"900m!? Bloody hell!"
Setsuna yelled out after Tetsutetsu announced Aki's score. The class erupted into chaos as everyone murmured and whispered among one another upon hearing the black-hair boy score.
"QUIET!" Total silence. If look can kill, Kan's glare at the class would have caused a massacre at UA.
"We are already behind schedule, so let's proceed on to the next test!"
Decided to leave the matter at that, class 1-B quickly followed their homeroom teacher to the next test.
Thankfully, the tests after didn't require Aki to use his prosthetic arm again. They were all pure physical exams, namely 50-Meter Dash, Standing Long Jump, Grip Strength, Repeated Side Steps, Sit Ups, Seated Toe Touch and Distance Run.
Except for Grip Strength, where Itsuka used her Quirk to increase her strength and crush the machine, everyone managed to score fairly well on their own. Although Pony looked cutely dissappointed that she didn't manage to outspeed Aki, who scored 1st for the 50-Meter Dash, the Standing Long Jump and the Distance Run.
"Man, these tests are easy compare to Wolf-sensei training." quietly thought Aki as Kan announced the end of the test.
"You all did fairly well. BUT, our class average score is lesser than 1-A. You aren't here to do 'fairly well'. You are here to become better, to be the best! So the next time we did this again, I expect you to score better than anyone else!"
1-B nodded at their teacher's word, looking more motivated than ever.
"Sensei, may we know how is our scores compared to 1-A?" Monoma asked.
"I guess it's fine. The top scorer both classes is Yaoyorozu Momo, following by Mochizuki Aki and Todoroki Shoko. Shiozaki and Kendou-kun are behind in a few tests, but they did generally better than everyone. However, don't let this discourage you! You all have room to improve in the future."
Being lonely most of the time, Aki never dreamed of becoming the center of attention, especially when Wolf-sensei taught him to stay unnoticed. Something about an essence of a Shinobi. So imagine his surprise when he was swarmed by his classmates as they entered the locker room.
"Yo, Mochizuki Bro! That was so manly!" Tetsutetsu shouted while standing right in front of Aki
"….Was what now?"
"MANLY! The way you throw the ball!"
Aki looked at the silver-hair boy weirdly as he put on his uniform. Kan-sensei has instructed them to quickly change and get back to class to receive their syllabus for the term, so everyone was changing.
"I must admit that your performance was impressive, Mochizuki-sama." Shishida said as he put his hand on Tetsutetsu, telling the boy to calm down.
"What is that…thing on your hand anyway? It looks almost like a.." Awase pointed at Aki's left hand.
"Prosthetic arm? Well…yes, but actually no. This arm is just like a support item for me, since my Quirk isn't exactly a combat type, you know." Aki explained while waving his left hand.
"Are you sure you don't have a speed Quirk or anything? I mean you beat..what was her name? Paula..? Pony! You beat her in the 50-Meter Dash, and she is literally a horse!" Tsuburaba exclaimed.
"Not to mention the Distance Run! You managed to keep up with Kan-sensei for a while."
"The Standing Long Jump as well! The way you leaped up in the air reminded me of Miruko."
Even after all the embarrassing moments that Mei put him through, Aki still has a slight blush on his face as praises were thrown around in the locker room.
"Let's leave that aside for now. I think Kan-sensei won't be happy if we are late." Monoma quickly came to rescue.
After 5 minutes, the boys cleared the locker room and were already back in the classroom. Seeing that everybody was already there, Kan said.
"All right, you all are here! Now, I'm going to give out your syllabus for this semester. Read through it and go home to get some rest. You're going to need it for what's coming tomorrow. Class dismissed!."
As Kan left the room, everyone broke into chatters among one another. Some were talking about their upcoming schedules while others packing their bags, preparing to leave. Aki was one of the latter.
As he was about to leave the classroom, a feminine voice called out to him,
"Mochizuki-san! Wait up!"
Aki turned around and saw Itsuka walking towards him with Yui following her. The former with a friendly smile on her face while the latter has a neutral, poker expression.
"Hey! Are you heading to the station?" Aki nodded, "That's great! Wanna walk there with me and Yui?"
Aki thought for a minute before hesitantly nodded, "Sure."
"Man, those tests are exhausting! My hands are still sore." Itsuka let out a long sigh. The trio were on the train, standing beside one another. Aki stood in the middle, with Yui on his left and Itsuka on his right.
"Guess we should have expected it. I mean i-it's UA after all." Aki smiled, scratching the back of his head as he said.
Yui nodded her head while still keeping the same neutral expression on her face, "Hm."
"…It's like 2 different person." Itsuka said, carefully inspecting Aki's face.
"W-what is?" Surprised by the sudden action, Aki took a step back.
"The way you talk. You were totally different during the test! You didn't stutter, you had that determination look in your eyes and you look more….confidence?" Itsuka pointed out with Yui nodded her head.
"R-really? I didn't notice it. I must be too focus on the test. But I kinda not used to being the center of attention so….." Aki smiled sheepishly at the compliment(?) that Itsuka gave him.
"Really, huh? Well, but you gotta tone down the stuttering man. It's kinda hard to understand sometime." Itsuka said teasingly.
"Haha, I-I'll try to."
"It took me quite awhile to understand Yui's silence. Now I have to try and understand your stuttering too, I guess." Itsuka smiled widely as she pointed at Yui.
"You two knew each other?"
"Yeah, we were in the same class during middle school. Did you know Yui's nickname was Ice Queen back then. She even had a fan club."
"Hm?" Yui's eyes slightly opened wider, indicating her shock at Itsuka's word.
The train stopped at Chiba prefecture. Itsuka picked up her bag from the ground, head to the exit and said,
"Here's my stop. Bye guys, see you tomorrow!" She waved at Yui and Aki before the door closed.
The two waved back at her. An uncomfortable silence was present between Yui and Aki. Before, they left most of the talking to Itsuka, Aki just replied whatever she asked and Yui just…nodded.
Decided to clear the silence, Aki started a conversation.
"S-so, Kodai-san. Where is your stop?"
Yui pointed at 'Shimane' on the station map, still keeping her emotionless face.
"You said your Quirk is Size, and it lets you to change an object's size. Is there any limitation?"
Yui grabbed Aki's left hand using her five fingers and shook her head.
" I guess it doesn't work on living things."
"So it doesn't work on living things, huh. Anything else?"
Yui showed a number 3 with her fingers and gestured her hands at the bag underground.
"So 3 objects maximum and you have to physically contact with the object to change its size…" Aki mumbled, failed to notice Yui looking curiously at him.
"He understands me?" Yui thought.
Just as she was about to ask, the train stopped at Shizuoka.
"My stop is here. I'll see you tomorrow, Kodai-san." Aki waved Yui goodbye before stepping out of the train cargo. Yui waved back at him, still with a neutral expression.
"How does she do that?"