Chapter 4 : YUKIMAN & SHIRATORI

  That night, after finishing dinner and helping with the dishes, Hiro retreated to his room.

  The soft glow of the desk lamp illuminated the small space as he pulled out his laptop and powered it on.

  For a long moment, he simply stared at the search bar, hesitating.

  Then, with a deep breath, he typed in the words:

  "Hero Yukiman"

  A flood of articles popped up—old news clippings, fan blogs, and most importantly, an entry on the Global Hero Association's official database, which kept meticulous records of all licensed heroes.

  Heart pounding, Hiro clicked the link.

  A clean, professional page opened.

  At the top, there was a photograph of a man in his 30s: long white hair, piercing blue eyes, a confident yet gentle smile. His costume was striking — a deep blue, hooded cloak that fluttered dramatically even in the still image, paired with sleek white gloves and heavy spiked boots designed for traversing icy terrain.

  Beneath the photo, neatly organized, was a detailed record:

  Hero Name: Yukiman (ユキマン)

  Real Name: Arakawa Sōma (荒川 颯真)

  Singularity: Snow Storm — Ability to generate and manipulate snow and cold winds with extreme precision.

  Years Active: 20XX – 20XY

  Affiliated Agency: Glacis Hero Agency

  Major Achievements:

  ? Rescued 27 mountaineers trapped in the Tenkawa Range during a blizzard disaster.

  ? Assisted in the capture and arrest of over 46 villains.

  ? Commended for bravery and service by the Global Hero Association in 20XX.

  Status: KIA (Killed in Action) during a battle against an unknown villain in 20XY.

  Hiro's fingers tightened around the edges of his laptop.

  There he was - The father he barely remembered — not just some idealized figure, but a real, living hero who had saved lives, fought villains, and made a difference in the world.

  His chest felt tight, complicated emotions overflowing.

  Part pride. Part sadness.

  Part... something else — anger? Resentment? Probably yes.

  Hiro admired his father's hero career but also resented him slightly for disappearing, leaving him and his mother alone.

  He knew his father fought for the greater good — but he still couldn't completely accept it. Hiro sighed and shook his head to clear his mind.

  ‘How am I going to be a Hero with this attitude? Looks like I don't really understand what being a Hero means yet.’

  Hiro leaned back in his chair and stretched, letting out a small sigh.

  His fingers found their way back to the keyboard, a new resolve settling in his chest.

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  This time, he typed: "Shiratori"

  The search results were disappointing — irrelevant links about white birds, sports teams, even restaurants.

  Nothing about a hero.

  He frowned and tried again, this time more specifically:

  "Flying Hero Shiratori"

  The page loaded, filled mostly with random gossip articles and outdated forum threads.

  Just as he was about to give up, one link caught his eye — an old, barely maintained blog post about flying-type Singularities.

  Curious, Hiro clicked it open.

  The page was cluttered but genuine, featuring various heroes who had mastered flight —

  Bird-like wings, draconic appendages, mechanical thrusters strapped to their backs, or gravitation powers and wind powers that aided in flight.

  And then, tucked between faded photos, he found it:

  A grainy black-and-white picture of a man soaring over a tall building, no visible wings or machinery in sight.

  Just a lone figure suspended against the sky.

  The caption read:

  "Early superhero era flying hero — 'Shiratori'. Ability unknown. Speculated to involve wind or gravity-type Singularities for flight. There were also scattered reports of unrelated abilities such as super strength and explosive ranged attacks. However, this article will not cover those, as they fall outside the scope of this blog. Records are scarce, as this was during the pre-Global Hero Association era."

  Hiro leaned closer, eyes narrowing as he studied the grainy image.

  Flight, super strength, ranged attacks...

  Was this really the same Singularity as Vitality Stream?

  If so, how had he unlocked such abilities?

  His heart thudded with a surge of hope — faint, but persistent.

  Yet alongside it came a quiet fear.

  ‘What if this was all just coincidence? A false lead?

  What if he was setting himself up for disappointment?’

  Still lost in thought, Hiro crawled into bed.

  The questions, the wonder, the uncertainty — they all followed him beneath the covers.

  And as sleep crept in, a storm of mixed feelings weighed silently on his chest.

  The next day, Hiro decided to start experimenting with his Singularity.

  He already knew the basics — Vitality Stream didn’t activate on command or with a flashy effect. It wasn’t something he could point and unleash. Instead, it quietly enhanced his stamina and recovery. Not by much, but just enough to push him over the limit of a regular human.

  That meant if he wanted to develop it, there was only one way: push his body to its limits and let it recover. Again and again - forcing the singularity to activate over and over. Maybe over time, he would notice some changes.

  So, he got up early.

  The sky was still dim when he stepped outside. He took care to not wake his mother.

  Wearing his school trainers and a light jacket, he started running through the empty streets. He was familiar with this route — it was the same one he used to rush to school whenever he was late. But this time, he didn’t hold back.

  He sprinted at full speed with maximum effort for the entire duration of the run. It was hard to maintain the maximum speed. It was said that in the olden days, trained athletes could maintain the maximum speed just below 400m.

  So he set that as his goal, passing through the streets, the first 400 meters went by quickly, his legs moving automatically, the wind whipping him in his face. But his pace started to falter after he crossed the mark. His lungs burned, his legs ached, and every step felt heavier than the last, but he didn't slow down, digging deep into his stamina reserves, forcing his Singularity to supply the required energy.

  He kept going — just a little further.

  Another 100 meters. That was all he managed before he had to stop.

  He dropped to his knees, chest heaving as he gasped for air. Sweat trickled down his temples. His face felt hot, his legs were shaking, and the muscles around his ribs felt tight. He gulped mouthfuls of air, forcing it down his throat, trying desperately to regain his breathing rhythm.

  That’s when he noticed it.

  A subtle sensation, like a faint coolness spreading through his limbs. It was barely noticeable unless he really focused on it.

  His Singularity was at work. Helping him recover, little by little. He tried to focus on it, but it eluded his grasp. With a sigh, he laid down on his back by the side of the road on the thick grass looking at the dawning sun.