Season One: Episode II

The Tests

. . .

Kaiji Adachi

. . .

It was the second day of our unofficial class, and I was on my way to the training field once again. I hadn't run into any of the others so I expected to see them there already. What I wasn't expecting to see, was another student making his way through the halls looking like he'd been in a bad accident. He was in a costume of sorts, the tattered remnants of a green jumpsuit. One arm wrapped in a sling and the other covered in bandages. His green hair completely disheveled. As I walked past him in the hall, I couldn't help but say ask.

"What the hell happened to you?"

Making him stop in his tracks, "What? Oh, I uh-" Stammering, had I caught him while he was lost in thought? "Had combat training for the first time today, was pretty rough."

This is what the Hero Course's combat training can do to you!? "Yeah it looks like it," Hiding my shock, "Kaiji Adachi, by the way." I added, offering a hand. Not really sure if I was supposed to mingle with the actual students, but it never hurt to be polite.

"Izuku Midoriya," He replied in kind, shaking my hand and nodding with a smile. "Are you a student here too?"

Good question, "Uuuh... Sort of? Actually, I've gotta go, my class will be starting soon." I decided it was best not to get into details, before I actually end up late. "Nice meeting you!"

Quickly making my getaway while he watched, "Oh uh... Okay, bye!"

He seemed nice.

. . .

"Last one to arrive again," Suru pointed out as I joined them at the field. "Gotta say Adachi, this sounds like a bad habit forming."

To which I rolled my eyes and waved her off, "My home is three hours from here, give me a break will ya?"

"You will get no breaks in my class." Aizawa chimed in, standing beside a figure I didn't recognize. He had grey skin and a really weird blocky body, garbed in a burgundy jumpsuit. "This is Cementos, another teacher here at UA, and he'll be helping with today's exercises."

"And also a pro hero," Cementos added with a smile, "I am happy to help more potential heroes."

And just like that, I already like him more than Aizawa. "So what's the plan?" Mako asked curiously, "How will you evaluate our skills?"

"All heroes are ranked in five stats," Mr. Aizawa began, "I am not going to tell you what these stats are, but today we'll put you through a series of tests and see how you rank."

"And what is the criteria for failure?" Sen questioned, drawing my eyes to her. Based on the dark rings under her eyes, I think the threat of expulsion must have kept her up pretty late.

"These stats rank from One to Five," He continued, "One being the lowest and five the highest, if you don't get a three on at least two of the stats, you're out." Before his eyes lifted from the notes he held, to Sen. "However, in your case, unless you can show me that you're able to use that Quirk today... You're going home regardless of the scores you get."

Sen swallowed dryly, "Y-Yes sir..."

That sounded grim, but Aizawa just gave away information I don't think he meant too. To make that specific point for her, must mean there are stats that don't rely on our Quirks. Maybe there will be tests of intelligence too?

"Good, there will be three tests in total, we'll start with the easiest one." Aizawa turned to Cementos, "Go ahead, set the course."

To which he nodded, "Right." Before turning towards the section of walkway on the edge of the field, the part made of concrete. Cementos knelt down and placed his big hands on the edge, before the concrete itself started to warp and shift. I watched in awe as the stone molded like clay, shifted from its rock hard form and flowed like water. Taking the shape of humanoids, like stone mannequins before it stopped moving. "These will be your targets."

"Two dozen total," Aizawa stated, moving to the far side of the track so the statues were between us. "You must destroy the statues and cross the finish line here." He explained, "The faster you complete the task, the better your score."

"I've also made the statues hollow," Cementos chimed in, "For those who perhaps lack the raw power to move such a heavy object."

"Heheh, much appreciated." Mako chuckled nervously, I could see that he was sweating.

"Kaiji, you're first." Aizawa singled me out, pointing to the statues, "Get to it, timer starts as soon as you break the first statue, so take whatever time to prepare that you think you need... Cementos will also be attaching devices to the statues to measure the amount of force you're applying." So this test was about both strength and speed...

"Alright." I nodded, stretching a bit and bracing myself. I'd worn some baggier clothes today, just shorts and a loose fit shirt so movement would be easier. Once I was ready, I grew myself to full size, forcing my way through the strain and achieving Croc form. "Alright... Let's GO!" I charged the statues, my body heavy and slow even while running. But my steps shook the ground, "HRAAAAGH!" I brought up both my arms, slamming them down into the earth. Dirt and stone uprooted beneath half of them, every statue in a fifteen foot cone in front of me was toppled over. Most smashing upon hitting the ground, while the remaining ones I stomped through.

Making my way through those that were still standing, I crushed them with my heavy arms and my powerful tail. Reaching the finish line, panting heavily by the time I made it. I was already totally drained, and began shrinking back to normal size. Stopping by Aizawa and trying to catch my breath while leaning forward onto my knees.

"Hmm... Not bad, clear time was 58 seconds." He nodded, "Power: 4... Speed: 1." Aizawa added, "But I'm guessing you already figured that would be the case."

I mean, he wasn't wrong. "Yeah... Still, I tried to move faster than usual... Bad idea." But still, that was one score above three, which meant I only needed one more to stay in!

"Ryoko, you're up." Cementos called out, as he finished rebuilding the statues from their rubble.

"Tch, always making the finishing act go early." She scoffed, rolling her shoulders and clenching all four fists, "I don't even need beast mode for this, but I'd rather crush lizard boys score so here we go!" She changed as well, growing in muscle mass and size before charging into the statues.

She was more skilled than I thought she'd be. All four arms lashing out in different directions, tearing through the statues one after another. She was definitely going to pass me in speed, that was for sure. Reaching Aizawa in probably half the time it took me, "Hmm, brutal but effective... Clear time, 34 seconds."

"Give me the numbers," Ryoko replied, giving him a toothy grin as she changed back to normal. "I want to know how badly I beat him."

"Based on the force the statues took, and your completion speed..." Aizawa quickly calculated it on a small device attached the clipboard. "Power: 3, Speed: 3."

"What?" She looked visibly offended, "Your stupid devices must be broken, check again."

She wasn't serious right? "No." Aizawa shut her down quickly, "Mako, your turn."

Angel boy made it through pretty fast as well, lifting the statues and smashing them into one another. Even using his wings to topple some of them over, but it was clear his experience fighting was severely limited. Which made sense for someone with a Quirk focused on healing. Aizawa finished clocking in his time and nodded, "Clear time, 1 Minute and 24 Seconds... Power: 2, Speed: 4."

So overall completion time wasn't the only factor in speed calculation. "Must be other devices measuring our movement speed as well for the actual stats." Suru muttered, speaking my thoughts. "These tests are gonna be fun to break..."

"Sen, you're up." Aizawa called while Cementos fixed the field again.

But I was more focused on Suru, "What do you mean by, break?"

"Just wait and see lizard boy." She answered with a grin on her face, a part of me already worried about what she might be planning.

But for now, I wanted to watch Sen. She stood near the start line, taking deep breaths. Her eyes were closed, she was breathing deeply. Probably trying, desperately, to make her Quirk activate. But during this time, she also assumed some kind of stance, was she into martial arts? That's not was I was expecting, but it would explain her respectful and somewhat reserved behavior in the teachers presence.

"HYAH!" The launched herself at the first statue suddenly, spinning and delivering a roundhouse kick that took the head clean off its shoulders. Before quickly following through and driving her bare knuckles through the face of the next, shattering it to pieces.

"Whoa!" Mako exclaimed as he watched her continue to punch through the statues, "She must have gotten her Quirk to work!"

But I don't think that was it, "Remember, Cementos said the statues were hollow for easier breaking."

"Watch her hands." Suru chimed in, stuffing her own into her pockets.

Sure enough, I could see the damage Sen was doing to herself as she punched through the stonework. Making her way to Aizawa, and by the time she arrived the skin on her knuckles was scraped and broken drawing small trickles of blood down her fingers. The teacher however, did not appear to be fazed by this, "Good technique, completion time, 2 minutes and 15 seconds." By far the worst time so far... But she still did all that damage with her bare hands, and while hurting herself.

She was driven, determined to stay here.

"And... My stats?" She asked, wincing as she carefully examined her hands.

"... Power: 2, Speed: 1." He answered, immediately taking away two chances to excel. "Suru, your turn." Not that it would matter, if she couldn't make her Quirk work.

"Here, some bandages." Cementos offered as Sen rejoined us, "Once the tests are finished you can go see Recovery Girl."

"Thank you, sir." Sen bowed her head, and quickly began wrapping her hands.

"Alright so, timer doesn't start until I break a statue right?" Suru questioned, waiting at the starting line.

"That is correct."

"Cool cool cool... And does it start counting my speed before then?" Just what was this crazy girl up to?

"No, it doesn't."

"Excellent, give me just one moment to get ready."

What I witnessed next was perhaps the single most brilliant, and asinine thing I'd ever seen. As Suru crossed the starting line, and began moving the statues one at a time. Very gently sliding them around from their starting points. Inching them across the ground, over the course of the next thirty minutes. Until the small girl had carefully placed all but two into two separate piles. Making sure not to shatter any throughout her tedious work.

And the whole time, Aizawa just stared at her with a blank expression. Like he couldn't even believe what he was seeing.

Meanwhile, Suru was casually whistling as she made her way back to the only two statues not in piles. "Watch and learn everyone." She flashed a grin, before placing both hands onto the statues, and vanishing from existence with them. "UP HERE!" I heard her voice, followed by a childish laugh, come from above.

Looking up, I saw her in the air with both statues no less than one hundred yards above the field. She released both of them and vanished again, appearing right beside Aizawa at the finish line. All of us, teachers included, watched dumbfounded as the statues came crashing down on their respective piles. Shattering through and causing a cascade of crashing and breaking throughout.

Until Aizawa's timer pinged, signalling all statues were broken. "That was..." He began, looking at the clock, "I don't even know what that was."

"Come on boss," Suru nudged him playfully, "Give me the details." Her grin looked significantly more smug than usual.

Aizawa looked back at her, before sighing heavily. "Clear time... 4 seconds."

"That can't be legal!" Ryoko exclaimed, "She took like a whole damn hour!"

Mako shrugged, "Closer to thirty minutes, but I sort of agree..."

"Come on guys," Suru chuckled, shrugging, "Haven't you ever heard of the term, fight smarter not harder?"

Ryoko was fuming, "Well maybe you've heard this one! UP YOURS YOU LITTLE BI-"

"That is enough!" Cementos intervened before things could get too heated, not that it mattered as Ryoko was already steaming. "Eraserhead if you would please, give Suru her stats so we may move on?" Eraserhead? Was this Aizawa guy a pro hero too?

"Right..." He still seemed to be taking in what he'd just seen. "Power: 1, Speed: 5..."

"Max points, whoa..." I muttered, as Suru walked back over to the rest of us. "Uh... Nice work?"

"Thank you," She gave a mock bow, "See? Somebody appreciates my work!" Earning me a death glare from Ryoko, and too late did I realize the side I'd taken and the enemy I was making.

"Alright, that's it for this test." Aizawa cleared his throat loudly, returning all attention to him. "Now, we'll move on to the second... If you could all please come stand over here." He offered, pointing to the center of the field with the ruined statues.

"Uh... Okay?" I shrugged, making my way over with everyone until we were standing in the center of this mess. "So now what?"

"Cementos, if you would please?"

"On it."

Before any of us had a chance to react, the earth beneath our feet shifted. The concrete rapidly sweeping out our feet as it began to rise around us. Walls of thick stone taking shape, trapping us in some kind of box. The roof was still open so we could see, but the walls themselves must have been at least a hundred feet up!

"What the hell kind of test is this?" Ryoko demanded, glaring up at the top while Aizawa appeared on another platform looking down at us.

"You've got ten minutes to get out of the box, once out you cannot go back in." Wait what? "Get to it, clock is ticking."

"Oh screw this!" Ryoko spat, growing in size before laying all four fists against the stonework. It cracked along the surface, but didn't budge.

"Its no good," Sen pointed out, "Cementos must have made the walls thicker, we'll have to climb out."

"You won't be doing any climbing with those hands," Mako pointed out, "Let me heal you."

"Wait, hold on." Something hit me suddenly, specifically when I noticed Suru not moving at all. Considering she could just teleport out... "Healing drains your stamina right? Don't do that, not yet." Aizawa gave us another specific rule, "Mr. Aizawa said we can't go back in once we get out, but why would any of us do that?"

"I don't know, the man obviously has a screw loose." Ryoko scoffed, "I'm getting out of here." Before digging her claws into the stonework, and beginning to climb towards the top. "You losers are wasting time here."

"Wait!" I called out, "Listen, I think the point of this exercise is to make sure everyone gets out... Why else would he tell us you can't come back in? Think about it, how easily could Mako just fly each of us out one after another?" The more that I thought about it, was this supposed to emulate some kind of crisis situation?

To which Suru nodded, "Now you're getting it... But there is a slight problem."

Oh great, "What is it?"

"So uh... I kinda tired myself out moving those stupid statues and... Teleporting so high into the air," She admitted with a light laugh. "I can't really teleport, not for a few minutes anyways."

I facepalmed, shaking my head. "Okay, Mako will fly Sen out of here... She's injured so she should take priority right? I'll carry out Suru." Looking up, I could see that Ryoko was already halfway to the top, and our timer was still ticking down.

"Good idea," The blonde nodded, "You ready?" He asked, looking to Sen.

To which she nodded, "Lets go." Before Make lifted Sen by her shoulders so he didn't hurt her damaged hands. He spread his wings and began to fly upwards with her, clearing the top in a matter of seconds and flying past Ryoko.

"Alright, but how are you gonna carry me and climb genius?" Suru challenged, crossing her arms.

I answered by grabbing her with my tail, the thick appendage wrapping around her waist. "Did you really think this thing was just a blunt instrument?" Before digging my claws into the stonework, and beginning our ascent.

"Let the record show that I did not agree to this!"

Ignoring her, I got us to the top over the next few minutes. Reaching the platform where the others were waiting for us. Aizawa nodding as he looked between a few of us.

"Excellent work Adachi," He offered, focusing on me. "You figured out the point of the test with just a few key words to go on... And put together a plan that got the injured member of the group to safety first." Before his eyes drifted to the others, "Believe it or not, cooperation is a very important skill in Hero society... Heroes often have to work together with people they've never met before to save lives, and doing so without letting egos or self interest get in the way is very important." And then, he turned a sharper gaze on Ryoko. "I'm happy to say that four of you, got a passing score on this one."

But the wild girl didn't even give him a response, simply crossing her arms and glaring daggers back at him. While our platform slowly lowered back to the ground, which had been completely repaired and cleaned up by Cementos at this point. "So... How many more tests are there?" Sen asked, sounding just as nervous as she looked.

"Just one," Aizawa answered as we touched down. "This one will be less of a pass or fail, and more a measure of your technique and ability to develop strategy... However, overwhelming speed and power could also help you succeed." He began walking away from the rest of us, sliding one hand into a compartment on the belt of his costume. "Each of you will have ten minutes to retrieve this," And pulled out a small silver bell. "From me."

"Wait... We have to fight you!?" Mako exclaimed, looking absolutely terrified. "B-But you're like a pro hero right? Most of us barely have any combat training!"

"And you've got the advantage of knowing our Quirks," Suru pointed out, "While we don't know yours at all."

"I won't be using my Quirk or any tools," Aizawa replied, "Just my bare hands... And like I said, this test is not pass or fail, its to measure your technique and critical thinking skills against an opponent... Now, Suru will be going first."

"Baller." She replied, stepping forward with her hands never leaving her pockets. "So when do we start?"

This would be interesting, she said that her quick gave multiple abilities... But so far we've only seen her teleport, and according to Suru herself, she was out of energy to do that. But I don't think Aizawa realized that, unless he heard that part of the conversation. So what was she going to do?

"You may begin when ready." Aizawa answered, holding the bell up in his hand. Practically baiting her into it going straight for it.

Instead, Suru walked forward. Slowly approaching Aizawa, "So, you wanted a special evaluation of my Quirk right?" She said, her grin never disappearing. "How does now sound?"

Aizawa narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "Do whatever you have to, just get the bell."

"Hmm... You see though, the way you're dangling it out there makes me kinda think teleporting to it would be a bad idea." She answered, scratching the back of her head, "Unless of course I-" She vanished in an instant, appearing in the air above Aizawa. "Mixed my teleport with another ability!" Sure enough, he was ready for her pulling his hand down and swinging the other arm up to block her.

But then something strange happened, it looked like... For a split second, Suru blinked out of existence but reappeared just a few inches closer to her target. It wasn't just super speed, it was like she did a short range teleport maybe? But there was no delay between disappearing and reappearing like there had been before. Either way, it allowed her to outpace Aizwa and snatch the bell from his hand, the teacher not realizing what was happening until it was too late. Before Suru came tumbling down, landing on the ground with a groan, "What was-" Aizawa blinked, looking to his hand and then to Suru. "What was that? How did you do that?"

Yeah I would really like to know too. "Right... So..." Suru was panting heavily, whatever she just did had completely exhausted her. "Glitch gives me... Three abilities in total, teleportation, the rift... And timeskip."

What? "Timeskip?" Aizawa repeated, "Explain." I guess we'll just worry about "the rift" later.

"If I push myself, I can move my body forward in time." She explained, "But... Only by like one second, that's the best I can do..."

But one second was all she needed to grab that bell. It wasn't just teleportation that made Suru fast, she was naturally quick and had great judgement and planning skills. Why the hell was she even in this class?

Aizawa stared down at her, as if he didn't believe her. Before slowly nodding, "Alright... Well, you pass the test." Before looking to Cementos, "Prepare her final scores, now... Adachi, you're up."

"Are we not gonna talk about the fact Suru can like... Cheat time?" I asked, passing her on the way to face Aizawa. "Like, isn't that against the laws of nature or something?"

To which she scoffed, "Duuuude my whole existence is against the laws of nature," That didn't make me feel any better. "Just take your stupid test."

I sighed heavily, "Alright, fine..."

And what followed was... Well, I'll spare you the details. Lets just say it was ten minutes of me getting my ass kicked by Eraserhead. He was faster than me, and far more skilled. I didn't have much in the way of fighting skills other than throwing my weight around, so my plan for getting the bell was to just try and snatch it but I wasn't nearly fast enough. I never even came close.

"Compared to Suru... That was pitiful." Aizawa doing his best to raise my spirits.

I was panting lightly, and lowered my head in shame. "Yeah... It was pretty bad..."

"However," Aizawa continued, "You kept up a relentless attack for nearly ten minutes straight... You've got stamina, we can work with that, now go rejoin the others."

Well, it was some small consolation I guess. But clearly I needed to work on my technique in a hand to hand fight. Even if I'd had the energy to transform, there's no way I'd lay a finger on Aizawa with his speed and skill. So I made a mental note of what I needed to improve, and stepped aside for the next contestant. Which was evidently going to be Ryoko.

Her match went similar to my own, attacking Aizawa with incredible tenacity. But she had far more skill than I did, actually using her four arms to great effect and aiming for blind spots I didn't realize he had. Eight minutes and a few well placed sucker punches later, she managed to snatch the bell from his hand. But despite her better technique, her methods earned a disapproving glance from the teachers.

Make went next, and he did surprisingly well for someone claiming to have no combat experience. Rather than attacking Aizawa, he used his speed. Circling the hero, keeping to the skies before flying into the sun, angling himself downward. From my perspective, I understood what he'd been doing. Diving at Eraserhead over and over before, it was just to figure out what angle the sun would be in his eyes at. Using that, he hid in the blinding light, and did a fly by at maximum speed. Snatching the bell from his hand without ever actually fighting him.

I was starting to see the differences in the way we all thought. Obstacles, like the box we were trapped in, I try to think around. But when faced with a target, I have a nasty habit of trying to brute force it. And I don't have the strength or the experience to do that successfully... I have a long way to go, I think.

But throughout the others tests, I also noticed Sen. She looked terrified, nervously fidgeting with her hands while watching the others go through their test. And still, there was no sign of the augmentation Quirk she claimed to have. So even if by some miracle, she did get the bell...

"Sen, you're up."

I felt bad for her, a knot forming in my stomach as I watched her step forward. I felt like I needed to say something... Anything. But I couldn't find my voice...