Paradox

When trying to prevent Charlie's murder, Hiro suddenly and unexpectedly returns to the present.

In the context of Heroes, a paradox is a situation created by time travel which is logically inconsistent. The classic example is travelling back in time and killing your own father before your conception, thereby preventing your own birth: if you were never born, how could you go back to prevent your birth?

About

Seven Minutes to Midnight

Hiro Nakamura meets Charlie Andrews at the Burnt Toast Diner in Midland, TX. The two become friends quickly, but Sylar kills Charlie while Hiro is visiting the restroom. Hiro decides to go back in time to prevent the murder.

Six Months Ago

Hiro arrives at the diner six months earlier and again befriends Charlie at her birthday party. He tries to convince her that he has come to save her life. She doesn't believe him until he makes one thousand origami swans appear instantaneously in the diner. He shows her two plane tickets to Japan that he has bought for them in order to escape Sylar, and she agrees to go on the trip with him.

Some time later Hiro tells Charlie about a 24-hour samurai film festival in Austin and wants to take her to prepare for their trip to Japan. She then reveals to him that she has a blood clot in her brain inches away from a brain aneurysm and that she is dying. She tells Hiro that he saved her by making her feel alive and filling her life with more joy than she could imagine. She confesses to him "Aishiteru", which is translated "I love you". When Hiro goes to kiss her, he disappears, returning back to Japan six months later at Yamagato Industries during calisthenics.

Notes

• Charlie was still murdered by Sylar at the diner, but certain historical details changed. For instance, Hiro appeared in a photograph of Charlie's birthday party on the wall, which he did not appear in before going back in time.
• The incident suggests that Hiro cannot use his space-time manipulation powers to cause a paradox; he could not eliminate his original reason for going back in time.

Gallery

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  Hiro travels back in time to save Charlie.
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  Hiro accidentally arrives six months earlier than planned.
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  Charlie's birthday photo before Hiro's rescue attempt.
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  Charlie's birthday photo after Hiro's rescue attempt.

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Paradox for fan-created theories and other speculation.