Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week

Tokyo, Chiyoda District, 1-1 Kudankita 3-chome.

The raging flames had been extinguished by the firefighters, leaving only a charred wasteland where the building once stood.

Many flowers were laid in front of the ruins, like a splendid sea of blossoms. Candles were lit one after another.

People had "spontaneously" gathered here to pay tribute to those who had died in the accident. Reporters from major TV stations also rushed to the scene to film.

The black-clad bodyguards kept the crowd at bay, making it easier for Sato Shintaro to speak later on. Even before the start time, the number of people gathered here had already exceeded 10,000.

Security on the site was very tight; occasionally, black-clad bodyguards patrolled through the crowd to prevent any possible accidents. Recently, Tokyo had known little peace or stability, putting extraordinary pressure on the security company in charge.

Durant blended into the crowd. He was now disguised as a middle-aged man who worked in freight, with an unremarkable face, wearing a baseball cap to slightly shield him from the scorching sun. The sheer number of people gathered pushed the air temperature even higher. The air he breathed was hot.

Damn, it's so hot, Durant complained to himself, scanning the scene. He noticed many people were already sweating profusely, yet they showed no intention of seeking shade.

Aside from a few who were genuinely enthusiastic, most were there for the money. After all, not many people had the leisure to gather here. Those who genuinely wanted to express their condolences preferred to do so online, where a few sentences could convey their sorrow and condemn the killer. Coming to the site in person was a major hassle. If it were really all spontaneous, probably ninety-nine percent of the people present would disappear. Relying on the few remaining people would not be enough to create the somber atmosphere of the scene.

Sato Shintaro had spent lavishly to hire an "atmosphere group," creating the impressive spectacle before them. When the event officially started, this spectacle would be amplified. There would be stacks of fresh flowers and candles, the conspicuous ruins as a backdrop, and women and children wailing the names of the deceased. Reporters would capture these dramatic images and broadcast them online.

The Japanese government had considerable experience in portraying itself as a victim, never mentioning its faults, and instead, aggressively parading its own pain to attract the sympathy of others. Sato Shintaro wanted to use this approach to boost his fame, ensuring his lead in the next Prime Minister election.

Durant, in the crowd, was also waiting. He intended to trade Sato Shintaro's head for Dio's trust.

Durant lowered his head to check the time. It was two o'clock sharp.

Applause suddenly erupted around him, and Durant looked up at the sound.

Sato Shintaro, in a somber suit, walked onto the stage with a heavy expression. Opening the microphone, his voice carried deep sorrow, "Ladies and gentlemen, my heart..."

It was too hot, and Durant had no patience for Sato's drivel. He estimated the distance between them, scanned the bodyguards' positions again, then made his decision and drew his gun. He was now less than thirty meters away from Sato Shintaro. It was no mere boast; within a hundred meters, his shooting record at the CIA was flawless. He would hit wherever he aimed.

Durant took aim directly at Sato Shintaro's heart and pulled the trigger.

A loud BANG interrupted Sato Shintaro's speech. He hadn't yet realized he'd been shot; he glanced at the crowd, then looked down at his bleeding chest.

After a moment, the surrounding bodyguards stopped being statues. One shouted, "Quick, protect Senator Sato!"

Durant fired two more shots. The successive BANGS stirred unrest among the crowd.

"AH!"

A scream pierced the air. Whether they were part of the hired "atmosphere group" or genuine mourners for the destroyed shrine, the crowd could no longer hold back. People ran frantically. Although the bodyguards tried to push through to catch Durant, their efforts were negligible in such a chaotic torrent of humanity.

Durant swiftly put away his gun, lowered his head, and began to shed his disguise amid the crowd, changing his appearance to leave the scene.

Amidst deafening screams, as people surged outwards, the area where Sato Shintaro had been speaking quickly emptied, leaving only the converging bodyguards.

TV station reporters captured this scene. This was news big enough to shake Japan. There were also some fearless bloggers who didn't forget to film videos or live stream at this time. Hoping to gain traffic from this event, they indeed received an immediate surge in viewership.

The assassination attempt on Sato Shintaro during his speech at the shrine ruins quickly became a hot topic on the internet.

「...」

For the time being, the online commotion didn't affect the school. During class time, the teaching building was always quiet.

DING DONG DONG. The crisp bell signaling the end of class rang, marking the conclusion of the second afternoon period.

"Time flies. Just one more class, and then school's out for the day."

Phoenix Academy Maggie leaned to the side, her back against the wall, one hand on her own desk and the other intruding onto Aozawa's. She even brazenly fiddled with the items on Aozawa's desk, picking up an eraser identical to hers, and said, "You've hardly used this."

"I always write carefully; I never make mistakes," Aozawa said smugly, laughing. "Want to go to the restroom?"

"Scram," Phoenix Academy Maggie said, her red lips parting slightly to utter the single word that expressed her thoughts.

Aozawa smiled, reached out, and patted Hojo Tetsuji's shoulder. "Hey, stop sleeping. Let's go to the bathroom."

"Okay," Hojo Tetsuji replied groggily, standing up.

When one brother said he needed to use the bathroom, a true brother should feel the same urge and go with him. This was the unbreakable toilet diplomacy among boys.

Watching the two leave, Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't remain seated but stood up and walked towards Nomura True Wave and Yoshikawa Sayuri. When going to the restroom, it's common for both men and women to enjoy calling a friend along. Of course, she had no such intention now; she simply wanted to chat with her friends.

"Tokyo has become really dangerous lately," Nomura True Wave sighed, her expression troubled. "First, someone set fire to a shrine, and then, in the same place, someone attempted to assassinate Sato Shintaro while he was paying respects to the deceased."

Phoenix Academy Maggie's face showed a hint of surprise upon hearing Sato Shintaro's name. This man was no ordinary person; he was already widely anticipated to be the next Prime Minister.

"Is he dead?"

"No, he's said to be still fighting for his life in the hospital," Nomura True Wave replied, then showed Maggie the video that had gone viral on YouTube.

The initial scene was calm, the blazing sun shining on the empty podium. A man in his forties, Sato Shintaro, stepped onto the podium. He had barely spoken five words when a loud BANG was heard. For a brief moment, it was evident that neither the crowd nor the shot Sato Shintaro had reacted; there was a noticeable pause. Then, a second later, the bodyguards finally reacted and sprang into action. Two of them tackled Sato Shintaro to the ground, while another deployed a bulletproof briefcase.

Two more shots rang out—precise headshots that felled the guard with the bulletproof briefcase, instantly throwing the scene into chaos. The noise was deafening.

The video began to shake, indicating that the vlogger was also running with the crowd, excitedly shouting, "Sato Shintaro's been shot! Sato Shintaro's been shot!"

"Have they caught the assassin?" Phoenix Academy Maggie asked, curious about who had attempted the assassination.

Nomura True Wave shook her head. "No, they still don't know who the assassin is. Some speculate it was Durant, who recently left the detention center. Others think it was someone who couldn't stand Sato Shintaro's actions. Then there are the conspiracy theorists, claiming the assassin was hired by one of his political rivals."

"That's scary. Why do people have to kill each other?" Yoshikawa Sayuri said with a look of dismay.

Phoenix Academy Maggie shook her head. "Little Sayuri, the world is like that. There will always be people with bad intentions who want to exploit you. If you can't get justice through legitimate means, you have to fight back with force. But that's usually labeled as terrorism. You only see Sato Shintaro getting shot, but you don't see what Sato Shintaro did behind the scenes. For the assassin to resort to this method, they must have had an extraordinary experience."

"Maggie, do you sympathize with that assassin?"

"No, I never sympathize with those people. They are warriors, and warriors don't need sympathy. I respect them."

"Haha, well said," Nomura True Wave laughed, not caring whether the assassin was a warrior or an executioner. She was just in it for the entertainment.

Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't continue the topic, casually chatting about other things. Then, glancing at the wall clock, she stopped the conversation and walked back to her seat.

"Aozawa, do you know about the assassination attempt on Sato Shintaro?"

"Of course. I've seen the viral video on YouTube." Aozawa stopped using his Catalyst Induction Ability. When he had nothing better to do, he liked to use this Ability to listen to what students in other classrooms were saying. He could pick up on all sorts of interesting student gossip within a one-kilometer radius. The current hottest topic among the boys was the Sato assassination case. He was a bit surprised at how smoothly Durant's operation had gone.

"Tokyo is becoming quite dangerous these days."

Phoenix Academy Maggie glanced at him. Hearing this statement from Aozawa felt somewhat odd. "Are you scared?"

"Of course I'm scared. I'm just an ordinary high school student," Aozawa sighed.

Phoenix Academy Maggie rolled her eyes. "Instead of scared, your tone sounds more like you're gloating. This wouldn't have anything to do with you, would it?"

"Maggie, I think you have exceptionally high expectations of me," Aozawa said, looking astonished. "To think I would be involved in something so significant? Let me emphasize once more: I'm just an ordinary high school student."

I'll get Durant a submachine gun tonight, he decided.

"Indeed." Phoenix Academy Maggie put aside her doubts. Her eyes softened as she said, "Perhaps my expectations for you were too high... Idiot." She murmured the last word, its target unclear.