[Two Days Later]—HPSC Director's Office, Musutafu—
Stacks of reports cluttered the desk, spilling over into messy towers. Director Takeda leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Vacations," he muttered. "Kanzaki gets to waltz off with his family, and I'm chained here sorting through garbage reports. Wonderful."
He scrolled through the queue filled with grainy photos, half-finished transcripts, and analysts' guesses wrapped up in jargon.
There were also supposed sightings of Blaze Front members, intercepted words that could mean anything at this point.
"Cut the line." "Make them watch."
Takeda skimmed, lips pressing into a thin line. Too vague to be of much use. Good thing we got more agents at the festival today.
With a huff, he flicked the packet into the Reassign column and forwarded it to the junior analysts. "They can spend their weekend decoding riddles. I've got better things to do."
Snapping his folder shut, he pushed himself out of the chair and straightened his jacket. Tonight was about surveillance. Heroes were already in place at the Musutafu Summer Festival, and he had to make sure everything went swimmingly. Make sure the public felt safe.
Safe. The word tasted bitter.
Nobody's really safe, but we can try.
By the time the lanterns lit up over the festival streets, the reports sat untouched in someone else's inbox.
—
—Musutafu Summer Festival—
The festival was in full bloom, a beautiful tapestry of light and sound. Lanterns stretched across the streets in neat rows.
Vendors shouted over one another to draw customers in, steam from their grills curling into the evening sky.
Children shrieked with laughter as they darted through the crowd with paper masks of heroes bouncing against their foreheads.
From the festival's central avenue, Director Takeda strolled at an even pace, flanked by two senior HPSC agents. His sharp eyes traced every corner of the bustling street, the shadows near the alleyways and the fireworks crates stacked in plain sight.
If it were anyone else, the evening might have been enjoyable. But Takeda had to keep a serious outlook.
"Team A reporting in," one of the agents murmured into his earpiece. "South gate secured. East plaza patrol stable. Fireworks storage under guard."
The Director had a satisfied look on his face. "Maintain presence. Nothing spooks a coward faster than knowing eyes are already on them."
As if to prove his point, his gaze snagged on a group of teenagers crowded near a food stall. For a split second, his instincts tensed, but seemed to just be having a good time, biting into skewered beef. Blissfully unaware of the invisible net of agents around them.
"Sir," one of the undercover operatives approached, blending in with the flow of yukata-clad festivalgoers. "We've increased our numbers significantly by drawing in a few agents from other parts of the city. The festival is the most secured it's ever been."
"Good," Takeda said curtly, scanning the crowd again. "Let them eat their noodles and buy their masks. The more safe it seems, the better."
Takeda didn't look up at the test firework streaking through the sky. He was already scanning the edges of the crowd, searching for the one thing his gut told him wasn't there.
—Near the Festival Outskirts—
The noise of the festival carried far, spilling into the side streets that led toward the station. The scents of fried noodles and candied fruit drifted even to the quieter areas.
Evelyn held Renji's hand as they walked, her pace slowing whenever her son tugged to catch a better look at the decorations.
"Almost makes me wish we stayed," Evelyn said softly.
"Tokyo first," Hideo reminded her, their suitcase rolling quietly behind him.
"And you're sure we had to leave in the evening, Renji?" Evelyn asked, looking down at her son.
"Yup!" Renji replied, craning his head to beam at his mom. "It's the best time to visit the planetarium!"
"They have loads of plants that glow in the dark. They're called bioluminescent plants, and they're genetically engineered." Renji explained, quoting a line he had read from the planetarium's website.
"Oh really?" Evelyn tilted her head in consideration. "That actually sounds pretty cool."
"Evelyn-chan!"
The familiar sing-song call pulled her around. Emi darted out from a side street, Yamamoto Ryuga following close behind with a candied apple clutched in his hand. Both of them were flushed from the heat and excitement of the festival.
"You're leaving already?" Emi pouted, "The fireworks aren't even close to starting!"
"We'll make it next year," Evelyn said with a smile. "Renji made it into Shinkou Academy, so we're going to visit Tokyo tonight."
Renji waved slyly, earning a playful ruffle on the head from Emi.
"Congratulations!" she exclaimed. "Too bad we won't be seeing each other much then."
"Yeah." Renji said bluntly. "I'll miss your library a lot."
Emi laughed. "Don't you mean you're going to miss me?"
Renji shook his head dramatically, causing the adults to laugh at his antics.
"I'm sure you'll make it big there, kid." Yamamoto gave the boy a small nod, biting into his candied apple.
"We really do need to get going," Hideo interrupted, adjusting the grip on the suitcase.
Emi clasped her hands theatrically. "Safe travels, Kanzakis! But don't think you're escaping me forever. Next festival, you're not getting away."
Evelyn laughed, giving a wave as they parted. The glow and clamor of the festival faded with every step, replaced by the cooler quiet of the approaching station.
The smooth whir of trains glided through the air, steel and glass gleaming beneath the station's neon trim.
"That's a pretty sight too, I guess." Evelyn noticed, watching a maglev train leave.
—
—Inside Musutafu Station—
"You ready, honey?" Evelyn asked Hideo, who had just exited the bathroom.
"Ready as ever," Hideo replied starkly. It had been a good idea to get out of Musutafu today. While the chances were low that something would happen due to the increased security at the festival, he couldn't help but feel a little relieved that Renji had been so excited about going to Tokyo.
Renji tugged gently at his father's sleeve, his small backpack bouncing against his shoulders. "The train's coming soon, right? We won't miss it?" His voice had that impatient energy only a child could muster, eyes darting to the display boards overhead.
Evelyn crouched down and adjusted the strap on Renji's bag. "We've got plenty of time, sweetie."
"Can I grab a snack before the train comes?" Renji piped up, already pointing at a line of vending machines and a small kiosk tucked near the pillars.
Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. "Go ahead, but don't take too long. The train should be here any minute."
Renji darted away, his sneakers squeaking against the tile as he pressed his face close to the glowing vending machine.
"Hey, honey," Evelyn asked, looking a little apprehensive. "Can I ask you something?"
Hideo paused, unsure of what could be causing Evelyn anxiety. "Sure thing. What's the matter?"
Evelyn kicked lightly at the tiled floor, her hands tightening around the strap of her purse. "Do you… ever get the feeling that things are going too smoothly? Like when you're waiting for the other shoe to drop?"
Hideo's eyes furrowed. He glanced at the station as she spoke, his mind unconsciously parsing details, from the rhythmic hum of the fluorescent lights to the subtle shift in the air as the train approached.
"Not really," he finally responded. "Good things happen to us because we're good people, Evelyn.
"We help people—not like heroes, obviously, but in other ways." Hideo continued comforting her. "Your recent raise and Renji's admission to Shinkou are because we've done such a good job."
He looked into his wife's beautiful ocean eyes. "Trust me, the way things fell into place is a reward for our efforts."
Evelyn contemplated his words carefully, repeating each one in her mind. "That's a nice way to look at it."
Hideo moved to grab her hand tightly, giving it a strong squeeze. "Everything is going exactly the—"
The PA system chimed overhead. "The limited express bound for Tokyo will be arriving shortly. Please stand behind the yellow line."
"Renji!" Evelyn called, waving. "Come on, back to the platform!"
But Hideo wasn't looking at Renji. He was listening.
A faint hum ran through the station, low and unnerving. His brow furrowed. Maglevs always had a certain rhythm as they decelerated into a station: a rising hum, then the smooth pullback of resistance. But this one… this one wasn't slowing down. The sound was still subtle enough that most of the crowd mistook it for normal, but his quirk sharpened the pattern in his head like a warning bell.
The hum grew louder, vibrating through the walls and into his bones. Too fast. Way too fast.
His eyes swept the platform. Six figures stood with sweatshirts on. Sweatshirts in the summer heat?
They had stiff postures, eyes locked on the track. Spaced too evenly, like pieces on a board.
Then he saw them. The bulges beneath their clothes, the faint shapes of wires straining fabric.
Under the din of the crowd, his ears picked up the faintest sound.
Tick… tick… tick…
His blood turned to ice.
He registered that Evelyn had asked him what was going on, but there was no time.
"Renji!" His voice boomed urgently, in contrast to his usual self. "Stay back! Get away!"
Renji froze mid-step, clutching his snack in wide-eyed fear.
Hideo's quirk surged into action, his field of vision fracturing into vectors and trajectories. He saw it all at once, his mind straining to take in as much information as possible: the blast radius, the train's impact zone, the scatter of shrapnel, and one slim path where Renji might live.
"The bench, now!" Hideo shouted, urging Renji with his hand.
Unsure of his dad's instructions but trusting him all the same, the boy bolted, diving behind the steel bench pressed tight against a thick station pillar. It wasn't much, but the pillar could shield him from the worst of the blast. Just as the countdown in Hideo's head hit zero, he heard shouting from the nearby crowd as they finally realized something was wrong.
"Evelyn—" he turned, but she was already in his arms, having noticed the deafening uproar of the incoming train and the crowd's frantic shouts.
Her voice trembled, caught between fear and fragile hope. She forced a smile, though her eyes glistened. "Renji… he'll be safe, right?"
"Always." He pulled her close, holding her as if his body alone could shield her from what he already knew was coming.
The Blaze Front members tore open their sweatshirts.
The bombs erupted in unison, blinding light and fire surging outward. At the same time, the maglev roared into the station like a thunderbolt, still at full cruising speed. The magnetic hum became a scream, metal shrieking as hundreds of tons of steel tore into concrete, the platforms collapsing like paper.
Hideo twisted in those final seconds, his quirk mapping every fraction of force, every angle of debris. His arms wrapped Evelyn tighter as he shifted his body slightly, positioning them to take the brunt of the blast for Renji.
Then the world ended in fire, shrapnel, and the unstoppable crush of the train.
From behind the bench, Renji felt the shockwave slam his small body flat to the floor. His ears rang, and the air choked with smoke. He peeked up, tears blurring his vision.
Where his parents had stood was nothing but wreckage.
"…Mom? Dad?" His voice was swallowed by the raging flames.
However, no answer came.
Renji staggered forward, his legs unsteady. The once bustling station was unrecognizable. Collapsed beams, scorched walls, the stench of burned cloth and blood littered the scene. A maglev car jutted through the concourse like a spear, its nose buried deep in concrete.
His eyes darted everywhere, desperate for a glimpse of them.
"Please… please…" he whispered, pressing his small hand against a broken column to steady himself.
He crawled toward the place where he had last seen them, heart hammering with every step. The wreckage was twisted and cruel. But then, amid the dust and shattered glass, a flash of silver winked back at him. He shoved debris aside, cutting his palms raw until at last he pulled it free.
Her earring.
The one his mom had always worn, shaped like a delicate flower. Half-buried and smeared with soot, but it was unmistakable.
He remembered what she had said earlier that day when they were getting ready to leave and he had asked about them. "Today's a big day, Renji. Of course I'm going to wear only the best for you."
"No…" His voice hitched, the word escaping in a sob. "No no no—"
Renji clutched it tight, pressing it firmly against his chest. His small shoulders shook as he collapsed fully onto the broken floor, his forehead resting against the cold tile.
The grief surged so violently through him that something inside bloomed into fruition.
The world froze.
The sparks suspended midair. Smoke stopped curling, held in place like ink in water. The screech of bending metal cut off into silence. For a heartbeat, or maybe forever, the entire station had become a still image.
Renji lifted his tear-streaked face, wide eyes glancing at the frozen scenery. This place was different, a still layer only his mind could comprehend. He had finally gotten what he always wanted. His quirk, unshaped and uncontrollable, had awakened in that moment of despair.
He knelt there, clutching the last trace of his mother, the world around him shattered and suspended in place.
And for the first time in many years, Renji was utterly and terrifyingly alone.