Boom! The sound of a sudden explosion tore through the air, shattering windows and sending concrete shards flying like hail. People screamed, running from the scenes and turtling to protect themselves. Cars spun out of control and the streetlights toppled into the smoke that covered the scene.
Loud sirens tore through the chaos, wailing in a desperate race toward the location. An explosion of this kind hadn't been seen since the First Great War between The Destructive King and the world's greatest hero, The One.
Police barricades formed, officers pushing back frantic crowds while trying to assess the damage. The H.A (Hero Association) response teams descended from above, evacuating civilians and containing the rapidly spreading fire.
Amid the chaos, a few civilians noticed a shadowy figure flying out from the smoke before vanishing. The blast itself was precise, clearly intentional with a purpose.
"Evacuate the streets! Move them away from the scene toward the east corridor!" one officer barked, though his voice barely traveled over the chaos. Heroes moved swiftly with precision, their aspect abilities slicing through obstacles and patching up collapsing buildings. Flames hissed as water and ice powers collided with them, and reinforced gusts of wind pushed burning debris away from trapped civilians.
Above it all, cameras from hovering news drones captured the aftermath, broadcasting the scene: twisted metal, shattered glass, burning buildings, and terrified citizens.
The camera feed cut to the news station, where the anchor's voice with an urgent tone spoke.
"Good evening. We are bringing you live coverage from downtown Tokyo, where an explosion earlier today has left multiple city blocks damaged and several civilians injured. Officials believe this incident is connected to the recent terrorist group known as Prime, or more specifically, the individual leading this organization. Authorities are urging citizens to remain indoors while emergency crews continue evacuation and cleanup efforts."
She continued, "The Hero Association has already deployed several units to manage the situation, and preliminary reports suggest that no fatalities have been confirmed at this time, though injuries are still being assessed. Eyewitnesses describe the explosion as sudden yet highly precise, reinforcing fears about the level of planning behind these attacks."
"City officials have stated that investigations are ongoing," she paused, "and any new information will be relayed as it becomes available. Citizens are reminded to report any suspicious activity and cooperate fully with the H.A. Back to you in the studio."
The feed returned to footage of first responders moving through the streets, the fires slowly but surely being contained. Somewhere beyond the cameras and the chaos, a shadowy figure observed silently.
By the afternoon, a multitude of cameras and flashing lights had formed around the Hero Association headquarters. The streets leading to the building were lined with officers, journalists, and citizens trying to catch a glimpse. Inside, a joint press conference was underway.
The press conference was packed. The H.A. director stepped to the podium, flanked by the police chief.
"Thank you all for coming," the director began. "Today's explosion caused significant damage, but thanks to our teams, civilians were evacuated safely and there were zero casualties. We are investigating the individual responsible, affiliated with the group known as Prime. Beyond that, we cannot provide any information as of now as to who they are, or what they want."
The police chief added, "We are coordinating fully with the Hero Association. Citizens should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. All available resources are being deployed to prevent any further incidents, and we urge you to stay at your homes for today."
Reporters fired questions quickly, but both men answered calmly and clearly. When the conference ended, cameras switched back to the streets, showing cleanup and containment still underway.
. . .
A few days later, Japan's largest Hero Academy, Tokyo Hero Academy, opened its gates to welcome new students. Students moved in groups, chatting, laughing, and showing off small parts of their Aspects to others.
Among them was a tall, lean teenage boy with a hint of muscle beneath his uniform. His short, messy red hair caught the sunlight, and his maroon eyes scanned the campus with curiosity.
A few faint scars marked his arms and a part of his cheek, but his posture and bright smile made him approachable. As he walked toward his class, he waved at a few passing students, nodding politely and returning greetings with easy confidence.
When he opened the door, almost the entire class had already been seated. The boy looked for an empty seat and sat down.
The instructor coughed as the bell rang, calling the class to attention. "Before we begin with the orientation today, everyone needs to come up and introduce themselves. Make sure you provide your Aspect too."
He began to read names aloud, and each student stepped forward to introduce themselves. Eventually, it was the boys turn.
He stepped up, shoulders relaxed. "Hello, I'm Itsuki Arata," he said, his voice clear and friendly. "I'm looking forward to working with everyone. My aspect is Enhanced Condition. Essentially, all of my physical abilities are far beyond those of a normal human. I'm like a superhuman!"
He stepped down and walked back to his seat. Some students whispered among themselves, noting his height and odd presence, but he simply offered a warm grin and waited for the introductions to continue.
Next came a girl with short, platinum hair and icy blue eyes. "Mina Hoshino," she said with a monotone voice. "Aspect: Cryokinesis. I can freeze objects and the moisture in the air."
A boy with dark hair and olive eyes stepped forward. "Riku Tanaka. Aspect: Kinetic Manipulation. I can redirect energy I receive from impacts back into the target. But the more I absorb at once, the more likely it backfires!"
Another student, a girl with brown hair that came down to her shoulders and amber eyes, nodded as she introduced herself. "Ayaka Fujimoto. Aspect: Wind Control. I can generate gusts strong enough to lift objects or sweep up opponents."
Itsuki scanned the classroom as the introductions continued, exchanging light smiles or short comments, occasionally joking to break any tension. By the time the last few students introduced themselves, murmurs of conversation had started to fill the classroom.