The courtroom was filled with silence.
Mark stood in the center, his hands bound by chains and metal cuffs. Every slight movement echoed with metallic screeches. Cameras were locked on him from every angle; millions across Japan were watching live.
The crowd held its breath. People stared at him, screaming their anger:
"My daughter still can't walk!"
"My son is still trapped under the rubble!"
"Monster! You are not human!"
Every insult made Mark flinch, a burst of pain igniting inside. But the flinch lasted only a moment; his eyes stayed cold and steady.
The judge struck his gavel:
"Defendant Mark X, for illegal Quirk use, destruction of government property, and endangerment of civilians… you are sentenced to juvenile detention."
Mark's gaze swept across the courtroom. The real culprit was long dead. The hero, despite their mistake, escaped accountability due to their license. This injustice sparked a fire within him.
A woman shouted, "Monster!"
Mark could no longer contain himself. He began to laugh.
First quietly.
Then louder.
Wild, fearless, and bone-chilling.
The live broadcast trembled. People in the room recoiled.
His muscles tensed involuntarily.
He was far too strong.
The cuffs, unable to withstand his will, snapped and shattered. Metal chains clattered to the floor.
Mark turned to the cameras. He raised his middle finger, his gaze cold and sharp, directed at all of Japan:
"This world is rotten. You all have spoken. Will heroes save you? No—the ones who will truly put you in danger are them."
Amid the crowd, one pair of eyes watched closely.
All Might.
Blond, lean, but attentive. Inside, he felt sorrow.
He had seen every reaction of this child. He had recognized the loneliness and the raw power.
Mark lifted his head slightly, fell silent, and scanned the entire courtroom with his eyes.
Now, only one thing remained: in this world, justice did not exist for him.