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Chapter One

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There wasn't much time left. She would have to make these next shots count if she wanted to make it out alive. Her feet nearly slipped on the cool floor tiles as she slid behind a stack of boxes, a tall figure shuffling around in her peripherals.

"Come on out, kid~," sang the raven-haired woman lurking behind her. She holds her gun closer to her chest with trembling, gloved hands and says a quick prayer. "I'll make it quick."

"This ends here," she hisses through her grinding teeth. With adrenaline pumping through her veins, she jumped out of her hiding spot with a burst of speed and surprised her attacker. Their eyes met; amber burning into onyx.

With a sharp yelp, she pulled the trigger of her pistol. A scarlet ray of energy shot from the barrel and hit the older woman square in the chest, causing her to fall flat on her back. She stilled for a few beats then twitched her fingers in a poor attempt at reaching for her gun. Alarmed by the movement, the younger girl stood over her prey and shot her again and again and again.

"Why?" she cried out before taking a shaky breath, "Why would you make me do this, Kagami?!"

"This…" the lady on the ground paused to cough weakly, "This will be a great background story for your villain arc." Her head rolled, tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth with an anticlimactic "bleh". Her killer fell to her knees and wailed dramatically.

A loud alarm signalled the end of the round as the lights inside the laser tag arena flickered to life. Various men, women, and children watched the strange display in confusion. Upon seeing their reaction, the raven-haired woman began to laugh so hard that her whole body shook. When tears fell from the corners of her eyes, her "killer" helped her up.

"You heard me, Zuzu! It's time to start your life of crime that'll lead you into a downward spiral of bad choices while an edgy teenager writes fanfiction about your sad love life," the older of the two, Kagami, quipped with a sigh. "I just hope it's a good one and doesn't turn into another My Immortal…" She shook her head as if ridding herself of a horrific thought.

"This is a strange glimpse into that thing you call a brain," giggled the younger sister, Kazuya.

"At least I'm cool," Kagami nudged her with an elbow. When she only received an eye roll in response, her face fell, "I'm cool, right?"

"If you say so. Now, let's get home before Dad finishes dinner. I'm not missing soba night because you decided to have a mid-life crisis," Kazuya replied smugly. After hanging her vest up, she gave her ray gun to an attendant who was paid too little to care.

Kagami was an accomplished twenty-five-year-old, with her latest endeavour as a pro hero taking her deep into an underground drug syndicate. After six months undercover, she found the boss and was able to bust the entire cartel. The news had a field day, but she wasn't entirely against publicity. "People love to read about the good guys winning," she had told Kazuya when she asked why she liked being on the news.

Kazuya, on the other hand, was halfway through her last year of Junior High. Her grades were modest, but she could get lazy, which left them not as high as they could be. Their father was a genius, after all. It ran in their veins.

The sisters talked all the way home about various topics: work, school, embarrassing childhood stories, etc. The roads were quiet at this time of night, poorly lit by the dingy street lamps that lined the road. Even as Kagami's truck pulled into their home, Kazuya could barely see her way to the porch.

"Sometimes I think you're blind," Kagami failed at trying to hold in her laughter. She used her key to unlock the door and then swung it open with such force that it slammed into the wall.

"KAGAMI!" came the enraged voice of their mother. Strands of charcoal black hair stuck up around her in a dark halo thanks to static. "Cariño, I'm glad to see you but please don't break anything," Imai Elena huffed as she glared at the hole the doorknob made in the drywall.

"Lo siento, Mama," her raven-haired daughter apologized in her mother's mother tongue. She wrapped her arms around her tightly, "It's good to be home again. Six months is way too long."

"You signed up for that hero gig, remember?" Elena chided. After a second, she sighed and let her frown morph into a warm smile. She hugged Kagami back just as her husband walked in.

"Dad!" Kazuya shouted, jumping into the tall man's chest. While she's always loved both her parents equally, she got more of her father's characteristics while Kagami looked more like their mother. Attitude-wise, it was the complete opposite: Kazuya had a temper like no other while Kagami was more laid back.

"What's up, my little Spitfire?" he chuckled, spinning around with her in his arms.

"I kicked Kagami's butt in Laser Tag!" she beamed proudly, holding her gloved hands high up into the sky. Her father's eyes danced between the two girls, one grinning like the devil and the other shaking her head.

"Well, I guess we're celebrating both of you tonight. I made enough food to feed an army…or at least satisfy your sister." His comment earned him a slap in the back of the head.

"Taigen, quit it," Elena snapped. Her cobalt-haired husband roared with laughter as they all filed into the kitchen.

Once seated, Kazuya watched her parents bombard Kagami with questions about her work. She enjoyed nights like these simply because the conversations never got dull, even as Kagami shovelled noodles into her mouth. Tales of heroic badassery retold by the noirette made her wonder why people would ever want to be a villain in the first place. She knew that if she ever became a bad guy, she'd be scared of those who were strong like Kagami.

"When did you know you wanted to be a hero? I mean, wouldn't it have been easier to just work in the lab with Dad?" she asked when they were left alone to do the dishes. Her usual black gloves were traded for latex ones that still prohibited contact but let her get wet. Her sister took the plate she just washed and dried it with a rag.

A small smile grew on her sun-kissed face, "While getting to be a bio-engineer with the old man would pay a hell of a lot more, I like doing what I do. It makes people feel safe and protected."

"I think that Black Lightning Hero; Livewire sounds a lot cooler than Super Scientist; Imai Kagami, anyway," Kazuya scrunched up her face distastefully to emphasize her point. Kagami snorted and put the freshly cleaned plate in the cupboard.

"True." After sparing a glance at the remaining dishes, she hummed thoughtfully. "Speaking of the lab, Dad wants to show me some of his new projects tonight. Wanna come with?" Kazuya shook her head immediately.

"I won't be able to sleep after! Those things are creepy," she paled slightly at the thought, not noticing how Taigen had just entered the kitchen.

"They're not that bad, are they?" he raised a brow inquisitively. Kazuya jumped at his sudden appearance then simply stared daggers in her father's direction.

"You're joking, right?" the youngest sibling scowled.

"They're nightmare-fuel," deadpanned the other. Taigen's crestfallen expression, tired eyes, and messy cobalt locks made him look older than he was.

"...I thought they looked kinda cute," he mumbled under his breath.

"Okay, now this is just sad," Kagami's lips gave way to a bored frown.

"Moment over. Thank you, Dad!" Kazuya thanked her father with a hug, then made her great escape from the kitchen in a blue blur. She disappeared into her bedroom before anyone could complain about her not finishing her chores.

"QUIT LEAVING THE DISHES OUT!" she could hear her mother's tangent from the kitchen before the front door slammed shut.

A quick peek out her window told her that Kagami and their dad had run out the door to save themselves from the irritated woman. She would have laughed at the idea if it weren't for the sudden yawn that raked through her body. After an entire day at the arcade, it was amazing she hadn't felt drowsy before.

Shifting her gaze down to her hands, Kazuya began to unstrap her gloves. Her palms were sweaty underneath from wearing them for so long but she reminded herself it would be worth it once she had better control of her quirk.

"Practice makes perfect," she muttered to herself as she crawled under the sheets of her bed. The silence of the night allowed her time to think.

Her mind wandered back to her earlier conversation with Kagami. She could help more people by working at her father's laboratory, so why did she make being a pro hero sound like a bigger deal? Was the title that important? Maybe it was just because she was one of the more popular ones. Not All Might popular, but close enough in her little sis's eyes.

If Kazuya could remember correctly, her sister was ranked eleventh, right behind that killer whale hero. Her brows furrowed as she thought for a good five minutes, racking her brain for his name. She was never good at paying attention to the Hero Charts. She instantly gave up trying to remember who was who and how popular they were. Knowing the top five and Kagami's placement seemed good enough to her.

Her mother once told her that when she was growing up in Tijuana, they didn't rely so much on their hero system. Prominent families and their government often took care of problems that arose. She was part of one such family, although they had gotten into some big trouble. That's why she married Taigen and ended up in Japan; stability for her family.

Kazuya's racing mind soon settled down enough to allow her some shut-eye. It had been a while since she had a dreamless sleep but she didn't mind. It made waking up the next morning easier.

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Kagami and Taigen arrived at Imai Labs around midnight. After going through the security gates and saying a quick hello to the guard at the front door, they took an elevator to the top floor.

Taigen's facility was one of the leading influencers in biological studies. He worked with the highest-ranked heroes to help them understand the limits of their quirk and then develop technology to build upon their strengths. It was big jobs like those that gave him the extra funding for his bizarre side projects.

Kagami's eyes tried to make out the complex layout of the darkened room. Cluttered desks, a few cages along one of the walls, and other science equipment made it seem messy but she knew her father had some sort of order to the chaos. The contents of the cages weren't visible yet, as the only light in the room was coming from a few samples of a strange glowing liquid in the corner. They look like lava lamps, she thought amusedly.

"Seriously, Dad, it's like a scene from a horror movie in here. I see why Zuzu didn't want to come," the noirette voiced her contempt and an unsettling cold crept down her back. She felt along the wall until she found the light switch and illuminated the room.

"Sorry about that, Sweetheart," Taigen chuckled nervously, pulling on a lab coat and gloves. He handed Kagami a pair then turned towards one of the smaller cages in the corner. His name tag read: Imai Taigen, CEO.

As he walked through the room, he tapped various metal equipment. After a few seconds, he waved his hand and the objects began to float towards where he pointed. This was, of course, the work of his Metal Manipulation quirk.

"So, what's the new project? Living robots? Did you stuff some kids in animatronic suits and now you're waiting for their souls to seek revenge?" Kagami's eyes lit up with anticipation. A bead of sheepish sweat fell down her father's face as he turned to the cages.

"Not quite, and stop playing those horror games. You'll scare your poor mother to death," he playfully scolded while placing his thumb in a fingerprint scanner at the end of the cages. He input some code that Kagami couldn't see then reached into the enclosure.

"This is experiment M-1-1-K or as I like to call her, Milk."

"Milk?" Kagami raised a brow sceptically. Her eyes widened the moment Taigen turned around with a small creature in his hands. She stared at it, trying to process the amalgamation, "Is that a — "

"Miniature gryphon? Exactly!" her father grinned proudly. In his hands was the back half of a white cat seemingly attached to the head, bust, and talons of an eagle. It looked like the knock-off version of the mythical creature Kagami used to see in her fairy tale books.

"How did you get all these parts together?" she asked with furrowed brows as she ran her hand along its back softly. It didn't react. Why is it still alive…?

"I've put chips near the points of connection that regenerate stem cells for both animals. That plus a little help from metal bone supports helps Milk move and stay together," Taigen explained briefly. He gently placed Milk into his daughter's hands then whirled around to look inside another cage.

"Does it hurt them?" her question came out much softer than she intended. Taigen immediately spun back around and shook his head, giving attention to her worried tone.

"No, no, no, Sweetie, these animals were already dead! I gathered them and my work brought them back, you see," he smiled reassuringly while pushing back the feathers of the eagle to reveal no stitches or blood on the points of contact. It was as if they were simply born together.

"They fused on their own?" Kagami raised a brow quizzically. Taigen nodded.

"If I can get the approval and funding, I'll be able to bring back the dead! I could even give enhancements to the quirkless and give broken bodies power over their limbs again," he reached into the next cage and pulled out a snake with three heads. "You always wanted a pet snake right? Well, this one can grow back heads even after decapitation!"

"Dad…" Kagami looked into Milk's dull eyes. There was nothing there. No soul, no life, just emptiness. Does he not see that?

"I know, I know, more mouths to feed. Maybe I'll make one with fewer heads...I wonder if they — "

"They're not alive, Dad. They're husks."

Taigen stopped. He pursed his lips into a fine line then gingerly put the snake and Milk back into their respective cages. An awkward silence permeated the air as he shuffled about.

"That's why I want the board to agree to let me follow through with this. If I can get the chance to practice on living creatures, I'll be able to make a breakthrough. I could help so many people," his amber eyes glistened with hope and a hint of sadness. Kagami bit her bottom lip in contemplation then took a step towards her father. She wrapped her arms around his torso, her head just barely reaching his chin. The two of them were decently tall, but he still towered over her.

"You're gonna do great, Dad. Remember your family will be right with you through all of it." She buried her face in his chest, nearly laughing as she caught a whiff of what Kazuya calls Dad Smell. A hint of whisky and pine.

"Your mother and I got so lucky with you and your sister, you know that," he relaxed into her grip.

"Speaking of Zuzu, she's been asking about heroics a lot. She might be joining my side of the family business soon," Kagami boasted with a cheeky smirk, prompting Taigen to scoff.

"She's only in Junior High, give me time to win her over. For science," he pleaded with big, round puppy eyes. His firstborn threw her head back and laughed loudly, releasing him from the hug.

"For science," she snorted, "Now, let's go home. I need some sleep."

"Alright, you walking electrical hazard."

"Watch it, old man, or I'll tell Mom."

"...Please don't."

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Kazuya stared out the classroom window with a vacant expression, watching a leaf caught in a tunnel of wind spiral further and further into the air. Its vibrant green shade drew her wandering mind in like a moth to the flame. The movement reminded her of the butterflies that passed by her on the prettier days; elegant dancers of nature as her mother put it.

The lessons were starting to get repetitive and she had no clue how anyone stayed awake. Instead of listening, she thought about what her mother might make for dinner. That woman could make a mean Oyakodon. Maybe something foreign? Oh, but fish sounded so —

"Imai, are you listening?!" her teacher's shout brought her crashing back down to Earth.

"No," the blue-haired pre-teen sighed. Her teacher's eyebrow twitched in annoyance as an awkward silence filled the room. She could feel her classmates' eyes on her, so she hid behind her hair that fell around her face like a wavy curtain.

"I know it's boring but try to at least look like you're paying attention," the instructor lectured before turning to finish writing the math equations on the board. Just as the chalk touched the cold surface, a loud ring echoed through the room.

Thank God, Kazuya grumbled internally. The end of the day couldn't come any slower. Her class filed out the door in their little friend groups, none paying her any mind. Once they were all gone, she grabbed her bag and waltzed up to the teacher.

"Don't worry. None of them pay attention to what you're teaching, either," she smiled encouragingly. The brunette choked out a curt laugh.

"I've noticed," a sigh ghosted her lips, "Alright then, Smarty Pants. What do you suggest I do, huh?"

Kazuya shrugged, "I know people like to learn when they get something from it. Put up prizes or something, I guess." The teacher stared for a moment then penned her suggestion onto a loose sheet of paper.

"That's not a bad idea, kid," she nodded appreciatively. Kazuya flashed her a wide grin then turned tail and rushed out the door. People were waiting for her, after all.

When she finally made it out of Nabu Junior High, she couldn't help but put a pep in her step. The weather was nice; the Spring season meant that the cherry trees outside the school were in full bloom. Not many kids were hanging around after class so it was a good day, to say the least.

Her amber eyes scanned the courtyard while she waited for Kagami's truck to arrive. Nightly patrols kept her in Shizuoka, meaning she would be there to pick up her sister after school until her routes changed.

"Toshi!" Kazuya called when she caught sight of her friend. Shinso Hitoshi crept up beside her from God-knows-where with his indigo hair and slumped stance.

She couldn't remember exactly when she and Shinso had become friends. It's one of those things that just sort of happened. With him around, nobody dared to bully her. Kids can be mean but they won't say a thing when your best friend can make them walk into traffic. Not that he would, but she had thought about it.

"What took you so long?" he asked with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"A quick talk with the teacher. Seriously, how do they expect us to pay attention to these reviews without falling asleep?" she crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks like a pouting toddler.

"Did you tell her how to run her classroom, again?" Shinso asked with a look that said he already knew the answer.

"Dad says if I don't like how something's run, I should change it myself," Kazuya puffed her chest proudly. The unamused look on her friend's face would have made her laugh if she wasn't able to hide it with an awkward cough.

"Your dad sure has a way of getting into your head, huh?" he asked with furrowed brows. Kazuya shoved him lightly with her shoulder, sensing the strange tone behind his words.

"He's not the one with the brainwashing quirk," she quipped with a lighthearted laugh, not noticing the way Shinso visibly tensed. He glared daggers into her until she looked his way again.

"Ah, 'Toshi, I didn't — "

"At least I can control mine," he caught her gloved wrist before she could place a hand on his shoulder. Kazuya's eyes widened and her jaw hung open in surprise. She hated when he acted like he couldn't take a joke.

"That's not fair," she snapped, throat constricting as she choked on the awkwardness hanging in the air.

"What's not fair is you trying to judge me like you're one of them," Shinso tightened his grip ever so slightly, nodding toward a group of their classmates. It took everything in Kazuya to not push her friend as far away as possible.

Without a word, they stared at one another for what felt like an hour. When Kagami's truck finally pulled up to the school, Shinso let go.

"Are you two fighting again?" the pro hero called while stepping out of her car, shades covering her smokey eyes. Kazuya slipped into the passenger's seat and stared at her hands. She had clenched her fists so tightly that her nails left indentations in the leather.

"Just drive," her words came out barely audible. Kagami pulled her sunglasses up so they rested on top of her head. She watched her younger sibling sulk in her seat for a minute then swore under her breath.

"Wait here," she grumbled as she put her car in park. She hopped out, and then waltzed right up to the indigo-haired boy. Kazuya watched from the window for only a few seconds before shutting her eyes. With her face buried in her palms, she waited two minutes for her sister to come back.

As soon as Kagami re-entered the truck, she flipped her shades down and put the vehicle into drive. Kazuya gazed at her expectantly, waiting for her to say something — anything.

"You owe me," the noirette scoffed as they rolled away from the school.