June in the Japanese dar is often referred to as "Minazuki" (Waterless Month), an ironiame given that it cides with the Tsuyu season—weeks of persistent rainfall that obscure the sky and drown out the moon. Because of this, it's also jokingly called the "Waterless Moon" by locals.

  For Kaminari, this month was shaping up to be particurly packed.

  The midterm exams had just e the beginning of June, and oh, he was scheduled to attend Dr. Tenma's house to celebrate his son Tobio's birthday. But the real highlight of the month was sted for June 23rd—a five-hour performance by the "Pikachu Band," featuring Kaminari, Kyoka, and Momo. Essentially a mini-cert, the event had beeiculously anized by Kaminari's pany in colboration with the Yaoyorozu family.

  Though only a small group of fans had been io attend in person, the cert would be livestreamed for wider audiences. It was an annouhat had already begun to gee buzz both online and in real life.

  After that, July 1st would bring the final exams for U.A. High School. As a result, Kaminari and his bandmates not only had to rehearse for their uping show but also baheir studies and tut sessions. Falling behind in academics wasn't an option.

  Today, however, was Juh, a rainy weekend afternoon. It had been six days since Kaminari's st enter with vilins. At 2:26 PM, he stood at the gate of the office building where his pany was headquartered, gazing up at the structure.

  "One day," Kaminari sighed, "I hope my family have a headquarters building of its own..."

  Fnked by Kyoka and Momo, Kaminari couldn't help but ment how, despite the massive success of the Pokémon IP, his pany still cked the deep financial roots or loy to secure its own property.

  "The Yaoyorozu family could help you find a suitable building," Momo suggested, brushing her bangs back as the wind blew them over her forehead. Above her floated a golden umbrel formed from Kaminari's golden sand, catg every raindrop. "But no matter how reasohe price, the cost would still be astronomical."

  She g the umbrel thoughtfully and added, "Kaminari, these 'golden sands' of yours are truly ve. If you add a lise pte and some other features, you might evee a 'golden car' with intelligent automatic driving."

  Her gaze drifted to Pikachu, resting fortably on Kaminari's shoulder. A thought struck her, ohat was hard to suppress. "Perhaps I could get something simir for my Vulpix," she mused. Though the Yaoyorozu family didn't have much SIS alloys, they certainly had no she of other materials.

  "Let's head out," Kaminari said, unaware of her thoughts. He walked toward a sleek bck luxury car parked by the roadside. Today's goal was simple: visit the Yaoyorozu family to examihe support equipment for her Vulpix.

  Unlike Kaminari's fully funal Pikachu, Momo's Vulpix equipment was cssified as suppear rather than a battle suit. Limited materials meant that it couldn't transform into a plete battle outfit.

  The three of them slid into the back seat of the luxury car, which began its smooth jouroward Shizuoka Prefecture. Kaminari sat in the middle, sandwiched between Momo and Kyoka, and couldn't help but feel an odd sense of privilege.

  "By the way," Kaminari said, breaking the quiet atmosphere, "what's the name of your driver?"

  The man in the fro, whom Kaminari had seen numerous times before, remained silent, focused on the road.

  Momo chuckled lightly and answered for him. "He's part of the Yaoyorozu family. His name is Yaoyorozu Manzo."

  "Manzo? Really?" Kaminari blinked, stunned by the unimaginative naming vention. "Why do your family members have such... numeriames?"

  "If I had to guess," Kyoka chimed in from the other side, "he's more than just a driver, isn't he?"

  "Correct," Momo said with a smile. "He also serves as my bodyguard. Don't uimate him, he has a Hero lise."

  " I ask about his Quirk?" Kaminari asked curiously, his golden eyes locked on the driver's back. Jiro nodded in agreement, equally intrigued.

  Manzo's hands tightened slightly oeering wheel. He frowned, but Momo, trusting Kaminari pletely, answered without hesitation.

  "His Quirk is called Shadow Warrior. It's a rare, purely bat-based ability in our family."

  "Shadow Warrior?" Kaminari and Jiro exged fused looks.

  "Yes," Momo crified. "He transform his shadow into various ons. Initially, he could only create cold ons—swords, spears, bows—but now he even ma firearms."

  Kyoka's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, so that's the kind of 'Shadow Warrior' it is!"

  "What other kind could it be?" Momo asked, puzzled by Jiro's rea.

  "Wait... haven't you ever pyed video games?" Jiro asked, tilting her head.

  Momo paused to think. "I've never pyed them befrowing up, my eai sisted of horseback riding, piano, dang, and such." Her face lit up with a smile. "But retly, I've been pying Pokémon. My Vulpix evolved into ales three days ago, it's so beautiful!"

  Kyoka's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? I've been pying too! I even verted some of the Pokémon I owned in the anime—Squirtle, Jigglypuff and the others. They're all in my team now!"

  Caught between their lively versation, Kaminari could only sigh inwardly. The topic had shifted from Yaoyorozu Manzo's Quirk to animated Pokémon, leaving him as a bystander.

  In the anime, many of their cssmates had promi roles, each serving as gym leaders with unique Pokémon types. Midoriya specialized in Bug types, Bakugo dominated with Fire types, and even Tokoyami and Hagakure pyed dual roles as Ghost-type gym leaders.

  Todoroki was aandout. In the show, he ortrayed as the protagonist's greatest rival, a dual Fire and Ice trainer with a formidable lihat included ales, Charizard, Are, and Frosmoth.

  Todoroki was eveo obtain Artio in future storylines, ting his reputation as a genius trainer.

  As the car pulled into the sprawling, opulent grounds of the Yaoyorozu estate, Kaminari couldn't help but admire the grandeur of it all.

  After stepping out of the vehicle, Kaminari turo Momo with a mischievous grin. "Hey, if your Vulpix gear is good to go, how about a Pokémon battle?"

  The suggestion immediately caught the attention of both girls. Their eyes lit up as they exged excited ghen turoikachu.

  "A battle between Vulpix and Pikachu?" Momo asked, her enthusiasm evident.

  "Yeah," Kaminari replied, teasingly. "Don't you think it'll be fun?"

  To be ho, even Kaminari himself was looking forward to it.

  ***

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