Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Tired from cramming for his economics exam on Monday, Yoichi Shigaraki headed downstairs for a well-earned snack. Humming, he pushed open the kitchen door. A maid stood on her tiptoes, placing clean cups on the top shelf. The sound startled her, and she dropped a cup. As it shattered on the tiles, she leapt down from the chair with a cry.

Yoichi ran forward. “Stand still, or you might accidentally step on the glass.” He brought over a towel and helped her pick up the shards.

“Thank you, young master.” The maid smiled in the fake way of someone hoping for a favor. “I don’t suppose you could explain to the master what happened…? It’s only, he can be very temperamental, and I need this job badly. I have two young children at home.”

Here we go again, Yoichi thought. He forced his lips into a smile. “Of course. I’ll explain that it was an accident. I’ll tell him that it was my fault, because I startled you. He won’t fire you or even take the cost of the cup out of your wages. I promise.”

“Thank you! If you talk to him, young master, then I’ll feel reassured.” The maid showered him with profuse thanks until it made his head hurt. He finally escaped by reminding her that he needed to go upstairs and find his older brother in order to fulfil her request.

Yoichi was very, very familiar with his role of appeasing his brother’s moods and acting as a shield for other people. In his very earliest memory, when he’d been two or three years old, he vaguely recalled his mother’s anxious voice as she’d told him that his big brother was in a bad mood and asked him to go cheer Hisashi up.

This had snowballed into nannies and teachers also relying on little Yoichi to talk Hisashi around whenever their beloved child prodigy got difficult. Big brother could be moody, to the point where he’d terrorized the other children at school. Even adults felt scared of him, though they were less willing to admit it. A smile from Yoichi always calmed Hisashi down. Sometimes Hisashi would even relent and follow the rules when Yoichi asked—not always, but with a higher success rate than any order from an authority figure.

Initially, Yoichi had embraced his duty willingly. As a sickly child, he’d often felt like a useless burden. His parents only ever praised him when he pacified his brother’s temper. It became his purpose. Hisashi took care of Yoichi throughout his many bouts of illness, as their parents did not. Yoichi wanted to be helpful to his older brother in return.

But at some point, Yoichi had gotten very tired.

Perhaps it had started when Yoichi had enrolled in college. His workload had increased, and Hisashi’s controlling restrictions had increased at the same time. According to Hisashi, college was a cesspool of sin and danger for his precious little brother. Yoichi suspected that his older brother was suffering from empty nest syndrome.

Yoichi had been expelled from middle school because he’d gotten in a fight. Actually, he’d jumped in to defend a girl whose contact lenses had fallen out during gym class, revealing her catlike yellow eyes. They’d both been one-sidedly beaten, but they’d been the only students to receive punishment. (Official punishment, anyway. Yoichi suspected Hisashi had taken revenge using his own means. He had no proof, but he knew his older brother.) After his release from the hospital, Yoichi had been homeschooled all through high school. His older brother had gotten used to having him always around. All Hisashi’s employees had gotten used to having Yoichi on speed dial if his older brother had a bad day.

Emotionally exhausted and lonely, Yoichi had begged to be allowed to attend college classes in-person. The argument had lasted for months. Hisashi had bribed doctors and psychologists to agree with him that Yoichi wasn’t well enough to be away from home. He’d presented his little brother with detailed statistics on violence against metahumans. Yoichi wasn’t metahuman, but society tended to lump metahumans and people with visible mutations together in one group, whether they had powers or not. Yoichi had experienced that from a young age. He’d always refused to dye his hair black to blend in. Yoichi was proud of sharing his hair color with his older brother and flaunted it as a symbol of support for Hisashi’s metahuman rights cause. As a relatively wealthy and protected person, he wanted to stand on the side of people with mutations they couldn’t easily hide. Plus, Yoichi liked his hair. No one was dyeing it against his will.

Hisashi saw this as further proof of his little brother’s immaturity. Their battle had turned into Yoichi giving his older brother the silent treatment for nearly two months. Hisashi had finally caved and let him attend college in-person, with a long list of security requirements.

Unfortunately, the combination of handling his adjustment to college and his brother’s moods had strained Yoichi to the breaking point. He’d started wondering why he always had to act like big brother’s emotional support person.

Maybe that wasn’t fair. Hisashi paid for Yoichi’s college tuition and provided him with food and shelter. If all Yoichi had to offer in return was emotional support, then that was the least he could do. He couldn’t complain. (And if he did, no one would listen to him anyway.)

Yoichi had taken a granola bar for a snack, but he no longer felt hungry. A nervous energy sloshed around his stomach. Yoichi did not know how to put this feeling into words. It was the opposite of homesickness—a desire to be somewhere else—anywhere except this mansion.

Outside his brother’s door, Yoichi paused. He put his ear to the wood, trying to tell if Hisashi was awake so he could explain about the broken cup.

A moan came from inside. Then a muffled cry of pain. Yoichi flung open the door. Hisashi tossed and turned, sweat dripping from forehead.

Yoichi ran over and nudged the bed. “Big brother, wake up. It’s just a nightmare.” Hisashi had given Yoichi blanket permission to come into his room and wake him up whenever he had nightmares, which had increased in frequency over time.

Groaning, Hisashi sat up. Yoichi gave his older brother a few seconds to orient himself, because sometimes Hisashi could lash out when woken up from a bad dream. When his older brother’s gaze fell on him, recognition pierced the sleepy haze. Yoichi immediately flung his arms around Hisashi. “Everything is okay, big brother,” he murmured. “You’re safe. We’re both safe.”

Fiercely, Hisashi hugged him back. “Little brother,” he said hoarsely. “When I see you, it always chases the ghosts away. Because everything I do, I do for you.”

At a younger age, those words would have made Yoichi feel loved. These days, they gave him a prickle of uneasiness. He fiddled with a lock of hair. “Big brother, have you had time to look at the list of sleep doctors I sent you?”

“That again?” Hisashi snorted. His grip tightened. “Stop nagging me.”

“I’m worried about you, big brother.” The nightmares had been increasing over time.

“A doctor can’t help with my problem.”

“Maybe a psychologist?”

Hisashi sniffed. “As if anyone could understand my brain.”

“It’s certainly a dark and mysterious place, prone to attracting bats.”

“Whereas you have comic books for brains.” Hisashi mussed his brother’s hair. “My nightmares are related to my metapower.”

That was a valid reason that a professional couldn’t help. So little was known about metapowers. Yoichi gnawed on his lip. “Perhaps if you used your power less frequently, you wouldn’t have so many nightmares.”

“I can’t, but I don’t expect you to understand that.”

“I know your work is important, big brother. I do understand. I’m good at analyzing meta abilities. If you told me more about your problem, I might be able to help you. I sometimes have nightmares about how we used to hide from our parents in the closet as kids. I still have difficulties in enclosed spaces.” Yoichi hoped this honesty would inspire his big brother to share about his fears, too.

“You’re already helping me like this.” Hisashi stroked his little brother’s hair. Yoichi noticed the question had been dodged. He squirmed. Hisashi held him firmly, not even seeming to need any effort to stop Yoichi from leaving. Hisashi said, “My nightmares are under control.”

They were under control because Hisashi relied on Yoichi every time he had one. A perfect solution from Hisashi’s perspective, but less so from Yoichi’s. Big brother hadn’t allowed him to live in the dorms because he insisted that he needed Yoichi close. Yoichi worried about what would happen after he graduated from college and moved out. He’d yet to raise the subject with his older brother. Hisashi wouldn’t take it well. Sometimes Yoichi felt like his brother used the nightmares as an excuse to keep him near.

But looking at the sweat on his older brother’s forehead and feeling the slight shaking in his hands, Yoichi realized he’d been uncharitable. He offered his granola bar. “Would a snack help?”

“Chocolate chip peanut butter, my favorite.” Hisashi took the granola bar and ripped off the wrapper.

“I’ll get you a drink of water.” Yoichi stood up and went to the attached bathroom. He returned with a cup. “Here you go.” This reminded him of his promise to the maid. “I broke a glass in the kitchen when I got my snack. I’m sorry.”

Hisashi raised an eyebrow. “Little brother, you were never so clumsy when we were young. Yet you constantly have ‘accidents’ now that we have a mansion with a staff full of people you can accept the blame for.”

Yoichi shrugged. He hadn’t expected his older brother to believe him—just to look no further into it if he asked. “You scare people, big brother. That’s why everyone comes to me for help when they make even the smallest mistake. I’ve talked three people out of quitting in the last month because you snapped at them.”

Hisashi snorted. “If incompetents want to quit, then let them.”

A flicker of frustration rose up from under Yoichi’s chest. His duty of smoothing matters over on his older brother’s behalf wouldn’t feel as onerous if only Hisashi would thank him on occasion or even merely acknowledge his efforts. But big brother had never once treated Yoichi as useful in their entire lives, so why would that change now? “Regardless, I say that I’m the one who broke the glass. Do you want to fire me from being your brother?” What had been intended as a joke came out sharply.

“Oh, I’m never letting you go.” Hisashi chuckled.

Even though it had been his own joke, suddenly Yoichi didn’t find it funny. His hands clenched against his denim pants. He started to stand up. “I have to go.”

Hisashi grabbed his arm. “Stay here for the night. If I sleep alone, then I might have more bad dreams. Please? It will be just like when we were children.” In a flash, the demon king transformed into a puppy with big pleading eyes.

Yoichi rubbed the back of his neck. “Big brother, I have an exam tomorrow.”

Irritation flashed in Hisashi’s eyes. “I have to leave early next morning for a business trip. My companies employ countless metahumans who couldn’t find work elsewhere. Which of our commitments do you think is more important?”

“Yours, obviously. You know I admire your work for the metahuman community, big brother.” Yoichi swallowed. In a smaller voice, he said, “But I wasn’t done studying for my exam.”

Hisashi said, “Speak to my personal assistant, and you’ll get any grade on the exam that you desire.” As Yoichi opened his mouth, Hisashi rolled his eyes and spoke first. “Yes, yes, I know, you’re too self-righteous to cheat. Don’t worry about your grades. I can ensure that you get into any law school you want with a generous donation. It’s even technically legal. Okay?”

It wasn’t okay. Yoichi wanted to earn his own way into law school. “You mean you can get me into any school that you want.” Which would surely be another school close enough to home to commute.

“Isn’t that the same thing?” Hisashi went to his closet. “I’ll lend you a spare pair of my pajamas.”

Clearly, Yoichi wasn’t getting out of this. Hopefully he could wake up early and study some more.

But Yoichi didn’t sleep well in his older brother’s suffocating embrace. Hisashi liked to snore directly into his younger brother’s ear. Yoichi kept waking up to pins and needles because his arms had fallen asleep due to the angle his brother gripped them at.

When a ray of sunlight roused Yoichi, his head hurt and his eyes felt grimy. His brother had already left. He looked around for a clock.

A note rested on the end table, in Hisashi’s handwriting. I’ll be gone for the next week on business. I ordered your bodyguards to bring you back directly after school every day until I return. I worry about your safety when I’m away. Anti-metahuman protests have gotten worse. I love you, little brother.

Yoichi groaned. So much for the celebration party he’d planned to attend after his exam. Yoichi had begged his brother for weeks to attend the party, but somehow, Hisashi and his ever-present network of people who owed him favors had found out that there would be alcohol. Every college party had alcohol. It wasn’t a fair rule. Eventually they’d hammered out a compromise that Yoichi would return home by 10:00 PM and take a breathing test to prove no substance use.

No doubt Hisashi would later claim he’d forgotten the party when giving orders to the bodyguards, but Yoichi didn’t believe a word of it. Big brother was just like his favorite Star Wars character, Darth Vader. He always altered the terms to his deals.

Yoichi balled up the note. Not even a word of explanation about why big brother would be gone for so long. When he was home, Hisashi demanded Yoichi’s attention at his command. Then Hisashi would turn around and become unreachable for weeks. Because big brother’s work was more important, as always. Sometimes Yoichi felt like a toy that his brother would take out to play with when he wanted to and put away in a box when he was done.

Taking a deep breath, Yoichi told himself not to be ungrateful. Hisashi worked hard to provide a home for both of them. His metahuman activism was important, and Yoichi was proud of him.

Looking at the clock on the wall, Yoichi paled. He leapt out of bed. If he wanted to make it to campus in time for his exam, then he would need to run for it.

Yoichi knew he’d done well on his exam, certainly enough to preserve his straight A grades. But he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he could have done better with a little more studying. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much when it wasn’t likely to affect his final grade. (He did know, he simply didn’t want to acknowledge it. Because he wanted to be angry at his older brother. Maybe a part of him had wanted to bomb his exam so that he’d have an excuse to be angry.)

Before returning home, Yoichi had made one last effort to argue with his bodyguards about the party. Predictably, they’d refused to let him go, and his brother hadn’t picked up his phone.

Alone and bitter, Yoichi sat in front of his computer, browsing internships in Kyoto. He knew his older brother would never in a million years allow him to live away from home—not even for one measly summer. But Yoichi was in the mood to apply anyway out of spite. His social life was dead because his older brother treated him like a toddler. He dreamed of a free life in Kyoto the way a man wandering around a desert dreamed of an oasis. He knew it was a mirage, but it was fun to fantasize.

A headline caught his eye: Japan’s First Professional Hero Team Seeks Interns. You Can be a Hero!

The words sent a thrill through Yoichi. You can be a hero. It had been a childhood dream of his for as long as he could remember.

His older brother would never allow it. Hisashi had nothing but negative things to say about the new hero initiative, claiming it was a trap to turn metahumans against each other. Yoichi had a more optimistic view. Sure, the government was only doing this because they were desperate to restore order. He accepted that part of Hisashi’s argument. But Yoichi also believed this was a prime chance for metahumans and their allies to change the tide of public opinion and win political concessions to protect their rights.

Yoichi wanted to be part of that. He wanted to help people. He wanted to be a hero, or at least on the same side as heroes. He wanted it so badly he was jiggling in his chair.

Biting his lip, Yoichi decided that it couldn’t hurt to send in an application. Japan’s first professional hero team must have very high standards. They probably wouldn’t even interview him. But if, by some miracle, he got an offer, then he’d talk to his brother about how great this would look on his law school resume. For now, he put it from his mind. No sense in fretting over something that probably wouldn’t happen.

Yoichi Shigaraki’s flawless grades made it past the first screening. His impassioned cover letter showed a detailed understanding of the political situation and immediately made him a top candidate. His resume was passed on to the military officer in charge of the hero team.

Colonel Kobayashi spat coffee out of his nose upon seeing that All for One’s younger brother was applying to the professional hero program.

All for One was a shadowy, semi-mythical figure. Sei Kobayashi was one of the handful of Public Security Intelligence Agency officers privy to presumed his civilian identity as Hisashi Shigaraki. It took a week of thorough investigation to confirm that the Yoichi Shigaraki who’d submitted the job application was indeed the same Yoichi Shigaraki as All for One’s only living relative. A frantic conference of the most important military officers in Japan convened to discuss if this was a hidden message or a clever plot. Eventually, the majority opinion prevailed that Yoichi Shigaraki was a frail, sheltered youth who probably had no idea about his older brother’s criminal activity. Then the military universally agreed that this was a prime opportunity.

In his bedroom, safely protected inside a heavily guarded compound, Yoichi received an email offering an interview. He leapt up and down and whooped in glee. From his office, Hisashi heard the noise. He assumed his younger brother was reading a particularly exciting comic book.

By some stroke of luck, the recruiter for the professional hero team was visiting Yoichi’s college and offered to hold the interview in-person. Yoichi knew he’d never be able to persuade his brother to let him go to Kyoto, so he breathed a massive sigh of relief. As long as the meeting was on-campus, he could tell his brother (who obsessively demanded every detail about his schedule) that he was attending a guest lecture. He would be allowed to leave the bodyguards outside the building.

Yoichi didn’t plan to tell Hisashi about the internship until he had an offer in hand. He reasoned that it would be harder for his brother to deny him then. Also, it simply wasn’t worth the argument until he had the job. If he did get a chance at joining a team of heroes, then Yoichi considered this dream worth going to the matt with his brother for.

In order to get this job, Yoichi had even turned to Hisashi for help picking out his suit. He’d claimed to want to make a good impression on the fictional visiting professor. Hisashi might be an overprotective, controlling jerk, but he had impeccable taste in suits. He’d picked out a black jacket with a white shirt and dark grey pants. Then they’d both found an employee to help fasten Yoichi’s navy blue tie. Neither of them had ever been able to set a tie straight. Hisashi had slicked back Yoichi’s long hair cleverly to make it look shorter, more like a traditional Japanese salaryman. Yoichi would even be willing to cut his beloved hair if it proved a requirement for the coolest internship ever.

Yoichi’s heart hammered as he knocked on the door.

A muscular man with salt-and-pepper hair opened the door. He bowed. “I’m Colonel Kobayashi, the military liaison for the soon-to-be-assembled hero team. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Whoa, they’d sent someone so high-ranking as a colonel to interview him? Maybe it was only because the colonel had been in town on other business coincidentally. Yoichi bowed in return. “My name is Yoichi Shigaraki. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Despite his best efforts, his voice shook with nervousness.

Colonel Kobayashi asked, “May I scan you for listening devices and bugs?”

“Oh, ah, of course!” Yoichi felt thrilled. This was like something from a spy movie.

The thrill lasted until a beep came from the device in the colonel’s hand. Nervously, Yoichi asked, “What does that mean?”

Colonel Kobayashi’s face turned grave. “It means that you’ve been bugged.” He reached out and grabbed a button on Yoichi’s jacket.

Yoichi was too shocked to resist. Turning the button over, the colonel revealed the chip embedded in the other side. “Fortunately, it’s only a tracking device, not a microphone.” He let go of Yoichi’s jacket. “Since you’re supposed to be in this building, no one will notice anything strange.”

“Who could have done this?” Yoichi asked. “Are criminals spying on everyone who applies to your internship program?” He felt violated. His heart hammered. How had someone gotten past Hisashi’s tight security to bug his clothes?

“No, I don’t believe it has anything to do with us. All for One doesn’t even know you’ve applied.”

“All for One?” Yoichi asked. “Like The Three Musketeers? Is he a big name criminal?”

Colonel Kobayashi studied Yoichi’s face carefully, as if looking for a reaction. He was wasting his time. Yoichi had no idea what the man was talking about.

Abruptly, the colonel seized Yoichi’s hands. “Young man, you’re in serious danger. But we, the heroes of Japan, are here to help you.”

“Criminals might target me just because I applied to your internship program?” Yoichi asked, very confused.

Colonel Kobayashi shook his head. “No, I fear you were in danger long before this—because of All for One, your older brother.”

It took Yoichi a moment to digest these words. Then he laughed. “You must be mistaken. My brother would never call himself something so pretentious.” Yoichi’s voice trailed off as he realized that actually, that did sound like a self-centered secret identity his big brother would pick, with a snobby literary reference thrown in. He swallowed. “Who is All for One?”

Locking eyes with him, Colonel Kobayashi said, “All for One is the greatest metahuman criminal in Japan.”

Yoichi’s good mood completely soured. He knew that prejudice against metahumans ran high. But he’d hoped the professional hero program would be full of people who wanted peace and unity. Apparently not. Big brother had told him all about how the media framed him as a criminal just because of his power. Yoichi knew that Hisashi might not be perfectly legitimate, but he also knew the government had driven metahumans into a corner with their restrictive laws while turning a blind eye to hate groups who attacked them. Hisashi was only trying to protect metahumans everywhere. Yoichi was proud of his brother’s activism. With icy coldness, he said, “I’m no longer interested in the job.” He turned away.

Colonel Kobayashi called after him, “Who could have gotten past your brother’s security to bug your suit?”

Yoichi froze with one foot in the air. Hisashi’s mansion was guarded by a wall of concrete and patrolling guards. Public sentiment against metahumans made such precautions necessary. Hisashi had also insisted on bodyguards following Yoichi at all times. They’d been obnoxiously aggressive about refusing to let people near him. They left him alone during class, so Yoichi supposed there was a small window of opportunity for someone to swap his button there.

Except wouldn’t it take time to sew on a new button? Yoichi wasn’t a pickpocketing expert. But his gut told him that Hisashi was the most likely culprit. Given how overprotective his older brother could be, a tracking device would be worryingly in character.

Colonel Kobayashi said, “I brought video proof of your brother’s criminal activities.”

Yoichi twitched. He told himself that he needed to investigate their lies so he could tell Hisashi all about this later. Hisashi would explain everything. Yoichi would make big brother apologize for the bug, then reveal the government’s foolish plan to discredit him. They’d probably laugh about it together.

“Fine.” Yoichi flung himself into the armchair with deliberate insolence. “Show me this so-called evidence.”

Colonel Kobayashi sat behind his desk. He turned a laptop screen to face Yoichi. The video played.

Hisashi wore a black coat and a wicked smirk as he stood before a crowd of enemies armed with pipes, knives, and even a few guns. Yoichi gasped as a gun fired. A glowing shield extended from Hisashi’s hand, blocking the bullet. It ricocheted, hitting one of the man’s comrades. Then Hisashi darted through the crowd, black spikes growing from his body and slashing through his enemies.

Yoichi refused to look away, even though the blood and screams made him sick. “What’s this supposed to prove? These days, metahumans are constantly being attacked on the streets. Big brother was defending himself.”

The screaming on the video had mostly gone silent. One man cowered in the corner, his hands raised in surrender. Hisashi cut him down despite the pleas spilling from his lips. Yoichi flinched. Colonel Kobayashi smiled.

“This video could be doctored,” Yoichi snapped. He placed his hands on his knees to still their trembling.

“I have more evidence here.” Colonel Kobayashi held up a flash drive. “You can look through it at your leisure. I merely showed you one of our most disturbing pieces of evidence to get your attention. By the way, that video didn’t show a hate crime. All for One—or rather, Hisashi Shigaraki—attacked a facility of yakuza in order to take over their drug-dealing operation.”

“I don’t believe you,” Yoichi muttered. But he took the flash drive anyway. Big brother had been defending himself. But Yoichi couldn’t quite shake the image of Hisashi killing an injured opponent begging for mercy. Yoichi knew that his older brother could be ruthless, an instinct honed during the brutal hard times they’d both faced in the past. But Hisashi was a good person deep down.

Colonel Kobayashi said, “We contacted you for a reason.”

“Because you want information about my older brother.” Yoichi scowled. It figured. Instead of offering him a cool job, the government wanted him to be his brother’s keeper. “You’re out of luck. I’d never heard of Hisashi’s criminal business—his alleged criminal business—before today.”

Colonel Kobayashi shook his head. “No, because you’re in grave danger. We’ve found evidence that your brother plans to imprison or kill you.”

Yoichi sneered. “Bullshit. Hisashi would never in a million years even think about killing me.”

“Perhaps not. You know him better than us. We only found evidence that he was preparing to make your disappearance look as if you’d gone to study abroad. Even though you aren’t aware of your older brother’s crimes, perhaps he believes you’re on to him? Or maybe he views a sickly younger brother with no metapower as an embarrassment.”

Yoichi swallowed. “You’re lying.”

But he wasn’t quite so confident this time. Hisashi was protective to the point of paranoia. In the past, he’d justified a lot of controlling behavior under the umbrella of his so-called security. Uneasily, Yoichi remembered how he couldn’t even tell his brother that he’d been going to a job interview for fear that Hisashi might sabotage it. Yoichi had been thinking about moving out after graduation. Perhaps Hisashi had been thinking about how not to let that happen.

“We’re a team of heroes. We want to save you.” Colonel Kobayashi smiled gently. “I completely understand that this is a lot to take in. I’ll let you look over the flash drive at your leisure.”

Yoichi looked at the small device in his hand. “Everything on here could be fake. Why should I trust you?”

Colonel Kobayashi said, “There’s also a virus on the flash drive. If you plug it into your older brother’s computer, you’ll be able to hack into his files. Then you’ll see the truth with your own two eyes. When you’re ready, you can contact me using this.” He held out a burner phone. “I promise, we only want to help you.”

Yoichi longed to scream or throw the phone back in the colonel’s face. But his hand raised as if in a dream and took it. Then he fled the room.

He barely made it to the bathroom in time. He didn’t want anyone to see him cry.

After Yoichi had left, a woman wearing a military uniform entered. She asked, “Do you think we can turn him?”

“You were listening to our conversation,” Colonel Kobayashi said. “He took the flash drive. That’s more progress than I expected from the first meeting. I’d guess there’s already some conflict between the brothers.”

She asked, “Did you actually find evidence that All for One plans to imprison him?”

Colonel Kobayashi shrugged. “No, but he believed it. Isn’t that interesting? I was altering my sales pitch based on his reactions. He truly had no idea about the criminal activity, but he wasn’t as surprised as the average person would be to find out that his older brother had a tracking device on him. Big brother must be a control freak. Yoichi Shigaraki wasn’t the slightest bit afraid that his older brother might kill him, but as soon as I switched to kidnapping, he got twitchy. So I ran with that story instead. I learned a lot about the Shigaraki family dynamic from our brief conversation. Do you think that All for One cares about his little brother?”

She snorted. “That monster would never care about anyone.”

“It’s difficult to say at this point.” Colonel Kobayashi’s fingers tapped his thigh. “It could be possessiveness or it could be keeping a close eye on a useless relative so no one else can use the fool. I’d find it more useful if All for One has a weak spot for his brother, but I’m not counting on it. Regardless, there’s a rift between them.” He chuckled. “We can use that.”

Yoichi looked through the flash drive as soon as he got home. He stuck a chair under his doorknob because he wasn’t allowed to have lock on his door. (Hisashi said it was a security risk if someone attacked them or there was a fire.) There were detailed files about Hisashi’s so-called crimes. Much of it had been censored. Yoichi knew that it could be fake, but the details lined up worryingly well with his brother’s business trips.

At first, Yoichi tried to convince himself that it wasn’t a big deal if Hisashi had been fighting the yakuza. Maybe big brother had been protecting people from the yakuza, who were notoriously anti-metahuman. Although the files did make it seem more like Hisashi was taking over their businesses. Not that any of this came from an unbiased source.

If Yoichi wanted the truth, he’d need to hack into his brother’s files.

For a week, Yoichi held onto the flash drive without acting. He kept thinking that he should turn it over to his brother. The government wasn’t trustworthy. Hisashi would have explanations for everything they’d said.

But those explanations would be lies. Yoichi would trust his brother with his life, but he wouldn’t trust Hisashi to be honest about anything that put him in a bad light.

Yoichi picked at his food and could barely study. Hisashi didn’t notice. Big brother missed their usual family dinner almost every day that week. Hisashi claimed to be very busy with his business. He was evasive when Yoichi asked for details about this business.

At the end of the week, Yoichi broke. He waited until Hisashi fell asleep in the living room typing into his phone. The phone probably didn’t have as valuable information as his computer, but Hisashi’s office was heavily guarded. He had cameras all over the mansion. Yoichi used to tease his brother about paranoia, though it no longer felt funny. Only the two of them were allowed into select family spaces upstairs, so the living room didn’t have cameras. Yoichi walked up to his sleeping brother and carefully took his phone from his hands. Then he used an adaptor to plug in the flash drive.

He’d prepared an excuse if his brother woke up. Hisashi didn’t. He must be exhausted from whatever kept him away from home until late at night. Yoichi waited until the files had finished copying, then removed the flash drive.

Back in his bedroom, he hyperventilated. His hands shook so badly it took him two tries to plug in the flash drive. He had to force himself to look.

It was all true. Hisashi was the single largest metahuman criminal power in Japan. Hisashi casually stole metapowers and ordered people’s deaths. Hisashi was forming a militia of metahumans with the express purpose of taking over Japan.

Didn’t big brother realize how much worse this would make everything for metahumans, and also for people like Yoichi who had unusual hair and eye colors? Hisashi probably didn’t care what happened to the weak who would become collateral damage in his power grab.

Hisashi had given metapowers to the children of anti-metahuman politicians. If that didn’t change their hateful tune, then he blackmailed them by offering to remove the abilities in exchange for favors. Yoichi couldn’t believe his brother had even dragged in innocent children. Hisashi ought to know from personal experience that a hateful enough parent could even try to kill their own metahuman child.

The worst of it: the meta abilities Hisashi had stolen from ordinary people who’d done nothing except have an interesting power that he wanted. Yoichi could justify hurting the government. Those in power had not been kind to people like Hisashi. But if Hisashi was willing to turn on his fellow metahumans for his own benefit, this proved all his grandiose speeches had been lies. According to Hisashi’s research, he had nightmares because of remnants left from the angry people whose powers he’d stolen. Yoichi felt guilty for comforting his brother through his nightmares…and pissed. The business that had been more important than his exam had been criminal activity!

Recalling how Hisashi had said that he did everything for his little brother, Yoichi felt ill. It wasn’t true. It was just how Hisashi justified all the theft and murder. But it made Yoichi feel culpable for his brother’s crimes.

Yoichi ran to the bathroom and emptied his stomach. He kept vomiting until nothing more would come up. His throat ached. He grabbed the strands of hair falling over his face as he leaned over the toilet, dry-heaving. Blood dripped down his chin. He’d coughed it up along with the barf. His knees trembled. He collapsed onto his back.

When he heard a noise from the direction of the living room, he twitched. He flushed, scrubbed the toilet seat, and staggered back to his bedroom.

Lying on his bed, he called Colonel Kobayashi.

The phone rang repeatedly. Yoichi realized that he’d probably called too late at night. Just before he hung up, the colonel answered. “Did something happen, kid? Are you in any danger?”

The gentleness in that voice nearly broke Yoichi. He desperately needed someone to turn to. A small sob escaped his throat. He put a hand over his mouth to suppress it. After breathing deeply, he said, “I hacked into my brother’s phone. I found—it’s very bad.” Yoichi stopped himself right before he admitted that Hisashi was planning a national coup. He couldn’t bring himself to betray his brother like that.

Colonel Kobayashi said, “He’s planning a major move against the Japanese government.”

Yoichi inhaled sharply.

“It’s okay. We already know. It was a big part of the motivation for the creation of the professional heroes program. I don’t mean to alarm you, but All for One has grown beyond what the army can handle.”

Yoichi muttered, “If big brother forced you to start reaching out to metahumans, then he’s doing something right for once.”

“Pardon me?” Colonel Kobayashi asked. “I didn’t catch that.”

Yoichi breathed deeply again. He regained control of his emotions. “There was a lot of creepy stuff on there about monitoring me.” It had been terrifying. Yoichi had always known that his older brother was controlling, but he hadn’t been aware of the bugs on all his clothing. Or about Hisashi bribing his teachers for information about his grades. Hisashi had a trace on his computer copying all of his activity and a tap on his phone. No wonder the military had given Yoichi a burner phone. Yoichi wanted to throw up again. The personal betrayal did not compare in magnitude to the criminal activity, but it stung more. “Why would he do this? What have I ever done to make him have so little regard for me?”

Colonel Kobayashi said, “Maybe he’s afraid you’d turn on him if you knew the truth.”

Yoichi stopped himself before he snorted. That wasn’t it. Hisashi didn’t have a high enough opinion of his fragile little brother to be worried about his opposition. Yoichi knew full well that this was yet another manifestation of his brother’s overprotectiveness. Hisashi had tried to persuade Yoichi to carry a GPS everywhere because he worried about kidnappings. When Yoichi had refused, Hisashi must have decided to refuse his refusal. Hisashi had never had much respect for his little brother’s privacy even when they were kids. Sometimes Yoichi felt like his brother treated him like an extension of himself. Hisashi seemed as shocked by Yoichi’s desire for a lock on his bedroom door as if his liver had submitted a petition for independence and alone time. In Yoichi’s early teens, Hisashi had worked himself into a frenzied state over his fears that some predatory adult would target his little brother over the internet. The monitoring software must be a holdover from those days. It came as zero surprise to Yoichi that his older brother had never removed it. Hisashi had never stopped seeing him as a child.

But that would be far too embarrassing to admit to a stranger. Yoichi changed the subject. “I suppose you want the files that I found.” He was not under the illusion that the government had arranged such an elaborate scheme merely it disillusion one young college student about his older brother.

Colonel Kobayashi said, “You’d be saving many lives if you delivered that information to us. Don’t you think that’s your responsibility? You live off the funds of your brother’s criminal activity. Now you can make things right by stopping him.”

Oh, great, this again. Now even the goddamn government of Japan wanted Yoichi to take responsibility for Hisashi’s misdeeds. Because that had always been his job. Cleaning up his big brother’s messes.

Cagily, Yoichi said, “Big brother’s phone didn’t contain any details about his battle plans. Just what you already knew.” Yoichi himself had been the subject of impressively creepy detailed records on his life that his older brother apparently felt the need to carry around everywhere.

“Then next, you need to get into his office and—”

“I never agreed to help you.” Yoichi’s hand tightened on the phone. “I don’t trust you. I don’t like how the government has treated metahumans. People like Hisashi and me have a good reason to no longer feel like we can count on the government to protect us.” That didn’t justify all of Hisashi’s crimes, but Yoichi could sympathize with how it had gotten started. The world had gone to hell, and no one in power had shown the slightest interest in protecting persecuted metahumans. At least in the beginning, Hisashi had been defending himself.

Colonel Kobayashi said, “I completely understand. We’ve been trying to do better, with the professional hero program. This is our chance to create a new Japan, one that will protect everyone, including metahumans. We’re offering amnesty to metahumans who broke the law because they needed to protect themselves during this time of chaos, in exchange for their help in restoring order. Would your older brother be interested in becoming a hero?”

“Really?” Yoichi’s breath caught. “You’d take Hisashi, in spite of everything?”

“With his amazingly strong ability, he’d be automatically accepted. We need people like him to save Japan. We’d be willing to take into account how his powers influenced his mind to cause his past crimes.”

“How his powers what?”

“Latest scientific research has shown that metahumans can become warped from overuse of their powers. A power like your brother’s, which is associated with theft, could cause him to become greedy and immoral. That’s why regulation is so important.”

“Then Hisashi could change back to how he used to be if he stopped stealing powers?” Yoichi felt a wave of relief and hope.

“It might even improve his mental health to use his powers for a noble cause.” Colonel Kobayashi’s voice turned somber. “In all honesty, kid, this is the only way your older brother can make things right. Sedition is a serious crime. This is his one and only chance to receive a full pardon. Do you think you could persuade him?”

Yoichi bit his lip. He might jump on the chance to become a hero, but his older brother was only interested in what would make him money. Hisashi had gone so insanely far with his criminal schemes that Yoichi didn’t even know his brother any longer. But Yoichi was pretty sure that Hisashi would have laughed at the idea of becoming a hero even before his powers had messed with his mind.

Even so, the shiny perfection of the solution entranced Yoichi. If only Hisashi would agree to make up for his crimes, then Yoichi could return to loving and admiring his older brother in an untainted way. Everything would be solved. When they’d been children, Hisashi had always been Yoichi’s hero. Yoichi knew that Hisashi would be a wonderful hero if he wanted to be. If.

That was the big question. Would Yoichi be able to talk his brother down one last time, with the stakes so much higher than Hisashi teasing other schoolchildren or acting out in class?

Yoichi couldn’t stand by idly. Although Yoichi didn’t like getting stuck with the same old job of stopping his older brother, a part of him had already accepted it. The colonel’s claim that he was responsible for Hisashi’s crimes had rung true to him. After all, it had always been like that for Yoichi’s entire life.

“Kid?” Colonel Kobayashi asked.

Lost in his thoughts, he’d gone too long without answering. Yoichi took a deep breath. “I’ll talk to my brother.”

“Be careful,” Colonel Kobayashi said. “Don’t let him know that you’ve been in contact with us. If he finds out, he might harm you. I know you trust him—but you didn’t know about any of this before, did you? I’m worried about you.”

Yoichi said, “I won’t let on that I know anything. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve argued about politics. He won’t suspect anything.” He doesn’t have a high enough opinion of me to be suspicious.

After Colonel Kobayashi hung up, he immediately sent his recording of the call to his team of analysists. He also ordered them to pull up fake paperwork with a hero offer for Hisashi Shigaraki. He was proud of himself for thinking up that lie on the fly. Obviously, the professional hero program had no interest in All for One. They wanted people with strong abilities, but not so strong that they couldn’t be controlled. Not only was All for One an untrustworthy criminal, he had the wrong kind of power. An insidious, thieving, evil power. Someone like that could never become a hero.

But Colonel Kobayashi could tell that the Shigaraki kid still cared about his older brother. Though the colonel had his doubts if the caring went in the other direction, because he doubted a monster like All for One had any feelings. When Colonel Kobayashi had offered to pardon All for One, the younger Shigaraki had reacted like a drowning man being thrown a life preserver. The kid desperately wanted a way to do the right thing but also save his brother. Colonel Kobayashi was happy to pretend to offer him a third option, because he knew that All for One would never in a million years be the slightest bit interesting in becoming a professional hero. When All for One laughed at the notion, it would push the younger Shigaraki away and drive a crack straight down their relationship.

The government would seem like the good guys in comparison—the reasonable ones, willing to compromise. Colonel Kobayashi could tell it was too soon to ask the younger Shigaraki to betray his older brother. The colonel had to keep playing the part of a hero swooping in to save the kid and earn his trust. The information on that flash drive would be the crowning achievement of his career. Colonel Kobayashi would do anything to get his hands on it. Certainly he wouldn’t hesitate to lie to the gullible relative of a criminal.

After several hours of research online, Yoichi learned that the colonel’s theory about overusing metapowers warping people’s minds was considered highly controversial. Most metahumans widely decried it, insisting the opposite—that it strained them mentally when they couldn’t use their powers. But surely the government wouldn’t believe it unless they had strong evidence. They probably knew more than was widely available to the general public. Yoichi very desperately wanted to believe that Hisashi hadn’t been in his right mind when he’d committed all those crimes. So Yoichi shoved his doubts into a box. If Hisashi joined the professional heroes team, then he’d still be able to use his power, but for good. Surely that would have a positive influence on his mind. Everything would be okay. Or so Yoichi whispered to himself when he lay in bed late at night, unable to sleep.

Yoichi tried several times to talk to his brother. But Hisashi was busy (busy committing crimes) and barely even showed up at home for an entire week. It figured. As usual, when Hisashi wanted attention he had no qualms about interrupting Yoichi’s study time, but Yoichi couldn’t even make an appointment to see his own brother.

The longer it went, the more Yoichi’s nerve failed. Yoichi was afraid that if he confronted his brother, Hisashi’s silver tongue would worm the truth out of him. If Hisashi found out about the flash drive, then Yoichi would be withdrawn from college and locked up at home. He’d lose what little freedom he currently had.

Yoichi’s head told him to give all the information to the government. Even though Yoichi didn’t trust the government, Hisashi had crossed too many moral lines. A coup against Japan? Simply insane. It had to be stopped. But Yoichi’s heart screamed at him to protect his big brother, just like how Hisashi had always protected him ever since they’d been young children. Before this, Yoichi would have died before he’d have betrayed his big brother. But he couldn’t stand back and do nothing while Hisashi started a war. This wasn’t the same as pretending not to notice when Hisashi had used to shoplift medicine for him in elementary school. This was far too big.

The offer for Hisashi to join the professional heroes posed the only possible solution. Yoichi knew the hero program wouldn’t be perfect. It would probably be very political, and Hisashi would hate being ordered around. But Yoichi didn’t see any other way out of the hole Hisashi had dug himself into. The government knew about Hisashi’s planned revolt—they’d already known when they first contacted Yoichi. This was the last chance to make peace before the situation became kill-or-be-killed.

Surely heroism would make Hisashi happier than this endless, self-destructive pursuit of power. Yoichi felt satisfied when he helped people. His older brother had criticized him for giving away his textbooks to a less fortunate classmate twice. But he could afford it, and seeing a smile from someone struggling to afford college made him happy. It was a source of constant anxiety and guilt to Yoichi to have more than other people. He didn’t understand how his brother could stand it. Big brother was so uptight. Maybe Hisashi would be more relaxed if he gave more away? If only Yoichi could persuade his brother to try giving instead of taking, he was firmly convinced that Hisashi would come to like it. Then Yoichi would get to be a hero together with his brother, Hisashi would be diverted from his dangerous path, and the people they helped would be happy. Everyone would be happy.

But Yoichi didn’t have faith in his ability to persuade his older brother to go from overthrowing the government to working with them. Hisashi had never listened to him. This conversation was too important to screw up. In Yoichi’s long career as his brother’s keeper, he’d never before had such a momentous task as convincing Hisashi to become a hero. If he succeeded, it would be a childhood dream come true. If he failed, then Japan would collapse because Yoichi couldn’t even do the only thing he was good for. Maybe his nervousness was making him melodramatic. Hisashi’s frequent absences from home made it easy for Yoichi to keep putting it off.

Yoichi hadn’t been able to enjoy reading manga on his computer ever since he’d found out about the monitoring. He’d completely stopped sending emails outside of those related to school. Even when the contents weren’t particularly private, knowing that someone might read his emails made him feel sick.

After the third dinner in a row that big brother missed for work reasons, Yoichi returned to his room. A comic book sat on his bed.

Hisashi must have been inside his room. Normally, Yoichi wouldn’t have thought anything of it. Now his heart rate sped up. The flash drive in his pocket felt heavy. He’d been carrying it around everywhere and sleeping with it under his pillow at night.

Yoichi picked up the sticky note. It read: I’ll make some time for you this weekend, I promise. I’m sure you’ll love this book!

It was a new comic book currently only released in America. Yoichi had it in his online shopping cart, waiting for the Japanese release date. Before, Yoichi would have assumed his brother had made a good guess about what he wanted. Now, he knew that Hisashi had hacked into his computer to check his wish list. In light of this information, the tone of I’m sure you’ll love this book! become insufferably smug.

Yoichi leapt to his feet. He shoved the comic book into a drawer where he wouldn’t need to look at it. Then he ran to the bathroom and threw up.

Colonel Kobayashi called that evening, the first time he’d reached out to Yoichi instead of the other way around. “What did your brother say, kid?”

“I still haven’t been able to talk to him. He’s been busy.” Yoichi bit his nail on top of the stub. He drew blood. “What if he doesn’t accept your offer? Then what?”

“Then he has to be stopped before he plunges Japan into a civil war. Kid, you know that.” Colonel Kobayashi spoke in a kindly tone. “If you’re not able to persuade him, then I wonder if you could arrange a meeting for me to speak to him.”

Yoichi sat up straighter. “That might be a good idea.” The colonel seemed like a much more skillful persuader than Yoichi.

“Do you think your brother would agree to take you out on a family bonding activity without the bodyguards? What hobbies does he have? If you let us know in advance, then we can arrange—”

“You want me to lure my brother into a trap.” Yoichi spoke with cold fury. “How dare you.”

After a pause, the colonel regrouped quickly. “If we can’t reason with him, then our only option will be to arrest him. You can help us ensure that we can take him alive. You’d be saving your brother.”

“Don’t bullshit me.” Yoichi hated when Hisashi treated him as if he was stupid. He liked it even less coming from this near-stranger. “I’d have no guarantee that you wouldn’t kill Hisashi, or about how you’d treat him if you captured him. I know how many metahumans have died at police hands or in police custody. You’re trying to use me. You’ve always been trying to use me! Was it a lie when you said you wanted to help me?”

God, he felt so gullible and foolish. Just like big brother had always called him. Tears stung his eyes.

Silence came from the other end of the phone. Then Colonel Kobayashi sighed. “Look, kid, you need to be smart about this. Sure, I only picked out your application because you were All for One’s brother. We never would have been interested in you otherwise. But you should still take the chance to get help. You’re in a very bad situation. I was honestly freaked out when I saw how many bugs and trackers your brother had on you. What a creep, huh? You’re right—I wouldn’t have reached out to you if you didn’t have possible use. Who wants to tangle with a monster like All for One just to save some sickly kid?”

It burned and stung Yoichi to learn that the professional hero program would never have been interested in him if not for his brother. He’d worked very hard on his cover letter and application. He’d been so proud to be chosen. He tried to sound angry rather than sad. “What makes you think that I need saving?”

The colonel snorted. “You’re showing all the signs of being in an abusive relationship. Take a quiz online if you don’t believe me. He tears you down verbally, bugs your clothing, and refuses to let you make decisions. With your brother’s power, you’ll never be able to escape him on your own. You’ll spend the rest of your life locked up by him, if he doesn’t kill you the first time you prove difficult. Only the government has the power and resources to let you escape him. But why would we bother? You’re nothing but a collaborator. His crimes pay for your college tuition.”

Those words struck Yoichi like a blow, because they were true. “I didn’t know,” he whispered. He’d never have taken Hisashi’s money if he’d known it came from illegal activity.

“This is your chance to make up for your mistakes and pay back what you owe to society for being a murderer’s brother.” Colonel Kobayashi’s voice darkened. “This is your only chance to save yourself. My superiors won’t agree to protect you unless you bring us All for One or the flash drive. You need to provide something of value before you’re worth protecting. Here’s some free advice, kid: no one will ever want to help All for One’s brother unless they’re trying to use you. You only get to decide who you’re willing to be used by. Pick the good guys’ side. You’ll be doing the right thing.”

Yoichi’s hand shook on the phone. He wanted to scream rebuttals. But he wasn’t as stupid as the people around him thought. Instead, he forced himself to sound calm. “I can’t get my brother to go anywhere, much less leave his bodyguards. He rarely shows interest in spending time with me. I doubt he cares about me.” A lie. Yoichi drew the line at luring his brother into a government trap. “But I can break into his office and copy the information you want. Then I’ll bring it to you.” A partial lie. He hadn’t yet made up his mind about what to do. “I’ll contact you once I have a plan to escape my bodyguards.” He hung up the phone before he burst into tears.

Yet as Yoichi lay back on his bed, the tears didn’t come. He felt emotionally numb. He had a choice ahead of him, and he hated both options.

Yoichi needed to hear the truth about the militia and whether Hisashi planned to imprison him from his brother’s own lips. But he didn’t dare reveal what he knew until after he had an escape plan in place. Dragging himself out of bed, he researched remote hiking locations.

Since his big brother kept avoiding him, Yoichi ambushed Hisashi in his office with dinner. Then he revealed his hiking trip plan.

It burned, that Yoichi had been forced to basically throw a tempter-tantrum in order to be allowed to go hiking. He was an adult. He should be able to go anywhere he pleased. This was another problem he needed to talk to his brother about.

Yoichi had decided to lure Hisashi to an isolated location with no cell phone reception, so he wouldn’t find out that Yoichi had broken into his office and disabled his trackers until too late. Big brother would only let Yoichi go out without bodyguards if he came along. It would be the perfect place to arrange for the government to pick him and the flash drive up.

But Yoichi still hoped he wouldn’t need to use that option. If he could persuade Hisashi to consider the professional hero program, then he could abort his escape. If Yoichi could even convince his brother to bend just a little bit on his criminal activity and little brother monitoring, then he’d much prefer to work with Hisashi compared to the colonel.

Yoichi didn’t trust the government one bit. The thought of betraying Hisashi made Yoichi want to empty his stomach into the toilet again. This was very much a last resort. If Hisashi would give even the smallest indication that he’d be willing to compromise, then Yoichi would abort his betrayal. He’d confess everything to Hisashi and work out a plan to handle the government together.

Please, big brother, Yoichi thought as he packed his backpack. Following the colonel’s instructions, he found and removed every tracker on his belongings. Please listen to me on something important for once in your life. This Japan domination plan is insane, and it will get you killed. Please don’t make me have to stop you.

Yoichi knew that his older brother would be late for their hiking trip. Hisashi was always late. Yoichi waited until the departure time had passed. He pretended to bug his brother to leave, then let himself be chased off. Upstairs, he used a screwdriver to remove the doorknob to his brother’s office and bust in.

As Yoichi plugged the flash drive into his brother’s computer, he watched the hacking program break past the login screen and start copying files. He knew he was being recorded by the cameras overhead. He was less certain how often the camera footage got checked. But it didn’t matter. No one on the mansion dared lay a finger on Yoichi without permission. Yoichi had defied his brother’s rules in the past. A bodyguard had tackled him while he’d been trying to escape the mansion and broken his nose. The man had been nearly beaten to death by Hisashi before Yoichi stopped him. The staff had learned a lesson. They would contact Hisashi first before acting.

As soon as the files finished copying, Yoichi hung the flash drive around his neck. Then he ran downstairs and burst in on his brother sitting on the sofa by the doorway. “Big brother, it’s been half an hour! We’re late!”

“Just let me finish this email,” Hisashi said, his eyes glued to his phone.

Yoichi yanked his brother’s phone away and turned it off. “No phone use allowed on our trip.” He hoped his voice sounded cheerful and not maniac. He might be trying too hard to cover up his fear.

Though Hisashi grumbled, Yoichi successfully dragged his older brother out of the house and to the car. They left the mansion and arrived at the mountain without incident.

Naturally, Hisashi immediately started complaining as soon as they arrived at the mountain. Yoichi tried to maintain a cheerful attitude, but he quickly became exhausted. Blood tickled the back of his throat. Each step up the mountain made his feet ache. He might have overestimated his physical capabilities. But there hadn’t been many places he could pick with absolutely no cell phone reception. He had to make certain that Hisashi couldn’t receive any messages until it was too late.

Originally, Yoichi had intended to have his important conversation with his brother at the waterfall. The beauty of the natural scenery would hopefully soften Hisashi’s black heart. But Yoichi had barely made it halfway there, and already his legs burned and his head ached. He hadn’t been eating well lately. His chronic illness expressed itself in the form of fatigue running to his bones. He snacked on some peanuts, but that only made him more thirsty. It was hard to focus on Hisashi’s conversation when he felt so dizzy.

Yoichi’s legs went out from under him. He collapsed onto a rock. Screw it, we’re talking here. Please let big brother see reason so I don’t have to climb all the way to the top of this damn mountain.

Pasting a fake smile onto his face, Yoichi asked, “Can we stop and take a break? I’m feeling a bit tired. Besides, this is a serious conversation.”

“Of course,” Hisashi said. As his brother sat down next to him, Yoichi thought, So far, so good.

But when Yoichi tried to speak, the words wouldn’t come. How could he explain himself without revealing his potential betrayal? He removed his ponytail and re-tied it to buy time. Eventually, he said, “This is a nice view of the city.”

“I can’t see much through the trees,” Hisashi said. Big brother seemed bound and determined not to have fun on this trip. Typical Hisashi: if it wasn’t his own idea, it was the worst idea ever.

Yoichi sighed. He didn’t want to get angry already. He took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air. The sight of the tiny trees spreading out below was pretty. “Everything looks smaller up here. My problems seem less substantial.”

“You have problems?” Hisashi asked.

The scornful amusement in his tone made Yoichi bristle. Yes, big brother, I’ve barely been able to eat or sleep because I’m terrified about you taking over Japan. Maybe if you spent time at home occasionally, you’d notice. Everything was me-me-me with Hisashi.

Yoichi knew his exhaustion and dehydration had put him in a bad mood. He needed to be calm for this conversation. It wasn’t easy to persuade his older brother of anything. Hisashi could talk circles around him. Getting emotional never helped. Yoichi took a sip to soothe his throat and his nerves. “Hisashi, I know you’ve formed an illegal militia of metahumans.”

It was gratifying to see Hisashi briefly choke. What, are you surprised that I’m not a total fool?

Unfortunately, Hisashi immediately launched into a cover-up. “That’s a lie that my enemies have been telling in order to discredit my metahuman rights movement. Who told you that? And why would you believe a bigot over your own brother?”

Hisashi sounded completely sincere. If Yoichi hadn’t seen the files with his own two eyes, he might have believed it. How could they ever reach an accord when big brother was so skilled at lying and had no compunction about lying to him? Yoichi glared. “Hisashi, I know.” Please don’t ask me how. “I wouldn’t be talking to you about this if I wasn’t already certain. Don’t treat me like an idiot. Please, for once in our lives, listen to me.” Please, because this is our last chance.

Yoichi launched into his prepared speech. When he said that he didn’t blame his big brother for gathering power to protect himself, he meant it. The government had demonstrated nothing but hypocrisy and uselessness since the first metahumans appeared. They forbade metahumans from using their powers, but they wouldn’t protect metahumans from violence and hate crimes. Yoichi truly believed that Hisashi had started out fighting for his survival and that of his little brother. Even wanting to restore order to the world was a noble goal. Yoichi wasn’t sure when it had all turned violent and wrong, but he hoped he could still reach the part of his big brother that must have started with good intentions.

But Yoichi knew that Hisashi had always scorned idealism and altruism, so instead Yoichi focused on pragmatic concerns. He told his brother that the government would come for him soon. (Again, please don’t ask me how I know, big brother.) Yoichi did not believe that Hisashi could win such a fight. Big brother would get himself killed with his reckless ambitions. Yoichi wasn’t lying when he said that he was afraid for Hisashi. He truly couldn’t see any way to save his brother except by taking the last chance to make peace with the government. He finished his speech with: “Just imagine it, big brother! You could be a real life hero!”

Of course, Hisashi laughed in his face.

Yoichi sagged. He’d expected this reaction, but it still stung.

If only Hisashi would agree to join the professional hero program, all his past mistakes could be fixed and they’d be able to stay together. Even though Yoichi longed for more independence, he also couldn’t imagine being a hero without his older brother at his side, like he’d pictured since childhood. In those days, when Yoichi had firmly believed he would develop a metapower someday, he’d been convinced they’d become a brother hero team. Yoichi had even been willing to be the sidekick!

But instead, Hisashi had developed the strongest possible power while Yoichi got left with a body too weak to be given an ability (according to his older brother at least). Yoichi had a rare form of cellular degeneration that only appeared in metahumans and people with mutations, but no superpower. Maybe if Yoichi had a metapower, then his brother would respect him enough to listen to him.

No matter how Yoichi argued, even as he came perilously close to admitted just how much he knew, Hisashi didn’t budge. Hisashi never questioned Yoichi’s source of information about the potential revolution, believing Yoichi when he said it came from internet rumors. Big brother had always underestimated him. He’d never in a million years suspect that Yoichi would seriously oppose him. Even when it was useful, it still stung.

If Hisashi wasn’t willing to join the professional hero program, then that cut off the best possible ending. But even so, Yoichi still considered betraying his brother to be his absolute last resort. He wasn’t convinced the government was that much a better option even compared to his brother’s criminal organization. Yoichi would rather stay by Hisashi’s side and keep trying to convince him to change his goals.

But that depended on Hisashi showing even the smallest bit of willingness to be convinced. It also depended on Hisashi being willing to give Yoichi more freedom and privacy. Yoichi couldn’t live like this, being constantly monitored. It would drive him insane. He’d been losing weight ever since he’d found out. Besides, the two problems went hand in hand: if Hisashi wouldn’t even let Yoichi have a computer without a tracker on it, then Hisashi would never listen to Yoichi’s political suggestions. Both proved that he didn’t respect his little brother. If Hisashi didn’t respect Yoichi, then he’d only lie and pretend to listen to Yoichi’s advice. Then Yoichi would have no choice but to stop his brother by force.

Therefore, Yoichi dropped the “I want to move out after graduation” bombshell.

Hisashi’s face turned bright red. It would be hilarious under other circumstances. “Since when were you leaving home after graduation? There’s no need. My house is plenty big enough for both of us. Wouldn’t it be more sensible to live with me so you don’t have to pay rent? You know I’m happy to have you.”

“I want to become a human rights lawyer. I want to help people. My future job will likely involve travel. I don’t plan to live at home forever. You’ll need to get accustomed to the idea, big brother. It’s perfectly normal for younger siblings to move out.”

“Maybe in more normal times, yes. But Japan is on the verge of collapse! You said it yourself! It’s dangerous! You know I’m an important person, and there’s a risk of my enemies targeting you. It would be much harder to protect you in another city. Don’t be selfish, little brother.”

Selfish. Yoichi was so tired of being called selfish whenever he put his own needs above Hisashi’s. “When will the world ever be safe enough for me to move out?”

Yoichi recognized the answering look on his brother’s face. It was the I’m-about-to-fake-a-work-phone-call-to-get-out-of-this-conversation face. Yoichi felt a small surge of triumph. No cell phone reception here, big brother. You have to answer the question.

But as the silence dragged on, it became an answer in and of itself. Hisashi never, ever planned to let Yoichi move out.

Yoichi had gotten the worst possible answer. Hisashi wouldn’t even listen to his concerns, much less change anything about his criminal plans. Hisashi never planned to let his little brother have the tiniest bit of independence.

Yoichi’s last bit of hope died. It was all he could do not to throw himself at the ground and cry. But when Hisashi had started talking about never ever letting his brother move out of home, it had motivated Yoichi to force his tired body to stand up. He resumed his painful trudge up the mountain.

Of course, Hisashi got in one last painful jab as they set off: “You love to have opinions on matters you know nothing about. You have such strong convictions on the future of metahumans, even though you’re not one of us. You can idealize the future professional heroes program because you fall in the category of people acceptable to them. You can’t look after yourself, but you complain about the means I use to protect you.”

Yoichi bristled. That wasn’t fair! Yoichi was trying to become more independent, but his older brother sabotaged his efforts, then flaunted how much Yoichi needed him. That jab about Yoichi not being metahuman stung. Yoichi had always been treated like a metahuman by the people around him, because of his white hair and green eyes with white pupils. But people like him, people with mutations but no powers, weren’t accepted by metahuman groups either. They were rejected by both sides, often even more targeted for persecution because they didn’t have the ability to defend themselves. Hisashi always acted like Yoichi was on his side when encouraging his little brother to support his political activities, but then turned around and told Yoichi that he didn’t understand whenever Yoichi wanted to offer an opinion. Yoichi was only treated as a fellow metahuman when convenient for his brother. But Yoichi would still suffer alongside every other person with mutations in Japan if Hisashi started a war between those with powers and those without.

Yoichi had tried to understand Hisashi’s point of view. That was the whole point of this conversation. But instead, he’d been fed a pack of lies by his older brother. He didn’t know how to sort out the lies from the truth. He was tired.

What was the point in arguing back? Big brother had already proven that he wouldn’t listen to a word Yoichi said. Yoichi kept walking in silence.

His head hurt. He felt hot all over. Yoichi applied another layer of sunscreen. As he rubbed his fingers off on his shirt, he noticed a strawberry scent.

Yoichi glanced sideways to make certain his brother wasn’t looking. Then he raised his sunscreen bottle to his nose.

This wasn’t sunscreen. It was the strawberry body lotion that Hisashi liked to use.

Yoichi nearly threw the bottle at Hisashi’s head. This was just so typical of everything wrong with their relationship. Hisashi hadn’t wanted to go hiking, so he’d swapped out Yoichi’s sunscreen so that his little brother would collapse and not make it to the top of the mountain.

When the colonel had claimed that Yoichi was being abused, Yoichi hadn’t wanted to believe it. He’d never looked for that online quiz. Big brother was odd, yes. Controlling. No conception of privacy. But he’d never hit Yoichi.

Except swapping out someone’s sunscreen to give them a sunburn was very much a form of physical violence. Just a more subtle one.

Yoichi couldn’t live like this. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life being unable to trust his belongings not to be tampered with. He couldn’t keep on strangling to death under the weight of no privacy or control over his own life.

His legs sprang to life with new strength. No matter what, he would make it to the top of the mountain and escape his controlling asshole of a brother.

This resolve lasted long enough to get Yoichi to the waterfall. Then he dug into his lunch. He chewed so fast that he barely had time to taste the food. He wanted everything to be over with.

Reaching across the picnic bench, Hisashi wiped a napkin across his brother’s mouth.

“Don’t—” Yoichi stopped before telling his brother not to treat him like a child. It wouldn’t change anything at this point. This would be the last meal he would ever spend with his older brother. Despite all his justified anger, he didn’t want to fight right now. He wanted to make one last good memory. “Thank you.”

“Thank me?” Hisashi sounded surprised. If you knew that wiping off my mouth would annoy me, why did you do it? Why can you never help yourself?

Once again, Yoichi bottled up all his complaints. After all, this would be their last day together. “I don’t want to fight with you. This was supposed to be a brotherly bonding trip. It should be fun.” If only they could have fun together one last time.

Hisashi said, “There’s no need to force yourself if you’re not feeling well.”

Yoichi felt a tinge of annoyance that his brother was still trying to strongarm him into turning back, but he forced it down again. Hisashi didn’t listen to Yoichi. It would make no difference if Yoichi said he wanted to see the top of the mountain because Hisashi didn’t care what he wanted. Instead, Yoichi used a practical argument. “We’re more than halfway at this point. We might as well climb to the top, then catch a helicopter down.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Hisashi slapped a mosquito. “Dammit, wasn’t the repellant supposed to keep them off?”

“It’s not one hundred percent effective. And it wears off. Want some more?” It’s real mosquito spray, unlike the fake sunscreen you gave me.

Hisashi said, “You look untouched.”

“Like I told you, mosquitos like some people’s blood more than others.”

“You were serious about that?”

“I read it in a book. They’re probably not bothering me because you’re around.” Yoichi grinned, his brother’s suffering restoring his good mood. “Thank you for protecting me, big brother.”

Hisashi snorted. “Oh, I see, you dragged me along to attract bugs.”

“You’ve always protected me, ever since we were little.” Yoichi’s mind filled with memories. All the times that Hisashi had saved him from bullies and secured food and medicine. How Hisashi had raised him more than their late parents. All the reasons why he shouldn’t be betraying his big brother. Guilt, pain and loss swirled together. At the very least, Yoichi wanted to thank his brother one last time before he left. “You grew up too fast, having to look after me when you were only a child yourself. Thank you. It’s insufficient to say that. I’ll always be grateful to you. I wouldn’t have lived to adulthood without you.”

“I’ll never stop protecting you, little brother. That’s what family is for.”

A strange feeling filled Yoichi. He wanted to say more, but he didn’t know how to without giving too much away. “A toast. To brothers.”

“To brothers.” They tapped drinks.

Yoichi knew that Hisashi didn’t understand what he was trying to say. His exhaustion and feverishness had loosened his tongue. “I’ll always love you, big brother. No matter what happens later, that will never change. Please, always remember that.” When I leave, I don’t want you to think that I hated you. You’ll never understand why I had to do this. But at least please believe that I still love you. Even if you became a villain to the entire world, you’ll always still be my big brother to me.

“You’re sounding melancholy. Are you feverish?” Hisashi reached over and felt his forehead for a fever.

“I’m just enjoying this trip,” Yoichi lied. He’d hated every minute of the day.

Hisashi stood up. “I’ll take a video of the waterfall so you can enjoy it in the future and never, ever need to go back.”

Yoichi saw his brother frown at his phone, and then wave it around. A spike of fear went through him. Surely Hisashi couldn’t be trying to get mobile data. All the online reviews and guidebooks had been quite clear that this mountain was an impenetrable blackout spot.

If Hisashi got a text message, then he’d find out what Yoichi had done. Then Hisashi would drag his little brother back down the mountain. His metapowers gave him the strength to do it. Yoichi had no illusions that he could win in a fight.

Trying to sound casual, Yoichi asked, “What are you doing? Trying to film the mosquitos?”

“I’m trying to get a signal. I want to arrange the helicopter ride in advance.”

Exactly as Yoichi had feared. “I told you, no phone use allowed on this trip.”

“I swear I almost had a connection.” Hisashi climbed on top of the railing in order to be able to hold up his phone higher.

“Stop!” Yoichi leapt up, frantically trying to think of an excuse. He felt desperate enough to dash the phone from his brother’s hand into the river below, then pretend it had been an accident.

“I think I—” Hisashi slipped and fell over the side of the waterfall.

Pure adrenaline propelled Yoichi forward, faster than he’d ever moved in his entire life. He grabbed his older brother’s hand.

It had been a natural, human reaction. His brother was falling, so Yoichi had to grab him. Now he wondered if he’d made a mistake. Judging from Hisashi’s last remark, he’d just managed to connect his phone to mobile data. If Hisashi had received a string of very revealing text messages, then Yoichi’s masquerade would be all over. He’d be dragged back home by his big brother like rebellious child. He’d be unlikely to have another chance to escape.

For a brief, heart-wrenching moment, Yoichi contemplated letting go and allowing Hisashi to fall over the side.

With Hisashi’s metapowers, he could probably (maybe) survive the fall. (But he’d be badly hurt.) The delay would give Yoichi time to escape to the top of the mountain and the government helicopter waiting for him there. (But what if big brother died? There was no way to be certain what would happen if he fell at the wrong angle. What if he landed on his neck? Was the water below shallow enough to kill him? What if he was knocked out and drowned?) This might be Yoichi’s last chance to escape.

“I can’t hold on!” Yoichi lied. “Drop your phone and grab the railing!” Except it wasn’t completely a lie. Yoichi had never been healthy enough to lift someone taller and more muscular than him. He hastily grabbed on with his other hand, too.

“But my phone has proprietary data,” Hisashi said. Still more concerned with his idiotic government takeover even now. If big brother would just drop the damn phone, then Yoichi’s escape plan would be safe. Plus his villain wannabe brother would be able to climb up before Yoichi’s shoulder dislocated and he lost his grip.

“Fuck,” Yoichi growled as he felt a muscle snap. Shouting over the rushing water, he infused his voice with panic. “Please, big brother, drop the stupid phone! I’m slipping!” Here, Yoichi ought to make his act look good by letting his hand relax a little. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it, because the danger was all too real. If he loosened his grip even a little, his beloved brother might fall to his death. His heart galloped nearly as loudly as the rushing waterfall.

“Relax, I’ve got this,” Hisashi said, obnoxiously confident even during a crisis. He used some sort of metapower to walk up the rocks, then put one leg over the railing. Yoichi whimpered. He could imagine the look of betrayal and disappointment on his older brother’s face when he saw the messages on his phone. Yoichi feared being locked up in his room with no comic books forever, or perhaps worse. He did not know how far his brother would go for a betrayal of this magnitude.

“See, I have everything under control,” Hisashi said, then immediately slipped over the railing again.

This was it. Yoichi’s last chance to escape. If he just let go, he’d be free. It’s all big brother’s own fault. He didn’t listen to me and drop the phone. I have no choice now. I’m not doing this for myself—it’s for the sake of preventing a civil war. A hero wouldn’t hesitate to put the greater good above the personal.

But no matter the terrified and cruel thoughts racing through his mind, Yoichi’s grip on his brother’s wrist didn’t budge.

In the end, Yoichi couldn’t do it. No matter the reasons or circumstances, he would never be able to do it. He couldn’t let his big brother fall.

Yoichi pulled Hisashi over the railing. They both hit the ground hard. Yoichi would be bruised all over on top of his sunburn.

“Get off,” Yoichi mumbled, shoving Hisashi off him and rolling away. “Did you get any messages?”

Oh, crap. He’d said the wrong thing. He should have asked did you send any messages because Hisashi had been trying to arrange the helicopter. He suspected his tone had sounded funny, too. He’d sounded a little too intense. What if Hisashi wondered why Yoichi was so worried about him receiving any messages? Yoichi threw a hand over his face to hide his scarlet cheeks.

Hisashi said, “Nope, it didn’t send.”

Big brother hadn’t noticed the slip-up. Even more importantly, he hadn’t received any messages. He didn’t know about the betrayal. Yoichi could have wept from relief.

“So that was all for nothing. I can’t believe you nearly died doing something so stupid.” Yoichi spoke with sarcasm to cover up his terror. His whole body shook from the aftereffects.

Hisashi sneered. “Died? You’re exaggerating. I have several abilities that toughen my body and one that lets me float on water. I wouldn’t have died.”

Yoichi wondered if that was true or not. It was difficult to tell with his brother. Hisashi lied so convincingly that he even sold himself on his stories. Had Yoichi’s panicked moral dilemma all been for nothing? Was the foolish little brother kidding himself that his powerful big brother would ever need his help?

No, Yoichi was certain he’d seen the moment when panic had shown in Hisashi’s eyes. Hisashi had known that he’d been close to serious injury or death. Now he just didn’t want to admit it.

Maybe after everything was revealed, Hisashi would remember that Yoichi had saved his life, and forgive his little brother for his betrayal, at least a little. Yoichi desperately hoped so. Even though deep down, he thought it more likely that Hisashi would conveniently forget any instances where he’d needed his little brother’s help and only remember the debts Yoichi owed, as usual.

Nearly a mile from the top, Yoichi realized that he might not make it.

Sweat had soaked his collar until he felt like he was wearing a wet towel. His hair stuck to his cheeks. It felt like a fairy inside his head was pounding against his skull with a hammer. The air had gotten thin and hard to breathe. A funny rattling came from his throat every time he inhaled.

He was close. So very close. He’d even backstabbed his own beloved brother. He couldn’t collapse now or it would all be for nothing.

Yoichi coughed, spilling blood from his lips. He tried to cover it before his big brother saw. Hisashi would insist they stop and take a break. But Yoichi knew that if he sat down, he wouldn’t get up again.

Unfortunately, Hisashi always had a second sense for detecting when his little brother was sick. Hisashi offered him a water bottle, then followed up with the inevitable: “Would you like to stop for a break?”

Yoichi didn’t even have the strength to reply. He was solely focused on breathing through his mouth. He counted the steps as he walked: ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred. As soon as he reached one hundred, he told himself that he would only need to take one hundred more steps, then started over. In this fashion, he brainwashed himself into continuing.

Hisashi held out his arm. “Lean on me.”

Yoichi flinched. He knew how his older brother would feel after he ran away. Getting Hisashi to help him up the mountain would make the betrayal even worse. Right now, Yoichi could sell this in his mind as a battle between his brother and himself. Hisashi didn’t want Yoichi to succeed and had even sabotaged his sunscreen. Therefore, Yoichi had to make it to the top of the mountain to spite the controlling bastard. But if Yoichi got his older brother’s help in order to betray him, then his guilt would consume him.

“I’m fine. Really,” Yoichi lied.

Coaxingly, Hisashi said, “This is our brotherly bonding trip. We should work together. I want to see the top of the mountain at your side. Come on. We’re almost there.”

Yoichi moaned. He could no longer resist. He collapsed against his brother.

Hisashi caught him. Yoichi had known that his older brother wouldn’t let him fall, either. His heart twisted.

Each step was a painful blur. Yoichi bit his inner cheek to keep himself awake. By the time they arrived at the top of the lodge, Hisashi was nearly carrying Yoichi.

Hisashi said, “We reached the top. You did it.”

Big brother sounded so gentle and kind. If only he could always be like that. If only Yoichi didn’t have a flash drive full of crimes and fake sunscreen to remind himself of why he had to leave.

Yoichi collapsed onto the bench outside the lodge. He’d planned to ask Hisashi to bring him some water from inside in order to make him leave. Fortunately, Hisashi left on his own, saying, “I’m going inside to arrange the helicopter. I’ll leave my water bottle.”

Alone, Yoichi stared at the water bottle. He longed for a sip. But he’d betrayed his brother enough already. He refused to accept any more help under false pretenses.

Yoichi reminded himself in addition to his moral reasons, he was also doing this for Hisashi. Even though big brother hadn’t taken him seriously, Yoichi had meant what he’d said about being afraid Hisashi’s ambitions would get him killed. He had to protect his big brother from his own insanity. Yoichi truly believed that stopping Hisashi was the only way to save him.

Although Yoichi didn’t trust the government, they were the only ones who had the power to stop Hisashi. If Yoichi joined their team, then he could make certain that they only took Hisashi alive. Yoichi didn’t want to give up hope for his brother yet.

On a sticky note, Yoichi wrote: I’m sorry. Then Yoichi forced himself to his feet one last time, toward the waiting government helicopter.

OMAKE TIME!

Omake: An Unfortunate Metaphor

Hisashi: How could you have abandoned your darling older brother in such a cruel way? I cried myself to sleep every night worrying about you!

Yoichi: I could get you a dog. Then you could have unconditional love while I could live independently.

Hisashi: I didn’t know your self-esteem was this low. You could never be replaced by an animal, little brother. I don’t need a pet—I need my adoring little brother who will never, ever betray me again. Because I’m going to stick him inside a bank vault.

Yoichi: I have overestimated you. You are unfit to raise a dog. I will get you a pet rock.

Pet rock: dead.

Yoichi: How did you kill a rock? How?

Hisashi: I lovingly polished it every day, yet it just kept shrinking in size.

Yoichi: Did it never occur to you to stop what you were doing before the rock whittled down to nothing? Are you incapable of admitting a mistake?

Hisashi: It wasn’t a mistake. You gave me a defective rock that broke too easily.

Yoichi: Don’t you see that your relationships with people are like the ones you had with your pet rock? You destroy them with excess smothering.

Hisashi: What? No, that’s dumb. There’s no such thing as too much love.

Yoichi: Why am I even trying to talk to you? Oh, right. It’s because I’m in a vault.

My Author’s Note got too long to be allowed in the notes section. This must be the universe's way of telling me that I'm too wordy. Long, optional character analysis incoming:

In this AU, the Shigaraki brothers had some mutual codependency going on. Hisashi provided financial support and protection for his little brother, and Yoichi provided emotional support that was unhealthily one-sided. This dynamic was always destined to change once Yoichi got old enough to work and financially support himself, and Hisashi was never going to be happy about it.

Hisashi is in denial about all the ways that Yoichi helps regulate his moods and smooth matters over with the household staff. Because Hisashi gets a huge ego boost from protecting his little brother, he can’t acknowledge the ways that Yoichi helps him in return. That would interfere with his self-image as the only one keeping both of them alive. But Hisashi definitely missed Yoichi after he ran away and a third of the staff quit or got fired by the end of the month.

In Kill What You Love, the first prequel I wrote about the Shigaraki brothers, the dependency was more one-sided on Hisashi’s part. But in this character interpretation, it went both ways. Yoichi wanted to be needed by his big brother. He was always weaker and sickly, so it made him feel useful if he could help his big brother even in small ways like soothing his temper. Hisashi could have kept Yoichi around longer by praising Yoichi more and showing more gratitude for his help. Since Yoichi wasn’t getting enough positive feedback from his older brother, it made him the first to break out of their codependency. “I need you,” would have been a better tactic to keep Yoichi around than “You need me.” Even so, the villainy business always would have been a dealbreaker for Hisashi’s heroic little brother.

In case it was at all unclear, the government lied to Yoichi about Hisashi planning to imprison him. (A lie that worked because it wasn’t completely out of character for Hisashi, but they didn’t know that.) The government used a mixture of lies and truth to sway Yoichi. Small point, but remember how the colonel told Yoichi that he wouldn’t have qualified for the internship if they hadn’t wanted to use him as a spy? That was a lie. Yoichi made it past the qualifications round on his own. Yoichi had perfect grades in college, no doubt with the help of a brother who prevented him from having a social life. The colonel was deliberately tearing Yoichi down with all that talk of how no one would ever help All for One’s brother unless they wanted to use him.

Actually, Hisashi could have swayed Yoichi to his side if he’d pretended to accept the government’s offer to join the professional hero program and called their bluff. They would have betrayed him and tried to kill him. Then Yoichi would have been furious and cut ties with them. This would have given Yoichi new empathy for the discrimination that Hisashi faced and radicalized him. But Hisashi didn’t see the need, because he didn’t realize the high stakes of this hiking trip. Ironically, the government made themselves look like the lesser of two evils by lying more to Yoichi—they offered a fake, insincere compromise while Hisashi refused to compromise at all.

That said, Yoichi was not completely blind to the colonel’s tricks. But he knew that he couldn’t escape his older brother, much less stop him, without help. Either Yoichi had to live his entire life never under Hisashi’s abusive control, or he needed to outside help. He’s using the government in return as means to obtain freedom from his older brother. But Yoichi had his limits—he wasn’t willing to lure Hisashi into a trap for them. He didn’t want to betray his brother at all. This was a last resort. If Hisashi had given Yoichi even the tiniest bit of hope at a compromise, then Yoichi would have betrayed the government and told his brother everything instead.

Yoichi tried so hard to persuade his brother that he more or less gave himself away. Hisashi missed it because he underestimates his brother. Hisashi should have asked why Yoichi was so determined to make it to the top of the mountain instead of mocking him for it. But Hisashi in his twenties is more reckless and less skilled at manipulation than the ancient, immortal supervillain he will later become. His older self will lie awake at night, looking back at this incident and seeing a million mistakes and might-have-beens.

The title of this story applies to both brothers. Hisashi couldn’t have both his criminal empire and his happy family life. Yoichi couldn’t have both his freedom and his brother. The government lured Yoichi in with a vision of a perfect future where he could become a hero and redeem his older brother, but they lied. In the future, Yoichi will have to make his choice. Hisashi, of course, will still try to have everything.

In this AU, Yoichi was smart enough not to tip his hand to his brother before he had an escape route in place. Still, the future of this series is headed to the same place as canon, that is to say, the vault. Yoichi will later have reason to regret that moment when he saved his brother from falling over the waterfall.