Although Midnight was visibly surprised by Kaminari's request, she eventually agreed to let him use the training hall. Her curiosity about the match was enough to win her over.

  After Kaminari left with a satisfied grin, murmurs began to spread through the office.

  toss: "Snatch… isn't he Endeavor's former assistant?"

  E: "Not anymore. He started his own agency a while back."

  toss: "Really? Shows how out of touch I've been. I haven't been keeping up with agenews."

  As a long-time Hero, toss teo stay informed about top-tier Heroes but had lost track of the up-and-ers in the professional sphere.

  "But still," he tinued, "Snatch isn't weak. Why would Kaminari want to spar with someone like him?"

  Vd King, the Css 1-B homeroom teacher, joihe versation. "Good question. What's he trying to aplish? I mean, Snatch is no pushover." His gaze drifted toward Aizawa, the Css 1-A homeroom teacher.

  Aizawa leaned ba his chair, speaking in his usual calm tone. "Snatch is Kaminari's father's personal bodyguard now. Kaminari might just want to see hoable this bodyguard really is."

  He paused briefly before letting out a quiet sigh. "Still, I wouldn't want to be in Snatch's shht now."

  The room fell silent. The teachers collectively recalled Kaminari's incredible performance during the U.A. Sports Festival.

  Midnight houghtfully. "If Snatch loses, it could really damage his reputation."

  As professional Heroes themselves, most of the teachers in the offiderstood the importance of reputation in their line of work. A Hero's credibility was everything. Losing to a student—no matter how skilled—would undoubtedly create doubts about Snatch's abilities.

  "What I don't get is why Snatch agreed to this," Vd King said, frowning. "Even if he wins, what's in it for him?"

  Aizawa shrugged, his tone indifferent. "Maybe he never sidered the possibility of losing. He's only been running his own agency for a couple of years. He might not fully uand the stakes yet."

  It was true. Though Snatch had separated from Endeavor on good terms and had been successful in his indepe endeavors, his career had beeively smooth. The agency received steady support from Endeavor, and Snatch's reputation as Endeavor's former chief assistant attracted ts.

  But Aizawa knew how brutal the petition among Hero agencies could be. In Japan's saturated Hero market, maintaining an agency's standing required stant effort. Winning over ts ofte like a battle in itself.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Kaminari aetsu had just stepped out of the school building. They were chatting casually when Kaminari's phone began t, breaking into the opening lines of Kyoka's version of "Only My Railgun."

  Tetsutetsu smirked. "Didn't ytone used to be the male version? When did you switch it?"

  Kaminari grinned but ighe question as he answered the call. "Hello?"

  A familiar steady voice came through the line. "It's me, Tenma."

  "Dr. Tenma! What's up?" Kaminari exged a fused gh Tetsutetsu before returning his attention to the call.

  "Your bat suit has been updated. If you're free, you e pick it up."

  "So soon?" Kaminari was taken aback by the news.

  "It didn't take long," Dr. Tenma replied simply. "We weren't making airely new suit, just upgrading the existing one."

  "Got it. I'll head ht away!" Kaminari ehe call and turo Tetsutetsu with aed smile. "Hey, want to e with me to check it out?"

  Tetsutetsu scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'd love to, but I 't today. There's an internal petition at my judo hall, and I 't skip it."

  "Ah, too bad," Kaminari replied, a little disappointed but uanding. "By the way, why don't you ever use your judo moves when we spar?"

  Tetsutetsu chuckled as they walked. "For one, you're way too fast for me to grab. And sed, trying to grapple you when you're covered in lightning? No thanks."

  "Fair enough," Kaminari said with a ugh.

  After saying their goodbyes at the subway statioetsu headed home while Kaminari transferred to the lihat would take him to Shimizu District.

  ---

  About half an hour ter, Kaminari arrived at the Mitsui Researstitute, where Dr. Tenma was already waiting for him.

  "Doctor, you seem to be in a good mood," Kaminari said, notig the subtle spark of joy in Tenma's otherwise stoic expression.

  Dr. Tenma nodded, his gaze drifting toward the dispy case in the room's ter. "I'm quite satisfied with how your new battle suit turned out."

  Kaminari followed his gaze and froze. Ihe gss dome stood… Pikachu.

  A life-like, vividly detailed Pikachu sat is small paws pressed against the gss. Its bright lightning bolt-shaped tail wagged pyfully as it let out a cheerful "Pika, Pika, Pikachu!"

  "Whoa…" Kaminari's breath hitched. Even though the Pikachu design had been his idea, seeing it brought to life left him stunned.

  "Wow," he whispered, stepping closer to the dome. "It's like seeing the real thing. I feel like I just caught my first Pokémon."

  Tenma chuckled, his voice carrying a rare hint of amusement. "In that case, should I call myself Professor Oak?"

  Kaminari ughed, shaking his head. "Do you actually waton?"

  "Of course," Tenma replied, his tone light. "I watch it with my son every weekend. Speaking of which…" He hesitated for a moment before tinuing. "Tobio's birthday is ing up on Juh. Would you mind bringing Pikachu to our house for the celebration? I think it'd make him very happy."

  Kaminari didn't hesitate. "No problem at all!"

  ***

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