My Hero Academia: Tropic Thunder

-Narrator's POV-

The rustling grows louder as Raio struggles to his feet, wiping sweat from his brow. He tenses, electricity coming alive at his fingertips, ready to defend himself if necessary.

If this is some forest critter... Or worse, Aizawa-sensei...

The bushes part and a familiar figure steps into the clearing.

"Well, well, well. Look who's out here pretending to be Raijin."

Raio exhales, half-relieved, half-annoyed.

"Kendo? What's my favorite stalker doing here aside from trying to get in trouble?" 

Kendo stands clears of the brushes, hands at her hips. Her grin wide.

"Me? I like to get up early. Couldn't help but notice the firework display at a distance so I decided to check it out."

She points at the charred mannequin behind him.

"Should I be worried? Did that poor dummy say something to offend you?" Her mock concern is noticed.

Raio chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, it just had a striking resemblance to Monoma, so it was on sight."

"I'll make sure to notify Monoma to get a restraining order then."

They share a laugh, the tension of the initial moment melting away. But, as if their minds were in sync, they both remembered the awkwardness of training camp, the dreaded rumor.

"So... What's really going on here, Kaminari?" Kendo quickly shunned those thoughts away.

"It's nothing. Just... Needed to clear my head and work on something. That's all." Kaminari was relieved she seemed to not believe his sudden nervousness.

"Nothing doesn't leave you looking like you just went twelve rounds with All Might."

Raio sighs, his shoulders slumping.

"I'm just trying to get better. You know, actually deserve the expectations everyone keeps pilling on me."

"You do deserve them. You've already proven that." Kendo said gently.

"It doesn't feel like it. Not yet." He quietly responded.

"Well... If the guy who faced villains at U.S.J, won the U.A sports festival, got to be the intern of the #2 hero Endeavour, faced the hero killer and protected Awase-san and Yaoyorozu-san from a Nomu alone, doesn't deserve the expectations... I don't know who does." 

Raio looks at her, his tired eyes soften.

"You're weirdly good at pep talks, you know that?"

"Weirdly? Gee, thanks. You're not half-bad at looking like you're about to pass out." Kendo playfully says, she gently pokes his shoulder, and Raio flinches, laughing.

"Hey, careful. I'm fragile right now."

"Fragile? The guy who just torched a mannequin?" Her teasing is very much appreciated.

"Hey..." She spoke up after a beat. "...Did you ever figure out what that whole thing was about after the camp?" Her tone turned more cautious, but she maintained an air of casual curiosity.

Kaminari's grin faded a bit, replaced by a thoughtful look. "You mean that gossip?" He laughed lightly, though a hint of nerves crept in. "Yeah, I heard. It's been, what, hanging over us for weeks now?"

"More like a storm cloud. Some people really love their drama." Kendo replied with a smirk, but her eyes didn't stray from his. "I guess it's on us to clear it up."

"Clear it up, huh?" Kaminari's voice took on a more serious note as he looked at her. "I never really got to say it properly… But that night, after everything—thanks for sticking around, Kendo. I needed someone who—well, you get it."

A blush threatened to creep up her cheeks, but she countered it with a playful nudge to his arm. "You're not getting all sappy on me now, are you, Raio?"

"Who? Me?" He placed a hand over his heart, feigning shock. "Never. Just letting my future biographer know who the real hero was behind my breakthrough."

"Oh, so I'm your muse now? How honored should I be?" Kendo shot back, eyes sparkling as she fell into his easy rhythm.

"Very, it's a honor to be bestowed such title." Kaminari teased, leaning back on his heels. The playful mood shifted slightly as he dropped the act and met her gaze directly. "But honestly, I agree, I think we should… Clear things up. And maybe see where it goes from there."

The shift caught Kendo off-guard, her teasing expression softening as she registered his earnestness. "You mean—?"

"Yeah." Kaminari said, a grin creeping back but tempered with new confidence. "How about we start with a date? No training camp, no rumors, just us figuring out things."

Kendo's eyes widened, the playful edge returning as she smirked. "You're bolder than I gave you credit for, Kaminari."

"It's what heroes do." He said, offering a wink. "So, what do you say?"

Kendo raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing. "Maybe if you pass that Provisional License Exam, we could see where this goes. Who knows? I might even consider this date of yours."

His heart stuttered, and a slow grin spread across his face. "You're gonna make me work really hard for it. Oh well, this is the way."

"I'm not saying anything concrete." She added, her tone light. "But I wouldn't be opposed." She finished, eyes gleaming with mischief.

Raio's playful energy sparked to life, but he composed himself, letting a more serious expression settle. "Alright, it's a deal. I'll make sure I ace that exam. And when I do, I'll be picking you up after school."

This time, it was Kendo who blinked in surprise, a hint of color dusting her cheeks. "Confident, aren't we?"

"I have to be." He said softly, sincerity glimmering in his amber eyes. "For both of us."

She laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "Good luck, Kaminari. You're going to need it."

Before the mood can linger, a mechanical whirring breaks the silence. A patrol bot rolls into the clearing, its glowing eyes scanning area.

"ATTENTION: Students Kaminari Raio, Class 1-A of the Hero Course; Student Kendo Itsuka, Class 1-B of the Hero Course out of dorms past curfew. Return immediately or face disciplinary action."

Raio groans, throwing his hands up. "Great. The one time I'm not causing trouble, I still get caught."

"Come on, Raijin. Let's get out of here before it calls Vlad-sensei, or worse, Aizawa-sensei." Kendo says, grinning more than usual.

The thought of facing Aizawa's reprimand sent shivers down Raio's spine, who rapidly complied and followed Kendo back to the dorms, a surge of motivation flood through him. The stakes had just gotten a lot more interesting.

...

Raio hasn't slept since coming back to the dorms, he's doozing off between classes, his eyes red, mimicking his sensei's, only the latter is filled with annoyance as he catches the boy sleeping.

Soon, they leave for their secret technique's class, Raio receives a call from Power Loader, who asks for his presence immediately at the U.A Development Studio. He has a feeling it's good news as he speed through the corridors, much to the dismay of Ilda who promptly scolds Raio for such reckless behavior.

...

The studio seemed more organized than what it was three days ago, they are looking as excited as I am as I entered. Power Loader-sensei stood by a covered mannequin, his usual stoic expression softened by a hint of a smile. Hatsume is bouncing on the balls of her feet nearby barely containing her excitement.

"Kaminari, just in time." Motioning me over. "Before we unveal it, I should tell you—there's a special twist to today's reveal."

I frowned, curiosity piqued. "A twist?"

Power Loader-sensei tugged the cover off with a swift pull, looking more excited that me, revealing a sleek, tailored hero costume in striking black and gold. The design was modern yet classic, metallic gold lines running through the fabric in an intricate pattern that resembled lightning. It was lined with reinforced, conductive material, subtle regulators embedded into the fabric for controlled voltage output.

"Whoa... This is incredible!"

My eyes widened as I took in the details. 

Power Loader-sensei's expression softened and he crossed his arms. 

"A courtesy from your parents. Your father reached out to me when he caught wind of your requests for a suit upgrade. Your mother sent the blueprints herself within a day, she wanted to make sure you got exactly what you needed. This isn't just an upgrade—it's a reminder that someone out there is watching your journey and believes in you."

I swallowed hard, feeling a knot in my throat impossible to untangle. Their's usually distant support took tangible form, and for a moment, all the memories of our complex relationship flooded back. "I... I didn't know..."

"They insisted it be kept a surprise." Power Loader added, patting my shoulder. "Hatsume, take it away."

She immediately started, her genuine happiness to be apart of this project makes me happy.

"The modifications include flexible voltage regulators, insulated energy boosters, and micro-adjusters to control electric discharge output. There's even anadaptive stabilizers that help maintain your balance in mid-air, and internal capacitors for extra energy storage. We even integrated a flexible harness system that'll help with your experiment."

I met her eyes, I feel only gratitude wash over me, having these two working on this tirelessly, I couldn't ask for nothing else. 

"Thank you, both of you, I am forever grateful for your hardwork. I'll make sure this suit sees the work it deserves."

Power Loader clapped me on the back. "You're not just wearing new gear, Kaminari—you're stepping into the next phase of your hero journey. Make it count."

I nodded, a smile breaking across my face. "I will."

Power Loader nodded. "Go test it out. Let's see how you look as the hero you're becoming."

...

Kaminari wasted no time put it on the new suit inspecting carefully every possible detail he could see, with the help of Hatsume.

The black and gold ensemble, showcasing a blend of functionality and subtle nods to his family and personal style. The black base symbolizes stability and control, while the gold accents highlight his electrifying nature and pay homange to the lightning. The suit is both stylish and reinforced with advanced materials for combat.

On it's upper body, a form-fitting chest piece made from an advanced, conductive polymer reinforced with lightweight alloy plates. This armor has thin gold lines runnning in a intricate circuit-like pattern, allowing Kaminari to channel and amplify his electricity safely. The chest piece includes micro-adjusters that will help regulate his power output for controlled discharges.

Kaminari sees an integrade and more refined version of his previous restraining collar. Only this one is adjusts eletricity flow instead of containing it through automatic regulation, preventing accidental overloads during high-energy moments, this new mechanism is also sleek, barely noticeable. On the inner lining of the collar mechanism, the words "For Ana, always" are engraved in a delicate script, a reminder of his sister's dream that he carries forward.

Kaminari inspects his arms next. The suit's sleeves are designed with a breathable, high-resistance fabric that can withstand electrical currents without degrading. 

The new gloves are specially designed with reinforced fingertips and conductive material that allow Kaminari channel electricit more precisely. The gloves feature integrated capacitors to store small amounts of energy for emergency discharges or controlled bursts. 

Finally, detachable, flexible bracers equipped with small energy gauges and discharge nodes. They allow for rapid dispersal of electricity in defensive situations and are capable to magnetize.

The pants are reinforced with flexible material that provides both durability and mobility. The fabric is interwoven with gold detailing that matches the upper body, providing an unified look. The legs have subtle padding to protect against impacts and channel electricity safely.

A utility belt with various compartments that hold specialized gadgets and tools for quick repairs, energy-conductive cables, and emergency insulators.

Thigh panels fitted with thun, hidden compartments that store additional energy regulators and emergency flare lights. The panels also provide extra insulation.

Shock absorbent boots designed for maximum traction and shock absorption, essential for high speed movement and sudden landings. 

Conductive soles have gold-coated conductive pads that allow Kaminari to transfer electricity to the ground for stratategic AOE attacks or self propulsion.

Finally, on his back, a compact, streamlined backpack attachment that holds a lightweight battery pack for supplemental energy storage. 

...

"Feels good, right? Now go back to the gym and test it out your new moves." Power Loader waves goodbye before letting Kaminari be on his way. Hatsume looks like she wants to come along to see how it performs, but her work awaits.

"Yes, Sir! Once more, thank you for your hard work! Both of you!"

"Remember! Anything new you want to try just come back here and we'll fix you right up!" Hatsume happily waves as well as Kaminari leaves the room in a hurry, running through the corridor, curiosity and expectations rising by the second.

With such leap in upgrades, his promisses are one step closer to being fulfilled.