Chapter 3 - Recommendations

A week had passed, and honestly? Joshu was still a little bitter. Just a bit though. And don't tell anyone. He didn't want to lose the cool guy image he knew he left everyone with. But damn! That guy- Josuke, as he'd later found out- had totally been with Yasuho! And fucking naked too! It wasn't fair.

And everyone was acting weird. First Jobin comes home with some bag with vague 'work-related items' in it, and refuses to talk about it, and then Yasuho spends all her time avoiding him. Ugh, and his dad too. His arm was bent weird, and he'd just deflected any questions about it. Plus, he'd had been visiting that Josuke guy for some incomprehensible reason. Like, hello? Literally Joshu's rival in love, but fine, go ahead, whatever. Not like he cared.

But now he was excited! It was time for his entrance exam. He would be getting in on recommendations (because that's just how great he was) so his exam took place quite a bit before the one open to the general populace.

The exam was taking place in the Musutafu district of Tokyo of course, as it was specifically for UA, and that's where UA was. But Morioh was so far north you take a single bus to Hokkaido. Therefore, Joshu would be getting a ride with his father, and renting a hotel room for the night after the test, and before they returned. Once he (inevitably) passed and subsequently began attending UA, his father would start renting an apartment for him nearby the campus.

He finished packing his overnight bag (he wasn't sure if he wanted to take his All Might action figure or his Hawks one. In the end he decided on both.) He said goodbye to Daiya and Haato (Daiya at least responded.) He went out to the car. And promptly dropped his bag in shock.

"What the- what is that guy doing here?!"

His father and that Josuke bastard both glanced at each other, before Norisuke turned and walked over to Joshu.

"He's been recommended for hero training, and he's decided to try it out. So, since we're all going to the same place, he'll be joining us on our trip."

"What do you mean he's been recommended? He's only been alive for, like, a week, right? Who the fuck recommended him? We don't need to take this guy with us."

"Joshu. This is not a matter for debate. Pick your bag up and get in the car, alright? We've been waiting for half an hour already, and we need to make it there in time for you to even take the exam."

And so it was that he found himself in the back seat of his dad's car, doing his best to glare a hole through the back of Josuke's head. Why did that bastard get the front seat anyway?

"Dad, why are you playing this crap? Can't you change the station to something else?"

"No, Joshu."

"I kinda like it."

"See? Josuke likes it. I'm not changing it."

He already hated this.

By the time they reached UA, Joshu was about to go stir-crazy. He'd spent way too long in that car, and now that the ride was over and he could get out, he wasn't sure city air had ever smelt so good. For some reason his dad seemed relieved when they got out too. Joshu wasn't sure why, to be honest.

Josuke was looking around at the towers, with a dopey looking smile. He looked ridiculous. But Joshu had to admit he too was a little impressed by the view (though definitely not intimidated. Not one bit.)

After the two of them entered, and confirmed with the receptionist that they were on the list, they were given numbers evidently corresponding to the order they came in, as Joshu talked to her before Josuke, and got the number right behind his. Then they were sent to a room off to the side to wait and prepare for the exam. Judging by all the other kids milling about inside, it was the same room for all the examinees. Josuke walked around, looking like an idiot, checking out all the competition. Joshu did nothing of sort. Why would he, when he already knew he'd be the best?

The competition came up to Joshu though, in the form of some tall guy with a massive smile and crazy eyes.

"Hi, I'm Yoarashi Inasa! What's your name?" Fine. He wasn't really interested in these guys (although his eyes had lingered on that girl with the ponytail) but he could at least make an impression. Alright, time to play it cool.

"Heh. Higashikata Joshu. You better remember that name, because you're gonna be hearing it a lot from now on." Nailed it.

"Cool! So what's your Quirk? Mine is whirlwind!"

"Uh, okay? I'm not really interested in giving away my secrets so easily, though. You'll all just have to find out."

"Ohhh, that makes sense! Well, great to meet you! Later!"

And finally the weirdo was gone. Joshu smirked.

"Hi, I'm Yoarashi Inasa! What's your name?"

"Meeeee? I'm Kujo Josuke. Nice to meet you."

"Ooooh, can I call you JoJo? Or JoJoJo? What's your Quirk? Mine is whirlwind!"

"Of course you can! And I have two Quirks! I can shrink stuff and heal. Plus I've got a Stand."

"Wow! You're the coolest guy I've met here so far, JoJo!"

Joshu stopped smirking.

It seems, despite Norisuke's concerns, that they hadn't been too late. Only a couple minutes before the exam was scheduled to start some new weirdo walked. Some angry looking guy with white and red hair. Pfft, didn't he know how stupid that looked?

The resident loudmouth didn't get a chance to go up and greet him however, a fact Joshu's eardrums were thankful for, because the exam proctors came in soon after and began rounding everyone up.

They went over the rules, the exam itself, and what was expected of them. They'd be tested with a race, and would have to make a certain time in order to pass, much to Joshu's frustration. His powers- while super cool- just weren't suited for racing. Why couldn't he have his brother's Quirk…

They all lined up at the course, and, on the instructor's signal, took off. Literally, in the case of the loudmouth and the weird-haired kid, their Quirks propelling them across the course. The other kids weren't doing bad either- some kid with a gross mouth was turning the ground into some sort of mud and sprinting along it, while the ponytail girl had… somehow brought a bicycle? No fair, how come she got to bring a bike? Was there a form to fill out for that, or something?

Joshu was happy to see that Josuke, at least, was struggling just as much as he was. His Quirks were useless in this, and his Stand… well, Joshu honestly had no idea what that thing was doing. Was it blowing bubbles at the ground? Uh, yeah, brilliant plan moron.

He was halfway across the course (with only half a minute left to pass) when suddenly, Josuke flew by. Or glided, rather. Or slipped? For some reason, the ground where Josuke was had suddenly become incredibly slick or something, because he was absolutely zipping across.

Joshu was becoming frantic. There was no way he'd reach the finish line in time, and even worse, Josuke would! He began looking around, hoping for some sort of answer… and then he found it. Another examinee, a girl with wavy, dark green hair, also had yet to reach the end. But she wasn't rushing, just walking leisurely towards the goal.

And he soon saw why. She'd detached her arm from her body, and sent it floating to the end, and apparently, the judges had counted that as a success. If that was the case…

"Nut King Call!" The Stand appeared by his side, and made a bolt in his leg.

He uncoupled it.

His Stand wasn't like that girl's Quirk. It wasn't meant to be used on him, and when it was? It fucking hurt. But he grabbed his now severed leg anyway, and reeled back, tossing it past the finish line, just before Josuke reached it.

It spun in an arc, spraying blood all over the ground as it passed. Well, sucks to be the janitor.

And then time was called. Joshu hopped quickly over to his leg, stump bleeding all the while, and quickly reattached it with a new bolt. Oh, but hell, it wasn't really healed. The pain was still there, and blood was oozing out the line where the two parts had been separated. How could he fix this? Hmm…

"Hey, Josuke."

"Oh… hey, Higashikata."

"Woah, call me Joshu, alright? We're buddies, yeah? Look, I've been thinkin'. Maybe I've been a bit harsh on you recently. I mean, that thing you did with your Stand, that was so cool!"

"R-really? You too, that bit with leg was so-"

"Yeah, so that got me wondering. Are your other powers that cool? Like what can your Quirks do?

"Oh, well, I've got two! I can shrink stuff and heal."

"Woooow, that's great. What's the healing one do though, really? That sounds kinda vague..."

"Let me show you! Uh, but I have to be wounded..."

"Oh, don't worry about that! Here, try it on my leg, alright? Maybe I'll understand by feeling myself."

"That makes sense… here goes." Josuke took the leg in his hands. A golden glow began to surround him, before spreading down through his arms and into Joshu's leg. It… it was working! Joshu could feel his leg getting better!

And then it twisted oddly, his own foot coming up to kick him square in the face.

"Dammit!"

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for that to happen- I guess I haven't practiced enough! I didn't know that could happen!"

"Fuck off Josuke! Dammit, why'd I even ask you."

"I'm really sorry, Joshu..."

"Save it. And don't get too familiar- call me by my last name!" He walked off, grumbling to himself. That hurt!

Josuke really did feel bad… he thought the glow Quirk would just heal! He was trying to get along with Joshu, since he'd started being nice all of a sudden. But instead he'd just made him mad…

His wallowing was cut short when the one of the proctors called their attention and started saying everyone's names, and giving them instructions on where to go next.

"Examinee number twenty-three, recommended by Endeavor. Please head to room 2-B." That one seemed to cause a stir, all of the other examinees suddenly looking at Examinee number twenty-three (who turned out to be the boy with the cool hair) and whispering amongst themselves. Josuke wasn't sure why, was room 2-B important or something?

The proctor ignored the chatter, and continued on, sending another to 2-C, then to 2-D, and so forth.

"Examinee number twenty-one, recommended by Speed King and Walking Heart. Please head to room 2-F." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Joshu begin to move, before stopping abruptly, and turning back, seemingly with the intention of listening to the next name being called.

"Examinee number twenty-two, recommended by King Nothin-"

"What?! What do you mean he got recommended by… what the hell?!"

"Examinee number twenty-one, please remain civil. The circumstances surrounding other contestants is not your concern. Please head to room 2-F."

Josuke raised his hand. "I don't understand. Who is King Nothing?"

"That… Examinee number twenty-two, you don't know the hero who recommended you?"

"I thought Mister Nori- uh, Higashikata had done that..."

"Yeah, you idiot! That's his hero name. Why is my dad the one who… you know what? Fine. I'll ask him when we leave."

"Please do. As I was saying, number twenty-two, please head to room 2-G."

Josuke still didn't really understand what the problem was, but he resolved to ask later, like Joshu. When he reached 2-G (after getting turned around a few times… apparently the 2 part meant the room was on the second floor) he opened the door to reveal… an animal?

Why was there a white mouse? Or, wait- was it a bear? And it was wearing a suit.

"Please, take a seat."

And it spoke! This was so cool!

When he had seated himself, the creature pulled out a manilla folder, and opened it to reveal several sheets. What titles he could read from across the desk suggested the majority of the papers were hospital records, birth certificates, and such.

"This is the interview portion of the exam. Now, let me begin by saying I am aware of your unique background. In fact, there was a bit of debate about whether to even accept your application whatsoever." The creature pulled out the birth certificates. "You see, while Kujo Josefumi was fifteen, and thus the proper age to become a first-year at UA, Kira Yoshikage was eighteen, and thus, not. The combination of the two would make you roughly sixteen, and thus a year too late to apply."

"I… so does that mean I won't get in?" Josuke wasn't sure that really bothered him, if he was being honest. He had only applied in the first place because Norisuke had wanted him to… and because, well, it would be something to do. He had no path forward, that he could see. He wanted to discover who had… created him, for lack of a better term. But he'd visited Kira Holly, and spoken with Kira Kyo… and neither of them had yielded any leads. On that front, he was stuck.

"Oh, your application was allowed, due to your obvious extenuating circumstances. And you passed the physical test. But whether you'll be allowed? That's what we're determining right now. So, Kujo Josuke. To start with, how did you pass that race?"

"I used my Stand. It took away the friction from the floor, so I could go quicker."

"How did the idea to do that come to you?"

"Huh... I guess I was just thinking it'd be nice if the race was easier, so then I thought, why not make it easier?"

"You didn't use your Quirks at all. Why is that?"

"Well, neither were really suited for a race. I couldn't shrink the course or heal myself across it." Although now that he mentioned the healing, he was reminded of the incident with Joshu's leg. He didn't really understand his Quirks yet, apparently, so maybe he could've used them. Either way, he'd need more experience using them.

"I suppose that makes sense. Now then. What is your motivation? Why do you want to become a hero?"

"Ah. Well, I don't really know." When the bear-mouse remained quiet, Josuke continued, in an attempt to fill the silence. "But, well, I like Mister Norisuke. And he's a hero right? And if heroes help people, well, that's good isn't it?"

"So you're just floating, so to speak. Seeing where life takes you?"

"Well… I was almost literally born a week ago."

"I know. But try to see this from my perspective. How can I be certain you won't find some other calling? You haven't had nearly enough time to decide how you want to live your life. Why should I give you a space which could be better served going to a student with an actual desire to be a hero?"

"I… don't know, to be honest. Maybe you shouldn't."

"I see. Is there anything you do want?"

Josuke blanks. Is there? He tried to think about this last week, his only one thus far. Had anything stood out? Combating an enemy Stand user, hanging out with Yasuho and Norisuke, and his sort-of relatives. Did these memories spark anything? Any urge, or desire? For fighting? Friendship? Family? Well… not necessarily those things, but…

"Answers. I want answers. About… who I am. I mean, I know who I am, but, what about the people I'd been before? What were they like? How did this happen? And my, or rather, Kira's mom. She's sick, and she isn't getting better. And Mister Norisuke said that heroes- well."

"Please, continue. What did he say?"

"...He said that heroes made a lot of money. And if they do then maybe I could get enough to help her. Her treatment is expensive, so..."

"I see. Well, I think I have enough information. Thank you for your time, Mister Kujo. The letter would come in the mail, but as you have no permanent address, consider this your acceptance."

Before, Josuke had thought he really didn't mind if he failed to gain entry to the hero course (and he still didn't, honestly), but in spite of that… He felt a little bit warmer inside, after hearing that he had.

AN

1. Josuke hasn't been adopted by Norisuke, and thus has taken the name Kujo instead of Higashikata

2. I know Joshu's Stand didn't harm him in the most recent chapter of JoJolion, wherein he detached his tongue, but it did hurt other people when he took their limbs and stuff off. I just decided to go with the 'it causes damage' version.