Chapter 20: "Mediocre" Kaminari?

In the conference room of U.A. High School, the Hero Course teachers gathered to discuss an unexpected topic just two days before the entrance exam. While preparations for the upcoming exams were nearly complete, today's meeting had been called specifically to address one candidate in particular.

A few days ago, Midnight, one of the faculty members, had formally proposed that Kaminari Denki be considered for admission as a recommended student. The assessment for recommended students was scheduled for tomorrow, a day before the regular entrance exam. The evaluation for these students was more of a formality, meant to ensure that their actual abilities matched the information on file.

"Let's begin," said the principal, seated at the head of the table. His voice was calm, and his expression as gentle as ever. Despite looking like a large, fluffy white mouse, no one in the room found his appearance unusual. In this world of Quirks, where superhuman abilities and bizarre mutations were the norm, the principal's appearance was hardly out of place.

"The information about Kaminari Denki is in front of you," the principal continued. "Please take a moment to familiarize yourselves with it."

"Whoa!" Present Mic, the energetic voice hero, exclaimed after a quick glance at the file. "From elementary school all the way through middle school, he scored perfect marks in every subject including physical education. We've got a real prodigy here!"

"His Quirk is electricity-based, huh?" Aizawa, the long-haired and perpetually tired-looking teacher, noted with a nonchalant tone as he skimmed Kaminari's profile. "Lightning-type Quirks are notoriously hard to control. That's why you rarely see many top-tier Heroes with those abilities."

"True," added Recovery Girl, an elderly woman in a white lab coat. "Most people with electricity-related Quirks end up in support roles, especially in fields like equipment development. Their Quirks lend themselves well to those applications."

Midnight, who had proposed Kaminari as a recommended candidate, spoke up. She recounted the incident a few days ago in Omiya Park, where Kaminari had used what appeared to be "electrical defibrillation" to save a life. His level of control over his Quirk had been extraordinarily precise, enough to make her take notice.

She paused before admitting, "I later found out that his Quirk is officially listed as 'Electrification,' not 'Defibrillator,' as he claimed at the time. While I was initially irritated that he lied in such a critical situation, it made me realize just how fine his control over electricity must be."

Her words caught the room's attention. If Kaminari had indeed been using an Electrification-type Quirk to perform defibrillation, it implied a level of precision and control comparable to that of a seasoned professional Hero. The teachers grew quiet, considering the implications. Such a feat would require not just a high degree of skill, but also remarkable composure for someone so young.

"Well, it does sound like he has the potential to be a solid Hero," one of the teachers remarked, summarizing the general sentiment in the room.

However, All Might, the Symbol of Peace and the most famous Hero in Japan, seemed to be mulling over something different. The towering man with blond hair and upswept bangs was lost in thought, recalling something Kaminari had said before leaving the scene in Omiya.

"Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon others are worse than scum… That's a great line!" All Might thought, his eyes brightening. Kaminari's words had struck a chord with him, reminding him of a young boy he had recently taken under his wing, a boy with no Quirk, frail physical health, and a timid personality, yet one who still charged toward danger to save his friend.

"I want to be like All Might and become the strongest Hero!" That was what young Midoriya had declared with unwavering resolve. But with only two days left before the entrance exam, All Might couldn't help but worry if the boy could complete the training task he'd been given.

While All Might drifted off into thoughts about his would-be successor, the other teachers continued to discuss Kaminari's abilities.

"If—hypothetically speaking," Aizawa began, his tone as cold and logical as always, "what if Kaminari's apparent 'defibrillation' wasn't a matter of superior control, but rather just a coincidence? What if his Quirk's electrical output just happened to be the right level for that particular application?"

The room grew silent. Midnight felt a momentary chill. It hadn't occurred to her that such an explanation might be more plausible than the idea of a fifteen-year-old possessing a mastery of electrical control on par with top Heroes.

"But even if that's the case," she countered, "Kaminari's perfect academic record should still qualify him as a recommended student."

"I have some thoughts on that," the principal interjected, his calm voice cutting through the tension. Midnight, who had started to get defensive, quieted down as he spoke.

"I reviewed Kaminari Denki's file when it first arrived, and I am well aware of his flawless academic performance," he continued. "If this were any other year, he would undoubtedly qualify for recommendation based on his grades alone."

"But not this year," the principal added with a hint of regret. "Compared to the three students who have already been selected as recommended candidates Yoarashi Inasa, Todoroki Shoto, and Yaoyorozu Momo—Kaminari's overall abilities are relatively… mediocre."

"Mediocre?!" Midnight was visibly taken aback. Kaminari's track record was as close to perfect as it could get. If that was considered "mediocre," then what standard were they applying?

"I understand your surprise," the principal said gently, "but when you compare him directly to our current recommended students, his capabilities in all areas fall short."

He went on to explain, "For Quirk-based abilities, even if Kaminari is capable of using Electrification for defibrillation, it suggests a proficiency in Quirk control but not necessarily combat effectiveness. Inasa's 'Whirlwind' and Todoroki's 'Half-Cold Half-Hot' are far more versatile and powerful for combat scenarios."

"As for academic excellence, Yaoyorozu Momo's knowledge already extends into advanced subjects like the molecular structure of materials. While Kaminari may have achieved perfect scores, Yaoyorozu is already applying her knowledge at a level that goes beyond typical school subjects."

The principal's tone grew more solemn. "Kaminari Denki might be well-rounded compared to the average applicant, but in terms of what we are looking for in recommended students this year, he lacks a standout quality that sets him above the rest."

Midnight clenched her fists but didn't interrupt. She could see that the principal was speaking out of concern for Kaminari's future, not dismissing his potential outright.

"In today's world," the principal continued, "where the number of professional Heroes is reaching saturation, we must prioritize those who show exceptional promise. Kaminari may be more suited to a supportive role in the Hero industry or even find a place in the Support Department, where his talents with electricity could be better utilized."

The principal's conclusion was clear: "Therefore, the decision of this meeting is that Kaminari Denki will not be accepted as a recommended student. He will participate in the regular entrance exam alongside the other applicants."

As the meeting came to a close, Midnight couldn't help but feel conflicted. She believed in Kaminari's potential, but the reality was that U.A. was a place where only the most extraordinary talents could shine. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Kaminari's journey was far from over.