Rule #36: If you feel like you're being played, you probably are
The next day found twenty nervous students and one perpetually exasperated teacher trickling off of the bus they had packed themselves into; after they had finally arrived at the National Dagoba Arena for their Provisional Licensing Exam. Several tense moments had been spent filled with anxious mutterings and worried gestures. Systematically plucking the individual cat hairs from her school skirt, Toru tried to abate her nerves as she stepped off of the bus and slipped in amongst her classmates where they gathered on the curb. "Er…I'm getting kinda nervous!" Jiro whined from beside her.
"I wonder what they're gonna make us do?" Mineta worried as he rocked back and forth on his heels. "Ah! What if I can't get my license?"
"Mineta!" Aizawa suddenly dropped into the grape boy's field of vision, "Don't ask if you can, say that you will"
"Right sir! I've so got this!" His voice said otherwise. Rising to his feet Aizawa then turned to the rest of the class who seemed to share similar sentiments as the short boy, sentiments that seen clearly on their terrified and anxious faces. "If you can pass this test and get your provisional licenses then you novices eggs will hatch into chicks—you'll be semi-pros. I expect your best"
"Alright!" Cheered Kaminari, easily brushing aside his doubts. "I can't wait to be a heroic chicken!"
"Let's call out the usual, you guys!" Kirishima added. "On my mark! PLUS—!"
"—ULTRA!" The enthusiastic voice that answered was not one that any of them recognised.
Jumping at the sudden noise with a quietly hissed curse under her breath, Toru turned to find a rather tall and well-built teen standing directly over her pair of pumped up classmates—classmates who both jumped about a foot in the air at his sudden appearance.
"Y'know it's pretty rude to barge into other people's huddles like that, Inasa" One of his violet-haired classmates scolded from behind him. Peering around the large boy—Inasa—Toru spotted the speaker and could've sworn that it was Hitoshi, if not for the different school uniform. Crisp white shirts accented by the lapels of navy and matching berets adorned each of the students—some only just barely.
"Oh! Pardon me!" Inasa gasped, as if the thought hadn't even occurred to him. "I AM SO VERY, EXTREMELY SORRY—!"
"Who is this guy?!" Kaminari blurted out what they were all thinking as the taller teen smashed his head into the ground with the same enthusiasm that Monoma often expressed when the two first year classes were together. "I do not trust his enthusiasm!"
"Hey! Look at their uniforms!" Jiro noted next.
"They're from that famous school on the other side of Japan!" Sero added.
"UA in the east" Bakugou ended, "Shiketsu in the west"
"—I WANTED TO SAY IT JUST ONCE!" Inasa continued unperturbed. "PLUS ULTRA! SEE! I REALLY LOVE UA HIGH SCHOOL! I AM EXTREMELY HONOURED TO COMPETE AGAINST SUCH INCREDIBLE STUDENTS!I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!"
"Is he bleeding?" Toru puzzled as Inasa's classmates ushered him in towards the arena without so much as a glance back at their enthusiastic peer.
"Inasa Yoarashi" Aizawa murmured.
"Do you know that guy, Aizawa-Sensei?" Toru asked.
"Indeed. He's strong—"
"Huh?" 1-A chorused, sharing wide-eyed glances between each other. Aizawa barely ever handed out compliments like that; usually they were just told that they were being problem children.
"—He's the same years you are and received the top scores for students admitted through the recommendations. But for some unknown reason he turned down his acceptance to UA and went to Shiketsu"
"Wait—!" Midoriya breathed, "He's…our age?"
"Hold on" Sero interjected, confusion evident in his tone. "Is anyone else confused here? This guy says that he loves our school, but he turned down his chance to enrol when it was offered?"
"Yeah" Agreed Mina. "What a weirdo"
"Maybe, but he's the real deal, so keep an eye on him" Aizawa warned.
Just how good is this guy?! Toru pondered as her gaze followed after the trio of Shiketsu students wandering away and merging with the rest of the crowd making their way inside.
"Era~ser!" A bright voice suddenly chirped from somewhere off to the right, drawing everyone's attention over to the newest set of arrivals. Arrivals, who had peaked their interest when Aizawa had violently cringed at the sound of the voice. "I'd know that scowl any~where! I saw you on TV and at the Sports Festival! It's been a while since we were this close in person!"
"She looks familiar…" Mused Midoriya as the bubbly teal-haired woman wondered closer. She was clearly a Pro of some kind, but her appearance wasn't ringing any bells for the invisible girl nor her classmates.
"Let's get married~!" The heroine proposed joyously.
"No" Aizawa denied vehemently.
Next to Toru, Mina happily swooned at the scene—it was like something right out of one of her romance novels. Blergh! The heroine easily burst into laughter, whether it was forced or not Toru didn't know, but there was something about her that the invisible girl seemed to like. Was it the easygoing attitude? Or the brightly coloured costume with all the smiley-faced stickers? "Haha! No? Good one! You're a real laughing riot, buddy!" She wheezed, bending in half at the waist.
"As per usual, you're impossible, Joke" Aizawa drawled, hands fisted in his pockets and shoulder tensed.
"—She's the Smile Hero: Ms Joke!" Midoriya suddenly gushed from somewhere behind Toru, making her jump once more at the sudden outburst. "Her Quirk's Outburst! She forces those near her to laugh, dulling their thinking and their movements! Her fights against villains are full of craziness!"
"Oh! So that's why!" Mina clapped her hands happily as something registered in that pink brain of hers. "She's tons of fun and Sensei's no fun at all! She com~pletes him!" Toru could barely smuggle the snort and following sniggers into her hands at the comment punctuated by Mina drawing a heart in the air as she talked. The glare Aizawa sent their way certainly didn't help things.
"If you marry me, then we can make a happy with never-ending laughter!" Joke proposed again.
"That sounds like an actual nightmare" Aizawa shot down mercilessly with his shoulders now up around his ears as he was dealt laughter from both his students and his colleague.
"It seems like you two are close" Asui noted, a grin pulling at the corner of her lips as Toru and Mina tried to get their giggles under control.
"Our agencies were near each other!" Joke replied, easily wearing her heart on her sleeve. "As young heroes striving to make a difference in the world, a mutual love bloomed—!"
"—No! It didn't!" Aizawa denied. Toru had never heard him shoot something down so quickly—well maybe, Mineta's pervy advances on the girls, but that was about it.
"I do miss your quick retorts! You're my favourite person to tease future husband!"
"So Joke" Aizawa heaved a sigh as if collecting himself for the conversation ahead like he was going off to war. "If you're here, then that must mean—"
"—That's right! Over here, everyone!" Joke waved over her shoulder towards yet another group of high school kids. These ones were clearly older than them and bore a silver polo shirt and black pants/skirt as their uniform. "This is UA! Come say hi!" She turned back to 1-A for introductions, greenly proudly as she did so. "They're second years from Ketsubutsu Academy; this is Class 2, they're my students"
Readjusting the grip of her costume case, Toru watched on with interest as the black-haired boy in front leapt forward and clasped Midoriya's scarred hands in his own. "Hey! I'm Shindo!" He greeted brightly. "Seems like UA's had a lot of trouble this year! Must've been tough for you!"
"Er…y-yeah" Midoriya sputtered, seemingly little off put by his bubbly attitude—a complete 180 from the Shiketsu greeting.
"—But even so, you're all still aiming to become Pro heroes despite those hardships!" Shindo moved down the front line of students, shaking each and every hand he could grab. "It's wonderful! Heart full of fortitude! I believe that's what every hero in the world needs to have—!"
"Is it just me or am I seeing double?" Toru whispered to Mina, her gaze jumping back and forth between Shindo and Midoriya. "And is he sparkling?"
"I dunno, but he sure is pretty!" Mina drooled dreamily.
"—And Bakugou, Hagakure—" Shindo turned his attention to the pair next. Toru shuffled over to the explosive blonde's side when she was suddenly included in the conversation. "—It must've been hard for you! What with that whole kidnapping incident!"
"Ah, right, forgot it was televised…" Toru muttered glancing off to the side as Bakugou scowled at the bubbly boy.
"Huh?" Bakugou grunted.
"You have been especially strong-willed, haven't you? Today I'm gonna do my best to learn from you! I really hope you don't mind"
"Stop pretending!" Bakugou scowled as he slapped away the hand offered to him. "What you say doesn't match the look in your eyes"
"Hey man, don't be so rude!" Kirishima scolded the blonde before turning apologetically to the older boy, "Sorry, he's just like that"
"It's fine" Shindo waved off, "It just proves how tough his heart is"
Off to the side Toru watched as Todoroki was approached by another pair of students, one of which giddily asked for his autograph after having seen him perform at the Sports Festival. Something which seemed to stump that heterochromatic boy if the wide-eyed and gaping fish mouth was anything to go by. Of course, Mineta wasted no time in hitting on said girl as he magically appeared behind her with a lecherous grin and glistening eyes staring not-so-discreetly up her skirt. Typical. "Hey!" Aizawa called before heading inside, "Get your costumes and head to orientation. There's no time to waste!"
"Yessir!" Chorused 1-A as they began to shuffle over to the arena with Iida at the head.
"It's weird" Jiro commented, "I always forget we're famous to other schools"
"Oh yeah, we're basically celebrities when it comes to hero course students!" Replied Kaminari. "No pictures, please!"
Toru remained standing where she was however as her classmates trickled off, staring at Shindo with a look of thoughtfulness on her face as she tried to figure out what was bothering her about him.
"Hagakure? Is everything alright?" Shindo asked, tilting his head like a puppy in question towards the invisible girl still stood here.
"Uh, sorry, you just remind me of someone but I can't put my finger on it" She excused a little bashfully.
"Oh? And who might that be? No one bad I hope?" His eyes glinted dangerously, but the bright smile remained in place and it triggered the name stuck on her tongue.
"Nagisa!" Toru exclaimed brightly with a snap of her fingers.
"Nagisa?" He appeared a little taken back at the sudden exclamation as if he wasn't expecting an answer.
"Mm, an old friend of mine. He's a snake in the grass too" She couldn't help the grin spreading across her lips.
"What are you trying to say?" His head tilted the other way.
"What indeed?" She smirked, tilting her head coyly (although unseen) and let her mind wander through the different possibilities in which Shindo really was similar to Nagisa outside of their personalities.
"Toru!" Mina called from the top of the steps, waving her hand to try and get the invisible girl's attention. "C'me on! We need to go!"
"Coming!" She replied, sparing a glance towards the Ketsubutsu kids, "Good luck with the exam!" Before she scurried up the steps after her peers and into the intimidating area towering before them.
Now dressed in their hero gear, all 1540 students were cram-packed into the small arena like sardines in a can as they waited for orientation to begin. Not usually one for large crowds of people, Toru felt a little overwhelmed as she was jostled about by the students around her. You barely had enough room to swing a cat…though why you would want to swing a cat was beyond her. A snake maybe?
"Look at this crowd!" Breathed Midoriya from her right.
"There are so many!" Agreed Ochako who looked about with wide eyes.
"Eurgh!" The exhausted sigh from the front of the room echoed out across the hall and cut through any anxious chatters as one of the examiners took center stage. The blonde man was practically slumped over the pedestal and he bore purple bags under his eyes that could rival Hitoshi's. "Okay then, let's do this exam thing. I'm from uh, the Heroes Public Safety Commission. Names Mera. My circadian rhythm is so screwed up! Aw man! I've been swamped lately and I haven't gotten much rest. We're too—too short-staffed…I'm so tired! With that confession, I'll now begin orientation" His words slurred together as he yawned, and weakly fought against the exhaustion pulling at his eyes.
Maybe someone should give this guy a Red Bull. Toru thought, eyeing up the exhausted examiner. Or a sedative.
"So about the contents of this license thing" Mera tiredly continued on. "Basically 1540 examinees compete in a free-for-all exercise or whatever we're calling it this year—"
"Seriously?" Sero muttered, "That's not a lot of info"
"—See, we've got a lot of Pros around and since Stain was arrested—" Toru winced at the reminder of the villain's quote-unquote 'arrest'. "—Many people have expressed their doubts about the status of heroes in society. But when you really think about it, getting paid makes sense. If you're going to risk your life to save someone, why shouldn't you ask for a reward? Huh? That's just the way the world works—God! I could use a coffee!—Anyway, whether they're in it for compensation or some sort of sense of duty, we've got too many heroes working together in the streets these days to keep villains at bay—"
With each and every word that came out of the examiners mouth, Toru could feel herself grow more and more anxious. She that the Provisional Licensing exam was going to be difficult, but it was starting to sound like they were using it more as a way to cull the younger heroes-to-be. And if it really were the case that there were too many heroes, then why were there places like the Yakuza-run compounds still in existence? How long could they sweep that under the rug? Or was it maybe that some of the older heroes needed to kicked into retirement lest they end up like All Might? Was that it?
"—Honestly, the time between when an incident begins and the time when it is resolved is ridiculously short" Mera continued. "You are all here trying to achieve your Provisional Licenses so you'll be swept up in this tiresome mess yourselves pretty soon! Those of you who don't have the speed frankly just won't cut it. Which is why that's what you'll be tested on" Suddenly the large blank screen behind him flared to life displaying the words:
NUMBER OF EXAMINEES TO PASS TEST #1:
100 PEOPLE
"The first 100 students to fulfil the requirements will pass today"
"What? But there are over 1500 people taking this test!" Yaoyorozu breathed in disbelief, sharing the sentiment with many other students. "I thought they said that about half of us would be passing!"
"This means it's actually less than 1% will get a license!" Asui calculated.
"Oh man! I'm getting way more nervous!" Jiro cried anxiously.
"Well the world can be pretty crappy" Mera smirked as he pushed himself up onto his elbows, likely having overheard several comments and shouts of disbelief littered amongst the large crowd. "I s'pose I should say something about luck"
Well…? Toru waited patiently for the following 'good lucks' to follow but nothing came.
"So, anyway here are the basic rules" Mera pulled out a rubber orange ball and a small metallic disk from somewhere in front of him. As he did so, the screen behind him flashed through several diagrams that helped to better explain how this exam worked "The examinee will put three of these targets on his or her body. They can go anywhere you want as long as it's an exposed area, so no soles of the feet or armpits. Each of you will also have six of these balls. The targets are programmed to light up whenever they've been touched by the balls; if all three targets light up then you're out. Oh! And the person who lights up your third target will get credit for your defeat. You get through this round by taking out two people, got it? Good"
So it's similar to the Entrance exam! Toru mused as she bit her lip in thought, trying her best to calm any residual nerves that had flared to life during the orientation. But going against people with smaller targets will be a lot harder than going against robots! And we're given exactly enough balls to pass; but I guess we could always try to steal a third target after someone's hit the first two—so it's actually harsher than the Entrance exam!
"What else?" Mera drawled as the line of suited men on either side of him dispersed into the cross with large boxes in hand. "Um, I guess we'll start passing out the targets and balls? Then you'll have a few minutes to get situated after we open"
"Open?" Toru puzzled at the choice of words whilst she systematically stuck the targets to her invisible body and slung the pack of balls around her waist like a belt. The tall guy behind her who had been practically breathing down her neck the entire orientation suddenly stepped apologising profusely when he realised someone was actually there. Thankfully, Toru didn't have to wait long for her answer as the four walls around them creaked and groaned before unfolding like a paper box to reveal a much larger arena (similar to the training grounds at UA).
"I'm sure each of you have different terrains that you like or that you want to avoid" Mera continued on as they gazed around at the landscape before them. "Use your Quirks well and do your best or not, whatever"
Scratch that, it looks more like the USJ! Toru thought as her gaze roved over the cityscape, the caves, mountains, power plant and motorway. Surrounding the arena lay a multitude of seats where only a sparse few were lined with examiners, teachers and scouts.
"—Yes, I know, it makes for a great reveal doesn't it? And for what? So much sleep loss for this! Hopefully some of these kids are fast and we can get this over with! Until then I'm gonna rest my eyes…zzzz!"
On that note all the students began to disperse, most keeping to their classes/schools whilst a few went off on their own. Gathering at the base of the mountain terrain, 1-A stayed together (for the most part) and prepped themselves for the start of the exam. This is gonna be a slaughter, innit? Toru thought as her eyes roved about searching for any sign of the other schools. How bad would it be if I nicked my own classmates?…Remember you live with these nutters, so maybe not.
"Everyone!" Midoriya suddenly called from the front of the pack, his usually timid voice commanding and authoritative. "Stay close together! We'll fight them as a group!"
"Mm!" Ochako nodded.
"Got it!" Iida chirped.
"Tch! Y'right! This isn't a field trip!" Bakugou scowled.
"Idiot!" Kirishima scolded before following after the blonde with the look of a put-upon mother upon his face. "Wait up!"
"Kaachan!" Midoriya sighed exasperated at his friends predictability.
"Kirishima!" Iida called after the redhead.
"I'm going on my own too" Todoroki called over his shoulder as he went. "It's hard for me to use my Quirk safely when there's a big group around"
"Todoroki!" Midoriya called.
"Midoriya! There's no time!" Mineta snapped. Toru hated that fact that she agreed with the little pervert. "Let's go!"
"Uh, right! I still don't think it's a good idea for them to go off on their own though"
"How come?"
"Think about it! Everyone already knows what powers we have"
"They did research?" Ochako questioned.
"I see! The Sports Festival!" Iida replied as the answer clicked.
"Of course!" Toru piped up. "Usually we'd been on pretty equal footing, but because UA's Sports Festival is broadcasted across the nation, both our strengths and weaknesses were on display for everyone to see"
"The other schools have probably figured out the same way to win that I we have" Midoriya agreed. "This is going to end up being a battle between schools! With that in mind, it's likely they gang up on Quirks they know!"
"Does that mean…?" Mina trailed off.
"Don't tell me—!" Jiro was cut off by the sound of an airhorn echoing across the arena, signalling the start of the exam and the inevitable ambush.
"I knew it!" Midoriya gasped as 1-A turned as one to see the ambush laid out before them. With balls in hand, the opposing students beat down on them with such an intenseness that Toru felt like she was playing Hunter & Hunted with 3-E again. Those that hadn't leapt in to the air were stationed along the mountaintops like candles on a cake, each armed with their own balls.
"I saw you on TV!" Shindo addressed the greenette. The previously bubbly attitude that he had borne was long gone, now replaced with something a little more smug. "That power of yours also destroys your body—WELL, I CAN'T SAY I'M UPSET FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT!"
The first of the balls came in waves, one after the other like bullets from a rifle. Reacting quickly, Toru flung up a violet convex forcefield which shielded herself and Asui from where they faced the front of the barrage. At the same time, Yaoyorozu produced two large body shields in which to hide behind with Jiro. Together the pair of girls silently protected their little quartet—Toru as the vanguard and Yaoyorozu as the rearguard. In the same instance that the varying shields had popped up, Midoriya had charged forward like a bull on a mission before leaping into the air and slinging a kick towards the first wave of balls. Preoccupied with the barrier, Toru could only watch as his foot connected with one of the rubber balls and the resulting aftershock from his attack sent the rest flying back at their owners.
All around them, their classmates fought back and protected each other much as they had done throughout the various trials and tribulations of the past couple of months. Dark Shadow leapt from Tokoyami's back where he had cloaked the teen and swiped the balls from the air with his large claws, Ochako drew fire by flying out of reach and Sero snagged those falling balls with long lengths of tape, Mina showered the rest in her acid and turning them into little puddles of melted goo, whilst Iida easily ran between the projectiles and Mineta swung his whip of constructed of sticky balls around like a bubbly string of spider's silk. "WE'VE GOT THIS YOU GUYS!" Midoriya cheered as he landed, his gaze roving over his peers' efforts. "LET'S SHOW 'EM WHAT UA CAN DO!"
"YEAH!" The rest of the class chorused as both sides paused to regroup. Narrowed eyes turned towards the Shiketsu students before them, specifically the blue one who appeared garbed in a puffer coat. Just what is he doing? Toru thought as she watched him fiddle with the balls in his hands. It wasn't until his hands came apart that she was able to see what he had done; somehow his Quirk allowed him to harden the balls until they were like little rocks in his hands. Handing them off to one of his snazzily-dressed classmates, the harden balls were then ignited in indigo and sent into the ground like hidden missiles.
"Shit! Where'd they go?!" Toru cursed as everyone swept their gazes about looking for where the offending projectiles would pop up.
"Where are they gonna pop out?" Midoriya added.
"Get back!" Jiro instructed in reply as she strode to the front of the formation and speaker-clad hands into the ground, palms up. "I'll handle this!"
No sooner had she said that did the ground in front of her begin to ripple and break; the sound waves flowing through the earth strong enough to tear it to pieces. The once hidden balls were flung into the air but still returned to their course towards the 1-A students. Mineta, who had the bad luck to be on the outermost edge of the group was the first target it seemed. Or he would have been had Mina not stepped in just in time. "Maximum strength & viscosity!" She decreed as a wave of acid flowed from her arm and stopped the balls in their tracks. "Protect this perv! Acid veil!"
"Wow! Thanks! That's such a great move!" Mineta complimented as acid rained down around him.
"It's my defensive special that creates a melty wall"
"Black Abyss!" Tokoyami decreed as Dark Shadow cloaked the teen once more, this time with a ball in hand. "Now, Dark Shadow! Piercing Twilight Claws!"
"Eurgh!" Mera's tired voice echoed out over the arena, sounding no more awake than he had been during orientation.
"God?" Mineta murmured as he spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice. Toru sniggered into her hand as their proctor spoke over the loud speaker.
"Looks like all the students are still in a stalemate! Not a single one's passed yet" Mera continued.
"Oh! And don't worry students, I'll keep you updated with an announcement every time new students move onto the next round"
What's our plan? Toru thought as the sniggers abided, turning to more important matters. Everyone'll be protecting their targets, so it's going almost impossible to hit them by chance. We'd have to aim true to break through their defences, even we don't know what their Quirks are. Everyone's holding back at the moment, just waiting and watching, but at any moment the real fight is about to begin. I hope we're ready.
"Alright!" Shindo clicked his knuckles as determination gleamed in his eyes. Toru narrowed her eyes on the boy as he slammed his hands down on the earth. "OUTTA THE WAY! Their defences are too strong right now, I'll fix that! MAXIMUM FORCE: TREMORING EARTH!"
"Uh oh" Toru muttered as the ground beneath their feet began to ripple and tear apart much in the same way it had done with Jiro's attack, only this time on a much larger scale. Chunks of earthen rubble flew into the air tossing 1-A about like marbles in a tin can. "BRACE YOURSELVES!"
"EVERYBODY RUN!"
