True to his word, Minato quickly prepared the video. He used a simple, static image he had drawn himself, a stylized depiction of a vibrant, colorful world, to accompany the audio. He uploaded the song to HeroTube. The song he had chosen to record was "A Million Dreams," sung by Hugh Jackman in his previous life. He remembered the lyrics and melody perfectly, and his new young voice had given it a fresh, hopeful quality.
After clicking the upload button, Minato sat down, a rare flicker of nerves in his normally composed demeanor. He watched the screen eagerly, waiting for the view count to tick up. His previous song, "Blue Bird," had gone viral unexpectedly, but this one felt different. This was his own creation, a reflection of his current aspirations and the vibrant world he now inhabited. He hoped it would resonate with people just as much.
After clicking the upload button, Minato sat down, a rare flicker of nerves in his normally composed demeanor. He watched the screen eagerly, waiting for the view count to tick up. His previous song, "Blue Bird," had gone viral unexpectedly, and his subscribers also increased because of it. He hoped it would resonate with people just as much as it did in his previous world.
He watched the view count. It stayed at 0. He refreshed. Still 0. He refreshed again. Maybe 5. He sighed. The initial excitement began to wane. He had been working on the song since morning, and the studio session had been tiring.
After eating dinner, Minato was completely exhausted. His eyes drooped. "Goodnight, Mom, Dad," he mumbled, heading straight to bed. He fell asleep almost instantly, the slow view count on HeroTube forgotten.
But as Minato slept soundly, the internet was just waking up to his new song. Quietly, slowly, the view count on his HeroTube channel began to climb. First dozens, then hundreds. Then, someone famous stumbled upon it. A pro-hero with a large social media following shared it, praising the maturity and emotional depth of the voice and music.
Suddenly, the floodgates opened. "A Million Dreams" began to spread like wildfire. Comments poured in from all over the world. People debated whether it was a child prodigy or a new, anonymous artist. Media outlets picked up on the mystery. Music critics were stunned by the sophisticated composition. The hopeful, inspiring lyrics resonated deeply with a world that often craved positivity.
While Minato dreamed, oblivious in his bed, the view count on his channel soared past thousands, then tens of thousands. The song was trending, a beacon of unexpected beauty and talent that had captured the attention of the entire world.
All Might (Toshinori Yagi): All Might, unwinding after a long day, was scrolling through HeroTube recommendations. He stopped dead when "A Million Dreams" started playing. "My goodness," he muttered, a rare moment of softness in his usually boisterous demeanor. "Such a powerful, hopeful message. And that voice... truly inspiring! A real symbol of peace, perhaps?" He quickly shared it on his official HeroTube channel, adding, "A young voice with an old soul. Let us all dare to dream a million dreams! PLUS ULTRA! #MillionDreams #Inspiring"
Present Mic (Hizashi Yamada): Present Mic practically exploded when he heard the song on a trending playlist. "YEAAAH! LISTENERS! HAVE YOU HEARD THIS GEM?! 'A Million Dreams' by the enigmatic Minato Namikaze! This kid's got pipes and soul, breaking through the charts! It's super groovy! You should listen to it! Can I get a HELL YEAH?!" His radio show immediately started playing it on repeat.
Midoriya Izuku (10 years old): He was watching the video on his mother's phone, tears welling in his eyes. "Mom! This song is so amazing! It makes me feel like... like I can be a hero, even without a Quirk!" Inko Midoriya hugged her son. "It's a wonderful song, Izuku. It makes me feel that way too."
Touya Todoroki: Touya, preparing for his U.A. entrance exam, got a notification from Minato's channel. He clicked on "A Million Dreams." As the song played, he leaned back, a small, genuine smile gracing his lips. He thought of Minato, his unwavering optimism, and the quiet strength he carried. 'He really is something else,' Touya thought, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with his flames. He remembered Minato's words from years ago, about his Quirk being a tool, about a hopeful future. The song spoke to that.
Random User Comments:
@HeroFan101: "First 'Blue Bird' and now 'A Million Dreams'?! This kid is seriously something else. Who IS Minato Namikaze?! My new favorite artist!"
@MusicLoverPro: "The composition on this is insane for someone so young. The orchestral arrangement is flawless. This isn't just a kid singing; this is a master in the making."
@QuirkEnthusiast: "Does he have a Quirk related to music? Or is this pure talent? Either way, it's inspirational!"
@DailyGrind: "Needed this today. Seriously. Got me through my commute. Thank you, Minato-kun."
@UA_Hopeful: "This song makes me feel like I can really achieve my dreams! Gotta work harder for U.A.!"
@WorldCitizen: "It's incredible how music transcends borders. This song is reaching everyone, everywhere. Pure magic."
@AnonymousFan: "I cried. It's so honest and hopeful. What a gift."
The night Minato uploaded "A Million Dreams," the digital world hummed with its magic, but he, oblivious, slept soundly. Unbeknownst to him, far across the city, at the towering headquarters of Sonicraft Music Company, the studio manager, who had stumbled upon the trending song, was already making calls. He had heard both "Blue Bird" and this new masterpiece and was instantly captivated. "Find me everything about this Minato Namikaze," he instructed his assistant, "and quickly."
The next morning, the sun was bright. Minato, still unaware of the overnight sensation, woke up, ate breakfast, and headed to the park. He'd forgotten all about the HeroTube video. Touya was already there, doing stretches.
"Morning, Touya-kun!" Minato greeted him.
"Morning, Minato," Touya replied, a rare smile on his face. "Hey, I heard your new song. 'A Million Dreams,' right? It's really good. Super inspiring."
Minato blinked. "You heard it? Already?" He pulled out his phone, a sudden jolt of curiosity hitting him. He opened the HeroTube app and navigated to his channel. His eyes widened. The view count wasn't just in the hundreds or thousands. It read: 100,000 views.
"Woah," Minato breathed, genuinely surprised. "It has a hundred thousand views!"
Touya chuckled. "Yeah, it's been all over social media. People are talking about it."
Minato was quiet for a moment, absorbing the unexpected success. "That's... that's amazing!" he finally said, a bright grin spreading across his face. He and Touya talked about the song for a bit, discussing how it seemed to resonate with people, especially aspiring heroes.
After a while, they began their usual practice, sparring without Quirks, pushing each other in hand-to-hand combat. Minato moved with renewed energy, a bounce in his step from the good news.
After practice, Minato returned home. He burst through the door, excitement bubbling over. "Mom! Dad! My new song on HeroTube has a hundred thousand views!"
His parents, who had seen the rising numbers themselves on various news feeds, immediately pulled him into a celebratory hug. "That's wonderful, sweetie!" Akane cheered.
"We knew it was good, son!" his father added, beaming with pride. "You're quite the talent!"
After the mini-celebration, Minato quickly got ready to head out again. It was his friends' day. He, Mina, Kirishima, and Himiko were meeting at Mina's house to hang out.
He walked to Mina's house and rang the doorbell. Mina's mother, Hikari Ashido, with her warm smile and pink hair, opened the door.
"Minato-kun! Come in, come in!" Hikari greeted him warmly. "And congratulations on your song! It's absolutely lovely. Mina can't stop singing it!"
Minato blushed slightly. "Thank you, Hikari-san."
He stepped inside, and from Mina's room, he heard a collective shout.
"THERE'S OUR SUPERSTAR!"
"MR. POPULAR!"
"THE MUSIC MAESTRO!"
Minato walked into Mina's room to find Mina, Kirishima, and Toga waiting. As soon as they saw him, Mina launched herself at him, her pink skin practically glowing. Kirishima gave a manly thumbs-up, and even Himiko had a wide, excited grin.
"Okay, okay, stop teasing me!" Minato laughed, holding up his hands.
"No way, Minato!" Mina giggled. "You're famous now! 'A Million Dreams' is everywhere! My mom even knows it!"
"It's super manly, Minato!" Kirishima affirmed. "Even my parents were talking about it!"
Himiko nodded enthusiastically. "It made me feel like I can do anything."
They talked about the song for a while, the comments they'd seen, and the sudden recognition Minato was getting. Then, as usual, they settled down for a gaming session.
"Alright, superstar," Mina declared, grabbing a controller. "Let's see if your 'Chakra' helps you win at Mario Kart!"
The room was soon filled with the familiar sounds of beeping karts, item usage, and their joyful shouts and laughter.