Chapter 34:Todoroki Shoto vs. Kaminari Denki

*Crack!*

As Kaminari swung his arm with precision, the ball in his grip shot into the air, enveloped in golden arcs of electricity. It streaked across the sky like a glowing meteor, leaving a dazzling trail of light behind. The ball flew higher and farther, pushed by the force of Kaminari's electric-enhanced muscles.

Everyone watched in awe as the ball soared until the electric current fizzled out, and gravity pulled it back down to Earth.

"412.7 meters!" Aizawa announced calmly, holding up the rangefinder for everyone to see. "This is how you figure out your limits."

In his mind, however, Aizawa was analyzing Kaminari's Quirk usage with keen interest. "Stimulating his muscles with electricity to boost physical strength… it's an interesting approach," Aizawa mused silently. "The control he demonstrated, channeling that electricity into his throw, he's definitely trained for this."

Meanwhile, the students erupted into a mixture of gasps and excited chatter, the impressive distance Kaminari achieved sparking their admiration.

"Whoa! No way! Over 400 meters?!"

"This is so awesome! We get to use our Quirks freely!"

"Being in the Hero course is seriously cool!"

Their excited outbursts, however, didn't go unnoticed by Aizawa, who gave them a sharp look.

"Fun, huh?" His voice was low, but it cut through the chatter, catching everyone's attention.

"Huh?" Midoriya and the others blinked, confused.

"If you think this is all just fun and games, you're in for a rude awakening." Aizawa's tone suddenly turned cold. "Do you really think you'll become pro heroes with that mindset?"

The class fell silent, tension rippling through the air as Aizawa continued.

"If that's your attitude, I might as well let you know right now… the student who ranks last in this test will be expelled."

"What?!" The collective shock from the class was immediate. Even Kaminari, Todoroki, and Tokoyami couldn't help but stare in disbelief.

"Is he serious? Expelling someone on the first day?" Kaminari's thoughts raced. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was similar to something a certain masked ninja from his past life would do. "Wait, what if he's not kidding?"

His expression turned serious, and he noticed other students like Todoroki and Yaoyorozu doing the same. Clearly, some of them were realizing the gravity of Aizawa's words.

Aizawa smirked slightly, lifting the long strands of hair that usually obscured his eyes. "Welcome," he said, his tone both mocking and challenging, "to the Hero Course of U.A. High School."

Uraraka Ochaco, who had been silently brimming with excitement for the entrance ceremony, couldn't hold back her frustration. "That's just not fair!" she protested, voicing what many others were likely feeling. "It's only our first day!"

Kaminari shared her sentiment, but something told him there was no point in arguing. He had a gut feeling that if Aizawa said he could expel someone, then it was within the school's rules to allow it.

Around him, other students seemed to realize the same thing. Yaoyorozu, Tokoyami, and Todoroki all remained silent, their expressions serious. They knew this was no time for complaints.

Aizawa's voice cut through again, this time softer but no less intense. "Natural disasters, major accidents, rampaging villains, these kinds of unreasonable situations can happen anywhere, at any time. That's the world we live in now."

He didn't need to raise his voice for the impact of his words to hit home. The weight of his message settled on the group, and the once-enthusiastic atmosphere turned somber.

"And the ones who stand in the way of all these disasters are heroes," Aizawa continued. "If you're hoping to coast through these next three years without pushing your limits, then you're in the wrong place."

The students, now fully silent, felt the immense pressure that came with the title of "Professional Hero." Aizawa's gaze swept across them before he concluded with one final statement.

"The road to becoming a pro hero is paved with suffering, and U.A. will give you plenty of it. You're either moving forward or falling behind. That's the reality." His eyes gleamed slightly as he added, "So remember this—Plus Ultra."

Kaminari wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he could've sworn Aizawa's usually tired demeanor brightened a little when he said those last two words. Whether it was excitement or something else, Kaminari wasn't sure. But what he was sure of was that he had made the right choice by coming to U.A.

There was no doubt everything from now on would be beyond anything he had ever experienced before.

"Let's get started." Aizawa signaled the beginning of the Quirk Apprehension Test. "First up: the 50-meter dash."

---

"Ready… go!"

*Pffft!*

With the sound of the starting signal, Iida Tenya rocketed forward, leaving a cloud of dust behind him. His glasses were off, and his face was set in concentration. His engines roared as he sped toward the finish line, his powerful Quirk propelling him far ahead of Asui Tsuyu, who was leaping along behind him.

"3.04 seconds!" came the result.

"Whoa! His Quirk is insane!" Kaminari couldn't help but be impressed, especially at the sight of the exhaust vents on Iida's legs. It was such a unique and fascinating ability.

Next up were Uraraka Ochaco, Aoyama Yuga, Shoto Todoroki, and Bakugo Katsuki. Kaminari watched each of them closely, observing their Quirks with interest.

From the explosion-fueled speed of Bakugo to the gleaming laser of Aoyama, each student demonstrated abilities that were impressive in their own right. Kaminari mentally noted their quirks, already thinking about how they might compare to his own electric powers.

"Final group: Todoroki Shoto and Kaminari Denki," Aizawa called out.

Kaminari blinked in surprise as his name was called. His competition would be Todoroki? He hadn't interacted with him much yet, but from what he had seen, Todoroki exuded a quiet, confident aura.

Unknown to Kaminari, Aizawa had grouped them together on purpose. He wanted to see how the top scorer from the practical exam would match up against Todoroki, who had been accepted through recommendations. Both had been trained in their Quirks for years, and Aizawa was curious to see whose abilities would shine brighter in a speed test.

As Kaminari and Todoroki lined up at the starting line, neither seemed particularly phased. They exchanged a brief glance but otherwise remained calm. Despite the competitive atmosphere, neither felt especially pressured by the matchup.

But those watching felt differently.

"Kaminari's going to win! Speed is his thing!" Tetsutetsu declared, confident as always, with his hands still in his pockets.

"Yeah, he's super fast," Jiro agreed, recalling the lightning- speed she had experienced firsthand.

But their conversation caught the attention of Yaoyorozu Momo, who overheard them and decided to chime in. "You guys clearly don't know about Todoroki's abilities, do you?"

"Huh?" Tetsutetsu and Jiro both turned to look at her, curious about what she meant.

Yaoyorozu crossed her arms, her gaze drifting toward Todoroki. "Shoto Todoroki is the strongest recommended student this year."

Tetsutetsu frowned, not fully convinced. "So, what's his Quirk?"

"Ice," Yaoyorozu explained simply. "He can create and control ice."

"Ice, huh?" Tetsutetsu mused, rubbing his chin. "It sounds powerful, sure, but how does that make him faster than Kaminari? Kaminari's speed is no joke!"

Yaoyorozu didn't respond directly but instead shrugged, her expression calm. "You'll see soon enough. Todoroki's training with his Quirk is on a whole other level."

As the two boys stood ready at the starting line, Kaminari glanced sideways at Todoroki. There was a quiet intensity in Todoroki's demeanor, but Kaminari wasn't fazed. He was confident in his speed.

"Everyone, get ready!" came Aizawa's voice, giving the two competitors their cue to prepare.

Kaminari focused, the familiar crackle of electricity dancing across his body as he activated his high-speed movement. The golden arcs of lightning began to swirl around him, charging his muscles for a burst of speed.

Next to him, Todoroki's calm gaze didn't waver. A thin layer of frost began to form on the ground beneath his feet, signaling the activation of his ice-based Quirk.

"Ready… go!"

*Ksssh!*

*Crack!*

In an instant, Kaminari and Todoroki launched forward, moving almost in unison. Kaminari's body surged with electricity, propelling him forward in a golden blur, while Todoroki's ice coated the ground in front of him, creating a slick path for him to glide across effortlessly.