Chapter 27: Exposed

"Exam—OVER!!"

Present Mic's announcement echoed from the loudspeakers, followed by an alarm-like buzzing sound that resonated throughout all seven 'simulation communities.'

But in Area C, none of the candidates moved. Instead, they stood there, wide-eyed, staring in the direction of the enormous beam of light that had just obliterated the Zero Pointer.

The giant robot continued to explode in a spectacular fashion, a constant reminder of what had just transpired. And, of course, the song "Only My Railgun" kept playing on a loop in the background, adding to the surreal atmosphere.

To be fair, the candidates weren't the only ones caught off guard. The teachers back at U.A. were equally shocked. Most of them had been focused on the events in Area B, where Midoriya's punch had taken down a Zero Pointer. No one had seen the massive beam of light coming from Area C until now.

One thing was clear: whatever had just happened was well beyond the capabilities of the average student. It was one thing for Midoriya to destroy a robot with a punch, even at the cost of serious injury. But in Area C, the Zero Pointer had been completely annihilated, its core pierced clean through.

The thought crossed their minds, what if that beam had been directed at a person?

"Let's not jump to conclusions!" Nezu, the principal—a small, white, rat-like creature clapped his paws to gather the teachers' attention. "We'll know more once we review the footage."

With quick, practiced movements, he typed on the keyboard before him, merging six of the small screens into one large display. Soon, they were watching the event unfold from a satellite view, capturing every moment of Kaminari's actions from above.

Yes, U.A. had satellites, and it seemed they had more than one. Quite the powerful school, indeed.

On the screen, Tetsutetsu whose skin had turned dark due to his steel Quirk stood shirtless in front of Kaminari. The tattered remains of his clothes lay scattered around, making the scene look a bit... unusual.

But Kaminari's expression was completely serious. He stretched his arms forward, placing them parallel to either side of Tetsutetsu's steel frame.

Golden electricity began crackling between Kaminari's arms. The currents were controlled, obediently flowing between his hands without leaking. This steady buildup lasted for about twenty seconds before small sparks started dancing across Tetsutetsu's body.

Then, something remarkable happened.

Tetsutetsu's steel form began to rise slowly off the ground. Though he only floated about ten centimeters into the air, the effect was clear, he was hovering, kept within the field of energy between Kaminari's outstretched arms.

Tetsutetsu, looking visibly tense, closed his eyes and lifted his arms, bringing his palms together as if in prayer. In this moment, he entrusted everything to Kaminari, putting his complete faith in his friend.

Gradually, Tetsutetsu's body shifted from upright to horizontal, transforming him into a human-shaped steel missile aimed directly at the approaching Zero Pointer.

And then Kaminari's eyes sharpened.

Golden electricity erupted from him, filling the rooftop with an intense surge of power. The current was so strong that even the residual charge lit up the surrounding area, turning the rooftop into a danger zone crackling with energy.

"Super—SUPER! ELECTRIC! MAGNETIC! RAILGUN!!"

The words barely left Kaminari's mouth before the electricity condensed into a blinding golden beam, shooting forward with incredible speed. The beam tore through the air and pierced the center of the Zero Pointer, effortlessly cutting through its metal frame like a hot knife through butter.

Only after the massive robot exploded did Kaminari's voice catch up to the action. The teachers watching the footage heard his triumphant shout at the same time they witnessed the Zero Pointer's fiery destruction.

"..."

Silence hung over the U.A. staff room.

Principal Nezu, All Might, and the rest of the teachers were speechless for a moment.

What had they said during their meeting a few days ago?

Kaminari's control over electricity was nowhere near that advanced, right?

Hadn't they concluded that Kaminari wasn't as strong as other top candidates like Yoarashi Inasa or Todoroki Shoto in terms of raw combat power or mobility?

Could those two even beat Kaminari in a one-on-one duel now?

Kaminari was supposed to be mediocre when it came to academics and strategic thinking, right?

Then how in the world had he pulled off a move that involved electromagnetism? That was no beginner's trick.

The string of rhetorical questions left the teachers with nothing to say. If Midoriya's punch in Area B had surprised them, then Kaminari's electromagnetic railgun had left them completely floored.

Well, they'd subconsciously ignored Tetsutetsu's role in all this. There wasn't much to say about him after all. He'd been launched like a projectile, but Kaminari was clearly the star of the show.

But… what was Kaminari doing now?

On the screen, Kaminari's posture had changed. He was giving two enthusiastic thumbs-up, strutting around aimlessly, his expression oddly triumphant.

"Is he… congratulating himself?" All Might muttered, a confused look on his face. This strange behavior felt… familiar.

No! All Might quickly reminded himself. I'm a teacher at U.A. now. I can't think of these students as anything other than potential heroes.

No! I must remain professional!

But I can't... I can't hold it back anymore…

"He looks like an idiot," came a cold, deadpan voice from behind.

All Might, along with the other teachers in the room, exhaled as if a huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders. They'd been thinking the same thing but hadn't dared to say it out loud.

They turned to see Aizawa, better known as Eraser Head, standing behind them.

"This is probably his Quirk's limit," Aizawa continued, his tone thoughtful. He wasn't making a joke; he was seriously assessing Kaminari's condition.

After all, with Kaminari looking like a shoo-in for Class 1-A, Aizawa knew he'd be responsible for him soon. Understanding Kaminari's limits was crucial.

"Yes, there's a note in his file," Principal Nezu confirmed, his sharp mind recalling all the candidate data. "Kaminari Denki is prone to short-circuiting his brain if he releases more electrical power than his body can handle in a short period of time."

On the screen, Kaminari seemed to snap back to normal. He glanced around nervously, as if checking to make sure no one had seen his embarrassing moment. After confirming the coast was clear, he casually adjusted his clothes and hair, trying to look as cool as possible.

With a confident smile, he walked to the edge of the building, standing amid the sparks and fire of the destroyed robot. The fast-paced melody of "Only My Railgun" was still playing as he gave a thumbs-up toward the ground below.

Jiro Kyoka, looking up at him, couldn't help but smile.

"..." All Might.

"..." Principal Nezu.

"..." Aizawa Shouta.

"..." The rest of the Hero teachers.

Among the incoming students of U.A.'s Hero Course, they were witnessing the rise of a truly unique individual. A boy with incredible power… and a flair for theatrics. All the teachers couldn't help but smile, albeit with some exasperation.

Meanwhile, over in Area B…

*BOOM!*

Tetsutetsu, forgotten by everyone in the aftermath of the Zero Pointer's destruction, had been launched by Kaminari's blast. Driven by the force of the impact, he crashed into the ground, creating a crater.

Coincidentally, he landed right next to Midoriya, who lay unconscious, his injuries already healed by Recovery Girl's Quirk.

"..."

Recovery Girl stared at the unconscious Tetsutetsu, a confused look on her face.

"What in the world…?"