March 3rd, 2018 (1 week later)

Ayano was trying out yoga.

Well, more like her own version of yoga. She focused mostly on building up her arm strength, so she combined some yoga and push-up variations. It helped her balance, as well as her reaction time in making a little yellow bubble to use in place of a spotter. Her Quirk was finally feeling more like an extra limb than something to be afraid of. After her stint in the hospital and Quirk Suspension, it felt nice to depend on her bubbles again.

Waiting for the U.A. exam results was nerve-wracking. She and Izuku had texted a few times in the last week. Katsuki even responded to her a couple of times, but they were all distracted.

The brunette took a deep breath, slowly lowering her legs from the air. Her arms were burning, protesting all the extra work she had been doing. She figured if she didn't get into UA, she would stop pushing her muscles so hard. For now, it was a good thing to focus on instead of the dread pooling in her stomach.

After taking a gulp from her water bottle, Ayano checked her phone to see a text from Izuku. Just got my UA letter! I'll tell you about it when I read it but check your mailbox!

She immediately jumped up, running out of her room and the front door to her mailbox. As she found the letter and brought it inside, she wasn't sure if she was grateful or not that her parents were both working. Did she want to be alone when she found out, either way that it ended?

Her hand held the paper envelope delicately as she ran to her room, using a yellow bubble to shut the door behind her. The UA logo was stamped into the wax seal, and she could feel something cylindrical inside. Carefully, she peeled the wax seal back to open the envelope. Her left hand tilted the paper so the object fell into her right hand.

She studied it for a second before coming to the conclusion, Oh, it's one of those projector things… She set it on the table and watched a screen appear above her desk.

All Might's face so close to the camera made her jump back a bit. He announced, "I am here! As a projection!" Ayano blinked, confused as all Hell. "Surprise! I, All Might, will be joining the UA faculty this year!"

That didn't really clear much up, but he was talking so fast she didn't try to dissect his words yet. "You did well on the written exam, and you got a total of 32 combat points in the practical exam. But I have another surprise, the practical exam was not graded on Combat Points alone!" Ayano's eyes widened as the screen revealed a second category, "There are also Rescue Points! A panel of judges awarded Akira Ayano with…" He paused for dramatic effect, making her blue eyes narrow. "38 Rescue Points!"

The chart of the Top Ten scores popped up. She found the now-familiar kanji for her name after No. 4. No way… I got 4th? Her eyes scanned the rest of the names to find any familiar ones. Of course, Katsuki got zero for Rescue while still getting first… Oh my- Izuku got 0 Combat Points?! And 60 Rescue?! What the hell did I miss?! How did Izuku get 8th place?

She barely zoned back in on time to hear, "Congratulations! I am proud to announce that you, Akira Ayano, have made it. You are now a UA student!"

Soon after that, the tape ended, and Ayano was left in silence.

Holy. Shit. I did it. I actually got in. Not only that, but I came in 4th! Ayano celebrated by dancing around the house, singing songs in a mix of Japanese and English.

Eventually, her legs carried her out of her house. Luckily she grabbed her phone and wallet on the way out. She was still in workout gear, but her adrenaline high made her forget any insecurities that might've motivated her to change. Or to hide her scar.

As she walked aimlessly, she decided to visit her friend. In order to not be a completely unexpected guest, she texted Izuku: Hey, I know my results. Can I come over? Need someone to freak out with. She also texted her parents that she might be out late at a friend's place, figuring she could tell them the good news once she got back.

When she arrived at his door, she knocked loudly and waited. Izuku opened the door with a grin on his face with tears in his eyes.

Ayano grinned back at him, attacking him with a hug. She yelled, "We did it! I can't believe it!" Over and over until she heard Inko-san's laughter. Catching Izuku's blushing face, she pulled away quickly. Of course, that's when she remembered she was wearing a tank top and leggings.

Inko-san clapped once, a big smile on her face. "You have perfect timing, Aya-chan. I'm just about finished with dinner, and I made too much for just me and Izuku." She turned back to the kitchen, "I'll call you both when it's ready!"

Ayano looked back to Izuku to see he was wearing casual clothes. Huh, been a while since I've seen him out of his school uniform. He showed her into the living room, blushing as he picked up a dumbbell and put it away. "Ah- sorry, I was working out when Mom brought the letter."

She sat on the couch, stretching her arms above her head, "Yeah, same actually. After the exam I decided getting stronger might be a good idea," Scratching at her neck made her remember that she didn't cover her scar with makeup or a scarf. Ignoring her sudden discomfort, she tried to remember what she wanted to say to him. "Uh- Izuku?"

He had been picking up and putting away tiny things she didn't notice. He looked at her when she called his name, "Yeah?" He accepted when she patted the seat next to her on the couch.

"I just…" She wrung her hands in front of her. "It's about the last time we spoke."

His face lit up with realization, "Oh, uh- it's alright. I already know I was in the wrong-"

"No, no, I'm not gonna lecture you again." Ayano sighed, "I wanted to apologize because I went too far." Her eyebrows pinched together, trying to find the best words to get her point across. "Don't get me wrong, I don't regret talking to you about it." She leaned back against the couch, looking over at Izuku. "I do regret telling you that you wouldn't make it. That was mean and uncalled for. I'm sorry for that."

Izuku opened and closed his mouth a few times, not used to being apologized to. "Oh- you're forgiven!" He looked away from her, scratching his cheek while he laughed nervously. "Honestly, I was pretty sure I had failed until the announcement came."

Ayano sat up straight at that reminder, recalling the only names on the leaderboard she bothered to remember. "Yeah, I saw the Exam leaderboard. What the Hell happened? Did you get 0 Combat Points? That means you didn't get any robots, right?"

"Well… yeah. No robots." He sighed, "I think it was mostly luck. I ran into someone who needed help and… kinda risked my life to save her's."

Ayano's jaw fell open, "Luck?" She used English by accident, "Dude, you realize not everyone would have done that, right?"

Izuku's face scrunched, "Yeah, but still. If she wasn't there-" He was interrupted.

"Hold up. You saw my rescue score, right? I saved an idiot from being crushed by a building. Was that just luck?"

Izuku looked confused. "What? Of course not. Why would-? Oh."

Ayano grinned, raising her voice to resemble Present Mic's, miming a microphone with her hand as she stood up. "Aaand he's figured it out, folks! Can't get away with self-deprecation in my presence!" Her grin became more genuine after she caught his snickering.

Inko called from the other room, "Kids, dinner's ready!"

Over their food, Ayano went into more detail about how her exam went. She relayed the event with more excitement and details than the night she told her parents since she had more context with her rescue score.

Most of her questions to Izuku about his exam were avoided by an abrupt subject change. Inko didn't seem to notice or care, but Ayano felt her patience running thin after the third or fourth redirection. Luckily (for Izuku), right as they finished dinner, Ayano got a text from her mom.

After an only slightly awkward goodbye, Ayano was making her way home. A couple of blocks later, she was kicking her shoes off at her front door. Telling her parents that she got into UA was held off for the morning, as both Sora and Lisa were dead tired from work.

Ayano went to bed that night, looking forward to her first day in high school, despite it being a month away.

あきら End Chapter 12 あやの