MY HERO ACADEMIA:NEXT GENERATION

chapter 15: A "Normal" Day

The sun beamed down through the windows of U.A. High School, filling the classroom with warm, golden light. Kenji leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, tapping his fingers impatiently against the desk. It had been a few days since the Sports Festival, and the excitement around the school was finally dying down.

"Man, I’m telling you, you should’ve seen yourself!" Ren, the eternal ball of energy and positivity, nudged Kenji with a grin. "Boom! Boom! You were blowing everyone up like firecrackers! Especially when you went up against Shiro. That was insane!"

Kenji shot him an unamused look. "Ren, that’s exactly what I was there to do. It's called fighting."

"Yeah, but it doesn’t always look that cool!" Ren laughed, making a playful explosion gesture with his hands. His speed quirk made him zip around Kenji's desk, almost like a blur. "I mean, Shiro barely said a word after. Now he just follows you around like a puppy!"

Kenji glanced to the side, noticing Shiro sitting quietly in the back corner of the room. Silent as ever, eyes trained on him like a hawk. It was a little unsettling, but Kenji had to admit, Shiro's fierce loyalty wasn’t the worst thing. The guy was strong and had proven himself in battle.

"Yeah, about that... It’s weird," Kenji muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Why’s he always hanging around me?"

"Maybe he's in love with you," Ren teased, waggling his eyebrows.

Kenji rolled his eyes. "Right, because everyone loves me."

Just as Ren opened his mouth for another joke, the classroom door slid open with a soft click. Kenji’s breath caught as Kai entered, his usual stoic, icy expression set in place. His dark eyes flicked briefly towards Kenji, then away as if it didn’t matter.

Kenji's muscles tensed. He’d hoped Kai wouldn’t be here today. Like he does every day,Every time they locked eyes, memories of their fierce battle at the Sports Festival rushed back—Kai’s blood manipulation quirk was as terrifying as it was impressive. The way he had controlled his own blood to form weapons, shields, and traps still gave Kenji chills.

But what was worse was that beneath the competition, there was something else. Something neither of them had acknowledged. A tension that was more than rivalry. Kenji hated that he couldn’t stop thinking about it, and about him.

Kai sat a few desks away, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, like he was always calculating. Kenji could feel his heart rate spike.Why him?, Why Kai of all people? He was cold, distant, and just infuriating.

"Earth to Kenji?" Ren waved his hand in front of Kenji’s face, pulling him out of his thoughts. "You good, bro? You spaced out for a sec."

"I’m fine," Kenji grumbled, glaring at Ren.

Before Ren could press further, their teacher, Mr. Aizawa, entered the room, his ever-tired eyes scanning the students. "Settle down. We’ve got patrol assignments today. You’ll be paired up for neighborhood surveillance. Make sure to stay sharp out there."

Patrols weren’t exactly Kenji’s idea of excitement, but they were part of U.A.’s hero curriculum. They had to get used to real-world scenarios, even the mundane ones like keeping an eye on quiet neighborhoods.

"Let’s see… Kenji, you’re with Kai." Aizawa’s voice was flat, like he didn’t even care about the impending disaster he’d just created.

Kenji stiffened, glancing at Kai, who didn’t even flinch at the news. Of course, he’d be all calm about it. Meanwhile, Ren snorted, poorly hiding his laughter.

"I knew it!" Ren whispered gleefully. "The universe hates you."

"Shut. Up." Kenji growled under his breath.

"Your route is the shopping district near Musutafu Station. Meet up after class." Aizawa’s eyes drifted closed again as he moved on to the next pairings.

Kenji stared at his desk, feeling heat rise to his face. Patrols were bad enough, but having to spend a couple of hours with Kai? The guy who had publicly humiliated him at the Sports Festival,it was cruel and unusual punishment.

The walk to Musutafu Station was quiet. Too quiet. Kenji had his hands shoved in his pockets, trying not to acknowledge the awkward tension between him and Kai as they made their way through the bustling shopping district.

Kai walked a few steps ahead, his eyes scanning the area, always alert. His presence was almost suffocating, but Kenji couldn't help but sneak a glare at him.He still didn't trust him he didn't know who he stalker was yet.He moved with such purpose and precision, like every step was calculated. It was annoying how perfect he seemed.

"You’re staring." Kai’s voice was as cool as ever, though his lips curled ever so slightly in amusement.

Kenji felt his heart jump into his throat. He scowled, quickly looking away. "I’m not staring. Don’t flatter yourself. I'm glaring."

"Hm." Kai didn’t push the matter, but the silence that followed was thick with unspoken tension.

After a few minutes of walking in strained silence, they reached a small alleyway that cut through two buildings. Kai paused, narrowing his eyes. "Hold on. Something's not right."

Kenji felt it too. The air had shifted, the usual bustling energy of the district suddenly replaced with something more… sinister.

"I feel it," Kenji muttered, his instincts kicking Tho it was not the familiar presence that he'd gotten too used to. He glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source.

Suddenly, a group of thugs emerged from the alley, their faces twisted with sneers. "Well, well, what do we have here? A couple of U.A. brats?"

The leader stepped forward, his quirk sparking in his hands, electricity crackling between his fingers. "How about you two hand over whatever’s in your pockets, and we let you walk away without a fight?"

Kenji clenched his fists, the familiar warmth of his explosion quirk tingling in his palms. "I think you’ve got that backward. You walk away now, and we don’t blow you up."

Kai stepped forward, his calm demeanor unwavering. "You heard him. Walk away. Unless you’re really that eager for a trip to the hospital."

The thugs laughed, but their leader wasn’t backing down. "Tough talk, but let’s see if you can back it up."

Without another word, Kenji launched forward, propelling himself with an explosion from his feet, closing the distance in an instant. He aimed a blast straight for the leader’s chest, but the thug dodged at the last second, sending a bolt of electricity his way.

Kenji barely had time to react before a shield of blood shot out from behind him, deflecting the attack. Kai stepped up beside him, his arm outstretched, blood swirling around him like a crimson barrier.

"You’re welcome," Kai said, his voice cool.

"Don’t get cocky," Kenji shot back.

Together, they fought side by side, an unspoken rhythm forming between them. Kenji’s explosive attacks created openings for Kai’s precise and deadly strikes, while Kai’s blood shields protected them both from any incoming blows.

Within minutes, the thugs were on the ground, groaning in defeat.

Kenji wiped sweat from his forehead, breathing heavily. "Well, that was… fun."

Kai turned to him, his expression unreadable. "You weren’t too bad yourself. For a walking bomb."

Kenji rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Whatever, blood freak."

"Ouch" kai said sarcastically.

As they stood there in the aftermath, Kenji couldn’t shake the feeling that this wouldn’t be the last time they fought side by side. And maybe he didn’t mind that idea as much as he thought he would.