Disclaimer: I own nothing. Please review.
A/N: I chose the Bleeding Edge Armor for basis for Jo's Quirk because: 1. It's my favorite Iron Man armor 2. It's so flexible and versatile. I wanted to give him drones, but I decided to scrap that idea. I decided on the name of the fic to be Evolving Hero.
Chapter 4: Let the Games Begin
Three weeks had passed since the Entrance exam.
Jo was able to get in contact with All Might later. The met on the beach. Toshinori told him the reason he was teaching was to find a worthy successor to his power. Once he transferred it to other he would only has a residual amount. Like passing a torch. One day the fire the power the residual One for All within him would die out.
April had come and it was the first day of school. Joseph walk through the hall of U.A. looking for his classroom.
"1-A. Where is it?" he muttered as he walked through the halls. This place was huge. He felt lost trying to navigate this maze of building. The hall were empty meaning that most of the students had already found there classrooms.
"There it is." Joseph found his room. The door have to be at least three times his height. I large bold red print was 1A on the door.
"New school new classmates." He said to himself. "Hopefully I can get along with my class." He thought of Bakugo and the glasses guy from the exam. Dealing with them would be nightmare. He opened the door to meet the class.
"Don't put your feet on the desk!" It was the glasses guy arguing with Bakugo. The blond gains a cocky smirk. "Huh?"
"Don't you think that's rude to the U.A. upperclassmen and the people who made the desk?"
"Nope. What junior high did you go to, side character?" Bakugo asked/insulted.
"Son of a bitch." Joseph thought. The blue haired boy pauses before introducing himself. "I attended Somei Private Academy. My name is Tenya Iida."
Bakugo scoffs in reply. "Somei? So you're a damn elite, huh? Looks like I'll have fun crushing you."
Iida rocked back like someone slapped him. "Crushing? That's cruel. Do you truly aim to be a hero?" Bakugo scoffs again before turning his attention to the door. He scowled as he say Joseph. Iida noticed him too.
"It's you."
The entire class took noticed now.
"Hi" was Joseph's intelligent response.
Iida marched over to Joseph introducing himself. "I am from Somei Private Academy. My name is -"
Joseph put up a hand. "Tenya Iida, I heard. Look we'll together for while so let's try to get along. I'm Joseph Shirogane."
Iida paused before nodding. "Shirogane, you realized there was something more to that practical exam, didn't you?" Joseph blinked. "I misjudged you! I hate to admit it, but you are better than me."
"What is he talking about?"
"Oh, I know that wild hair!" A voice came from behind him. Uraraka came in the door. "Present Mic said you passed." Happy to see you. "I should have known though." Uraraka stretched out her right arm holding it with her left. "You were all like BLAM!" Trying imitate his railgun. Jo could help but smile. She was too adorable.
Watching the seen was Bakugo and he was angry.
Flashback
"I can't believe we have two students from our school admitted to U.A.!" Bakugo and Jo stood inside the teachers office. The was a hint of pride in his voice as he spoke.
"Who knew had such potential Shirogane. I hear you both scored high!"
Later outside Bakugo cornered Jo. Slamming him to the wall Bakugo demanded answers. "How the hell did you get admitted, huh?!" He yelled gripping Jo's collar. "I was supposed to being the first and only student from this garbage school to get into U.A.! My future plan has already been torn to pieces. I warned you not apply!"
Jo's pried free of Bakugo grip. Bakugo stared at him is suprise. "Bakugo, I told you." They met eyes. Bakugo didn't see fear, he saw determination and anger directed at him. "I am going to U.A.. I will be a hero." Jo replied. Bakugo grimaced as pressure was applied to his hand. "You can't bully me anymore. I won't let you." Jo shoved him back before walking off.
End of flashback
It had take a few days for the bruises on his wrist to go away. He seethed with anger as he saw Jo. "How dare he defy me? Somethings not right."
Uraraka was still chatting with Jo in front of the door. "I wonder if today's just the entrance ceremony and orientation? I wonder what our teacher's like."
"Go somewhere else if you want to play at being friends." A voice said from the door. The three students at the door froze. Behind them was a man with shaggy dark hard, a goatee, with bloodshot eyes laid there in a sleeping bag.
"This is the hero course." He continued as he sucked on a juice pouched.
"What is that?!" They thought. The man got out off bag revealing a black jumpsuit and a gray bandage like scarf around his neck. "It took 8 seconds for you to stop. Time is limited. You kids are not rational enough."
This guy was there teacher. That meant he was a pro hero then. He looked too worn out for any pro they've seen. The teacher looks around the class. "I'm you homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa. Nice to meet you."
Everyone looked at him.
"That's out teacher!" Some exclaimed.
Aizawa dug through his sleeping back and pulled out a blue jumpsuit that has U.A. in large with letters. "I know this is sudden, but put these on and go out the field."
Minutes later class 1-A was out on the field. Like everything else at U.A. it was enormous. White lines depicted different racing tracks and throwing fields.
"A Quirk assessment test?!" The class said in unison. Uraraku spoke out. "What about the entrance ceremony or the orientation?"
Aizawa wasn't facing them, but answered. "If you going to become a hero, you don't have time for such leisurely events. U.A. selling point is how unrestricted its school traditions are." He turn his head to make sure he had their attention. "We teachers are allowed to run our classes as we see fit."
Aizawa pulls out a digital device that showed 8 different task on it. "You kid have been take physical fitness test where you weren't allowed to use your Quirks." He explained that the country still used average from students not using their Quirks. It was an irrational decision made by the Ministry of Education.
"Bakugo, you finished at the top of the practical exam, right?"
The blond nodded. "In junior high, what was your best for the softball throw?"
"67 meters"
"Then, trying doing it with your Quirk."
Bakugo stood in the middle of the throwing circle ball in hand. "You can do whatever you want, just stay with in the circle. Hurry up. We don't have all day." Aizawa instructed. Bakugo stretched his arms, loosing up. He got in a pitchers stance.
"I'll add a blast to the pitch." Bakugo thought before tossing the ball.
"Die…!" He roared as nitroglycerin ignited sending the ball skyward. Trails of fire and smoke followed it as it flew.
Aizawa watched. "Know your maximum first." The ball hit ground some distance away. "That's the most rational way to form the foundation of a hero." He held up the device showing the result.
"705 meters. Seriously?" The blond Denki Kaminari said incredulously. A pink skinned, pink haired horned girl, Mina Ashido clasped her hand. "This looks like fun."
"We can yes our Quirks as much as we want!" Hanta Sero exclaim with his dark hair and almond shaped eyes. "as expected from the hero course."
The positive energy from the student did seem to sit well with Aizawa. "It look fun, huh. You have three years to become heroes. Will you have an attitude like that the whole time?"
A dark smile appears on Aizawa's face. "All right. Whoever comes in last place in all eight test will be judge to have no potential and will be punished with immediate expulsion."
"Huh?!" Everyone screamed. The student who did the worst would be expelled. That got everyone's spine of stiffened.
The teacher pulls his hair up and shows his insane grin. "The teachers are free to do what we want about the circuimstances of our students. Welcome to U.A.'s hero course!"
Uraraka argued. "The last place will be expelled!? I mean it's the first day of school. Even if it wasn't the first day, it isn't fair."
Aizawa countered "Oh and you think natural disasters are?" silencing the class. "Power hungry villian? Catastrophic accidents that wipe out whole cities? No. The world is full of unfairness. Its a hero's job to combat that unfairness" He said. "If you wanted to go talk with your friends at Mickey D's after school, too bad. If you want to be a pro hero you're going to have to push yourselves to the brink. For the next three years U.A. will throw one terrible hardship after another at you. Go beyond. Plus Ultra." He crooked his fingers at the students in a 'come on' gesture. "Show me it's no mistake that your' here."
That was all they needed to hear. It was challenge they had no choice but to accept. They worked themselves to the bone for this chance. No way anyone them was going to be expelled without a fight.
Iida took a sip from a water bottle. "This is too serious to be hazing. However, this is the best of the best. There is no choice but to do it"
Bakugo smile as he rotated his arm "That's not all I've got."
Jo exhales.
The test began.
Test 1: 50-meter dash
At the starting line Iida was racing against the frog-like Tsuyu Asui, who had long green hair tide in a bow at her pony tail. A robot with a camera for head presided of the races.
"Get set..." the bot instructed. A gunshot signal the start and both took off. Asui hopped, while Iida dashed forward the engines on his leg accelerating him. The machine records the results.
Iida: 3.04 seconds
Asui: 5.58 seconds
Aizawa comments on race. "He's like a fish in water. It'll be worth seeing what other do."
Next was Uraraka against Mashirao Ojiro. He was muscular blond with large tail that had a tuft of fur a the tip. Uraraka uses her Quirk to make her closes and shoe lighter for running. The starting gun goes off. Uraraka runs while Ojiro hops using his tail for more speed.
Ojiro: 5.49 seconds
Uraraka: 7.15 seconds
Pressing her finger together Uraraka deactivates her Quirk. "Oh, but that's faster than I was in junior high!"
Ashido goes against the vein young man Jo met at the entrance exam, Yuga Aoyama. Ashido is bare foot in the running positon. Aoyama is just has his back to the finish line. The race starts. Aoyama jumps and fires his laser to jet towards the finish. From her feet Ashido secretes a liquid that she slides across. Aoyama's laser fizzles out causing him to land on his butt. Ashido skates by him. He was able to finish race using his laser.
Aizawa looks at the results so far. He hoped the could find out what limitation of there Quirk where so the new what the can and cannot do.
Jo and Bakugo were called to the line. Jo passes by Iida. "Hey Iida. Take a look at this."
Iida looked at him in speculation then noticed Jo feet. They began to change. The shoes and legs of his pants shift to just below the knee. They now resembled yellow and black boots. Both competitors took there marks.
"Get ready"
Opening on the heels of Jo's feet appear. Heat came out of them in waves.
"Get set." The both got it position. The gun when off.
Bakugo ran for a before leaping. "Explosive Speed!" His explosion carried him forward in the air. Light and heat burst from Jo's feet at sound of the gunshot. He flew Bakugo. Jo blasted past the finish line.
"Ha! Ha!" He laughed as he looked back. Looking in front of his eye widen. He was on a collision couse with the wall. Frantic he stop sending power to his feet. Jo's arms windmilled as he fell face first to the ground.
"Not the best landing!" He groaned.
Shirogane: 1.59 seconds.
Bakugo: 4.13 seconds.
Jo walks away from Bakugo to the sidelines. Bakugo however was mad, scratched livid. Even if it was just by a small margin he lost.
"What the hell was that?!" roared in Bakugo's head. He growled and marched over to Jo for answers.
"Shirogane" Iida yelled beating Bakugo to the metaphorical and quiet possibly literal punch. "That was completely unexpected!" Iida began as he made random hand gestures. "With my Engine Quirk I expected that I would be the top when it comes to running, but what did was impressive."
Jo chuckled. "Thanks Iida. I just wanted to do my best." "And humiliate Bakugo." His legs return to the normal state. "I've been been practicing that one for awhile but I still need more."
"I see" Iida nodded. "But his discourage not fall behind someone in my area of expertise."
"Maybe, but you'd been doing longer that I have." Jo said. "I can only go in one direction. Steering is a problem and as you can see my landing need work. You'd beat me in mobility and experience."
"I understand. Experience and skill always win out in the end."
"Hey you too. If you done with your bromance there are other test to do." Aizawa chided.
"Sorry!" They yelled. Bakugo glared daggers in the back of Jo's head. "I'll get some answers from the damn geek."
Test 2: Grip strength
"Amazing!" Sero exclaimed looking the results of the tall masked, multi-armed Mezo Shoji. With was the shortest kid in class Minoru Mineta who had purple balls for hair. "What are you a gorilla?"
Sero looks at Shoji's arm. "Oh, an octopus."
"Octopuses are sexy" Mineta commented.
Test 3: Standing long jump.
Aoyama glided across the sand. Bakugo used his explosion to fly over. Jo landed on his feet over the sand pit his leg morphed into jump jets.
Test 4:Repeating side steps
Mineta just bounce between two bunched of balls from his head.
Test 5: Ball throw
Uraraka toss the ball using her Zero-gravity. The ball when higher and higher until it was no longer visible.
"Infinity?!" The class roared.
"That is unbelievable! An infinity?!" Kaminari said sweat dropping.
A very well developed young lady Yaoyarouzu Momo pulled a cannon from her body and fire the ball out of it.
Jo was called next. Aizawa had been looking at this one closely. "This kid's an odd ball. There really isn't a name for his Quirk, but allows hims to morph his body things." He remembers the entrance exam. He blew away the machine with a railgun of all crazy things. "He used up all his power in one shot. Will He do so again." He see Jo's arm began to change. It became a metallic version of itself.
"This doesn't make any sense." Bakugo growled.
"What do you mean?" Iida asked.
"There's no way that geek should even be here. There's nothing special about him!"
Iida look at him in shock."Do you not know what he did at the entrance exam?"
"Huh? I've known that loser for years and he never showed his Quirk."
Jo's arm changed again, but this time instead of just coating his arm, it became a large cannon. It was silver. Multiple fins jutted out the lower half, glowing gem protrusions where on the side and top. Tubes came from it's side.
Jo raised the cannon in the air and fire. The ball exploded out the muzzle into the sky. The recoil of the shot made him wince as slid back to the edge of the circle.
No one say it land but the result was transmitted to Aizawa's device.
"2000 meters!" Someone yelled.
"He made a freaking out his arm!"
"That's so cool!"
Bakugo had heard and saw enough. He charged at Joe. "Tell me what's going on, Jo, you bastard." Explosions erupting from his palms. On instinct Jo turns the cannon to Bakugo. Before either one could attack Jo's cannon powered down and Bakugo's explosions stopped. The fabric that made up Aizawa scarf wrapped around the Bakugo stopping him in place. Jo tired to fire, but nothing happened.
"Hey what's going on."
"I erased your Quirks." Aizawa said. His eyes were now red, his was floating. The bandage like scarf was looks revealing a pair of yellow goggle. "You two could seriously hurt each other."
"That's impossible. Erasing Quirks." Jo said in disbelief,
"That's what my Quirk does." Aizawa replied. "As long as you in my sight your Quirk doesn't work." Jo thought for a second. "Wait are you Eraserhead?"
The class huddles together.
"Have you heard of him?"
"I hear he's an underground hero."
Bakugo struggled to get free. "What the hell?! Why are these cloth so strong?!"
"They're a capture weapon made of carbon fibers woven together with metal wire made of a special alloy." Aizawa scoffs at the kids. "Jeez. I hope you don't force me to use my Quirk repeatedly. I have dry eye."
"It's such a waste. Since his Quirk is amazing!" The class exclaimed. He released Bakugo. "Were wasting time. Who's ever next go."
Jo and Bakugo stared at each other in contempt for moment. Jo walked by to meet the other, Bakugo got in front him and knock shoulders. Jo ignored Bakugo.
"That was so cool!" Uraraka said. "It wasn't like the one at the exam, though."
"That was railgun. That was just a compressed air cannon."
As they talked Bakugo seethed with anger. "Until a little while ago, he was just a pebble on the side of the road!"
It seems that the pebble he thought of turned out to be part of a mountain.
The test continue that day. Some did better than others. All did they're best with the threat of expulsion hanging over their heads. Aizawa told them to bring it in so he show them the results.
"The total is simply the marks you got from each test." He pulled out a remote and holographic screen appeared. "It's a waste of time to explain verbally, so I'll so you all at once." Everyone swallowed. This was it. Jo breathed in and out.
"I have nothing to worry about. The dash, jump, race, ball throw. I did well on all of them."
The screen showed the ranking.
Momo Yaoyorozu
Shoto Todoroki
Joseph Shirogane
Katsuki Bakugo
Tenya Iida
Fumikage Tokoyami
Mezo Shoji
Mashirao Ojiro
Eijiro Kirishima
Mina Ashido
Ochaco Uraraka
Koji Koda
Rikido Sato
Tsuyu Asui
Yuga Aoyama
Hanta Sero
Denki Kaminari
Kyoka Jiro
Toru Hagakure
Minoru Mineta
"AWWW!" the kid screamed.
"By the way, I was lying about the expulsion." Aizawa said turning off the screen. The majority of the class froze like deer in headlight. Aizawa smiles at their reactions. "It was a rational deception to draw out the upper limits of your Quirks."
WHAT?!
Yaoyorozu looked at her classmates. "Of course it was a lie. It should've been obvious if you just thought it through." Obviously most of class didn't
Sero turn to spiky haired Eijiro Kirishima. "That was a little nerve-wracking, huh?"
He laughes. "I'm up for any challenge."
Aizawa dismissed the class telling them to read the syllabus that was in the classroom. As he walked back inside he passed by All Might. He looks at the smiling hero.
"Aizawa you liar!" He yelled.
"All Might, it seems you have a lot time on you hands." The Symbol of Peace just laughs it off. "A rational deception, you said. Wasn't April Fools last week. You punished a full class with expulsion last year. Those who didn't have potential would have been cut instantly." He accused Eraserhead of going back on his words and that he must have seen potential in the kids.
It was Aizawa's turn to smile. "Does one of my student's catch your eye? Is that the way a teacher should act?"
All Might went still. Aizawa continues to walk inside. "They all seem to have potential. That's all. I will always toss out those with no potential."
It was the end of the first day and the students were heading home. Jo walked by himself thinking of how the day went.
"Lying about that expulsion rule was a low blow, but it was an excuse to show off" He thought. It did get the best results from the students, but still the threat of expulsion was too much. Jo shook his head to stop worrying about what didn't happen. Eraserhead was a hero known to specialize in stealth and sneak attacks. So why was he a teacher here? A hand grasping Jo's should got his attention.
"Iida?"
"Shirogane. I wanted to talk to you after class." The glasses wearing boy took out one of the warm up that Aizawa gave them. "You left this in the classroom."
"Thanks, but I don't need it." Jo said. "I use my Quirk for making clothes." He demonstrated by changing in more casual clothes before going back to his school uniform.
"That convenient." Iida admitted. Thy walk to the exit of the school chatting about what happened to day.
"I was really taken in by Mr. Aizawa. I even thought, "This is the best of best" and such." He crossed his arms as he spoke. "I didn't think a teacher would encourage us with a lie."
"Hey Iida." Jo said as he walk in front of him. "I know we got to a bad start, but I want to apologize for acting hostile to you."
Iida shook his head."I should've have judge you so fast. It was clear you had better insight that me."
"I didn't have any insight. I just went with my instincts."
"Really?"
"Really." Jo stick out his hand. "Clean slate?"
Iida smiled and shook. "Clean slate"
Uraraka ran up to them. "Hey! You two! Are you going to the station. Wait for me!"
"You're the infinity girl" Iida said.
"I'm Ochaco Uraraka" She introduced with a smile and looked at them. "Um, you're Iida Tenya and you're Kurojo Shirogane."
Jo slapped his palm over his face. "My name is Joseph. Or just call me Jo."
"Really? That Bakugo guy called you Kurojo." Uraraka blinked. Jo sighs.
"It's a racist insult that he cam up with." Jo explained. "Take everything Bakugo says with a cup of salt."
"Racist insult?" Iida asked.
"Oh, is that right. Sorry." Uraraka apologized."Kurojo sound kinda dark anyway. Jo seems simple."
"So." Jo did a bad imiatation of Aizawa's voice. "Wanna go talk at Mickey D's after school?"
They laughed at bad acting and left. The first day of school ended simple enough, however it was just the beginning after all.
A/N: If Jo seems a little OP I'm sorry, but with this kind of ability there are a lot of things he's capable of. Besides as powerful as he seem, when it comes to raw power, Shoto using is fire and ice abilities have the edge.
