Immortālitās
Chapter Two
It's been seven years since my fateful run-in with All Might, and I continue to trick my fears every day with a smile.
"I am fine!" I laugh, walking with a group of students as they all looked at me oddly.
I continued to smile though, looking at the sign in front of me.
U.A. High School Entrance Examination Site
With the help of All Might, I was able to get into a respectable orphanage that was mixed with the Quirked and Quirkless. Along with receiving decent schooling, I was able to visit a child psychologist that was able to smooth out most of my fear and depression. The nightmares that haunted me every night during my childhood only happened a couple of times a week now, which is actually saying a lot. Who knew that eight hours of uninterrupted sleep could do wonders on the psyche?
Along with that, I was able to get my Quirk looked into as well.
Impeccable regeneration is what the experts say, though they are trying to come up with more terms because apparently that is only the tip of the iceberg. As I got older, I noticed that I could do more than the average kids around me. Besides the kids with specific quirks, I was stronger, faster, and had more stamina than the Quirkless and other Quirked.
As my Quirk matured, things also took a weird turn.
Apparently, I was dead? Or kind of dead?
I can still remember the physician freaking out that he couldn't find my pulse, and the line of doctor's that all attempted to do the same until one doctor finally heard one beat. That was it. After many tests it was concluded that my heart only beats once per minute. Or sixty times an hour, one thousand four hundred and forty times a day, forty-three thousand two hundred times (on average) a month, and about five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred times a year. They kind of just guessed that that was the bare minimum my body required in order to function. No one could come to a secured agreement.
My cells also told them that at some point in my life I might stop aging? They are unsure why. How. Or when it will happen, or even if it will happen. Hopefully it doesn't happen until I've graduated from high school. The last thing I want to be known as is the immortal child hero.
I also began to notice that I hardly ever felt hungry or thirsty, though I was still capable of taking in the nutrients that came with food. Just because I don't necessarily need to eat anymore, doesn't mean I don't need the nutrients to sustain my weight and beautiful muscle mass. Also, let's be real, food is delicious.
On top of my schooling, shrink, and doctor visits I also trained. Hard. Every day I would exercise, as my regeneration abilities fixed any negative effects it would have on my body. I also took up learning some mixed martial arts, and dabbled with a few different weapons. My favorite being axes. Of any variety.
As I walked up the stairs leading into the building, I smiled once more knowing that this was going to be the beginning of a new journey.
Students began pulling away from each other as they headed towards the doorways marked for their destination.
U.A. Department of Heroes Orientation
U.A. General Education Orientation
U.A. Department of Support Orientation
U.A. Department of Management Orientation
I wondered how the orientations differentiated from each other as I confidently strolled into the orientation for the Department of Heroes.
I quickly scanned the room for an available seat, and sat down next to a girl with short brown hair.
"Hello," I greeted her with a smile.
"O-oh!" She jumped a little bit. "Hello!"
"Hah," I rubbed my neck and stuck my hand out. "I'm sorry for startling you. My name is Ivan Tantarimoto, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
She stared at me for a moment before lightly grasping my hand. "My name is Ochaco Uraraka. It's a pleasure to meet you as well! Ivan is a pretty unique name!"
"Yeah," I responded softly. "My mother was from Norway, so I was named after her grandfather."
I lightly smiled at her as she kept grasping my hand, her eyes lightly glassing over as her cheeks tinted red a bit.
"Uh," I chuckled nervously. "Could I have my hand back? Not that I mind if you were to keep holding it."
She froze, turning completely red before letting go of my hand like it burned her.
"I'm so sorry!"
I laughed at her embarrassment. It was pretty cute after all.
"You don't have to be sorry, I do have pretty soft hands."
She laughed a bit, relaxing. "They were pretty soft. Do you use lotion?"
"Mmm, nope," I chuckled at her question. "It's probably because of my quirk."
"Oh!" She seemed interested. "What does your quirk do?"
"You'll just have to find out," I teased her.
"Well then the same goes for you!"
"I look forward to seeing what you can do."
I smiled at her again as we held eye contact for the next couple of seconds. I watched as her pupils kept changing sizes and her cheeks started to tint a little bit.
She quickly looked away as the lights dimmed, clearing her throat. "I-it looks like the orientation is about to start, Ivan-san."
"Please," I said now looking towards the stage. I leaned in a little closer to her to whisper, "Just call me Ivan."
She squeaked and nodded her head in acknowledgement as Present Mic took center stage.
"For all you examinees listening in," Present Mic started, "Welcome to my show! Now everybody say hey!"
There was an awkward silence as Present Mic turned to listen for any sound.
"What a deafening response," he continued with a shrug. "I shall quickly present to you the rundown of your practical exam. Are you ready?! Yeah!"
There was another awkward silence.
"As it says in the application, all you listeners will be partaking in a ten-minute mock urban battle after the orientation. You will be allowed to bring whatever it is you think you'll need in order to succeed. So, after this little presentation, you will all head to the specified battle center listed on your Examinee Ticket. You can see them here on the screen. Okay!"
There was a third awkward silence as I looked at my ticket.
Battle Center D.
"During the mock battle, you will encounter three different types of fake villains. Each villain is designated a specific amount of points based upon their level of difficulty. Your goal, my dear little listeners, is to use your quirks to immobilize the fake villains. And of course, attacking other examinees and any other unhero-like actions are prohibited."
A student in a tan suit suddenly stood from his seat, raising his hand.
"May I ask a question?" He asked.
"Go for it!" Present Mic pointed at him as a light appeared on his person.
"On our examinee printout," he started droning. "There are four types of villains listed. If that is a misprint, then U.A., the most prestigious school in Japan, should be ashamed of that foolish mistake."
Are you kidding me? I could feel my brow tick in annoyance.
"We examinees are here in this place because we wish to be formed into exemplary heroes. And you, with the curly hair," he pointed towards another student behind him aggressively. "You've been muttering this whole time. It's distracting! If you're here to get some cheap thrills, then you should leave immediately."
The curly haired student covered his mouth in shame, muttering his apologies while nearby students laughed at him.
Alright, that's it.
"Oi!" I shouted and stood abruptly. "What kind of hero makes a judgement-call without getting all the available information first? If you wouldn't have interrupted Present Mic, I'm sure he would have continued telling us about the fourth pictured villain."
The student went to respond, but I cut him off. "And I don't ever want to see you tearing down another person because of their excitement again. I want to live in a world where people can live happily while smiling, and that shame you just made him feel does not belong in that world! I doubt most of the room would be able to handle their own excitement if All Might were conducting the presentation!"
The room filled with muttering as the student in the tan suit tried to best me in a stare down. Jokes on him because I don't even need to blink!
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Ochaco staring at me with a wide-eyed expression.
"Okay, okay," Present Mic started getting the attention of the room back to himself. "Examinee number 7111 and 2424, let's calm down now. I like the energy! Yeah! But let's take a seat so I can continue explaining your exam!"
I bowed in apology to Present Mic and sat back down, but not before shooting Ochaco a small smile.
"The fourth type of villain," Present Mic started again. "Is worth zero points! It will be an obstacle, so to speak and there will be one located in every battle center. It's not impossible to defeat, but there's also no real reason to go after it directly either. In fact, I'd recommend that you listeners avoid it all together!"
If they want us to avoid it, what's the point of having it in the exam I wonder? Something to ponder for the time being I suppose.
"That's all from me! In closing, I'd like to give you listeners a present—our school motto! The hero Napoleon Bonaparte once said a true here is someone who overcomes life's misfortunes. So, go beyond! Plus Ultra! Now everyone, begin your departure and enjoy your suffering!"
The lights returned as everyone began making their way towards the exit.
"Which battle center were you assigned to?" I heard Ochaco ask.
"I've been assigned to battle center D."
"Oh," Ochaco sighed. "I was assigned to battle center B. I suppose we won't be able to see each other's quirks just yet."
"That just means we'll both have to pass."
I smiled at her. "Good luck, Ochaco."
Her cheeks tinted. "You too, Ivan."
I chuckled as she dashed away.
Ochaco Uraraka .
I can't wait to get to know you more.
Hello, friends! Thank you for reading chapter two of Immortālitās! Isn't Ochaco the sweetest cinnamon roll? I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I look forward to hearing from you!
TTFN.