I am one of the students of UA to be admitted on recommendations. That means that I don't have to take the same exam as general applications - it does not mean I don't have to take any test at all. Rather, I have to take an even harder exam, against the other recommended students.

At the main testing site, there's about twenty other students standing around. All of them the best of the best. There's a huge guy with a buzz cut, a small girl about my age with a lizard-like face and long green hair; a boy with a glasgow grin, and a tall girl with jet black hair, wearing what looks like a red bikini. A smattering of others, but those are the ones that stand out to me. The last girl in particular, because everyone else, in the cold February air, is wearing full tracksuits to keep warm. She doesn't even appear cold; she has her nose in a book.

The test is hosted by the MC voice hero Present Mic.

"The written portion is over! Next up is the practical part, the last is the interview! You'll be in groups of six for the practical! Could the numbers we just called proceed to the test site?"

He calls my number, and I go inside accompanied by the tall guy and glasgow grin.

After about half an hour, my number is called. I go in alongside the girl with the jet-black hair.

Mic holds his hands out over a decorated site.

"Your test is a three kilometer footrace! But this isn't a race that can be finished just by running! Make use of your quirks to reach the goal!"

I'm pretty quick to take the lead with mom's ice powers. Nobody else even seems close. Just a few more seconds, and I'll be first - I'll have made it into UA, using only my right side.

And then tall guy overtakes me. "And #41 is first by a hair!" says Mic's loud, obnoxious voice, drowning out everything else.

I'm not in first. And Tall Guy is yelling loud and clear. "Yeah, I won! I won! But who can say about next time, you're awesome man!" He's in my face. He's standing in my way, and he's saying exactly all the wrong things. "You must be Endeavor's son or something, right? Too cool."

Endeavor's son.

"Shove it. This is a test. Passing's all that matters. We're not competing or anything. Move out of my way."

He takes the hint and gets out of the way. I head over to the observation room. This is a stiff competition…only four recommend students are allowed into UA. Even if I make it, I could be stuck with that obnoxious loudmouth for a classmate.

He quickly leaves my mind as I find myself watching the rest of the applicants. Both of us - all of them - are trounced by her. The girl with the black ponytail and the light clothes. Her power lets her make things, apparently, out of her body. Her name is Momo Yaoyorozu.

Up against the likes of her, coming in second place doesn't leave me much room to get admitted.

That's what I though, anyway, until the results came in the mail. Turns out, I'm in second, somewhat inexplicably. Right after Yaoyorozu.