My Hero Academia: Tropic Thunder

The morning after Kamino was drenched in an eerie quietness that settled over everything. Even as the sun peeked through the blinds, its warmth did little to dispel the chill that had seeped into my bones. I sat in my room, still wearing the clothes from yesterday, the events replaying in my head on an endless loop. I knew I needed to reach out before the silence consumed me.

I tapped the screen, initiating the video call, and after a moment, my parents' faces appeared. My mother's eyes were wide, scanning my face for any sign of injury, while my father's expression was carved from stone, every wrinkle in his brow deep with worry.

"Raio..." My mother breathed, relief flooding her voice. "Thank goodness. We were so worried." Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"I'm fine, Mom." I said, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "I made it out okay, all things considered."

My father leaned closer, his eyes dark and searching. He was a man who had faced down countless villains in his prime, yet today, a shadow lingered in his gaze. "We saw the news." He said, his voice steady but low. "You stood face to face with him, didn't you?"

I nodded, unable to stop the shiver that ran through me. The mere mention alone felt like poison in the air.

My mother's hand flew to her mouth, her worry deepening. "Raio, you must have been terrified."

"I was." I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I knew what he could do. And seeing him there... It was like I was a kid again, helpless just like that day. And he—he remembered me. He uttered my name smiling."

The silence that followed was suffocating. My father's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as if he could pierce through the screen and confront the memory of the villain himself. "That bastard... I thought I'd buried that part of our past deep enough that it wouldn't haunt you, but that man…" His voice cracked, a rare and unsettling sound coming from him. "That man's shadow reaches farther than I ever imagined."

My mother reached out, her digital hand stopping just short of the screen. "You shouldn't have been there, Raio. You're still just a student…"

"But I was there, mum." I interrupted, the guilt gnawing at my chest. "And we got Bakugou out, but I couldn't stop thinking... if All for One had decided to act—"

"Stop." my father said firmly, his eyes fierce. "If he had tried anything, you would have fought. You are not that boy from years ago anymore. You've trained, you've learned. But more importantly, you made it out alive. And that's what matters." His voice softened, just a fraction. "That's what matters to us."

There was a beat of silence, then he continued, his tone grave. "All for One is a monster that takes and takes until there's nothing left. He stole years from me, took away the life I built as a hero. And even after all this time, he's still reaching out with those twisted hands. But know this, Raio—you are not bound by my history or my regrets. You can be stronger, smarter. And if it comes down to it, you will be ready."

My mother nodded, her face resolute despite the tears that had spilled over. "You're not alone, Raio. We're here, and so are your friends."

I swallowed hard, the knot in my throat easing just a bit. Their words didn't erase the fear or the lingering sense of dread, but they planted something else—determination.

The ghost of All for One might haunt my past, but it wouldn't define my future.

"Thank you. I said quietly, meeting their eyes. "I'll be okay. We'll all be okay."

And for the first time since Kamino, I almost believed it.

The knock at the door was sharp, three quick raps that echoed through the stillness of the room. I sat up straighter, glancing at the screen where my parents' worried faces froze, eyes flicking to the door. My pulse quickened. After everything that had happened at Kamino, unexpected visitors carried a different weight.

Took a while for the electroreception to kick in, a very familiar, lonely aura stood waiting outside.

"I'll get it." I said, pushing myself up. The floorboards creaked as I crossed the room, the I opened the door to see Aizawa-sensei standing there, his expression as inscrutable as ever. The faintest flicker of exhaustion danced behind his eyes, lines deepening around his features that told me he hadn't slept.

"Aizawa-sensei!" I said, surprise clear in my voice. "I wasn't expecting—"

"Kaminari..." He interrupted, nodding once before stepping inside. His eyes swept over the room, taking in the open laptop, my parents on the screen, and the mess of clothes and books scattered around. "I hope I'm not intruding."

My mother's voice cracked through the silence. "Not at all, Professor Aizawa. It's… it's good to see you."

"Likewise, Mrs. Kaminari." Aizawa-sensei's voice softened, an unusual tone that suggested he knew how raw this moment was. "I came to discuss something important. Given the circumstances of Kamino and recent events, the faculty at U.A. have decided to implement a new security measure for the safety of our students."

My father's eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity peeking through his stoic demeanor. "What kind of measure, exactly?"

Aizawa-sensei crossed his arms, looking between me and the screen. "Dormitories. The idea is to move students into on-campus housing so that we can ensure their safety and respond swiftly to any threats. It's not a decision we made lightly, but it's one we feel is necessary after what happened."

The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of his words sank in. My mother's face paled, and she exchanged a quick, relieved glance with my father. It was the kind of look that spoke volumes, an unspoken debate carried in the space between seconds.

"It's safer." I found myself saying, almost as a reassurance to them. "We'll be together, protected. And… I think it's the right call."

Aizawa-sensei's gaze softened, just for a moment, before turning back to my parents. "This wasn't an easy decision for any of us. We understand the trust you place in us, and we don't take that lightly. All Might is with Midoriya's family now, discussing the same thing. We're ensuring every parent knows, every student understands."

My father, the lines in his face deepening, leaned closer to the screen. "You're certain this is what's best for them? For Raio?"

Aizawa-sensei met his gaze without flinching. "I am. It's not just about protection. It's about training, camaraderie, and fostering the kind of environment where they can grow without the constant shadow of fear. All for One's reappearance has changed things, but we refuse to let him dictate how we move forward."

My mother's lip trembled, but she nodded, wiping at the corner of her eye. "If this is what will keep him safe, then we support it."

I felt a surge of emotions—gratitude, relief, and something more difficult to name. The idea of moving to the dorms, being surrounded by classmates who'd stood by me through everything, didn't feel like losing freedom. It felt like taking back control.

Aizawa-sensei's eyes met mine one last time. "We'll move forward with the preparations. And Kaminari, make sure you're ready. This is just the beginning."

He didn't need to elaborate. I knew what he meant. Kamino had been a battle, but the war was still ahead. And with my parents' hesitant blessings and Aizawa-sensei's unwavering conviction, I felt ready to face it.

The silence that filled the room after Aizawa-sensei left and my parents had ended the call was suffocating. I stood there, unmoving, listening to the echo of my own breath, feeling the quiet thrum of my heart. My eyes drifted to the small, framed photo that sat on the bookshelf, half-hidden by old textbooks and trinkets from a time that felt like another life.

Ana... Her bright eyes seemed to shimmer with life even now, her smile so genuine it almost hurt to look at. I walked over and picked up the frame, my thumb tracing the glass over her face. 

"They're moving us into dorms, Ana," I said, my voice low and raw. "They say it's for our safety. And I know they're right, but… It's strange, you know? I always thought this place would be enough. That staying here, surrounded by memories of you, would suffice."

I sat on the edge of my bed, the frame still clutched in my hands. The events of Kamino replayed in my mind—All for One's chilling presence, the way he looked at me as if he knew everything, as if my past with him was an open book. My stomach twisted at the memory, at the fear that crawled beneath my skin and left me restless.

"Seeing him again… I thought I was ready for anything. I thought I'd buried that part of me so deep it couldn't touch me anymore. But it did." I let out a bitter laugh, one that sounded hollow in the empty room. "All Might's done now. He gave everything to stop that monster, and we just stood there, helpless. Just like I was when Nikolas…"

My voice caught, breaking off. I looked back at Ana's picture, searching those bright eyes for some kind of answer, for courage, for anything.

"I'm sorry, Ana. I'm sorry I couldn't be stronger, for you, for Nikolas, for Dad." The words trembled out, unsteady, raw. "But I can't stay the same anymore. I can't live like I did before, pretending everything's fine when I'm carrying all this. If this dorm is the start of something new, then… I'll make it worth it. I'll make you proud."

A soft breeze came in through the cracked window, rustling papers on the desk and brushing against my face. For a moment, it felt like the touch of a hand, warm and gentle, as if Ana herself was listening, was here.

"I won't be alone anymore." I whispered, more to myself than to the room. "And I'll face whatever comes next. This isn't just about me—it's about everyone who's counting on us to keep going."

The weight in my chest didn't disappear, but it shifted, making room for something else. A quiet resolve that I hadn't felt before, a promise I intended to keep.