Chapter 270: A Serious Conversation!
"Is this really the right choice?" Momo asked with a soft smile.
Kaminari frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Relying completely on an external tool and bypassing the training and challenges specifically designed for us by our teachers, is that really the right thing to do?"
Kaminari fell silent, contemplating her words.
---
"I believe that the true purpose of this final exam isn't just about passing. It's about seizing the opportunity to experience a high-pressure battle, a real competition against our teachers."
Momo gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the wind having blown it out of place. She then looked at Kaminari with a calm yet piercing gaze.
"What do you think?"
Kaminari hesitated. "You make a good point, but…" He couldn't shake a vague sense of discomfort. Something about this conversation unsettled him, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
"But maximizing the use of available tools and resources is also a crucial skill. That's why professional heroes are allowed to use support gear," he countered.
"I understand that. But Kaminari-san, I think you might be looking at this from the wrong perspective."
Momo took a step forward, her expression composed yet firm.
Kaminari blinked. "Wrong perspective?"
She nodded. "You're approaching this as if you're already a professional hero."
At that moment, Momo's usual gentleness gave way to something more serious, more resolute.
She had noticed a flaw in Kaminari's mindset.
And she wanted to help him.
---
"A professional hero?" Kaminari's brows furrowed in confusion.
"What's wrong with that?" he asked aloud.
"The problem," Momo answered, "is that you're not a professional hero yet. You're still a first-year student at U.A. High School."
Kaminari's first instinct was to argue, but Momo stepped closer, closing the space between them until only two meters remained.
"But you're stronger than many pro heroes already, aren't you?" she said, meeting his gaze head-on.
Kaminari held his breath.
"Momo, what are you getting at?"
"Strength alone doesn't define a professional hero," she continued. "Just because your combat ability surpasses some pros doesn't mean you're already one of them."
"The work of a true hero goes beyond raw power. It's about rescue, crisis management, leadership, adaptability and without those 'golden sands' you rely on, your combat strength isn't even among the top-tier, is it?"
Kaminari opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Because she was right.
Sure, his power level placed him above many average heroes in combat. But there were plenty of heroes stronger than him in specific areas.
And when it came to rescue work, crisis intervention, or disaster relief, he still had so much to learn.
"In terms of overall professional hero capabilities, Kaminari-san, neither you, nor me, nor any of our classmates are ready."
"So should we really rely on external tools to bypass the training designed to help us grow?"
Momo's voice was calm but firm.
Then, as if satisfied that she had said what needed to be said, she turned and walked past Kaminari, leaving him standing there in silence.
Her final words lingered in the air:
"I hope you take the time to truly think about whether you want to spend your days at U.A. as a student, constantly learning and improving…
Or if you'd rather pretend you're already at the finish line, waiting for the day when you can simply call yourself a hero without truly earning it."
---
Kaminari clenched his fists.
She wasn't wrong.
And that was exactly why her words frustrated him.
Was he really relying too much on external tools?
But then… if that were the case, how had he managed to grow this strong in the first place?
Hadn't he worked just as hard as everyone else?
Something about Momo's argument felt incomplete to him.
He agreed with her logic but it didn't completely convince him.
There was still something missing.
By the time Momo rejoined the others in the monitoring room, Mina was already rushing toward her, eyes shining with curiosity.
"Hey, hey! What did Kaminari say when he pulled you aside?!" Mina grinned mischievously.
Her question immediately captured everyone's attention even Recovery Girl, who, despite her age, couldn't resist a bit of gossip.
"Wait, wait…" Tsuyu tapped her chin. "Was it a… confession?"
"CONFESSION?!"
Midoriya, Iida, and Uraraka practically exploded, their faces going beet red.
Meanwhile, Kyoka remained silent.
She didn't join the commotion.
Instead, she pursed her lips tightly.
---
"N-No! Don't say weird things!" Momo stammered, waving her hands frantically. Her ears turned bright pink.
"Then what did he say?" Mina leaned in, wiggling her eyebrows.
Kyoka, standing slightly apart from the others, also watched Momo closely.
"So Kaminari went to talk to Momo…?"
"This… well…"
Momo hesitated.
She wanted to explain, but how was she supposed to summarize that conversation?
Her silence only fueled the wild speculation of the others.
And Kyoka…
Kyoka felt increasingly uneasy.
---
CLICK.
The door to the monitoring room swung open.
All eyes turned as Kaminari walked in, his usual energy notably absent.
Momo's expression stiffened slightly.
Kyoka… tightened her grip around her own wrist.
---
"Kaminari!" Tetsutetsu grinned. "Come on, spill! What did you and Momo talk about?!"
Kaminari glanced around.
He saw everyone's nosy expressions.
He saw Momo's awkwardness.
And he saw Kyoka's tense, unreadable stare.
Then, he sighed.
"Nothing special," he answered. "I just wanted to ask Momo, someone with a brilliant mind, if she had any strategies or advice for my upcoming match against All Might."
---
"Ohhhhhhh!"
Understanding dawned on the group especially Midoriya, who immediately sympathized with Kaminari's concern.
After all, going up against All Might was a terrifying prospect.
It made perfect sense that Kaminari would want to seek advice from Momo.
Meanwhile—
Kyoka exhaled quietly.
Her fingers loosened from their tense grip.
She trusted Kaminari.
And if he said that was the reason, then she believed him.
"But wait," Mina pouted. "Why didn't you just ask all of us together? Why alone?"
"Because Kyoka's group is up next for their exam," Kaminari answered smoothly.
"If I started talking about my match here, it'd just distract everyone from their preparation.
Besides… the advice I needed was from Momo. A private conversation was faster."
That explanation was reasonable enough for most people.
Except for Mina, who still felt slightly unconvinced.
But Kaminari ignored her. Instead, he turned to Kyoka and Koda.
"Do your best. Don't give up until the very end."
Then, his gaze briefly flickered toward Momo before he added:
"After all… facing a teacher in battle is a rare and valuable learning experience."
---
Momo held his gaze for a moment.
Then, she smiled.
Kyoka, meanwhile, nodded confidently.
"Yeah. We'll do our best," she promised.
With that, the next exam was about to begin.
Kyoka and Koda left for their testing grounds.
And everyone else turned their attention back to the monitors.
The seventh exam was about to start.