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According to statistics, the chances of having a set of twins in Japan is one in a hundred-sixty births. In an entire grade in highschool, out of a hundred-eighty students, the chances are still one.
So, you could be surprised when Fourth East found themselves having two sets of twins in the same year. Though, the coincidences only end there, with one set being in a different class from the other set. Still, for their first year, they were quite famous for simply being twins.
It mostly started as people referring to either set of twins as ‘the twins’, not knowing there was another set in their grade. Word traveled, people admired, and it was all fun and laughs because how rare is that?
Then it eventually stopped.
Asa had thought to herself, with much exhaustion as they started their second year, Good grief.
Denji and Power are infamously known for being, well, themselves. Always getting into trouble, always doing some dumb shit that’s so expected of them. On some days, people are amused by their class clown behavior, on others, they’re annoyed to death by their obnoxious, incompetent attitudes. Such are teenagers.
Another thing they’re very well known for are their shared impulsive actions. If you challenge Power enough, she’ll do anything. Likewise, if you pay Denji enough, he’ll do anything too. It makes them easy prey, yet if pointed wrong, incredibly dangerous predators.
No one knows that though. No one ever knows a knife is sharp till they’re cut.
Frequently, Denji finds himself on all fours acting as a chair for anyone who can pay to sit, while Power pulls some prank no one else has the balls to do but just enough balls to taunt her into it. The two usually get a kick out of it though, a quarter of the time willing to succumb to the desire to enact.
Aki has yet to properly lecture them on it, but between his job and looking after them, he hasn’t quite found the right words to coax them out of their behavior. The most he has ever done is sigh or yell, but he’ll still feed them and peak into their rooms between the gap of the door after dark. Just to make sure. Just in case.
They haven’t really matured enough to grasp the gray hairs they’re giving Aki, or rather, they enjoy the attention of being infamously known as the Hayakawa twins. They haven’t got the talents nor smarts to earn that spotlight after all.
Asa and Yoru aren’t very known at all. They don’t really interact with other students unless approached, don’t really have that many friends, don’t really wish to; think it’s beneath them. At least, that’s what they tell themselves.
They only need each other, as far as they’re concerned, and though Asa isn’t fond of Yoru’s almost-polar opposite personality, she’s better company than a giggling bimbo with two electrons making a singular connection every hot-guy-alert-o’clock. Not that such a girl exists, but Asa assumes that’s what a girl is.
However, contrary to their names, when it comes to who is the better known twin, it’d most likely be Yoru. Unlike Asa, who prefers to hang back in the shadows, Yoru has a preference for not backing down on a challenge. For every gym game activity they’ve ever done, Yoru has smashed every one of them.
The only thing stopping people from picking her immediately for their team during gym is her attitude. Loud and arrogant, Yoru will bluntly criticize as harshly as she wants. On the field, she’s a tyrant if they don’t let her have her way. The only time she won’t speak when playing is when they’re standing six feet away from her.
And always, without fail, Yoru will boisterously declare that Asa will be joining their team. It embarrasses Asa to no end, and it’s evidently not Yoru’s intention. It’s just, and Yoru will never admit this again;
“I need her,” she said once, when asked with a huff of irritation to their tone. Yoru thinks she’ll never understand why. Asa, on the other hand, can only share the same sentiment and nothing else. No comment, no questions.
Denji doesn’t hear of Asa until Yoshida introduces him to her. Which is funny, because Denji should’ve heard of her before considering she was who he got commonly mistaken for as ‘the twins’ back in year one. Regardless, whether it’s due to poor memory or poor observation, Denji only meets Asa for the first time in year two.
“If I had a girlfriend, I’ll probably stop doing all this stuff!” Denji told Yoshida once, cutting his cake with his bare hand after Yoshida tried to bribe him with the utensils to make Denji stop his shenanigans. “When I’ve got a girlfriend, I’ll be too busy loving her to do stupid things!”
“Okay then,” Yoshida said, putting the utensils down. “What’s your type?”
“A girl that’s desperate for a boyfriend!”
Yoshida could work with that, and so he did.
He arranges for them to meet on the school rooftop during a shared lunch period. She’ll be there first, as per usual, with the minor exception that Yoru isn’t there due to his request. With the charm of a confused and lost puppy, Denji greets her with a small bow upon reaching, and she’s nothing short of unimpressed.
It’s painfully awkward, especially with Yoshida silently observing beside Denji. He refuses to leave, though he hasn’t got a reason to refuse because neither Asa and Denji want him to leave either. It’s just, they’d rather he does something about the silence instead of just watching them like they’re pet store animals.
And does something he does as he begins to clear his throat, smile spreading as he leans against the railing with his cheek resting in his palm, “Ask Asa-chan what she thinks of Chainsaw Man.”
Denji brightens at the mention of his own publicized work, a work he can’t talk about in public because his identity is confidential for his own safety. He thinks that’s bullshit, since he feels if he made himself known, the girls would definitely be all over him.The mangaka of Chainsaw Man? In Fourth East High? She’ll be thri—
“I think it’s trash,” she states bluntly.
“What?!” Denji exclaims, arms straightening out as he stares at Asa, baffled by her criticism.
“I just don’t like the way the artist draws the girls,” Asa mumbles. “Also I think it’s a bit overrated. It’s all anyone talks about when it comes to mangas.”
“Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s overrated,” Denji argues. “It’s good because everyone likes it!”
“What are you? A sheep?” Asa raises an eyebrow.
Yoshida smiles, watching Denji scrunch up his face while thinking of a better retort to that. He huffs, shifting his feet, before finally patting his chest with more pride than he typically shows, “It’s because I’m”—
“Oh, don’t do it,” Yoshida mutters, still smiling in amusement.
—”the mangaka for Chainsaw Man!”
Asa stares as Denji continues to smile, then she scoffs and rolls her eyes, “Sure you are.”
Denji’s smile falls, brows furrowing, before finally giving up and just storming off. It’s tactical retreat, not a march of defeat. Learn the difference, he’ll tell you.
As the door swings open for a brief moment to let him out, Yoru crosses his path and passes him, entering the roof right as the door swings shut. She gazes at Yoshida, then at Asa, who still as an unimpressed frown on her face.
Yoru snorts, entertained by the environmental storytelling, “I said it wasn’t going to work.”
“I do recall you being the one that asked me to be Asa-chan’s boyfriend,” Yoshida replies, still leaning against the railing. “I thought any boy could work.”
Asa blooms red as Yoru rolls her eyes, walking towards them, “I asked you specifically, actually.”
“I’m really not interested.”
“And I don’t want a boyfriend!” Asa pipes up, her blood practically boiling from embarrassment.
“You’re so bad with girls,” Power states, a hand on her hip, the other pointing at Denji. “Haven’t I taught you anything?!”
“You didn’t teach me anything about girls, asshole,” Denji bites, feeling himself shrink in shame still. “You’re the last person I’d seek girl advice from.”
“Nuh uh, I do have girl advice!” Power pats her chest with extra vigor. “I’m good with girls because I am a girl!”
“Oh yeah?” Denji frowns, seriously doubting this claim.
“Yeah!” Power throws her fists in the air. “I bet I can pick up this girl faster than you can.”
“As if!”
She smirks, letting out a confident huff, “Yeah! Watch!”
“Where are you g- Power!” Denji watches as she darts out of the classroom he had escaped to, rising from his seat to go after her. Lunch period is about to end in five minutes and he can’t afford being late to class because of her again. Aki will stop making his favorites for dinner!
“Mitaka!” he hears her voice reverberate across the hallway and he quickly picks up his pace. Power has always been the faster one, from all the times she’s had to chase her cat around the neighborhood. Pochita would never make him run so much.
Denji just barely makes it to witness Power standing proudly in front of the Mitaka twins and Yoshida, who all were making their way back to class but were stopped by Power standing in their way. He’s just a second too late to stop Power, who immediately starts speaking the moment she’s gotten their attention.
“I like you!” she declares, both her hands on her hips as though this affection is meant to be a blessing than a confession. “Go out with me!”
“Which one?” Yoru asks bluntly while Asa’s mouth hangs in surprise. Yoshida is more or less impressed by the balls Power possess, smiling in amusement as Power continues with her confidence unwavering.
“That one!” Power points vaguely between Asa and Yoru, feigning knowledge on which twin was the one that had hurt Denji’s ego.
“I like Yoshida.” Yoru immediately points, though anyone can tell from a five mile radius that she didn’t mean that at all. It’s more likely she didn’t want to get tangled up in this mess Power has accidentally invited her into. Yoshida, thankfully, lets it slide wordlessly.
“Whuh,” Asa answers unintelligently. “You don’t even know me.”
Power, the poor girl, is easily fooled by Yoru’s bluff, and immediately turns her attention to Asa completely. She beams, a thumb to her own chest, “Yeah I do! You’re—”
“Asa, just ignore her,” Denji grabs Power by the shoulders, dragging her away. “She’s always like this. She didn’t mean it.”
“Sure I did!” Power protests, flailing in Denji’s arms. “I’m in love with Mitaka Asa and I want her to go out with me! It’s a high honor, don’t you think? To date me .”
Asa wrinkles her nose in distaste, “That kind of attitude is unattractive. No way am I ever going out with you.”
Shock strikes Power like lightning, rendering her completely limp. Denji almost topples at the sudden added weight, groaning as he continues to drag her away. He dips his head in apology one last time, before making his exit stage left.
“Things just got interesting,” Yoru flatly says, watching Power’s feet disappear around the corner.
“There’s no way it’ll get anymore interesting than this,” Asa replies.
She’s eating on the rooftop with her sister again when Power comes by to profess her love for the second time. Denji is nowhere in sight, probably unaware about Power’s second shot, and Asa is a lot more prepared this time to hear it.
“No,” she says, chewing away on her bun.
“But I thought you wanted a boyfriend,” Power says, still standing in front of the door like it’s her stage.
“I don’t need a boyfriend,” Asa deadpans.
“So we agree,” Power grins. “Why would you need a boyfriend when you can have me? The one and only Power!”
“I don’t need a girlfriend either!” Asa fumes in embarrassment.
Lately, Power’s constant confession of love has made it difficult for Denji to approach Asa. He’s become hyper aware of her existence, like a sixth sense. The moment she’s within the vicinity, he’d flee to avoid her path.
He’s embarrassed to death on Power’s behalf. It’s like all the shame and embarrassment Power should be feeling has somehow made its way into Denji’s mind instead. Maybe it’s a twins thing, maybe that’s really what’s really happening. Otherwise, why else would Power still be this determined after her hundredth rejection?
He’s already tried to bring it up to Aki in hopes he’d do something to make her stop, but all he did was shrug his shoulders and go, “Unless Asa thinks Power is harassing her, I don’t think there’s any reason to stop her.”
Which is exactly the problem! As much as Asa makes it clear she’s not interested, she isn’t exactly telling Power to fuck off either. Denji’s almost inclined to believe she enjoys the attention, if it weren’t for the fact that she turns every shade of red everytime Power tries to shoot her shot again.
“She’s never gonna say yes,” Denji knocks the side of Power’s head. “So just give up already.”
Power is staring out the window of their classroom, gazing down at the school field where Asa’s class is having gym. She’s waiting on an opportunity their eyes will lock, even though their classroom is on the third floor. She scoffs, without breaking focus, “Aki didn’t raise a quitter!”
“Aki didn’t raise us at all,” Denji grumbles. “We’ve only know him for a year.”
“If you tell him that, it’ll make him cry,” she teases in a hum.
The unfortunate reality is that it’s true.
“Power-chan is trying to get your attention,” a classmate says with a knowing smirk.
“I know,” Asa mutters, pinking in the cheeks.
“Aren’t you gonna at least look at her?”
She falls to a squat, covering her face as she tries to will herself not to go up in flames, “It’s embarrassing.”
“I’m gonna show you a magic trick,” Power says, once again blocking Asa’s way to class. “If you’re impressed, you have to go out with me.”
Yoru had grown from being amused by Power’s determination to slightly annoyed, so now whenever Power tries to hit on Asa, she feels nothing but irritation. She doesn’t voice this, knowing fully well that Asa’s definitely getting a kick out of it. Rarely does Asa receive someone’s undivided attention, it’s rather addicting.
“That’s so childish,” Asa deadpans, but obliges, waiting for Power’s millionth attempt to impress her.
Then she watches, watches with her eyes slowly expanding, as Power pulls a whole flower out of her own mouth.
“Where were you hiding that?” Asa asks, blunt, flat and surprised.
“In m’mouth,” Power clears her throat, holds the flower out as it drips with spit. Asa does not take it. “Are you impressed, Asa? Are you impressed by the tricks of magic, amazingly performed by the one and only me?”
Asa wants to say no, she really wants to. How embarrassing that she can feel even the tips of her fingers beginning to blush. This is supposed to be beneath her.
“Do you want to go out with me now ?” and she’s smiling at Asa with a shiteating grin, knows that the only thing stopping Asa is her pettiness.
“Why do you even want to go out with me?” Asa mumbles, looking away as she brings both her hands to her face to cover the growing blush in it.
“At first it was to spite my dumb younger brother, Denji,” Power says—and to clarify, she’s the younger one out of the two.
“Oh.”
“But then I thought,” Power continues, pointing her finger right at Asa’s face. “You’re pretty darn cute! So now I really want to go out with you for myself. Me only! Only me!”
“Only you,” Asa echoes, burying her face into her hands.
Surprisingly, they do end up going on a date.
“So, with our sisters being lovers now,” Yoru starts, standing next to Denji as the both of them watch Power drag Asa around the hallway to brag about her new girlfriend. “We should do something together too.”
“Pass.” Denji immediately declines.
Yoru scrunches up her nose, glaring at Denji, “I don’t imply that we should date. I was thinking we could be mortal enemies.”
Denji blinks, “P…Pass…”
“No. I want to get my revenge. Your sister took mine, so I’m taking your life. Next time our class is going against each other during gym, I’m crushing you,” Yoru declares, dragging her thumb across her throat, before walking off.
Well , he thinks. It’s nice to feel wanted, I suppose.