The silver moon hung high, spilling light like water.
Its glow stretched for miles across the quiet streets.
Lock stepped out of the ruined Dogu Arena and onto the main road beyond.
Evening had already fallen.
Behind him, the police were hard at work cleaning up the devastation—cordoning off the area, arresting the Iron Shark, and taking official statements.
The procedure took hours, and by the time it was over, night had fully claimed the sky.
And of course, there had been two small… "accidents" along the way.
The first was Ryūko Tatsuma, who had flown in from Ryūhua as soon as she saw the broadcast.
Her sudden arrival in her dragon form had sent several officers into a panic—they'd mistaken her for yet another villain attack.
The second was more… personal.
"Lock, are you sure you're not hurt anywhere?" came a soft, worried voice behind him.
Lock sighed. "Aunt Ryūko, you literally checked me yourself, remember?"
She gave an awkward laugh and looked away. "Well, this aunt just worries, you know?"
Lock groaned quietly. "I don't think stripping me half-naked in public counts as worrying, Aunt Ryūko."
It was true—she had tugged his jacket and shirt off right there on the pavement to look for injuries.
The worst part? Reporters were still filming beyond the police line.
He could already imagine tomorrow's headlines:
"Young Hero Candidate Exposes Chest for Dragon Hero's Inspection!"
Wonderful.
"Alright, alright," Ryūko said quickly, coughing to hide her embarrassment. "Forget it. I'll take you home."
Under the pale moonlight, the two of them walked together down the quiet road.
Lock's phone buzzed several times—messages of concern from Jirō Kyōka, Wave Spiral, and Konggui Sou.
He read each one, smiling faintly as warmth spread through his chest.
He took the time to reply to them all, thanking them for their worry.
When they finally reached his house, he looked up at the familiar door.
"Aunt Ryūko, come in," he said.
"Don't mind if I do." She slipped off her shoes at the entrance, stepping into the hallway.
Then, in full "inspection mode," she started poking into every room.
"Boys your age usually have disaster zones for rooms," she murmured to herself. "I half expected to find empty ramen cups and dirty—"
"Tea," Lock interrupted flatly, setting two cups on the table.
"I like to keep things clean. You won't find anything that'll scar your eyes."
Ryūko chuckled, stretching lazily as she looked around. "You've really kept the place tidy… It's been so long since I've been here."
Her expression softened.
This was the first time she'd stepped into this house since Lock's parents had passed away.
A quiet nostalgia filled the air.
"Lock," she said gently, "can you tell me about your… dragon transformation?"
Lock paused, then nodded, repeating the explanation he'd prepared long ago.
"It's the result of communicating with my Quirk on a genetic level," he said smoothly.
"By synchronizing with it, I can partially transform—hence the dragon traits and flame control."
Ryūko listened closely, frowning in thought—but in the end, she nodded.
The logic was odd, but not impossible. Many Quirks had stranger origins.
"Have you eaten yet?" she asked suddenly, glancing at the clock. "You've been up since morning."
Lock blinked. "No lunch either," he admitted. "Now that you mention it, I'm starving."
"Then I'll cook something—"
He waved her off immediately. "No way. You're the guest here, Aunt Ryūko. I'll handle dinner."
She blinked in surprise. "You can cook?"
"I took home economics, and living alone means I've had practice.
Besides, there's this wonderful thing called the internet," he said, smirking.
Ryūko smiled in amusement and sat down. "Alright then. Let's see what my nephew can do."
Lock rolled up his sleeves, tied on an apron, and started cutting vegetables with swift, practiced motions.
The rhythmic sound of the knife filled the kitchen.
Ryūko leaned against the doorframe, eyes widening. "You're actually good at this…"
Before long, the air filled with the scent of stir-fry and spices.
When the rice was ready, Lock emerged from the kitchen carrying several dishes.
"Green pepper pork, shredded potatoes with chili, and stir-fried lettuce," he said, setting them on the table.
Ryūko's eyes brightened. "Those are my favorites," she said, clapping her hands lightly.
"Well then—let's eat!"
They ate together under the warm light.
Ryūko hadn't eaten dinner either, too worried about Lock's safety.
After her first bite, she let out a surprised hum.
"Mmm! Lock, this is really good. You've been hiding skills from me."
Lock smiled modestly. "Glad you like it."
When the table was empty and both were comfortably full, he stood to clear the plates.
"I'll wash up later," he said. "But… Aunt Ryūko, do you know what's going to happen with the Hero License Exam? Will they hold a retest?"
He didn't say it out loud, but he was thinking about the task deadline—the one-month limit to open his Hero agency.
Ryūko tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Most likely, no retest. The candidates who reached the third round will all pass."
She looked at him with a small smile. "And you, especially—you defeated Iron Shark.
Even if there was supposed to be a 'special evaluation,' that's more than cleared."
Lock let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, a weight was lifted from his shoulders.
Once he received his license, he could officially open his Hero Office—and claim his reward.
Later, Ryūko left the house, transforming into her dragon form and soaring into the night sky toward Ryūhua.
Lock, exhausted from the day's chaos, collapsed onto his bed the moment she was gone.
He was asleep within minutes.
For him, the night was peaceful.
But for the rest of the world, it was anything but quiet.
In every corner of the country, the name Lock was on everyone's lips.
The Flamingo incident, the Hero License Exam, the Iron Shark attack, and finally—
The live broadcast of a second-year student defeating a Pro-level villain with fire and dragon's might.
Within hours, his name was everywhere.
Social media. News outlets. Forums. Hero networks.
He didn't know it yet, but by morning—
Lock would no longer be just another student.
He would be the rising star of Japan's new Hero generation.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San