Chương 24: Hero Name.

-Kaminari POV-

I'm standing in the middle of the bustling corridor at U.A. High, students hurrying all around waiting for class to start. My body still ached from the battle with Bakugou, but the soreness is manageable, reminds me of what I had fought for—and what I still had to achieve.

As I look at the crowd, my eye can't help but notice Itsuka Kendo, from Class 1-B, walking alongside her friends. For a moment, my mind flashed back to her letter. It had been a surprise, receiving something so thoughtful from someone outside of my class, but it had left a mark—the way she acknowledged me.

She stood tall and confident, her posture exuding a sense of strength that perfectly matched her determined spirit. Her dark hair framed her face in a way that highlighted her sharp features, with a few strands occasionally falling across her forehead, giving her a slightly playful look. Her eyes, a striking shade of brown, were expressive and held a spark of intelligence.

There was something captivating about her smile, too—it was warm and genuine, instantly making anyone around her feel at ease. Every time she spoke, there was a confidence in her voice that drew people in, and I found myself hanging on her every word.

As she approaches, I feel a sudden urge to say something, anything, before the moment slipped away.

"Excuse me, Kendo." it was all I could say, catching her attention.

She turned, her eyes widening slightly. "Oh, Kaminari-san! Hey." she responded, offering him a small, polite smile.

"I just wanted to say… thanks for the letter. It really meant a lot, you know? I wasn't expecting it, but it was really nice of you."

A soft blush dusted her cheeks. She shifted slightly, glancing to the side, clearly a bit flustered, hope I didn't make this awkward.

"Oh, it was nothing! I just—well, your performance at the festival was impressive."

I feel a bit more at ease now. "Still, it meant a lot to hear that from you."

Kendo's blush deepened, and she laughed softly. "Thanks. I'm glad I could help… even if it was just a letter."

For a brief moment, we stood there, the usual noise of the U.A. corridors fading into the background. Neither spoke, but there was a quiet understanding between us, something unspoken that lingered in the air. I think back to her words, it stirred something inside, something new, but familiar at the same time.

"Well, I should get to class," Kendo finally said, breaking the moment, but her smile was warm. "It was nice talking to you."

"Me too." I replied, feeling a little reluctant to part ways. "Catch you later, Kendo."

As we are headed off in opposite directions, I find himself thinking about her again, more than I had expected. I feel lighter somehow.

...

-Narrator POV-

Unbeknownst to him, Kendo glanced back once, her own thoughts lingering on the encounter.

...

Kaminari could hear the chatter long before he stepped into the classroom. The familiar hum of voices filled the hallway outside Class 1-A, with bits and pieces of conversation reaching his ears as he approached.

"That final match was insane." Serou exclaimed.

"Seriously, did you see the way Kaminari countered Bakugou's explosions?" Ojirou said.

"Yeah, I thought Bakugou had it in the bag, but then…" Tokoyami concluded.

Kaminari slowed his steps, it seemed the U.A. Sports Festival was still fresh on everyone's mind.

When he entered the classroom, the noise immediately dropped a notch. All eyes turned to him, and Kaminari felt the weight of their gazes, though he pretended not to notice. His eyes scanned the room briefly, but it was when they locked onto Bakugou that the real tension surged through the air.

Bakugou sat at his desk, arms crossed and head low. His usual fierce scowl was still in place, but there was a strange, quiet rage simmering beneath the surface. Unlike his usual explosive outbursts, this silence was far more intimidating. Raio wasn't sure if Bakugou was more furious at him or himself, but one thing was clear—the defeat still stung.

Their eyes met for the briefest moment, with a simple nod, Kaminari broke the stare and headed toward his seat, keeping his expression neutral.

As he passed, Bakugou's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. No explosions, no taunts—just silence. That, in itself, was unsettling.

Kaminari sat down, finally exhaling the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Before he could even settle in, his friends swarmed him.

Kirishima was the first to clap him on the back, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "Kaminari, man! That match was unreal! You took Bakugou head-on and won—talk about manly spirit!"

Raio laughed, rubbing his neck. "Thanks, Kirishima. It was close, though. Bakugou didn't make it easy."

Mina popped up next to him, practically bouncing in excitement. "Close?! You were amazing! That final attack—just when everyone thought you were down, boom, you turned it around! You're like a rock star!"

He couldn't help but grin at Mina's energy. "A rockstar?"

Sero leaned in, giving him a thumbs-up. " You deserve all the attention you're getting. Just don't let it go to your head, alright?"

Kaminari chuckled, shaking his head. "I won't. Promise."

As the group continued to congratulate him, Kaminari felt a surge of warmth. The admiration and support from his friends felt genuine, and it was a relief to know they had his back. It was easy to forget about the lingering tension with Bakugou when he was surrounded by people who believed in him.

"Alright, settle down..." came a familiar monotone voice from the front of the room.

Shota Aizawa had entered the classroom, his eyes as tired and sharp as ever. He stood at the front, arms tucked into his capture weapon, scanning the room as the chatter quickly died down.

Kaminari straightened in his seat, his mind shifting back to business. The Sports Festival was behind them now—what came next was what truly mattered.

...

As he stepped to the front of the classroom, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The lingering buzz of conversation among the students ceased as they hurried back to their seats, eager to avoid catching their teacher's tired yet sharp gaze.

Kaminari felt his heart rate slow as the room quieted. Even Bakugou seemed to still his simmering rage, if only for the moment. There was something about Aizawa's presence—calm but commanding—that always had a way of reeling in the chaos.

Noticing for the first time that the teacher was free of his bandages, after the brutal injuries he had sustained during the U.S.J. incident, it was good to see him fully healed, his usual disheveled demeanor back in full force.

Aizawa scanned the room, when he spoke, his tone was as dry and blunt as ever.

"Alright, let's get started." He said, cutting straight to business as usual. "Today's Hero Informatics Period will be a bit different."

At that, a few curious glances were exchanged among the students. Kaminari raised an eyebrow, already sensing a shift in the mood. Aizawa paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in.

"You'll be formulating your Hero names today."

The classroom erupted into excited murmurs, a wave of energy pulsing through the students. A Hero name—a part of their future identity. This was a defining moment, and the weight of it hit hard.

Mina nudged from the side, grinning wide. "Hero names? This is gonna be awesome!"

Kaminari smiled back, feeling the contagious excitement radiating through the room. Even his quieter classmates looked intrigued, all of them caught in the moment.

Aizawa, however, wasn't quite done.

"I wouldn't get too ahead of yourselves." he continued, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "The formulation of your potential Hero names is due to something else—nominations from Pro Heroes."

The excitement in the room spiked at that. Kaminari's eyes widened slightly. Pro Hero nominations? This was bigger than just picking a name—it was the first real step into the professional world of heroism. He could feel the electricity in the room (almost literally in his case) intensify, as every student's mind raced with thoughts of recognition and opportunity.

"Now, before you start daydreaming about your futures," Aizawa added, his tone deadpan, "understand this: the nominations this year are not necessarily an offer for immediate internships. They're expressions of interest in your potential futures."

Leaned back in his seat, considering the weight of those words. Expressions of interest. His mind flashed briefly to his own performance in the Sports Festival. He had shown his strength, his wits and his power—especially at the final match. But how much interest had he really sparked?

Aizawa's hand moved toward the screen at the front of the classroom, clearly preparing to reveal the tally of nominations.

...

Kaminari sat on the edge of his seat, anticipation buzzing in the air as Aizawa activated the projector. The screen flickered to life, illuminating the classroom with bright light. The noise of the students around him quieted, all eyes glued to the display.

"Now," Aizawa began, his voice steady, "here are the tallies of nominations from Pro Heroes."

The screen lit up, and the room collectively leaned forward, eyes wide in anticipation.

...

1. Kaminari Raio – 4,395 nominations

2. Todoroki Shoto – 3,216 nominations

3. Bakugou Katsuki – 3,028 nominations

Midoriya blinked, not surprised but impressed. "Kaminari got more than Todoroki and Bakugou…"

"Whoa! Look at that!" Kirishima exclaimed, practically bouncing in his seat.

Kaminari couldn't help but grin, but there was a twist of disbelief in his chest. He had known he'd performed well at the Sports Festival, but this? He hadn't expected to be so recognized, especially compared to his classmates. The support and excitement surrounding him made the moment even more surreal.

"Congratulations, Kaminari!" Mina chimed in, giving him a playful nudge. "You totally deserve it!"

His heart swelled with gratitude and disbelief.

Just as the excitement started to settle, a door swung open, and Midnight sauntered into the classroom, her presence instantly captivating. Aizawa raised an eyebrow but said nothing; he clearly had anticipated her arrival.

"Good timing, Midnight," Aizawa said, gesturing toward the students. "I requested you to help evaluate their Hero names."

Midnight grinned, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Alright, listen up, Class 1-A! You have fifteen minutes to decide on your Hero names! Make it count!"

A collective wave of energy surged through the room as students began brainstorming immediately. Kaminari felt a rush of excitement, but it quickly turned into a whirlwind of ideas and doubts. He had thought about potential names before, but now that the time had come, he felt the weight of the decision.

"Let's do this, Kaminari!" Kirishima urged, leaning in closer. "What are you thinking?"

Leaning back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face. "I don't know yet. Something that fits my quirk, you know? Something electric."

The room buzzed with excitement and chatter, ideas flying left and right. He felt a growing determination inside him, pushing him to come up with something that felt truly representative of who he was. This was more than just a name; it was a reflection of his journey, his dreams, and everything he had fought for.

As the minutes ticked away, Raio knew he had to make a decision soon, and he was determined to make it count.

...

As the class settled back into their seats, Midnight took center stage, her playful demeanor igniting the room.

"Alright, Class 1-A! Let's hear those hero names!" she announced, a mischievous smile on her face. "We'll start with you, Todoroki!"

Todoroki stood, a calm presence amidst the buzz. "Shoto." he said simply, before sitting down again, prompting a mix of nods and muted laughter.

"Pretty straightforward!" Kirishima exclaimed. "But that's cool!"

Next up was Bakugou. He stood with his usual fiery intensity. "King Explosion Murder!" he shouted, earning a mix of eye rolls and exasperated sighs from his classmates.

...

"Alright, Iida! You're next!" Midnight prompted.

"Tenya." Iida declared. That's odd, it wasn't like him.

...

As more classmates shared their names Kaminari felt a sense of pride swell in his chest. This was a moment of unity and ambition for all of them.

"Now, let's see what our star, Kaminari, has chosen!" Midnight said, glancing at Kaminari with an expectant grin.

Taking a deep breath, feeling the weight of their gazes, he walks towards the front of the class.

"I am The Lightningstorm Hero - Megajoules." he announced, his voice steady.

The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers.

Jirou smirked, arms crossed. "Megajoules? Sounds like a lot of pressure to live up to." She complimented. "But it suits you. Just don't fry your brain trying to live up to the name." Her teasing was accompanied by a smile, the underlying approval obvious.

"Megajoules? That's totally manly! Sounds like you're bringing the shockwaves and the power!" He gave Kaminari a solid thumbs-up, his excitement infectious.

Raio smiled, grateful for her support.

...

Later that afternoon, the class gathered for a meeting in the common area. The mood was relaxed, laughter and chatter filling the space as they discussed their plans for the upcoming training.

Kaminari found himself walking with Jirou, their conversation drifting comfortably between topics. The noise of their classmates faded into the background.

"Hey, about the festival, thank you for being there," Raio said, his tone sincere. "I don't think I could've made it through without your support.

Jirou looked at him, her expression softening. "You're stronger than you think, remember that. You didn't need the collar; you proved that when you won."

"I don't know… It felt like a risk. But I think I'll be fine without it now," he replied.

"Just keep being you. You've got what it takes to be a great hero," she said, her voice warm.

As they shared a moment of understanding, Itsuka Kendo walked by, catching sight of them. She paused for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing her face, before continuing on her way as she sees another joining in.

"Yo, Yaoyorozu!" Jirou called out, waving her over.

"Greetings, you two." she replied with a smile, joining them.

"That reminds me, I wanted to thank you, too." Kaminari said, turning to her. "Your help with my training really made a difference."

"Of course! It was an honor to assist," Yaoyorozu replied, her demeanor bright. "You really came into your own at the festival."

As the trio exchanged friendly banter, they were soon drawn into the larger group of classmates, the energy in the room vibrant and full of life.

...

Later that day, sat on his bed, Kaminari is scrolling through the list of commendations on his notebook. He should be feeling happy, but a gnawing sense of disappointment lingered in his chest. His mother, Edith, entered the room, noticing the change in demeanor.

"Everything alright, son?" She asked, taking a seat next to him.

Raio sighed, tapping on the screen to bring up the list of hero names. "It's nothing... Just pondering my options."

Edith's expression shifted to one of understanding. "I know how much you admire him, son. It's tough when expectations don't match reality."

"That obvious, eh?." Raio replied, running a hand through his hair. "He didn't send one after all."

"That one is a rather complicated individual, it's not a surprise, though still disappointing." Edith said gently. "Not to worry, we are often finding our destiny in paths we didn't choose to take."

Raio looked down, absorbing his mother's words. "Thanks, mother. I'll try to keep that in mind."

As she leaves his bedroom, she notices Maxwell leaning against the wall. They exchange glances, she lets a soft smile of empathy as he descends the stairs.