As soon as my alarm sounded off I rolled out of bed and onto the floor, using my hands to make sure my face didn't hit the floor. A big smile grew on my face as my whole body became awake in anticipation. I had been waiting for this day for a long time.
I quickly dressed in my training clothes, a muscle shirt, and some sweat pants. I tied my boots and ate a quick breakfast of some eggs and toast. My mom was awake as well, just as excited as I was. She was already in her clothes for work. If there were one thing me and my mom shared being mother and son, was that we both got easily excited over events like these.
After all, today was going to decide my future as a whole. U.A. didn't have a high acceptance rate, only taking the best of the best. Quirk-wise I was skilled enough, but I had no clue what the actual entrance exam would be.
I didn't care though, I planned to give it my all and show how much of a hero I wanted to be. As soon as the eggs were done I put some toast in the toaster and waited for it to be done. I needed to make sure my body was ready for any scenario the exam would put me in. Sure I could manipulate dirt, sand, stone, and the like.
Unlike most though I didn't have full control of it. Make a few rocks float and shoot at someone? Sure.
Make a stone wall to defend me? Check.
As for causing the whole ground to break apart... Work in progress.
Shaking my head I forgot about the things I couldn't do. I'd play it safe and do what I knew I could control. Yesterday wasn't much of a control though, more of an instinct to help someone. I was a good-natured kid, something I was told a lot growing up. Still, that kind of instinct could get in trouble with the law and such.
"Do good today, okay Mason?" My mom said to me.
I swallowed the food in my mouth and nodded. "I plan on it."
After I was finished I put on a sweatshirt over my muscle shirt to protect myself from the cold morning air that came with the seasons changing. As I made my way past the beach I took a second look to see the green-haired guy from yesterday still moving debris from the beach.
Whoever that kid was, he was one hell of a person. The beach was cleaner than it ever had been before, the sun clearly shining on the sand. Having grown up here near the Shizuoka Prefecture, it brought a bit of a smile to my face with how one person managed to do with such determination.
I was going to need just as much today depending on what the entrance exam was. Seeing as it was one of the best Hero Academies out there, it was definitely going to be one that truly tested people on not just abilities, but on being a hero as well. There were going to be hundreds, if not thousands of people who were going to be trying to get and become a hero. Some for money, others for popularity, maybe the special few that wanted to make a difference.
All I knew was I wanted to show I wasn't just the son of a criminal. I was going to show them who I was. I continued my way down, my face made into one of determination.
Time to show people what I got.
Some of the trees on my way were still a bit barren with the spring weather beginning to set in finally. Seems I'd have to forgo my usual t-shirts soon for longer sleeves until it warmed up a bit more. That thought also reminded me to have something like that installed into my costume if I did become a hero.
I was right on one thing though, there was a hell of an amount of people here for the entrance exam. The very building we were going in was so big that it made me question what kind of test we were going to be put through. Surely with this amount of people, something that was going to extremely cut the amount that would be even accepted in the first place. U.A. was said to have only a two percent acceptance rate after all...
U.A. was said to have only a two percent acceptance rate after all...
Deciding to now worry about my chances, I continued my way in. I saw three doors, each numbered one through three. I went through number two since it was the middle one and I usually walked in the middle of the street most times.
As soon as I entered I saw signs already pointing to what had to be the orientation. I followed them and saw just how big the auditorium was. Holy cow, it might as well had been a concert hall like in of those movies with opera scenes in them. I looked around for a place to sit and saw a girl with pink skin waving at me.
I took my finger and pointed at myself, looking at her for confirmation. I saw her smile and nod, patting a chair next to her. It was a free seat, so I made my way over and sat down next to her. Besides her pink skin and messy hair, her eyes gave me a raccoon feel. The usual whites were black, and the irises were yellow. That and she was sporting a pair of horns on her head.
"Um... Thanks for the getting me a seat..." I said, not sure of what to really say.
"No problem! You looked kinda lost and there was one right here, so I thought I'd save ya! That and there wasn't really anyone here to talk to..." She ended on a seemingly sad note. She then smiled. "Anyhow, isn't this exciting? Can't wait to be a hero! Wonder what the exam is. Hope it isn't something like a boring school test though, that'd be really boring."
All I have to say, not even five minutes and already I seemed to have found someone to easily talk to. Her cheerfulness was contagious and was almost making my face crack into a slight smile. Add the fact she looked a bit like a raccoon, and I might've asked her out on different circumstances.
I combed my finger through my sandy blonde hair, trying to keep it out my eyes. "You got me there, really suck if we had to do that. By the way, not sure if we'll both pass, but in case what's your name?" I asked.
She looked at me with that smiling face of hers. "Ashido. What's yours?"
Now for the hard part. You see unlike America where my mom was from, Japan had a custom of calling people by their last names rather than first. This meant I could one, say my first name Mason, or two, my surname Ishi. One was the more formal way, the other was more of an intimate one. By that, I mean only friends or family members ever called them by their first names.
I was about to answer when she cut me off. "Oh wait, are you a foreigner? Then I guess you could give me your first name if that's more comfortable. You seem to really know your Japanese well though." She said once again smiling.
"Thanks," I said. "My name is Mason. Or you could call me Ishi- Whichever is easier!"
"I think I'll call you Mason. Don't get any ideas though just because I'm calling you by your first name!" She said while jokingly laughing.
I was about to say something to counter that when the lights turned off, and the ones on stage turned on. The blue screen showed the U.A. crest and what seemed to be rock music began to play. The overall feel of it all felt familiar...
"What's up U.A. candidates! Thanks for tuning into me, your school DJ! Come on and let me hear ya!" Said a very, excited voice. From here I could see the speaker had spiked up blonde hair colored like mine and dressed in black leather. By looking at him I knew that he was pretty much what people would call a rock star. The room stayed silent as he seemed to listen in. "Keeping it mellow huh? That's fine I'll skip to the main show.
From here I could see the speaker had spiked up blonde hair colored like mine and dressed in black leather. By looking at him I knew that he was pretty much what people would call a rock star. The room stayed silent as he seemed to listen in.
"Keeping it mellow huh? That's fine I'll skip to the main show. Let's talk about how this practical exam is gonna go down okay? ARE YOU READY?! YEAH!" He ended with exactly what a rock star usually would before a concert. The music playing seemed to kick up a little bit. "Like your application said you boys and girls will be conducting ten-minute mock battles in suburban settings!"
At this, my eyes went wide. We were going to be able to... FIGHT?! My whole body was teeming with excitement. Sadly I hadn't read through most of the application, just signing what had to be signed. Ashino seemed just as happy with what was going on.
"Yes! You hear that Mason? No boring test! We get to show what we got!" She cheered.
I then looked back to see the screen change to what seemed to be the auditorium, and then separate areas each lettered A through G.
"After I drop the mic here you will head to your specified battle centers! Sound good?" He asked, once again met with silence. "OKAY!"
I took the time and looked at the card I had been given. It had my name, my exam number, and then test location. I looked to see I was put into C. Ashido peeked at mine over my shoulder and sighed with relief.
"Phew, seems we're both in the same area. Still, we shouldn't try to team up though. It'd be better if we actually got through this by ourselves rather than mooching off each other huh?"
"Yeah. As they say, nothing better than an honorable victory." I said, making her nod in agreement.
"Okay okay let's check out your targets!" The figure on stage said. "There are three types of faux villains in every battle center. You'll earn points based on their level of difficulty so you better choose wisely! Your goal in this trial is to use your Quirk to raise your score by shredding these faux villains like a mid-song guitar solo! But check it, make sure you're keeping things heroic. Attacking other examinees is a U.A., no no you dig?"
"Excuse me sir, but I have a question!" Said a boy, standing up hand raised.
"Hit me!"
"On the printout, you've listed four types of villains, not three." Oh no, he was one those types. "With all respect, if this an error on official U.A. materials, it is shameful. We are exemplary students. We expect the best from Japan's most notable school. A mistake such as this won't do. Additionally you with the unkempt hair," He then pointed to someone in on of the rows behind him. "you've been muttering this entire time, stop that. If you can't bother to take this seriously leave. You're distracting the rest of us." He said with an almost threatening tone. God, I hated people like him who were uptight and all discipline. Some people even laughed at the poor guy who had been called out.
"Alright, alright, examinee number seven-one-one-one, thanks for calling in with your request!" The guy said like a radio host. "The fourth villain type is worth... Zero points! that guy's just an obstacle we'll be throwing in your way. There's one in every battle center, so think of it as more a hurdle to try and avoid. it's not that it can't be beaten, there's just no point too! I recommend my listeners try and ignore and aim for being top of the charts!"
The boy with dark hair and a tan uniform bowed respectfully before sitting back down. "Thank you very much, please, continue."
My mindset was drawing a similarity between smashing robots and gaining points to something I did in a video game once. Then again depending on how many robots there were, and how strong their armor was I could easily chuck a few a few stones in them here and there.
Ashido was very interested in the whole thing. The again, fighting robots was a common hero trope in some comics. My eyes then wandered downwards to see her... generous bust. I quickly focused back on the speaker.
Mason, no! No time for thinking about that stuff. Pass, then talk to her and get to know her if she passes as well, and... Hope your face doesn't get too red for her to notice.
"Hey, Mason you okay? You look a little red in the face for some reason."
I looked the other way in embarrassment. "Uh-Um- No reason! Just a little warm in here is all!"
"Oh, okay. Maybe if you took off that long sleeve shirt you'd be good." The pink skinned girl said.
"Not exactly a good idea right now... My training clothes are underneath..."
"Nevermind then, keep it on. Don't want to show off those muscles huh?"
Ashido... Please for the love of All Might stop! I silently screamed in my head. We both turned our attention to the speaker.
"That's all I got for you today! I'll sign off with a little present, a sample of our school motto! As General Napolean Bonaparte once laid down, 'a true hero is one who overcomes life's misfortunes'. Mmmm hmmm, now that's a tasty salad bite!" He then got close to the mic. "Now, you ready to go beyond? Now let's hear a Plus Ultra! Good luck! Hope you practiced more than hitting just books."
I waited outside the giant door leading into the battle center with all the others assigned to letter C. As I waited, I stretched for what was going to define my future. This was it, this was going to be my moment to go and show who I was as a person. That I was willing to be a hero and give it my all.
Numerous other people were either doing the same, sweating furiously, or felt confident in their abilities. I flexed my hands, feeling the ground shift around a bit under me. Ashido stood beside me, practically shaking with excitement.
"This is gonna be awesome! There are some cool Quirks here too! Look! That's guys got a bird head! And that other guy has some weird octopus arms things!"
It was hard to try and not laugh at her cheerfulness. She was practically all over the place so much I began to think her Quirk was superspeed. My eyes began to wander around, seeing her reaction was maybe a bit justified.
My eyes continued to wander until they settled on a somewhat familiar sight. A girl with dark hair put into a long ponytail, in clothing a jogger would usually wear when out running. I walked up to see if my theory was right. And if so...
My feet brought me over to her, and I tapped her shoulder. "Fancy seeing you here."
She quickly turned around, and her eyes widened as if she saw a ghost. "M-M-M- Mason?!" She shouted while stuttering.
A/N: And that's chapter two down for you guys! Might I also add you guys SMASHED that last one! 186 views, and over 10-11 faves and follows... That's a quicker growth than any of my stories. Also wasn't sure how you guys were gonna like a BNHA OC story, but seems a lot of you guys like it. Now for the newly developed thingie! Also make sure to check out a drawing I did of him on my DeviantArt, DanSong. Stinks that links don't work on this... Anyhow, come on "listening" Singers! Hehehe.
Also, thank you Pokemonking0924 for the review. I had the idea of Mason being half Native-American and Half-Japanese due to the idea of his name showing what his Quirk is, "ishi" meaning stone. So, his name basically means "Stonemason". As for who Hana is, you're about to see, as for her Quirk, let's just say it has to do with her bag she had. I do plan on revealing why his father became a villain, as for the teasing, well, let's just say there ain't a girl his mother hasn't liked he's made friends with.
Next time on Diamond in the Rough.
"I'm not just some son of a villain, I'm a damn human being who's gonna show you what I am!"
"G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-Girlfriend!?"
"So, that's why you did it... Guess you are a Hero..."
