In Saitama City, the neon lights glittered against the night sky. In the square in front of an apartment plex, a vibrant fountain shot high into the air, scattering sparkling droplets like a rain of flowers.

  The water in the pool shimmered and swirled, shifting colors sometimes blue, sometimes red, and occasionally dazzling with a mix of hues. Passersby stopped to admire the dispy, captivated by the sight.

  It was already 7:12 p.m.

  "I 't wait to put on my new bat uniform…" Tetsutetsu said with a longing expression as he stared at the fountain, his excitement barely tained.

  "You've been saying that non-stop since we left!" Kaminari replied with an exasperated sigh. Ever sisutetsu had seen the design Kaminari had drawn for Dr. Tenma earlier, he had been riding a wave of enthusiasm.

  "Didn't Dr. Tenma say it would take at least two weeks to make? You're not going to be able to wear it during the Hero Work Studies," Kaminari reminded him.

  Hearing this, Tetsutetsu's excitement dimmed momentarily. He g the box Kaminari was carrying in his right hand, his envy pin to see.

  "You're so lucky, Kaminari… You get to wear yours right now…"

  "You've said that tless times too!" Kaminari groaned, rubbing his temples.

  "But seriously, why haven't you put it o? You'd look so cool in your 'Battle Mode!'" Tetsutetsu pressed, uerred.

  "I've told you before, pay attention when people expin things!" Kaminari scolded, his expression deadpan.

  "The bat uniform isn't something you wear casually. Didn't Aizawa-seell us that?"

  "Oh… is that so?" Tetsutetsu scratched his head, looking sheepish. "I was kind of hoping I could wear mine all the time o's done!" His enthusiasm reignited. "That Mariyle coat you designed as part of the uniform is just so cool!"

  Kaminari sighed. "I feel like all you care about is the coat. Don't you like the white suit and alloy boots that go with it?"

  "Well…" Tetsutetsu hesitated, scratg his white hair. "I've been w, why did you make it white? And why a suit?"

  Kaminari g his hair with a smirk and replied, "Because I think white suits you. And as for the suit, it's the standard look for a Marine coat. It's sleek, it's sharp, and it's stylish. Don't you think so?"

  "But won't white get dirty easily? If it gets messed up during a fight, it won't look good," Tetsutetsu said, genuinely ed.

  "You really don't listen to anything, do you?" Kaminari muttered, ping the bridge of his nose in frustration.

  "Uh… hehehe," Tetsutetsu chuckled awkwardly. Whenever he was with Kaminari, he let him take the lead, rarely thinking things through on his own.

  Kaminari sighed again and straightened his posture. "Alright, listen carefully this time."

  He took a deep breath and began to expin.

  "The coat isn't made of the SIS Memory Alloy like my armor, but it's still crafted from a rare material, something Dr. Tenma calls AF Alloy. It's incredibly smooth, with almost no fri. It's so slick, bullets would slide right off it."

  "In other words, dust, dirt, and other debris won't stick to it. So the whole 'white clothes getting dirty' thing? That's not going to happen under normal circumstances."

  "As for the suit and boots, they're not made of anything super rare, but Dr. Tenma said he'll reinforce them to be as durable as possible while keeping them lightweight."

  "So in a way, it's like having ara yer of prote over your 'steel skin.'"

  The more Kaminari expihe more Tetsutetsu's eyes lit up with excitement. He was finally starting to uand just how cool his bat uniform would be.

  "I really 't wait to wear my new bat uniform!"

  Kaminari froze mid-step, his patienapping. "Oh my god, you've said that like seven times already!"

  Fortunately, they soon arrived etsutetsu's home, sparing Kaminari from further pints. As they parted ways, Kaminari finally ehe peace of walking alone.

  "Man, I hope Tetsutetsu calms down soon. He was way too hyped today… I've got my own stuff to think about."

  He walked in silence, his thoughts drifting to the uping workpce experience.

  "I hope choosing him was the right call… I just o stay focused and make the most of it."

  Stopping in front of his apartment building, Kaminari looked up at the full moon glowing brightly in the sky. It reminded him of how he had felt before taking the U.A. entrance exam, nervous yet excited, unsure of what y ahead but determio give it his all.

  "If that saying about how 'effort pays off' is true, I should be fine," Kaminari murmured to himself. "After all… I've worked so hard for this."

  ---

  Whe home, Kaminari couldn't resist showing off his new bat uniform. As he put it on in front of his parents, their reas didn't disappoint.

  "Son… Are you saying this was made for you for free by the Mitsui Group?" his father asked, his voice filled with disbelief. Even as a yman, he could tell the bat uniform was worth a fortune.

  "Mom, I 't stop seeing gold…" his mother said iaring at Kaminari in his Sacred ode. Everything about him gleamed, the golden hair, the golden eyebrows, the golden pupils, and, of course, the golden armor c his body.

  Even more ridiculous was the faint golden glow Kaminari had activated using Pikachu's lighting fun. His entire body shimmered like a divine figure.

  "It's true—it was free," Kaminari said, holding back a smirk. "But there's more to the story than that."

  "And what's the reason?" his father pressed, curiosity written all over his face.

  "Well… it's a long story," Kaminari replied, scratg the back of his head.

  "Then make it short!" his father urged. sidering it involved a corporation as iial as the Mitsui Group, he wasn't about to let it slide.

  "Alright, alright."

  Kaminari gave in and began expining everything that had happened, from his enter with Mitsui Buntais to the events that followed. The story took about fifteen minutes in total.

  "I see… So that's why panies uhe Mitsui Group have been reag out to work with us," his father muttered thoughtfully. While he reized this was good news, there was a hint of disappoi in his tone.

  To Kaminari, it was clear what was b him. His father set that the Mitsui Group's i had more to do with Kaminari than with his own professional abilities.

  "Dad," Kaminari said, smilily. "You know, Mitsui-san actually praised you a lot."

  His father's head snapped up, his expressihtening instantly. "Oh? What did he say?!"

  "Mitsui-san said you're a bit inexperienced in some areas, but yreat at unication and that your ma skills are solid!"

  "Really?!" his father asked eagerly, his face lighting up like a kid being praised by his teacher.

  "Absolutely," Kaminari lied smoothly, keeping a straight face. In truth, Mitsui Buntais hadn't mentioned his father at all, but sometimes a little white lie was worth it to make your parents happy.

  "Of course it's true! He's the head of the Mitsui family, would I dare make something like that up?"

  "Hahahaha!"

  That night, Kaminari's father couldn't stop smiling. Even as he hummed cheerfully while washing up ihroom, Kaminari couldn't help but feel it was worth it.

  "Yeah… As long as Dad's happy, that's all that matters," Kaminari thought to himself, feeling a quiet sense of satisfa. After all, seeing his family smile was one of the greatest blessings in life.