Kaminari Denki wasn't the smartest guy in any room – he'd be the first to admit it and the first to be offended by such an admission. Though, no one needed to be at all intelligent to notice the… electricity in the air. It all started from a bout of small talk between Tokage and Okuma. Most of it wasn't heard, but the last bit was, "The Sports Festival is in TWO days…!?" Denki never thought of referring to silence as loud before, but today seemed to be the day. Who knows what caused the lapse of memory? All that was known was that everyone was suffering for it. However, you wouldn't quite know. There was a surprising steadiness to the rush. Sure, a shaky hand caused a tool or another to hit the ground. A rushed step nearly turned into a tumbling fall, but they actually seemed to be handling it – a professional panic.

Denki couldn't even imagine how badly it was getting to them. Just because the bottle was capped doesn't mean it stopped leaking. Hero Course students had it relatively easy. They already had training in their costumes; the new additions weren't too much to handle. The tournament was certainly stressful, but it was also exciting as a test for their skills. Even if the embarrassment from utter failure loomed over them. All of this doubled for Second Years.

However, they did have to worry that the Sports Festival would be attended by both families and their futures. For you see, internships were a near week after the Sports Festival and certain Heroes who qualified for Shiketsu's Internship Program would be in attendance, to have their pick of the litter. It was certainly stressful, but distantly stressful. Two days was a leisurely stroll – the Support Course students did not have two days; in fact, they had one. Their projects needed to be finished and submitted for approval a full day before the festival. The last day to test all projects was tomorrow…

Midori had it rough as well. The Lightning Gauntlet wasn't finished even though it was the only thing left to do. Camie-Senpai's costume had been updated as had Denki's. The Glamour Item was finished and even tucked into perfume like bottles to match Camie-Senpai's stylish aesthetic. Then, there was a recent kick to the get. Mr. Abraham had pulled Midori to the side…

"About your Requisition Order…" coughed Mr. Abraham.

"Yes, Mr. Abraham?"

He seemed to hold back a sigh, "Due to the volatility of the device and… your record… it has been deemed to deny your Requisition Order."

"Denied? Now?" echoed Midori.

Mr. Abraham explained, "It had arrived, and a meeting between teachers was called." He shook his head, "I was shocked by it, too… It seemed so random." He said, "But a case was made that a high-powered laser was too dangerous to be left in the hands of a novice. I voted against it, of course. As had Mr. Haimawari and even Principal Ikoma. We were outvoted."

Midori blinked, "W-Wait, what do you mean by record?" A moment of silence followed by a peak of realization, "That…?"

"It seemed to have… made the rounds, so to speak."

"I…" Midori lowered his head, shaking it, "I need to come up with something else…" He turned, "If you'll excuse me, Mr. Abraham…"

"Of course, please, if you need any advice. Don't refrain from asking."

After that, Midori's station became a smorgasbord of papers and notes with a few cans of coffee for decoration. He was ruffling through what was in front of him and murmuring at nothing. It was impossible to even recognize the string of whispers as coherent thought. A dark cloud of floating kanji seemed to surround him – it was kinda scary. He was almost glad Camie-Senpai couldn't see him like this. Their burnt cinnamon roll was turning sour…

"Where the hell is this line of thought going…?" His fist landed upon his palm, "Right, Midori's in a funk…" Denki moved up, tapping him on the shoulder, "Hey, Midori, what's the plan?"

Midori looked forward at the propped-up Lightning Gauntlet, "Well… Despite the fact, I'm too dangerous for a laser, I do have the War-Hammer." He propped a foot against his station, rocking on his stool, "Could take it to this failure. Won't do me any good, but I'm certain it'd be cathartic."

"So, no real plan, huh?" concluded Denki.

Midori rubbed his temples, "There must be something about your Quirk that I'm just not getting…" He then said, "All that I've learned from your samples is that you're basically a living battery…"

"Which is…"

"What we already know, yeah…"

"Well, uh…" He scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, I can't really help. This stuff is kinda beyond me. I never really put much thought into my own Quirk."

Midori rocked on his stool, "Hm… As natural as breathing…"

"No. I wouldn't say that. It's more like… flexing?" Denki suggested.

He said, "Natural, but at times deliberate?"

"Yeah." He bit the inside of his cheek, "Come on… There must be something I can think of…" He snapped his fingers, "Ooh, why not compare me to the War-Hammer? It's an electric stick thing, right? Run by a battery, conducting electricity?"

Midori's face contorted before he slowly steadied his stool. A deep breath and sigh came before he stood, "At this point, I'll try anything."

Denki grinned, smacking the back of his friend, "Don't sound so defeated – we got this."

"You keep saying that…," he muttered.

-XX-

Midori pulled out what could best be described as a short, black metal rod. It was segmented into four-by-four-centimeter sections. All underlined by a coil-like, glassy material. The portion Midori held seemed to almost be akin to a katana hilt, but more square-ish than rounded and curved. The 'crossguard' was also mimicking that iconic weapon, but with similar differences. Its length was a bit longer than his own forearm.

"Neat," considered Denki.

"It's just a glorified stick," said Midori.

"Shouldn't we be in the Testing Range, though?" wondered Denki as he sat on one of the Workshop's workbenches. Some students walked past, while keeping their distance, but most were glued to their stations.

Midori shook his head, "I know the capabilities of the War-Hammer."

"Oh yeah, about that name… It's not exactly a hammer…" said Denki.

"Can say the same about that one…", he muttered.

"What one?"

Midori shrugged, "Don't worry about it." He said, "I just liked the name. Any other name felt pretentious. War-Hammer's simple, but efficient." He looked off to the side, "But, yeah, I probably should've named it something else." He gripped the weapon with both hands before twisting the hilt. With a flash of electricity, the hiss of gas, and the whirl of machinery, the rod shot to full length – from the size of a forearm to the length of a leg.

Denki whistled.

"The War-Hammer's completely different from you. Bound by the laws of mechanics and physics." He twirled the Hammer, "You're not – almost no one is… Your Quirk is the clear exception to those laws, including physiologically. Though, with Quirks taking up eighty percent of the population, maybe the exception has become the rule…" The War-Hammer collapsed, and he tossed it onto his workbench, "And the worst part is… is that we don't have the time to change course. I can't just make up a new outline and start some random thing up. The approval time and everything would just take too long and we're already up against the wall as is."

Denki shrugged, "Well, I'm sure there's something we can do."

"And what would that be?"

"Um-"

"Not so sure, then?"

Denki frowned, "D-Dude, come on, I'm just trying to keep the train going."

Midori scratched at his temple before gesturing to himself, "I appreciate the positivity – I do! But, I don't see this silver lining." He leaned forward, "That laser was the last-ditch effort, the big maybe, our McGuffin, and that is effectively down the drain. All of our tests, despite working them into our favor, have been completely unsuccessful. We have not had any electricity arc through the air once. Except—Except, that one time where we shocked your finger." He turned, gesturing to the Lightning Gauntlet, "I scarcely consider this a prototype to our actual goal. In comparison to what we actually want, it is a hunk of junk. It is a car without an engine, an elevator without buttons, uh… a door with no hinges!" He looked to Denki, smacking his workbench with his hand, "And I, for the life of me, for a single second, cannot understand how you can look at an utter failure and see something worthwhile!"

Midoriya paused – his brain caught up with his mouth. His eyes widened for a moment before his face contorted with a frown. He sighed, rubbing his temple, as he leaned against his station. "I… I'm sorry…" He turned away, standing up, "I need to take a walk…"

Denki couldn't quite register what was said then. He was still taking in what was said before. It was obvious what was meant – a slip of the tongue due to frustration or tiredness. He stood, following after Midoriya. The big metal doors swung close behind the fading inventor.

He heard a familiar voice, "Midori?" As he pushed open the metal doors, he came across one Camie-Senpai, who asked, "Kaminari, is everything okay?"

Denki thought for a moment, "I'm… working on it." He pushed a smile, "Don't worry, Camie-Senpai, I think I got this." He gave a thumbs-up, "If anyone's worried, tell 'em we'll be right back." He didn't wait for her response, moving past. He looked left and right, spotting Midoriya's shrinking form and following.

-XX-

"It wasn't a long walk, huh?" said Midoriya, standing over the sink. The water ran over his hands, staring into the swirling drain. "One fight… I get into one fight and fate throws a tumbling wrench into my works." He looked into the mirror, meeting Kaminari's eyes, "You know, I knew someone who'd get into a fight, at least, once a week, but he made it into a U.A. just fine… He was strong, though – amazing. His Quirk was awesome. Nitroglycerin for sweat and the ability to create spontaneous ignition sparks." Midoriya had a weak smile on his face, "Too bad he used to beat up the weaker kids with it… And me…" He pushed out a chuckle, "Sounds like a real jerk, huh?" His head teetered, "But then, he also stopped the older kids from picking on people. He fought them off – he always managed to win somehow." He took a breath, "We had the same dream and admired the same person. We wanted to be Heroes, like All-Might."

Another chuckle, "Me, a Hero? It sounds stupid, I know…" He rubbed his hands under the faucet, "I followed that guy, Bakugo, for years… He beat me up, yeah. Put me down a million times over. Made it clear how dumb that dream was… How impossible it was for me…" He sighed, "But he was so… had so much potential – so special… I guess I hoped that it would rub off onto me… That I could be extraordinary too…"

He shook his head, laughing, "But, it was a pipe dream… I knew it. I couldn't accept it; I clung to it so desperately." He looked into the mirror, "Until All-Might, himself, said I couldn't manage it." Kaminari let the surprise hit his face. "I asked him straight. Whether I could or not… He said he didn't think so. I had to be realistic, he said." Midoriya lowered his gaze again, "It was as hopeless as everyone told me it was…"

Midoriya sighed, losing whatever energy was left in his voice, "If the All-Might, the Number-One, can't see it in you. Doesn't see something that gives pause… That just pumps out a maybe… Then they must be right about me…" He scowled at his own reflection, "Defenseless… Useless… Weak… Worthless…" It faded; turned into a smile, "I'm Deku…" He looked past himself and at Kaminari, "Even teachers called me that little nickname…"

"When you hold onto a dream like that for as long as I did, they worry. Especially adults. They tend to make it clear their opinion on the matter…", he explained. "No one believed in it, in me… The only person in the world was my Mom… Until you…", he said. "Ugh, my fingers are all pruned…" he said before taking a paper towel from the dispenser.

He turned a knob, killing the water, before turning to face Kaminari, "I'm frustrated. I'm tired. And I'm confused…" He dried his hands before he said, "So, I have to ask… Kaminari, why are you my friend?"

Kaminari paused, silent for a moment – pondering, before he said, "I guess… it's because you reminded me of my Dad… He's Quirkless, a civilian. My Mom, she's a Pro-Hero. Two very different lifestyles. He was a House-Husband, and she went off to save the city every day." He smiled, "He spent all his time raising me and trying to be there for her. But she saw a lot of things out there. I don't even know all the details now. But, they were things she never wanted him to know about. Monsters in human flesh? Horrific crime scenes? Deranged criminals? She never wanted to bring it home, but they weighed on her shoulders all the same. She'd wake up in terror. Skip meals. Sleep-walk. Sleep-talk…" He lowered his gaze, "My Dad knew she was suffering. He wanted to be there for her, but she wouldn't let him in – kept him on the outside. To protect him."

He shrugged, "All well n good on paper, but it ripped my Dad apart. Her Hero friends didn't help either nor did his family or hers. They accepted that shouldering the burden was her duty and that if he loved her then he'd accept that. He couldn't, and she didn't change her mind either. That became resentment and then it became complicated. It tore them apart." He explained, "They're separated now. Not divorced. They're working on it. Counseling. And it's working, I think…"

Kaminari coughed into his hand, "You remind me of my Dad. People made a choice for him – put him in a box. Expected him to be thankful for it and to be happy with it. But he was miserable, he tore himself apart, and no one listened." He clarified, "They cared. Everything they did was because they cared. But they were too focused on what they could do, and not what he needed or wanted." He said, "He should've had someone there for him, to listen. And when I saw you walk into the store that night, I just felt like you were going through that. In some way."

He teetered his head, "Everything else, though, was coincidence. I mean I didn't plan on being your neighbor." He smirked, joking, "And if it helps, it's the same reason I harassed Shinso into being my friend too. So, don't worry you're not the only one. You can start up a club or something."

Midoriya blinked, staring at him for a moment. A slow smile drew across his face, cocking a brow, "Wait… So, you're friends with me because you're a Daddy's boy?"

"O-Oi!"

A familiar voice cried, "BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" Jirou laughed, "DADDY'S BOY!?"

Midoriya and Kaminari blinked, turning towards the exit of the restroom, "Ah…"

Kaminari dramatically shouted, "Hey, guys! We're having a moment here!? Can you not!?" He turned, "Tell 'em, Midoriya!"

"Uh… S-Sorry… It's just that k-knowing everyone heard that…" His face was flushed as he scratched his cheek, looking off to the side, "I feel really embarrassed…"

Kaminari let out a chuckle, "Ah, yeah." He tucked his hand into his pocket, "You feeling better now, though?"

"Head's less fuzzy, and I don't feel static underneath my skin. So, better's good." He yawned, "Though, I'm still tired as hell." He began to make his way to the exit, "I never told anyone that stuff…" He chuckled, "It feels good. Like a weight off my shoulders."

"That's good. Is this the birth of a new, self-confident Midoriya?"

"Uh… I doubt it. Though, I'm not even sure what you mean." Midoriya's voice which once held an energy was now in a neutral state once more, much like it was in the beginning of the school year. "Lightning Gauntlet's still trash. War-Hammer's still a glorified stick. Your costume just has a new coat, basically. Camie-Senpai's just has lights on it now." He waved his hand, "Whatever you guys see in these things are lost on me. They're all still just the cobbled together works of an amateur."

"Amateur's get better."

"Eventually," said Midoriya. He pushed open the door, stepping out into the hall, "Now, let's deal with these peeping conversationalists…"

"Pretty sure that isn't how those words work."

Midoriya looked at the crowd of people, "Oh my god, it's all of you." His eyes traveled over the group: Ashido, Jirou, Shinso, Utsushimi, and even… "Fujimori!? Why're you here?"

Fujimori tugged his teammate's arm, "Because if Shinso doesn't get back into the Workshop, Shishikura-Senpai will have our heads!"

"Yeah, yeah." His eyes met Midoriya's, "Whatever those people said to you, Midoriya, are full of shit. You can be whoever you want to be. If anyone's proof of it, I am." As he was dragged away by Fujimori, he added, "Oh, and we're talking about this Daddy's Boy thing later!"

Jirou, who was curled up into a ball on the floor against the wall, struggled, "D-D-Daddy's B-Boy—HAHAHAHA!"

Kaminari sighed, "Oh, that isn't going away anytime soon…"

Midoriya's focus turned to, "Ashido?" as she walked up to him. She took a breath before wrapping him in a hug. "A-Ashido…?" His hands hesitantly, awkwardly patted her back in turn.

She parted from him, "Sorry, I just wanted to give you a hug."

"Oh… Thanks," he said, face flushed. His gaze lowered, aiming at Jirou, "You finally done laughing, by the way?"

Jirou wiped a tear from her eye, "God… I wasn't expecting that…" She lifted her hand, offering it, "Sorry for the eavesdropping."

Midoriya helped her up, "What else can I expect from the ultimate spyware?"

"Ooh, that's a good Hero Title," said Ashido, clapping her hands.

Kaminari smirked, "Better than 'Hearing Hero' for sure, ha-" His chuckle turned a pained cry as a jack flew into his side, "AH!"

"Hey… You okay?" asked Utsushimi.

He gave a soft smile, "I'm… I'm actually pretty relieved…" He scratched the back of his head, "Though, I feel like there's more I have to say…" His hands tucked away into his pockets, "I'll never get the chance, I'm sure. Those two are going to a very different place than me." He turned, balling his hand into a fist, "But if I ever get the chance, I'll need a better foundation than this. I can't look them in the eye without a few notches under my belt, right, Camie-Senpai?"

She blinked at him for a moment before she smiled, "Yeah, totes!"

"Kaminari, Senpai, we have thirty-three hours until the Sports Festival!" called Midoriya. He pointed onward, "Let's get this train-wreck of a Gauntlet out of the way, so we can actually do something productive!" His energy died after such a proclamation, deadpanning, "Woo."

"Woo!" pumped Utsushimi.

"Woo-hoo!" cried Kaminari.

-XXX-

Midoriya Izuku walked up to his station before taking the Lightning Gauntlet and putting it before his partners. "Alright, all of the individual pieces of the Gauntlet operate according to their function. Sensors, capacitors, limiters – everything operates optimally." He gestured between Kaminari and the device, "The communication between you and the tech has been fixed. Your costume has been adjusted. The Gauntlet gets exactly what it needs. What I've failed to do is create that golden moment in which lightning strikes. Electricity arcing either on the scale of lightning or between your fingers are under very specific factors. If we electrically charged the metal target, I'm sure we could do it easily, but that's impractical in an actual combat situation."

Kaminari pondered, "Okay, so is there anything we could do?"

"The laser was meant to ionize the air, allowing an electric current to pass through it. But that's off the table."

Utsushimi tilted her head, "Is there a way to, uh, ionize without the laser?"

"Any air around an electric current is ionized," explained Izuku. "The problem is distance. You know it – it's actually how your Quirk works. Higher voltage, more ionization, extremely dangerous, uncontrollable, and your brain will fry. The laser excites the air along the wanted distance without it, we can't do it."

"Well, is it possible to ionize air… and then move the air?" suggested Kaminari.

Izuku rubbed his chin, "Well, maybe… The ionized air might last… between thirty and three-hundred seconds. That would be plenty of time for a shot to go off." He crossed his arms, "We could use an air cannon. We can't use a high-pressurized canister for it, though…" He blinked, "Maybe… I could use a similar concept to that toy."

"Toy?" echoed Utsushimi.

Izuku explained, "An Air-Vortex Cannon. It uses a barrel with a hole in tandem with an elastic material to shoot air. Though, at the size we need it at, it might not have enough range. If we could expand the air within the barrel – maybe with that elastic material, we might be able to make up for it..."

"Well, let's try it!" proclaimed Kaminari.

Izuku nodded, standing up, "We'll have to adjust and reprint the Gauntlet's top shell and frame. We'll experiment with this air cannon idea with plastic first – a lightweight metal later."

"Woo! Let's go!" cried Utsushimi.

"Don't be too excited," warned Izuku. "You're just going to be standing around while I work."

Kaminari blinked, "That's kinda what we've been doing for a while…"

Camie-Senpai waved her hand, "Yeah, yeah, that isn't anything new."

"Alright then. Time to go to work."

The time was twelve-hundred hours in the day. Izuku began with PVC piping in combination with a plastic disc cut into a donut. Two pipes of different diameters were fitted for one to slide into the other with a locking mechanism. The smaller pipe's exposed end was attached to the donut. The larger pipe's back end was fitted with a rubber material connected to a rod. He then fitted the entire make onto a basic vambrace made of fabric and straps. The time was thirteen-hundred-and-forty hours in the day.

Izuku turned, pulling the brace onto Kaminari's arm, "Okay, air cannon."

"Woo!"

"In order to use it, you'll have to have your arm fully extended. We'll put it at a slant so the end lands on the webspace between your index and thumb." The air-cannon's full length landed at Kaminari's elbow and ended at the point of his finger. "Take the knob and pull it like a slingshot or a bow and arrow."

Kaminari pulled at it before hesitating, "Oof, that's kinda hard…"

"Pull it all the way back to your ear."

"Dude…"

Izuku crossed his arm, "Don't you have upper body strength? Pull."

Kaminari sucked in a breath, drawing back before releasing the knob. The elastic snapped and the knob thumped back into place. The air rumbled forward, sending an empty coffee can spiraling into the air before tattering to the ground.

"Ooh," cooed Utsushimi, clapping her hands.

Izuku nodded, "The design works, size is all good, we'll use a composite material: metal polymer. Then we'll run an electric current through the thing after we fix the Gauntlet."

"Ionize it!" pumped Utsushimi.

"Yeah, that."

The time was fourteen-hundred hours in the day. The metal plating of the gauntlet was removed while its internal components were separated from the body. The removal of a track jacket, revealing a tank-top, came with additions of a welding jacket, welding gloves, and welding mask. The jutting positions of the device, for the extending rod, were cut away. New armatures were added to reinforce the now cut frame. A metal plate was cut to match the hole atop the Gauntlet before it was fitted and welded into place. The soldering additions were ground away to turn the patchwork flush.

The time was fifteen-hundred-and-sixty hours in the day. Lightweight metal polymer pipes were used to recreate the air cannon prototype. He then used a mixture of soldering and bolts to add a frame to it. Said frame was then fitted with electronics: batteries, capacitors, limiters, and wirings before all were fed into the cannon. He then took a miniature hydraulic system before fitting it to the air cannon's two pipes. A test of all electronics was made. The internal affair lit up bringing an electric air to the inside of the cannon. The hydraulics hissed, pulling the pipe into a collapsed form. He rolled back, looking at the air cannon. His eyes were drawn to the package that was held along the underneath of the barrel. He then took the whole device, flipping it around – upside down. "That's for the best…"

The time was seventeen-hundred hours in the day. Izuku took the parted Gauntlet, holding it out towards Kaminari, "Ready?"

"Yep," he yawned. He shook off his grogginess, "I swear I'm excited." The top and underside of the Gauntlet hissed into place on his arm. A few adjustments were made so that Kaminari could slot his fingers into place within the trigger armatures. Kaminari extended his arm before, making the right-hand rule with his hand. The cannon slid into place before it fully extended into place. "Hell yeah…"

"It looks pretty cool, Midori," said Camie-Senpai.

"Fits nice?"

"Yes, sir," said Kaminari.

Izuku took a deep breath, "Then it's time for the final push."

-XXX-

Midoriya tapped on the terminal, "Okay, recording begins…" He and Utsushimi were locked into a plexiglass chamber once again, "Note One-Three. Testing Prototype Two of the… Stein Gauntlet Item, once referred to Lightning Gauntlet in Note One-One and Franken Gauntlet in Note One-Two."

"That's a pretty good name, dude!"

Midoriya gave a thumbs-up, "Safety Perimeters, Observation Perimeters, Costume Perimeters, Targeting Perimeters, and Activation Perimeters are the same as before – for details please refer to Note One-One." He yawned, "Note variations will be listed at a later time. I'm very tired…" He pressed a button, "You guys watching?"

"Yep, I have my finger on the fire extinguisher button!"

Mr. Abraham spoke next, "Ms. Ashido!"

"We're watching," said Shinso.

Jirou requested, "Don't blow up."

"If we're gonna fail, at least, we've got an audience, right?" said Kaminari, adjusting his costume's coat.

"They'd be watching even if we didn't want them to," said Izuku. "Ready, Camie-Senpai?"

"Yeah."

"Kaminari?"

"Ready!"

"Single-shot discharge: thirty seconds!" He took a breath, "Beginning in 3… 2… 1…!"

Kaminari drew back on the elastic knob as electricity roared from his flesh. The sparks were absorbed, directed, and zoomed into the Stein Gauntlet. It glowed and whirled to life as an arc of golden light danced between his fingers. He released the knob and it shot into place. A clap echoed in the range as air shot forward before an arc of electricity leapt from his finger, dancing into the air. With a high pitch whine, it cracked against the metal target, leaving a char.

That echoed through the air for a moment or two as Kaminari stared on.

"Again!" shouted Midoriya.

Kaminari made the gesture once again, pulled on the knob, and let his lightning rain once more. Another crack of lightning sparked against the sheet of metal. He pulled and released, but no arc. His eyes widened for a moment before drawing back once more – another crack.

"Yes! Again!"

Another draw; another crack. Another draw, but nothing. Another draw; another crack. Another draw; nothing. Draw; nothing. Draw; crack. Draw; crack. Draw; nothing. Draw; crack. Draw; crack. Draw; nothing. Draw; crack! Draw; crack! Draw; CRACK!

Kaminari's grin threatened to dislocate his jaw, "Holy shit!"

Midoriya threw his fists in the air, "We FUCKING did it! YES!" He smacked the terminal, disabling the plexiglass chamber, "HA-HA! HELL YEAH!"

"Woo-hoo!" cried Utsushimi, wrapping Midoriya in a hug. "That was totes amazing! I can't believe it!"

"Well done!" said Mr. Abraham.

"They did it!" exclaimed Ashido.

"Camie-Senpai!" shouted Kaminari.

Utsushimi laughed as they shared a double high five, "Woo!"

Midoriya slid to the ground with a sigh of relief. "Thank god…" His eyelids slid down before the back of his head clunked against the ground. "Now, I gotta focus on… my… grappling system…" Something crept across his brain, turning more and more of it off, "Eh… Whatever… I'll deal with it tomorrow…"

-\ XXX /-

AN: Phew, close call. This chapter was quite a bit of work. I have to admit this chapter was going to be a bigger emotional beat with a whole character thing, but people don't change like that. I know I've had plenty of these conversations but I've never been cured of my shit instantaneously. So, I thought maybe it didn't need to be so life changing, but more relieving. Midoriya isn't a different person due to this, but more capable for it.

Then there's the laser thing, a few jokes made, and Kaminari's new story. Now, I have to admit this was completely born from a thirty second clip from the BNHA Heroes Rising opening of Pro-Heroes fighting the League of Villains. Basically, there was a Pro-Hero whose hair design was remarkable similar to Kaminari's; the only difference being that her black highlight was a straight line which lined up with a whip-based Quirk that seemed to be made of golden light. From there, an entire backstory was born. Whether that is supposed to be someone related to Kaminari, no idea.

I'm not gonna get into my fifteen tabs of amateur research on ionized air, cannons, and lightning. I gave myself a headache, did my best.

This chapter is a build up of stresses, leading to an outburst, leading to a genuine conversation, a few jokes, and then ending with the completion of the Stein Gauntlet.

With that, thank you for reading and criticize away!

Update Window: September 20th - 30th

Intended Due Date: September 20th - 25th