"I Reincarnated in Boku no Hero but They Forgot to Give Me a System"

Chapter 19 — A Day of Peace

After weeks of relentless training, Aoi came to a realization — one that many heroes, especially those obsessed with strength, tended to overlook. His body, honed to its limits, could regenerate from nearly any injury. Bruises faded in seconds. Broken bones snapped back into place. Torn muscles stitched themselves together before the pain could even settle in.

But the mind… the mind was different.

Mental fatigue clung like a shadow. The constant weight of expectation, pressure, and loneliness — that couldn't be healed by any quirk. It built up quietly, slowly grinding him down.

That morning, he sat alone on the wide porch of the mansion, a steaming cup of tea cradled between his hands. The sky stretched endlessly above him, cloudless and calm. A gentle breeze rustled the trees in the garden. It was peaceful — rare and unfamiliar.

He exhaled slowly, letting the warmth of the cup ground him. His voice came out in a quiet murmur, as if afraid to disturb the silence around him.

"There's no point in being the strongest if your mind collapses first…"

The thought lingered. Then, with a decisive breath, he stood up and stretched, a small, genuine smile forming on his face — the kind that rarely appeared anymore.

"Today," he said aloud, "I'll rest. No training. No stress. Just a normal day."

An idea sparked.

"A day at the amusement park… with my siblings."

It felt simple. Ordinary. But perhaps that was exactly what he needed.

And he had another reason to celebrate — one that made the decision even more satisfying. It had been exactly one year since the release of his manga, Fire Force. What began as a way to give his mother something to focus on had blossomed into something far greater. He chuckled at the memory — asking her to be his manager just so she wouldn't drown in sadness. Now, she was one of the most passionate people in the industry.

Even better, the anime adaptation had just been officially announced. All the effort, the sleepless nights, the creative struggles — it was paying off.

He walked back into the mansion, feeling lighter already. Inside, he found Shoto sitting quietly on the couch, absorbed in a cartoon playing on the television. The boy barely moved, but his eyes followed the screen with focused curiosity.

"Shoto," Aoi called gently.

Shoto turned his head, alert.

"Call Fuyumi and Natsuo. We're going out."

"To train?"

Aoi shook his head. "No. We're going to the amusement park."

For a second, Shoto just stared. Then, without another word, he bolted from the room with a rare burst of excitement.

Within minutes, he returned with both siblings in tow. Fuyumi, always calm and collected, looked at Aoi with disbelief.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course," Aoi replied, smiling softly. "We deserve a day just for us."

Natsuo was already grinning. "About time! I'm so gonna destroy you in bumper cars."

"We'll see about that," Aoi said with a playful wink.

Soon they were walking down the road together, heading for the nearest bus stop. The sky above remained brilliantly blue, as if even the weather had agreed they needed a break. Birds chirped in the trees. The city around them bustled, but for once, none of it felt heavy or stressful.

As they waited at the stop, the energy between the siblings began to build. Natsuo was the loudest, switching plans every two seconds.

"Roller coaster first!"

"No, wait — cotton candy!"

"Actually, I vote for the haunted house!"

Fuyumi laughed, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Let's take it slow. The Ferris wheel might be a good way to start."

"What about the pirate ship?" Shoto asked, his expression as serious as ever, though the sparkle in his eyes betrayed his excitement.

Aoi stood nearby, listening with a faint smile. For him, just hearing their voices — so full of joy and anticipation — was enough.

They boarded the bus together, grabbing seats by the window. Aoi leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The laughter of his siblings surrounded him. Warm sunlight poured in from the window, dancing across his skin. The wind tousled his hair, carrying with it the scent of spring and street food.

And in that quiet, perfect moment, he finally allowed himself to let go.

This… this was what he fought for. Not fame. Not recognition. Not vengeance or validation. But this.

The sound of Fuyumi's soft laugh. The way Natsuo leaned against the window, pointing out every random thing that caught his attention. Shoto's quiet voice, asking questions about the ride mechanics.

Aoi's thoughts drifted.

"This is why I push myself so hard… why I train until my body screams… why I keep going even when it feels like I'll collapse."

"To protect this."

"These laughs. This peace. This family."

No enemy, no mission, no burden compared to this kind of happiness.

As the bus rolled through the city, and the theme park slowly came into view over the buildings, Aoi felt something lift from his shoulders. It wasn't just about skipping training. It wasn't about reward. It was about balance — about remembering why he endured so much pain in the first place.

And in that silence, in that breath between the battles and the pain, Aoi understood something deeper than strength:

True power doesn't come from how hard you can punch or how many enemies you can beat.

It comes from how far you'll go to protect what really matters.

To preserve the laughter. To guard the joy. To make sure the people you love can live freely, without fear.

That day, Aoi wasn't a warrior, a prodigy, or the forgotten son.

That day, he was simply a brother.

And that… was more than enough.