Chapter III

The villain known as Twice emerged fully from behind the centre mirror on the right side, his black and grey bodysuit, and mask, completely covered his identity.

But Midoriya knew the villain's true identity from his profile and from secret snapshot pictures of his true face. He looked relatively "normal", not someone who would stand out in a crowd. Underneath his mask, he looked human enough, was fair skinned, and had blonde hair.

But he had a frightful side, according to what his dossier read, and he hated his "normal" self. He was absolutely disheartened about it. So, he wore a mask to hide his face from the world.

It was a shame, Midoriya thought. He could use his quirk to help so many people.

Twice danced around like a court jester with his hands out. Then he put them over his eyes, then removed them. "Peek-a-boo, I see you!" And he laughed.

Twice had a very unique personality: explosive, lively, and he enjoyed a very comedic demeanour. He enjoyed assuming dramatic poses and playing to an audience. He also suffered from a severe double personality, which made up a great deal of his persona. He was psychotic, and a lunatic, much like his peers. He was associated with the League of Villains.

Was this a plot by the League? Midoriya couldn't dismiss it.

Midoriya could hear Hawks swear through the wrist communicator. "Midoriya, careful! You're dealing with a crazy loon!"

Midoriya knew this all too well.

Then, like a switch was flicked, Twice stood up straight, with a stern posture. He was tall, with a medium frame. "Hello, little friend, thank you for coming to my playhouse. Let's play a game. You obviously got my note."

Midoriya said sternly, "Where's my mother, Twice!"

"Oh, why so serious, gumshoe?" Twice put his hands on his hips. "I bet you're wondering why? Well…" He shrugged, then put a hand to his chin, and appeared to muse. He grabbed his head with both his hands and shook it. "Think, think…you crazy head." Then he appeared tipsy. "Oh, my head—my brain is rattling inside like a coin in a tin can."

Midoriya was stupefied by Twice at the moment, the man was a bona-fide loon! He wondered what kind of life the villain lead before he decided to take up crime. He was mentally disturbed, he needed help. And he'd get that help once he was captured after all this was over.

But first things first, and Midoriya, decried, "Why did you kidnap my mother?"

Twice cocked his head, then suddenly posed cartoonish as the "Thinker" statue, a bronze sculpture by French sculptor Auguste Rodin. And an actual light bulb seem to POP over his head; the villain had the ability to duplicate almost anything, like the original, hence his name. He had the ability to bring anything his imagination could think of to life, so to speak, like those beasts that attacked U.A. All he needed was a template, then he clone anything to infinity.

Twice stood. "Think, hero. I overheard your conversion outside with Hero #2. I like Hawks, he's a cool guy, so sauve and good looking, and those wings are just nifty! But back to the point. I'm an opportunist. And I saw your mother walking on the street after she exited a grocery store, and I said to myself: Wouldn't it be fun to kidnap someone and hold that person for random? I have bills to pay, too, you know, just like everyone else."

"But why? Why my mother?"

Twice shrugged. "You know that old saying: In the wrong place at the wrong time? She was. I didn't know who I had until she told me. Then, I did some research on you, and bingo! Instant payday! A hero must have a Hero Grant, and since you're one of the 'special ones' at that U.A. school, and All Might's apprentice, I knew I had a winner! Those beasts I sent to the school was basically a scouting party, but someone must have antagonized them, and they attacked you all. You know what animals do when they're cornered, they jump into survival mode!"

Hawks was right, family was a weakness. They could be used against a hero. Twice knew I would come after him, and would do anything to get my Mom back. All those people hurt at the school were harmed because of me!

Midoriya shook his head. No! The cause of their harm was the result of this madman!

His mother was his strength, not his weakness. She always believed in him, even when he started to doubt himself, when he wasn't born without a quirk. Then after he suddenly developed one, All-For-One, even though she was always worried for him, so still supported him. He regret not visiting her more often when he had the time. He hadn't told anyone the true story of how and why All Might passed it down to him, but he knew Kacchan suspected.

Midoriya knew a mother's love usurped all! And he loved his mother very much!

"So, where's the ransom, hmm?" Twice bobbed around Midoriya looking for something, he searched all around him. But Midoriya came empty-handed. Twice then pulled back, and seemed to frown, the ripples of his mask where his mouth was contorted. "Or, do I wager you didn't think you'd need it? You brought your friends along, hoping you'd beat me, rescuing dearest Mommy? Pfft! Just like a hero, arrogance tops sanity."

You're one to talk. Midoriya had to play for time.

Twice waged a finger. "Tsk, tsk," he said. "You're disappointing dear ol' Mommy."

Midoriya was getting annoyed, and angry, but he had to keep his cool.

"Twice…This is Hawks," his voice came from Midoriya's wrist communicator. "You know me, and you know what I can do. So, listen close. Let Midoriya's mother go," he added firmly. "We could crash this party and just take her, but I'm giving you the opportunity to surrender first. There's a nice padded cell for you at the mental hospital. I'll even stencil your name on the door."

Twice ventured over to the watch, looked at it.

"I don't think you wanna do that, Hawks," he said, with a chuckle. "I've booby trapped the entire place. The walls are coated with a thin layer of explosive. You even try to enter in here, forcefully, and BOOM! I know how this game is played, I know the score. You think I'm a fool? I have double the intellect, 'cos I'm double the person."

"A duel personality doesn't make a person smarter, nitwit," Hawks said.

"Nitwit? Oh, you've done it now. Now little Midoriya will have to play my game. I draw the line at name calling. It's so degrading for a hero, you know. And I get the feeling I'm not going to get paid." Twice looked at Midoriya, and Midoriya gulped. "So, let's get started. A fun game of Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall—well, on the floor. But you get me."

Twice stepped back, and gestured to the five mirrors, each with an image of Midoriya's mother, tied and gagged. "You have a 1 in 5 chance of being right, hero. Only one mirror holds the true image of your mother, pick the right one, and" —he shrugged— "because I had a mother once, I'll be generous just this once and release her unharmed. But pick the wrong one, and—" Twice shivered. "You may not want to know what happens." He paused. "What do ya say? Save your Mom, defeat the villain. Win the game." Twice danced excitedly. "Oh, the excitement is too much. I need to lie down."

Midoriya thought, looking at the mirrors. They were all the same, but only one was real?

Twice put up a finger. "I'll give you a cheat. You can phone a friend, all lines are open, gentlemen," he said as an open invite to the whole team, Midoriya guessed. "But just one," he added, as he suddenly produced a detonator from somewhere behind his back. "Pick the correct mirror, hero," his voice suddenly became dark, "or Mommy goes to Hero Heaven!"

To be continued...