Lightning – My Hero Academia

Chapter 36: A New Move

Ako and the other students made their way to a training facility on the school grounds: a big, open, empty warehouse with a concrete floor. Class 1-A was directed to report to the building in their hero costumes.

"Well well well, there he is. Love your hero look, Ako! You look like you're about to go parachuting or racing or something." Cain joked with a laugh as the students all gathered and began talking.

"Haha, thanks. Is that your hero costume? You going out nipples-first?" Ako joked back. Cain's hero costume consisted of red pants with black boots, no shirt, a black bandana to keep his hair back, and black biker gloves with metal stitched into the knuckles.

"Hahaha! Absolutely!" Cain laughed loudly.

"Heheh, but for real, the look's cool. You look like a pirate actually." Ako noticed.

"Yeah, it can't be helped. It's the bandana mostly."

"Yeah. I like the metal in the gloves – that's a nice touch. I'm assuming you did that because you need to have skin contact with metal in order to change into it, right?" Ako presumed.

"Bingo! This is actually a special metal: tungsten-steel. It's the kinda stuff they build skyscrapers with. That's why my hero name is Tungsten!" Cain explained.

"Ohh I see! Smart thinking! I like it!" Ako grinned approvingly.

"Alright, students. Fall in line," Mr. Aizawa said. The students all hushed and lined up to face him. "Now normally when we come here, we already have drills lined up for you. However, today we're a little short-staffed, so this will be time for all of you to decide for yourselves what you want to work on.

"The floor is open to you whether you want to train by yourself or with others. If you have any questions or suggestions, I'll be nearby. Otherwise, do what you want. This is your time." Mr. Aizawa instructed before walking off to the side with his hands in his pockets.

"Yes, Mr. Aizawa, sir!" The students all said before looking at each other and beginning to talk again.

"Looks like we got ourselves a free period," Cain said. "I'mma see if anyone wants to spar. See ya later, Ako." He waved to him.

"Later. I think I'll start by taking a few warm-up laps around the building." Ako decided.

As Cain stepped away and started chatting with a few other guys, Ako took a few steps away from the group so he could get ready to run. However, before he could even start stretching, a guy that he didn't recognize approached him:

He was shorter with a muscular build. He had dark blue hair with green highlights in it. His skin appeared to have rough scales all over it. He approached Ako with a serious expression and a fierce look in his dark brown eyes.

"Hello there, Tanaka. Do you mind?" He asked politely.

"Uh, not at all. What's up? I don't think we've met before." Ako said, standing straight and offering a handshake.

"Not properly. My name is Kaito Shimada. It's nice to meet you," He introduced himself, shaking hands with Ako. "Congratulations on winning the sports festival and joining our class."

"Thank you, Shimada. I appreciate the welcome," Ako said with a little smile. He observed that Kaito's hero costume wasn't really much of a costume at all: he wore a gray workout jacket with black exercise leggings and shorts.

"So, uh, what's your hero name?" Ako asked.

"I go by Zilla, since my quirk gives me the traits of a marine iguana." Kaito answered.

"Really? A marine iguana? What does that mean for your abilities exactly?" Ako asked curiously.

"Well, I haven't fully tested my limits yet, but my rough skin gives me good dexterity, I'm really good at swimming, and I can hold my breath underwater for 30 minutes." Kaito listed off.

"30 minutes?! That's insane! That doesn't get boring?"

"I have a waterproof pouch for my phone, so I can entertain myself while I try to improve my lung control." Kaito answered.

"That's impressive and really cool, man. So what can I help you with?"

"Ah yes, sorry. I don't mean to interrupt if you have your own plans for training, but I'm looking for a sparring partner, and I was hoping that you and I could have a quick fight or two." Kaito requested.

"Really? Why do you wanna work with me?"

"Well, I've seen your abilities, and you were the one who won the sports festival. It seems only right to test my skills against the one of the best."

"The best, huh?" Ako chuckled a little.

"Aha, I'm not saying that to flatter you. It's just what you've proven so far. Your speed quirk makes you a difficult opponent; that sort of challenge is what I need to ascend to the next level." Kaito explained his thinking.

"I respect that. I'm been thinking about the same thing. Tell you what, let me stretch real quick and we'll get right into it." He finally agreed.

"Yes. Thank you." Kaito smiled appreciatively. He stepped away and started to warm up on his own, allowing Ako to do the same.

"Am I really considered one of the best in the class already?" Ako wondered to himself. He wasn't sure if that was the reputation he was forming or just Kaito's opinion, but either way that's how he wanted to establish himself.

"Alright, dude. I'm ready when you are." Ako called to Kaito, removing his glasses and his mask from around his neck. He set them down off to the side on the floor.

"Alright. When you're ready to begin," Kaito said, getting into a boxing stance. "And please, don't go easy on me." He added.

"Wasn't planning to." Ako responded with a chuckle.

Before making the first move, Ako took a second to size Kaito up – the way his father had recently taught him. Kaito was assuming a boxing stance, indicating that he had a stronger and more adaptive fighting style. Ako figured his best bet would be to keep the pace of the fight fast.

Ako shot forward quickly and threw a hook at Kaito's head. Kaito weaved under it and threw several kicks, which Ako blocked while stepping back. He stopped and tried to sweep Kaito's leg out from under him. Kaito lifted his leg to avoid it then jumped into the air, throwing a kick at Ako's head as he was getting up.

Ako took the hit, grunting in pain and stumbling to the side. Kaito landed in a crouched position down on his hands and feet. He pounced on Ako, grabbing onto him and wrestling him to the ground. Kaito landed on his back and kicked Ako off of him, making him flip forward and land on his back.

"Oh! Ow!" He groaned. Kaito was already getting back to his feet and approaching Ako again. Ako pushed himself into a spin, kicking his legs out before sliding back to his feet.

Ako sped forward and threw several wild punches at Kaito, who kept hopping backwards to avoid getting hit. Ako huffed and ran around Kaito and threw a kick at him from behind. Kaito ducked down blindly, just barely avoiding the hit.

While Kaito was down, Ako stepped forward and pushed his foot into his back, kicking him forward. Kaito fell on his side with a grunt before kicking back up to his feet just in time to force Ako back with a headbutt right to Ako's chin.

"Urgh! Alright, man, try this on for size." Ako growled a little.

He stepped forward again, throwing a kick at Kaito, who blocked it with both hands before attempting a spin-kick of his own. Ako ducked under it and tried to sweep Kaito's legs out again. Kaito jumped over it. However, this time Ako followed up with something different.

He placed his hands on the floor and did a half-spin, his foot smacking Kaito in the side of the face. Ako spun again and went low this time, knocking Kaito's legs out from under him. Ako got up right away and, while Kaito was still in the air, kicked him in the center of his stomach.

Kaito went flying back, sliding across the floor on his side while curled up in a ball. Ako let out a huff and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, taking a moment to catch his breath. Kaito grunted and slowly got to his feet.

"That was some move." He commented.

"Yeah...where the hell did that come from?" Chikashi, who had been watching the whole fight, wondered to himself after seeing Ako pull that maneuver off.

"Huh...hey, Cain! C'mere a second." Chikashi called him over. Cain broke off his conversation with Aya to make his way over to Chikashi.

"Hey, what's up? Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I think so...you and Tanaka are friends, right?" Chikashi asked.

"Yeahhh? I'd say so."

"You been doing some training with him? Looks like he's switched his style up since the last time I fought with him." Chikashi observed.

"Oh yeah? I haven't noticed. To be honest, I haven't been hanging with him much lately. Guy's cool and all, but he kinda keeps to himself."

"I see...hmm." Chikashi hummed curiously.

"Well...I've been wanting to bring something up to you, but if I say it now, it sounds kinda suspicious. But I've been meaning to ask you about it anyways." Cain brought up hesitantly.

"What?"

"Well...okay, so Zachary and I have been noticing some odd noises coming from our floor lately. It only happens at night and it's brief, but sometimes we hear rattling or a bump coming from Ako's room. At least, Zachary seems pretty convinced that it's coming from Ako's room."

"That so...? Maybe I'll talk to him about it." Chikashi decided.

"You sure that's necessary? I mean, it's probably nothing." Cain pointed out.

"If it's nothing then there'll be no problem with me bringing it up." Chikashi said in reply.

"Fair enough...just keep my name out of it, alright?"

"Deal." Chikashi agreed, sharing a quick fist bump with Cain before letting him return to his training...