章 7: Chapter 6: Discovery
The school's auditorium stage wasn't particularly large, yet the teachers had gone to great lengths to create the best atmosphere for Kaminari's performance. They replaced all the curtains with thick, black, light-blocking fabric.
As the lights dimmed and the entire auditorium was engulfed in darkness, the teachers, students, and parents remained calm. After all, this kind of setup was quite common here, and everyone was familiar with the process.
Snap!
The moment the colorful spotlights above the ceiling converged on the center of the stage, Kaminari was already standing there, an electric guitar slung casually around his waist. He flashed a warm smile at the crowd as he gripped the microphone stand.
Several music teachers, serving as backup musicians, held bass guitars or sat behind the drum set, their presence complementing Kaminari like stars surrounding the moon.
But instead of bursting into cheers, the students waited in an expectant hush, as if collectively holding their breath for what was to come.
Without saying a word, Kaminari strummed the pick across the guitar strings, launching into a rhythmic intro with practiced ease.
The familiar melody swept through the auditorium like a wave, instantly igniting the crowd. Deafening cheers and screams erupted, their energy turning the entire venue into a boiling cauldron of excitement.
"Let go! A dream carved in my heart!"
"The future can be forsaken too!"
The moment he belted out the opening line, his powerful voice resonated alongside the fierce accompaniment. It felt like the air itself burst apart, the combined shouts of the students surging like waves, crashing against the walls and filling every corner.
This was their idol—someone who walked the same halls, shared the same classes, and was, incredibly, one of their own.
The sense of pride, connection, and the quality of the music left a lasting impression on everyone present. Kaminari wasn't just another talented student; he was a symbol of excellence in their midst.
"I don't recognize boundaries!"
"Meaningless!"
"This power shines like light!"
After Kaminari finished the first half of the song with an almost feverish tempo, the crowd finally joined in as he reached the line, "If the path I've walked can only be retraced." Together, they sang along, a chorus of hundreds merging into one voice.
"Might as well destroy everything here!"
"A town that's fallen into the abyss of darkness!"
"How long can people keep fighting?"
Even Kaminari's mother, who was sitting among the audience, was astonished. The sheer scale of the students' response left all the parents in the guest section wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
What on earth was happening?
Was this really just a junior high school graduation ceremony? It felt more like a rock star's cross-country tour than an ordinary school event.
Previously, they had heard their children rave about how cool Kaminari was, how well he could sing, and how popular he was at school. They hadn't taken it too seriously at the time.
After all, parents usually cared more about his academic performance and his impressive feat of being the only student from Taniben First Junior High to apply for U.A. High School's Hero Course and pass the written exam.
But now, witnessing this firsthand, they realized just how exceptional this boy was.
In Japanese society, test scores aren't the only measure of a student's worth; they aren't even the most important factor. What truly matters is the student's overall character and achievements.
However, despite being so well-known within the school, Kaminari wasn't a household name beyond its walls. Two years ago, he had posted a music video online where he played and sang "Only My Railgun" on his electric guitar, gaining some attention for the quality of the performance and his good looks. But he was still just a small-time singer, with songs that were better known than his face.
The performance ended before long; the song was only a little over four minutes. As the last note hung in the air, it signaled not only the end of the performance but also the closing of Kaminari's three-year middle school journey.
What lay ahead was the more demanding world of Hero High School, where a multitude of challenges related to becoming a Hero awaited him.
In this world, the Hero circle is the pinnacle of achievement. Now that Kaminari had been given a second chance at life, there was no way he'd let it pass without aiming for the top.
After the ceremony concluded, Kaminari and his mother left the campus together, accompanied by the well-wishes of friends and classmates. Perhaps feeling a touch of nostalgia, Kaminari glanced back at the school's name "Tanibori No. 1 Junior High" one last time.
Then he turned around and continued down the path to his future with his mother by his side.
"U.A. High School… I can't wait. But why did that female teacher come to mind?"
As soon as they arrived home, his overjoyed mother announced that the family would have a grand dinner to celebrate—barbecue!
Kaminari certainly had no complaints; in fact, he welcomed the idea. He was still growing, and some extra protein couldn't hurt.
But with some time to spare before his father got off work, Kaminari changed out of his school uniform, carefully folding it before placing it in the closet. He then hung his guitar bag on the wall.
Today was February 6th, and there were still twenty days until the practical exam at U.A. High School. He had already prepared as much as he could, so for the next few days, he would allow himself to rest and recharge, ensuring he was in peak condition when the time came.
Changing into casual clothes, Kaminari flopped onto his soft bed. It's worth noting that his pillow and blanket were both adorned with Pikachu designs, and a Pikachu figure model sat on his computer desk.
He hadn't bought these items himself. Considering he could draw Pikachu by heart, there wasn't much point in buying merchandise. It was all made at home.
Before he knew it, his eyelids grew heavy, his breaths became deep and even, and he drifted into sleep. The excitement from earlier had taken its toll.
The Pikachu clock on the wall quietly ticked away until nearly five in the afternoon, when the wooden door to his room suddenly creaked open.
"Hey, still sleeping?"
A middle-aged man with thick blond hair entered. When he saw his son dozing, he reached out and flicked Kaminari's forehead with two fingers.
Crackle!
But as soon as his fingers touched Kaminari's hair, a bright spark of electricity shot out, causing the man to quickly pull his hand back.
Oddly, silver-white sparks crackled from his fingertips but fizzled out before forming a complete current.
"Dad… seriously?" Kaminari rubbed his forehead, looking at his father with a mixture of irritation and helplessness.
"I've told you countless times, it's dangerous. My self-defense currents are stronger than your low-level lightning immunity can handle."
Kaminari's father also had an electrical Quirk, which was why the doctors had anticipated Kaminari's abilities and taken extra precautions for lightning protection.
But Quirks have levels. His father's Quirk was a lower-level "static" ability, capable only of releasing tiny amounts of static electricity that could cause a tingling sensation at best.
He also possessed a passive trait common to lightning-based Quirks—partial immunity to electricity.
This is similar to those with fire or ice-based Quirks, who are generally resistant to burns or frostbite. However, this resistance had its limits; with enough output, even they could get hurt.
"Haha, my bad," his father chuckled sheepishly, rubbing his slightly numb fingers. "I didn't expect your currents to be that strong."
His tone turned serious, "But is it because your Quirk level is naturally high, or… have you been training in secret?"
"Well…"
週次パワーステータス
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