My Hero Academia: Tropic Thunder

How long hasn't it been since he would hang out with actual friends ever since he came to Japan? Indeed, his social skills were rusted, aside from random banter he never actually hanged out with his classmates until now. Looking at the mirror countless times checking if the outfit is appropriated was the pure clear sign of how nervous he is.

Minding his clothing options, the closest he had in mind when thinking about what to wear when hanging out with friends: A plain dark blue t-shirt, slim fit, hopefully not too shaby; also slim black jeans, tucked the shirt in the pants to give a "composed" look; black canvas casual shoes. One silver cross pendant on his neck so maybe people don't notice the collar at first, two silver rings on his right hand with one black leather armband, one family crest ring on his left pinky with a watch.

"It's good enough, I suppose." As he now avidly looked at his phone, waiting for a message.

He invited Kirishima, so far his closest friend alongside Ojiro, though Mashirao can't go, unfortunately. He wasn't the only one who said no, Ilda refused claiming studies and Asui politely refused, he did asked Yaoyorozu if she wanted to come as well but she didn't gave a concrete answer. Maybe she's not well, that, or she doesn't want to be near him since he made her deaf.

Jiro sends a message saying she's ready, they'll meet at the metro, as he waived Ana goodbye he wonders if they'll like him.

...

-Kaminari Raio POV-

The metro is way better here, though the silence is very unsettling as it's rude to talk inside the wagons, apparently. What only remains is swiping through the phone looking at random apps and messing the calculator until I grew bored. The metro isn't fun anywhere, even back home, it's either always crowded or empty but with junkies.

"You know you can talk with a lower tone, right?" Oh thank God, I was out of apps to scroll. She's wearing an all black outfit similar to her hero costume, minus the accessories. I really don't want to look like Latino Mineta as I lightning glanced at her, she's wearing a studded choker, a Heavy Metal band t-shirt with a short black skirt. She's also wearing shredded black stockings, buckled boots and a studded leather backpack.

"I wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna get weird looks..." Seriously, there's nothing worse than the judging stare of an annoyed japanese person. "It's okay to speak just don't be loud, besides, it's has barely any people in it." She says as she barely makes eye contact, fixated on the phone.

Another five minutes of small talk and we've arrived, we made our way to meet the others.

Kirishima's hair sticks out in a crowd more than a mutant quirk, he sees us right away and opens his big sharpened smile as he waives at us.

"You've finally made it! How are you guys?" I like his easygoing attitude and energetic behavior.

"I'm good, brother, sorry if we made you wait." Jiro barely spoke ger greetings, though Kirishima didn't mind.

"Girls are here." She says as we look at them arriving.

Mina Ashido was the first to caught my eyes, she's a sight to see, and surprisingly by her side there's Yaoyorozu Momo, I froze in place, immediately remembering what happened at the battle trials.

"Hey guys! Let's get started!" Mina over-enjoyment is contagious.

"Greetings, hopefully you don't mind me tagging along." She said in an almost shameful type of way. She then looks at me and timidly says "Hello... Kaminari-san."

"Hope you're feeling well, Yaoyorozu, I apolog-"

"There's no need for apologies, Kaminari-san, you did what you had to do and I won't blame you for that." Her confidence while speaking eased my mind.

"I'm glad to hear it. Shall we go?" I vividly said to all as I'm anxious to hang out with them.

"Let's go!" Mina and Kirishima both shouted at the same time as we went.

...

...

This Arcade we found is awesome, we spent hours having loads of fun between swaping a variety of games, even Jiro was finally showing signs of having fun. We are playing a very competitive versus at Guitar Hero.

"You were right, this is better than bowling." She says with a devious grin as she takes the lead and beats me at the match. "What tipped you?"

"Your outfit." I say as we go to get more tokens.

"I presumed by it that you may enjoy this music game more than throwing a ball down an alley. Want another round?"

"No, all this fun made me hungry, let's get the guys and grab something to eat." Jiro was not the same secluded girl from back at U.A, she's more open and happy to talk now, more than it meets the eye. I nod in agreement as we meet Yaoyorozu watching Mina mercilessly beat Kirishima at a dancing game.

"Mina's very competitive in dancing games." Yaoyorozu said impressed by her abilities.

"Did you play as well?" I asked.

"No... I'm not used to this types of plac-... games." She stuttered.

Jiro and I exchange looks and a let discrete smirks as we thought the same thing: Rich girl vibes.

"What we will eat?" Kirishima asked trying to grasp air, exausted from trying to keep up to Mina.

"Pizza." Jiro exclaimed. "Kaminari is going to pay, too."

"Really Kaminari?!" Mina and Kirishima looked like two parrots repeating the same phrase. I understood what Jiro was doing but she put me in a bad spot, had to play along with it.

"Yeah! Let's go before it gets late."

Kirishima was praising me like I was a lord, calling me anything related to menliness, Mina was beside me telling me about the nice places to eat around here. I look at Jiro walking with Yaoyorozu, I can't be mad at her, I did indeed told her I was going to get her pizza as sorry for the thunder blast.

...

This Pizza Place is very cozy, the pizza is amazingly delicious, almost like Lunch Rush was back there making them. As we decide what toppings we want and Mina boasts her victory against Kirishima, Yaoyorozu pulls me aside and silently whispers.

"Kaminari-san, if you need, I can help you with the bill." She says, possibly worried that Jiro put me in a bad spot on purpose, I thought that this was very cute and considerate of her, she then shows me her credit card, a black one, confirming my suspicion that she's indeed a rich girl.

"Thank you for being this considerate, Yaoyorozu, but there's no need for it, I got this." She smiled and nodded.

"Momo, you may call me Momo if you want, I understand Yaoyorozu may be difficult to pronounce." This is a big deal, refering to one by their first names, I'm happy to know she considers me a good friend.

"Thank you, Momo." I say as I think if the use of the suffix "chan" is needed, I'm not used to yet.

...

5 large pizzas, even the pizza place owner was amazed at how much we ate for mere teenagers, Kirishima and Mina are drooling over them, indeed they look amazing, though one of them has... Broccoli? I have to try it.

Glancing at Jiro getting her slice, I see she's satisfyed at hanging out with us, I'm glad my idea worked out in the end.

"How're you liking Japan so far, Kaminari?" Mina asked me.

Indeed, so far it has been great being here, I have a level of freedom most of them can't even dream to have, a blank check to buy an almost infinite number of things, the country is more tranquil, less agitated, relaxing, even.

"I am loving it, Mina. The country is beautiful and the people are wonderful, the culture is amazing too, almost out of this world." Indeed, way more advanced than mine.

"Awesome!" She said vividly and she chomped her slice of pizza with bellpeppers.

"How's yours? Is it similar to here?" Kirishima is next, I kinda of knew they were going to ask about me where I come from.

"Not in the slightest. Back home is very hot, different from here, a tropic climate with no snow." I pause as I clean my mouth with a napkin. "The people are more energetic and extroverted than here, playful and cheerful."

"Woah, it sounds awesome to live!" He says. It's not, "I have to laugh so I don't cry" is the motto of the way of life, we have potential to be better as a society, but as it is now, it's not even close.

"What about hero's work? I understand you start to train older than here." Yaoyorozu's turn, I guess.

"Being a Hero back home is complicated. To be a hero, you need to go to Heroica University, you can't even be a sidekick until you're 18 years of age and a high school graduate. If one doesn't have a schoolarship, one must have loads of money to fund the next five years long Hero course. After five years, you're an 'Aspirante', a term to classify newbies, an 'Aspirante' has to join a Hero company and will do lesser jobs for the next three years until, under a trial, one can be promoted to 3º Class, a full-fledged Hero. So that's 8 years just to become a Hero."

"What is third class?" Kirishima side eyed me while munching the pizza's cheese.

"Well, Hero work is designed in classes: 3º Class, 2º Class, 1º Class, and Special Class. Each class is determined by threat factor to citizens, lower threats are to be solved by 3º Class heroes while higher threats are reserved for 2º Class heroes and extreme threats are only for 1º Class Heroes, the highest a Hero can achieve independently. Special Class are hand picked through recommendations, only the most prestigious, decorated and most powerful Heroes can become Special Class, they are only called when situations are deemed 'public calamity'." I continued, they're all looking at me, paying close attention to everything I said.

"I didn't realize it took this much to become a hero... It's indeed hard. Will you have to go through this when you go back home?" Yaoyorozu looked flabbergasted.

"Not really, those that graduated from other countries can bypass this procedure and just do the trial, go straight to Aspirante." No need to mention that doing so is only reserved for those rich enough to afford it.

"I see. That's great for you." Yaoyorozu finished by cutting her slice with a fork and a knife.

"Well, my turn of the Kaminari quiz." Jiro had just finished her slice. "You said you're following family tradition?"

"I am. My grandfather paved the way, his hero name was 'The Rainstorm Hero: Relampago'. He did an outstanding work and was one of the pioneers of the the current Hero Class system. My father followed, he was known as 'The Thunderstorm Hero: Supercell', he retired a while ago."

"It's super manly to follow family tradition!" Kirishima amusingly interceded. "What's your favorite Hero, Kaminari? Your family doesn't count!"

My favorite hero, eh? My Dad would be most obvious answer.

"Endeavour."

They gasped and looked at me strangely, like I was insane to even say such a thing.

"You like that guy? He gives me the creeps." Mina said making a disgusted face.

"Ain't he Todoroki Shoto's father?" Jiro asked to Yaoyorozu who nodded in agreement.

"Why him? Why not All Might?" Kirishima, much like the others, was surprised at my answer.

"Don't get me wrong, All Might is one of my favorites, Endeavour takes the edge because he's more than just punching and rescue." I say but notice they don't get my meaning.

"Endeavour brings more to the table than just be a Hero figure, he doesn't just Torch villains and sends them to jail, he's an investigator, he's more brains than brawn and his quirk versatility is something I'm envious of ever since I've watched him in action. He's ready to act and cares more about the successfulness of being a Hero than the prestige of it."

"You're not fond of being in the spotlight then." Jirou presumes this as she looks for another slice.

"The spotlight is not the objective, but a consequence. That's how I see."

...

...

After talking about themselves next, we finished the pizzas and asked for the bill.

"¥8000." The owner was proud, the number may appear high to westerners but this really isn't that much. Pulled my own black card, much to the understanding of Yaoyorozu, and paid the bill.

My father gave it to me as extra leeway if any needs arised, it's unlimited for credit, though there's not many uses for it since I barely spend on anything.

"Thank you for the meal, Kaminari!" The amusing parrots spoke as we were ready to leave, time passed way too quickly, I was hoping we could stay a little longer. Kirishima and Mina went together by bus while Momo, per Yaoyorozu's request, had her own private driver, much to Jirou and mine's amusement. As she waived us goodbye we went back home.

...

We had a more interactive talk on our way back. We mostly giggled at Bakugo's antics in class and what we are expecting from the next months. From the laughs and few moments of awkward silence, she spoke.

"When are you going to talk about this collar on your neck?" I was hoping she wouldn't ask...

...