It took Dawu about seven ht mio calm down from the shock. During this time, he obsessively petted and hugged Pikachu like a madman.

  Thankfully, this 'Pikachu' wasn't the real Pikachu. Otherwise, with the actual Pikachu's temperament, Dawu would have been hit by a full-force Thunderbolt long ago.

  Meanwhile, Kaminari was already standing in front of the professional microphone in the rec studio, holding the electric guitar that shared a h Pikachu.

  At Dawu's insistence, 'Pikachu' was squatting beside him. Acc to Dawu, today was a dream e true, and he wao soak in this moment a little longer.

  By now, Kaminari had adjusted his breathing and stance, raising a hand to signal an "OK" to Dawu through the soundproof gss.

  Dawu gave him a thumbs-up in response, his gaze falling on the song information dispyed on the monitor, particurly the title promily listed at the top.

  "I hope this song, ' (In Your Heart LaLaLa), lives up to the standard of the previous ones..."

  With that thought, he pressed the keys, and the music began pying in the rec studio.

  This time, the intro was softer pared to Kaminari's previous songs. But as soon as Kaminari began singing, the rhythm became lively and upbeat.

  "In your heart, La La La, sketch a dream, La La La If you wish from your heart, I'm sure it'll be granted In the same sky, La La La, I hear it, La La La The resonating melody; the bell of ce is ringing."

  "You're overflowing; the wind passes through a grass path Oher side of the swayi haze, your dazzling smile, just like that..."

  No matter what it is, it doesn't go well alo little by little, step by step, go shine, let's tinue on

  "There will always be someone who would protect from the time of one's birth Then, the dream held on in one's heart would sprout someday."

  "Time ot flow backward, not even by a sed Do not look back, do not be afraid, go smile, grab on to it."

  "In your heart, La La La, sketch a dream, La La La I like you because you worked harder than anyone else In the radiant m, La La La, riding the wind, La La La When we vey our feelings, a miracle will definitely happen."

  As Kaminari sang, his thoughts wao another world, aime. Back then, he robably a little youhan he was now. Yet, the memory of sitting in front of a s and watg ah rapt attention remained vivid in his heart.

  He remembered this song as the ending theme of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, though he couldn't recall which episode it beloo.

  Wheing a song, Kaminari had decided to piething with a softer rhythm. After all, the performance venue was aary school campus. He felt that songs with intense energy, like Railgun, weren't suitable.

  The lyrics also had to be simple enough for kids to grasp the meaning easily. And, of course, it had to be a song from the Pokémon series.

  Thus, he had spent days thinking deeply about it—or rather, trying to remember. Uher reinators who might possess photographic memory as their cheat ability, Kaminari had no such advantage.

  So, he could only choose songs he was already familiar with from his past life. That's why he alroduced anime openings or endings; he couldn't recall anything else well enough to recreate it.

  "Hmmm... not bad…"

  Outside the rec studio, Dawu hummed along with Kaminari's singing, his face brimming with delight. As a die-hard anime fan, this type of song was right up his alley.

  Knowing that this would be the heme song for Pokémon, Dawu couldn't help but imagine ses from the anime in sync with the song's rhythm.

  Lost in his imagination, Dawu didn't notice two girls quietly entering the room behind him.

  "Pika?"

  Pikachu tilted its head adorably, notig Kyoka and Momo's arrival.

  When Momo saikachu was about to make a sound, she quickly raised her slender white fio her lips in a sileng gesture.

  Being an artificial intelligence, Pikachu uood immediately and obediently turned back around to watch Kaminari py and sing with his eyes closed.

  At that moment, Kaminari's voice became the only sound in the rec studio, dominating the melody. Meanwhile, Kyoka's gaze gradually became entranced.

  For her, while Kaminari looked cool and charming in bat, she believed he was at his most handsome when perf music.

  His talent for songwriti her in awe. Of course, his good looks were a bonus—but just how much they tributed to her admiration, she couldn't say.

  Oher hand, Momo wasn't as outwardly emotional as Kyoka. However, her eyes also reflected deep admiration.

  As the eldest daughter of the Yaoyorozu family, she had met tless exceptional young people and dozens of geniuses.

  Some of them far exceeded Kaminari in talent or aplishments iain fields. Yet, perhaps because of how closely she worked with him, she couldn't help but find him uniquely captivating.

  Naturally, this also had to do with their frequent iions. Kaminari seemed to effortlessly showcase his strengths whenever she was around, though it wasn't iional on his part.

  "La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La If you wish from your heart, I'm sure it'll be granted La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La The resonating melody; the bell of ce is ringing."

  As Kaminari sang the final lyric, the melody faded, leaving the rec studio in plete silence. Kaminari slowly opened his eyes.

  By ce, the moment he opened his goldehey met Kyoka's gaze.

  "Kyoka…"

  For some reason, Kaminari instinctively uood the emotion in Kyoka's eyes. She… likes me.

  Kyoka's feelings were so clear that even Kaminari, who had no romantic experience, couldn't ighem.

  To be ho, it left him stunned. He'd always seen Kyoka as a close friend almost like a sister. But now...

  Of course, Kaminari couldn't deny that he felt happy. It was fttering to be liked by someone, after all.

  However, as someone whose mental age was that of an adult, he felt it was inappropriate to start a romantic retionship with a minor.

  "What's wrong, Kaminari?"

  Dawu's voice suddenly crackled through the studio speakers, snapping both Kaminari and Kyoka out of their daze.

  Just moments ago, they had been silently staring at each other as if caught in some invisible pull.

  "Uh… it's nothing. Let's…"

  Kaminari was about to suggest aake, his face slightly awkward, wheudio door opened again.

  "Looks like everyone's here. Let me hear the new song!" Kaminari's father said, stepping ih a warm smile.

  "Right, let's get started!"

  The blush on Kyoka's face hadn't fully faded as she hurriedly removed her bass from its case, keeping her head down to avoid everyone's gaze.

  What do I do? What do I do? Kaminari noticed… what do I do…

  "Ahem."

  Kaminari, feeling just as flustered, quickly walked out of the sound booth and asked casually, "Where's Kazama? Isn't he supposed to e today?"

  "He… he said he couldn't make it. He wants to stick to the inal agreement and show up only after he earns his provisional Hero lise," Kyoka answered softly, still avoiding Kaminari's gaze.

  "Huh. That kid's got ambition. Alright, then." Kaminari shrugged indifferently.

  Strangely, though, he felt a small flicker of happiness upon hearing that Kazama wasn't ing.

  What's wrong with me? Kaminari wondered, baffled by his owions.

  What he didn't realize was that, ever siepping out of the rec booth, his gaze had unsciously followed Kyoka. Even his father and Momo noticed.

  And standing quietly off to the side, Momo's eyes shifted between Kaminari and Kyoka.

  ***

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