"You ready?" Inazuma asked Clara, who had just come out of a meeting.
"Yep. And I made sure Eri is looking after Cana for today, so we won't have to worry about anything tonight," Clara replied, kissing him on the cheek.
"Then let's go," Inazuma said as he picked Clara up in a princess hold and ran toward the hotel where the celebration was happening.
Kazuma thought back to the rest of the changes that had occurred. Without revealing himself to the public, he had spent the last few years taking care of criminals in places where heroes were scarce. He had grown strong and fast enough to monitor the entire planet—but he only did so occasionally, knowing that if any danger truly needed his attention, it would make the news soon enough.
His main focus was rescuing children abandoned because of their physical characteristics or quirks. He primarily saved children across Japan, placing them in orphanages run either by Nagant or the woman who had once failed to save Shigaraki. When dealing with abandoned children in other countries, he brought them to respective orphanages in those cities.
But he wasn't irresponsible about it. He always returned to make sure they were safe. If he found any signs of abuse, or if the orphanage was colluding with smugglers or criminals, the culprits would be tied up in front of the local police station the next day—with irrefutable evidence of their crimes.
He also fought hard against crimes rooted in discrimination—cases where people were harmed just for being different. These often occurred in rural areas, where even the peacekeepers, including heroes, were biased and ignored such acts.
However, after the horrors of the potential future were revealed, the government began cracking down on these injustices—both from civilians and heroes. Education was also being provided to children in those areas, ensuring they didn't inherit the prejudices of their parents.
By that time, Inazuma had reached the venue where the private party was being held.
"Inazuma-sensei, Clara-san—welcome to the party!" Midoriya greeted them at the entrance.
"Nice to see you again, Midoriya. Congratulations on earning the title of Number One," Clara said, gifting him a small prototype from her company.
Midoriya laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. Even after all these years, he still got shy when complimented directly. It had actually helped with his media presence—earning him the nickname "Being Deku" on social media.
"Well, I'm sure the title would change if we revealed just one week of Inazuma-sensei's work," he added, glancing at Inazuma. He was one of the few who knew what Inazuma did behind the scenes. While the information was classified, top heroes could access it thanks to their accomplishments.
Once inside, the other members of Class A cheered and greeted them. They too knew of Inazuma's contributions and were happy to see him.
The celebration was warm and lively—even without alcohol. Everyone enjoyed it genuinely.
Inazuma listened as each of them shared stories of what they had achieved—most of them surpassing their original dreams.
Suddenly, everyone's phones beeped in unison—an alert about a villain attack nearby.
It took just fifteen seconds for them to change into their hero costumes and rush out to help.
Inazuma smiled as he watched them go—heroes who had grown from the students he once met. He remembered thinking of them as fictional characters… until the day he witnessed Eri's suffering firsthand. Her silent tears while being tortured had shattered his illusion and grounded him in the grim reality of this world.
Later, witnessing the destruction of another world had pushed him to act, to change the future—even if it meant facing the consequences.
Suddenly, he felt a gentle pressure on his hand. Clara was looking at him with a soft smile.
Ah… how could he forget the person who had been by his side more than anyone else in this life—and hopefully, if everything went well, until the very end of it.
Just then, a glowing window appeared in front of him:
[Congratulations. You have completed the mission. Make sure to live your life well.
—Your friend and creator of the universe, Jason.]
Inazuma quietly whispered a thank you in his mind as the window closed.
He pulled Clara close and kissed her forehead.
"Wanna go back home to the kids?" he asked.
"Yeah. Don't want to keep both of them waiting—they might end up watching anime till midnight."
They left the building, walking slowly toward their home. Inazuma didn't use his superspeed. Clara didn't ask why.
For a while, they walked in silence, hand in hand. The sounds of battle echoed from a few streets away, but for them, the world was calm.
Inazuma intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Clara?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you found me that day."
A/N- it was a wonderful journey. Even though it was my second book, it was over before even half of my first book was completed. Special thanks to all those who supported me while writing these books. Thank you and I hope you will like my future works.