Chapter 12: Chapter 11: Witnesses
8:55 a.m.
"Kaminari, you're too slow!"
At the entrance to Omiya Park, Tetsutetsu stood impatiently in a white T-shirt and jeans, his tone almost accusatory as Kaminari approached.
"Huh?"
Kaminari glanced at his watch a Pikachu-themed one, naturally—and looked back at Tetsutetsu, bewildered. "What do you mean? I'm not late. We agreed to meet at nine."
Kaminari had slept in a bit that morning, enjoying a rare full night of rest after the excitement of last night's barbecue. He hadn't rushed; after all, it was only a short walk to the park. By his watch, he was perfectly on time. It was 8:55, a full five minutes early.
But Tetsutetsu wasn't having it. "Showing up exactly on time isn't good enough," he lectured, his voice unexpectedly serious. "You should always aim to arrive at least ten minutes early. Half an hour, if possible. You never know what might happen on the way."
Kaminari was a little taken aback. For someone who seemed so rough around the edges, Tetsutetsu had a surprisingly strict sense of time. This unexpected seriousness added a new dimension to Kaminari's perception of him, deepening his appreciation for the boy's character.
Maybe this guy was worth keeping around after all. A Quirk user with a straightforward personality, a sense of discipline, and a strong set of principles could definitely be a trustworthy ally. Someone you could count on to watch your back.
"Well, that's just what my dad taught me…" Tetsutetsu added, scratching his head sheepishly.
"…Right." Kaminari gave him a flat look, then chuckled. "You know, if you hadn't said that last part, you'd have sounded a lot cooler."
"Wait, really?" Tetsutetsu touched his spiky hair instinctively, then laughed awkwardly. "Uh, just pretend I didn't say that then."
Kaminari rolled his eyes and shook his head with a smile, stepping past Tetsutetsu and heading into the park. "Come on, we've got stuff to do."
"Stuff?" Tetsutetsu hurried to catch up. "You still haven't told me why we're here. What are we doing?"
"Trust me, I'm taking you somewhere interesting," Kaminari said with a knowing grin.
Tetsutetsu seemed skeptical. "You're not just bringing me here to give me a tour of the park, are you?" he asked cautiously. "I mean, I've lived in Saitama my whole life. I've been to Omiya Park like… a dozen times."
Kaminari shook his head, amused at how far off the mark Tetsutetsu was. "No, it's not that. There's a place I want to show you. It's deeper in the park—a little secret spot."
Tetsutetsu looked like he was about to say something else, but Kaminari cut him off. "You'll see when we get there."
They continued walking, heading further into the park. After about ten minutes, they had reached an area where few people ventured. The trees thickened, and the sounds of the main paths faded away. The dense foliage of ancient cherry trees lined the narrow dirt trail, and underbrush blocked the view in every direction.
Then Kaminari abruptly veered off the path, pushing his way through a thicket of bushes.
Tetsutetsu hesitated, feeling an odd sense of unease. The thought crossed his mind that maybe this wasn't just about showing him a secret spot. Was this some kind of… test? Or worse, some bizarre initiation? His steps faltered, and he whispered nervously.
"Uh, Kaminari…"
"What?" Kaminari glanced back without stopping, already near the end of the bushy path.
"It's just… um…" Tetsutetsu stammered. "Look, I'm a straight guy, okay? I, uh, only like girls…"
"What?!"
Kaminari froze mid-step, processing what Tetsutetsu had just implied. He then looked around at the secluded surroundings and finally pieced together what his friend was getting at.
"You idiot!" Kaminari shouted, turning back to face him, his face twisted in a mix of disbelief and irritation. "What kind of nonsense are you even thinking?!"
"Oh… so that's not it?" Tetsutetsu's confusion faded into relief. He realized he'd completely misunderstood the situation.
"Of course not! Geez, just follow me." Kaminari grumbled, stomping forward with renewed determination. "We're almost there."
But as Kaminari led the way deeper into the thicket, he mentally noted that he owed Tetsutetsu a little payback for this awkward moment. Sure, the guy was taller, but did he really think Kaminari would lose in a one-on-one? What a joke.
Height wasn't everything. Tetsutetsu might be 1.74 meters, but Kaminari wasn't exactly short at 1.68. Besides, that kind of difference wasn't a big deal. It wasn't like Kaminari was jealous or anything. No way. Not a chance.
"Here we are," Kaminari announced, stepping out of the brush and into a clearing.
Tetsutetsu emerged right behind him and immediately found himself at a loss for words.
The space before them was roughly the size of a basketball court, enclosed on all sides by thick vegetation. On the far end, a small raised mound jutted out of the ground, scarred with countless blackened burn marks. It looked like it had been subjected to years of abuse, pockmarked with craters and darkened streaks.
Nearby, a yellow umbrella stood anchored into the ground, its canopy adorned with dozens of tiny Pikachu patterns. Beneath it were a plastic table and a pair of matching chairs. A Pikachu alarm clock sat on the table, ticking away quietly.
But the real eye-catchers were the ground itself and the cracked surface of the mound. The earth was riddled with deep fissures of various sizes, crisscrossing the area like an intricate web. The sight of it all made Tetsutetsu's jaw drop.
"Are you kidding me? What's with this place?" he exclaimed, his eyes wide. "It looks like some kind of battlefield!"
"Not quite," Kaminari said, his voice steady. He walked toward the mound, his back to Tetsutetsu, and placed a hand on its rough surface. "This isn't a battlefield. It's a training ground. My training ground."
He turned around to face Tetsutetsu, his expression serious. "I've been coming here for the past nine years, practicing and refining my Quirk. Every mark, every crack you see is a witness to the effort I've put in."
Kaminari's gaze drifted toward the Pikachu alarm clock on the table—a small, silent companion that had been present for almost every one of those training sessions. For him, this little corner of the park was more than just a place to train; it was a testament to his determination and growth.
"So," he continued, his tone lighter as he extended a hand toward Tetsutetsu, "how about it? Want to spar with me here? I'm guessing you've never had the chance to fight someone while using your Quirk at full power, right?"
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