April 1, 2256 – Kurogane Estate
The grand banquet hall of the Kurogane Estate was alive with warmth and celebration. Colorful streamers draped from the crystal chandeliers, a four-layer cake stood like a monument at the center table, and servants moved briskly but quietly, ensuring everything was perfect. Outside, sakura trees swayed in the spring breeze, scattering petals that drifted through the open doors like pink snow.
Today was Hayato Kurogane's fourth birthday—and more importantly, the day he would awaken his quirk.
"Hayato, stand still for a moment," Miyabi said gently, adjusting his tiny black suit. Her soft hands smoothed out wrinkles that didn't even exist. "You look so handsome."
He grinned, bouncing on his heels. "Mama, hurry~"
Ryuunosuke, in a formal black yukata with a subtle silver crest, approached with the air of someone used to commanding rooms. Yet now, he wore the unmistakable smile of a proud father. "Impatient already, huh? Don't forget to make a proper wish before blowing them out."
"I will," Hayato said seriously. Inside, his heart thumped like a drum.Today's the day. Four years old… Quirk Awakening Day. What will it be ?
The lights dimmed slightly as everyone gathered around the cake. The flickering candles illuminated his eager face. Dozens of eyes were on him—servants, guards, a few trusted company executives, and of course, his parents. It wasn't a large party, but it was intimate, filled with people loyal to the Kurogane family.
He inhaled deeply.
"Happy Birthday, Hayato!" everyone cheered in unison.
He smiled, closed his eyes for a moment, and blew.
The flames vanished——and in that exact instant, a crisp digital ding rang inside his mind.
[ Quirk Awakening Detected — Speed Dom… ]
The message cut off abruptly as a piercing pain exploded behind his eyes. His breath hitched. His body stiffened.
"Ha—Hayato?" Miyabi's voice faltered.
He didn't answer.
His vision tunneled. His knees buckled. And then—he collapsed.
"Hayato!!"
Ryuunosuke's chair scraped back sharply as he caught his son before he hit the ground. "Medical team! NOW!" His voice was like steel, sharp and commanding. Guards scrambled. Servants panicked.
Miyabi's hands trembled as she touched her son's cheek. "He's burning up—!"
Within minutes, the estate's private ambulance was en route to the family's medical wing. The cheerful birthday atmosphere evaporated, replaced with sirens and panic.
When Hayato opened his eyes again, it wasn't a hospital ceiling he saw.
It was a world of surreal beauty—a vast grassy meadow under a warm sun, a crystal river flowing gently, and towering mountains in the distance. The air was crisp, pure, almost divine. He stood barefoot, feeling the soft blades of grass tickle his toes.
"Where… is this place?" he whispered.
It was breathtaking. But the tranquility didn't last long.
Without warning, his skull felt like it was being split open. A flood of information—massive, complex, incomprehensible—poured into his brain. Concepts of speed, domains, energy flows, physical constants, manipulation of time-space vectors… everything forced itself into his neurons all at once.
"G—AAAAHHHH!!"
His scream echoed across the serene landscape, twisting it into a nightmare. His body shook violently, eyes rolling back.
[ Warning: Neural structure destabilizing. Host cannot handle direct influx. Activating emergency adaptation protocol. ]
The System's calm voice sliced through the chaos. A cool sensation enveloped his mind like water over fire. The pain didn't disappear—it was simply cut off. His vision darkened again, consciousness folding into itself like a collapsing star.
Beep… beep… beep…
The steady rhythm of a heart monitor was the first thing he heard when he came to.
White ceiling. Bright lights. The sterile scent of disinfectant. He was in a private hospital room—one of the many wings owned by Kurogane Industries.
Miyabi's tear-streaked face appeared first, clutching his hand tightly. "Hayato… thank goodness…"
Ryuunosuke stood on the other side, his normally composed expression hardened with restrained panic. The moment Hayato's eyes fluttered open, he exhaled slowly, as if releasing hours of tension. "Doctors!"
Within seconds, a team entered, checking vitals. But to everyone's surprise, everything seemed… normal. Heartbeat, brain activity, body temperature—all stable. If anything, his body seemed stronger than before.
Miyabi hugged him gently. "Do you feel okay? Any pain?"
Hayato shook his head. "No, Mama. I'm okay."
But internally, he felt different. Sharper. The world itself seemed slower—details more vivid, sounds clearer. It wasn't just recovery. Something fundamental had changed.
[ Quirk Awakening complete. Body modification protocols engaged. Host's physiology has been altered to accommodate "Speed Domain." Quirk is currently half-sealed to prevent neural collapse. Full activation requires gradual adaptation. ]
(So the System… saved me.)
[ Affirmative. Passive functions active. Active abilities locked ×2. ]
His parents exchanged anxious glances. Finally, Ryuunosuke knelt down beside the bed. "Son. Did your quirk awaken?"
Hayato hesitated, glancing at the System panel only he could see:
[ Quirk: Speed Domain ]
[ Passive Mode: Domain Field — Constantly generates a spatio-temporal domain around host. Within this domain, host can manipulate relative speed of self, others, and abstract phenomena. Passive enhancements: Strength, durability, reflexes, regeneration, neural acceleration, perception. ]
[ Active Mode: Locked × 2 — Condition: Full Adaptation. ]
(This is… ridiculous. Controlling speed of everything within a domain? Even abstract concepts? This is busted.)
He looked back at his parents. "Yeah… it awakened. It's… a strengthening quirk. It makes my body stronger and faster. It'll keep getting stronger over time."
Both parents froze, stunned by the implications.
"A continuously enhancing body?" Ryuunosuke muttered. "That's… extremely rare."
Miyabi's eyes shimmered with pride and worry. "That's wonderful… but—will you be okay?"
"Of course," Hayato said quickly, smiling to reassure them.
After completing the procedures he was quickly discharged and allowed to leave.
Later that night, in the family's study after Hayato had fallen asleep, a serious conversation took place.
"I don't think sending him to a normal kindergarten or elementary is wise," Ryuunosuke said, arms crossed as he looked out the window. The moonlight reflected off his glasses. "His body is evolving every second. We can't risk a surge or misstep in a crowded place."
Miyabi sat opposite, wringing her hands nervously. "You're saying… homeschooling?"
"Yes," he nodded. "Kurogane Estate has world-class facilities, tutors, training rooms, even medical labs. He can learn everything here—and more. Once he's stable, we can start quirk control training. By the time he's ready for U.A., he'll outclass most students."
Miyabi bit her lip. "But… won't it be lonely? He'll need friends his age too."
"We'll invite children of trusted partners for occasional social visits," Ryuunosuke replied. "But safety and control come first. If what he said is true… and his body keeps strengthening without limit, we can't afford public exposure yet."
She eventually nodded, her maternal worry giving way to reason. "Alright. Homeschooling it is."
Outside the door, Hayato—still awake and listening—smirked under his blanket.
Homeschooling, huh? Honestly… that's perfect. More time to train, to study, to get ahead. With the System, I'll devour everything they throw at me.
That night, lying in bed, moonlight spilling across his room, he stared at the ceiling with a racing heart.
Speed Domain… passive control over speed of world itself, continuous growth, two locked active abilities. This is just the beginning.
Images flashed in his mind—powerful villains, future events, a world that would soon know the name Hayato Kurogane.
He clenched his fists.
Let's see how far I can go.