Chapitre 150: Chapter 149: Decide Your Own Way of Death

As Kaminari stepped out of the wooden cabin wearing the Cancer's Golden Cloth, the morning sun rising from the side of Mount Fuji bathed him in its gentle light.

The sunlight caught the golden threads of his robe, making his entire figure shine brilliantly, as if his body had naturally activated its "lighting function." At this moment, Kaminari looked almost otherworldly, like the mythical "Son of Light."

Edgeshot, who had turned to glance at Kaminari, froze briefly at the sight before squinting slightly and commenting with his usual calm tone, "You… are a bit too conspicuous."

To be fair, in his years as a professional Hero, this was the first time he'd ever seen such a dazzling combat uniform.

"Uh… hehe," Kaminari laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "It's not that bad, right? I mean, compared to Endeavor, who's literally on fire, I'm not exactly subtle—but I'm not worse either!"

Edgeshot fell silent for a moment before giving a small nod. "Fair point."

Without dwelling on the matter further, he turned back around and gestured forward. "Let's go. We'll catch fish and return quickly. Once we've had breakfast, we need to start morning training."

As he spoke, Edgeshot picked up speed. His calm walk turned into a brisk jog, then a full sprint, his agile movements quickly carrying him toward the wooden walls of the camp. With a seamless leap, he tapped the top of the wall with one hand and disappeared into the forest beyond.

Crackle!

"Got it!" Kaminari responded energetically. A surge of golden electricity wrapped around his body, and in the next moment, he dashed after Edgeshot, vaulting the wall and following closely through the forest.

---

As they raced along thick tree trunks, weaving through the lush greenery, Kaminari asked a question that had been on his mind since last night.

"Sensei, can I ask what kind of training we'll be doing today?"

Without breaking stride, Edgeshot responded, his voice steady even as he bounded forward. "We'll begin with the basics—meditation."

"Meditation?" Kaminari echoed, slightly confused. "You mean like… what mages use to recover mana in fantasy stories?"

Edgeshot's expression didn't shift, but he nodded slightly. "Something like that. After all, those fantasy stories draw inspiration from the real world."

He continued, "Meditation is a technique for achieving deep concentration. Through this practice, you can align your heart, mind, and body. It strengthens your mental focus and enhances your control over your body from the inside out."

Kaminari listened intently as Edgeshot explained further.

"This technique isn't unique to any one culture. It's present in nearly all martial arts disciplines. 'Kung Fu' in China, 'Yoga' in India, 'Muay Thai' in Thailand—each has its own version of meditative practices.

"These practices may differ in execution, but their essence is the same: cultivating your mind and spirit to achieve mastery over your body."

Kaminari nodded thoughtfully. "I see. But…" He hesitated before asking with a wry smile, "Can this really create energy? Like magic or chakra?"

"Absolutely not," Edgeshot said flatly, not even turning his head. "Skills are skills—they can never become something like Quirks."

Edgeshot glanced back briefly before elaborating, "I can't offer you advice on developing your Quirk. That's your journey. But what I can teach you are the techniques of ninjutsu."

Kaminari's eyes lit up with interest.

"You've already learned the breathing technique I showed you last night. That was a foundation, a simple entry point to meditation. It allows you to recover quickly and wake instantly at any sign of danger. I'll be expanding on that."

He paused before adding pointedly, "Assuming, of course, you didn't just pretend to learn it."

"Pretend? Of course not!" Kaminari protested with mock indignation. Then, unable to resist, he grinned and asked, "Sensei, how long did it take you to master breathing techniques?"

Edgeshot remained silent for a few moments, seemingly pondering the question as he moved effortlessly ahead.

"…Three days and three nights," he finally admitted. "I struggled to even get started back then. So, yes, you do have talent."

"Three days? Not bad!" Kaminari teased before pressing further. "What kind of ninjutsu are we talking about? Is it something cool like shadow clones or substitution techniques?"

Before Edgeshot could answer, the forest ahead gave way to a clearing, revealing a small, tranquil lake.

"We're here," Edgeshot said simply, landing gracefully on the ground.

Kaminari followed suit, his curiosity briefly overtaken by awe as he took in the scene.

The lake's surface was a deep, rich blue, perfectly reflecting the sky above. The stillness of the water gave it the appearance of a massive sapphire resting at the foot of Mount Fuji, which loomed majestically in the distance.

Although they'd been here the previous evening, the atmosphere felt entirely different in the morning light.

"This place is…" Kaminari murmured, his earlier excitement replaced with a sense of peace.

Edgeshot, however, wasted no time. He dashed toward the lake, his movements fluid as he skimmed the surface of the water. To Kaminari, it looked as if the Hero was walking on liquid glass, leaving only ripples in his wake.

Though he had seen Edgeshot perform this "water floating" technique the day before, it still amazed him.

"He's practically gliding," Kaminari muttered. "No matter how many times I see it, it's incredible."

Edgeshot quickly returned, carrying a small makeshift box filled with water and a few fish. The "box" itself appeared to be folded from paper—likely formed by his own Quirk.

"We're done here. Let's head back," Edgeshot said simply.

---

As they made their way back to the camp, the peaceful rhythm of their journey was interrupted.

"Is that… someone hanging from a tree?!" Kaminari exclaimed, spotting a man dangling from a thick branch up ahead. His movements were wild and erratic, like a fish flailing out of water.

Edgeshot's sharp eyes quickly assessed the situation. Without hesitation, he increased his speed and pulled out a shuriken.

Whoosh!

The shuriken sliced cleanly through the man's tie, cutting him free from the branch.

Thud!

The man fell to the ground in a heap, coughing violently as he struggled to regain his breath. His face was red and sweaty, and it was clear that he had been moments away from suffocating.

But as soon as he recovered, he looked up at Kaminari and Edgeshot with unfiltered anger.

"Why did you stop me?!" he yelled, his voice hoarse. "Do you have any idea how much courage it took for me to do this?!"

Kaminari blinked in disbelief. "You're mad at us for saving you?!"

The man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he picked up his briefcase discarded in his earlier struggle and hurled it toward them. It didn't get far, falling to the ground with a soft thud. Papers spilled out of the bag, fluttering like leaves before settling around him.

"Why do you care where or how I die?!" the man shouted, his voice filled with bitterness. "It's my life, isn't it? I should get to decide how it ends!"

Edgeshot, standing on a nearby branch, sighed quietly at the display.

Kaminari, still perched nearby, muttered under his breath, "Isn't it more strange not to stop someone from killing themselves right in front of you?"

He shook his head and added in exasperation, "Seriously, though—if you're going to do this, why hike all the way out here to do it?"

The man glared at them, his face contorted with frustration. "Because this is the one decision in my life that's mine! I've spent my whole life following orders, doing what everyone else wanted. Can't I at least decide how I go out?!"

***

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commentaire Commentaire 4

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Chapitre 151: Chapter 150: The Meaning of Having No Door

*Whoosh!*

As the middle-aged man in the shabby suit ranted and struggled, Edgeshot wasted no time. Standing on the tree trunk, he extended his paper-thin arm, effortlessly wrapping the man in long, reinforced strips of his Quirk.

"Uh…" Kaminari followed Edgeshot to the ground, watching the scene unfold. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Sometimes it doesn't feel like his Quirk is paper more like rubber or something."

"What are you doing?! Let me go!" the man yelled, thrashing uselessly against the restraints. "You're Heroes, right?! You have no right to stop me! It's my personal right to commit suicide! Do you hear me?!"

The man's outburst only grew louder and more incoherent. By the time he'd given up struggling, his breath was ragged, and he launched into a tirade of insults, lashing out at his captors.

"You're pathetic! Just like the rest of this system! Don't act like you care! You have no idea what it's like—none!"

Edgeshot, however, remained unfazed, calmly walking up to the restrained man. He spoke softly to Kaminari without even glancing at the furious figure.

"From a legal standpoint, neither the right to commit suicide nor the obligation to prevent suicide is explicitly defined. However," Edgeshot paused, letting the words hang in the air before continuing, "from the perspective of natural human rights, a person does have autonomy over their own life. By that logic, he might technically have a 'right' to end it."

Kaminari frowned, glancing between Edgeshot and the man. "So… you agree with him? That he has the right to… end things?"

Edgeshot turned slightly, fixing Kaminari with a calm but firm look. "In theory, yes. But as Heroes, we cannot allow it."

Edgeshot gestured toward the restrained man. "Our duty is to protect lives, no matter the circumstances. That's the responsibility we've taken on as professional Heroes. If a person who can clearly be saved dies in front of us, that is a grave dereliction of duty."

Kaminari fell silent, digesting the weight of Edgeshot's words. He repeated them softly to himself: 'Human rights and responsibilities…'

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden absence of noise. He looked over at the man, only to find him glaring silently. It didn't take long to figure out why.

A strip of Edgeshot's paper had firmly sealed the man's mouth shut.

Edgeshot turned to Kaminari, his voice as steady as ever. "Keeping him quiet will help him calm down faster."

Kaminari sighed but nodded. "Got it."

"Now, pick up the papers on the ground and put them back into his briefcase. We're taking him with us."

Without further protest, Kaminari crouched down and began gathering the scattered documents. Most of the pages were covered in technical jargon and figures he didn't understand. Once they were neatly stacked and secured in the briefcase, he stood up.

"Let's go."

Edgeshot leaped back onto the tree trunks, moving swiftly toward the camp while carrying the man with his extended paper limb. His speed had slowed slightly due to the added weight, but his movements were as precise as ever.

---

As Kaminari followed closely behind, activating his high-speed movement to keep pace, his curiosity got the better of him.

"Why would someone come all the way out here to commit suicide?" he asked, glancing at the restrained man.

Edgeshot responded without looking back, his voice steady. "This place is known as the Aokigahara Forest, or more famously, the 'Suicide Forest.' Every year, hundreds of people come here to take their own lives."

"Hundreds?!" Kaminari exclaimed, shocked.

Edgeshot continued, his tone measured. "It all started in the 1950s with a novel called The Sea of Trees, written by Matsumoto Seicho. In the story, the protagonists choose this forest as the place to end their lives. The novel became wildly popular, and ever since, this location has drawn people with similar intentions."

Kaminari fell silent, stunned by the revelation. A single book had caused such an enduring cultural phenomenon?

Edgeshot added, "My primary responsibility in this area is to patrol the forest. Sometimes it's about saving those who attempt suicide. Other times…" He paused briefly. "It's about recovering the remains of those we couldn't reach in time."

Kaminari grimaced. He had known Hero work could be grim, but hearing it laid out like this was different.

"How many Heroes patrol the forest?" he asked after a moment.

"There are four of us. Each patrols one section—north, south, east, and west. I handle the west," Edgeshot replied.

Kaminari furrowed his brow. "That's it? Only four Heroes for such a massive forest? Why doesn't the government send more help? Couldn't the police take over some of the patrol duties, at least for collecting bodies?"

As they reached the outer edge of the camp, Edgeshot came to a stop on a tree trunk. He surveyed the area ahead as he calmly addressed Kaminari's question.

"The government can request Heroes to assist in emergencies, but they cannot force Heroes to take permanent posts in certain locations. Unlike the military or police, Heroes have more autonomy.

"Most Heroes avoid this place because of the harsh conditions. There's no running water or stable electricity, and the forest is filled with insects, wild animals, and other dangers. For many, it's not worth the effort."

Edgeshot leaped down into the camp, his landing precise and effortless. Kaminari followed shortly after, his mind still racing with questions.

---

Once inside, Edgeshot set the middle-aged man down on the ground. By now, the man seemed to have lost all his earlier fire. He sat silently, his head bowed and his shoulders slumped.

"As for why the police can't patrol here…" Edgeshot began, turning his gaze toward Kaminari. "This forest is unlike most others. The trees are so dense that sunlight barely penetrates the canopy, making navigation difficult.

"Compasses don't work here due to magnetic anomalies caused by the volcanic soil. And GPS signals? They're unreliable at best."

Kaminari tilted his head in disbelief. "So, anyone who comes in here without proper experience would just… get lost?"

"Precisely," Edgeshot confirmed.

With that, he began walking toward the camp's small kitchen, the fish container still in hand. He didn't glance back as he spoke over his shoulder.

"Don't worry about him," he said, referring to the restrained man. "People who've failed a suicide attempt rarely have the courage to try again—at least not right away."

Kaminari stared after him, then looked at the middle-aged man sitting on the ground. "Still…"

He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, he's not exactly going anywhere. No doors to run out of here, anyway."

As he glanced at the camp's towering wooden walls, the realization hit him.

"Wait… so that's why there's no door?" he muttered, half amused. "I thought it was just your ninja aesthetic."

Turning back to the man, Kaminari crouched down and spoke softly, "Have you eaten anything today? We don't have much, but there's miso soup, rice, and some pickles to go around."