Office of the President, Kaminari Toy Co., Ltd., Saitama City.
"Yes, I'll make sure he prepares some new material as soon as possible."
"Thank you very much."
Kaminari's father, dressed in a formal suit, slowly hung up the phone, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. The call had come from Japan's MTV music network, informing him that they intended to heavily promote his son next year. However, one song alone, Only My Railgun, wouldn't suffice for a full-scale push. They needed more material preferably a new song.
It was good news, great news, even. Some up-and-coming singers would be over the moon at the opportunity. But for Kaminari's father, there were doubts lingering in the back of his mind.
The core issue was that new song request. How could he be sure his son could come up with another track as strong as the first? Inspiration didn't always strike twice, especially not on demand. Creativity wasn't an exact science, after all.
"Hmm… I'd better ask him first."
Now, he was filled with concern, not only about whether Kaminari could deliver another high-quality song, but also whether the request would put too much pressure on him. After all, the U.A. High School entrance exam was next week, and he didn't want anything distracting Kaminari from what he believed was more important: getting into U.A. and pursuing a career as a professional Hero.
"If it doesn't work out, we'll just let this music opportunity go. Getting into U.A. comes first," he decided.
Having made up his mind, he took out his phone and quickly dialed his son's number, listening anxiously to the rings.
"Dad?" Kaminari's voice came through, sounding slightly confused.
"Well, um… I just wanted to ask, have you been working on any new songs lately?"
Kaminari, who had just reached the ground floor of the office building, stopped in his tracks. He glanced up toward the floor where his father's company was located. "How did you know I was planning to release a new song?"
His father's unexpected question had caught him off guard. He hadn't told anyone about his plans yet.
"Huh?" His father was taken aback for a moment before quickly responding, "You actually have a new song? Since when?"
"I've been working on something for a while," Kaminari explained. "With U.A. starting soon, I wasn't sure I'd have time for music, so I figured I'd release my second single beforehand."
He paused, still puzzled. "But seriously, how did you know about the new song?"
His father let out a small laugh and explained the call from MTV, mentioning how they wanted more content if they were going to focus on promoting him.
Kaminari's initial surprise quickly gave way to understanding. He wasn't too shocked by MTV's interest. After all, Only My Railgun was a solid song, and its sales had been quite promising.
However, what Kaminari didn't realize was that the sudden attention wasn't just about the quality of his song. Without the context of a popular anime or established fame, Only My Railgun would have been just another good track in a sea of music. Moreover, other artists on the platform had similar or even better sales numbers. Under normal circumstances, a second promotional push wouldn't happen until a second hit was in the bag.
But thanks to a certain intervention, Kaminari was about to get a rare opportunity.
"Dad, I'm downstairs. I'm coming up now to start recording," Kaminari said as he joined a stream of office workers entering the twenty-story building.
"You're here already?" His father's voice lifted with a mix of surprise and relief. "Great! I'll get everything set up right away."
After hanging up, his father stepped out of his office, a rush of excitement coursing through him. He was eager to hear what Kaminari's new song would sound like. After all, the previous track had climbed to seventh place on the sales charts—without any substantial promotion. Nearly all of its success was thanks to the song's quality, and the rest could be attributed to Kaminari's intriguing persona. There was no denying that the boy's striking looks had caught the attention of more than a few listeners.
"Heh, not bad for a fifteen-year-old," Kaminari's father thought with a grin as he hurried down the hall.
Kaminari followed his father to a small but well-equipped recording studio located within the company's building. It was an unusual setup for a toy company that specialized in Pikachu merchandise, but his father had spared no expense in setting up a decent studio just for him.
The studio even had a professional sound engineer, Dawu, on standby. While Dawu wasn't particularly famous in the industry, he had more than enough skill to handle the studio's needs. His main job was to maintain the equipment and ensure everything ran smoothly whenever Kaminari needed to record.
"Dawu, Kaminari's ready to record a new song," his father announced as they entered the room. Dawu was slouched on a couch, absorbed in a game on his phone. He jumped up as soon as he saw the president.
"Yes, sir!" Dawu stammered, quickly stashing his phone away and looking a bit embarrassed. But before he could say anything else, Kaminari's father waved his hand dismissively.
"Never mind that. Just get the equipment ready, and there'll be no deductions from your paycheck."
"Here, this has the sheet music and lyrics," Kaminari said, handing Dawu a USB drive.
Dawu, adjusting his glasses, took the drive with both hands and went over to the mixing desk to begin setting up. As an otaku and an avid anime fan, he had loved "Only My Railgun." There was only one thing he had felt was lacking: he thought the song would have been even better if it had been sung by a girl. The thought of a female voice giving life to those lyrics had made him wish the track had a different vocalist.
He glanced at Kaminari, who was standing in the sound booth with his blond hair, highlighted by a black streak shaped like a lightning bolt. "If only the young master were a girl…" Dawu mused, half-jokingly. "He'd definitely make a cute idol."
Little did he know, if Kaminari had any inkling of those thoughts, Dawu might very well have found himself on the receiving end of a highly unpleasant jolt.
Meanwhile, Kaminari had already taken his place in the recording booth, positioning himself in front of the mic. He took a moment to adjust his breathing and get into the right headspace. It took him a full two minutes before he felt ready, raising his hand in an "OK" gesture toward Dawu.
"This song is going to be my gift," Kaminari thought to himself. "To mark the start of something new. It's for me, for the future students and teachers of U.A., and for everyone who dreams of becoming a Hero."
As Kaminari's fingers tightened on the mic stand, the rhythmic strum of an electric guitar filled the studio, followed by the powerful beat of drums. This wasn't just any song—this was an anthem for those who dared to dream big, to rise above the ordinary.
And just like that, Kaminari's second single began to come to life.
(T/N: His second single is Hero by DOA you can listen to it if you want)
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After spending two hours recording the initial version of the new song, Kaminari left the rest of the post-production work to Dawu, who seemed unusually enthusiastic. Kaminari then headed to a professional photography studio in Tokyo, accompanied by his father's secretary.
Japan's MTV had requested some high-quality photos to accompany the new single's release. Currently, Kaminari's profile on the website only had a single picture, his main profile image. Although Saitama City had a few photography studios, they weren't particularly renowned, so his father, the president of Kaminari Toy Co., decided to send Kaminari to a well-known studio in Tokyo.
The commute wasn't a big deal, since Tokyo was just a short drive from Saitama, and they could easily make it back the same day. If not, they could always stay overnight. But as it turned out, Kaminari managed to finish the photo session and return home by seven that evening, courtesy of the company car and the secretary who dropped him off.
While the photography session at the famous studio didn't take too long, he only took seven photos in total, the quality was undeniable. The professional photographer and top-of-the-line equipment made all the difference. Of course, Kaminari couldn't help but think that his own good looks played a significant part.
Among the photos, there were two that particularly stood out to Kaminari. They fit perfectly with the theme of his new song, "Hero."
One photo featured Kaminari sitting alone at a desk in a dimly lit room, a white band with the word "victory" written across his forehead. The only source of light was a small Pikachu lamp beside him, casting a warm glow on his focused, youthful face. The setting, combined with Kaminari's determined expression, perfectly encapsulated the song's message about perseverance and striving toward one's goals.
The other photo was taken outdoors, with Kaminari doing push-ups under the blazing sun. His shirt was off, revealing a toned physique covered in sweat, while his face displayed a look of intense concentration, teeth gritted and muscles straining. The determination in his eyes spoke of an unyielding resolve to keep pushing forward no matter the obstacles.
These photos resonated with the song's lyrics:
"A man should be strong for others.
Bite the bullet!
Be determined to persevere to the end.
It doesn't matter if you fall.
Just stand up again.
That's all—if you can do it… you're a Hero!"
Kaminari chose "Hero" as his second single because it wasn't just a song about himself. It was a song for all aspiring heroes, a tribute to the Hero Course students at U.A. High School, and a message to everyone out there, whether they were chasing dreams or simply trying to get through the day. The song's central idea was that anyone could be a hero not just the professional ones we see on TV, but ordinary people who muster the courage to face life's challenges.
In this superhuman society where professional Heroes were part of everyday life, there were many songs with Hero themes. But Kaminari noticed that most of them praised the deeds of established Heroes or romanticized the Hero profession. Few, if any, embraced the message that "everyone can be a Hero." He was determined to fill that gap.
When he arrived home, the aroma of freshly cooked dinner hit him before he even reached the kitchen. His mother was waiting with a warm meal, but Kaminari first sent her and his father the photos from the studio via his phone, then headed straight for the shower.
At dinner, his mother couldn't hide her excitement over the photos, even suggesting they get some printed to hang on the walls.
"Where are you going to put them?" Kaminari asked, pointing toward the framed painting hanging above the TV in the living room. It was a depiction of Kaminari with his arms crossed confidently, a cheerful Pikachu standing beside him.
"That's not a photo; it's a painting," his mother corrected him with a smile. "And don't worry about space. We could hang them in your room… or maybe even the bathroom."
"...The bathroom?" Kaminari and his father both froze at the suggestion.
As they laughed, Kaminari's gaze lingered on the painting, and an idea sparked in his mind. He remembered how, when he was younger, his mother had sketched the first "real" Pikachu for him after he had drawn a crude version himself. In a sense, she was the first person to bring Pikachu to life in this world.
"Mom," Kaminari said suddenly, "how about drawing more Pokémon? Or even taking over the creation of new Pokémon entirely?"
"Me?" His mother blinked in surprise. "You really think I could do that?"
Kaminari nodded eagerly. "Of course! You're great at drawing, and you taught me everything I know. Besides, I could use some help expanding the Pokémon lineup."
His mother hesitated, glancing toward Kaminari's father, who was seated across the table. "Well… if you think I could do it…"
Kaminari's father looked thoughtful, stroking his chin. He wasn't opposed to the idea, his wife had studied art and had always been passionate about painting. Plus, it would give her something meaningful to do while still being close to the family.
He nodded. "Sure, why not? Kaminari can share the ideas with you, and you can be in charge of the illustrations."
"Awesome!" Kaminari cheered. He was thrilled not just for the help, but for his mother's sake as well. "This way, even when I'm busy at U.A., we can still collaborate on creating new Pokémon."
"And speaking of expanding," his father interjected, "I've been discussing with the company about turning the Pokémon concept into a manga series. It could eventually evolve into an anime, games, or even movies. What do you think?"
Kaminari's eyes lit up. "That sounds amazing! But I won't have the time to draw comics myself. You could hire a manga artist to adapt the settings I come up with."
He knew that the storyline of the manga would likely diverge from the one in his previous life, and the protagonist might not even be Ash Ketchum. But in his view, the real charm of "Pokémon" wasn't tied to any one character or plot—it was all about the Pokémon themselves. As long as the world was filled with captivating creatures, the series would thrive.
"Of course," Kaminari added, "the protagonist has to start with a Pikachu. That's non-negotiable."
"Actually…" Kaminari's eyes gleamed with a sudden inspiration. "Why not make me the protagonist of the manga? It could follow me and Pikachu as we travel the world, encountering different Pokémon."
His parents exchanged a look. The idea had merit, and imagining their son's likeness as a manga character embarking on adventures was undeniably appealing. They could even picture him someday appearing on TV as part of the Pokémon world.
"I think it's a great idea," his father said with a grin. "Let's do it."
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