[3rd POV]
"We are broken, ladies and gentlemen."
The news was broadcast throughout Japan. Aiko Tanaka sat in front of the camera, his shoulders sagging visibly, a stark contrast to the broad, confident posture he used to carry. Dark circles ringed his eyes, a hint to the countless sleepless nights spent covering the aftermath of the Yokohama Incident.
"The whole nation of Japan has been brought to its knees by one single entity, and all of us remain fractured and broken - in mind and in spirit," he said, his voice steady but solemn.
The entire country was plunged into quietness. Streets once bustling with life seemed to hold their breath. Shops were closed, offices abandoned. It was an unspoken lockdown - not by government order, but by the people's fear. While villains emerged from the shadows to celebrate Ryomen Sukuna's victory (Just because he beat the Symbol of Peace).
Police officers and pro-heroes patrolled the cities with grim determination, they were the ones holding society together at the moment.
Inside the JNN studio, the atmosphere was equally heavy. The digital viewership counter in the corner of the screen kept climbing - millions upon millions - but there was no pride in breaking records. Each number was a person, a family, sitting behind closed doors, their hope dwindling like the embers of a dying fire.
"For 30 long years, All Might remained the untouchable Symbol of Peace," Aiko continued, "We have lived under his protection, comforted by the illusion of his invincibility. He was our shield, our beacon of undying hope. We were not ready for that to be taken away. It has never been more obvious that our society was rested on the shoulders of one man."
The words hung in the air. Many activist that cried none stop about how All Might was actually a poison to society and how his powerful presence stunted the growth of heroes and people were proven right.
A Pillar was good. But when that Pillar fell, the brightest hope became the darkest despair.
"All Might's condition remains unconfirmed," Aiko said after a pause, "but he is alive."
That simple statement was the only spark of comfort his audience would receive.
"Meanwhile, the reconstruction and collateral cleanup of Yokohama is underway. Drones and construction robots work tirelessly above the city, carrying rubble and sorting materials. The process is swift, but the damage is vast. It will take time."
He shifted slightly in his chair, his fingers lacing together. The studio lights cast long shadows across his weary face.
"In a further blow to the nation's morale, Japanese Airlines has announced that flights are fully booked until June of next year. It no longer matters where people are going - they simply want to leave, believing Sukuna's rise will be like those supervillains around the world that fully took over countries,"
The screen changed to show those supervillains. They were individuals with powerful quirks that either took over the country they originated from or outright destroyed it.
"But in the face of this panic, I want to remind you of something," he said, his voice firming. "We will endure. An entire generation has known peace and prosperity, but let us not forget who we are. This is not the greatest destruction Japan has faced. The ruins of Yokohama, as terrible as they are, pale in comparison to the five atomic bombs our motherland has endured in the past. The rise of Sukuna, a single villain, is nothing compared to the dark ages when villains outnumbered heroes and chaos ruled our streets."
His voice echoed through the empty living rooms and quiet bedrooms of a nation holding itself together.
"We survived then," Aiko said softly, "and we will survive now."
Silence followed. The weight of his words lingered like a fragile promise in a broken world.
A voice crackled in his earpiece - the producer's voice, hesitant yet urgent. "Aiko, people are calling in. They want to know what they should do... if they should prepare to evacuate."
Aiko blinked slowly, then looked back at the camera. "For those watching," he said carefully, "stay indoors. Remain calm. Authorities are working tirelessly to ensure your safety. I know fear is a natural response, but we must not let it control us. We have weathered worse storms. We will weather this too."
Another voice - a younger reporter off-screen - whispered to Aiko, "People are scared, Aiko. They need hope."
Aiko's jaw tightened for a brief moment. "Hope," he repeated softly, then turned back to the camera. "Hope is not lost. Not yet."
"That is all I have for now. The next broadcast will bring you further updates on logistics, casualty reports, and other developments," Aiko concluded.
The screen faded to black.
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(The broken city of Yokohama)
"It's ready!! On the count of three," a worker shouted as he strapped a rope around a giant piece of rubble, "One...two....three!!!!"
A drone lifted the rubble from the sky. The ground shook for a moment as the workers watched the drone fly away with the debris.
A collective sigh echoed through the battered streets. The team of cleanup workers, clad in dirt-streaked uniforms, barely had time to rest before moving on to the next pile of broken concrete and twisted steel. The city groaned beneath its own weight, the scars of the recent battle etched deep into the ruin.
"We're barely making a dent," muttered Kenta, a worker with a bandaged arm. His voice was hoarse from the smoke still lingering in the air and hours of shouting orders and coordinating the operation.
"Doesn't matter," replied his colleague, a woman named Anko, wiping sweat from her brow. "We sort, we lift, we move. One piece at a time."
Drones buzzed through the sky like mechanical hornets, hoisting loads of rubble and carefully dropping them into designated zones. The operation was carefully planned, and every material had its place. Steel beams were piled into one section, to be sent off for recycling. Crushed concrete and bricks were gathered into another, destined to be repurposed for future construction. Glass shards were meticulously swept and stored in reinforced containers, while electronic debris from shattered billboards and ruined infrastructure was separated for hazardous waste disposal.
Kenta marked a broken support beam with a red flag, signalling for it to be cut into manageable pieces. "Steel. That's another load for recycling," he muttered, adding the information to his handheld tablet. Each piece of data is fed directly into a central system, tracking the tons of material being salvaged.
There were few onlookers behind the cordon, they were the city officials, engineers, and environmental specialists. They observed the process in silence, trying to ignore the horrifying fact that he was the mere aftermath of a battle between three.
There were no grieving families, no cries for lost loved ones. Everyone had been evacuated in time, a small miracle amid the larger tragedy.
"It's unbelievable that no one died from all...this," Kenta commented while gesturing to the ruin around him.
"It just goes to show how All Might and the heroes gave everything they had. The news loved parading the defeat of the Symbol of Peace and the failure of the heroes in taking down Sukuna but they turned a blind eye to this fact. No one died that night, that alone is a victory worth celebrating," Mashiro, one of the older and more experienced ones said.
"But you won't see that in the news. After all, such assurance doesn't sell, corporate always look for profit in any situation," he added with a grunt.
"Incoming load!" a voice shouted from the far end of the site.
A massive drone descended, gently placing a heap of twisted rebar and steel into the designated pile. A giant electrical magnet was revealed after the whole heap fell down. Workers swarmed it instantly, cutting, sorting, and recording. The efficiency was almost baffling.
After all, collateral damage was common in this day and age and certain people had become experts. Like always, humans adapt.
"How much have we cleared so far?" Anko asked, peering at Kenta's tablet.
"Five tons of steel, three of concrete, and about a ton of mixed waste," he replied. "It's good progress but still a long way to go."
After all, the cleaning area this time was a whole city. That was a tall task even for the experienced workers.
She exhaled slowly. "We keep going then. I'll buy you coffee after all of this is over,"
Kenta froze, his ears turning a bit red before he looked back and asked, "Coffee? Like a date?"
In return, the girl blushed a bit too, "Yeah...I figured you were never going to ask first and from how things are progressing with the new villain. I thought I'd hurry up in case something bad happened again,"
"I don't want to regret anything,"
'A silver lining,' Kenta thought with a smile as red as an apple. 'There is always a silver lining to a situation,'
The hum of drones, the clinking of metal, and the distant rumble of transport vehicles formed a steady rhythm. It was like the heartbeat of the city, ready to rise once more.
But more than once did the workers gaze upon the crater at the centre of the city. There was nothing to clean there, only a sunken ground charred from fire.
It was a permanent wound the city suffered from the devastating battle.
That was always a stark reminder.
A sight of despair.
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Author : Yeah, I'll admit I didn't expect that many stones. I thought it'd take two days at least.
So it's not entirely my fault that the extra chapter is not ready. I could've speedrun another chapter but quality over quantity.
Give me a few hours.