In Saitama City, dusk was setting in. The time had passed 4 p.m., and while many ordinary citizens were enjoying a peaceful afternoon, chaos was unfolding iy's shadows.

  "Boom!!"

  A bck figure smmed hard into the iron railing on the roof of a building, the forpact so great that the raili uhe strain.

  The man, bearing a gray-green turtle shell on his back, leaned against the twisted railing, his vision blurry, blood trig from his mouth.

  "Why… why… Why are you here, Eraser Head?" he groaned weakly, his breath ragged.

  "Shua—BOOM!!"

  The man's questio unanswered. His attacker—a man with dark, tired eyes—yanked him forward with a binding cloth before delivering a brutal ko his chest.

  "Ugh…" The turtle-backed man groaned before his eyes rolled back, and he colpsed unscious.

  Aizawa Shouta, better known as the stealth hero Eraser Head, stood over the defeated vilin. His tired eyes gnced down at the limp body, then shifted to the horizon as the setting sun cast Saitama City in an amber glow.

  "I didn't expect what Edgeshot said to actually be true," Aizawa muttered, tightening the bandages on his arms. "Kaminari has really been targeted by these rats."

  His mind wandered back to the m, recalling the phone call that had set this entire of events into motion.

  ---

  Earlier that day, Aizawa had been preparing tomorrow's lessons at U.A. High School and finalizing pns for the uping final exams. He hadn't expected his phoo buzz with an urgent call from Edgeshot.

  "Eraser Head, Kaminari's on someone's 'list.' They've put a bounty on his bat uniform—50 million!" Edgeshot's voice sounded rough, as if he had just finished fighting.

  "What?!" Aizawa's normally calm demeanor cracked, and he checked the caller ID again to firm it was indeed Edgeshot.

  "I don't know the full details," Edgeshot tinued, "but I'm certain there are rats hiding in Saitama, pnning to make a move. Notify the local Hero offid have them keep a, especially around Kaminari's house."

  Aizawa didn't waste a sed. He transferred the call to U.A.'s principal, Nezu, who immediately sprang into a. Nezu instructed Aizawa to head to Saitama, while Midnight—who was already vacationing there was tasked with leading her assistants to guard Kaminari's family.

  Meanwhile, Aizawa, a veteran hero aced to operating in the shadows, scoured the city fns of danger. His experience paid off—by dusk, he had already intercepted and apprehehree separate groups of "rats."

  This turtle-backed man was from the third wave, while the others had been turned over to the police.

  ---

  Aizawa stood on the rooftop, looking over the sprawling city. His sharp eyes focused on the dire of the Saitama City subway station.

  "I'll have to talk to Kaminari about this ter," he muttered. "This kid is something else. Has there ever been another 15-year-old who ended up on a dark world's bounty list?"

  Shaking his head, Aizawa adjusted his yellow goggles and tugged lightly on the bandages ed around his arms. Then, with practiced ease, he leapt from the rooftop, carrying the unscious turtle-backed vilin.

  "Let's send a message," he thought grimly. "If we hit these rats hard enough, the others might think twice before ing after him."

  ---

  To be ho, Kaminari's personal safety wasn't what ed Aizawa, Edgeshot, or he most. They all khat Kaminari was far more powerful than the average vilin perhaps even strohan some of the more notorious ones.

  No, the real s were twofold:

  First, Kaminari's temper. If pushed, he might actally viote the w by using his Quirk on others.

  Sed, and more importantly, the safety of Kaminari's family.

  Nezu had pnned carefully for both tingencies. Midnight roteg Kaminari's family with a team of assistants, while Aizawa hahe up of any potential threats.

  And as for the third yer of Nezu's pn? That was already underway.

  ---

  At the Saitama City subway station, Kaminari stepped off the train alongside Tetsutetsu.

  "Hello, I'm Megure Jusan from the Saitama City Police Department," said a rge, rotund officer standing in their path. He was apanied by several other officers. "You must be Kaminari Denki from Css 1-A of U.A. High School's Hero Course."

  "Yes, that's me," Kaminari replied, his brows furrowing in fusion. "What's this about?"

  The station was bustling, and many bystanders were already pulling out their phoo snap pictures of the se. Kaminari's eyes flicked toward them, his expression hardening.

  "Don't worry," Officer Megure said reassuringly, rubbing his rge belly with one hand. "You're not in trouble. we talk while we walk?"

  Kaminari hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, but if this isn't anything serious, I'll need you to crify that to the public. Being seen stopped by the police could cause me a lot of unnecessary trouble."

  "Of course," Officer Megure replied with a casual smile. "But once you hear the situation, I think you'll uand."

  "Fair enough," Kaminari said befng at Tetsutetsu. "Does he o e too?"

  "No—"

  Before Officer Megure could finish, Tetsutetsu interrupted loudly, "I'll go too!"

  His expression was firm, and his reasoning was simple. If Kaminari was in trouble, then as a friend, it was his duty to stand with him. If these officers tried anything suspicious, he wouldn't hesitate to fight alongside Kaminari.

  "Alright then, e along," Megure said, shrugging when he saw Kaminari's approving nod.

  ---

  The group quickly left the station, piling into a police car as curious onlookers tinued snapping pictures.

  Saitama City was Kaminari's hometown, and his family's pany was based here. Naturally, he was a local celebrity. The sight of him being escorted by police quickly began to trend online as "Kaminari Denki Arrested."

  ---

  As they drove through the city, Officer Megure began expining the situation to Kaminari aetsu. The more Kaminari listehe more his heart sank.

  His earlier y was gringly clear now. The vilins weren't necessarily after him, they might target his family instead.

  "How are my parents?" Kaminari asked, his voice tense.

  "They're fine," Officer Megure replied from the passenger seat. "Midnight is with them now, and we've marked your home for special prote. Everything's secure."

  Hearing this, Kaminari breathed a small sigh of relief.

  "Your situation is certainly unique," Megure tinued. "It's rare to see someone as young as you targeted like this. Acc to Edgeshot, though, it's not you they're after, it's your bat uniform. you tell me where it is now?"

  Kaminari lowered his head slightly. "I already ha over to Dr. Tenma for modifications. Tetsutetsu just picked up his new uniform, so we left together."

  As soon as Kaminari finished speaking, the officer driving the car briefly g him through the rearview mirror. The look in his eyes was fleeting, gone in a fsh, but it didn't go unnoticed.

  ---

  Ten mier, they arrived at the apartment where Kaminari's family lived without i. Officer Megure's brow furrowed slightly.

  "Strange," he muttered under his breath. "We assumed they'd try to intercept us on the way. Are they pnning something for tonight instead?"

  He rubbed his thoughtfully. "Hmm… that's very possible."

  ***

  Support me on patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.