with climbing one of the trees while Touya stretched.

If she balanced on the branch, she could see the city below. When Touya was done warming up, she climbed back down, finding a spot away from the clearing so she could watch him.

Endeavor's flames were brutally powerful and overwhelming. She saw on T.V. how easily he took down villains with sheer strength and power. Touya's were different. Softer, brighter, more eager to listen to his will.

"Pretty," whispered Izumi watching the dancing flames in awe. They rose and stretched as Touya moved, fluid like water but far deadlier. The air grew warm, pressing against her skin until she was sweating, and it was harder and harder to breathe. Izumi stepped back, further away from the fire and wondered how Touya could stand it.

"Do you see?" called Touya, grinning wildly. Izumi nodded quickly. "If dad cared, then he'd see that I'm going to be the one to—"

"It's too hot. Maybe you should stop!" Izumi flinched back, the air around her cooled. Near Touya, the heat strengthened, distorting the air.

"That's why I told you to stay home!" Touya shook his head in annoyance. "Just back up a bit."

Izumi's mouth quaked, eyes lingering on the way Touya's skin turned bright red, "You're getting hurt."

Touya didn't listen, burning a wide circle around him. He raised a fist, striking at the air, and fire flared out of his hands.

It didn't look so pretty anymore, just deadly.

Izumi inched closer, hands enclosed with water to help him if he lost control. Touya didn't seem to notice that she was there anymore, too consumed with his quirk.

A flame cut wide, and Izumi ducked down a second too late, the fire catching against her sleeve. Deep, searing pain crawled up her arm, eating at her skin. Intense and blinding, she wanted to get away from the pain, to claw off her own skin until it stopped. It was too hot, she wanted to scream but couldn't find the strength to do so.

Choking out Touya's name, he stopped and looked at her in horror. Tears slipped from the corners of Izumi's eyes as Touya scrambled toward her, falling to his knees next to her.

"It's okay, it's okay," he said, hands shaking as he looked at her forearm, the waxy, stiff skin already a deep brown. "Don't cry, okay? I'll make it better."

Izumi shook her head, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes. Sweat dripped down her forehead. Her head felt light and dizzy. Touya's eyes furrowed together, and then he slipped his arm under her knees.

"We're going to run home," he said, eyes wide with fear. "I'll fix this, I swear."

Izumi heard him through her shock, but the words didn't register fully through the haze of pain she felt. By the time Touya picked her up, she was already in the deep abyss of oblivion.

Izumi had yet to wake since Touya brought her home, screaming at the top of his lungs that he accidentally killed her. Touya hadn't spoken since Fuyumi spent all her time paying a silent vigil outside Izumi's door. Natsuo—Shouto hadn't spent much time with him—but he wandered down the halls like a ghost, only stopping to ask the nurse how Izumi was before disappearing into his room.

According to his mother, Izumi would be fine and suffered a severe burn on her forearm, which would eventually heal. Rei claimed that Izumi woke up a few times in the hospital to demand food, but the medication they gave her for the pain left her asleep most of the time.

Izumi looked small—far smaller than Shouto was used to seeing her. Sometimes it was easy to forget that his twin was slightly younger than him (a whole three hours), given her larger-than-life personality. He was used to the stubborn tilt of her jaw. The strong stance she took against Endeavor whenever she wanted to stir trouble. The loud, obnoxious laugh that usually followed one of her own jokes.

His father didn't mention Izumi's injury. Whenever Shouto brought it up, an odd look passed over his face before he forcibly changed the topic. Shouto wasn't allowed to visit her. The only time he saw Izumi was at night after his training. He had to sneak out of his room, tiptoe around the side of the house and climb in through Izumi's window.

The first time he saw Izumi after she arrived back home, she looked like a corpse. Pale and withdrawn, hanging limply in their father's arm. Endeavor ordered that she stay confined in her room until she recovered.

Then, like always, whenever something didn't go his way, Endeavor went to fight with Rei.

"I told you! I told you to watch him," shouted Enji so loud that Shouto heard it from his room.

"I can't do everything! You started this. You made him like this! You should have—" After that, the rest of their argument spiraled, and his mother emerged from the room, hiding her bruised skin and tears behind a smile meant to reassure him.

"Umi-chan, you have to get better," said Shouto, wrapping his fingers around hers. "Mom needs you. And Touya-nii won't speak to anyone."

Her fingers twitched against his own. Her hands were cooler than his but not as cold as his mother's were. It was a gentle coolness like dipping sunburnt skin into the ocean.

"I'll ask if we can train together, I promise. You won't have to sneak around anymore. And we can be heroes together like you always wanted. Me, you, and Touya."

Shouto stayed for a moment longer, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, before he snuck back out the window and to his room.

Izumi waited, breathing evenly until the nurse left the room to open her eyes. The pain in her arm, now a dull throb, was bearable if she didn't move too much. Her boredom, however, would probably kill her. She listened as the nurse spoke to Fuyumi before her steps echoed down the hall.

Swinging her feet, she stood from her bed, rushing to slide the door open. Natsuo and Fuyumi fell inside, staring at her wide-eyed.

"What day is it?" asked Izumi, placing her hands on her hips.

Natsuo's mouth opened and closed while Fuyumi scrambled to her feet, rushing to hug Izumi tightly. Izumi struggled against the embrace, sending Natsuo a pleading look to get Fuyumi off her.

"We thought you died," choked out Fuyumi.

"I can't die." Izumi pulled back, smiling widely. "It's just a little burn."

Natsuo scowled at her fiercely, but soon he was hugging her too, just tight enough that she felt it in her bones. His hands trembled against her skin. "Don't do that again."

"Where's Touya-nii?"

Natsuo and Fuyumi shifted, neither meeting her gaze. Izumi frowned but didn't push the issue. She didn't know how their father had reacted to her injury. If he hurt Touya…Izumi's smile fell.

Fuyumi guided her back to the bed, carefully fluffing her pillows and placed one across her lap so she could rest her arm without accidentally bumping it into anything. Natsuo sat by her feet, playing with the edge of her blanket.

"What day is it?" asked Izumi again.

"Tuesday," answered Fuyumi. "You've been asleep for three days. Should I get mom? She'll be so happy your awake."

"Yes, please," said Izumi, twisting her fingers together. "Can you ask her to bring me something to eat too? I'm starving."

"I'll tell Touya your awake too!" said Fuyumi. She squeezed Izumi's uninjured hand tightly and left the room.

"Did you save my issue of Shōnen Jump?" asked Izumi, kicking Natsuo off her bed.

Natsuo shot her a look that said: Are you serious? Izumi shrugged, biting her nail. The thick bandages on her arm pulled at her skin.

"Do you think—" Natsuo trailed off hesitantly, his gaze burning a hole into her blanket. "Do you think we should talk to Touya about the whole hero thing?"

"Someone should talk to dad about it," said Izumi sullenly. When she was younger, back before she had her quirk, Izumi remembered the thrill she felt at having a hero for a dad—not just any hero but, Endeavor.

She didn't care about who was ranked higher; watching Endeavor on T.V. was fun. She learned that Endeavor, the Hero, and Endeavor, her father, were two different people.

Touya would be a better hero than he ever was. But—Izumi thought back to the heat of his flames, the wildness they exuded, his skin red and wilting beneath his shirt—if Touya wasn't careful, he would hurt himself worse than he had hurt her.

"Did—did he hurt Touya?" If he did, Izumi didn't know what she would do. Run away to a reporter or do something crazy like call the police.

"He yelled at mom. Said it was her fault for not watching you. They—um, they fought, but Touya…won't talk at all. He's upset about hurting you." Natsuo's brows pinched together.

Izumi nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but the door flew open. Her mother stood in the doorway, hair dull and limp, hands pressed against her mouth as she stared at Izumi.

She crossed the room quickly, her hands wrapping around Izumi's shoulders and pressed her to her chest. "You're okay," Rei murmured over and over again, smoothing Izumi's hair. Izumi nodded, patting her on the back as best she could with only one arm.

"I'm fine, mom. I could probably do a cartwheel—"

Rei pulled back abruptly, staring down at her with a heavy glare. "You're not moving until the doctor says you can."

Izumi's gaze shifted, keeping quiet that she had already gotten out of bed. Her mother checked her over once more, looking at the bandage that covered her arm intently, before promising she would be back with the nurse and some food.

"You need a bath," Fuyumi murmured, nose scrunching. Natsuo snorted.

"What a nice thing to say to your hurt sister," drawled Izumi.

Fuyumi flushed, "I'll let you use my shampoo! The new one I got—it smells like peaches."

"It's fine. I'll just smell bad forever," said Izumi with a bright grin. Natsuo rolled his eyes over Fuyumi's shoulder.

"Izumi!"

"Too late. You said I smell."

Fuyumi clasped her hand, "I just meant that your hair looks oily."

Izumi's brows rose high, "Oh, so now I'm ugly."

"You know what I mean!" said Fuyumi. If a human could turn redder than tomatoes, Fuyumi achieved it.

Natsuo and her burst into a loud round of laughter. Fuyumi tried to keep up her frown, but after a moment, she started laughing too. Glad to have killed some of their worries, Izumi settled back on her pillow, letting them fawn over her.

After her mother returned with the nurse, her siblings left, Natsuo throwing her a glance behind her mother's shoulder that told her he would talk to Touya for her. Izumi slumped as they left, a deep exhaustion setting in. Her arm itched.

The nurse changed the bandages, her mother's face growing pale at the sight of her burnt flesh. Izumi gagged at the smell, turning her head away as the nurse applied a cool, soothing gel.

Her door slid open, Touya hesitating to come inside as he spotted the nurse and Rei. She watched him for some time before growing frustrated with his lack of courage.

"Sit," demanded Izumi, pointing to an empty spot. The nurse sent her a look as she tightened the bandages. It was the same look that Izumi was used to getting when people found out she was the daughter of a pro-hero.

"Why should I?" muttered Touya.

"If you don't, I'll scream," announced Izumi.

"Okay. Just shut up." Touya slouched in the chair, refusing to meet her gaze. Izumi sent the nurse a cold look, telling her to get out or else. Once the woman tied off the last of her bandage, she quickly scuttled out of the room.

Her mother wavered, her eyes stonier than usual as she looked between her and Touya. "I'll bring you something to eat. Touya…"

"…will watch me?" finished Izumi. Her mother's gaze snapped to her, lips pressed in a flat line. Rei didn't answer back, gathering the old dressings and leaving the room. She left the door wide open as she retreated.

Izumi nudged Touya with her foot, "Anything new happen?"

"Yeah…you've become the most annoying five-year-old on the planet."

"Girls mature faster than boys, so I'm really ten."

Touya rolled his eyes, but she caught the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Izumi held out her hand, gesturing for him to take it. His lips curled in disgust, but he gingerly placed his hand in hers. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, so Izumi couldn't tell if he was hiding any bruises or burns beneath it.

"It's okay, you know," she said softly. Touya's hand tightened around hers. "It was an acc—accident. You warned me no—"

Touya shook his head, meeting her eyes for the first time. Izumi flinched back at the sight of his tears. "I should have known better. How am I supposed to be a hero if I can't even protect my own sister?"

"Don't worry about me. You're the one getting hurt doing all that super-secret training."

"You're just like Fuyumi," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "Everyone in this house just wants me to give up! None of you get it! Endeavor made me like—"

"Don't yell at me!" snapped Izumi, snatching her hand back and crossing her arms over her chest. "I know what Dad's like. I don't want you to give up—I—I just—Dad took from Shouto from me, I don't want to lose you too."

"I don't wanna talk about this," said Touya, fingers bone white as they twisted together. Izumi bit her lip. She didn't like when Touya was upset. Izumi liked it when he and Natsuo would make her laugh until her stomach hurt. Or when he'd buy her and Fuyumi snacks after school without them asking.

Izumi leaned back, reaching behind her to set her pillow slightly higher and fixed Touya with a proud look. "Well, are you gonna say sorry then?"

"For what?" he asked, bewildered by her sudden change in tone.

"What do you mean for what?" Izumi held her bandaged arm in the air, shaking it violently. Touya winced and scowled at her. "You think I did this to myself?"

"You just said it was okay!"

"I lied. Say sorry, or I'll start crying."

"Sorry," Touya bit out, glaring at her. Izumi's face broke out into a large smile, and she clapped as if awarding him for his performance.

"I love you too," said Izumi. His ears turned bright pink, and he muttered something under his breath that she couldn't hear.