1.
With the cessation of Sentum Tower, the infrastructure of Kiburatos suffered a tremendous blow.
No, it was beyond the extent that the phrase “tremendous blow” could describe. Since most of the infrastructure had been dependent on Sentum Tower, the city had practically come to a standstill.
Essential structures such as railways, power plants, and telecommunications facilities, along with hospitals and water/sewage treatment systems, were affected.
The large-scale academies like Millennium, Gehenna, and Trinity, which lacked internal infrastructure and heavily relied on Sentum Tower for most of their needs, were utterly devastated in their daily lives.
And to make matters worse, disorders and calamities erupted chaotically from all sides.
The city was, in short, descending into utter disarray.
It had been about ten days since the effective paralysis of the city began, and although many people devoted their efforts to restoring it, their endeavors bore little fruit.
Still, there was one point that could be considered fortuitous:
“Should we fail to fix this, we’re as good as dead!”
“Please! Please let it work…”
Thanks to the efforts of the news bureau and Chronos School, who feared the severance of their lifelines, the miraculous revival of the wired communication network allowed for swift dissemination of news across the city.
For the small academies stranded in remote areas, hearing no news while waiting for Sentum Tower’s restoration felt like a refreshing downpour amidst a drought.
Though unable to use wireless communication functions like phone calls or texts, the ability to at least stay informed about world events was a small comfort.
Through this process, most students and citizens observed.
Every day, they tuned into the news, eagerly anticipating updates on Sentum Tower’s restoration, awaiting the moment when their screens revealed—
“An unbelievable event has occurred! A mysterious person wearing a mask has defeated all the soldiers of Kaiser PMC!”
The violent suppression carried out in the Central Autonomous District—and its subsequent retribution by a lone hero were witnessed.
“…Does the mask need a different name?”
“White Day! How does that sound? Isn’t it cute?”
“I think ‘Boku’ sounds funny. I kinda like it.”
“No, what’s a ‘boku’? Let’s just call it ‘Shiro’ since it has white hair.”
The news unexpectedly had a massive impact.
Somewhere along the line, the conversations of students and citizens shifted from worries about the city’s future to discussions filled with hope and excitement about this “hero.”
The reason was simple:
All living beings yearn for hope.
Finally, a hopeful story emerged in the news, which had previously been marred by nothing but misfortune and bleak prospects. The significance of this was not trivial.
Whether it was by chance or by design:
The hero onscreen had undoubtedly engraved two words—Hope—into the hearts of the struggling citizens and students.
That was enough.
—
2.
“This doesn’t feel much different from usual.”
That was my observation as I gazed at Millennium.
Being the academy with the most advanced technology among all, Millennium had already restored most of its facilities, excluding a few infrastructures controlled by Sentum Tower.
While communication with other regions and transportation still hadn’t resumed, internal communications, railways, and sewage systems within Millennium had already been restored in no time.
“We had to put in a lot of effort…”
“Yes…”
In response to my brief observation, Utaha’s and Hibiki’s weary voices followed from where they were enjoying tea time.
They were clearly exhausted, having participated in the restoration efforts following the infrastructure’s collapse. Hibiki, in particular, appeared not to have slept properly, as she was nodding off.
‘At this rate, I won’t even be able to bring up the main topic.’
The discussion about the next equipment seemed a better idea for another day. The timing just wasn’t right.
“Hibiki, stay awake and eat this.”
“Um…?”
I smiled wryly as I placed snacks one by one into Hibiki’s mouth, which slowly began to close from drowsiness. She obediently opened her mouth wide upon my prompting, and her tail flicked behind her, seemingly in her sleep.
Watching this, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for intruding on this moment. I’d never thought these usually bright people could look so worn out.
Should I just leave?
“Asking for your consultation was a bother, so if you want to go home and rest…”
“No—!!”
The moment I declared my departure, Hibiki, who had previously been sleeping with her eyes closed, abruptly opened her eyes and shouted as she stood up.
Utaha, startled by her loud voice, glanced at me in shock, while she herself was too exhausted to even respond and began to lean sideways.
“Why, why are you saying that?”
“We, we can’t afford to rest if you go. We’ll have to start working again.”
“I see.”
I hadn’t realized this was their idea of rest. Deciding to let them continue their restful chat under the guise of consultation, I chuckled softly and took another bite of the snack. Only then did Hibiki seem to relax and sit back down.
With that, I decided to bring up a different topic.
“Speaking of which, I have something I’ve been pondering.”
“…A problem? You mean the one about your name?”
“Hero Name? Hmm, that is a concern, but I have an even more pressing one.”
“More important than this? Alright, let me ask, what is it?”
“Which club should I join?”
“…”
“…”
In response to my question, not only Utaha but even Hibiki, who had closed her eyes during the hero topic, now stared at me silently, their eyes wide with disbelief.
“Wait, aren’t I a student? This seems more important.”
“Didn’t you check online?”
“I did.”
“Then why are you so calm?”
Hmm, I may seem calm, but I’m not entirely. I understand what Utaha is getting at.
The official community activated by Millennium Science School’s internal network is currently buzzing with debates about my hero name. Moreover, these discussions have even reached the Chronos Press Bureau, sparking numerous discussions.
To summarize, it goes like this:
Isn’t your name ‘Mask’?
What’s so great about ‘Mask’? Why are you using a name like that?
What about this name? Sounds better than ‘Mask’ to me.
Even if it wasn’t chosen by you, why are you all fighting over it?
Why not just wait and see quietly, etc.
Various opinions have emerged, both good and questionable.
“Hmm, I think ‘Silk’ sounds nice.”
“…”
“I like ‘White Reaper’; it sounds cool and fits.”
“No, what about my club?”
Due to continuous meetings and discussions after the last mission, we’ve now built enough rapport to indulge in idle chitchat like this.
To be precise, our initial relationship was that of a quirky client and a constructor, but after the news stories about me circulated, their interest in me deepened, strengthening our connection. That’s why I asked about the club, but I don’t understand why the focus keeps shifting back to this.
Of course, it’s nice that they’re interested, but I wish to fill in the blank on my student ID for being unaffiliated as soon as possible.
‘While the name is important, my club plays a critical role in planning future activities.’
I didn’t intend to limit myself as a hero in Kiburatos. Depending on the club, the extent of my activities as a regular citizen would be determined.
It would also provide a new avenue to diversify my funds beyond merely working at a convenience store.
Noticing my contemplative demeanor, Hibiki suddenly mumbled sleepily.
“Just… join our club. It’s convenient.”
“Isn’t engineering too much? I know nothing about it and feel like I’ll only get in the way.”
“Hehe… our club isn’t easy; it’s challenging.”
“See?”
“…”
How can I trust you when you both look like you’re on the verge of death?
“Still… won’t you come?”
“Why?”
“Let’s create your equipment together… along those lines.”
Hmm.
Something I’ve been pondering for quite some time.
Hibiki surprisingly seemed to harbor a lot of interest in heroes and romance. She was, after all, the one to contact me immediately upon hearing the news.
Still, I’m not sure if this interest is admiration or something else entirely.
“Um, I’ll think about it. Don’t expect too much.”
“Yeah… understood.”
After that, I spent a long time chatting idly with the two before parting ways.
—
3.
After finishing my evening shift at the convenience store, I headed towards a nearby park for dinner.
Again, thanks to the shop owner’s leftovers, I was about to devour those.
“…”
However, the park already had an early visitor.
Under normal circumstances, I would have just thought it was a student out for a leisurely stroll…
But this wasn’t exactly normal.
“Oh my. Welcome, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Because the girl there greeted me as if she’d been awaiting my arrival.
I responded calmly, without showing any signs of surprise.
“…Who are you?”
“Hmm…? You’re playing along even though you’ve already figured it out, how delightful? Hehe, well then… hmm… cough! Let me re-introduce myself properly!”
“…”
Heh. Involuntarily, a hollow laugh escaped me. Yes, I hadn’t truly believed I could keep my identity a secret from everyone.
There are truly talented individuals in this world, and Millennium, in particular, abounds with geniuses deserving of the title.
…Geniuses I could never hope to match.
And among them, the most prominent is this girl—the “omniscient” prodigy of Millennium, a true genius.
“I’m the head of Veritas and the head of the Supernormal Special Operations Division… Millennium’s premier genteel-yet-frail beauty hacker—”
“Akeboshi Himari.”
“Ah! Hehe, you already knew, didn’t you? The hidden hero of Millennium, Silk-san?”
“…”
“Isn’t that your name?”
In fact, I was aware.
That the community and TV are already calling me Silk. That some people are suggesting new names, causing division. Moreover, posts about me have stretched across multiple pages, gaining tremendous attention.
That Utaha and Hibiki’s suggestions were simply probing my preferences.
‘How could I not know? I’ve deliberately ignored it.’
But there’s one thing they all are unaware of.
‘I don’t intend to choose my own hero name.’
That’s why I hesitated to say anything.
Because I want to be remembered by the world under a name chosen not by myself but by them. Isn’t that more romantic and heroic?
And Himari’s approach wasn’t just about addressing the common name in the public domain; it was about recognizing my deeper thoughts.
Why? Because it’s Himari.
“You came to me knowing all of that.”
Which meant,
At this point, it was more important to me to understand why, and how, exactly, Himari had found me.
Was it because she’s the “omniscient” prodigy?
No. It couldn’t be that simple.
I had memorized the general locations of CCTV cameras not only within Millennium but across all my operational areas and always accounted for them when acting. To minimize the gap between my “regular self” and my “hero self,” I meticulously created alibis. I staggered the times of my hero activities, altered my voice when in hero mode, and paid close attention to details.
‘Even then, was it insufficient?’
A wry smile slipped out, more out of resignation than amusement. I had never thought I could stay completely hidden.
My plan was to reveal my true identity to a few select students—not mobs or villains—because, in my world, a few students are like insurance policies. People I trust won’t betray me even when the truth is laid bare.
‘That’s why I exposed myself to the Engineering Department.’
Playable students from Blue Archive.
They’re essentially guarantees. Trustworthy entities reliable enough to safeguard my truth.
…Of course, not all fit that description.
But the girl before me, 100%, was someone I trusted.
Still…
I couldn’t bring myself to fully lower my guard without knowing the precise reason why Himari sought me.
“How did you find out?”
“…You seem rather stern compared to what I thought. Though not quite at my level of beauty, you do have a striking appearance. And the blue eyes are quite appealing to me.”
“Are you refusing to answer?”
“Hehe, let me just say I have my own methods. Are you not curious why I’ve come? To think that someone with my title of ‘omniscient genius,’ Akeboshi Himari, would seek you out?”
“Hm, go on. It’s not like I care much, but…”
“But?”
“At least let’s have this conversation together.”
“Indeed, impressive.”
A faint sensation had been tugging at me since before.
Initially, I’d just thought the figure strolling nearby was another student similar to the one in front of me. But as the moment stretched on, the presence behind the tree didn’t fade.
Meaning the initial purpose had been to stay there silently from the start.
“Amy, you can come out.”
“Okay, Chief.”
Izumimoto Amy.
One of the two members of the Supernormal Special Operations Division alongside Akeboshi Himari, Amy was a Millennium student.
“Hey.”
“…”
When Amy appeared from behind the tree, her outfit was as bold as ever.
‘I’ll never get used to that look of hers.’
Even knowing about her revealing style from media appearances, seeing it in person delivered a more potent impact. My bemused glance towards Amy was noticed by Himari, who responded with a soft smile.
“Before we proceed with the conversation, let’s clarify our purpose.”
“…Go ahead.”
Even as Himari revealed her purpose, I internally braced myself tightly, waiting for what she’d come here for.
And the words that followed were—
“Won’t you join our Supernormal Special Operations Division?”
Something I hadn’t anticipated at all.
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