There's a saying often heard in Japan's Hero training circles: Heroes of the East, Scholars of the West. If Japan's top Hero school is U.A. High, then the second-best Hero course belongs to Shiketsu High.
Shiketsu is the second choice for many aspiring heroes who fail to pass the competitive U.A. entrance exam but are determined to pursue their dreams.
However, the ethos of these two schools couldn't be more different.
Put simply, U.A. emphasizes freedom and individuality, while Shiketsu prioritizes discipline and order. Of course, that's not to say U.A. disregards discipline entirely, but in comparison, Shiketsu's environment is far more rigid and serious.
At 3:20 in the afternoon, the end-of-school bell rang at Shiketsu High. Groups of students dressed in black uniforms strolled out of the building in twos and threes, their chatter filling the air.
"Kyoka! I just discovered something amazing about my Quirk. I'll stop by your place later to show you!"
Kazama, a boy with striking blue hair, smiled as he hit 'send' on his phone.
Smack!
Suddenly, a heavy hand clapped him on the shoulder from behind.
"Hey, Kazama! You were on fire during training today!"
Kazama turned around with a wince and found himself face-to-face with none other than Inasa Yoarashi, the most hot-blooded and energetic student in their class.
Kazama forced a smile. "Uh, hi, Yoarashi..."
Before Kazama's newfound motivation, his presence in the class had been minimal. He'd had little interest in making friends or standing out. And that suited him just fine, he knew Yoarashi, with his boundless enthusiasm, wasn't particularly fond of people who lacked passion.
However, in recent months, Kazama had made a conscious effort to change. He had a promise to keep, and that pushed him to take training more seriously.
In today's session, he'd gone all out, even catching the attention of Yoarashi, who was undoubtedly the strongest in their class. Though Kazama had ultimately lost, his performance had left an impression.
"Let me introduce myself again," Yoarashi declared loudly, extending his hand. "My name is Inasa Yoarashi. How about becoming friends?"
Yoarashi was taller and more muscular than Kazama, and his outstretched hand seemed almost comically large in comparison.
Kazama hesitated for a moment before reluctantly shaking his hand. "Sure… My name's Kazama Jin. I'll be in your care."
Though he responded politely, Kazama couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by Yoarashi's fiery personality. He wasn't alone in this, many of their classmates admired Yoarashi's strength but struggled to keep up with his intense demeanor.
"Oh, by the way," Yoarashi said, his eyes twinkling, "you had a really soft smile on your face earlier. Were you texting your mom or something?"
Kazama's face turned red with embarrassment. Before he could stammer out a reply, another male classmate chimed in teasingly.
"Not his mom, he's texting his 'Princess on the Clouds!'" A classmate chimed.
"Princess?"
"Oh yeah, Kazama said something about that during training today," another classmate added, smirking.
"I remember!" Yoarashi exclaimed, recalling Kazama's words. "You shouted something like, 'I want to get stronger, stronger than anyone else, because the princess standing on the clouds wants me to!'"
Yoarashi repeated the line dramatically, grinning as he gave Kazama an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "That's so passionate! I hope your 'Princess on the Clouds' inspires you to keep that fire burning!"
The speaker may not have intended it, but the listener was mortified. Kazama's face flushed an even deeper shade of red as he thought to himself, Did I really say something that embarrassing? …Yeah, I guess I did.
Desperate to escape the situation, Kazama waved off their comments and turned to leave. "Anyway, I've gotta get going. See you tomorrow!"
Without waiting for a response, he sprinted toward the underground station. As the sun began to set, his thoughts turned to his upcoming visit.
Kyoka, I've gotten stronger! I've really gotten stronger! And if you wish it, if you hope for it, I'll keep getting stronger—stronger than anyone else!
Even Kaminari Denki.
In Kazama's mind, the image of Kaminari appeared, framed by the golden light of the setting sun. His eyes hardened with determination.
Kaminari Denki… You may be a genius, but I'll prove that I'm one too!
For reasons even Kazama didn't fully understand, every time he thought about the way Kyoka looked at Kaminari, a surge of competitiveness filled him. It drove him to set Kaminari as his ultimate goal.
Kazama also had a secret habit, before starting his daily training at home, he would rewatch the match between Kaminari and
Todoroki from the Hero Sports Festival.
An interesting ritual, wasn't it?
---
As Kazama boarded the subway heading toward Shizuoka City, his thoughts lingered on the earlier battle with Yoarashi.
That guy's a monster, Kazama thought, replaying the fight in his head.
Yoarashi's mastery over wind was nearly insurmountable. Every time Kazama summoned clouds with his Quirk, they were instantly blown away by Yoarashi's powerful gales.
For most of the match, Kazama had felt completely outclassed. But then, just as he was knocked to the ground, memories of Kyoka flooded his mind:
The times they learned music together as children… The moments they played rock music side by side… The promise he'd made to her so long ago…
Fueled by this wave of nostalgia, Kazama had rallied. He gathered all his clouds into a single mass and launched them at Yoarashi with everything he had.
To his surprise, the attack worked. The concentrated "Cloud Fist" cut through Yoarashi's wind and struck him squarely, knocking him back several meters.
That moment had been a revelation for Kazama. He realized that if he concentrated enough clouds and truly believed in himself they could take on a solid, powerful form.
Unfortunately, the effort had drained him. The match ended soon after, with Yoarashi still standing.
The gap between us is too wide, Kazama admitted to himself. Even with a sudden burst of determination, he wasn't strong enough to defeat someone like Yoarashi.
Still, the encounter left him wondering. How does Yoarashi compare to Kaminari and Todoroki? Who's stronger?
Kazama knew that Yoarashi was stronger than Todoroki—after all, Yoarashi had ranked first among U.A.'s recommended candidates, a fact few knew since Yoarashi wasn't the type to brag.
But what about Kaminari?
"It's like something out of an anime," Kazama muttered as the subway approached his stop. "Three guys with insane powers: lightning, fire and ice, and wind. They're the perfect shonen protagonists…"
He let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. "And me? My clouds make me look like a side character."
Kazama paused, pulling out his phone as a thought struck him. "Wait, are there any anime protagonists who use clouds as their power? Hmm… better look it up."
As he scrolled through his search results, another thought crossed his mind.
What should I call that move I used today? I need something cool if I'm going to show it off to Kyoka later.
"Cloud Fist?" he muttered aloud. "Nah, too boring. How about naming it after myself? Something like… Jin Fist?" He smiled, satisfied.
Kaminari hadn't expected the dinner at the Yaoyorozu mansion to be so... straightforward.
When he first imagined dining there, he had pictured a lavish spread of legendary ingredients, dishes so extravagant they'd feel otherworldly. But instead, the dinner turned out to be simple—a single steak per person.
As for drinks, both he and Momo, being underage, were each served a glass of water, while Mr. Yaoyorozu enjoyed an elegant glass of red wine alone. Judging by the way he savored it, Kaminari figured the bottle must have been something extraordinary.
Kaminari had wanted to ask if he could have some wine—just a little, purely for the experience—but he kept his mouth shut.
It was during the meal that Manshi seemingly answered the unspoken question lingering in Kaminari's mind.
Apparently, when eating steak, red wine or plain water was the way to go. Other drinks, even juice or soda, interfered with the meat's flavor. This was the logic behind their simple drink choice.
Even the steaks themselves had a notable pedigree. They were authentic A5-grade Kobe beef from Tajima in Hyogo Prefecture—the finest quality available.
So while the meal wasn't the ostentatious feast Kaminari had expected, it was just as memorable. The sheer quality of the Kobe beef left him floored. Each bite was tender, buttery, and rich, a taste he wouldn't forget anytime soon.
"If I get the chance, I have to bring my parents to try this!" Kaminari thought as he finished his plate.
Before leaving, curiosity got the better of him, and he asked about the price of Kobe beef. The answer? Over 40,000 yen per kilogram—around 2,600 yen per 100 grams.
It wasn't just expensive; it was the kind of luxury item you couldn't easily buy, even if you had the money. Supplies were limited, and only certain vendors were authorized to sell it.
With those thoughts swirling in his mind, Kaminari left the Yaoyorozu mansion in high spirits, though a little overwhelmed by the cost of what he'd just eaten. After taking the Shinkansen back to Saitama, he finally made it home.
When he arrived, his parents had already finished dinner. His mother was busy washing dishes in the kitchen, while his father sat on the living room sofa, waiting for him.
"Come here, son," his father called out with a serious tone, gesturing for Kaminari to sit beside him.
"The event at Seifu Elementary has been finalized. You should discuss it with Kyoka, Momo, and the others to pick a performance date."
He leaned forward slightly, his expression filled with determination. "We're planning to treat this as a promotional event and will be inviting some media reporters. This could be huge for your band."
Ever since his father had come up with the idea, he'd been eager to put it into action. The opportunity was too good to pass up.
Kaminari nodded. "We've already agreed it'll be after the midterm exams. No way I'm putting this ahead of school."
His father smiled, clearly proud of Kaminari's priorities. "Good. You've only got a few days until the midterms, so we'll use that time to build hype online."
Kaminari then hesitated before suggesting, "Dad, do you think we could arrange a special section at the event for fans to attend? I'd love to give back to them somehow."
The idea had been weighing on Kaminari's mind for some time. He felt bad for their fans. Unlike fans of other bands, who could meet their idols at events or concerts, Pikachu Band fans had almost no opportunities to connect with the group.
Since the Hero Sports Festival, there had been no events, no interviews, and no variety show appearances. Their fans were loyal, but they had very little to engage with. Kaminari wanted to change that, even in a small way.
His father considered the idea for a moment before nodding. "It's doable, but we'll need to limit the number of attendees. After all, it's still a school. Too many outsiders could create safety issues."
"Fair enough," Kaminari agreed, relieved that his father was on board. "Let's also livestream the performance. That way, even fans who can't attend can watch it, and it'll give the event a bigger reach."
"Smart idea," his father said with an approving grin. "I'll reach out to a livestreaming platform and arrange a partnership."
"Thanks, Dad!" Kaminari beamed, his excitement clear.
As the discussion continued, he started brainstorming potential new songs for the performance. The theme should still be 'Pokémon,' but which song?
"Together? Frontline? Or maybe… KOK?" Kaminari mused aloud.
At that moment, his mother approached with a gentle smile. "There's one more thing you need to keep in mind."
Kaminari blinked, confused. "What is it?"
"The agreement you made with Mr. Snatch," she reminded him. "Fighting is far riskier than performing, so I want you to be extra cautious."
Though she trusted Mr. Snatch's intentions, she couldn't help but worry. Battles, by nature, were unpredictable, and even the smallest mistake could lead to serious consequences.
Kaminari paused before nodding. "I'll be careful, Mom."
---
The next day, Kaminari met up with Tetsutetsu at their secret training spot in Omiya Park. For an hour, the two sparred intensely before heading to U.A. together, schoolbags slung over their shoulders.
As their training sessions continued, Tetsutetsu's progress had become undeniable. His mastery of the "shave" technique and his growing leg strength made him a force to be reckoned with.
It had reached the point where Kaminari, even with his "high-speed movement" state, struggled to keep up.
One notable moment during their recent sparring left Kaminari particularly shaken. Tetsutetsu had not only blocked Kaminari's Lightning Dragon's Roar but had actually kicked the attack away with raw power.
In the blink of an eye, Tetsutetsu had closed the distance, appearing directly in front of Kaminari. His iron leg, bolstered by incredible speed and strength, came crashing down like a hammer.
Kaminari had managed to counter just in time with a high-voltage electric shock, but even then, the impact sent him flying several meters.
"That guy's seriously becoming a monster," Kaminari thought as he adjusted his bag.
For the first time, he felt a genuine sense of pressure during their sparring matches. It was clear—Tetsutetsu was no longer just training. He was evolving.
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