Musutafu, February 26
"Who the hell came up with this entrance test?!"
Ed slid under a parked car, hoping to catch his breath. He had ten seconds before the car was picked up and thrown to the side. Standing there was a large green machine balanced on a giant wheel and with two mechanical arms, both of which were now ready to grab him. But before they could, he clapped his hands together and touched the machine, transmuting it into useless pieces.
"Well, that's three," he said with a smirk. "Now to get the rest."
"What's up, U.A. candidates?" announced Present Mic with a smile and booming voice. "Thanks for tuning into me, your school DJ. Come on, and let me hear ya!"
Silence followed, everyone in their seats unable to find a way to respond.
"Keeping it mellow, huh? That's fine, I'll skip straight to the main show. Let's talk about how this practical exam is going to go down, okay? ARE YOU READY?! Yeah!"
Again, silence.
"What the hell?" Ed asked quietly. "This guy's a teacher? He looks like a chimera of a bird and a clown...then again, given the heroes I've seen on TV and in the newspapers so far, I suppose he's not too eccentric."
Six days had passed since Edward Elric came to this new world, and they had been quite busy for him. First, he had been studying up on the basics of the modern world and what it had to offer, albeit in a rushed state. He was able to understand most of the basics, such as electronics, modes of transportation, modern medicine, and so on. Afterward, he studied up on the concept of quirks and Heroes, making sure to memorize at least a few of the local ones. His newfound ability to translate this country's language into Amestrian in mere moments was what made this endeavor possible, although it left him with more than a few headaches from mental strain. Still, it was worth it in the end. His studies also gave him and his handler time to iron out the details of his cover story, allowing him time to memorize locations and certain details of the world. They had decided to say, publically, that he was the daughter of an old friend of hers, one that listed her as a legal guardian should both parents die or else be unable to care for him. Specifically, they decided that his father had sent him to stay under the detective's wing for a few years, taking his brother with him instead. Finally, he put in extra effort into researching this world's materials. Some were the same as in his home, such as steel, mercury, sulphur, etc. However, there were materials that he was not familiar with, such as titanium, uranium, and even simple plastics. Indeed, when he first came upon a plastic fork, the alchemist in him immediately started analyzing it from all angles possible. It took him a while, but he was able to figure out how to transmute it, although the end result wasn't quite what he had hoped for.
The one thing that left him speechless during his research, more than anything, was the concept of the Internet. An entire database of information and a means of communication, available for everyone around the world. Fascinating.
"Alright then, ladies and gents!" Said Present Mic a few minutes later. "Just to summarize, in case you missed anything, there are three villain type robots for you to destroy, and each one gets you a different amount of points. Your point total at the end determines your chances of getting in. Any questions?"
"Yeah, I have one," said Edward before anyone could ask.
"Examinee number 1-0-2-8, right? Please, ask away!" Present Mic said, a spotlight suddenly shining down on Edward.
"Will these, er, robots have any animal or human parts in them?"
This earned him some looks from everyone.
"What are ya, nuts? Of course not! Why would ya even ask that?"
"Cuz my Quirk can backfire on me if I try to use it on animal or human tissue. It's how I ended up with prosthetics."
"Ooh, just being safe about it. I get ya! No worries, these will be puuure robot! No animals or humans were harmed or implemented in their making, ya hear? Now, any other questions?"
"Yes, I have one!" Asked a young man with glasses and a brown bowl cut, holding up one of the printouts they were all given. "On the printout, you listed four types of villain robots that we have to take down, not three. With all respect, if this is an error on official UA materials, it is shameful. We are exemplary students. We expect the best from Japan's most notable school. A mistake such as this won't do.
"Additionally, you with the unkempt hair," he said, pointing and glaring at a young man with messy green hair. "You've been muttering this entire time. Stop that. If you can't bother taking this seriously, leave. You're distracting the rest of us."
The boy looked down, covering his face in embarrassment and a bit of shame, the rest of the contestants chuckling at his antics. All except for Ed, who felt bad for him. He could tell that the boy was just excited, and yet he was being faulted for it.
"Hey, back off of him, four eyes," he said, standing up. "This is a big-name school we're all applying for. Hell, even outside of Japan plenty of people know about UA. Those who make it in, they can become big heroes, like All Might did. You seriously gonna fault someone for being excited to be here?"
"Excitement is acceptable, but only if it can be kept under control with discipline. Clearly, some of us can't."
"In case you missed it, none of us are perfect. We're human, and teenagers at that. I dunno how you Japanese do it here, but where I'm from we're a little more relaxed about it. And besides, if it's discipline you're looking for, maybe you should consider joining the military instead of being a hero."
"Alright, alright, settle down now!" exclaimed Present Mic. "Like Examinee number 1-0-2-8 here said, we're all human here, and there's nothing wrong with being excited. Heck, I'm excited to be here, myself! YA HEAR?! And as for your question, examinee 7-1-1-1, thanks for calling in with your request. The fourth villain type, Class D, is worth zero points. That's just an obstacle we'll be throwing in your way. There's one in every battle center. Think of it as an obstacle for you to try to avoid. It's not that it can't be beaten, it's just...kinda pointless, ya hear? I recommend my listeners try to ignore it and focus on the ones topping the charts! That answer your question?"
"Thank you very much," said the boy with the bowl cut, bowing before sitting. "Please, continue."
Ed also bowed, before sitting.
"Well, that's all I got for you today. I'll sign off with our school motto. As Napoleon Bonapart once laid down, 'A true hero is one who overcomes life's misfortunes.' Now that's a tasty soundbite. You ready to go beyond? LET'S HEAR A PLUS ULTRA!"
"...I gotta admit," Ed said to himself. "He makes one heck of a public speaker. I'm actually getting excited. Now, let's see what this exam has to offer."
"Hit the deck!" He called out to a random contestant.
The teenager looked back at him, just as a robot rushed to their blindspot, about to hit them with its arm. Ed had already clapped his hands by the time he had called out, now touching the ground as a long pillar of stone shot towards the robot. The redhead ducked just in time as the pillar smashed into it, leaving it crushed and useless.
"I had that!" The teen called out angrily.
"Sure you did," said Ed. "Just watch your blind spots next time."
Ed started running down the street. He and the other candidates were all divided into different groups, and each group was busy destroying all the robots within the ten minute time limit. Of course, there had also been a written test, and Ed had mixed feelings about that particular one. But currently, he was more focused on the robots he was destroying.
"And that makes ten," he said, sitting on the remains of a robot to catch his breath. "Hoo, this is tougher than I thought. I don't remember my Alchemy being this draining. Either that or it's this test...no, something's different. Transmuting's been draining my energy. It never used to do that. I wonder - "
He was interrupted when the ground itself suddenly began to rumble. He looked around for the source, when he was covered in a looming shadow. Looking up, Ed saw the source: the Class D robot, making its way towards everyone.
And it was as big as the skyscrapers.
"What...the...hell?" He squeaked, eyes shrunk to pinpoints.
Just like that, Ed and the other students began to run from it. In his mind, he had no clue if his alchemy could even affect something that huge. Plus, attacking it wouldn't earn him any points, so why bother. Not to mention the obvious danger of a giant robot attempting to kill him.
"THIS SCHOOL IS INSANE!" Ed screamed. "WHO THE HELL THOUGHT THAT GIANT ROBOT WAS A GOOD IDEA?! THEY'RE A BUNCH OF - "
"Ow!"
The voice of a young girl behind him stopped him in his tracks. He turned and saw a girl trapped under a large piece of robot, her legs pinned underneath. She tried to pull herself free, but it was obvious that she wasn't going to make it out in time. Immediately, all thoughts of running disappeared, now replaced with thoughts of saving her. A quick look also revealed a few other candidates similarly unable to escape the robot's path, one or two trying to rescue them. None of the candidates seemed to notice the trapped girl.
Save for one. A boy with green hair and light blue tracksuit, next to Ed. The same boy that he had defended in the conference room. They both looked each other in the eye, and a silent understanding passed between them: they were going to save them, starting with her.
With a nod, Ed and the student ran forward, Ed clapping his hands and touching the piece of machine. With a flash, the piece was left lighter, allowing him and the girl to push it off.
"You're gonna be okay!" He said. "Can you walk?"
"Y-yes, I think so," she said, pushing herself to her knees. "But what about -"
WOOSH!
A sudden rush of air grabbed their attention, making them look up. They saw the green haired boy soaring through the sky, apparently having jumped with incredible force. He was now rocketing towards the face of the Type D machine, a fist cocked back for a punch.
"Wait, what's he thinking?" Asked Ed. "There's no way he can take -"
BOOM!
With one punch, the boy crushed the machine's face and knocked it off balance. Explosions went off all over its body, unable to take the stress of the attack. Ed and the girl couldn't help but stare at the feat, jaws dropped and eyes wide.
"Holy shit," Ed muttered after a few seconds. "That…was...awesome."
"...um," said the girl. "How is he going to get down?"
Ed looked at the girl, realizing the validity of her question. Looking at the boy, he found his answer: drop like a rock.
"I don't think he knows," he said, looking around for a way to save him. "Not sure I have enough energy to transmute my way up to him!"
"Quick, help me up onto that piece of machine!" She said, pointing to the one that had trapped her earlier. "I have an idea."
Ed didn't question her, helping to push her on top. She placed her hands on its surface, and ever so slightly it seemed to lift off the ground. Like it was weightless. Ed looked to the girl, seeing that she was physically straining to keep this piece of machine up.
"Cool," said Ed, now understanding. "I'll push you towards him, just tell me where to stop."
The girl nodded, straining to keep her focus, while Ed pushed it like a shopping cart. The pushing along also helped raise it off the ground some more, now at least two feet above. After she told him to stop, he looked at the falling boy, hoping this would work. Whatever she had planned. And just as he got close enough…
SLAP!
Ed winced as she slapped the boy. But he stopped falling, allowing Ed to get behind and carefully grab him. He couldn't help but wince again at the sight of the green haired boy's state. His right arm was a dark purple all over from injury, and it was hanging limp like a noodle, indicating several breaks in his bones. Looking at his legs, Ed saw that both were pointing in directions that were not natural. Meaning that this boy had sacrificed three of his limbs to save the girl and other trapped students from the robot. Noble, but incredibly reckless. When the girl released her anti-gravity hold, Ed gently placed him on the ground, watching as the piece of machine also dropped. Ed turned towards the girl, about to thank her, when she looked down and vomited. He cringed, taking a step back, only to notice the boy start crawling with one arm.
"Hey, where're you going?" Asked Ed.
"Just one point," the boy said desperately. "If I can just get one point, then I - "
"Aaaaaaaand, time's up!" Exclaimed Present Mic. "Everyone, stop!"
Ed looked towards where the voice came from, as did most others. The green-haired boy, meanwhile, looked on in horror before passing out from the shock and trauma.
"Tough luck, pal," said Ed, collapsing onto his ass. "Sorry for...your…"
"Did you see that?" Asked one of the examinees. "He just wrecked that robot in one go."
"Yeah, I know," said another. "I didn't think he'd be that strong. I wonder why he kept that Quirk of his under wraps? He totally looked like a wimp, at first."
"Maybe he wanted to fool everyone into thinking he was weak?"
"Well, then it was a wasted effort. Look at his limbs. They're totally wrecked up. Plus, I don't think he scored a single point."
"Wow, really? Damn, it really was a waste. Still, it sure was an amazing move."
Iida stood there, wearing his blue shirt and shorts, staring at the green-haired boy like the others were. He saw the damage the boy had done to himself, the power behind one single punch. But he saw something else: while he ran from the danger at first, in the end he turned around and confronted it. Specifically, he confronted the giant machine to save the lives of other students that were unable to escape its path. But it didn't make any sense to him. Like a few other candidates, he noticed that the boy was unable to gather many points, if any at all. And like their instructor said, fighting the Type D machine yielded no points, so it was a waste of time.
But that didn't stop him.
"Of course, if this hadn't been an exam," he said quietly to himself, "I would have done the same thing...wait. The exam. The judges. They saw that. Could it be…"
"Very nice, good work all around!" said an elderly female voice. "You're all heroes in my eyes, every one of you."
Iida turned around and saw a short, elderly woman approaching them all, handing out gummy treats as she passed by the applicants that weren't seriously hurt. She wore a white lab coat over what appeared to be a red and orange vest, pink boots, and her hair tied in a bun and wrapped in fishnet. Said bun had a small syringe in it for an accessory, and she appeared to have an oversized syringe for a cane. Why anyone would have such a cane, aside the aesthetics of it, was beyond him. Of course, his own personal tastes were more direct and functional. If it didn't have immediate purpose, then it had to go. Still, given how many Heroes had their own aesthetics and styles that had something to do with their Quirks and skills, it probably meant she was some kind of medical practitioner. The school doctor, perhaps?
"Hm," she said as she looked at the blonde boy with the braid. "This one's over exhausted himself, though thankfully he's in no immediate danger. Some rest should be sufficient. The young girl as well, though she could do with replacing her electrolytes and some vitamins. A sports drink and some food will do her some good. And...oh dear."
Iida saw her approach the green-haired boy from before, who now had three severely broken limbs. Iida still couldn't understand how anyone could recklessly use that kind of power. Even if he did it to save the other candidates, in particular the brunette girl. As he was watching, he witnessed the old lady's lips suddenly stretch forward in an almost cartoonish manner, kissing the green-haired boy on the back of his head, to the shock of everyone present.
"Um, what's she doing?" asked one of the other candidates.
"You're watching a school nurse in action," said another, a blonde boy with frilly clothes and an odd belt around his waist. "'The Youthful Heroine, Recovery Girl.' Her quirk is a tres awesome boost of healing power. She's the only reason UA can hold these reckless exams. Look, she's even saving him months of recovery time."
Iida and the others saw the boy's body glow green, and suddenly his limbs began to properly realign themselves and regain their proper color. His other, less severe injuries, disappeared in an instant.
"There, that should do it," she said, standing up and lips back in place. "Any and all candidates that are injured, please form a line over here! Young man, you in the blue shorts and glasses?"
"Yes, ma'am?" asked Iida.
"You seem smart and capable. You're not injured, are you?"
"No, ma'am. I was able to avoid any serious injuries."
"Good! In that case, would you be so kind as to assist me in finding any injured candidates that can't move? Just until the other medical staff arrive, that is."
"Of course! It will be done!"
"Wonderful! Just be sure to memorize their locations, and come back to tell me where they are. No need to move them unless absolutely necessary. Now, off you go!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
And with that, Iida briskly walked off to accomplish his task.
"Ow," Ed said as he stirred awake. "That hurts...where am I?"
"The school infirmary," said a voice next to him.
"Hm? Oh, Officer Tamura," he said, struggling to sit up on the cot he was on.
"Easy," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "No need to push yourself."
"I'll be fine, thanks," he said, sitting up anyway. "I'm just sore. How long was I out for?"
"A little over an hour. You gave us a scare, having passed out like that."
"Yeah, it worried me too. My Alchemy never drained energy from my body."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when alchemists like me transmute anything, we usually draw energy from the earth. Specifically, we call on the energy from the shifting tectonic plates."
"Wait, seriously? That's amazing!"
"Yeah, it is. But I don't think that's the case for me, anymore. I'm not certain, but I think I'm using my own body's energy to transmute."
"Your own energy...that makes sense. You passed out after the entrance test. But if you keep this up in the long run -"
"It'll be bad for my body. Which means I may need to use my alchemy more sparingly."
"Hm...well, on the bright side, your Alchemy looks more like a Quirk this way. After all, every Quirk has its physical drawback, since they're just extensions of one's body."
"Yeah...hey, could you help me up? I want to find Present Mic."
"Present Mic? Why, what's wrong?"
"There's something I want to ask him, about the exam."
With a nod, Officer Tamura took his hand and pulled him to his feet, Ed taking a moment to regain his balance. He walked out the door, finding himself in a hallway with several doors to the left and right. Probably the classrooms.
After finding another staff member and asking for directions, Ed and Officer Tamura soon found themselves outside the teachers' lounge, where the door was already opened. When he looked inside, Ed saw the same girl that he and the green-haired boy saved during the exam. The one who could make objects weightless. She was in a white middle school sailor uniform, and she was talking to Present Mic.
"Um, excuse me?" She asked. "Do you, remember one of the examinees in particular? The one with, um, green hair and...a plain-looking face?"
"Green hair, and plain looking face?" Asked Present Mic. "Yeah, I think I know who you're talking about. What about him?"
"I was, um, wondering...if you could give some of my points to him?"
"Excuse me?"
"I overheard something he said, you see. That he needed just one point, so he could pass. If it hadn't been for me, he would have passed the practical."
She then bowed her head in pleading, eyes closed.
"Please! Let him have some of my points!"
"...hey, me too," said Ed, stepping into the room. "I overheard him say that, too. Give him a few of mine. I've got enough."
"Ed, hold on," said Officer Tamura. "Don't you know what you're saying?"
"Yeah, I do," he said, turning back to her. "I'm helping someone else get in. He sacrificed his limbs to save this girl, and a few other students who couldn't get out of the giant robot's way. Way I see it, he deserves at least a few points, don't you think?"
"...as noble as you both sound, I'm gonna tell you this," said Present Mic. "That won't be necessary."
"What?" Said the girl. "But -"
"Relax, would ya? I can't tell you the specifics, teacher confidentiality and all that. But let's just say those of us who saw what he did took it into consideration already. We're not blind, after all."
"Not blind...oh," said Ed, coming to a realization. "I think I get it now."
"Get what?" Asked Tamura.
"It means -"
"Uh uh," said Present Mic. "No spoilers for the rest of them. Now, why don't you three go home? You two especially had a tough exam. And don't forget, the results will be mailed in a week!"
With a bow, they all left for the exit, the girl still sporting a look of worry. Ed saw it, and he pulled up a reassuring smile.
"...hey, relax," he said, putting his left hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure the green-haired guy's gonna be fine."
"But, how do you know?"
"Like he said, they weren't blind. They saw what he did, and I think that ought to amount to something, to them. After all, this is a hero school. And what he did? That was pretty heroic."
And with that, he let go and walked forward, leaving her to take his words into consideration.
Hello, Guardian here. I'm gonna be honest: there's no real timetable for when I upload these chapters. I'm still working on chapter 5. And these previous chapters? I wrote most of them back when Covid 19 was at its worst and I had lost my job in 2020, giving me too much time on my hands.
Also, I have a friend who volunteered to proofread and edit my chapters, but due to school and work on their end it's not a regular thing. Still, whenever they have time and energy, they'll be able to help. And once done, each chapter will be replaced with the improved version.
Also, I hope you guys enjoy what I've made so far, and what I make in the future. Please let me know what you guys think!
