In Kyoto, Japaled in a tranquil courtyard that exuded a sense of Zen, elegance, and quietude, a white-haired old man in a pristine white kimono sat uhe eaves, his gaze resting on a pyful Shiba Inu frolig near a meticulously arranged rock garden. His faint smile radiated a warmth that was both gentle and harmonious, refleg a life of calm ption.

  But despite the seremosphere, Mitsui Aragoshi, who stood outside in a perfectly tailored bck suit, felt a sense of nervousness. In his hand was a folder taining information that felt almost lifeless, its tents cold and factual.

  "You found the boy, then," the old man said in a calm, assured voice, as if it were already a fone clusion.

  "Yes, Grandfather," Mitsui replied, stepping forward to hand over the file. "Here is his information."

  The old man took the folder, his eyes settling on a photograph attached to the first page—a photo of a young boy who matched the one he had been seeking. His eyes softened, but rather than reading further, he closed the folder aured for Mitsui to ret the details.

  "His name is Kaminari Denki, fifteen years old. He retly graduated from Tanibori No. 1 Junih School in Saitama. His academic record is impressive, he's held the top rank in his grade from elementary school all the way through junih, without ever slipping to sed pce," Mitsui recited.

  The old man, however, was not easily impressed. As a member of the Mitsui family, he had seen his fair share ies and high achievers. A top ranking in public schools wasn't anythiraordinary for someoh his background. But when Mitsui added, "And he's maintained perfect scores in all subjects for six secutive years," a hint of surprise flickered in the old man's eyes.

  "Oh?" the old man murmured, his tone light. "So, my little beor is quite the genius. That's impressive."

  Once his grandfather finished speaking, Mitsui tinued, "He's also passed the written exam for U.A. High School's Hero course and will be taking the practical exam week."

  "So, he wants to be a Hero," the old man mused, his eyes momentarily distant as he sidered this. The thought that the boy who had saved his life aspired to be a Hero seemed fitting. "Yes, that suits him. A boy like that should indeed be a Hero."

  "Grandfather," Mitsui ventured carefully, "U.A.'s practical exam has a notoriously high failure rate. Should we reach out to the school on his behalf, maybe through one of our business es?"

  The old man turned his head slightly, a bemused expression on his face. "Do you really think U.A. would take a request from us seriously? Or that the Mitsui family holds sway over an institution like U.A.?"

  While the Mitsui family was indeed powerful, with influehat extended across Japan and even iionally, their power y within the realms of business, not the elite circles of the Hero world. They could indeed leverage some lower-ranking Heroes or influence a few Hero agehrough busiies, but the idea of interfering with U.A.'s internal affairs was absurd.

  Mitsui, however, wasn't vinced. "But we've supplied U.A. with Hero es and specialized equipment for years now," he insisted. "Surely, they'd give us some sideration?"

  The old man's eyes glinted with a touusement at his grandson's é. "You've misuood the nature of that retionship," he replied. "It isn't that U.A. needs us. We provide those resources because it grants us access to future Heroes. And besides, several other panies are providing the same services. If you think U.A. sees us as anything more than just another supplier, you're mistaken."

  But rather than chastising Mitsui further, the old man simply shook his head and deed the suggestioly. "No, I'm fident this boy pass the exam on his own. He has the ability."

  For some reason, the memory of his first enter with Kaminari pyed in the old man's mind. There had been something about the boy, an aura that exuded both strength and humility, that made him certain Kaminari would succeed.

  "As you wish, Grandfather," Mitsui said, bowing his head in acquiesce. Though he still didirely grasp why his grandfather pced so much faith in U.A.'s autonomy, he let the matter drop.

  "Shall I arrao tact the boy, then?" Mitsui asked.

  The old man paused, sidering the question. He certainly wished to meet Kaminari again and express his gratitude properly, but it didn't feel right to simply thank him with a few words. After all, the boy had saved his life, and that kind of debt demanded more than a tokeure.

  His gaze fell on the folder Mitsui had brought, and a thought crossed his mind. Mitsui had mentioned Hero es and equipment earlier… Yes, that could work.

  "No, let's not tact him directly," the old man said, a small smile curling at the ers of his lips. "I want to give this child a surprise a big one."

  "A… surprise?" Mitsui echoed, raising an eyebrow. His grandfather's tone hi something more than just a simple gift, but he did not press the matter.

  "By the way, is there anything else about him? What about his family?" the old man asked. If he couldn't repay Kaminari directly, he could at least make life easier for those close to him. That would be the least he could do.

  Mitsui flipped through his mental notes on Kaminari's file. "His father started a small toy pany a few years ago," he began. "And Kaminari himself is something of a musi. He's an indepe artist who uploads his songs on MTV's music ptform. One of his tracks is getting pretty popur, but he's not that well-know."

  "A musi, too?" the old man chuckled, intrigued by the boy's multifaceted talents. Kaminari was only fiftee he had already achieved more than many adults. With perfect grades, entry into the Herram, and a budding music career, it was clear that Kaminari was a truly exceptional young man.

  "Whipany owns that music ptform?" the old man asked, curious about whether there might be an easy e he could leverage.

  "It's part of Viaedia Group, based in the U.S.," Mitsui replied.

  "Do we have any dealings with them?"

  "Not directly, no," Mitsui admitted.

  "It doesn't matter," the old man said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Speak to your father and have him reach out to someo Via. See if they give this boy some special attention on the music ptform. It shouldn't be a difficult favor to ask."

  At the level the Mitsui family operated, arranging a meeting with Via's executives wouldn't be a challenge. Even if they hadn't done business before, there was always room for mutually beneficial arras, especially with such a simple request.

  "As for his father's pany," the old man tinued, "find a way to give it a little extra support. Nothing too overt, but make sure they get some favorable deals."

  Mitsui nodded, itting the instrus to memory. "Uood. Is there anything else, Grandfather?"

  "That will be all," the old man said, rising from his seat. "You may go." He moved gracefully to the edge of the porch, gng out toward the Shiba Inu still pying in the yard.

  "Yes, Grandfather." Mitsui bowed again and began to walk away. But before he reached the courtyard exit, his grandfather's voice stopped him.

  "One more thing," the old man said, his tone ptive. "Have someone arrange for me to listen to this boy's music… I'd like to hear his song."