MY HERO ACADEMIA:NEXT GENERATION

chapter 10

The midday sun filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows across the training field. The air was filled with the sounds of students practicing their quirks—blasts of energy, flashes of light, and the crackle of electricity all mixed with shouts and laughter. But in one corner of the field, where the noise seemed to fade into the background, Ren and Kenji stood, their contrasting personalities highlighted by the way they interacted with the world around them.

Ren, his blue hair catching the sunlight, was a blur of motion. His speed quirk made him a natural at agility drills, darting between obstacles with a grin plastered on his face. He zipped back and forth, effortlessly weaving between targets and showing off, the pure joy of movement evident in every step.

Kenji, on the other hand, was more reserved, almost brooding. He stood a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest, watching Ren’s antics with a mixture of irritation and something he refused to admit was amusement. His blond hair fell into his eyes, which were as mismatched as they were intense—one red, one green, both sharp and scrutinizing. The field beneath his feet was scorched, a reminder of the power he held in his quirk. Unlike Ren, Kenji’s movements were calculated, deliberate, and full of controlled power.

Ren zipped to a stop in front of Kenji, his usual grin in place. “Come on, Kenji! Let’s race! I bet you can’t beat me in a straight dash.”

Kenji’s scowl deepened. “I’m not interested in childish games. Go bother someone else.” His voice was cold, the kind that could freeze someone in their tracks. But Ren wasn’t just anyone.

Ren laughed, not deterred in the slightest. “You say that every time, but you never actually tell me to go away.” He nudged Kenji lightly with his elbow, a casual familiarity that had slowly crept into their interactions. “Besides, it’s not a game if there’s no competition. I thought you’d like a challenge.”

Kenji’s eyes narrowed, a spark of competitive fire flaring up despite his best efforts to suppress it. Ren had a knack for getting under his skin, but not in the way others did. Ren wasn’t mocking or cruel, he was genuine, persistent, and oddly, it was that very persistence that Kenji found hard to ignore.

“Fine,” Kenji muttered, uncrossing his arms. “But don’t cry when you lose.”

Ren’s grin widened, and he bounced on his heels, already revving up for the race. “We’ll see about that!”

The two boys took their positions at the edge of the field. Ren’s muscles were coiled, ready to spring, while Kenji stood in a low stance, the ground beneath his feet beginning to smolder slightly as he prepared to launch himself forward with his explosive quirk.

“On your mark... Get set... Go!”

Ren was off like a shot, a blur of blue hair and quicksilver motion. But Kenji wasn’t far behind. With a powerful explosion from his feet, he propelled himself forward, matching Ren’s speed in bursts of raw power. The race was intense, neither boy willing to back down.

Despite the competitive nature of the race, there was an unspoken understanding between them—an acknowledgment of each other’s strengths. Ren was fast, but Kenji was powerful, and together, they pushed each other to their limits.

In the end, the race ended in a tie, both boys skidding to a halt at the same time, panting and grinning. Ren was the first to speak, laughing as he caught his breath. “No way you caught up with me! This is literally the ONE thing I'm supposed to be better at than you!”

Kenji wiped the sweat from his brow, his usual scowl softened by the thrill of competition. “And you got lucky. Next time,it won't be a tie,I’ll win.”

“Maybe,” Ren said, still smiling. He flopped down onto the grass, patting the spot beside him. “Come on, take a break with me.”

Kenji hesitated for a moment before sitting down, keeping a bit of distance between them, but it was progress. He didn’t protest when Ren started talking about random things—how the sky looked today, what he planned to do after training, and some silly joke he’d heard earlier. Kenji found himself listening, not because he particularly cared about the topics, but because he enjoyed the sound of Ren’s voice, the way it filled the silence that used to weigh him down.

As Ren continued to talk, Kenji glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Ren was kind, funny, and had a way of bringing light into even the darkest corners of his thoughts. It was annoying at first—how could someone be so happy all the time? But now, Kenji realized that Ren’s happiness wasn’t just an act, it was a choice, one that he made every day despite everything.

And maybe, just maybe, that was something Kenji could learn from him.

“Why do you keep following me around?” Kenji asked suddenly, cutting off Ren mid-sentence.

Ren blinked, surprised by the question. “Because I like being around you, duh. You’re fun, even if you act all grumpy.” He grinned at Kenji, but there was a sincerity in his eyes that made Kenji pause. “And I guess... I don’t want you to feel alone.”

Kenji stared at him, the words sinking in. No one had ever said that to him before. People were usually scared of him, or they just left him alone because of his prickly attitude. But Ren... Ren had stuck around, no matter how many times Kenji tried to push him away.

“Idiot,” Kenji muttered, though there was no bite in his words. “You’re the one who’s going to end up hurt if you keep hanging around me.”

Ren’s grin never faltered. “Then I guess I’ll just have to be careful.”

For the first time in a long while, Kenji felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards, almost forming a smile. It was small, barely there, but Ren noticed and his own smile widened in response.

Maybe friendship... wasn’t so bad after all.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the training field, the two boys sat together in comfortable silence. Their friendship was still new, still fragile, but it was there, and it was growing stronger with each passing day. And for Kenji, that was enough.