Sorry for a later release! I'm in the Great Lakes part of the US, and we were hit by a HORRIBLE storm yesterday.

Here's the next few weeks of release schedule

August 2nd: Summer Camp Arc Chapter 1

August 9th: Summer Camp Arc Chapter 2

August 15th and 17th: Chapter 3

August 22nd and 24th: Chapter 4

August 29th and 31st: Chapter 5

The Summer Camp arc is gonna change a lot for Carry On, and I'm very happy you guys have beared with me for this long. Especially with this side series. Medaka Box is a very overlooked, fun series and to integrate it into this story is a lot of fun.

There's gonna be a few more chapters of this intermixed in the batches to come. "Season 1" will finish up around the time we get to the Provisional License Exam.

Anyways, here's your chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5

Zenkichi was still bruised from Medaka's insane practice the next day. He had bandages and scuff marks on his face, and was clearly irritated.

His roommate, Itsuki, stared at the bandages on his face. He blinked.

Zenkichi huffed. "Do you have something to say?"

"Nah, just admiring your battle scars." Itsuki grinned. "Looks like you had quite the intense training session with Medaka."

Zenkichi scowled and crossed his arms. "Intense is an understatement. She's a force of nature."

"That was kinda obvious when she speedran the obstacle course like nothing on first day." Itsuki said. "What did she even have you do?"

Zenkichi sighed and rubbed his temples. "Well, it started with the basics of kendo, like learning the proper form and footwork. But then Medaka took it to a whole new level. She pushed me to the limit, making me repeat the same movements over and over again until they were ingrained in my muscle memory."

Itsuki raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound too bad."

Zenkichi shook his head. "Oh, it doesn't end there. She added extra challenges, like blindfolding me while I sparred with her, or having me dodge her attacks while balancing on a beam. And the worst part is, she never holds back. She swings that shinai of hers with full force, and it feels like I'm getting hit by a truck."

"...pretty crazy for a first session."

"Then, she made all of us stay until around 10 PM to help clean up- and then she stayed behind to polish the floor." Zenkichi said. "That floor is DISGUSTING, by the way, but chances are she finished it in a few seconds."

Itsuki made a face. "...dude."

"It's kinda always been like this," Zenkichi explained as he put on his shoes. "It's almost like forgets the fact she's better at certain things than most people. As a result, she puts effort into making those around her as good at things as she is."

Itsuki chuckled. "Well, it's definitely a unique approach."

Zenkichi sighed. "Yeah, I suppose. It's just... exhausting. Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up with her...I don't think she'll really understand 'failure' or the feelings of those who try but don't succeed. That girl doesn't get burn out, she doesn't get setbacks- she just wins each and every time."

"How long have you known her, exactly?" Itsuki asked.

"Since kindergarten. Force to be reckoned with." Zenkichi said. "And I've had to be the guy who explains her. Each and every time. But even after all this time...I don't get her."

"Well, look on the bright side. The kendo hall's open now." Itsuki said. "And you helped in that! Kinda."

"Thanks..." Zenkichi said.

"On the bright side, you probably don't have to do any errands for Medaka anymore." Itsuki said, as he put on his Shiketsu hat. "Did ya hear?"

"Hear what?" Zenkichi asked.

"There's gonna be a recruitment meeting for all the remaining positions on the council. There's gonna be a lot of second and third years in attendance." Itsuki said. "That's what one of my older buddies told me."

"The school's stepping in?" Zenkichi said.

"Yep. Apparently they're not comfortable with one person having that much power." Itsuki said. "So, yeah! There you go."

"Fine by me." Zenkichi huffed. "So, there. We have a kendo club back on campus. One request down. I better go tell the guy who submitted it that it's been fulfilled."

"Who was it?" Itsuki asked.

"Some kid from the next class. Seemed pretty into kendo." Zenkichi said. Zenkichi headed out of the room, making his way to the neighboring dorm to find the student who had submitted the kendo club request.

I need you by my side for this one. Medaka's words echoed in Zenkichi's head, over and over again. There's no way she really needed him. As long as he could remember, Medaka always stood atop everyone else. Thanks to that overwhelming aspect about her, she had the air of an all powerful monarch.

So she was resented and envied quite frequently. It was a double-edged sword, as her presence inspired admiration and loyalty from some, while fueling resentment and envy from others. But because of her open minded way of living, in the end, no one could help but like her.

It made no sense, but that was the enigma of Medaka Kurokami. Despite the mixed reactions she evoked in people, it was hard to deny the genuine impact she had on those around her. Perhaps it was her genuine care for others, her refusal to let anyone be left behind, that endeared her to those who initially resented or envied her.

Maybe they just needed a shoulder to lean on.

Zenkichi arrived at the dorm, and just in time too. Hyuga was just leaving the dorm. He paused when he saw Zenkichi's face.

"Woah. Were those guys that much trouble for you?" Hyuga asked.

"Nah. This is from...kendo practice..." Zenkichi muttered.

"Huh?"

"Well, not only did Medaka sort of...restablish the kendo club, but she managed to convince all of those deliquents to join." Zenkichi explained.

"...oh." Hyuga said.

"Oh?" Zenkichi raised an eyebrow. With how Hyuga talked about kendo yesterday, he sounded pretty excited. Now he just kinda seemed...off.

"Yeah, just. Oh." Hyuga said.

Zenkichi couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled by Hyuga's reaction. He had expected more enthusiasm from someone who seemed passionate about kendo.

"Is something wrong?" Zenkichi asked, concern lacing his voice.

Hyuga shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Zenkichi's gaze. "It's just... I thought it would be a fresh start, you know? But now... with those delinquents joining, I'm not so sure anymore."

Zenkichi frowned, understanding the disappointment in Hyuga's words. "I get it. It's not what you expected-"

WHACK. Something smashed into Zenkichi's head. The boy was instantly knocked out cold, as Hyuga flicked the blood off of his shinai.

"Guess that goes to show you- don't ask the beaucrats to get anything done." He grumbled, tone totally different. "I requested her to get rid of those low lives, didn't I? Who the hell cultivates a bunch of weeds...damn idiot."

Hyuga took a deep breath. "Looks like I'll have to pay a visit to the kendo club myself..." He said, dragging his shinai across the ground. Zenkichi was left laying there, blood leaking from his head...

Medaka was working in her office when she heard a knock at the door. "Come in," She said, furiously scribbling on paper after paper.

「heyyyyyyyyyyy」Kumagawa grinned, poking his head in. 「it's meeeeeeeeeeee」

Medaka looked up, not breaking her stream of paperwork. "This is a shock. What brings you here?"

「just curious」Kumagawa said. 「did zenkichi break down and join you yet」

Medaka raised an eyebrow. "Concern? From you? That's a shock."

「not really」Kumagawa shrugged. 「i can't imagine anyone in the world who could worry about the superhuman perfection that IS medaka kurokami」

「after all, he is the one who pulled you out of a 'ditch'」

「who knows how you could have turned out without him...」

"...well." Medaka took that in. "That's true. And it's why I need him by my side. He's been my pillar of strength and the one who keeps me grounded...is it strange for that? For someone like me to...need someone?"

Kumagawa blinked.

「fuckin」

「i dunno」

「im not your therapist」

"If you just came here to bother me, then I'd ask that you leave. I have a meeting in a few-" Medaka sighed.

「there's something else actually」Kumagawa said. 「i wanted to do the usual to a guy who needs to be knocked down a few pegs...but he's in your ball park」

"My ball park?" Medaka raised an eyebrow.

「you got an anonymous request」Kumagawa said. 「about the kendo hall」

「did you ever wonder who really cared about some kendo hall that a bunch of drop outs and deadheads were using」

「would you pry into it」Kumagawa grinned.

"I would not. There would be no point in the suggestion box if we didn't allow it to be anonymous." Medaka said. "I'll take on any request, within reason."

「eh?」

"...some have asked me for some...lewd requests." Medaka frowned.

"...Oh. Gross."

"Wow, that made you break character."

「i have standards, you know」

"Didn't you announce that you liked girls in jeans on the first day?"

「yeah!」

「of AGE girls」

「jeez」

「where was i...oh yeah, the request」Kumagawa said. 「so, on my 'travels' across the country, when i was hopping from school to school...i met this kid」

「he loved kendo, was more into it than anything. he was on the national level, i think.」

"Okay...where are you going with this?" Medaka asked.

「this kid has a personality issue」Kumagawa said. 「bit of a violent streak」

Medaka's eyes narrowed slightly, her curiosity piqued. "A violent streak? Odd."

「he was talented, no doubt, but he couldn't control his anger」Kumagawa said. 「he never had respect for any of his opponents...only those on the same 'wavelength' as him. when he did fight against someone weak...」

「he would completely overpower them, showing no mercy or restraint」

「lots of kids in the hospital」

Medaka's expression turned serious. "Respect is an essential aspect of any martial art. Without it, one's skill becomes meaningless."

「i never got the chance to give him the usual- that's when i heard about another school and ditched」Kumagawa said. 「he just wanted to revive the kendo club to have an excuse to break some more spirits」

「i was shocked to see him at shiketsu. wondered why」

「then i realized」

「he's gonna pull the same bullshit here as he did elsewhere」

Medaka closed her eyes. "I see."

「like i said, he's in your ballpark because he came to you first」

「so...what are you gonna do about it」

Medaka took a deep breath, her determination intensifying. "I won't let his actions go unchecked. I will talk to this student personally and make it clear that his behavior is unacceptable."

「still believing in nurture over nature, huh?」

Medaka looked at Kumagawa with a firm expression. "I do believe that every individual has the capacity to change and grow. I can see it in their eyes."

「then what do you see in mine.」Kumagawa said, stepping forward. Medaka looked him dead in eyes...

"In your eyes, I see someone who craves acknowledgment and validation, someone who desires to be understood and accepted for who they truly are."

Kumagawa said nothing as she walked out.

「lost again」

THWACK. THWACK. THWACK.

The kendo house was in disarray. A few minutes ago, the newly formed kendo club was just supervising their own training until Medaka returned- and then their real training would begin.

None of them really knew why they came back, especially after yesterday. The events of the previous day had left them questioning their own motives and the path they had chosen. Delinquency was a life of truancy and boredom, which meant they were pretty much throwing away their hero careers. But Medaka's training regiment was...

...unlike anything they had experienced before. It was intense, demanding, and pushed them to their limits. Yet, there was a strange allure to it, a glimmer of potential they couldn't ignore.

So maybe that's why they came back. To continue that spark.

...and that's when Hyuga showed up, and it all went to shit.

Hyuga stood over their toppled bodies, not even a scratch on him. He held his bloodied shinai over his shoulder, and huffed.

"Weeds...damned weeds..." He muttered. As the kendo club members groaned in pain, trying to regain their composure, a mixture of anger and confusion filled the air. They couldn't understand why Hyuga had attacked them so mercilessly. To them, he was just some stranger who came in and started swinging.

One of Kendo club members was determined to fight back against Hyuga's attack. He gathered his strength and charged forward with his shinai. He let out a loud yell and swung at Hyuga, trying to take him down for attacking the club members.

Hyuga was surprised as he saw the attack coming towards him. As soon as he began the fight, his quirk kicked in. He instantly honed in on his opponent's movements. He carefully observed every move of his opponent, noticing even the slightest changes in their stance, grip, and sword movements. Time appeared to move slower as he did so.

Hyuga swiftly evaded the strike with supernatural grace. He glided sinuously and precisely, with footwork that resembled that of a master of the practice. He was able to foresee his foe's actions and react swiftly, all thanks to his keen senses.

Hyuga approached his prey with a wicked grin, eager to make his move. He skillfully used his opponent's momentum against them, redirecting their force with a quick maneuver. Hyuga struck the kendo club member's chest with precision and force, delivering a powerful blow.

The student staggered backwards, gasping for air, as if something sinister had seized them. It was clear that they couldn't match Hyuga's exceptional abilities.

"Who...the hell are you?" Moji muttered, weakly propping his head up.

"Me? I'm just here to show you there's no room for ameteurs." Hyuga said. "I'm no good at this 'polite' stuff. Always having to be nice to my seniors, having to hold my tongue, lie through my teeth- it's no good to me."

"T-then why the hell would you come to a school with no kendo club!?" Moji frowned.

Hyuga's eyes narrowed as he looked at Moji. "Because I heard there was potential here. A chance to start fresh, to build something from the ground up. Finally build up a group the way I'D love to do it."

"Of course, with you guys hogging the place..." Hyuga kicked one of the downed victims in the head. "I realized it needed to be weeded. SO, I sent that president of ours down here since she's a blind servant...and she couldn't do that right."

Hyuga looked around. "At least she cleaned it well enough. That saves me the effort."

Moji struggled to sit up, his gaze fixed on Hyuga. "And let me guess. You attacked us because we're weak."

A shadow of anger flickered across Hyuga's face. "I saw weakness. I saw a group of individuals who were content with mediocrity, who sought solace in their own failures. There's no room for that in a sport so dignified."

"There's no dignity in your body." Moji frowned. "I bet you were using your quirk to beat my buddy to a pulp. So we're cheating now?"

Hyuga's gaze hardened as Moji confronted him with accusations. He clenched his fists, his grip tightening around his shinai. "Cheating? This is no cheat. It's called utilizing the power I was born with. If you want to compete in the world of strength and skill, you can't rely on half-hearted efforts and excuses."

Moji's eyes narrowed in defiance. "Yeah, because if I was so good at something, I'd totally cheat all the damn time." He smirked. "Take an L for once, kid."

"...like you have?" Hyuga asked.

Moji froze up.

"You lost your passion...why was that?" Hyuga grinned. "What could have deflated your ego?"

Moji closed his eyes.

For a minute, he saw Endeavor. And that burning gaze of his.

"Disappointing." Those words were seared into his brain.

Moji's grip on his shinai tightened, his knuckles turning white. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "You don't know anything about me," he muttered through gritted teeth.

"Maybe I don't. But I know someone doomed to be a drifter when I see it. You're a third year, aren't you?" Hyuga laughed. "Do you seriously think you can get help now? I doubt you'll even graduate."

Moji grit his teeth harder. Hyuga was so stupidly smug with his smile of his...he needed something to take the edge off. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a lighter, and a box of his special cigs.

He needed to focus. Moji's hand trembled slightly as he held the lighter and the box of cigarettes. He stared at them, contemplating his next move. Smoking had always been his way of coping with stress, of finding a momentary escape from the pressures of life.

Smoke- what good could that ability do? That's what people always asked him. Especially when you had to have a source of it somewhere. He always had an uphill battle with a power so 'weak'.

Moji's quirk was highly dependent on the surrounding environment. In areas with poor ventilation or strong winds, his control over the smoke became even more challenging. Plus, the intricate need for precision and the lack of power it had...

Moji was frustrated by these issues and started to doubt if his quirk was really useful in the hero course. He hoped to one day receive validation...

And he still kind of was.

At least until yesterday.

Moji's hand stopped trembling as he flicked open the lighter and ignited the flame. The soft glow illuminated his face as he took a deep drag from his cigarette. The familiar scent and taste of mint brought a momentary calm to his racing thoughts.

As he exhaled a plume of smoke, Moji's eyes locked onto Hyuga's smug expression. The ember of determination ignited within him. "Don't go running your mouth as you please," Moji spoke, his voice laced with a newfound resolve. "My passion may be hazy at the moment... but it's gonna outshine your stupid need to break someone's spirit."

The kendo club member stepped forward, ready to face off against his formidable opponent.

"So you're approaching me?" Hyuga grinned.

"Can't kick your ass from over here now, can I?" Moji smirked. With a swift motion, Moji positioned his shinai, ready to engage in a fierce kendo duel. Hyuga's eyes gleamed with excitement, his anticipation evident.

The first strike came from Hyuga, his shinai slicing through the air with precision. Moji deftly parried, their shinai meeting with a resounding clash. The sound echoed through the kendo house, fueling the intensity of the battle.

Moji's movements were swift and agile, compensating for his opponent's superior strength. He weaved and dodged, relying on his speed and precision to counter Hyuga's powerful strikes. Each clash of their shinai reverberated with the clash of wills, neither giving an inch.

Hyuga's Sensory Synesthesia quirk heightened his perception, allowing him to read Moji's movements with exceptional precision. Moji's mind raced with possibilities.

This dude's quirk allows him to read my movements like a kid's book. Moji thought. His eyes are always focused on me- like tunnel vision. Maybe I can...

In one swift motion, Moji spun on his heel, his shinai sweeping through the air in a wide arc. Simultaneously, he exhaled a concentrated burst of smoke, aiming it directly at Hyuga's face. The billowing cloud enveloped Hyuga, momentarily obstructing his vision and overwhelming his senses.

Caught off guard, Hyuga instinctively stumbled backward, attempting to clear his vision. It was in this moment of vulnerability that Moji seized his chance. He closed the distance between them, his shinai striking with calculated precision.

Moji's strikes landed with swift accuracy, finding their mark on Hyuga's unprotected areas. The flurry of pot shots disrupted Hyuga's balance, causing him to stagger momentarily. However, Hyuga's resilience and determination shone through as he quickly regained his composure.

With a fierce growl, Hyuga refocused his senses, relying on his heightened perception to compensate for the momentary blindness caused by Moji's smoke. In a burst of speed, he countered Moji's strikes with astonishing precision and force.

Hyuga's retaliation was swift and relentless. Channeling his frustration and the full extent of his quirk, he unleashed a flurry of strikes that seemed almost inhuman in their speed and accuracy. Moji barely had time to react as Hyuga's shinai found its mark, striking him with an intensity that reverberated through his body.

Each strike was like a thunderclap, and struck like a bomb. Eventually, Moji was overwhelmed, and collapsed on the ground with a bunch of bruises.

"You damned dropouts shouldn't have had a change of heart so easily..." Hyuga huffed. "You're a bunch of WEEDS! You think relying on someone else's encouragement, on hollow words of 'you can do it,' will ever make you strong? That's just pathetic! Why the hell are you trying to be heroes?!"

Moji clenched his fists, his body still trembling from the relentless onslaught. Hyuga raised his sword over Moji's head. "And now...I'm gonna have to break that pretty little skull of yours open- when you wake up in the hospital, just pull the plug."

Hyuga raised his shinai over his head, and prepared to swing it down...

But someone was stopping it. Someone was holding the blade back.

"What the-"

"Heya."

Hyuga turned around to see Zenkichi holding the wooden weapon back. His eyes were dark, and his head was all bandaged up.

"Don't really appreciate being knocked out, y'know." Zenkichi frowned. "Tough day for you, huh?"

"Damn it," Hyuga said, pulling away. Despite his injuries and bandaged head, Zenkichi's determination shone through his weary expression. "How'd you get up so damn fast?"

"I know the nurse at this place," Zenkichi frowned. "I'm sure she'll treat all of the kendo guys nicely...but I don't know if she'll give you any painkillers."

"You should be thanking me." Hyuga growled. "I'm getting rid of these stupid weeds! They should have been chopped down a while ago. What sort of strength does a weed have!?"

"Kinda ironic wording, don't you think?" Zenkichi smirked. "Weeds are resilient, growing in the harshest conditions, overcoming obstacles that would wither other plants. They adapt, they persist, and they find a way to thrive even when everything seems against them."

Zenkichi frowned. "They were a bunch of beginners- and yet, they still decided to take you on. Sure, they failed...and they can learn from it."

"So you agree! They're weak!" Hyuga laughed.

"Yeah. You're right." Zenkichi huffed. "...it's just Medaka is even more right."

"...what?" Hyuga asked, confused.

"I'm the one who understands her best. She might go over the top, it might not make any sense...but I know how right she is in the end," Zenkichi said. "I don't get what sort of pleasure she gets out of helping people- however, she believes in the potential of every individual, no matter how weak or insignificant they may seem. She sees something in them that others might overlook."

Hyuga's expression shifted, a flicker of curiosity and intrigue crossing his face. "And why is that?"

"Medaka's justice isn't gonna be brutal, like yours." Zenkichi said. "Medaka's gonna try and HELP those people. Even if she has to spend every day trying and trying again...and these guys are proof of it." He motioned to the Kendo Club.

"...you're fucking serious, huh?" Hyuga's laughter held a bitter edge as he looked at Zenkichi, his eyes narrowing. "Okay then...then you're just a pain in my GODDAMN ASS-"

Before Hyuga could even swing the sword, Zenkichi launched his attack. He smashed Hyuga's face in with incredible speed and accuracy, causing intense pain. A loud crack echoed through the air. A few guys even winced in pain- that's how brutal it was. Zenkichi stood strong, his hand wrapped in bandages and frozen in place from the powerful blow.

Hyuga was hit hard and flew backwards. He was bleeding from his lip and looked surprised. His face went from smug to surprised and disbelieving.

"How the hell...did you land a punch before that guy did?" Moji asked, getting back up.

"Easy," Zenkichi frowned. "I saw it coming from a mile away."

Hyuga slowly pushed himself up from the ground, wiping the blood from his split lip. "You... you really think one punch is gonna make a difference?" he growled.

"Yeah, actually. I do. Because this is me being nice." Zenkichi frowned. "Now pick up your sword, and run away...before the president gets here."

"What's she gonna do?" Hyuga smirked.

"...you do realize she was trading blows with Star and Stripe last week, right?"

Hyuga's face fell.

Then he booked it.

After that exchange, Zenkichi faded out. The boy was putting so much stress on his body, even with his head injury. He didn't really know what happened.

He just remembered waking up in the student council office. "Ugh..."

"Wakey wakey."

Medaka was sipping some tea at her desk when he came too. The sun was setting too- he must have missed the rest of the day.

"What happened..."

"You collapsed. I missed my meeting to watch over you, but...I think it was ultimately worth it." Medaka said.

"Meeting? What meeting?" Zenkichi asked. "...wait, don't tell me-"

"It's fine by me, honestly." Medaka smiled. "I never really planned on working with anyone else...except you, maybe."

Zenkichi sat up, feeling a mix of gratitude and confusion. He looked at Medaka, his expression filled with curiosity.

"...why did you want those guys to get invested in kendo?"

Medaka set down her teacup. "'To enjoy one loves to do' Those words come easily from the mouth. But it's another thing to help them grow. I wanted them to learn kendo, so they could understand the meaning of those words. What it feels to love, and how precious a resource that is. Might have been drastic, but...there's some hope for them."

"...well, it worked."

"Good."

Zenkichi took a deep breath, before noticing something on Medaka's desk- a plum blossom plant. "Those flowers weren't here yesterday."

"Oh, that. Just an incentive to fulfill my official council duties." Medaka said. "Every time I sort out a problem, I put a flower on display."

"Look at you, getting in touch with your feminine side." Zenkichi joked. "What happens if you fail?"

"I won't fail." Medaka said. "...and even if I somehow do, I won't dwell on it." She turned to face the window. "Do you see that empty field out there?"

Zenkichi walked over to the window and looked out at the empty field. "Yeah, I see it. What about it?"

"That field represents endless possibilities," Medaka said, her voice filled with determination. "I'm going to plant those flowers out there, to see the possibilities I made real. My dream is to one day look out and see a field filled with flowers...beautiful, blooming flowers."

Zenkichi took those words in.

...and then he noticed something on his arm.

"...Medaka."

"Yes?"

"...why the HELL do I have the vice president arm band around my arm?"

"I thought you'd appreciate it." Medaka said.

"W-what!?" Zenkichi frowned. "LIsten, I'm sure you can handle a one person student council. Isn't that what you wanted-?"

"If I recall...my journey to help others started with a boy who needed help himself," Medaka said. "...and I can clearly see he no longer needs mine. But he does share that desire to help others...more than anything."

Zenkichi was taken aback by Medaka's words. He stared at her for a moment.

"Sure, you could have denied my request for your assistance...but that wouldn't have sat well with you, would it?" Medaka asked. "If not for you...I don't know how my life would have turned out. You were always protecting me...and it's only because of your words that I can help others."

Zenkichi stared at her for another moment.

"You know, Medaka... You've always been stubborn," Zenkichi said, looking away. "But I guess I'm just as stubborn as you are. And since you're always right about these things...what the hell? Why not. I'll...help you get that field of flowers or what-"

Zenkichi was cut off by Medaka, suddenly throwing herself at him and wrapping the blonde in a tight squeeze hug. "Thank you~!" She squealed. Zenkichi managed to stay on his feet- Medaka was careless on this one, she must have been so overjoyed she forgot his injuries.

Truth be told, Zenkichi knew this was how it was gonna end. Despite his initial reluctance, deep down, he couldn't deny it.

Zenkichi would do anything for Medaka...because he sort of had a crush on her.

For a while.

Zenkichi smiled a bit as he hugged back. "Yeah, yeah...no big deal."