Tetsuo had hoped his training would get easier, but Kaminari had other plans. Instead of slowing down, he ramped things up, ending every session with a spar. Three months ago, even though Tetsuo had been athletic for his age, but now, he was something else entirely now. His body was faster, stronger, and more conditioned. Yet, that didn't mean it was any less of a hell.
And now, only a week remained until the U.A. entrance exam.
Kaminari had made it his mission to drag Tetsuo through the trenches, ensuring he was ready. On the academic side, Aunt Jiro had grilled him whenever she had time off, even putting Hana on 'watch duty' to keep him from slacking.
But none of that mattered today.
Today, he had to prove himself to Kaminari and himself.
It was already dark, but there was no delaying it any longer.
"Come at me, kiddo," Kaminari said with a confident smirk.
The night air buzzed with electricity. Beneath the dim glow of the bridge lights, Tetsuo charged forward, his muscles surging with bioelectric energy. Sparks danced along his skin as he blitzed toward his opponent,
Chargebolt.
Denki Kaminari. A legend. One of the greatest lightning-based Quirk users of the previous era. A veteran of the war.
Tetsuo knew this wouldn't be easy.
He activated Surge Drive,
sending a burst of electricity through his nervous system to amplify his speed. The world blurred as he darted across the battlefield in erratic patterns, making it nearly impossible to track his movements.
Kaminari's eyes narrowed.
Fast. He thought
But he was ready.
Without hesitation, he sent an electric wave through the ground. The charge dispersed in all directions, forcing Tetsuo to retreat mid-dash.
Damn.
Tetsuo clenched his fists. He could store electricity in his body, but with Surge Drive activated, an overload could short-circuit him.
Thinking quickly, he shifted into Magneto Dash, releasing a controlled electromagnetic burst beneath his feet. His body lifted slightly off the ground, just enough to avoid Kaminari's attack.
Then, he pushed off the bridge's steel support beam, using it as a launchpad.
Now!
"Volt Breaker!"
Electricity surged around his fist as he dove toward Kaminari. He had to finish this fast—if he let Kaminari dictate the pace, he would lose.
But Kaminari smirked.
Baited.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a small metal disc from his support gear.
Tetsuo's instincts kicked in—he punched it.
Wrong move.
The moment his fist connected, Kaminari unleashed a pinpoint electric attack. The metal disc acted as a conductor, redirecting Kaminari's charge straight into Tetsuo's arm.
Tetsuo's body seized up. His nerves screamed as his own electricity overloaded him.
His vision blurred. Muscles locked.
Then—darkness.
When Tetsuo woke up, his whole body ached. His fingers twitched involuntarily, tiny sparks still flickering along his skin.
Kaminari sat beside him, smirking.
"You got guts, kid."
Tetsuo groaned. "I lost."
Kaminari shrugged. "Yeah, but that's how you learn. You almost had me there."
Tetsuo sat up, rubbing his temples. "What did I do wrong?"
Kaminari flicked the metal disc in his hand. "You panicked. I made you react on instinct instead of strategy."
Tetsuo frowned. He had been reckless.
Kaminari patted his shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up. Three months ago, you wouldn't have lasted five seconds against me."
Tetsuo looked at his hands. The sting of failure still lingered.
Kaminari stood up. "Rest up. Your real fight is next week."
Tetsuo's hand began to shake.
"Relax, kiddo, you will do good", Kaminari ruffled his hair a bit.
"Now come on before Jirou gets mad," he said before both of them headed back.
FOUR DAYS LATER
Tetsuo had three days left until the U.A. Entrance Exam, but today was a break.
Denki Kaminari and Kyoka Jiro were celebrating their anniversary and attending their,
Class 1A reunion.
It was a rare occasion, and Tetsuo was more than happy to babysit Hana for the night.
After all, he owed a lot to the Kaminari family. They would never admit it, but this was his way of saying thanks.
Tetsuo sat on the floor with Hana, stacking wooden blocks into a shaky tower. The little girl giggled as she knocked the tower over.
Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Kaminari and Jiro stepped in, dressed up for the night.
Denki had a look of pure adoration in his eyes as he saw Jiro all dressed up.
"You look beautiful," he murmured, voice softer than usual.
Hana rolled her eyes. "Dad's bamboozled."
Tetsuo let out a quiet laugh.
Jiro smirked and caressed Kaminari's beard. "Well, you too, my battery pack."
Tetsuo and Hana snickered at their banter, while Kaminari shot Jiro a wink—one that definitely had some hidden meaning, flustering Jirou a bit.
Jiro turned to Tetsuo, instantly shifting into Mom Mode.
"Dinner's on the counter. Warm it up before you eat," she instructed. "And there's milk for both of you. You will finish it."
Tetsuo and Hana saluted in unison. "Aye aye, Captain!"
Jiro sighed with a smirk. "At ease."
DING!
The doorbell rang.
Kaminari went to open it, and as soon as the visitor stepped in, Denki pulled him into a quick bro hug.
"Hey buddy, glad to see you!"
Tetsuo turned around—and his jaw nearly dropped.
Standing at the doorway was a tall, muscular man with fiery red-and-black hair.
The Unbreakable Hero – Red Riot.
Tetsuo felt a wave of shock rush through him.
Kirishima Eijiro.
One of the most respected heroes in the world. And now, he was standing in Kaminari's house like it was completely normal.
Kaminari and Jiro greeted him casually.
"Your ride's here," Kirishima grinned. "I'm driving you guys."
As they chatted, Kirishima's gaze fell on the two kids inside.
"You must be Hana and Tetsuo, right?"
Tetsuo froze. Red Riot knew his name.
Kirishima walked over and patted his shoulder.
"What? Surprised to see me?" Kirishima laughed.
Tetsuo nodded dumbly. "Y-Yeah."
Kaminari chuckled. "The kid's a huge fan of you guys."
Kirishima smirked. "Yeah, Denki told me." He then turned to Hana. "And you—good job beating your dad at chess."
Hana puffed out her chest proudly. "He was an easy opponent."
Kaminari groaned. "I heard that."
Kirishima laughed before turning back to Tetsuo.
"And you, kid—good luck with the U.A. exam. Go crush it."
Tetsuo clenched his fists, nodding. "I will."
After a bit more casual conversation and a long list of instructions from Kaminari, Jiro, and Kirishim, they finally left for the party, leaving Hana and Tetsuo alone for the night.
As the door closed behind them, Tetsuo let out a deep breath.
Hana sat beside him on the couch, swinging her legs.
"So," she grinned, "what do we do first?"
Tetsuo smirked.
"How do you feel about staying up late and watching a movie?"
Hana's eyes lit up. "Mom would say no."
Tetsuo crossed his arms. "Mom's not here."
Hana grinned. "Then let's do it!"