Provisional Licensing Exams
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Terra pulled her eyes from the window and looked at Ojiro. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine. Why?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." Terra frowned. "Do I look like something's wrong?"
"Yes." Ojiro nodded. "You usually sit with Todoroki."
Terra looked forward, across the bus, to where Todoroki was sitting. "Yeah, well..."
"Did something happen between you two?"
The kiss rushed back to Terra's mind. Heat rose on her cheeks. "Y-yes."
"Was it a fight?"
"No. It wasn't a fight. It wasn't a bad thing... At least I don't think it was. Maybe it was. I don't know." Terra sighed.
"Want to tell me what happened?"
Terra pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She hadn't told anyone about Todoroki kissing her. And she hadn't spoke about it with him either. Nor has he brought it up. He seemed to be waiting for her to make the first move. If only she knew what that move should be. Never had she thought about him as more than a friend, a sibling. Now everything was twisted. She couldn't talk to him about him. But she had to talk to someone. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"
"Promise."
"The other night at the beach, when you all were looking for me."
"Yeah."
"Sho-chan yelled at me then he... he k-kissed me."
"Really? I didn't think you two were that close."
"I didn't either. I mean we're not."
"You never thought about it?"
Terra shook her head. "I'm so confused. I don't have a clue what to do."
"Well, you should talk to him."
"I'm not sure I can." Terra looked at Ojiro.
"Sorry I can't give you better advice. But that's what you need to do. You two have never had any issues talking before."
"Maybe." Terra turned back to the window.
The bus pulled to a stop in the parking lot of the National Dagoba Arena where the test was being held. Picking up their briefcases they left the bus. The arena appeared to be a circus tent with red and yellow striped outer walls and a metal roof that came together at a tall point in the center.
"So this is it, huh? The place that will decide if we take that next step to become pro heroes," Terra mumbled to herself before Aizawa's voice grabbed her attention.
"Mineta! It's not about whether or not you can. Go and get it!"
"R-right. Of course!" Mineta nodded.
Aizawa looked at his class. "If you can pass this test and get your provisional licenses, then you novice eggs will become chicks. You'll hatch into semi-pros. Do your best!'
"All right! I'll become a chick!" Kaminari cheered.
"Careful," Jiro said. "If you overcharge yourself, you'll just be served over easy."
Terra smiled. Despite all the nerves everyone was having it wasn't messing with them too much.
"All right! Let's do this everyone!" Kirishima said with an enthusiastic fist pump, "Go beyond. Plus-"
"ULTRA!" a tall, muscular boy shouted as he raced to the center of the group and thrust his hand into the air. He wore a white collared shirt, black pants, and a black captain's hat with a red line across the brim and a yellow S at the front.
A boy and a girl, wearing the same uniform as the intruder, walked up to them.
"You shouldn't just barge in on other people's huddles, Inasa," the boy said.
Inasa gasped. "Oh no!" His arms slapped to the side and he bent low and hard, bashing his head on the ground. "I am sorry!"
Terra jumped. How was that boy still standing after a hit like that?
"What's with this guy? He trying to get by with just his enthusiasm?!" Kaminari asked while the entire class of 1-A stared at this bizarre person.
"Wait! That uniform! It's from that famous school in western Japan!" Jiro said. "Shiketsu!"
The boy stood back up with blood streaming down his face. "I wanted to try saying it just once! Plus Ultra! I love UA! I am extremely honored to be able to compete against UA students."
"Inasa Yoarashi," Aizawa said as they watched the boy rejoin the rest of the Shiketsu test takers and enter the building. "First year, the same as you guys. He tried out the same year too. Yoarashi got the top scores of those admitted through recommendations, but for some reason, he turned down his acceptance to UA."
"Shiketsu, huh?" Terra watched those students disappear into the building.
"Eraser? It's you, isn't it?! Eraser?!" A woman was approached with an orange bandana tied around her green hair and a sash of smiley faces around her waist. "It's been awhile! Hey! Let's get married."
"No."
The woman clutched her sides. "Ha! Good one!"
"You're hard to talk to, as usual, Joke."
After Midoriya spewed facts about the female pro hero: Joke, another rival from another school walked over. He seemed friendly at first but Bakugo pointed out it was all fake before Aizawa ushered them inside to change clothes.
Twenty minutes later, all the students found themselves crowded into the lobby of the arena where a wary middle-aged man named Mera from the Public Safety Commission resided as their proctor explained the process they were going through, including a very shocking bomb. "Only 100 of you will pass."
"What?!" Gasps and murmurs rose in the room.
"Well... a lot's happened out there in the world." Mera sighed with his eyes drooping. "And you know... about luck and everything... So anyways... Here are the requirements." He held up a ball in one hand and a metal disk in the other. "The examinees will put three of these targets on his or her body. They can go anywhere as long as it's an exposed area. You can't put them on the soles of your feet or on your armpits. Everyone will also get six of these balls. The targets are made to only light up if they're hit by these balls and if all three of your targets light up, then you're out. The person who lights up your third target will have it count as their defeat. You get through this round by defeating two people. After we open, we'll pass out the targets and balls, and then we'll start one minute after we've gotten to everyone."
The ceiling above them split open with a mechanical grumble and then all four walls came down, opening up the entire room into a large dirt field with various settings lined around the arena. There was a large urban setting, an industrial zone, a mountainous terrain, a stretch of highway, and even a forest complete with a lush waterfall.
"It's like the USJ, " Terra said.
"I believe you all have terrain that you like and dislike," Mera said. "Use your quirks well and do your best."
Class 1-A were huddled together as they received their equipment for this test. Terra placed her a target on her stomach, one on her thigh, and one on her chest, figuring it would be the best places for her to guard them.
"Tch. This isn't a field trip. Count me out," Bakugo growled as he stormed off.
"Hey! Wait!" Kirishima ran after him.
"Same. I can't use my quirk freely in a large group. So I'm going to head off." Todoroki said, his eyes going right to Terra.
Terra averted her eyes and nodded. Part of her wanted to go with him. But her confusion kept her in place.
"Ready? Test, start!"
Several pro hero hopefuls came flying through the air with their balls in hand. The second boy who confronted them outside smirked. "Looks like we got the famous first years. This should be easy."
Class 1-A jumped into action.
Terra knocked down a couple teenagers with her vines. The ground vibrated. She looked to find Jiro was using her quirk to throw everyone off their balance.
The balls resurfaced through the earth and raced towards Mineta.
"I got this!" Ashido said as she flicked her acid towards the balls, "Maximum viscosity and solubility... Acid Veil!"
An acid wall streaked across the sky, disintegrating the projectiles and dripped back down to the earth.
"Everyone, fall back!" The boy got to his knees and put his hands to the ground. "Their defenses are strong. So let's break it up! Maximum Force Tremoring Earth!"
The ground broke from underneath them, splitting the earth, creating canyons, and destroying what was left of the mountain.
Class 1-A screamed as they fell.
Terra searched out for vines to sprout up from the ground to grab her class. None was there. She spun a vine in a spiral from her hand and landed as softly as possible. Then she threw out her vines, grabbing as many classmates as she could. Or at least the ones who would have harder time landing than others.
...
Time was running down fast. Terra peaked around a rock. She and Ojiro were trying to work their way to victims. It was hard considering they couldn't see anyone without exposing themselves.
"We're running out of time," Ojiro said. "We need to make a break for it."
Terra nodded. "Sorry. If there were vines under the ground I could lift a bunch of people up with them. But with all this rock it's impossible."
"It's fine. We're all at a disadvantage here. Let's go." Ojiro took the lead. They weaved in and out of the rocks until they spotted Aoyama's laser. They ran for it. More of the classmates joined them and tackled the remaining students.
"That's three." Terra smiled. "I did it!"
"Same." Ojiro held up his hand.
Terra smacked it with her own.
"Let's get these targets off us," Ojiro said.
As soon as everyone returned their equipment, the first exam came to a close and Mera had turned on the big screen on the center of the wall. The examinees watched the field outside. The field they had just left was suddenly demolished in an instant by several explosions. Their task was revealed to be a rescue exercise as bystanders in the newly formed disaster site.
"Bystanders usually refer to ordinary citizens," Yaoyorozu said.
"We will assume that those of you who have passed the first test have received your provisional licenses and test how well you can carry out suitable rescue procedures," Mera said.
"Wait! There are actual people there." They watched hundreds of people, from the elderly to children, disperse through the various destroyed terrains.
"These are people who have undergone training to be professional people-in-need-of-rescue," Mera explained. "And are in high demand now. 'Help Us Company' or HUC for short. They are dressed up as civilians and are on standby throughout the disaster site. We will now have you all carry out their rescue. In addition, you will score your rescue based on points and if you have more points than the benchmark at the end of the exercises, then you pass. We will start in 10 minutes so please use the restroom and take care of any other necessary business right now."
Terra watched a ruckus between a couple students, Todoroki being one of them.
Todoroki clenched his fists to his side and he took a step forward. "You... The loud guy with the scarf."
Inasa paused before turned in Todoroki's direction, while the rest of his school kept on walking.
"Did I offend you or something?" Todoroki asked.
Inasa looked down at him from the tip of his nose. His facial expression hardened more and more with each passing second before he spilled out his first meeting with Endeavor.
Terra wasn't surprised how Endeavor acted towards this guy. Endeavor was not a kind person.
"Well, I'm sorry, Endeavor's son... but I hate you. You've changed a bit since back then, but your eyes are the same as Endeavor's."
Todoroki's eyes widened.
"Shut up!" Terra marched over to Inasa. "Shoto's nothing like his dad! Don't talk about things you don't know!"
Todoroki grabbed her arm and held her back.
"Take it back! Take it back!"
"Terra, stop it," Todoroki said.
Terra gritted her teeth.
With a call from a classmate, Inasa turned on his heels and joined his classmates.
...
"Villains have begun a large-scale terrorist attack! This is occurring in the urban areas," Mera voice called out as the screen flicked on to show the different disaster zones and alarms started blaring around them. "Due to buildings collapsing, there are many injured."
The ground shook beneath their feet as the walls around them unfolded once more.
"This opens up too?!" Kirishima exclaimed.
"Due to heavily damaged roads, the first group of rescue workers have been delayed," Mera continued. "Until they arrive the heroes in the area will lead the rescue efforts. Save as many lives as you can. Well, then... begin."
The class took off with Iida leading the way towards the nearest collapsed building. "Saving lives! That is the greatest ambition of a hero!"
Bakugo, Kirishima, and Kaminari took off from the group.
"Even if this is just an exercise, this is pretty crazy," Asui said.
"What's the plan?" Ojiro asked as he raced past them.
They ran through the devastated city streets, wary of any falling debris or weakening foundations, and found a boy in a blue cap, kneeling in the ruins and crying at the top of his lungs. "H-help!"
"There! He's over there!" Midoriya shouted
"My grandpa! He's been crushed!" the boy screamed.
"What? This is bad!"
The person looked up, revealing a rounded face of a middle-aged man, covered in fake blood and dressed to appear as a young child.
"This is bad?!" the kid said. "Are you serious?!"
Terra listened to the kid as he continued to ran on about how heroes should act when saving someone from a disaster. He was right. They had to think. She scanned the chaos around her. "I think... I think I'm going to head to another area."
"Really?" Ojiro asked.
"I'll be more helpful in other areas. My vines might cause more damage here than else where," Terra said.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going to head over to the landslide mountain area. I can lift people up out of dangerous situations," Terra said.
"Be careful," Ojiro said.
"You too." Terra ran off.
"Help!"
Terra ran towards the voice. Reaching the edge of the cliff she spotted two people standing on a rock away from the mainland. One way lying on the ground. "Hold on! I'll be right there!"
She anchored one vine to a rock then threaded out another to where the victims were. "Tell me what hurts."
"M-my leg. I think it's broken."
"Don't worry. I'm here to help. Did either of you hit your heads?" Terra knelt down and started bracing the man's leg.
"No."
"I did," the woman said.
"Can you tell me your name?"
"Ami."
"Do you know what day it is?"
"Friday."
"Do you remember how you got here?"
"Yes. My husband and I were out for a walk when blasts went off around us. Rocks were rolling very where."
"It sounds like you don't have a concussion. That's good. But I still need to get you to safety and have a doctor look at you." The man winced at her tightening her vine. "Sorry. It'll be okay. There are a lot of heroes out here. You're not allow. Keep that in mind. You're not allow. You'll be fine."
"Okay, okay. We get it." The woman crossed her arms.
"Sorry." Terra ducked her head. "I tend to babble. There. I'm going to lift you two back up to the mainland. Hold on." She lifted the woman to safety first then the man before lifting herself. She picked up the man in her vines and walked them away from the area. "Looks like some heroes set up a medical station."
"Bring them here," a girl hero said to her.
Terra walked over to the blanket and laid the man down. "He has a broken leg. The woman was hit in the head with the rock but is able to answer questions. I don't think she has a concussion but she needs to be checked out."
"Got it." The girl nodded. "I'll take care of them from here."
Terra headed back to the field to continue her work when explosions fired off in every direction.
"Villains have appeared and started their pursuit. Hero candidates at the scene should continue their rescue efforts while also suppressing the villains."
"Now we have villains to deal with? Great." Terra looked around until she spotted people moving towards the medical area. She debated for a moment whether she should go help fight the villains or stay and help survivors before choosing to leave the villains in more capable hands. There were others who were suited for fighting more than she was, especially when this area doesn't have plants for her to manipulate. She felt better about leaving with Todoroki appearing between the villains and the injured.
She rescued a few more people before the buzzer signaled the end of the exam.
The students gathered to learn their results.
Terra gasped at the sight of her name on the board. "I... I did it? I passed?" Then she looked for Todoroki's name. It wasn't there. "What?" She rushed to him. "Sho-chan, what happened? Why aren't you up there?"
"I messed up big time when I fought against Gang Orca." Todoroki lifted his left hand. "I fought with another student and almost lost big time." He looked at her. "But it's okay. I know I messed up. And I will fix it. Don't feel sorry for me."
Terra nodded knowing she'd feel bad about it anyway.
A few minutes later their results were handed out. Terra mostly got docked from babbling so much and a few times where she stood around too long. "I'm really going to have to work on that." Her eyes found Todoroki going over his own results. A heated tap of her heart forced her to turn away from him. What was that?