My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 2: Training Camp
By: Anri Yoshi, Kohei Horikoshi (idea by)
Illustrator: Kohei Horikoshi
Translator: Caleb Cook
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: My Hero Academia: School Briefs
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

The second volume of My Hero Academia’s light novel series features short stories of class 1-A just prior to and during the Training Camp Arc in the manga. My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 2: Training Camp is written by Anri Yoshi with illustrations by Kohei Horikoshi. This light novel series is a spin-off of the manga My Hero Academia with chapters taking place between moments readers have previously seen. The second volume of My Hero Academia’s light novel series features short stories of class 1-A just prior to and during the Training Camp Arc.

Like the first light novel in this spin-off series, readers are treated to interconnected short stories showing scenes not featured in the main series. These are more mundane, day to day activities of Midoriya, the other students, and their teachers at UA that show their everyday lives. This second volume takes place in the space immediately leading up to and during the training camp arc of manga.

The story opens while the students are still at U.A. just before their exams. The first two chapters follow two incidents very briefly shown in both the manga and anime. The first is what occurs when Yaoyozoru tutors several students from class 1-A at her family’s mansion. Readers get a more in-depth look at what Yaoyozoru’s home life and parents are like while seeing the students interacting outside of U.A. The second chapter is Bakugo’s tutoring session with Kirishima, also in preparation for exams. This chapter in particular was quite enjoyable, not only because we get to see Bakugo’s loud, antagonistic behavior coupled with him genuinely trying to help teach his friend, but because we see the two students Bakugo and Deku have been shown playing during childhood, the first time they’ve been on page outside of a flashback since the very first volume of the manga.

As the story continues, we see the long bus ride to the training grounds as well as the beginnings of the training camp arc itself. Two of these stories heavily feature Mineta – a very polarizing character disliked by many – being his usual self, attempting to spy on girls and partaking in behavior generally more consistent with sexual harassers than young heroes. Mineta always gets what’s coming to him in the end. However, despite whatever comeuppance he receives, Mineta never seems to learn anything, and some reader may be frustrated with multiple stories involving him so closely.

A great deal of Class 1-B is seen throughout the second hand of the volume, providing readers with another chance to get to know some of Year 1s other heroes in training better. There isn’t always very much interaction between the two classes at UA, but times such as training camp is different story altogether. Downtime between training and nighttime activities involving both classes are relayed in the second half of the volume.

A fun glance into the student’s everyday lives, fans of the manga or anime will enjoy getting to see these smaller moments. This volume in particular will be of interest to many as we see more of the calm before the storm. My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 2 Training Camp by Anri Yoshi is a memorable volume in the light novel series.