The night didn't conclude with any grand gestures; instead, it ended with Kaito Arisaka's pride crashing to the ground in a shadowy alley quite a distance from the Ashita ruins.
His pristine white suit was long gone.
The once-lustrous hair had devolved into a tangled mess, dark and grimy. What had once been a voice like a celestial being was now reduced to a raspy cough, as if his lungs were trying to escape his chest.
Leaning against a brick wall, Kaito's legs trembled like a newborn colt, while his industrial respirator hung limply from one ear.
"I'm alive," Kaito gasped, his thoughts grinding away like a rusty shovel scraping over a barren pavement. "And that is the worst luck imaginable. Had I died, I wouldn't be feeling my ribs shift and ache like they've been shuffled around.
"And if I were dead, I wouldn't have to face the catastrophic mess I just created when I 'edited' a fire right out of existence."
Kaito's mind were a swirling confusion of chaotic images and vague memories, leaving him struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
Why had he snapped his fingers? Why had everything seemingly collapsed? All he grasped was that the flames were extinguished, the children were unharmed, and his heart was racing violently, like a caged bird desperate for escape.
With a soft groan that was more a whimper of "why," Kaito set off on the long, painful journey back to his apartment.
Each step was a battle against an overwhelming gravity, making the world feel heavy and painfully tangible. He steered clear of the main streets, navigating through the safer, shadowy residential blocks, far from where the fire had spread.
When Kaito finally reached his apartment—a cramped four-mat space filled with dust and the smell of cheap laundry detergent—he didn't bother turning on the lights.
Instead, he staggered into the bathroom, peeled off his singed FamilyMart vest, and stood under the ice-cold shower for what felt like an eternity. He scrubbed his skin until it turned raw, watching the dark, greasy residue swirl down the drain.
Kaito ignored the news and ignored his phone. He collapsed onto his futon, succumbing to a deep, dreamless void for precisely ninety minutes.
-----
KRIING. KRIING. KRIING
The morning didn't kick off with a triumphant tune; it began with an obnoxious noise reminiscent of a disgruntled cat being pushed through a shredder—his alarm blaring angrily.
But there was another sound, more urgent and persistent.
"Kaito! Kaito, answer me! Please!"
Grandma Saki's voice erupted from his phone before he even had a chance to press the screen.
Kaito scrambled for the device, his vision foggy and his eyes gritty from the salt and smoke of the night before.
"I'm here, Ba-chan," he croaked, his voice rough as if it had been shredded.
"Oh, thank the heavens!" Saki's voice trembled, a high-pitched echo of relief and fear. "I've been calling for an hour! The news… the entire neighborhood is gone! When I woke up, the sky was orange, then everyone started screaming about some bright light. I thought the FamilyMart, I thought you were caught up in it!"
A cold wave of guilt washed over Kaito. He glanced at his hands, raw and sore from scrubbing, yet the memory of the fire lingered on his skin.
"I'm alright, Ba-chan. I swear. Sato-san… he listened to me. I saw the gas lines flickering, and I urged everyone to get to the reinforced security room. We waited there until it was safe. I just… I just need to rest. I'll come over for breakfast."
"Just get here, Kaito. The miso is getting cold. Things are spiraling out of control out there."
Kaito hung up, sinking onto the edge of his futon with his head in his hands. A wave of relief crashed over him, nearly making him laugh.
He had done it. Not only did he save the old man and the kids, but he had also managed to stop the fire before it could reach the edge of the city where Grandma Saki's home stood.
The "White Suited Guy" miracle wasn't for the millions watching; it was meant for one woman who was making miso soup.
Kaito finally glanced at his phone.
His notification tray was overwhelming—more like a digital graveyard than anything else. As he skimmed through the headlines, his surroundings began to dissolve into a chilling anxiety.
[TOP TRENDING WORLDWIDE]
#HeroX
#TheSnap
#SootGuyGhost
#AllMightHomecoming
Kaito clicked on the first video link. It was Hideki's coverage— the reporter who had climbed out of the dumpster. What he saw was terrifyingly vivid.
The "Soot Guy"—a grimy, unidentifiable figure—was seen diving into the wreckage to rescue the old man and the kids. Then came the flash. The transformation.
Millions watched as a spectacular figure in a brilliant white suit emerged from the soot, seemingly rewriting reality with just a flick of his wrist.
The comments section exploded into chaos:
[@GravityFan_99: "WHO IS THIS GUY? Did you see how he moves? He caught a ten-ton pillar with his MIND! And that Soot Guy kid—did he vanish? The news says the survivors were found, but where did he go?"]
[@SootGuyStan: "Everyone's obsessed with the guy in the white suit, but let's not forget the Soot Guy! He rescued those kids from four buildings before the white-suited guy even arrived. He was just an ordinary dude in a mask—he's the real hero of Ashita."]
[@Heroditt: "The official Hero Registry has no record of him. The media's dubbed him 'Hero X' since he's a total wildcard. I've never seen anything so stylish!"]
[@ImRealitySnap: "I've been glued to the news all night! All Might has finally returned home from America, but he took three hours to clear rubble downtown. This 'Hero X' guy did it in just sixty seconds with a simple flick!"]
[@FashionGuy4Hire: "Is he even human? Look at that suit! It's 4 AM in the middle of a disaster zone, and he looks ready for a gala!"]
[@HeroAnalyst_Tokyo: "This isn't just a strength quirk; it's a complete reality shift. Look at the shadows! They morph into ink-like lines. 'Hero X' has completely changed what it means to be a hero. All Might is strong, but this guy is divine."]
"Hero X?" Kaito groaned, burying his face in his pillow.
"So they're calling me Hero X? That sounds like a cheap brand of detergent! I can't be Hero X! I'm Kaito B-Minus! Just a background player! The guy you see for a few seconds in a crowd before the real hero steps in."
He flung his phone away as if it were about to explode. And suddenly reality kicks in.
"Oh no," he muttered, panic rising in his chest like bile. "They're searching for two people—a god in a white suit and a kid in a mask. They're after me."
Kaito hurriedly prepared himself. He had to visit Saki to show he was just an ordinary guy. Then he needed to get to his part-time job at the hardware store. He had to blend in, be the mundane background character that no one would suspect of being a "Soot Ghost" or "Hero X."
-----
He dashed out of his apartment, making his way to Saki's neighborhood.
The Ashita district was a chaotic blend of tragedy and resilience. As he walked past the FamilyMart, where his night shift had spiraled into chaos, he noted the aftermath—the building was charred, windows shattered, but it still stood. Tanaka-san was there by an ambulance, wrapped in a shock blanket.
When Sato saw Kaito, he gasped and rushed over, grasping his shoulders tightly.
"Arisaka! You're alive!" Sato's eyes were red and teary. "I thought... when you ran out after that first explosion... I thought you were gone. You told us to hide, then just disappeared into the smoke!"
"I… I found a crawlspace, Sato-san," Kaito lied, his heart racing. "I hunkered down and waited. I knew everyone was safe in the vault, so I just stayed low until the blinding light happened."
"You've come through for us twice now, kid," Sato said, his voice catching. "First with that warning, and then whatever that strange white thing was... I'm just glad you're all right. Don't stress about the store. The regional manager called—everyone's getting a month of paid leave."
Kaito nodded, a flicker of guilt stirring within him. He had used Sato as an excuse, and here Sato was, thanking him for it. "I'm no hero, Sato-san. I'm just a guy who knows where the fire exits are."
He arrived at Saki's house, relieved to find the small building standing strong and untouched by the flames. As he stepped inside, the familiar aroma of grilled fish and simmering broth enveloped him, grounding him in comfort.
Saki was seated at the table, the TV blaring the morning news. She stood up, her delicate hands shaking slightly as she wrapped him in an embrace that felt like home and safety.
She didn't ask him about the hero featured on the screen or the nationwide craze surrounding Hero X. Instead, she simply cupped his face, inspecting him for burns.
"You smell like smoke, Kaito," she murmured, her eyes searching his.
"I was helping Sato-san with the extinguishers before we made it to the vault, Ba-chan," Kaito fibbed, burying his face in her shoulder. "I'm fine. I promise. The fire didn't even reach your street."
"It reached my heart, you reckless boy," she gently reprimanded, nudging him toward a chair. "Now eat up. You need to head to the hardware store. They'll be swamped today with everyone needing repairs."
-----
Kaito turned his attention to the TV. The news was showing a split-screen comparison.
On one side was All Might—an astonishing figure, a blur of gold muscles and smiles.
He was 45 years old, a seasoned veteran of the American hero scene, finally making his grand homecoming debut in the commercial district with dozens of people on his back. He embodied the essence of human effort, truly looking like he was giving it his all.
On the other side was Hero X. The footage depicted the Snap, showcasing a man who appeared untroubled and composed. Someone who simply surveyed the devastation and decided it was time for it to disappear.
["The veteran returning from America, All Might, has saved hundreds during his long-awaited homecoming debut tonight," the news anchor exclaimed, her voice quivering with excitement.]
["But the buzz surrounding the mystery of Ashita is undeniable. Dubbed Hero X by the internet, he vanished as quickly as he came, leaving behind a perfectly intact neighborhood and a baffled police force. Who is he? A threat? Or the new benchmark for heroism?"]
CLICK
CLICK
Kaito sat in silence, focusing intently on his rice and changing the channel.
On the new channel, they were interviewing survivors who referred to him as the "Soot Guy." He spotted the old man Tanaka from the construction site—the one who had tried to convince Kaito to leave him behind.
["The boy... the one covered in soot," the old man told the reporter. "He didn't have a flashy suit or a name. He was just a kid who wouldn't let go of my chair. He looked terrified, yet he stayed. We're hoping to find him. The neighborhood wants to thank the Soot Hero."]
Kaito clenched his chopsticks tightly, his knuckles going pale. He noticed Saki glance at the screen, then down at his scrubbed, raw hands. She didn't say anything—just poured him more tea.
"People are always searching for ghosts, Kaito," Saki said softly. "But ghosts don't have bills to pay. Just keep being yourself. The world's too loud for those of us who just want a quiet breakfast."
"Yeah," Kaito mumbled. "Way too loud."
-----
After finishing breakfast, Kaito made his way to his second job at the hardware store. He walked through the streets of Ashita like a shadow, observing the fans and kids already clad in white hoodies emblazoned with red 'X's. He spotted posters of the "Soot Guy" plastered to telephone poles.
Pulling his hood low and hunching his shoulders, he transformed into a human question mark, trying to blend in. He passed a group of teenagers huddled over a tablet, replaying his Snap for the fiftieth time.
"I'm telling you, he can warp reality!" one boy exclaimed. "All Might is just really strong, but Hero X... he's like a god. I need to find him and ask if he can help me boost my GPA."
Kaito wincing at that. 'I can't help you with your GPA, kid! I can barely manage my own problems!'
But Kaito thought to himself, 'Still, I'm coming out ahead. Everyone is preoccupied with two legends. They'll never investigate what's hiding behind a pile of plywood.'
He arrived at the Arisaka hardware store, where the new manager, Kimiko, was frantically counting inventory. The shop was crowded with customers grabbing boards, tape, and glass.
"Arisaka! You're late!" Kimiko scolded, then hesitated when he noticed Kaito's tired expression. "You live over in the Ashita block, right? Did you see him? Did you see Hero X? Or that 'Soot Ghost' kid?"
"I was asleep, Kimiko-san," Kaito replied as he walked toward the lockers. "I'm a heavy sleeper. I completely missed everything. I just woke up to see it on the news."
"Sleeping?! A veteran god returns from America, a kid turns into a local legend, and you're out cold?" Kimiko exhaled in disbelief, shaking his head. "Seriously, Arisaka, you're just a background character. No ambition, no drive. At this rate, you'll be stuck stocking shelves with hex nuts until you're old."
"That's the dream," Kaito said, feeling an intense wave of relief.
-----
For the next few hours, he moved in a haze, lifting heavy bags of concrete and cutting lumber. He felt like an invisible entity—the kind of NPC that everyone overlooked. And for him, that was a safe place to be.
Suddenly, the bell above the door chimed.
But this wasn't an ordinary chime. It felt like the atmosphere in the store was suddenly weighed down by a heavy presence. Kaito looked up, brushing sawdust from his forehead, and his heart plummeted.
At the counter stood a man who seemed carved from fatigue and sharp, calculating logic. With messy black hair, bloodshot eyes, and a thick, gray scarf that looked like a weapon, he was unmistakable.
Eraserhead.
The Pro-Hero didn't glance at the tools or customers. Instead, he approached the counter and slid a high-resolution tablet across to Kaito.
It showed a thermal image captured by a news drone just thirty seconds after the "Snap."
In the image, a white suit flickered out in an alleyway, and a small, soot-covered figure in a respirator staggered out on the other end, leading straight to the residential area where Kaito lived.
"We're performing a door-to-door investigation of every civilian in the 'Miracle Zone,'" Aizawa stated, his voice a low, gravelly tone that felt almost like a sentence of doom.
"Several survivors from four different buildings mentioned a 'Soot Guy.' A boy who conducted advanced rescues without a quirk license."
Aizawa leaned in, his weary, red-rimmed eyes locking onto Kaito's with the deadly focus of someone who makes a living erasing quirks.
"You have quite a few minor scrapes on your knuckles for a 'heavy sleeper,' Arisaka-kun. And you smell like industrial-grade carbon."
Kaito stared at the tablet. He looked at the capture and then at the life he was trying to safeguard: quiet tea times with Saki, the comfort of a 9-5 job, the security of being unnoticed.
'Oh, crap,' Kaito's inner voice hit a pitch only dogs could hear. 'The reality factor has arrived. And it brought a detective.'