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Chapter 369 - Chapter 368: Momo’s Conversation

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they started getting ready to wash up and enjoy the natural hot springs. After all, the opportunity was rare, and they could only enjoy them for about a week.

"What's wrong?"

Kaminari looked curiously at Momo, who had asked to speak with him in his room. Even though it was nighttime and just the two of them, a guy and a girl, alone in the same room, he didn't overthink it. He was simply wondering what she wanted to say.

"Kaminari, do you remember our previous conversation?"

"That time..." Kaminari was briefly taken aback, but when he saw her serious expression, he immediately understood what she meant.

"I remember. Of course I wouldn't forget something that important. But for safety reasons, didn't we agree not to talk about it too much?"

"Yes, but I want to..." Before Momo could finish, Kaminari raised his hand to stop her.

"Are you sure you want to talk about this here?"

Momo understood what he meant. She brushed her bangs aside and gave a gentle smile.

"Don't worry. I talked with Mandalay last night and asked about her Quirk. She can only transmit her own voice into our minds. She can't hear us."

"Alright, go ahead," Kaminari nodded.

"Kaminari, we need to start building our own power," Momo said seriously, locking eyes with him.

Kaminari frowned. "Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

"Because of what you said yesterday, and your thoughts. I've come to believe that we can't keep hiding. We need to take the initiative and build the foundation and power to act on those beliefs," Momo explained.

"My words..." Kaminari's eyes flickered. "You mean the combat Hero level system?"

"Exactly. We can build that system ourselves and form an organization to manage all combat Heroes."

Kaminari stood frozen. He knew she wasn't joking. And it reminded him of something.

Momo was talking about forming a Hero Association.

But... was that even possible?

In One Punch Man, private individuals could form such organizations because of the constant appearance of monsters and city-level threats.

But this world was different. Though there were Villains and the global crime rate was high, it hadn't reached that extreme level of chaos.

So after a moment of silence, Kaminari asked, "Have you thought about whether the government would allow it?"

"Of course I've thought about it. And they will allow it, because the government ultimately serves capital. If our capital power is strong enough, the government will have to permit it," Momo replied confidently. This was Japan, after all.

"You plan to bring in other capital groups?" Kaminari wasn't a fool. He knew that the Yaoyorozu family's wealth alone wasn't enough to make this happen.

"Yes. Few major consortiums would refuse the opportunity to manage national-level combat Heroes. What we need is the power to lead that organization."

It was clear Momo hadn't yet coined the name "Hero Association," so she could only describe it as an organization for now.

"I see. I have a general idea. We'll talk about it more after this training camp ends." Kaminari's tone shifted. His eyes darkened slightly.

"You're right. We should build our own power. And to gain leadership, it still comes down to a contest of strength."

"It's not just about financial power. Physical strength matters too. That gives me one more reason to keep getting stronger."

Momo smiled slightly. "That's what I wanted to tell you. Leave the capital side to me. You just need to become stronger. Become stronger than anyone. I know you have that potential."

After their talk, Kaminari watched as Momo left the room. He then sat in a nearby chair. There wasn't a bed, since everyone slept together outside at night.

Of course, it was separated by gender. This room was only used to store luggage, personal items, and for changing clothes.

"Are you starting to feel a sense of crisis?"

Kaminari murmured softly. He understood Momo's feelings and why she wanted this kind of power.

Anyone who possessed something coveted by the five major world powers would feel anxious, fearful, and insecure.

Momo's Quirk, Creation, allowed her to convert body fat into atoms and construct objects based on her knowledge—including food and water.

It might sound ordinary, but she could actually create SIS Alloy. And she could do it at virtually zero cost.

That was a major problem.

Their original plan had been to keep this a secret forever, but it seemed Momo no longer believed that was possible.

As the saying goes, the smarter someone is, the more they worry. With her extremely high IQ, it was impossible for her to believe that a secret could stay hidden forever.

So she wanted power. Real power. Enough strength and resources to stand against the world if her secret ever came to light.

Kaminari's words yesterday had simply given her a direction. Even if he hadn't said anything, she would have eventually tried to build another organization anyway.

At the same time, Kaminari knew this showed a lack of trust in him. Momo didn't believe he alone could protect her, so she wanted power.

But that was fine. No one could take on the five major nations alone. Kaminari wasn't angry—he just felt a bit sad for Momo.

"If only I hadn't let her test it back then..." Kaminari sighed in frustration. Who would've guessed she'd actually pull it off based on something he said casually?

He had once mentioned to Momo that, theoretically, if she understood the structure of SIS Alloy, she could create it using her Quirk.

So in a way, he was partly responsible for how things had developed.

But then again, if he could think of it, someone else eventually would too. Momo's Quirk was Creation.

"No matter what, if I'm strong enough, I can shield her from the whole world."

Momo wasn't just a classmate and friend. She was a trusted partner. She had helped him so much before. Even if he wasn't obligated, he would still stand by her without hesitation.

"And it wouldn't be so bad to build our own 'Hero Association'..."

That night, after everyone had soaked in the hot springs, laid down, and turned off the lights, mysterious figures began gathering in a corner of the forest.

"That makes seven."

"Hurry up and get started already. I can't wait to hear that Kaminari Denki kid scream!" A tall man wrapped in black robes said, his body twitching with anticipation.

The man in the white baseball mask was ready to make his move.

"Shut up. You're all a bunch of freaks." Dabi, dressed in a black cloak, stood at the front of the group, staring at the large building in the distance.

"It's not time yet. We wait until all eleven are present."

"Gathering random thugs who only know how to bluff will just increase the risk. What we need are skilled elites."

"Looks like the lesson from USJ finally taught that guy something. Took him long enough to show some leadership."

Meanwhile, in the building's hallway, Kaminari glanced at Todoroki, who looked calm but clearly sleepy. He turned to their homeroom teacher Aizawa and asked tiredly, "Sensei, what exactly are we doing at 5:10?"

Even though everyone else was already asleep, Aizawa had called them out. Kaminari was exhausted and drowsy too.

"Remedial lessons."

"You failed the final exam. I'm sure you remember that," Aizawa said without looking back.

"Uh..." Kaminari was speechless, then asked in disbelief, "So we're doing tutoring now?"

"Yes. It's eleven o'clock. You'll study for three hours a night. I told you before we came that you'd be more exhausted than everyone else."

"No way..." Kaminari groaned. "What about you, Sensei? Don't you need sleep?"

"I already slept during the day. No need to worry about my teaching quality." Aizawa stopped and opened a door.

"Go in."

Kaminari and Todoroki looked at the tidy desks and the whiteboard inside. They glanced at each other in dismay, then walked in, completely dejected.

(To be continued.)

***

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