My Hero Academia: Tropic Thunder

His days of being recognizable at mere sight were long gone, the people barely acknowledging his presence if not for his immense stature. As he arrived at the agency's entrance, his mind is troubled, a seemed turmoil stirring inside his head. "Why am I here? Raio doesn't need me to enable him... No... Why shouldn't I help? He's my son and I own this to him." They ceased as he took a step foward.

...

The halls of the agency were as grand and imposing as the man himself, reflecting his overwhelming presence and power. But Maxwell Kaminari walked through them with a calm and measured stride. He had known this one for years, their paths crossing more than once during their hero days. Though retired, Maxwell's air of authority hadn't diminished.

Now, as a father, he was here for his son.

...

Standing at the door of his office, flames flickering faintly from his shoulders, casting long shadows across the hallway, the Hero crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing as he recognized Maxwell.

"Supercell..." He greeted coldly, though there was a faint edge of respect in his voice. "What do you want?"

"Endeavour," Maxwell replied evenly, stepping inside without hesitation. "We need to talk."

...

Raio sat on the steps outside his house, his eyes fixed on the distant clouds, their slow churn hinting at an approaching storm. The air felt heavy and thick, much like the pressure that had been weighing on him since the U.A. Sports Festival. He absentmindedly traced the scars left by his last battle, his fingers tingling faintly as sparks of electricity danced just beneath his skin.

It wasn't like him to sit idle. But lately, no amount of training seemed to calm the restlessness gnawing at his mind. Something had shifted after the festival. The victory had been his, yet it felt hollow. Even with all the praise, the recommendations, the attention—there was still something missing.

He sighed, looking down at the restrainer collar that had once been his constant companion. The thing that had kept him in check, kept him from losing control. But now, it felt like a relic of someone else's past. He wasn't the same Raio anymore.

But even without the collar, he wondered... What's next?

He had been waiting for something, for a sign, for some kind of recognition from someone he truly admired. Yet, nothing had come. No word from the one figure he had looked up to his entire life.

"Maybe I'm not good enough for him to notice." he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the growing rumble of distant thunder.

The sky flickered with brief flashes of lightning, and Raio felt an odd connection to the storm rolling in. Chaotic. Unpredictable. Much like him. But there was strength in the storm too, a power waiting to be unleashed.

He stood up, shaking off the unease, his mind settling into that familiar resolve. Whatever came next, he would face it head-on. He didn't need anyone's validation—not even Endeavour's. He would prove his worth on his own terms.

As Raio stood, the rain began to fall in earnest. He paused for a moment, feeling the cool droplets hit his skin, soaking into his clothes. Most people would rush for cover, but not him. The rain always reminded him of Ana, of their time spent together, running through the downpours without a care in the world.

He tilted his head back, letting the rain wash over him, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips. The steady rhythm of the storm felt like a quiet conversation between him and the memory of his sister, a comforting presence he carried with him even now.

For a brief moment, standing there in the downpour, Raio felt at peace.

...

"My son needs a teacher." Maxwwell said, not bothering with pleasantries. Endeavour turned, heading back to his desk, his broad frame radiating impatience. "He can choose amongst thousands, I have my own reason to not be interested on other interns."

Maxwell remained calm but firm. "And I understand this reason, but Raio needs guidance. Yours. He's got raw potential, but his power is dangerous. You know what it's like to live with that kind of burden. You could help him."

Endeavour grunted, the flames around him flaring slightly. "I don't waste time training someone who can't control themselves."

"Exactly," Maxwell interrupted, his voice taking on a hard edge. "That lack of control nearly cost his victory. But Raio persevered and won that final match without the collar. His power is immense, but he needs a mentor who understands how to manage that kind of untamed power."

Endeavour turned to face Maxwell fully, his eyes blazing with intensity. "I chose to train my son, Shoto. He has my attention, and he's the one I'll focus on."

Maxwell's gaze didn't waver. "I'm not asking you to abandon Shoto. But to allow Raio under your wing as well; He looks up to you, Endeavour. You were his inspiration long before he even stepped foot in U.A. He's fought his whole life to control his Quirk, and he needs someone like you to show him how to harness it properly."

Endeavour's eyes narrowed further, the tension between them palpable. "This isn't a charity, Supercell. If your son is as strong as you claim, he will overcome his failure and become better, or fail."

Maxwell exhaled slowly, his frustration barely contained. "Do you really want to risk letting a talent like his go unchecked? If Raio doesn't learn control, his power could hurt people or himself. You of all people know the cost of that."

For a moment, Endeavour's flame flickered, as if Maxwell's words had struck a chord. But the Flame Hero was as stubborn as ever. He turned away, looking out of the large window overlooking the city.

"I have my priorities, Supercell. If your son wants to prove himself, he can do it without my help."

Maxwell leaned back slightly, arms crossed, his gaze thoughtful as he regarded his old acquaintance. The weight of the conversation lingered between them, charged with unspoken history. "You know," Maxwell began, his voice low and reflective, "lightning is often the catalyst for fire."

Endeavour's eyes narrowed slightly, waiting for the point to unfold.

"Raio's electricity may be chaotic, unpredictable," Maxwell continued, "but sometimes that chaos is exactly what fire needs to ignite its full potential. Like how the sparks from a storm light up the sky before the flames take hold. Imagine what they could learn from each other—Raio and Shoto. Lightning and fire, pushing each other to grow."

Endeavour's face remained unreadable, but the metaphor clearly stuck. The notion of his son, Shoto, becoming even more formidable alongside someone like Raio wasn't lost on him. Still, he remained silent, contemplating the possibilities Maxwell had laid before him.

With that, Maxwell walked out of the office, leaving Endeavour alone to brood, the flickering light of his flames casting long shadows across the room.

The office was still, the faint crackle of flame the only sound as Endeavour stood in silence. The door closed behind Maxwell Kaminari, leaving Endeavour alone in the golden light of the setting sun. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, but his mind was elsewhere.

Raio Kaminari.

Endeavour could still picture the match. The semi-final of the U.A. Sports Festival had been etched into his memory—not because of Kaminari's performance, but because Todoroki had lost. To Raio.

Shoto had the advantage in all fields, even if he was only using his right, against an opponent who couldn't even use half of his power without destroying his body. Raio outsmarted Shoto, even made him use his left and yet made a fool out of him. All this potential, but in the end, Raio had won.

Endeavour clenched his fists, small flames flickering between his fingers. The loss had stung, not just for Shoto, but for him. His son, his pride, had been defeated by someone who had no control over his own power.

And yet… there was no denying Raio's strength.

"Raio needs guidance… someone like you to help him harness it." Maxwell's words echoed in his mind.

Endeavour exhaled slowly, the flames on his shoulders flaring momentarily as he recalled the final fight. Raio's victory had been raw, untamed, and fueled by desperation. He had fought without his restrainer collar, letting his power surge beyond what was safe. If it hadn't been for the collar snapping off, Raio might not have even won.

Control. That was the key. Without it, Raio was a danger to himself and others. But with it?

Endeavour's eyes narrowed, the flames around him flickering as his thoughts swirled. Raio had beaten Shoto, and that fact alone couldn't be ignored. The boy had potential—dangerous, volatile potential—but potential nonetheless. He had the kind of raw power that could push Shoto further, challenge him, force him to grow. And Shoto needed that challenge.

Another intern? The thought tasted bitter, but Endeavour had always valued strength. If Raio could be shaped, honed like a blade, he could become a useful tool. Not just to train alongside Shoto, but to drive him to new heights. To push his son where even Endeavour couldn't.

His flames flared higher for a moment as a decision began to form. Raio's victory at the festival was still fresh in his mind, a reminder of what was at stake. The boy had taken down Todoroki, but if trained properly, both could grow from this. And in the process, Endeavour could sharpen Raio into something greater—something that could benefit him in the long run.

Endeavour turned his gaze back to the setting sun, the golden hues painting the sky as the day slipped away. The fiery light mirrored the fire inside him, a relentless drive to push forward, to seek the limits of what power could achieve.

Raio Kaminari… he thought again. The boy was dangerous. But danger could be useful, if controlled. Perhaps this was an opportunity.

As the last sliver of the sun dipped below the horizon, Endeavour's flames flickered softly, casting long shadows across the office. His eyes gleamed with a mixture of calculation and determination.

Yes, he would give Raio a chance—not out of admiration, but because there was potential there. Not just for Raio, but for Shoto as well.

Control the storm, Endeavour thought, his lips curling into the faintest hint of a smirk, and it becomes your greatest weapon.

With one final look at the darkening skyline, Endeavour turned and walked back into the depths of his office, his mind already turning to how he would test Raio Kaminari's limits.

...

Raio stood with his parents at the bustling airport, watching as the announcement for their flight echoed through the terminal. His mother, Edith, glanced at him with a mixture of pride and concern, her eyes soft but searching. Maxwell, standing tall beside her, had his hands in his pockets, a rare smile playing at the corners of his lips.

There was a silence between them, but not the uncomfortable kind they had once shared. This silence felt... different. It was filled with understanding and unspoken words.

Edith was the first to break it, reaching out to adjust the collar of Raio's jacket, her touch gentle. "You've grown so much, Raio," she said softly, her voice trembling just slightly. "I just want you to know, we see you now. We see the man you're becoming. Ana... she would be so proud."

Raio looked down, his chest tightening. "I hope so, Mom," he murmured. "I just wish I could have done more before..."

"No," Maxwell interrupted, his tone firm but kind. "You've already done more than enough. Your victory in the festival wasn't just for Ana. It was for you—for all of us."

Edith nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're carrying her dream forward, Raio. But you need to know, it's okay to have your own dream too."

Raio swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their words. He looked up at his parents, taking in the moment. "I promise," he said quietly, his voice strong despite the lump in his throat, "I'll become a hero Ana will be proud of. And one you both can be proud of too."

His parents exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting the love they had for their son, a love that had been clouded for too long by grief and misunderstanding. They both stepped forward, pulling Raio into a tight embrace. For the first time in years, he felt whole, like a piece of his family had been restored.

"We never stopped loving you, Raio," Maxwell said softly. "Never forget that."

As they pulled away, Edith placed a hand on his cheek, her smile watery but sincere. "Take care of yourself. And keep in touch."

...

Later, Raio sat in the back of the taxi, his gaze wandering out the window as the city blurred by. His mind was still swirling with the emotions from the airport, the promise he'd made echoing in his chest. He pulled out his phone, thinking of sending a message to his parents to let them know he was headed back, but a notification popped up on his screen instead.

"Recommendation: Endeavour Agency."

Raio blinked, his heart skipping a beat. Endeavour? He quickly opened the message, reading it over several times, but there was no mistake. The number two hero had sent him an offer for an internship.

His fingers shook as he typed a quick message to his mother:

Raio: Mom, you won't believe this. Endeavour just sent me an internship recommendation. THE Endeavour!

There was a pause before Edith's response came through.

Edith: Endeavour? But why? I thought he only had eyes for his son.

Raio's lips tugged into a grin as he imagined her surprise. But before he could respond, a second message came through.

Edith: Maxwell says he doesn't know why a man like Endeavour would change his mind...

Raio chuckled at the playful tone in her words, knowing full well what his father had been up to.

Maxwell was always one for understatements.

Leaning back in the seat, Raio felt the weight of both his past and his future settle around him. With his family's support and an opportunity he had never dreamed of, the next chapter of his journey was about to begin.

And this time, he was ready. The storm had only just begun.