My Hero Academia: Thunder God

Creaaak.

In the middle of the forested camp, the wooden door of a traditional Japanese cabin groaned open.

"Haaah…"

Kaminari stepped out, only to be greeted by a refreshing wave of crisp, moist morning air. He paused at the threshold, inhaling deeply. The coolness of the forest breeze invigorated him in an instant.

"This air… it's even better than Omiya Park," Kaminari thought with a small smile, his gaze fixed ahead.

Taking a step forward, he carefully closed the door behind him, all the while admiring the scenery that stretched before him.

"The jade fan hangs upside down over the sky of the East, the white snow on Fuji reflects the rising sun…"

The lines of a poem he'd studied in junior high came to mind as he stood there, captivated by the view. For the first time, he felt the weight of what it meant to experience something truly poetic—Mount Fuji, majestic and pristine, stood towering in the distance, bathed in the warm hues of morning light.

"The idea of stepping outside and seeing Mount Fuji every morning… it's amazing," Kaminari murmured to himself, his voice laced with awe. "I've got to bring my parents here someday. They'd love it."

But his peaceful musings were abruptly shattered by a calm, steady voice that pierced through the stillness.

"Good morning, Raikage."

Startled out of his thoughts, Kaminari turned to see Edgeshot stepping out of another cabin nearby. He looked just as composed as always, his appearance unchanged from the day before.

"Good morning, Edgeshot," Kaminari replied politely.

He stuck to using the Hero's title rather than his real name. After all, Aizawa had made it clear to them before they departed: when working with professional Heroes, it was proper etiquette to address them by their Hero name.

Edgeshot glanced toward Mount Fuji in the distance. "Since you're up so early, I take it you've already mastered the breathing technique I showed you yesterday." His voice was calm, almost conversational.

"The breathing technique wasn't too difficult, so I picked it up pretty quickly," Kaminari replied with a smile. "But honestly, getting up early is just a habit for me. I've been waking up at this time for over ten years now to train for an hour or two."

Edgeshot nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his gaze.

---

The evening before had been relatively uneventful. Kaminari and Edgeshot had gone to a nearby lake and caught two fresh fish for dinner. Their meal was simple: grilled fish, prepackaged miso soup, and freshly steamed white rice made with water from Mount Fuji.

Though plain, it was surprisingly satisfying. Kaminari couldn't tell if it was the freshness of the ingredients or his hunger after the long day, but it felt like one of the best meals he'd ever had.

After dinner, Edgeshot didn't immediately put Kaminari to work. Instead, he introduced him to the camp and laid out the daily routine he'd be following.

The camp itself was straightforward. It was enclosed by four high wooden walls, without any gates, as Kaminari had already discovered.

The western side, where they were now, was the living area. It featured five wooden cabins in total, each built in the traditional Japanese style.

Two of the cabins were designated for living quarters, one for each of them. The others served as a kitchen, a storage shed, and a small bathroom.

The kitchen doubled as a dining area, though calling it a "dining area" was a stretch. It consisted of a single wooden table on a tatami mat, large enough to seat four people at most. Despite its simplicity, the table's craftsmanship stood out, it was smooth and polished, clearly handmade with care.

To the east lay the heart of the camp: the training grounds. This area took up nearly two-thirds of the camp's space and was filled with an assortment of ninja-style training equipment.

There were bamboo poles reminiscent of plum blossom stakes, ranging from one to ten meters in height, narrow obstacle paths lined with black iron rods, humanoid wooden dummies covered in wear and tear, and more.

Kaminari had asked Edgeshot the obvious question: "Did you build all this yourself?"

Edgeshot's answer had been simple yet profound. "These were created by the ninjas who came before me. This camp has been passed down through generations."

"Then it's like an inheritance of Heroism," Kaminari had mused.

Edgeshot had nodded, his voice taking on a reflective tone. "The ninja tradition has always been about passing down knowledge. Inheritance is the core of what we do."

---

Back in the present, Edgeshot's expression remained steady as he turned to Kaminari. "It's clear that your strength far surpasses others your age. But it's not entirely due to 'talent.'"

Kaminari tilted his head, curious.

"Your techniques carry a refinement that can only come from hard work and dedication. That's not something you get from natural ability alone. Endeavor's son, on the other hand, is what I'd call a true genius."

Edgeshot's words gave Kaminari pause.

"You and Todoroki are like two extremes," Edgeshot continued. "One builds his strength through relentless practice, while the other relies on innate talent. Yet both of you stand far above your peers and even some professional Heroes."

Kaminari chuckled softly, shrugging. "Maybe it's just a case of different paths leading to the same goal. But honestly…"

He trailed off for a moment, the image of Todoroki flashing through his mind.

"If Todoroki worked as hard as I do, he'd probably be miles ahead of me by now," Kaminari admitted with a touch of melancholy. "Talent is a huge advantage. I can't deny that."

Edgeshot regarded Kaminari quietly for a moment before speaking.

"People blessed with extraordinary talent often fail to value hard work. They don't see the need for it because they can already excel without much effort. That's why so many geniuses plateau, they never learn how to push themselves further."

Edgeshot's voice softened, his tone almost encouraging. "But a person who achieves greatness through hard work has a kind of talent that surpasses most others. Effort itself is a form of genius. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many mediocre people in the world."

Kaminari's gaze steadied as he absorbed the Hero's words.

"Hard work can surpass talent," Kaminari muttered to himself, "but there are also geniuses who work hard…"

"That's correct," Edgeshot said, his voice carrying a note of approval. He could see the spark of determination in Kaminari's eyes, and it only deepened his admiration for the boy.

---

"Alright," Edgeshot said, breaking the momentary silence. "Go put on your combat uniform. Today, we'll begin your workplace experience for real. You'll get a taste of what it means to live the life of a professional Hero."

Kaminari's eyes lit up with excitement, his previous fatigue forgotten.

"And if you're not too tired afterward," Edgeshot added, "you can train with me in the evening."

"Yes, sir!" Kaminari replied enthusiastically. Without wasting another second, he turned and headed back into his cabin.

Opening his combat suit box, a faint golden glow spilled out, illuminating his face.

With practiced ease, he donned the Cancer's Golden Cloth. The dark gold flame patterns along the hem rippled like waves with his movements, while the five bold characters emblazoned on the back stood out, their presence commanding.

Kaminari stepped out of the cabin, his eyes glinting with determination.

"Let's do this. Workstudy experience, here I come!"

***

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