My Hero Academia: Thunder God

February, while not quite as lively as March, still brings a hint of renewal. The lawns on both sides of the park are already covered in a fresh, green carpet, though without the layers of delicate flowers, the space feels a bit monotonous.

"Hah…"

A young man with blond hair, streaked with a bolt of black lightning, came to a stop, his chest heaving from the exertion of his run.

He approached an ancient tree with a thick, moss-covered trunk, his face shining with sweat. With a deep breath, he inhaled the cool, fragrant air filled with the scent of the park's greenery.

"Phew…"

Exhaling a cloud of breath, Kaminari felt his entire body hum with energy. This feeling of taking in fresh air after a run he never got tired of it. It made every part of him feel alive.

"No matter how many times I experience this, it never gets old," he murmured, his gaze rising to the ancient cherry blossom trees lining the path. A handsome smile crossed his face, though there was a note of regret in his tone. 

"Looks like the cherry blossoms won't bloom before school starts…"

This was Omiya Park in Saitama Prefecture, not far from the city where he lived. It was a short subway ride away, and for years, Kaminari had come here to exercise regularly.

The thing he loved most about this park were the cherry blossom trees. There were over a thousand of them, each an old tree with its own history. When March rolled around, the whole park would be bathed in pink, the cherry blossoms filling the air with their subtle fragrance.

He remembered the first time he'd come to enjoy the cherry blossoms with his parents it had left him stunned.

On that day, hundreds of families gathered under the blossoms, sharing carefully prepared lunches and drinks. People sang traditional songs, sometimes with friends, sometimes with strangers, and vendors sold treats from stalls they'd set up around the park. It was a lively, vibrant scene.

But most days, like today, the park was quiet. Aside from a few elderly folks taking their dogs for a walk, it was rare to see anyone else, especially a fifteen-year-old like Kaminari.

"Well, it's almost six," he muttered, glancing at his watch. He was wearing a black and yellow tracksuit, and a pair of headphones hung around his neck. It was time to head to the subway station. 

His schedule had been the same for years now: get up at 4:30 a.m., head to the park for a run, and then find a secluded spot to practice and study his Quirk. Omiya Park was large, and at this early hour, he could train without anyone noticing.

Well, almost no one. There had been one instance where an elderly man walking his Shiba Inu had spotted him experimenting with his Quirk. But the man hadn't said a word, only smiled kindly before continuing along the path.

Kaminari wasn't too worried. As long as he didn't hurt anyone or himself, nobody was likely to make a fuss. But when he told his mother about his morning runs, he left out the part about practicing his Quirk. He didn't want to worry her, so in her mind, he was just a good son who studied hard, exercised regularly, and had a love for music.

"Hm?"

By now, Kaminari was nearing the park's entrance, less than 200 meters from the subway station. He was about to put on his headphones and enjoy some music on his way home, but he was stopped by the sight of a small crowd gathered ahead, along with the sound of worried voices.

"Did someone call an ambulance?!"

"It's on its way! But it'll take at least ten minutes to get here!"

"What do we do? He's not breathing!"

Curious, Kaminari approached and saw an elderly man lying unconscious on the ground, surrounded by several anxious onlookers. A little Shiba Inu stood beside the old man, licking his face in confusion.

"Wait, isn't that the old man…?"

Kaminari immediately recognized him. It was the same man who had spotted him practicing his Quirk not too long ago. He still remembered the kind smile the old man had given him.

"Excuse me, what happened to him?" Kaminari asked, addressing a bald, heavyset man nearby. But it was a worried woman with purple hair who answered him.

"We're not sure. He just collapsed out of nowhere. By the time we checked, he wasn't breathing," she said, wringing her hands.

The bald man nodded, adding, "I called for an ambulance, but they said it'll take at least ten minutes. We're afraid the old man won't last that long."

Kaminari frowned, understanding their concern. Without oxygen, even a few minutes could be fatal, but he didn't have any first aid training. For a moment, he wasn't sure what to do.

"We need a hero! Is there a hero around here?!"

A younger man in the crowd shouted suddenly, and everyone's attention shifted. 

"Heroes?!"

"Yeah! There must be a pro hero nearby! Someone find a hero!"

In a society filled with heroes, it was natural for people to think of them in emergencies. But no one here knew how to contact a hero directly, other than through their agency numbers. The issue was, they needed a hero now, not in ten minutes.

"Don't worry! A hero is here!"

Just as the crowd's anxiety peaked, a sultry voice rang out. Before anyone could react, a figure darted past them, moving so quickly that Kaminari barely registered it.

"That speed… incredible," Kaminari thought, his heart racing. But before he could process the movement, he was hit by a wave of strong perfume, making his head swim slightly.

"It's Midnight!"

The crowd began to cheer, and someone quickly explained, "She's a pro hero! A teacher at U.A. High School!"

Kaminari's eyes focused on the woman kneeling beside the old man. She was checking his vitals with a calm, practiced efficiency. 

"A teacher from U.A…"

"He's in cardiac arrest!" Midnight's voice was firm and decisive. She wasn't a doctor, but as a senior pro hero, she had plenty of experience in emergency situations. 

Without hesitation, she began administering chest compressions, trying to restore the old man's blood circulation. At the same time, she gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, not pausing for a second.

"It's not working! Chest compressions alone won't save him!" Midnight's voice grew strained with frustration. Her Quirk wasn't meant for healing, and she was running out of options.

"Cardiac arrest…"

A young voice broke through the tension, catching Midnight's attention. A slender shadow appeared beside her, cast by the morning light.

"I think… I might be able to help, Miss Hero."