Chapter 21: "Hero(es)" and Girls

Unaware of the discussions happening far away at U.A. High School, Kaminari was in his room, completely immersed in his project. He was typing away on his computer, working on a document titled "Complete Pokémon World Settings."

He had to admit, creating this comprehensive guide was actually a lot of fun. It allowed him to revisit the details of the Pokémon world and the various creatures that populated it. First, he started by listing the major regions: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and others.

Originally, he'd considered drawing a full map of the world, but that idea lasted all of three seconds before he dismissed it. Who was he kidding? He didn't have a photographic memory to perfectly recall every detail of such a vast map.

Luckily, since Pokémon was originally created by a Japanese company, many of the regions were inspired by real places in Japan. Kaminari figured he could let a professional Japanese artist handle the world map; his job was to lay down the essential details, like the world's origins, legendary Pokémon myths, and the intricate ecosystem.

He typed up information about various roles in the Pokémon world, such as Pokémon Trainers, Coordinators, Breeders, Rangers, and even the ever-present Officer Jennys and Nurse Joys. He made notes on the various leagues, Elite Four members, and even the criminal organizations like Team Rocket and Galactic.

After hours of work, Kaminari had managed to get through a lot of the groundwork. He was now moving on to drawing the legendary Pokémon, ensuring that they closely resembled the iconic versions from his previous life.

"Alright, the three legendary birds are done. Now, I just need to finish Raikou, and that will complete the three legendary beasts. Next up is Ho-Oh…"

As he spoke aloud to himself, Kaminari paused to reflect, sighing deeply. "Man, why didn't I get some kind of system that could summon Pokémon for real…?" he muttered wistfully.

Meanwhile, Japan's MTV music network had begun heavily promoting Kaminari's latest song, "Hero." Anyone who visited the site couldn't miss the banner showcasing a striking image of Kaminari, the blond fifteen-year-old with lightning-shaped black streaks in his hair. The bold text read:

"Anyone can be a Hero! – Fifteen-year-old Kaminari Denki!"

"From the creator of 'Only My Railgun'!"

It didn't take long for the campaign to gain traction. Within minutes, hundreds of thousands of people had seen the promotion, piquing their curiosity about this young musician who had only recently come into the spotlight.

Although Kaminari wasn't a complete unknown his previous song "Only My Railgun" had garnered some attention, this new track's theme and the story behind it intrigued listeners. Many were eager to see if he could replicate the success of his debut.

As they navigated to his page to give "Hero" a listen, they came across a personal message from Kaminari:

"I'm about to take the entrance exam for U.A. High School's Hero Course. This song, 'Hero,' is dedicated to myself, my future school, its teachers, my future classmates, and all those who strive and work hard. Anyone can be a Hero!"

Readers were surprised to learn that this fifteen-year-old musician was also an aspiring Hero Course student at U.A., the most prestigious Hero school in Japan. The dual ambition of pursuing music and heroics made Kaminari an even more interesting figure.

---

In a small town in Shizuoka Prefecture, a purple-haired girl was sitting in her room, staring at her laptop screen. She had just read Kaminari's message and was intrigued. As someone who had also passed U.A.'s written exam, she realized they might actually meet at the entrance exam.

"Interesting," she thought, turning up the volume as she clicked to play "Hero." The opening beats filled the room, the rhythm electrifying as it pulsed through her high-end surround sound system. Her room, more of a music studio than a typical bedroom, was filled with musical instruments, an electric guitar, electronic keyboard, drum kit, and an array of speakers.

Her parents had even soundproofed the walls to accommodate her love for rock music. Yes, she was definitely well-off, but her passion was unmistakable. As the prelude played, she felt herself getting absorbed in the beat, her head swaying in time with the drums.

"This rhythm… it's amazing!" she exclaimed, her foot tapping on the floor.

The lyrics began:

"Pretending to be brave, I started to get carried away!

Throwing all important things aside!

Torturing myself like a prisoner!

Saying goodbye to myself like this!"

She raised an eyebrow at the opening lines. "The song is called 'Hero,' but it doesn't seem to be about Hero work," she mused. Still, the energy was undeniable, and she kept listening, curious to see where it would go.

---

In another corner of Shizuoka, a boy named Midoriya Izuku had just woken up from yet another exhausting night of training at the Takoba Seaside Park. His phone buzzed with a notification from the Japanese MTV app, promoting Kaminari's "Hero."

Midoriya was always interested in songs about Heroes. While they were just songs, he found that listening to them made his own dream feel more vivid, even if only for a moment. He decided to give the song a listen as he got out of bed, still groggy from his limited sleep.

As he listened to the lyrics, one line resonated deeply with him:

"What should I do if I'm afraid of that guy?"

Midoriya felt a jolt of recognition. He knew that fear all too well. It wasn't just about bullies or villains; it was about the fear of not being good enough, of not measuring up to the standards of those who were born gifted.

---

The song continued to build:

"A man should be strong for others!"

"Bite your teeth and make up your mind to persevere to the end!"

"It doesn't matter if you fall down, just stand up again!"

"That's all, if you can do it... you're a Hero!!"

Midoriya Izuku's heart was instantly set ablaze by these lyrics, and he felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins! The pain and exhaustion from the past ten months seemed to evaporate in an instant.

"Clench your teeth... make up your mind and stick to it... Yes! That's the way it should be!"

"I can't give up now!"

As the song reached its final verse, the climax began.

"A man should be strong for others!"

"Compete with everything you've got!"

"It's okay to cry, just find your smile again!"

"That's all. If you can do it... you're a Hero!!"

"Yes!" Midoriya grabbed his phone, then burst out of his room and headed for the kitchen, his voice ringing with determination, "What have I been doing? How can I be so lax? Don't I want to become a Hero like All Might?!"

"After dinner, I'll head straight to the seaside park to continue clearing the debris!"

"And today, I'm going to sing this song a hundred times! A hundred times!!"

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the purple-haired girl listened to the line:

"The same goes for girls, you can't just watch from the sidelines! If it feels right, go for it, as long as you have the courage to take the leap!"

"That's all. If you can do it... you'll be a Hero!!"

At that moment, she burst into laughter. She glanced at the high-resolution poster of Kaminari on her screen and whispered to herself, "You talk big, huh... I hope you're just as good at walking the walk when we meet, hehehe."

She didn't choose to play the song again. Instead, she jumped up, grabbed her electric guitar, and immediately started playing with ease.

It was the intro to "Hero!!"

She had only listened to it once and already memorized the melody perfectly!

Her musical talent was simply astounding...