Chapter 13: Quirk Assessment Exam!


Izuku felt eyes on him as he changed. He was kind of embarrassed. What were they staring at?

Self-consciously, Izuku checked his arms. They had become more defined over his months of training, but… he wasn't that big. Compared to All-Might's powerful muscles, and Simon's overall musculature he was practically microscopic. And he was just generally, smaller than the other boys. He was only five foot three, and not counting Mineta, he was the second shortest kid in class.

The boy frowned. He could hear some of them whispering. He didn't know what they were saying, but he hoped that they weren't talking about him… He really wanted to be friends with everyone.


"Did you hear? That guy took out like, twenty villains or something!" Kaminari whispered. "He's so good that they had to give him extra points!"

"Are you sure, bro? It sounds kinda hokey…" Kirishima said.

"Look, I'm just saying, he somehow got fifth place on the entrance exam by taking out an entire skyscraper." Kaminari said. "Didn't you hear about his Quirk? He's got some kind of invulnerability!"

"Invulnerability?" Kirishima said eyes wide. A rival?! "You sure?"

"Totally. How else would he have placed so high on the list?"


Soon, the boys and girls were outside in the brisk April air. Everything seemed to be going fine, but there was a distinct murmur in the air. There were rumors, and depending on how you asked, it led some in the class to already believe that there was a badass in their midst.

Mineta smiled. 'All according plan… All I gotta do is make Midoriya an overpowered badass and then stick next to him, riding that popularity until he is untouchable. Then I won't be bullied ever again…'

The smaller purple haired boy's face returned to normal as he saw Midoriya, walking beside Koda.

'Good… He already has a friend… Soon he will be the most popular guy in school.' Mineta thought. He frowned at the ground. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't like spreading rumors like this. He was just trying to make sure that he didn't have the same experience in his past few schools.

Yeah, he was perverted and small. That's all everyone ever say in him. Even his parents… His mom skipped out of town leaving him alone with his deadbeat dad. What else was he going to become? What exactly did he have going for himself? His Quirk was literally balls…

He had to train extra hard the last few months just to get up to par to what he thought was Hero level and nearly didn't pass the Entrance Exam because he was too short to actually run fast enough to find targets… He honestly got really lucky all things considered. Still, he had come pretty far…

All because of that kid…

For once, someone had stepped in to help him. Save him.

Mineta would do his best to ensure that he was able to help the Izuku conquer the school at the very least… Even if he needed a bit of a push to understand his own greatness…


Somewhere in a UA staff room, All-Might was going over his notes in his Skele-Might form. He wanted to make sure his lesson plan was really good, he wanted to wow these kids… Still, All-Might was trying to read over the 'How to be an inspiring teacher! For complete idiots!' book, but it didn't seem to have good lesson plans in the sample section for him to steal and make into Hero Lessons…

At one point All-Might had even considered grabbing a Dungeons and Dragons 10E: Hero Edition to see if he could make some of the scenarios work, but decided against it as it focused on having the kids do whatever they wanted and… Actually, that wasn't half a bad idea… Maybe reading over it while knitting would give him some ideas… Heck, UA basically stood for 'Unearthed Arcana'…

'I wonder if I can find it on that one Audio or something app…' All-Might wondered looking up. 'Dammit… what was the name of it? Whatever, I'll probably see an ad for it next time I'm on Yahootube…'

Setting his lesson plan aside All-Might began looking through the copy of the school registry he had been given to see what teacher his Protégé was given. If the teacher was lazy or wasn't that nice to the class, he feared it would make life in school a living hell for Midoriya… He had so many anxiety problems and he had been reading the 'How to be an inspiring teacher! For complete idiots!' book and found a section about noticing abuse or bullying.

All-Might frowned as he flipped the pages trying to find Class- 1A in the book.

Midoriya was a good kid, a really good kid… He had a heart of gold, basically… But one look at him and you could feel the 'punch me' vibe coming off of him. A few probing questions about the boy's home life had old him everything he needed to know. Apparently, there was some bad blood between the mother and father over a misunderstanding. The boy had been basically abandoned by his father figure, and had experienced bullying at school from both his peers and even his teachers, if the boy's school records were anything to go by.

This made an interesting psychological picture, from what All-Might could tell. He was no expert, especially as just a beginning teacher… but he had his well-tested gut feeling. The boy looked to him as a father figure… and would do practically anything to make others happy. A dangerous combination… All-Might thanked his lucky stars that the kid was still the kind, curious, and just plain heroic young boy.

His home room teacher had to be someone that could pick the boy up when he was feeling down and make sure he didn't push himself too hard to try and please others. No… that wasn't right… Izuku was many things but he didn't really seem to give a damn about how he was perceived. He noticed, of course but he wasn't that concerned with it, even to the point that he was willing to disregard rules and his own safety to save another. What was it that drove this kid? All-Might knew he was a Hero nerd but… It couldn't be…

All-Might face palmed. He was doing that a lot as he went over his teaching book. He had made so many mistakes throughout his life that he was just barely coming to grips with it, but this time nearly broke his brain.

'Don't tell me…' All-Might thought, face in his palm. 'He's doing all this… just to be his own Hero?'


Izuku was shaking with nervousness. He was hearing whispers behind him and they didn't sound very nice. Izuku thought they were talking about Kacchan for a moment, but then realized that as loud and flashy as he was, there was no way that even Kacchan could get that much attention so quickly. Katsuki stared ahead, seemingly not noticing the whispers.

"Alright, all of you, we will be holding a Quirk Assessment Exam." Aizawa said standing before the entire class.

"A Quirk Assessment Exam?!" and suddenly, the whispers exploded into full on talking. The students weren't expecting this.

"But… Orientation! We're going to miss it!" one said. Izuku turned his head and saw the girl he had tried to save was there. She was pointedly not looking at Izuku, but the boy was just glad she was alright. Izuku slumped. She was cute too…

"Quiet down, all of you." Aizawa said, somehow gaining control of the class once more. It used to take his old teacher nearly five minutes to do that… "If you guys really want to make the big leagues you can't waste time on pointless ceremonies."

'But… don't we need Orientation so we can get the guidebook with not just he school rules, but also to get the map to help us find classes on our first few days…' Izuku thought quietly. He was getting better at the mumbling thing… Kinda…

The rest of the class seemed surprised by this statement, so the teacher elaborated.

"Here at UA we are not tethered to useless traditions. That means I get to run my class as I see fit." Aizawa said. The rest of the students looked increasingly uncomfortable. "Most of your lives you have been taking standardized testing. However, you were not allowed to use your Quirk on the physical fitness test. The government is still trying to make everyone believe that we are all somehow equal, while making sure that those with the most power don't excel at these sort of tests. It's not rational. One day the Ministry of Education will learn. Bakugo! You managed to get the most points on the entrance exam. What was your farthest distance with a soft ball when you were in Junior High?"

"Sixty-seven meters, I think." Katsuki said. He was clearly not amused by having to waste time proving he was the strongest.

"Give it a try with your Quirk now." Aizawa said tossing him a ball. Seriously, were was he getting all those? "Anything goes, as long as you stay within the circle. Come on, let's go… you're wasting time."

Katsuki looked miffed but walked into the throwing circle to give it his all.

'I'll add a little heat to my pitch and make all their jaws drop.' Katsuki thought. 'And then maybe I won't have to do the rest of this stupid test…'

Katsuki wound up, keeping good form and-

"DIE!" Katsuki roared launching the ball until it was only a speck in the sky. Izuku frowned.

'He improved…' Izuku thought, sweating a bit.

Aizawa held up his phone letting them read the numbers.

"Seven-hundred and five meters!?" Several in the class said. Everyone was finally looking more relaxed.

"Oh wow that looks fun!" A very energetic bright pink girl said.

"That's what I'm talking about!" a guy with tape dispensers on his elbows said. "Hero work for days!"

"Yeah! Let's get started!" the guy with the Crimson Riot haircut said. "This is going to be so cool!"

"Cool? Fun?" Aizawa said with a sinister smile. "Idiots! This is a test to see which of you have the stuff to actually be Heroes. Whoever gets in last place during this test will be expelled immediately."

"What!? But teacher, that's not fair!" The brown haired girl said. Aizawa turned around.

"And natural disasters are fair?" Aizawa countered silencing their protests. "Are power hungry villains fair? How about disasters that level entire cities? Are any of those things 'fair'? We are Heroes. We try to mitigate and combat that unfairness as much as possible, but there are still things that will just naturally be 'unfair'. Most of you will be UA students bar one. You will have three years here of one hardship one after the other. It's best to get used to disappointment and failure now, before you can no longer afford to…"

The class was silent but each of them were having their own thoughts. Mostly thoughts of 'oh shit this is for real' and 'I don't know if I can do this' or even more accurate in some cases 'I hope the last one isn't me…'.

For our Hero however, one thought came into his mind.

Izuku turned to look at his new friend Koda and his older friend Mineta.

'I have to figure out a way to help Koda and Mineta pass… Actually…' Izuku thought scanning his class. He already wanted to help everyone pass.

Now… just how to accomplish that…

To his surprise, he already knew the answer.


First test!

Side to Side Hops!

Izuku subtly grew a bone, no bigger than a pen and sat down, ready to scribble down notes in the dirt and muttering up a storm. Some of the other students were already starting to edge away from him, but Izuku didn't pay that any mind.

He watched as the others were grouped up to perform the exercise. The tall glasses kid, named Ida- he had learned that when they were introduced-, prepared to run. Izuku watched intently, seeing the engine exhaust pipes coming out of the boy's calves. Ida… and exhaust pipes… Why did that ring a bell?

Izuku watched as the competition continued. Ida should have been, by far, the fastest, but it seemed he was the most careful. Despite his speed and quick footwork, it seemed he had a bit of trouble when his movements weren't as precise. Izuku frowned listening to the scores, still muttering.

"Dude… whatcha workin' on?" Mineta asked.

"Oh! Mineta! Sorry if I wasn't paying attention!" Izuku said looking down over the notes he had worked on drawing in the dirt. "I'm trying to figure out if everyone in class can make it."

"Huh?" Mineta asked looking at the scribbles in the dirt. "This is…"

"Hero Analysis." Izuku said with a shrug. "I do it for a hobby. See, Ida, that guy in the glasses has a Quirk I think I've seen before. Looks like he can produce force of some kind from his legs, and his calves have an exhaust pipes. He will probably be good in the long distance run, the long jump, and depending if he does it well, he should be pretty good at the ball toss…"

"Um… how?" Mineta asked. "I mean-"

"Oh that's simple." Izuku said. "The teacher said, 'anything goes as long as you stay in the circle'. I figure that his legs would be his best way for him to propel the ball since the goal has been simplified to 'get the ball as far out there as you can' instead of 'toss the ball as far as you can."

"So you're saying that this Ida guy should punt the ball like a soccer ball…" Mineta said thoughtfully. A whistle blew. "Oh shit… it's my turn next, any ideas for me?"

"Um, what's your Quirk?" Izuku asked.

"I got these balls on my head. They stick to practically anything, but they don't stick to me for some reason." Mineta said quickly. He would go on to tell the boy more of the specifics, like how they were pretty bouncy in his hands and how he could make them last longer if he was in good health.

Izuku smiled.


"That guy who people have been talking about…" Kaminari said. "You really think he's, like, a badass?"

"Why you askin'?" Sero asked.

"Well… Now that I'm getting a better look at him… He seems kinda…" Kaminari trailed off.

"Kinda what?" Sero asked with a raised brow.

"Kinda strange. He doesn't you know, act like a badass... In fact he seems almost cute- I mean, you know like, no homo and all that! But he's got that you know… vibe? I don't know." Kaminari said. Seeing Sero's amused face Kaminari began to panic. "Man, I don't swing that way! I ain't playin around!"

"Sure bro…" Sero said with a smug grin. He totally had some dirt on for later… "But I feel you. He's got… something. I don't know what it is yet though…"

They watched as Mineta, that little purple gremlin, tossed his balls onto the ground and then used that shit as springboards for him to bounce between them. He reached an obscene number of hops. Afterward, they saw him high- low five the 'cute kid'. Apparently, the guy had made up the strategy…

Kaminari and Sero looked at each other. Sero let out a low whistle.

"Your boyfriend is pretty good- Ywouch!" Sero yelped as Kaminari gave him a sharp jolt to his ribs. "Okay fine! Jeez…"


Izuku lined up with Katsuki and wondered for a brief second how the hell were they ordered? Maybe student id number? He still didn't know how a 'Mineta' was racing next to an 'Ida'. Maybe they were doing it by first name? But then, why was that pink Ashido girl and that Aoyama guy in nearly the same lane? Hmm…

"Go!" The little robot helper proclaimed happily and Izuku suddenly go serious. His face became shadowed, possibly by the boy's crazy hair, and his eyes seemed to glow white as he began to demolish the test.

Izuku was a blur of movement, alternating his feet at high speed.

He had done something like this exercise fighting with Simon.

A shiver ran up his spine and nearly through off his tempo remembering Simon's 'dodging training'...


Kaminari and Sero stared as the 'cute' and 'adorable' badass moved as fast as that purple gremlin… without using his Quirk…

"I… um… that's…" Kaminari said.

"Hot?" Sero asked with a sly grin.

"Dude! Shut! UP!" Kaminari stage whispered and threatening with sparkly fingers.

"Dude… I was about to say, 'no homo'… but if you think he's hot, who am I to judge-? Ywouch!" Sero said. "Jeez man… take a joke…"


Elsewhere, Katsuki and Kaminari, as well as a few others, also watched this display.

"Alright… Now I know why he's considered a badass…" Sato said crossing his arms. "Seems like he'd be a good rival for me-"

"H-how... How is he this strong? How many push-ups did he do?! How many sit-ups?! WHAT KIND OF JUICE DID HE DRINK?!" Katsuki roared, thoroughly freaked out.

"Bro, you okay?" Kirishima asked. Katsuki was beginning to hyper ventilate and was glaring murderously at the, admittedly pretty badass green teen. "Why are you so freaked out?"

Katsuki looked like he was about to murder Kirishima. "Don't you understand? That means he's been holding back this entire time! He never gave it his all and is making me look like a fool!"

Kirishima didn't really get it at first and then suddenly it clicked. "No way! Is that guy your rival-?!"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Katsuki said loudly. "He is nothing! Especially after all this shit and-"

"No way! He's totally your rival!" Kirishima said excitedly. "That's so manly! Oh hey! Looks like we're up next!"

Katsuki glowered at him. He then realized that he felt like his personal confidence in himself had taken a blow and began to mentally go over the confidence reinforcement statements his counselor had showed him. He took deep breaths, counted to ten, and then back down…

'I am safe… I am secure in my surroundings… I am secure in myself… Everything is going to be okay… I am still good enough, even if others do well… I am in my happy place and… relax…' Katsuki thought to himself as he tried to find his 'calm' center. 'It does no good to be so tense… I do better when I relax and am comfortable…'

Finally, Katsuki relaxed and focused on his goal. He found his Zen, and he was prepared for anything. Not like he had anything to worry about to begin with. He was still the best guy here by a long shot.

"Psht… Whatever… So he can hop side to side, big deal, I could go faster…" Katsuki muttered. He then froze suddenly clutched his head and yelling, "SHIT! THAT BASTARD HAS ME MUTTERING NOW TOO!"

Idly, Izuku looked up from his notes, then looked back down trying to calm his own nerves. There were people gathered around him reading the notes he had scratched into the dirt and taking notes for themselves.

This was going to be one hell of an exam…