Kaminari was eagerly watching Cementoss repair the arena for the next match, not a worry in his mind.

  Then Momo tapped his shoulder, looking downcast.

  “Hey Kaminari, Jir- I was wondering if you wanted to go eat something from the stands outside. Festival food’s always good, right?”

  Kaminari looked up at her. She seemed genuinely sad, probably still reeling from her loss against Tokoyami.

  So he sprang up from his seat, a cheeky grin already spreading across his face. “Sure! As long as I’m not the one paying though.”

  And then he felt a very familiar pain in the back of his head... Jirou jabbing him with her earphone jack. He spun around and rubbed the sore spot. “Hey, what gives? I didn’t even say anything that bad!”

  She crossed her arms and looked away. “You should pay for your own food, idiot.”

  Kaminari blinked, confused for a moment, then turned to face Momo again. “Alright, how about this... let’s all go. My treat.”

  Momo and Jirou exchanged a glance. It was half exasperation, half amusement. But they didn’t argue. The three of them stood and started making their way down from the stands.

  Kaminari led them into the hallway, even though he clearly had no idea where he was going. Hands in his pockets, a bounce in his step, his grin unshakable. Momo and Jirou walked side by side behind him.

  “You must be really hungry, right Momo?” he said, turning around mid-stride so he could face them while walking backwards.

  She looked slightly flustered but nodded. “Yes... I am. I used a lot of lipids and didn’t really eat during the break.”

  Kaminari turned back around, just in time to avoid slamming into a wall. They headed for the stairs.

  “Well, how about some takoyaki? I always love a nice plate of those.”

  “I’m more fond of yakisoba,” Momo replied. “But we can get both, if you want.” Then she glanced down at Jirou. Her hair bounced gently with each step down the stairs.

  Jirou caught the look after a second and realized she was being asked. “Oh I... I’m not hungry,” she said quickly, eyes forward. Then she dryly added, “Hey Kaminari, sucks you didn’t make it to the finals. I was looking forward to watching you fry yourself and lose.”

  Kaminari laughed, glancing over his shoulder. “Come on, give me some credit! I’d probably fry myself and win. Not many people can take my Indiscriminate Shock, y’know?”

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  Neither girl laughed. The silence dragged on a beat too long before Momo spoke, gentle but blunt.

  “You really should find a way to use your Quirk without frying your brain.”

  Jirou nodded at that, thoughtful for a moment, then shook her head and let out a quiet laugh under her breath.

  Kaminari didn’t respond. He just kept walking, eyes forward, until they reached the double doors that led outside the U.A. stadium.

  As the doors swung open, the festival hit them all at once, cheering crowds, Pro Heroes chatting beside food stalls, the scent of grilled meat and sweet red bean paste wafting through the summer air.

  “Now this is what I’m talking about!” Kaminari said, turning back to the girls. “Sucks that we all got knocked out, but at least we get some sick food out of it!”

  Both girls gave reluctant smiles. Momo’s was tinged with something heavier, bittersweet and distant, but real.

  As they reached the row of stalls, Kaminari looked between the takoyaki and yakisoba vendors, hands on his hips like he was about to make a life-altering decision.

  “Divide and conquer?” he suggested, pointing toward a cluster of benches nearby. A screen was propped up beside them, broadcasting the fights in real time. “Then we regroup over there?”

  Both girls nodded. Momo headed off toward the yakisoba stall without a word, but Jirou lingered.

  Kaminari tilted his head. Normally she’d go with Momo. He almost asked, but shrugged it off and made a beeline for his precious takoyaki. Jirou followed a few steps behind.

  As he stood in line, he glanced over his shoulder. Jirou was doing that thing she always did when she was nervous, fiddling with the tips of her earphone jacks, lightly tapping them together.

  Then she spoke.

  “I’m worried about Momo,” she said quietly. “She’s probably really beating herself up about her match.”

  Kaminari blinked. Momo seemed fine to him. “Really? I dunno, she doesn’t seem like the type.”

  Jirou scoffed, rolled her eyes, and walked off toward the benches without another word.

  Kaminari stood there for a second, confused. “What did I say wrong this time?” he muttered.

  Then a voice barked behind him... he looked forward and realized the line had moved. A lot... He was next.

  “Ah, sorry! Sorry!” he stammered, fumbling through his order.

  After a swift apology and an even swifter purchase, he carried his takoyaki tray over to the benches. Momo was already there, chatting quietly with Jirou.

  He dropped into the seat across from them and set his paper plate down with a flourish. “Okay... so, who surprised you guys the most in the fights so far?”

  Jirou didn’t even look at him. “Uraraka was great,” she said flatly, looking down at Momo’s food.

  Momo was quiet for a moment, eyes on her food. Then, softly. “Robinn was amazing... I didn’t expect her to be so good at combat. I mean, she only got to U.A. after our battle training with All Might. But... in hindsight, I wouldn’t have stood a chance. Against her. Or half the class.” Her voice thinned toward the end, trailing into something smaller than usual.

  Kaminari’s eyes widened. He turned to Jirou who was glaring at him with a ‘I told you so’ expression on her face.

  “Momo, you shouldn’t think like that,” he said quickly, trying to sound supportive. “Some people are just better at certain stuff, y’know?”

  Jirou gave him a slow, withering glare.

  ‘Not helpful’ was what her eyes said.

  Momo just nodded faintly and kept eating. An awkward silence settled over the group.

  Then, in the distance, Present Mic’s voice thundered from inside the stadium, amped up and echoing. The next match had begun.

  All three of them turned toward the screen beside the benches, food forgotten for the moment.

  “Who do you think’s gonna win?” Kaminari asked, popping a takoyaki ball into his mouth.