Gwen awoke to the beeping of her small alarm clock on her bedside table. Sliding into slippers, Gwen pressed down on the clock's top, stretched out her body and started her day.

Her new home was in a residential district, a small walk away from most stores. With no cover for thieves, any potential issues and theft would occur in a predictable area between the apartments and the market. Heroes were always patrolling in that area; an easy way for a new hero to get their first arrest.

Gwen walked out of her bedroom now clad in a hoodie and joggers, ready for a morning run. Japan was colder than Bellwood, so Gwen changed her attire accordingly. Her neighborhood was quiet in the morning. Schools were on vacation, but that was quickly coming to an end. The thought of school filled her mind. Today was the day she would first set foot onto UA.

Thirty five minutes later, Gwen came back to take a shower and prepare. Her apartment was a great deal for the price. Her parents wanted her to be comfortable and in a safe environment. A bedroom, kitchen and living room. While each room was a bit small, Gwen really did appreciate what her parents managed to obtain. They waved her off when asked about the price. Apparently this was cheaper than the apartment Ken was looking at for college.

UA didn't specify anything that Gwen had to wear for the test day. Throwing on her normal everyday clothes, Gwen gently placed all her necessary belongings into a backpack and locked her door behind her. Wallet, keys and phone. With her essentials in order, Gwen headed off to the train station.

America didn't have much in the way of public transportation. The most common were buses, but most considered buses to be a waste. Never on time, slow and clunky, the Bellwood bus stops never were in use, unless one was sitting on the benches for rest. Japan was a breath of fresh air. Realizing that everyone driving a car would mean insufferable traffic, the nation invested heavily into public transportation.

Gwen couldn't believe how convenient the system was. Sure, the station was a bit of a walk away, but she didn't have to remember where she parked or concern herself with driving practices. She didn't have to pay the expenses of car maintenance and there couldn't be traffic, making the ride smooth and fast.

The train was also an interesting area to survey. Due to easy accessibility, people of all walks of life could be seen. Some younger kids were seen with their parents, obviously going to do something fun together. Teenagers like herself were in another corner, probably going to some hangout spot. Adults in suits and briefcases were common, on their phones reading reports or checking out the day's newspaper. There were even some senior citizens.

Several stops later, Gwen checked to see if her exit had come. Seeing that it did, she departed and started walking off. She brought out her phone for directions, taking in the sights of Musutafu as she went. Hearing Japanese all around was still a bit confusing to her. She was sure, though, that after some time she would be able to get used to it.

It didn't take her much longer to get to the school. Gwen made sure to track her time as she went, wanting to be able to identify how long it took her to get to school so she could plan a morning routine. One more turn and she finally laid eyes on UA, and it took her breath away.

"Wow!" Gwen had seen many impressive sights, but UA's size and reputation was not to be underestimated.

A giant building, with a strange shape and design stood in the middle of the campus, surrounded by a security wall. A large door was open, and students were flooding in. Bright, colorful banners of every language were present, and students were being attended to and directed to where they needed to be.

'International general education.' Gwen knew what she had to find. Her papers had been very specific on where she had to go and what she had to do. Her station would be manned by Cementoss, who Gwen researched and found to have a distinct physical appearance. She wouldn't be able to miss him if she tried.

Then a rough, loud voice cursed someone out from behind her. Gwen turned, but couldn't really see what was happening. Too many people between her and the commotion. She turned back, chiding herself for wanting to partake in drama. She was still new here, and what happened at the entrance was none of her concern.

'German exchange program, Hispanic support program, Welch business program, Korean heroics, Russian education...' Gwen passed by all sorts of booths, each for a specific international program. She passed by the heroic booths for French and Chinese students, seeing a student in each, filling out paperwork. Then she saw it. American gen ed.

"Hello. Are you here for the written exam?" Cementoss gave her a kind smile as she approached. Gwen was right, he was a one-of-a-kind. A rectangular body type with dull gray coloration.

"Yes sir. My name is Tennyson Gwendolyn. Here is my identification and the necessary paperwork we were instructed to bring." Backpack open, Gwen produced color coded folders, and neatly organized her papers in front of the hero. Cementoss looked pleased.

"Ah, Tennyson. Yes, I remember reading over your name. It isn't often we get people applying for our school's basic education courses. The vast majority of oversea applicants are here for the heroics program."

"Yes, well, your reputation is probably to blame." Gwen smiled back. "After all, who wouldn't want to at least attempt to gain a spot in the legendary UA heroics classes?"

"You, if your application is anything to go by." Cementoss said, as he put on a pair of glasses to look over her papers.

"I've already realized what I want to do. Being a hero was a childhood fantasy, as it is with most children, but not anymore. I know what I am here for, and the general education department suits my needs the best." Gwen said, watching Cementoss analyze her identification.

"A mature look at things Miss Tennyson." Cementoss handed her back all her belongings.

"Everything is in order. As you have no doubt been informed, you pretty much have your spot claimed. Unless you flunk this test, that is. But looking at your academic history, that is impossible." Cementoss pointed to where she needed to go next.

"I will be sure not to fail. Thank you sir!" Gwen hurried away, waving as she went.

"Good luck." Cementoss called out after her.

'Written Test Site 43J. Where is that? 39I, 40I, 40J, there!' It didn't take Gwen very long at all to find her classroom. It was a normal looking classroom, with desks and a woman sitting in the front. Several seats were full, waiting for the rest of the people to show up. Gwen took her seat and started organizing her writing materials.

"Alright, 15 students signed up for the test, and 15 seats have been filled." The woman suddenly spoke. She started passing out the test materials, still talking.

"UA's testing procedure is the same as any other academic establishment. Any form of communication will be seen as cheating. Anything written, on paper or skin, will be seen as cheating. Cheating will result in immediate disqualification of the individual's exam and a permanent black mark on their academic record. If anyone wants to quit after hearing this, do so now."

A single boy got up and shuffled away, head hung in shame.

'Seriously?' The rest of the examinees thought. Did he really think that he could get away with cheating at UA of all places?

"The test has four sections, math, science, english/japanese and history. There are 75 questions for each section. They are a combination of multiple choice and open answers. If there are any questions, raise your hand and I will come by and you may whisper it to me."

The woman brought out a stopwatch and clicked it.

"You have three and a half hours. Please begin."

There was a mass shuffling of papers as everyone opened their test booklets to start reading.

Gwen did the same, opening her test to the first section, math.

In fig. 1, take points A, B, C and D on lines OX and OY of triangleXOY, so that OA = OB and OC = OD. When A and D, B and C are connected, prove AD = BC

Gwen quickly skimmed over the given triangle for the first geometry problem. Child's play!

Gwen spun her pencil in her hand and started to write.

Time Skip

"Mmhmmm!" Gwen exited the classroom first, stretching her arms high above her head. The desk wasn't quite her height, so she had to slouch a bit to write comfortably. Her back hurt, but it was nothing compared to the confidence swirling in her chest. She had nailed that test!

"Ugh."

"I knew I should have reviewed the nervous system."

"I was so lost in the Japanese section. I don't think I passed."

"I think I mixed up DNA and RNA. You think they'll count that against me?"

"Are you joking or just that stupid? Of course it'll count against you!"

It seemed that her test mates were less confident. Gwen remembered how when they were given a ten minute warming, there was a small panic. The scribbling of pencils grew frantic as the time ticked down, and many had despondent expressions as they left, not saying a word.

With backs hunched and heads hung, 13 of the testers exited the gates of UA, never to return. Gwen was distracted; other classrooms were exiting as well but they weren't leaving towards the exit like she was. They were heading towards UA's main auditorium.

'Those must be the students aiming for the heroic course!' Gwen thought as she saw kids of all kinds swarming the auditorium entrance. Confident, nervous, and everything in-between. Tall, short, and with mutation quirks aplenty, it was a colorful crowd. But Gwen didn't join them. She didn't want to.

Gwen was happy with her results and started walking away. She didn't give the hero hopefuls anymore thought. Instead, her head was filled with thoughts about food. She'd eat out today, Gwen decided, and pick up groceries for the week on the way home. UA would mail out the results in a couple days, and the next monday would mark when those that passed would go to class.

Her plans decided, Gwen went off to that udon shop that caught her eye on her run.

Time Skip

Days passed, with Gwen slowly falling into a simple, but recognizable routine. She would wake up, exercise, shower, eat lunch, study and go out, eat dinner, have some free time, and go to bed. It was the exact same thing she did back in Bellwood, just in Japan.

'I just wished I could find a quirk gym around here.' The one thing Gwen missed was Bellwood's quirk gym, where she was able to practice using her mana. The closest one to her place was forty minutes by train, not counting the time she would spend walking. A little over two hours just going there and back was too much time wasted in Gwen's eyes. She would look elsewhere.

Gwen was coming back from her morning run and chose to check her mailbox while she was on the ground floor. She passed by a small gym, making her realize that she should also find a standard gym to practice martial arts. She worked hard for her black belt in taekwondo, and it wouldn't make sense to just let those skills rust. Maybe she could find a dojo, and learn some other styles too.

Her keys rattled as Gwen inserted her key and opened her mailbox. A small white envelope greeted her. It was from UA, no question. The familiar large, bolded silvery text was impossible to not recognize.

She went up the stairs, a habit she started to warm herself up before her run and cool down after it, and put the letter on her counter. A quick shower and change into comfortable clothes later, she sat down and opened her letter.

A simple once folded paper was held in her fingers.

Dear Tennyson Gwendolyn,

I am pleased to inform you that you have passed the UA written test and have qualified for our general education course. Congratulations!

As you were informed before, the test was more so a way for us at UA to confirm your identity and test results. Standard procedure, as you proved we had nothing to worry about. You aced the written exam, scoring the highest out of all applicants, not just from the general education course but in the other three as well! We will be sending over UA uniforms and other items within the week. Welcome to UA!

The principal of UA high school-

Nezu

Gwen smiled and folded the message back up. The envelope was then placed on her desk, to remind her of the success she had today.

'I should do something to celebrate!' Gwen would treat herself today. She deserved it.

In a few days, she would be studying in one of the most reputable educational establishments of all time!