Ren wasn't that big.
But with his current strength and physical ability, supporting over ten tons wasn't a problem.
That alone was enough to impress even All Might.
As for the monster just now—
It weighed only a few tons at most.
Its increased size didn't necessarily mean equal weight. It was likely a body-enhancement type Quirk.
In a world where Quirks appeared in all kinds of strange forms, this wasn't unusual.
But…
Causing destruction like that in public?
That was a different matter.
If Ren hadn't stepped in—
Countless bystanders might have been crushed on the spot.
—
The expected impact never came.
The people who had shut their eyes in fear slowly opened them.
Then—
They looked around.
No one had lost an arm.
No one had lost a leg.
Everyone was… safe.
—
In the center of it all—
Ren still stood there, one hand raised, holding the massive weight above him.
But in the chaos, countless people had also raised their arms instinctively.
No one paid much attention to him.
The monster's body remained stable, supported by many hands.
"We… we did it!"
"Yeah… we actually stopped it!"
Cheers erupted.
Faced with life and death, the crowd had acted together—
And somehow, they had prevented disaster.
—
Once the danger passed, people quickly moved away from the scene.
At the same time, Kamui Woods acted swiftly, binding the monster tightly with countless wooden restraints.
Nearby, Mt. Lady apologized for her mistake before dragging the restrained monster to an open area.
Then came the interviews.
In this world, media coverage was a major part of being a hero.
It was how heroes were presented to the public.
—
Ren glanced down.
The drawing tools he had just bought were nearly destroyed.
A bit of a loss… but nothing he couldn't replace.
Seeing that everything had calmed down, he turned to leave.
But—
"Wait!!"
A voice called out.
Mt. Lady pushed through the crowd and approached him.
Now back to her normal size, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into a quiet corner.
Even Kamui Woods, who was being interviewed nearby, noticed.
"That kid…"
His expression grew slightly serious.
Because in that moment—
Only a hero could sense what was truly strange.
—
A secluded corner.
Thud.
Mt. Lady placed both hands against the wall—
Trapping Ren between her arms.
Yet, when she met his calm expression…
She hesitated.
"What do you want to ask?" Ren spoke first.
This awkward silence wasn't going anywhere.
Better to end it quickly.
Besides… the influence of modern heroes was already strong enough.
There was no need for unnecessary trouble.
—
"You…"
Mt. Lady stared straight into his eyes.
"You did that just now, didn't you? Don't lie to me."
Her tone was serious.
At this close distance, Ren could even feel her breath.
"…Yeah."
He nodded slightly.
"Just be more careful next time. As a hero, you should always be prepared for unexpected situations."
Then he casually turned his head away.
—
Mt. Lady froze for a moment.
Only then did she realize—
The person in front of her was still just a teenager.
Her behavior… might have crossed a line.
—
She smiled faintly, then spoke more seriously:
"Wait here. My interview will be over soon."
"…I'd like to treat you to a meal."
Her tone was sincere.
There was no real reason to refuse.
—
"Alright," Ren said.
"But make it quick. I've still got things to do."
"…Got it!"
She withdrew her arms and ran back to the interview area.
—
The media in this world knew their limits.
They asked what should be asked—and avoided what shouldn't.
Heroes still had their privacy.
Still, a few sharp-eyed reporters began searching for Ren.
But unfortunately—
He was already gone.
—
On a nearby rooftop—
Ren sat quietly, watching the sunset.
He understood very well how powerful the media could be.
And how much impact certain truths could have if exposed.
—
Five years ago…
The official story was simple:
All Might defeated evil.
Nothing more.
No mention of him.
—
That was intentional.
Partly to protect his identity.
Partly because revealing his involvement would complicate everything.
—
"Ren… one day, you'll achieve even greater things."
Those were the words of Gran Torino.
If the truth of that battle had been made public—
His peaceful life would have already been shattered.
—
Creak…
The rooftop door opened.
Ren stood up, about to leave—
When a voice called out behind him.
"D-Don't go… I want to ask you something…"
The unfamiliar voice made him pause.
It sounded… a little strange.
…
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