Chapter 7 – Between the Hero and the Brother
Kai stepped into his room, pushing the door open with his shoulder. The space welcomed him with silence, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun filtering through the half-closed blinds. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, catching the last light of the day. He tossed his bag aside, grabbed a fresh set of clothes, and made his way straight to the bathroom without a second thought.
The water ran hot, cascading over his tense shoulders like a waterfall. He stood still under the stream, letting the heat ease the knots in his back. With his eyes closed, it felt like he could escape—just for a moment—from everything. The steam coiled around his body, thick and comforting, forming a cocoon where only his thoughts could follow.
"Is there really no way to control this power...?" he murmured to himself, barely audible over the sound of rushing water. His voice trembled with a weariness that came from somewhere deep.
"I just wanted a normal life... maybe even a girlfriend."
He laughed bitterly at the thought, then shook his head in frustration. The water stung his eyes, but he didn't care. The idea of a normal life was a fantasy. Always had been.
"Even if I did control this power..." he continued, his voice hardening, "...there's still the emotional side of it all."
He exhaled slowly. The bathroom was now filled with thick mist, the mirrors fogged over, the air heavy and warm. It felt like a dream world, or a prison.
"I'm not a hero. I never will be."
He clenched his fists tightly, feeling his nails dig into his palms. The tension in his muscles didn't ease; it only grew.
"Choosing between a bunch of strangers and the people I love? I'll choose the ones I love. Every time."
There was no hesitation in his words. They were carved from something resolute. Something that had already broken once and refused to break again.
He paused, eyes narrowing as he stared at the tiled wall.
"And if she wants to be one of those self-sacrificing heroines… that's her problem. I've had enough of people I care about throwing themselves away for others."
His brother's face flashed in his mind — that wide, hopeful grin. That damn naive optimism.
"...Just like my idiot brother."
Kai stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel, drying himself quickly. He avoided looking into the mirror, but as he pulled on a shirt, he caught a glimpse of his reflection.
The face that stared back at him wasn't wounded or bruised, but something about it looked... tired. Not the tiredness that sleep would cure. It was something else. A crack beneath the surface.
His eyes lingered on that reflection for a moment longer, then he turned away.
---
He stepped into the hallway, drawn by the sound of voices drifting from the living room. The TV buzzed softly in the background, showing images of today's chaos—buildings cracked open, streets torn apart. Another attack. Another mess.
Inko was on the couch with Izuku, who was talking excitedly, his gestures animated and full of youthful energy. But the moment she saw Kai, she stood up in a rush, concern etched deeply into her features.
"Son! Are you alright? That monster passed right by your school!" Her voice was full of motherly panic, tight and trembling at the edges.
Kai gave her a small, lopsided smile.
"Relax, Mom. You know what I'm capable of. That thing was just an ant to me."
His tone was confident, but there was no pride in it. Just fact.
"Being strong doesn't mean you can be careless!" she scolded, stepping closer and inspecting him with her eyes. "What if you were caught off guard? You have to be more careful, Kai!"
He nodded silently. He understood. It was love — the kind that feared more than it hoped. She turned and returned to the kitchen, still grumbling under her breath, and soon the smell of dinner began to fill the apartment.
Izuku walked up to him, wide-eyed and glowing with admiration.
"Brother... you saved everyone today! Just like All Might! You're gonna be a hero like him, right?"
Kai froze. His eyes met Izuku's — bright, full of ideals, filled with dreams untouched by reality.
Even in this world, where chaos had fused together stories and legends, All Might still stood tall — a symbol of justice, of unwavering kindness.
But symbols, Kai knew, came with a price.
> "Even in this insane universe, stitched with so many animes and stories, All Might is still a symbol... A symbol of sacrifice. Of pure-hearted heroism... But in the end, he was just another man who destroyed himself to protect a world that never truly says thank you."
He looked at Izuku again — so young, so blind to the cost of heroism.
He sighed.
"Izuku... I'm never going to be a hero."
The brightness in his brother's eyes flickered. The hope didn't die, but it faltered.
"To be a hero, you have to be ready to sacrifice everything — even your life — for someone you don't even know. And I... I just don't care enough about strangers to do that."
He reached out and placed a firm hand on Izuku's head, his voice steady and deep.
"You want to be a hero, Izuku? Then learn this now..."
"You'll save a thousand people. But make one mistake — just one — and they'll call you a monster. They'll worship you today… and stone you tomorrow."
Kai's gaze darkened.
"And you know what hurts the most? When you lose someone you love trying to protect them all... …they'll go home. Hug their kids. And you? You'll come back to an empty grave."
There was a silence between them, thick and cold.
> "Superman. Batman. Spider-Man... All of them gave up everything for a bunch of strangers. I respect those guys. I really do. But I don't want to be like them. I always liked the anti-heroes more."
He turned back to Izuku, who now looked unsure — still smiling, but with trembling lips.
"I'll help out, if it's convenient. But I'll never put strangers first."
His voice dropped to a final, irrevocable note:
"If you want to be a hero like All Might... You have to be ready to sacrifice everything, Izuku. Everything. Think hard before you walk that path."
Izuku didn't speak. He stood in the middle of the room, his thoughts spiraling. The TV murmured on, showing images of destruction and gratitude.
Kai turned away, heading into the kitchen to help his mother with dinner, leaving his brother alone — standing between dreams and doubts, between admiration and uncertainty.
---