We asked you to make tokusatsu films, and you actually became Ultraman?

It seems that the previous battles had been enough for the Baltan aliens to collect data, so this time, the Baltan aliens have fallen silent.

A whole month.

No new monsters were deployed, no new attacks were launched, and the enormous spaceship in the sky remained silently suspended above the dark red clouds, like a lurking beast, making no further moves.

The whole world seemed to have been put on pause. Apart from the occasional roars of monsters from other cities in the distance, this area was unusually peaceful.

Yun Yu stayed quietly in the shelter, clearing away the monsters around her while watching the place improve day by day.

After gathering all the survivors they could find in the city, Team-U did not choose to stop.

Captain Ozaki made a bold decision: they used the old broadcasting equipment in the factory to broadcast the news 24 hours a day, promoting Ultraman and the shelter.

"This is the shelter of the factory in the east of the city. We have food, clean water, and Ultraman to protect us. If you are still alive, please come."

These words echoed in the city every day, like a ray of light shining into the hearts of the survivors hidden in the dark corners.

Although most of those who come now are people who can no longer survive.

They were ragged, emaciated, and their eyes were filled with wariness and despair. They had only turned to this place as their last straw after they had nowhere else to turn.

But it is undeniable that this shelter is gradually getting better.

With more people, rules must be established.

Captain Ozaki devised a simple yet effective management system: all adults who came to the shelter had to do what they could, such as collecting supplies, cooking and washing clothes, patrolling and standing guard, and taking care of children, in exchange for food and shelter.

Those who don't want to do anything and just want to lie around and eat for free will be ruthlessly kicked out of the shelter by Captain Ozaki.

Yun Yu didn't say a word about it.

Although he is a saint and can't bear to see others suffer, he is not a hypocrite. He wouldn't sacrifice the interests of those who work hard to support a bunch of lazy parasites.

Shelters are not charity halls; to survive, you have to rely on your own hands.

This principle is especially important in times of apocalypse...

The children who came to the shelter with the adults were taken care of by Risa and several other female team members.

When the number of children reached a certain level, Yunyu made a decision to form a class.

After all, these children are the hope for humanity's future.

Even in the apocalypse, knowledge should not be lost.

Only by acquiring knowledge can they rebuild their homes on these ruins and ensure the continuation of human civilization.

So Team-U cleared out the largest warehouse in the factory, built a few simple desks and chairs out of discarded wooden planks, hung a blackboard on the wall that they had picked up from somewhere, and used ground charcoal mixed with water as chalk.

A simple but fully equipped classroom was thus set up.

Today is the first day of classes for this class.

On the first day, neither Chinese nor math were studied.

Today's first lesson of the new semester is—"How to become Ultraman".

Yunyu stood on the simple platform made of wooden planks, looking at the children sitting below.

The classroom was dilapidated, with mottled cement walls, windows boarded up, and desks and chairs made of scrap wood that creaked when sat on.

But none of the children seemed to care about any of this.

They sat up straight, their little faces full of excitement and anticipation, their bright eyes looking at Yun Yu on the podium like countless little stars, making the old classroom feel warm and cozy.

Yunyu was a little nervous as it was her first time giving a lecture on stage, and her palms were slightly sweaty.

He even secretly practiced his opening remarks several times backstage, afraid that he would mess it up.

But when he saw the children's faces, his tension vanished instantly, replaced by an indescribable sense of accomplishment and warmth.

He took a deep breath, smiled warmly, looked at the children in front of him, and began his lesson.

"Kids, as I told you before, Ultraman means Superman, right?"

"Yes—!" the children answered in unison, their voices as clear as bells.

"So, besides the older brother, who else do you think is a superhero?"

Upon hearing this, the children below the stage all showed thoughtful expressions.

Some were resting their chins on their hands, some were frowning, and some were whispering to their friends, clearly deep in thought about the problem.

The classroom was quiet for a while.

Then, a little girl sitting in the second row timidly raised her hand.

Yun Yu's gaze fell on her, and she smiled gently.

He remembered the little girl; she was the one who cried her eyes out that evening when she finally got a hot meal.

Back then, she was filthy, her hair a mess like a bird's nest. Now, Risa has washed her clean, tied her hair in two small braids, and is wearing an old but clean dress. She looks much more energetic now.

Yunyu called her name gently.

The little girl quickly stood up, clutching the hem of her clothes with her tiny hands, her voice tinged with uncertainty: "I think... the older sisters in Team-U are superheroes too."

"Oh?" Yun Yu's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he smiled as he continued to ask, "Can you tell big brother why?"

Encouraged by Yunyu's smile, the little girl took a deep breath, and the uncertainty in her voice gradually disappeared, replaced by a heartfelt certainty:

"Because... when I was in the most danger, Team-U rescued me."

I thought I was going to die, but my sisters came, picked me up, and took me away from there, so... I think they're superheroes!

After she finished speaking, her face turned bright red, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at Yun Yu, as if waiting for a positive answer.

Looking at her, Yunyu felt a warm sensation in her heart, as if something had gently bumped into her.

He clapped his hands with a smile, his voice filled with genuine approval: "That's right! Excellent answer!"

Sparse applause rang out in the classroom, and the other children nodded in agreement, as if they had been enlightened by the answer.

The little girl sat down, puffing out her chest and wearing a proud smile.

After Yunyu and the others quieted down in the classroom, she continued:

"Superman is more than just a title, and he's not just a giant who shines and fights monsters."

He stepped down from the podium and walked among the children, speaking as he went, his voice gentle yet firm:

"The older brother is asking everyone, 'Is Risa-neechan a superhero?'"

The children looked at each other, some shaking their heads, some nodding hesitantly, and others whispering, "Risa-neechan doesn't know how to fight monsters."

Yun Yu smiled and continued:

"Risa-neechan really can't fight monsters, she can't transform, and she can't fly."

But the older brother asked everyone, "Who is the first to get up every morning to prepare breakfast for everyone? Who takes everyone's temperature and gives them medicine when they are sick? Who holds everyone in their arms and pats their backs repeatedly, saying 'Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your sister is here,' when they wake up crying from nightmares?"

The children were stunned.

They all looked up, their little faces tilted back, thinking intently.

Yes, Risa makes hot milk and hot meals for them every morning. They experience these things every day, but no one has ever thought about what it means for Risa to do these things.

"And then there's Captain Ozaki and the others. Every day they risk their lives, piloting their mechs to find supplies."

There are monsters outside, it's dangerous, right? But they still went, because if they didn't go, they wouldn't have anything to eat.

Yun Yu stood in the middle of the classroom, looking at the children in front of her, her voice soft but clear:

"They don't have superpowers, they can't fight monsters, they can even be afraid, get hurt, and get tired."

But to protect everyone in this shelter, they can become incredibly brave, withstand all dangers, and choose to go out even in the most terrifying moments.

"In the eyes of the older brothers, the older sisters of Team-U are like superheroes."

The classroom was extremely quiet, and all the children were looking up attentively.

Yun Yu walked back to the podium, looked at the children in front of her, and finally said:

"So do you all understand now? Superman is not an identity, not a power, but a choice."

When you choose to protect someone, when you are willing to stand up to protect others, when you stand in front of others in the most dangerous moment, then in the eyes of the person you are protecting, you are a superhero.

"You are Ultraman!"

Yunyu's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into the hearts of every child, creating ripples.

The classroom was silent for a few seconds.

Then, the little girl who was the first to answer the question suddenly raised her hand, stood up, her eyes red, but she said with unusual determination:

"Big brother, I want to be Ultraman when I grow up! I want to protect the older sisters and all the children!"

"Me too!"

"I want to be Ultraman too!"

"..."

In an instant, the classroom erupted in excitement as the children raised their hands, eagerly shouting their names, their little faces full of seriousness and determination.

Although most of them may not fully understand the weight behind the name Ultraman, they remember one thing—the one who protects others is Ultraman.

Yun Yu stood on the podium, looking at the group of bright-eyed children, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

He suddenly realized that the Baltan alien was right; despair was indeed nourishment.

But what it didn't know was that hope is contagious.

As long as these children are still here, as long as they remember today's lesson, and as long as they still believe that Ultraman is the one who protects others.

Then, this world will never truly be destroyed.

Outside the window, although there was still no hope of winning, the children's voices gathered together in this dilapidated classroom, like a beam of light piercing through the gloom of the apocalypse.

Yun Yu looked at them and silently said in her heart:

Keep it up, little ones!

The future is in your hands.

I got really into writing this chapter, which is a full three thousand words long. I don't know when I'll finish writing Shen He's update. I found some typos that I can't correct, and I'm so annoyed.

Finally, thank you everyone for your support and patience. Love you all, meow Ciallo～(∠・ω＜)⌒☆】