The gates were open, and Katsuki was way ahead of the pack.

He charged full speed at the first bot he saw around the bend. It looked like a 2-pointer. He used his explosions to blow it up from below with ease, nuts and bolts flying around the clearing. This was almost too easy. Explosion after explosion, he began to work on destroying a couple of 3-pointers. They were a bit more challenging, but not as hard as he'd expected. How was this stupid course going to determine their strength? It was child's play!

He dashed down the next street, eyes peeled for another robot. "MOVE OVER, SUCKERS!" he bellowed, knocking a short, brown-haired girl to the side. She let out a small yelp as she stumbled over, glaring at him as she ran off, a determined look set on her face. A couple of other examinees gave him dirty looks before they turned back to their task.

"YOU'D BETTER RUN, YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF GARBAGE! GO FIND A JOB THAT SUITS YOU, YOU'LL NEVER BE A HERO!" He cackled after her as he smashed yet another bot, even though she was already halfway down the street parallel to his.

By now, he had to have at least 15 points, which gave him a fairly good boost. He'd heard a few other students calling out their scores, and they'd been hovering around seven or eight. He was set on winning this whole entrance exam and becoming the top student immediately. Of course, that would give him a lot of hate, but who cared? He certainly didn't. He wasn't particularly fond of friendship or admiration apart from followers.

The blonde boy rocketed off down the fake street, firing a blast at anything that moved. He suddenly screeched to a halt, craning his neck to stare at the huge, towering robot above him.

It was one of those damned 0-pointers.

He grinned, staring up at it as it slammed its hand down on the ground. What the hell was it aiming at? It hadn't even come close to smashing him. Unless...

Unless there was another target.

Bakugo used the opportunity to blast himself skyward, falling at full force onto its head, or at least, the top of it. He rapidly rammed and fired at it, causing its legs to buckle underneath itself. The bot finally collapsed, laying sprawled out on the street. Kacchan felt a surge of triumph as he stepped over its remains, but he froze when he saw a girl laying all too still beside it.

Right underneath its hand.

He rushed over, annoyance and a hint of fear pricking at his stomach, which grew into a gnawing ache when he got a closer look. It was that same kid from earlier, the one with the brown bob and small figure. She was flat on her stomach, head turned at a lopsided angle. Her eyes were dull, no longer full of the familiar determination and anxiousness they had only minutes ago.

Oh no. Oh no, no. This couldn't happen. He was the cause of one death, not two. Inside, he knew that it was not remotely his fault. In fact, if he played any significant part in this, he was the one who tried to save her, or at least avenge her death. He wheeled his head around to stare at the bot, which still laid unmoving on the ground behind him.

Numb, he scooped her up in his arms. She was pretty lightweight for an almost adult-sized girl; she had to be around 90-100 pounds at most. He carried her towards the gathering crowd of kids, most of which who'd witnessed the fall of either the bot's destruction or the girl's death.

He set her down at the center of the group, his eyes still resting on her rounded face. A new thought was building up in his head: was he actually not to blame for this terrible accident? He'd caused her to run off, after all. Or was this the outcome of each scenario?

Bakugo was turning into a killing machine.

A sudden weight crushed him when he spotted an old lady with a grim expression walking slowly towards him. He stared at her, still in shock at what had happened. The lady came to a stop beside the girl's body, and she crouched down beside it, shaking her head and tsk-tsking. She ran her hands over the broken neck of the girl and a tear suddenly welled up under her eye.

"She's gone. There's nothing I can do; I wish I could. But my Quirk transforms energy into healing power, and she doesn't have any life left in her. I'm so, terribly sorry." The old lady looked up at Bakugo with apologetic eyes, but he looked away.

"I-" He was oddly at lost for words. She reached up, stretching her arm, and laid a finger on his lips.

"Now, now, child. You did all you could. You tried to save her from the bot. It was too late the moment its hand crushed her." They thought he'd tried to help? Honestly, it was his own drive that had led him to the bot, not by wanting to save a random rival that he'd just have to defeat later on in the school year.

Bakugo didn't know what to say. He just nodded mutely, allowing her to believe what false truth had sprouted in her head.

That's right, let them think what they'd like. It'll help you get into this school much, much easier. This will certainly help your reputation.

Katsuki struggled to hide the shock that filled his mind. Who the hell was that? The voice was so ominous, so mysterious... He was sure that he'd never heard it before, and if he had, he doubted that he'd have any memory of it. He slapped his head, biting his inner lip.

Curious, aren't you? the voice chuckled. Well, I can see why. It's not just every day that a strange voice enters your head, now, is it?

How do you know what I'm thinking? he thought fiercely, but the voice didn't respond. After a few moments, it replied.

Look up, it stated simply. He did so, scanning the buildings above him.

And what do you know?

Amber eyes.

Ah, another chapter finished. How satisfying.

Anyways, who do you think the 'amber eyes' are?

Is it Hawks? Toga? Kurogiri? More than one person? Someone with contact lenses? Who knows...

Thank you for taking the time to read!