Bakugo POV
Today we were all sitting and waiting for Akira's test to start. I'm pissed off about this whole thing, first, she finishes ahead of me and now this. I'm happy for her, I'd be a real ass if I wasn't. But that doesn't mean I can't be pissed off that's she skipping ahead like this. Absolute bullshit. Finally, Aizawa hits the lights and says the exam is about to start.
At the Exams, Author POV(Updated cover image is what costumes look like, and the closest I could get to what I want them to look like, from bottom to top it goes; Aniya, Fumi, Holly, Maiko, Kimiko, and Tikara)
Before the exams started, the young heroes gathered and milled about, sending side-long glances at the odd little gathering of darkly clad students from an unknown school. Finally, someone stood up to announce the exam process for today.
"Welcome, aspiring young heroes! Today's exam will consist of three portions. The first portion will be essentially a game of capture the flag, the second a team challenge in competing groups of 3-4 individuals, and the final exam will be one on one competitions of the remaining candidates. The farther you make it, the better your chances of passing, however, there is no guarantee that someone that's out in the first game will fail or that someone making it to the last round will pass. Now I will explain the first portion. You will each be given two flags to place on your person. They are red and approximately half of the flag must be visible at all times. You may tuck in, pin, or loosely wrap the flags. Tying them onto your person or your uniform is not allowed. Utilizing a quirk to secure them- is allowed of course. So long as it remains visible. Please recieve your flags and head to the arena. You will have fifteen minutes to find your starting position."
Akira POV
This exam is going to be interesting, the more flags you collect- the more obvious of a target you become. The fewer you have, the less of a threat you'll be perceived as. There are about 1,500 of us here. That means that 750 or so will move on to team rounds. I'm going to assume that half or so of the teams will pass as well, or maybe not if the final portion is going to be one on one battles... It's more than likely that a quarter or so of the teams will pass that portion of the exam. Meaning 60-80 students will be in the final, which may actually be a bracketed tournament- like at the UA sports festival. I'd better not think too much, I need to strategize the first portion.
We'll have a distinct advantage in sticking together, but we'll also probably be targeted. What battle positioning would be most beneficial? I quickly survey the terrain, the high ground would be a good idea, or... There, that valley! I could saturate the cliffside in ink so that I could detect anyone approaching through the earth. It'd easily act as a funnel for both Fumi's sounds and Aniya's- blasting anyone who got too close from the entrance. They could take side positioning on either side of Tikara and me, and Maiko and Kimiko could take front positioning as our primary defense. I can use ink to secure our flags. Fumi could use tunes to lure, and Holly could act as our distance lure by turning up the heat on her quirk. I realize far too late that the girls are looking at me and waiting patiently. Aniya speaks first.
"You have a plan, I'm assuming?" I nod.
"That valley there, I can position in the back, saturate the soil with ink. Tikara can be my direct cover, as well as our central defense. Fumi and Aniya can position at the sides since your quirks minimally affect Kimiko and Maiko who can take the front. Fumi can produce luring tunes, and Holly can be our primary lure if she draws in people by turning up the heat on her quirk. I'll easily be able to attach our flags to each of us using ink, which will make them mostly irremovable, as well as spot anyone lurking in the ground. We're probably going to be targeted since no one knows who we are affiliated with. Does that sound okay?" Everyone nods, and we scramble into position against the ticking clock. Others give us looks that might be meant to be intimidating, but we pay no mind. It's time to get serious.
Slowly the timer runs out, and a booming 'Begin!' sounds throughout the multi-terrain stadium. We don't have to wait long before the first group shows up. The absolute worst possible matches if they're going up against Kimiko. Five boys with mutation type quirks stand in front of us. Their leader speaks first.
"Alright ladies, hand over the flags and nobody has to chip a nail." Kimiko grins, motioning for Holly to keep quiet.
"Well, I hold it out for you to take, but unfortunately for you- you can't move." He tries to speak but finds himself unable to move his body. I take their flags easily, simply hanging them in the air for now. Maiko releases them, and fear fills the boy's faces as Maiko cracks her knuckles.
"You can stay and fight, or go find someone else to pick on. Your choice." The boys flee quickly.
"Holly, stir up some trouble for us, yeah?" Maiko has an excited look on her face, and as Fumi gears up for a luring lullaby, Holly cranks her quirk up to full power.
I dodge the boy that flies out the ground just in time, and he comes face to face with a fully powered up Tikara. She grins menacingly, and he gulps nervously, surveying his surroundings before holding out a single flag as a peace offering- must have already lost the other one. Tikara takes it, and I add it to the others. He vanishes as quickly as he showed up and misses the party approaching from the entrance of the valley. Fourteen or fifteen upperclassmen from Seiai Academy are approaching. Heavy hitters mixed with a variety of quirks that can't be easily distinguished. They look as though they too have already been collecting flags. A girl in the front laughs as they reach us.
"So, these are the kids that scared of some of the first years from Shiketsu? No name nothings, that's what you are. Now, be good little girls and hand over your flags." I feel a pull similar to what Holly's feels like, but nowhere near as strong. I grin, and address her myself.
"Let me guess, some kind of persuasion quirk? That's cute. Holly, why don't you show her how it's done?" Holly grins, stepping forward slowly, and several of the people in the crowd sway towards her instinctually. The ringleader looks confused, and panic begins to cover her face.
"Why can't people ever play nice? It makes me so sad... You could make it up to us, by handing over your flags and heading out you know." The majority of the group begins unfastening their flags, and I see the girl in front scrambling to regain control.
"NO! Don't listen to her! She's not in charge here, I am! Keep your flags on!" No one listens, Holly's quirk is too strong. It might not work as well on someone with a similar quirk, but it's also not being directly focused on her. However, as I gather the last of the flags from her followers, Holly adjusts her attention to her direct competition.
"Now, you, turn around and walk away right now. You could still pass if you move quickly." The girl sways, eyes glazing over briefly.
"Great idea, let's go guys." The group wanders out listlessly, and I nearly miss the incoming from above our heads. "INCOMING!"
Maiko braces her feet as someone slams a fist into her, they go flying back into the valley wall. Kimiko stops a stream of fire before it reaches her, causing the fire user to barrel straight through their own flames. Aniya sends up a sonic blast into the air, causing those still above us, or leaping down to be knocked back and out of the air. Most of them unconcious. I use ink to soften their falls, and snatch their flags, turning my interest to the only person still standing. A heavy hitter with about a dozen flags strapped on. He's squaring off with Maiko, who hasn't moved an inch. He charges her, slamming a fist into her once again. You can feel the air current, it's strong enough to whip my hair up around me. Letting out a yell of frustration he puts a few feet between them. Maiko grins.
"Most physical attacks will be useless on me. I'm unmovable, you, however, are not." She charges forward, and they begin hand to hand combat, finally, she meets his next swing with one of her own, I can hear his bone crack as his own strength ricochets back into his body. I wince, it's probably just a fracture, but I know it'll still hurt to try and finish the exams with that. He struggles to his feet, out of breath and shaking.
"No, I can't lose here. I've got to get my license this time around! I'll walk away, but I need to keep these flags!" I blink at him, he's probably in his final year at whatever school he goes to. I'm not sure, but- I'm interrupted by the speaker.
"TWO MINUTES REMAINING! The top student currently has twenty-one flags! Get to work everyone!" I quickly count our flags. We've haven't fought much, but we do have a good number because nearly everyone attacked in groups. Plus I've been pilfering flags of people as they duck by but- since none of them are attached they don't count!
There are seven of us, and... about 250 flags. I look at the boy and then at Maiko.
"Maiko, it's fine. Leave it. Next round is groups of 3-4 right? He passes and joins up with one of our groups- what do you say?" He looks at me, and nods.
"Absolutely! I'd be honored, you guys have real skill." I nod and quickly distribute the flags so that everyone has the same amount. I leave the remainder unused, I want us all to finish with the same amount- 34 flags. As the timer finishes up, I make conversation.
"So, what's your name?"
"I'm Adachi Haruto! I have a power-up quirk that allows me to increase my hit power ten times with every punch I throw in within 45 seconds of each other. Plus I'm a little more resistant to damage than most people too, otherwise, my arm probably would have broken on that last swing." I nod and smile as the proctor announces the end of the game. The sky listing those that have passed. First place repeats eight times, all of our names at the top.