Kryptonians: Man of Steel

Chapter 1495 Star-Making Movement
The morning mist over Tokyo Bay had not yet completely dissipated, but the salty sea breeze could not dispel the heaviness and anxiety that weighed on the hearts of the island nation's leaders.

The closed-door meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence had just ended, and the air was thick with frustration and resentment.

A new evaluation report on "Valkyrie" Saeko Busujima was slammed heavily onto the table.

"Pure... that word again!"

Defense Minister Kenji Yamada rubbed his throbbing temples, his voice filled with helplessness, "The doctor's remarks are absolutely spot on. Faced with such a person, all our bargaining chips seem so ridiculous and dirty."

Reiko Sato, the head of the intelligence department, adjusted her glasses, her gaze behind the lenses sharp and calm: "Minister Yamada, the doctor's observation is very accurate. Ms. Saeko Busujima's 'purity' is not simply naivety or ignorance, but rather an absolute focus and clarity on her own beliefs and path after extreme refinement. In her eyes, there is only the principle of 'protection' and 'severance'; worldly power, wealth, fame, and even life and death cannot stir even the slightest ripple in her heart. Like a finely forged sword, its brilliance is restrained, yet it cuts through all illusions. The 'fall' of Ms. Erina Nakiri and Ms. Alice Nakiri precisely proves the rarity and terrifying nature of this 'purity.' They are exceptionally talented and have powerful backgrounds, but even in the vast arena of fame and fortune and the pressure network meticulously woven by the state apparatus, they still find it difficult to maintain absolute independence."

"yes,"

Yamada sighed. "They're not weak-willed, but rather 'driven by desire.' But Saeko Busujima..."

He shook his head. "She seems only interested in 'slaying all evil' itself. We tried to provide the best training grounds, even hinting at the supreme honor of 'Guardian Sword Saint,' but she only politely accepted some of the necessary supplies, calmly declining the title. Without desire, there is no weakness, and therefore no control. This is a complete subversion of modern political logic!"

The conference room fell into a brief silence.

Outside the window, the Tokyo Tower loomed in the morning light. This steel giant, a symbol of postwar reconstruction, now seemed somewhat shaky in the face of the storms of the psionic era.

The "Valkyrie" path is a dead end, but the island nation desperately needs a symbol, a benchmark that can represent its power on the international psionic stage, boost national morale, and counter the psionic threats from other major powers. The pressure is immense.

"So, 'Plan B'."

Kenji Yamada's voice lowered, carrying a resolute determination: "If we can't have the brightest sun, we'll offer up the brightest stars! Soma Yukihira, Ichika Nakano, Megumi Tadokoro, the Nakiri sisters... these people who built the first line of defense at Totsuki Reigen Exorcism Institute with Saeko Busujima, they are heroes too!"

Reiko Sato immediately understood her superior's intention: "Yes. Although their strength is indeed 'worlds apart' from Ms. Saeko Busujima's, however,"

She changed the subject, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness, "As long as we don't actively compare ourselves to others, and don't expose this secret, who will know? What the public needs is hope, tangible heroes. Soma Yukihira and his team are the perfect choice!"

The original "Totsuki Reigen Exorcism Academy" was born in the chaotic era of the Spirit Disaster. It was jointly established by the remaining members of Totsuki Academy and surviving psionicists, and was more like a self-rescue combat training camp.

As the situation gradually stabilized, with strong official intervention and resource allocation, this small training camp rapidly expanded and was reorganized into the formal "Tokyo Metropolitan Totsuki Spirit Exorcism Specialized School".

Soma Yukihira and his friends, as "first-generation students" and "founding heroes," naturally became the school's ace, legendary seniors whom freshmen looked up to, and the most dazzling faces in the official brochure.

They grew through countless real battles, accumulating rich experience. Their strength far surpasses that of ordinary psychics, making them the most convincing representatives of "humanity's strongest psychics" that the island nation can officially present.

The official machinery was running at full capacity. News media outlets reported extensively on the heroic deeds of the "Golden Generation of Totsuki Culinary Arts," and carefully edited battle footage (skillfully avoiding the overly obvious difference in appearance when alongside Saeko Busujima) was played on a loop on major television stations.

Soma Yukihira's signature sunny smile and never-say-die spirit, Megumi Tadokoro's gentleness and resilience, the Nakiri sisters' glamour and mystery, and Ichika Nakano and Miku Nakano's "idol" qualities were all packaged to suit the tastes of different groups of people.

They frequently appear at state banquets, important celebrations, and international psionic conferences, receiving tidal waves of cheers and worship.

The state awarded them its highest medals, named streets after them, and issued commemorative stamps.

Merchants flocked to the scene, and sky-high endorsement contracts poured in like snowflakes. Despite the strict screening by the authorities, who only allowed contact with high-end brands that "conformed to the image of national heroes," this surging torrent of fame and fortune still fiercely impacted the mental defenses of these young people.

At first, Soma Yukihira was able to maintain that carefree and sincere attitude.

He scratched his head and laughed at the camera: "What's all this about being a hero? The most important thing is that we can drive away those disgusting monsters so that everyone can enjoy delicious food in peace!"

Megumi Tadokoro still blushes when faced with flashing lights, feeling unworthy of them.

The Nakiri sisters enjoy the attention, but manage to maintain a facade of composure.

However, the power of subtle influence is terrifying.

When every trip is accompanied by a private jet and police escort; when every word is treated as gospel; when every insignificant action is amplified and interpreted by the media; when one becomes accustomed to being looked up to, admired, and given expectations that exceed one's actual abilities... the psychological balance begins to subtly tilt.

Soma Yukihira discovers that his simple wish, "to let everyone enjoy food with peace of mind," has gradually been elevated into a grand narrative of "protecting the flame of human civilization" in official propaganda.

He began to feel that he was really carrying such a heavy burden. Occasionally, his pickiness about fine cuisine or his small complaints after training would be subconsciously magnified into a sense of guilt for "slacking off," and then he would seek compensatory self-affirmation in the praise of the public.

His smile remained sunny, but deep in his eyes, a trace of weariness and... a vague arrogance would occasionally flash through his eyes, even though he himself was unaware of it.

Megumi Tadokoro was under immense psychological pressure.

She knew that her strength was not among the top of her companions, and could not compare with that of Busujima-senpai.

The overwhelming praise made her feel uneasy, as if she were a fake and afraid of letting them down.

(End of this chapter)