Chapitre 98: Chapter 97: Efforts and Goals
Seeing the person waiting in the shadows, Kaminari set aside his curiosity about Midoriya for the moment. Putting on a friendly smile, he walked over and greeted him.
"Shinso-kun?"
"Kaminari Denki..."
Shinso, leaning against a dark corner, slowly lifted his head to meet Kaminari's gaze. His piercing, triangular eyes studied Kaminari, and after a moment, he asked in a low voice.
"What's with the electricity around your body?"
From Shinso's perspective, Kaminari's body was wrapped in erratic golden currents.
"Oh, this?"
Kaminari glanced down at himself, then looked back up, replying casually, "Just a little insurance, Shinso-kun."
"After all, talking with you is… a bit riskier than with most people."
"Is that so?"
Shinso raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, these electric currents are supposed to keep you safe from me?"
Kaminari shrugged. "Maybe. I haven't actually tested it yet."
"Then test it."
Without hesitation, Shinso activated his Quirk. Kaminari's mind went blank for an instant, but almost immediately, he felt his consciousness snap back.
Shinso's eyes widened, confused.
"Looks like I was out for less than a second…" Kaminari noted, glancing at the distant clock on the big screen.
Turning back to Shinso, he grinned. "Seems my insurance plan works!"
This was a defensive trick he'd developed after his first encounter with Shinso's Quirk. Finally having the chance to test it out with Shinso himself, he couldn't help feeling a bit pleased.
The idea was simple: since breaking free from mind control typically required a physical jolt, he wondered if the electric currents flowing inside and outside his body could provide that jolt automatically.
Basically, by continuously stimulating his body with electricity, he could potentially snap himself out of any mental control.
Whether it was "high-speed movement" or "high-voltage mode," both techniques had this passive effect of disrupting other Quirks.
"Heh."
Shinso let out a dry laugh. "Just as I thought… once people know about my Quirk, it becomes much harder to use effectively."
Though he'd managed to control Uraraka Ochaco in the previous round, he hadn't counted on it as a reliable strategy. That success had felt more like a fluke.
"True," Kaminari agreed, then asked, "So why'd you join the sports festival?"
He couldn't help but voice his curiosity. "If I had a Quirk like yours, I'd probably keep it hidden. If I used it, it'd only be as a trump card, something to pull out in a critical moment. Competing in a public event like this, where everyone gets to see your abilities… doesn't seem like the best strategy."
Shinso's face darkened, his arms falling from their crossed position as he clenched his fists tightly.
"You think everyone's like you, blessed with some flashy Quirk?" he said, his voice edged with bitterness.
"Huh?" Kaminari tilted his head, caught off guard.
"You want to know why I'm here? It's because this festival is my one chance. If I perform well enough, I might get transferred into the Hero Course!"
Shinso's voice grew tense, his frustration spilling over. "Because of my Quirk, I've always been left behind, forced to watch from the starting line while others move ahead."
"If I don't make an impact here, if I don't stand out now… my goal of becoming a Hero will stay out of reach forever."
He looked down, his voice dropping to a murmur filled with resentment. "But someone like you, a 'genius' with a powerful Quirk, wouldn't understand what that feels like."
Kaminari didn't argue. He didn't feel the need to talk about the years he'd spent honing his own abilities, it wouldn't mean anything to Shinso, and would probably just come off as boasting.
Instead, he asked, "Can I ask when you realized that your Quirk would make getting into the Hero Course difficult?"
Shinso hesitated, then replied, "Back in my first year of junior high. I looked up the details of the entrance exam for UA and saw the emphasis on practical skills."
"And what did you do in the years after that?"
Kaminari's gaze drifted to the field below, where Tokoyami and a student from Class B were already engaged in battle. But his question was clearly directed at Shinso.
"What did I do?" Shinso repeated, sounding annoyed. "What could I do? My Quirk doesn't work on robots."
"So…" Kaminari turned to look at him directly, his voice calm. "After realizing your Quirk's limitations, you didn't think about how to compensate for them?"
"These last three years, you were preparing two backup plans: aiming for both the Hero Course and the General Studies Course, and hoping that one day at a sports festival, you'd get the chance to 'take a shortcut.'"
"Yeah. Was there another option?" Shinso's expression was defiant, but his voice softened, as though he was questioning himself.
"Actually, yes."
Kaminari glanced back down at the field. "If I were you, I wouldn't have wasted those three years. I would've trained in swordsmanship, archery, or any other skills to help make up for my Quirk's limitations."
"Even if you had to practice on your own, there are plenty of Hero training centers and professionals out there. You could have found someone to teach you."
Kaminari looked away from the fight. This match was one-sided, with Tokoyami dominating as expected.
"If your Quirk doesn't work well in the practical exam, then rely on other skills to earn enough points. Use whatever tools you have, whether that's a bow, a sword, or anything else."
"Of course, you can still treat this sports festival as your backup plan, but only after you've given your best effort in every other area."
He turned back to Shinso, whose face was now shadowed, his expression unreadable.
"So from my perspective… you're someone who talks about dreams and goals, but doesn't understand what 'effort' actually means."
"There's no 'goal' without 'effort.' An entrance exam didn't go your way, so you chose to 'take a shortcut.' What will you do when you face bigger obstacles in the future? Just keep looking for shortcuts?"
Shinso lowered his head, absorbing Kaminari's words in silence.
Just then, the crowd erupted in cheers as Tokoyami forced his opponent out of the ring. The cheers grew louder, echoing through the arena.
When the noise finally died down, Shinso spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"In the second round, I'll be facing Shoto Todoroki… I know I'll lose."
Kaminari nodded. "Yeah, Todoroki won't fall for your Quirk like Uraraka did. He's too aware of his surroundings."
Turning to leave, Kaminari felt a twinge of disappointment in Shinso. He'd expected more from someone who seemed so determined. But as he began to walk away, Shinso's voice stopped him.
"One last thing… is it too late for me to 'work hard' now?"
Kaminari paused, then answered softly without looking back.
"I don't know. But I'd suggest you talk to Mr. Aizawa. He's got a similar kind of Quirk."
***
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Chapitre 99: Chapter 98: Beyond Limit Explosion
"Yo, Kaminari!!"
As Kaminari made his way back to the seating area, Tetsutetsu, who had been scanning the crowd for him, immediately waved him over with a grin and pointed to the seat he'd saved.
"Hey, I saved you a front-row seat!"
"Nice. I'm looking forward to the next match… it's Bakugo's turn," Kaminari replied, nodding at Kyoka, Momo, and the others as he took his seat beside Tetsutetsu. He looked around, wondering to himself, "Has Bakugo already gone down to the field?"
"Yep," Kirishima answered from the row behind him, his curiosity piqued. "By the way, does anyone here know what kind of Quirk that Shiozaki girl from Class B has?"
Ashido, Asui, and the others exchanged blank glances and then collectively shook their heads. Just then, Monoma from Class B popped his head out from behind the nearby wall, smirking.
"Honestly, you Class A guys are so arrogant. You don't even know your opponent's Quirk, huh? Just because you've fought some villains, you think you're untouchable."
"Uh…"
The Class B rep, Kendou Itsuka, quickly appeared and, clearly exasperated, dragged Monoma back with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry about that, everyone." Then she glanced toward the field, where Shiozaki was emerging from the dark tunnel. "But… just so you know, she's really strong. Don't underestimate her."
"Maybe," Kaminari murmured, his gaze shifting to Bakugo's intense expression on the other side of the stadium. "But the real fireworks are probably coming up."
The match began with cheers from the crowd and the energetic commentary of Present Mic. Bakugo strode onto the concrete arena, glancing up at the stands. For a moment, his gaze lingered on Kaminari and Todoroki. Their recent performances flashed through his mind—a swift, overwhelming victory from Kaminari, and Todoroki's near-effortless power.
He clenched his fists, seething with frustration. He was determined to make his mark here, to win in a way that would leave no doubt about who was the strongest.
"I'm not losing to them. I'm the strongest in Class A!"
Present Mic's voice echoed across the stadium once more, and the crowd's excitement swelled at Bakugo's presence. They hadn't forgotten his explosive prowess during the cavalry battle.
"Man, I hope he does that move again!"
"Yeah, that massive blast was epic!"
"Not likely. He's up against a girl this time, no way he'd go all-out like that."
"True, he acts hot-headed, but he's still here to be a Hero, right?"
"Yeah, that 'Howitzer' move… only someone like Kaminari Denki or Shoto Todoroki could handle that kind of power."
"No, Midoriya's pretty strong too! Did you see the punch he threw in the first round?"
The chatter quieted as Present Mic announced the start of the match, and all eyes turned back to the field.
If you want to make a statement… then go all out…
Bakugo's gaze hardened as he stared down Shiozaki, whose calm demeanor radiated an almost saintly aura. His expression twisted into a fierce snarl.
"Go full throttle and crush the opponent!"
BOOM!
Without a second's hesitation, Bakugo leaped into the air, using his explosions to propel himself upward. Then, with a series of rapid blasts to his left and right, he spun himself into a high-speed rotation, closing in on Shiozaki like a spiraling inferno.
To the crowd, it seemed as if Bakugo had disappeared, replaced by a horizontal whirlwind of flames and smoke.
"Explosive Tornado…?" Kaminari muttered, wide-eyed as he watched the spectacle. Is it really possible to push a Quirk like this?
Using the explosive recoil to stabilize himself mid-spin while generating a high-temperature whirlwind, it was a remarkable display of precision and power.
"Is he really calculating all of this, or… is it just pure instinct?" Kaminari wondered, impressed.
His own fighting style relied on precise, micro-level control of his electricity, while Todoroki could unleash overwhelming power thanks to his Quirk's natural affinity. But Bakugo… he was a mix of both. His aggressive nature and innate combat instincts allowed him to wield his explosions with devastating effect.
Bakugo's move left the students of Class B visibly uneasy. His technique radiated danger, and it was clear he wouldn't hold back.
"Come on, Shiozaki! Block him!"
"Stop that maniac with your vines!"
On the field, Shiozaki turned to face Bakugo's incoming attack. She spread her arms, her green hair rooting into the ground and sprouting into a forest of thorned vines that surged forward to intercept him.
The scene resembled Todoroki's earlier "Ice Barrage," though on a smaller scale. But even so, Shiozaki's vines quickly filled the entire concrete arena.
Yet, to her shock, her wall of vines couldn't withstand Bakugo's spinning assault. Every time her vines approached him, they were blasted apart by the shockwaves from his explosions or scorched by the searing heat.
"A natural counter…"
From the commentary booth, Aizawa-sensei narrowed his eyes, analyzing the scene.
"Bakugo's Quirk generates intense heat and pressure, making it a natural threat to plant-based Quirks. Combined with his greater physical power, Shiozaki doesn't stand much chance in a head-on clash."
"Thunder Idiot… Half-and-Half…" Bakugo seethed in his mind, the faces of Kaminari and Todoroki flashing before him. "Watch closely… this is me, going beyond my limits!"
I will never be weaker than you!
"No way in hell!!!"
With a final, defiant shout, Bakugo unleashed the full force of his right hand in a blinding burst, charging it to the max as he smashed into Shiozaki's vine barrier.
"Howitzer… SUPER BLAST!!"
BOOM!!!!!
The explosion was so intense that the concrete floor vanished beneath a cloud of black smoke and debris. A scorching wave of hot air swept through the arena, leaving the entire audience stunned.
People struggled to breathe, the sheer pressure from the blast leaving them momentarily gasping for air. Hats, loose items, and anything not held down were blown skyward in the aftermath.
It took nearly ten seconds for the explosion's shockwave to subside. When the smoke finally cleared, Bakugo stood alone in the center of a massive crater, his right arm hanging limply from the strain.
The concrete around him was completely scorched, revealing the raw earth beneath. The once-flat arena was now a scene of utter devastation.
"Wha… Where's Shiozaki?"
"No way! That was way too much!"
"Yeah, to go that hard against a girl… does he really want to be a Hero?"
"Is he trying to kill Shiozaki?" Monoma shouted furiously from the Class B section. For the first time, his dislike of Bakugo was genuine and intense.
In the audience, some began muttering complaints, while online chatrooms flooded with angry comments. But this time, Aizawa-sensei didn't step in to calm things down. Even he had to admit that Bakugo might have gone too far.
Though it was respectable to treat one's opponent seriously, Bakugo's attack had clearly exceeded the bounds of a simple competition.
This was an explosion beyond his usual limits, one that could have been lethal if Shiozaki had been caught in it.
However, Bakugo seemed unfazed by the criticism. His focus remained solely on Kaminari and Todoroki, who watched him from the stands.
I will be the one to surpass All Might and become the strongest Hero!
Meanwhile, Aizawa-sensei spotted Shiozaki safely standing at the edge of the arena, with Class B's homeroom teacher beside her.
"Thankfully… we took precautions."
At the last second, the Class B teacher, Vlad King, had used his Quirk, manipulating his own blood to form a rope and pull Shiozaki to safety. He had even created a blood-red shield to absorb any remaining impact from Bakugo's blast.
Aizawa sighed, realizing the intensity of the matches had escalated beyond anyone's expectations.
"I'll need to supervise Kaminari and Todoroki's next fight myself… or better yet… maybe All Might should keep an eye on them too."
With that thought, Aizawa rose from his seat and quietly headed for the door. Present Mic noticed and called after him, surprised.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"To find the principal."
***
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