A/N: Finally got all my work done for today so this long chapter is for you guys! Thank you so much for supporting this fanfic! It honestly makes me motivated to keep on writing!
Just a reminder that the next few chapters will cover the Provisional Hero License Exam Arc so there will be definitely some spoilers.
CHAPTER 10
Did I hear him correctly? Keep an eye on me?
I tried to think of something to break the silence.
BUZZZZZZZ!
"And zero! One hundred people just passed! It's over. Woohoo!"
As soon as it was broadcasted around the arena that the first round of examination was over, Shoto was shortly surrounded by his classmates when they realised that all of them from UA High passed the initial test. I took a good look at them. Although Shoto appeared to be a bit uneasy with a lot of people, he seemed like he was genuinely happy. It was the first time after a very long time that I've seen him enjoy other's company. There was really something in UA that changed him.
"Everyone in UA passed the first test!" Uraraka, the brown-haired girl, cheered as he waved her hands in the air.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Followed by Sero, the guy with the weird elbows.
"I'm so glad." Midoriya said with contentment.
I made my way to where my schoolmates are seeing that Shoto was crowded by his classmates. I didn't want to ruin their celebration.
"WHAAAAT? Shishikura-senpai failed?" I heard Inasa screamed with disappointment as I got near them.
"You're too loud." Mora-san replied. "Because that violently passionate guy went ahead and fought alone! The rest of you too! I reminded you to fight as a team. You should know better!"
I froze in my place and faced our senior. He's right. I kind of fought alone because I was too pre-occupied with other stuff.
"Sorry senpai!" Inasa-kun and I bowed at him.
Mera-san caught our attention when he started to announce what will happen at the next test. "So, all of you who passed the first test, please watch this."
The monitor showed the field where we fought at the initial exam. Suddenly, the buildings began to blow up. All eyes, full of confusion, were glued on the screen as everything on the site began to collapse.
"The next test is the last one." Mera-san carried on. "We will have you all perform a rescue exercise as bystanders in this disaster site. Let's assume that those of you who passed the first test have acquired their provisional license. Now, we will test how well you'll perform rescue procedures."
Apparently, some students noticed that there are civilians located in the disaster site. It was explained that these people are professional "people in need of rescue". They call themselves the "Help Us Company" or "HUC" for short. For the next stretch of the exam, we will be rescuing them from the field. We will be graded based on our rescue performance.
"So they've made a job out of that. Not bad." Inasa remarked. I chuckled at the thought. The frog-looking girl from UA nodded in agreement.
"We will start in ten minutes, so please use the restroom and such now." Mera-san ended.
"What do you think of that green-haired hero from UA, Yuri-chan?" Camie, who was just beside me, suddenly whispered to my ear.
"Huh? You mean Midoriya-kun? He's strong. I mean he passed the initial test and — " I looked at Camie and noticed that she was eyeing Midoriya in a different way. "Oh my gosh, don't tell me you're planning on flirting with him."
"Why not? He's cute?" She replied. "Why don't we go over to their side?" Camie pulled my arm.
I pulled her back instead. "He might get it the wrong way, Camie. Just stop."
"Stop what?" Mora-san appeared behind us. "Let's go over at UA side. I need to apologize about something." Our senpai said. Hearing these words, Camie skipped happily and winked at me. I just sighed in defeat.
"Uh. Shiketsu coming this way." I heard Kirishima said.
Bakugo, Shoto, Midoriya and the rest of the UA students glanced our way. I avoided eye contact with Shoto as I recall his awkward statement from earlier.
"Bakugo." Mora-san said approaching the spiky blonde.
"Huh?" Bakugo spoke without a care.
"Shishikura, the guy with the narrow eyes. Did he come after you?"
"Yeah. I knocked him out." The ash blonde smirked at our senior as he confidently uttered those words.
"As I thought." Mora-san nodded. "He probably acted in a rude way and offended you. He has a tendency to impose his own values on others. He probably went on a rampage, considering how famous you are."
Wow. Mora-senpai sure knows how to talk.
"I want to build a good relationship with UA." He continued. "I apologize". Mora-san bowed his head and left. He seemed off talking to UA like that but I knew he meant well. He is kinda odd-looking after all. I was about to follow him when I heard Camie teasing Midoriya in a disturbing way.
"See you later, Midoriya-kun." Camie said as she waved at him with a smile. She then walked away following Mora-san's trail. I stayed behind at UA's side as I noticed Uraraka's uncomfortable gaze at the two.
Weren't they close? Oh… Maybe something's going on between them...
I thought of clearing Camie's behavior with Uraraka so it wouldn't cause any misunderstanding. I took a deep breath and walked over to where she was.
"Uraraka-san? Am I right?" I smiled at the brown-haired girl.
"Uh, hi!" The girl was obviously startled as I approach her. "Call me Ochaco, please. You are Sorahiko-san right? Todoroki-kun's friend?"
"Yes." I gazed at the girl's frame. She looked fragile at first but I've seen her at the initial test. She's a good fighter. Looks can always be deceiving. "But Sorahiko-san sounded so formal. Just Yuriko is okay."
"Well then, Yuriko-chan! By the way…" Uraraka began to blush. "I caught a glimpse of you during the exam. You are so good at combat fighting. I wish I could get better at it. I mean... I had a bit of training during my internship and in our classes at UA but I know I still have so much to learn. Having this quirk alone won't be enough. I want to be stronger."
She has a point. My father thought the same way before. "That's really nice of you to say, Ochaco-chan! You know, we can train together if you like. I've learned some good moves from my grandfather. Maybe he can help both of us. We can schedule something if ever you're free."
"REALLY?" She held both of my hands. "Thank you Yuriko-chan! I knew you were such a good person! Now I know why Todoroki-kun was fond of you!"
"Fond? Of me?" I asked confused.
"Yeah! He told us that you are a good fighter. And the thing he said a while ago about keeping an eye on you."
Oh right. She heard that too. I started to blush.
I cleared my throat. "I guess he is. We're friends after all."
"Plus, you're really... pretty." Uraraka gazed at the floor looking self-conscious. "Are all girls from Shiketsu that pretty?"
As soon as Ochaco responded that way to me, I quickly thought that she might have felt jealous seeing Camie behave that way towards Midoriya. It was the right time to clear things out.
"All girls, even in other high schools, are pretty though. You are pretty too." I grinned. She stared at me for a while and smiled back in return. "By the way, Ochaco-chan. I'm sorry if Camie acted that way. I promise it didn't mean anything. I apologize if it caused any misunderstanding between you and Midoriya."
"WHAAAT? Deku and I?" She shouted a bit loud.
"Deku?" I asked with a puzzled expression on my face.
"I mean, Midoriya. Some of us from UA call him Deku." She began to explain.
"Oh, I see." I gazed at Midoriya-kun.
"But! Deku and I. There's nothing between us!" Ochaco said nervously waving her hands in the air.
"I thought you and Midoriya-kun are…" I whispered so only she can hear. "A couple."
"NOOOOO!" Ochaco's face began to blush furiously. "We.. we… we're just friends." And now she began to stutter.
"Oh! Haha! I'm sorry I thought of it that way! You seemed super close."
"Yeah, we kind of are but not on that level." Her face began to return to its normal color.
"But regardless, please know that Camie's just like that sometimes. He even flirts with Inasa. You know, that loud buzzed cut guy." I laughed out loud.
"Oh! The tall guy from earlier! I also thought you guys were a couple."
"You thought me and Inasa were a couple?" I laughed even louder. "That's hilarious. It's just that the both of us are really close with each other."
"Yuri." A voice so familiar broke me from my chortling. I froze for a minute and peeked behind me.
"Shoto?"
Ochaco looked at Shoto and then back at me. "Anyway, thank you Yuriko-chan for telling me that! And let's set a training session soon. I think Todoroki wants to have a word with you. See you later and good luck!" Ochaco waved us goodbye and left.
"Bye!" I waved back at her.
I turned to face Shoto and his gazed were fixed at me. I tried to maintain eye contact with him but I could seriously feel an uneasy tension between us.
"About what I said a while ago…" He began to talk.
"Oh, that?" I laughed timidly. I hope he won't notice. "Don't worry about it! I know you were just keeping an eye on me as a friend!" I laughed again and tapped his shoulders to assure him that it wasn't awkward at all.
I saw him looked relieved as I said those words. "I hope I didn't say anything that will make you uncomfortable."
"Me? Uncomfortable! Haha! It's okay! Midnight's hero costume was just really revealing. I would keep an eye on any girl who would dare wear such thing." I anxiously continued bursting in laughter. Please don't notice how awkward this is for me.
"Well, then. Good luck on the next exam." Shoto looked at me for a while and then turned his back walking away.
Well, that was weird. I thought he's gonna say something more important than that.
The bell rang signaling that the second leg of the test was about to start. After the announcer described the exercise scenario, the building where we were staying began to open as well, the same as the first one we were in. As it slowly collapsed, we found ourselves confined within shattered buildings, damaged roads and bare walls of structures completely stripped down.
"You should save many lives as you can. Well, then. START!" the announcer's voice rang over the enter site.
"Let's do this! Let's do this! Let's do this!" I heard Inasa-kun chant from behind me. This guy never runs out of energy. I was also filled with excitement as I heard him say those words. Rescue missions were one of my favorites during our trainings in school.
Mora-senpai gathered us together as he laid out his instructions for the rescue exercises. I saw Shoto and his classmates spread out looking for people to rescue.
Do they have a plan?
"Firstly, we should make a road and a helicopter landing area. Get out of the way." Mora-san began extending his hair around taking out any debris and large rocks out of the area.
"As expected of Mora-senpai! Amazing!" Inasa cheered with admiration.
"Yuriko-chan, begin setting up a first-aid station over that area. Inasa and the others will look for people to rescue."
"Yes, senpai!" We all said in unison.
I began to find a place a couple of distances away from the landing area. Using my quirk, I began to lift up rocks and metal in order to make an open field for the injured victims. Once I was done, I decided to look for Inasa to let him know where to bring the victims.
"Inasa Yoarashi, Shiketsu High, first year!" I heard Inasa shouting all the way from where I am. I think there's no need to look for him. "Hero name: Gale force! Rescue exercises pump me up! I'll do my best" His voice was even louder as I drew near him.
As I ran towards him, he was trying to move the injured people away from hazard. A couple of debris swinging in the air as well but not hurting the HUC he was rescuing.
That doesn't look bad.
Until I heard someone from HUC say, "It's still sloppy! I'll take off points!"
"WHAAT?" The buzzcut wailed in disappointment.
Oh. So, that's how they do the pointing system. The HUC evaluates our performance in the rescue mission. This is harder than I thought.
And then I heard Mora-san say, "Don't move a thing before assessing the safety and condition of the injured! It will only make things worse!"
"Oh, you're right! I'm sorry!" Inasa replied.
"Mora-senpai! Inasa-kun!" I said out loud. "I've set up the first-aid station. You may bring the injured victims over there. I've assigned some people to take care of them. I will let the other schools know."
"Finally, someone who's using their head." One rescued HUC said.
"Good job, Yuriko. Be on alert and check if the first-aid station needs more people."
"Yes, senpai! Do your best Inasa-kun! I'll be there if you need me!"
"Yes! Yu-chan!"
I ran around the disaster site letting others know of the evacuation station. Once there are enough people manning the area, I began searching for more individuals I can rescue.
This was my first time to see a rescue site so close from a real one. Unlike students from UA who had prior experiences with a villain, I wasn't really exposed to something as intense as this. All the while, I thought rescue missions were far easier than fighting a criminal. This day proved my assumption wrong. One mistake can risk a person's life. I just realized that I still have many things to learn. Sure, I was used to combat fighting and I had an advantage with my quirk, but the priority solely rely on how I keep civilians safe.
My every move was in check. I kept what Mora-san said in mind, plus the things I've learned in Shiketsu. My eyes flickered around me as I closely survey the environment. Little by little, I was rescuing more people and getting them back to safety. As I assisted a wounded elderly back to the first-aid station, I caught a glimpse of Midoriya holding a child in his arms.
"Midoriya-kun!" I waved my hands and called him.
"Sorahiko-chan?" Midoriya ran towards my direction and laid the child down on the ground. "So many already?" His eyes goggled at the scene before him. A number of injured civilians were being treated.
"You! Let me have a look at that child." Another student instructed Midoriya.
"Oh sure! He has a head wound. There's a lot of blood. But I don't think it was too deep. He's definitely alert enough to talk." Midoriya informed the student in detail.
I suddenly admired Midoriya's adeptness and dedication. Not only did he turned All Might's quirk his own, he knew how it was to be hero.
Midoriya fell in beside me. "Did you see more victims in other areas, Sorahiko-chan?" He asked.
"Uh yes. I've been at some places around the field. But I haven't really checked at the farther side. I hope there are more heroes there. I think I better go right now." I was about to turn my heel when Midoriya suddenly tugged my arm.
What is up with these boys being too touchy today?
"Wait, Sorahiko-chan! Let me look at your arm!" As soon as he examined it, I felt a sharp twinge in between my elbow and wrist.
"Ow!" I saw my arm bleeding. I inspected the wound and realized it was a cut on my forearm.
Midoriya hurriedly ripped an extra cloth from his hero costume. "Hey-" I began to talk but he abruptly cut me.
"No need to worry about my hero costume. I can have this fixed when I get back to UA. What's important right now is I tend to your wound." I slightly blushed hearing him say those words. "Do you know where you got this?" He began to wrap the cloth around my arm.
"I'm not sure. The last time I checked I was carefully securing all the victims who needed help. I must have not noticed that I cut myself." I suddenly looked at him for a long time until his gaze met mine. I looked away.
"Hopefully it isn't anything serious. Can you move your arm?"
I tried moving it. Fortunately, it wasn't badly wounded. "I think I'm okay. The cut was just exposed a while ago. But it's fine now." I touched my bandaged wound.
"That's good." Midoriya smiled at me.
"Thank you, Midoriya." I smiled back.
"Hey, no worries. Heroes should also look for one another."
I think All-Might really picked the right guy as his successor. I'm glad.
I was suddenly reminded that it was my grandpa Midoriya worked with during his internship before. I just didn't see him in person since I was away for a field training back in Shiketsu. It was the time when I came back that I learned about him. Even though grandfather often pretended not to remember Midoriya, I'm sure he has made a good impression. His training has really paid off.
"Sorahiko-chan?" Midoriya questioned.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry if this is too sudden now that we are in a middle of an exam. But, what exactly is your quirk?"
"Ah… This?" I looked at Midoriya and he slowly floated from the ground. I carefully let him down after a few seconds.
"Yes! Is it something like controlling people?"
"Well, yes. And controlling other stuff." I made a piece of debris float in the air and crushed it in an instant. "It's called telekinetic force manipulation. I can control people's movement and manipulate objects. I can also repel attack, like what I did to Bakugo earlier. Or if the need rises, make a forcefield to protect other people."
Midoriya's mouth was wide-opened. "R-r-r-really?! That is awesome!"
"But, it also has its downside. If I use all of them at once, I blackout. There's this instance that I lost my sight for a few minutes."
"Oh… I see! But you're awesome! No wonder you got a recommendation from UA."
"You are quite an awesome hero yourself, Midoriya. Gran Torino is impressed of your progress." I praised him instead, saying all the things my grandfather should have told him personally.
"Uh, uh, uh." Midoriya looked nervous. "You knew about that? It's embarrassing!"
"Hey! No need to be embarrassed. You did really well. Although my grandfather won't admit it, he was really impressed. He even said that you reminded him of All-Might." The words flowed smoothly from my lips as I gazed at his green orbs. As if shocked from what I just said, his eyes narrowed. His right hand balled up into fist and placed it at his chest.
"Sorahiko-chan, do you happen to-"
Midoriya couldn't finish his words as we both heard a loud explosion not far from where we are standing. We both stared at where the outburst came from.
"What? A terrorist attack?!" Midoriya exclaimed.
A short distance away from us, we saw a shade of black and white that caused the commotion. Midoriya quickly realised that it was part of the exam. The person responsible of the attack emerges from the thick smolder with a smirk on his face. As his face become more visible in our vision, our mouths were left in fear.
"Gang Orca?"
The pro-hero began to speak. "Dealing with enemies, can you really handle both situations?"
Rescuing innocent lives were already a pain. What more with a pro-hero acting like a villain to barge in on a situation like this? I felt an uneasy feeling rise from my gut. Gang Orca is strong, not to mention that he is currently the top 10 hero. I'm pretty sure he won't take it easy on us. I clenched my fist thinking of a strategy that will be of help in this condition.
"WHAT'S YOUR MOVE, HEROES?" Gang Orca added with his underlings behind him ready to attack the heroes in his sight. His squad of goons launched towards us. Realizing that an interruption was taking place in our area, some heroes came to us for assistance. I saw Inasa, Shoto and other students from UA rush at our direction. The villains started to strike all at once aimed at my direction. Lost in my thoughts and out of panic, I froze in my place. Before my eyes, I can see a number of men in black tight suits pounce at me at full tilt. It will consume all my energy if I use my forcefield now. What the hell, Yuri? Do something!
A/N: I know I've said this a couple of times already... But, I hope you like the new chapter ︎ And let me know what you guys think!
