As Kaminari stepped out of the wooden cabin wearing the Cancer's Golden Cloth, the morning sun rising from the side of Mount Fuji bathed him in its gentle light.
The sunlight caught the golden threads of his robe, making his entire figure shine brilliantly, as if his body had naturally activated its "lighting function." At this moment, Kaminari looked almost otherworldly, like the mythical "Son of Light."
Edgeshot, who had turned to glance at Kaminari, froze briefly at the sight before squinting slightly and commenting with his usual calm tone, "You… are a bit too conspicuous."
To be fair, in his years as a professional Hero, this was the first time he'd ever seen such a dazzling combat uniform.
"Uh… hehe," Kaminari laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "It's not that bad, right? I mean, compared to Endeavor, who's literally on fire, I'm not exactly subtle—but I'm not worse either!"
Edgeshot fell silent for a moment before giving a small nod. "Fair point."
Without dwelling on the matter further, he turned back around and gestured forward. "Let's go. We'll catch fish and return quickly. Once we've had breakfast, we need to start morning training."
As he spoke, Edgeshot picked up speed. His calm walk turned into a brisk jog, then a full sprint, his agile movements quickly carrying him toward the wooden walls of the camp. With a seamless leap, he tapped the top of the wall with one hand and disappeared into the forest beyond.
Crackle!
"Got it!" Kaminari responded energetically. A surge of golden electricity wrapped around his body, and in the next moment, he dashed after Edgeshot, vaulting the wall and following closely through the forest.
---
As they raced along thick tree trunks, weaving through the lush greenery, Kaminari asked a question that had been on his mind since last night.
"Sensei, can I ask what kind of training we'll be doing today?"
Without breaking stride, Edgeshot responded, his voice steady even as he bounded forward. "We'll begin with the basics—meditation."
"Meditation?" Kaminari echoed, slightly confused. "You mean like… what mages use to recover mana in fantasy stories?"
Edgeshot's expression didn't shift, but he nodded slightly. "Something like that. After all, those fantasy stories draw inspiration from the real world."
He continued, "Meditation is a technique for achieving deep concentration. Through this practice, you can align your heart, mind, and body. It strengthens your mental focus and enhances your control over your body from the inside out."
Kaminari listened intently as Edgeshot explained further.
"This technique isn't unique to any one culture. It's present in nearly all martial arts disciplines. 'Kung Fu' in China, 'Yoga' in India, 'Muay Thai' in Thailand—each has its own version of meditative practices.
"These practices may differ in execution, but their essence is the same: cultivating your mind and spirit to achieve mastery over your body."
Kaminari nodded thoughtfully. "I see. But…" He hesitated before asking with a wry smile, "Can this really create energy? Like magic or chakra?"
"Absolutely not," Edgeshot said flatly, not even turning his head. "Skills are skills—they can never become something like Quirks."
Edgeshot glanced back briefly before elaborating, "I can't offer you advice on developing your Quirk. That's your journey. But what I can teach you are the techniques of ninjutsu."
Kaminari's eyes lit up with interest.
"You've already learned the breathing technique I showed you last night. That was a foundation, a simple entry point to meditation. It allows you to recover quickly and wake instantly at any sign of danger. I'll be expanding on that."
He paused before adding pointedly, "Assuming, of course, you didn't just pretend to learn it."
"Pretend? Of course not!" Kaminari protested with mock indignation. Then, unable to resist, he grinned and asked, "Sensei, how long did it take you to master breathing techniques?"
Edgeshot remained silent for a few moments, seemingly pondering the question as he moved effortlessly ahead.
"…Three days and three nights," he finally admitted. "I struggled to even get started back then. So, yes, you do have talent."
"Three days? Not bad!" Kaminari teased before pressing further. "What kind of ninjutsu are we talking about? Is it something cool like shadow clones or substitution techniques?"
Before Edgeshot could answer, the forest ahead gave way to a clearing, revealing a small, tranquil lake.
"We're here," Edgeshot said simply, landing gracefully on the ground.
Kaminari followed suit, his curiosity briefly overtaken by awe as he took in the scene.
The lake's surface was a deep, rich blue, perfectly reflecting the sky above. The stillness of the water gave it the appearance of a massive sapphire resting at the foot of Mount Fuji, which loomed majestically in the distance.
Although they'd been here the previous evening, the atmosphere felt entirely different in the morning light.
"This place is…" Kaminari murmured, his earlier excitement replaced with a sense of peace.
Edgeshot, however, wasted no time. He dashed toward the lake, his movements fluid as he skimmed the surface of the water. To Kaminari, it looked as if the Hero was walking on liquid glass, leaving only ripples in his wake.
Though he had seen Edgeshot perform this "water floating" technique the day before, it still amazed him.
"He's practically gliding," Kaminari muttered. "No matter how many times I see it, it's incredible."
Edgeshot quickly returned, carrying a small makeshift box filled with water and a few fish. The "box" itself appeared to be folded from paper—likely formed by his own Quirk.
"We're done here. Let's head back," Edgeshot said simply.
---
As they made their way back to the camp, the peaceful rhythm of their journey was interrupted.
"Is that… someone hanging from a tree?!" Kaminari exclaimed, spotting a man dangling from a thick branch up ahead. His movements were wild and erratic, like a fish flailing out of water.
Edgeshot's sharp eyes quickly assessed the situation. Without hesitation, he increased his speed and pulled out a shuriken.
Whoosh!
The shuriken sliced cleanly through the man's tie, cutting him free from the branch.
Thud!
The man fell to the ground in a heap, coughing violently as he struggled to regain his breath. His face was red and sweaty, and it was clear that he had been moments away from suffocating.
But as soon as he recovered, he looked up at Kaminari and Edgeshot with unfiltered anger.
"Why did you stop me?!" he yelled, his voice hoarse. "Do you have any idea how much courage it took for me to do this?!"
Kaminari blinked in disbelief. "You're mad at us for saving you?!"
The man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he picked up his briefcase discarded in his earlier struggle and hurled it toward them. It didn't get far, falling to the ground with a soft thud. Papers spilled out of the bag, fluttering like leaves before settling around him.
"Why do you care where or how I die?!" the man shouted, his voice filled with bitterness. "It's my life, isn't it? I should get to decide how it ends!"
Edgeshot, standing on a nearby branch, sighed quietly at the display.
Kaminari, still perched nearby, muttered under his breath, "Isn't it more strange not to stop someone from killing themselves right in front of you?"
He shook his head and added in exasperation, "Seriously, though—if you're going to do this, why hike all the way out here to do it?"
The man glared at them, his face contorted with frustration. "Because this is the one decision in my life that's mine! I've spent my whole life following orders, doing what everyone else wanted. Can't I at least decide how I go out?!"
***
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