"Well, it does seem that all these Pokémon decorations have drawn more students to enroll in the school. From a practical perspective, it's a good strategy, though I doubt an elderly man like Takashima was thinking about it that way," Kaminari remarked thoughtfully.
"Did they get authorization?" he asked suddenly, his tone sharp and direct.
While private individuals don't necessarily need authorization to use cartoon images as long as there's no intent to profit, private schools using them as a branding tool or feature typically do.
He didn't mean to detract from the old man's heartfelt efforts, but rules were rules, and this was a significant matter.
"Uh… I'm not sure about that," Momo replied, blinking at his sudden question. "That doesn't seem like the main issue here, does it?"
"Alright, I'll ask my dad about it tonight. As for the invitation, I'm fine with it in principle," Kaminari said after some thought. "But whatever we decide, it has to happen after the midterm exams. I don't want this to interfere with Kyoka's preparations."
Kyoka blinked in surprise. "Kaminari, I'll be fine—really."
"No," Kaminari replied firmly. "No matter how touching or important this is, it's still something external. You, and what's important to us, come first. That's final."
His tone left no room for argument, and Kyoka could only nod slightly, feeling a small warmth at how much he cared about her progress.
Turning back to Momo, Kaminari added, "I can't say anything for sure right now. I'll get back to you later with a definite answer after speaking with my dad."
"Understood," Momo agreed easily. Though she strongly supported the idea of accepting the invitation as the band's manager, she understood that Kaminari, as the team's 'captain,' had the final say.
With the matter settled for the time being, the three of them—well, four, since Tetsutetsu had joined them left the school building together. They bid farewell in front of U.A.'s protective barrier and headed off to their respective homes.
---
As they walked, they bumped into Midoriya, who had just left school as well.
When asked why he was still there so late, Midoriya hesitated before mentioning that All Might had kept him back to talk. He didn't elaborate on the details, but Kaminari couldn't help noticing the solemn expression on his face.
---
Once they boarded the Shinkansen, Kaminari leaned against the window and looked out at the bustling platform. After a moment of thought, he softly asked Tetsutetsu, "What do you think of Midoriya?"
"Midoriya?" Tetsutetsu repeated, caught off guard by the question. "Honestly, I didn't like him at first. He seemed… timid, y'know? But now…"
He hesitated, searching for the right words.
"…I've noticed he's grown a lot braver. And fast. Just like how his strength keeps improving."
"Exactly," Kaminari agreed, turning back to face him as the train began to move. The scenery outside the window blurred, and Kaminari's voice lowered slightly. "It's been barely three months since we started school, but the change in him is almost ridiculous. When we first got here, he could barely speak properly in front of Bakugo, but now he stands his ground without hesitation."
Tetsutetsu nodded. "Yeah, his confidence seems to grow as his strength does. But why are you so curious about him?"
Kaminari ignored the question, his gaze distant as he rested his chin on his hand. "It's not just his confidence. The speed of his growth… it doesn't make sense."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it," Kaminari began, his tone analytical. "From what we've seen, his transformation began right when he entered U.A. In just three months, he's gone from being basically an ordinary guy to someone strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with people like you, Tokoyami, and even Bakugo. Don't you think that's a little… unnatural?"
Tetsutetsu frowned, considering Kaminari's words.
"Especially since I remember Bakugo mentioning during the fitness test on our first day that Midoriya used to be Quirkless," Kaminari added, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "If they've been childhood friends, Bakugo would've known if Midoriya had any kind of Quirk before."
"You're saying he only started using his Quirk after entering U.A.?" Tetsutetsu asked, tilting his head.
"Exactly," Kaminari confirmed. "So here's the question—can someone who's never used their Quirk before really become this strong in just three months? Look around the class. Even Todoroki, with all his natural talent, isn't improving at this rate."
Tetsutetsu mulled over the comparison before suddenly pointing at Kaminari with a grin. "Wait a minute, you're improving just as fast, aren't you? If anything, you're probably even faster than Midoriya!"
Kaminari chuckled lightly and shook his head. "It's different for me. I've been training my Quirk for years, so what you're seeing now is just the result of that foundation. If I started from scratch like Midoriya, there's no way I'd be this strong already."
The thought made Kaminari pause for a moment. Wait… does this sound like I'm jealous of Midoriya?
He quickly dismissed the idea, though a faint frown lingered on his face. Jealous? Me? Of Midoriya? That's impossible… right?
"Wait a second," Kaminari muttered suddenly, his expression shifting as a new thought struck him.
"What's wrong?" Tetsutetsu asked, confused.
"The focus isn't just on his growth rate. It's his Quirk… and All Might," Kaminari said, his voice calm but sharp.
"What about All Might?"
"Don't you think Midoriya's Quirk feels… similar to All Might's?" Kaminari asked, meeting Tetsutetsu's gaze. "And have you noticed how All Might treats Midoriya differently from everyone else? It's like they already knew each other before U.A."
Tetsutetsu blinked, surprised by the observation. "Are you saying they have some kind of special relationship?"
"Exactly," Kaminari replied. "I think they're either related, or…"
"Father and son?" Tetsutetsu blurted out.
Kaminari stared at him for a moment before shaking his head. "No. They don't look anything alike, there's nothing similar about them at all."
"True," Tetsutetsu admitted. "Then what?"
"If there's any relationship between them, I think it's more likely that of a master and apprentice," Kaminari said thoughtfully.
He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "Think about it. Midoriya's Quirk is eerily similar to All Might's. And if Midoriya really was Quirkless before, it would make sense that he never used it until recently. Maybe All Might saw his potential and decided to take him under his wing after school started."
"That would explain a lot," Tetsutetsu said, nodding. "If All Might's been personally training him, it's no wonder he's improving so fast."
Kaminari fell silent for a moment, letting the theory settle in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more it all added up.
"Yeah," he murmured finally. "That must be it. Midoriya… is All Might's disciple."
And with that realization, everything about Midoriya's rapid growth suddenly made sense.
After all, if All Might, the Symbol of Peace was personally training you, wouldn't it be natural to get stronger faster than anyone else?
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.