Chapter 7 – Your Name (2)

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With Sanctum Tower deactivated, Kivotos’ infrastructure suffered a massive blow.

No, it was an understatement to say that it was a ‘massive’ blow. Since most of the city’s systems relied on the Sanctum Tower, the entire metropolis was effectively paralyzed. 

Railways, power plants, communication networks, hospitals, water treatment facilities—everything ground to a halt.

For large academies like Millennium, Gehenna, and Trinity, which had their own internal infrastructure, the impact was manageable. But smaller schools, which depended entirely on Sanctum Tower, were left in shambles, struggling to maintain daily life.

And as if that weren’t enough, riots and disasters erupted across the city like wildfire.

Kivotos was descending into chaos.

Ten days had passed since the paralysis began. Many had poured their efforts into restoring the city, but few places saw any real progress.

The only silver lining?

“If we don’t fix this, we’re all dead!”

“Please… please work!”

Kronos School of Journalism and the News Club, fearing their own collapse, miraculously revived the wired network—allowing news to spread across the city.

For small schools stranded without any means of communication, this was like rain after a drought.

Even if wireless communication like phones and texts remained unusable, at least they could hear about the world outside. And in the process, most students and citizens saw something else.

Those who tuned in daily, hoping for news of Sanctum Tower’s restoration, instead witnessed:

[Unbelievable! The masked vigilante has taken down an entire Kaiser PMC squad!]

Footage of Kaiser PMC’s armed suppression in the Central District—and the hero who stopped them.

“…Does ‘Mask’ really not have another name?”

“How about ‘White Day’? Sounds cute!”

“I kinda like ‘Unemployed Hero.’”

“What kind of name is that? Just call her ‘Shiro’ since she’s got white hair.”

The ripple effect of the news was bigger than expected.

Instead of despair, students and citizens began whispering about the hero with excitement and curiosity.

The reason was simple.

Everyone living in this world longed for hope.

After endless days of bleak news, a single hopeful story had emerged. And that meant something.

Whether intentional or not, the hero on screen had etched the word “hope” into the hearts of Kivotos’ struggling citizens.

That alone was enough.

***

“This place isn’t too different from usual.”

That was my observation as I looked around Millennium.

As the academy with the most advanced technology, Millennium had gradually restored most of its facilities—aside from the few systems still reliant on Sanctum Tower.

While inter-academy communication and transportation remained down, internal networks, railways, and sewage systems were back online.

“We worked really hard…”

“Yeah…”

Utaha and Hibiki, who had helped with the restoration, responded to my remark with exhausted voices.

They looked completely drained, and Hibiki was nodding off—clearly sleep-deprived.

‘I can’t even bring up the main topic now.’

I wanted to discuss new equipment, but the timing was terrible.

“Hibiki. Don’t sleep—eat this.”

“Mmm…”

I fed Hibiki a snack as she drowsily opened her mouth like a baby bird. Her tail wagged slightly, betraying her half-asleep state.

Seeing them like this made me feel guilty for visiting. They’d been so lively before, but now they looked utterly drained.

Maybe I should just leave…?

“I think I’m bothering you. I’ll come back another time—”

“NO!!”

The moment I tried to leave, Hibiki’s eyes snapped open, and she lunged forward.

Her sudden shout startled me—and Utaha, too exhausted to react, just slumped over.

“Wh-What’s wrong?”

“Y-You can’t leave. If you go, we’ll have to work again.”

“Ah.”

So this was their break?

Well then, I might as well stay and pretend this was a consultation.

As I smiled and fed her another snack, Hibiki finally relaxed and sat back down.

Since I was here, I decided to bring up another topic.

“Actually, I have something else I’ve been thinking about.”

“…Your name?”

“A hero name? Well, that’s part of it, but something more important.”

“…There’s something more important than that? Fine, what is it?”

“Which club should I join?”

Silence.

Utaha and even the half-asleep Hibiki stared at me with deadpan expressions.

“I mean, I’m a student. This is more important.”

“…Have you not checked the internet?”

“I have.”

“Then why are you acting so calm?”

Well, it wasn’t that I was calm. But I knew what she meant.

Millennium’s internal network was buzzing with debates about my hero name. The discussion had even spilled over into Kronos News Club.

To summarize:

“Isn’t her name just ‘Mask’?”

“That’s so lame. Why would she go with that?”

“How about this name instead?”

“That’s better than ‘Mask’.”

“She didn’t even pick it herself—why are you guys fighting?”

“Can’t you just leave her alone?”

Some suggestions were decent, others… not so much.

“Hmm. I like ‘Silk’.”

“…”

“I prefer ‘White Reaper’. Cool and fitting.”

“No, I meant which club I should join”

Since our first meeting, we’d talked enough to exchange casual banter like this.

At first, we were just a weird client and her contractors. But after the news broke, their interest in me grew. 

Thanks to that we had developed a relationship that can almost be called friends. Still, I didn’t understand why they kept steering the conversation back to this.

Not that I minded the attention.

But I wanted to fill the “unaffiliated” blank on my student ID as soon as possible.

‘The name is important, but being in a club will determine my future plans.’

I didn’t plan to operate solely as a hero. My club affiliation would define my civilian identity—and open up new funding streams beyond the convenience store.

Seeing me deep in thought, Hibiki suddenly spoke up in a drowsy voice.

“Just… join our club. It’s easier.”

“…How is Engineering ‘easier’? I don’t know anything about tech. I’d just get in the way.”

“Haha… It’s quite convenient. Though being somewhat difficult.”

“Are we looking at the same thing?”

“…”

They’re literally dying in front of me. How is that ‘convenient’?

“But… you should still consider our club.”

“…Why?”

“Let’s make stuff together. Your gear… stuff like that.”

Hmm.

I’d suspected this before, but Hibiki seemed really into heroes and romantic ideals. She was the first to contact me after the news broke.

Though I wasn’t sure if it was admiration or something else.

“I’ll think about it. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“Okay…”

After that, we chatted for a while longer before parting ways.

***

Later that evening, I headed to a nearby park after finishing my shift at the convenience store. Again, the owner had given me some expired food, which I planned to eat there.

“…Huh.”

But the park already had a visitor.

Normally, I wouldn’t think much of a student out for a stroll—but this time was different.

“Oh my. Hello~ I’ve been waiting for you.”

The girl spoke as if she’d been expecting me.

I kept my composure.

“…Who are you?”

“Hmm? You already know, don’t you? Playing dumb is fun, I see~”

I almost laughed.

Honestly, I never thought I could hide my identity from everyone.

This world was full of brilliant people—especially in Millennium, where geniuses were everywhere.

…Far beyond my level.

And the one standing before me was the epitome of that—Millennium’s so-called “Omniscient” genius.

“I am the head of Veritas and the Supernatural Phenomenon Task Force—Millennium’s most delicate, beautiful, and brilliant hacker—”

“Akeboshi Himari.”

“Oh my~ You do know me! As expected of Kivotos’ hidden hero, Silk.”

“……”

“That is your name, right?”

I knew.

Not about Himari, but about how the public was calling me. The forums and news were already debating my hero name, with “Silk” gaining traction. Some preferred other suggestions, and the discussions were heated. 

Even Utaha and Hibiki had been subtly probing my preference.

‘Of course I know. I’ve just been ignoring it.’

But there was one thing they didn’t realize.

‘I never planned to choose my own hero name.’

So I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

I wanted to be remembered by the name the world gave me—not one I picked myself.

That felt more romantic. More heroic.

And the fact that Himari used that name meant she wasn’t just repeating rumors—she’d deduced my intentions.

Because she’s Himari.

“So you figured it all out and came to find me.”

That’s why, right now, I cared less about the name and more about how she’d found me. Because she was the “Omniscient” genius?

No. It couldn’t be that simple.

I’d memorized the locations of CCTV cameras across my patrol routes and always accounted for them. I’d carefully crafted alibis to separate my civilian and hero identities—even altering my voice when in costume.

‘And it still wasn’t enough?’

I almost laughed. Not out of amusement, but resignation. I never thought I could stay hidden forever.

If not from mobs or villains, I’d expected to eventually reveal myself to key students for support.

‘That’s why I told the Engineering Club.’

The playable students in Blue Archive were like a safety net. I could trust them not to betray me.

…Most of them, at least.

Himari was definitely trustworthy.

But I still didn’t drop my guard.

I didn’t know why she’d sought me out.

“How did you figure out my identity?”

“Hmm~ You’re fiercer than I expected. Not as beautiful as me, of course, but still quite pretty. I like your blue eyes.”

“Not going to answer?”

“For now, let’s just say I have my ways. Aren’t you more curious about why I came to you? The ‘Omniscient’ Akeboshi Himari sought you out, you know?”

“Fine. I don’t really care, but—”

“But?”

“At least let’s have this conversation together.”

“…As expected. You’re amazing.”

I’d sensed it earlier. At first, I thought it was just another student walking nearby. But the presence behind the trees never left.

Meaning they’d been there on purpose.

“Eimi. You can come out now.”

“Got it, Boss.”

Izumimoto Eimi.

The other member of the Supernatural Phenomenon Task Force.

“Hi.”

“….”

True to form, Eimi’s outfit was… bold.

‘I’ll never get used to that.’

It was shocking enough in-game, but seeing it in person was something else.

Ako smirked, noticing my reaction.

“Now, before we continue, let me state our business clearly.”

“…Go on.”

I braced myself. If she’d gone out of her way to find me, it had to be something big. \

And then she said:

“Would you like to join our club?”

It was the last thing I expected.