"Uncle Paulie, am I doing it right?" A young, 12 year old Jason Mendoza stood before a scrawny, tall, snaggletoothed man. They stood in what appeared to be an amalgamation of a outdoor gym.
"Sure you are kid! You will be like your uncle Paulie in no time!" He said with a laugh, then followed up with a cough.
What Jason was beating up on was a punching bag, in which Jason beat on with good precision.
"You know, if you get good enough, I can introduce ya to the business!"
"Eh? But Papa doesn't want me in any business!"
"Bah! He's a coward! He doesn't know the gift of his meta ability! Don't worry about that, besides it'll be cool! Think about it, doing super top secret stuff!"
"That does sound cool..."
"I know right! Ricardo is already doing it." He said, pointing towards the approaching body of one Ricardo. You could see the small scars that was on his face, the small scowl that was ever present on his face. He was a delinquent, for sure.
"Jason! How are ya doing?" Ricardo his mean mug turning to smile.
"Good! I think I'm getting better with this!" He pumped his fist into the air as his older brother laughed.
"Good, good. Maybe you can join me in teaching these good for nothings how it's really done!" Ricardo said, his face returning to a scowl as he swung his baseball bat over his shoulder.
His quirk was basically a better version of their mothers, it was called Information Domain. He could project a field around him, and allows him to see the "information" of whatever was inside the field. He could see what made it up, how it was made, color, texture, smells, and much more. It made it handy with other people too, basically seeing someone inside out.
"Attaboy, Ricardo. Your father is always trying to stop you guys from being the best you can be, ya shouldn't let him do that!" Paulie said with a smirk.
Paulie, unbeknownst to the boys, is a rather unsavory person to begin with. The potential present in the two boys was noticed by the man, now effectively grooming them into a life of crime, in the guise of doing good. Drug dealer and drug abuser, this man was.
Ricardo's far gone, relishing in the action he got every day.
Soon enough, Jason would be sucked right into it.
~~~~~
"I told you not to go with him! It's not safe all the time, you know that!" Jorge scolded the two boys.
"What's the harm in learning to defend ourselves? You act like sitting on our asses would do anything!" Ricardo had developed a bit of a rebellious streak over the years, not finding any solace in the pizza business, opting to go with his Uncle.
"It isn't that! It is what it could lead to!"
"You wouldn't get it because all you do is sit here, you say it's not safe but your not doing anything to make it safe!"
"I know my lane, Ricardo, you should learn yours! You boys better quit it!" He said with a yell.
Ricardo scowled, storming off as the father shook his head. Jason couldn't exactly grasp it himself, he felt tied between the two.
"Jason, you must be careful, please..."
"..."
"Jason! Please, you could get hurt or worse... I cannot lose you... Any of you." Jorge said, running his hand through his matted hair.
"... Okay, Papa."
He didn't listen.
~~~~~
"Jorge, I am back! They left me off quite early today..." Julia entered the restaurant with a smile, greeted by a slightly solemn Jorge. Her smile died down slightly.
"Ricardo?"
"Sí..."
"Ah... I'll try to talk to him, okay?"
"Hmph, he's as stubborn as me... I doubt it could do much-"
They were interrupted when the door slammed opened, revealing a person dressed in a grey hoodie and sweatpants. Their head was covered by the hoodie they wore.
"Excuse me, we just closed... Sorry to break it to-"
"Too cold..."
"... Excuse me?"
The person lifted up their face, revealing a heavily scared man, with a crazed look in his eyes. His bloodshot eyes shook with each step he took closer towards them.
"Ah... Cold... Cold!"
"Sir, are you alright?" Julia's nurturing nature took the best of her, making her approach the man in worry. Jorge knew something was wrong, and activated his quirk...
"Julia, step back!" The man's eyes rolled back as flames poured out of his whole body.
"GRAAAHHH!" The man imploded in flames, engulfing the entire restaurant in flames. The flames spread about the whole block, as several explosions can be heard as several cars are affected.
Ricardo, on his way back to the pizza shop after taking a walk after the argument, he witnesses the smoke rising from the general direction of the restaurant making him bolt towards the premises in pure worry.
Jason, however, was affected by this. The man's quirk generated an explosion cabanple of rattling the whole entire building, making the already old building crumble. He got surrounded by the ceiling as he tried to make his way out, his lungs breathing in the smoke.
"Mama! Papa! Ricardo... What's going on?"
He managed to crawl out of the rubble, running with a slight limp to the front of the pizza place. The fire kissed at his skin, giving him markings of burns. He saw his father, over his... Mother! Y/n almost threw up. In fact, he did. His tears practically evaporated off his face.
Her face was... It looked like it almost melted. Her arms were burnt to ash as she hoarsely coughed.
"Mama... Mama, no, mama! Wait no no no no!" Jason's mind was in two, his loving mother and father, hurt this bad. Jorge tired the best he could, but there wasn't much he could do. Jorge's legs were pinned down by a steel beam, his upper torso covering his wife.
"Papa, crawl out, I'll get you out of here!
"Jason! The metal is hot-"
But he didn't listen, burning his hands as he tried to lift the steel beam. He almost blacked out due to the sheer pain. Luckily, it was enough so that he could crawl out. It wasn't a large beam, but big enough to where there would be some difficulty, and the boy was operating on hysteric strength right now. Jason collapsed, his head was swimming, breathing in the smoke and the burns got to him. However when he looked outside, some hope came through.
It was a hero group, each wearing a red, yellow, and blue suit. The three were a relatively unknown hero group, and we're thirsty to make it big.
"Where is he at? With a villain that powerful a quirk, we'd be famous as shit!" Red said.
"For sure, as long as the news gets here and everything, and we all get him, we'll shoot through the ratings!" Said Yellow.
Blue glanced at the people that were in the fire, ultimately his eyes landing on Jason's.
"We gotta take care of this villain. Hold on." He said, before advancing toward the villain in question.
Hold on...
Hold on!?
THERE WAS NO TIME TO HOLD ON! HIS MOTHER WAS DYING BY THE SECOND!
Such were the thoughts of young Jason, as he watched the heroes that were supposed to help them, rescue them, save them...
The sirens rang closer and closer as the father and son tried to get out as quickly as possible. Fire scalded the man's face, his legs hurt and sore as he carefully carried his wife. The fire billowed behind them, a rush of fire shooting at them, making them run out into the street in haste. Firetrucks and water quirk users were already on the scene, trying to douse the flames.
"Julia... We made it-" he paused, slowly looking down at his wife.
She wasn't moving.
She wasn't breathing.
He now looked down on his wife's corpse, who had died in his arms.
"NOOOOOO!!!"
Jorge felt anywhere for a pulse. Trying to shake her awake.
Jason was another story.
The whole entire world went silent as his laid up on the corpse of his mother. He didn't notice the ambulance take them away. He didn't notice his brother's cries. He didn't hear his father's words of reassurance.
Why didn't they help?
Why didn't the heroes help us?
Heroes...
Those heroes!?
They are supposed to be heroes!?
And then it all clicked for him. The rankings, the popularity, the large salaries they had.
It was greed. Pure greed, in Jason's eyes. It was just then, that his innocence was gone, replaced by absolute anger and rage.
Because the heroes never saved them.
~~~~~
I shot up on my bed, a slight coating of sweat covered by distressed body.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. Mama died in that fire...
There no point in thinking about that now. Its time that I replace these worthless clowns with my totally awesome skills!
When I get out of bed.
I looked to see Michi sitting on the windowsill of the room.
"You come here often?"
"Meow."
"I guessed as much."
I got up with a groan, cracking my back and making sure my prosthesis was alright. I should probably get a combat ready type soon...
Anyways, today was the day I get my hero license. I heard that some opportunities are given if one does not go to a hero school. It's more streamlined for placed like UA, so it could kinda suck if that was the only way to get one.
So what have I been doing for the past two days? Nothing much, except workout, go on walks, more working out, and catching up with today's events. It's been a while since I felt so free, so it felt quite good. I got myself ready in my typical workout gear, just in case, I know the test has some physical element. I also had to get my weapon, considered a support item, certified to for the test.
"Ah, let's do it, wish me luck, Michi!"
It sat there.
"Thanks, bub."
~~~~~
I stand within a small crowd of wannabes, I'm supposing. The numerous hero references and memorabilia littered the building. Man, I feel out of place. The place was kinda isolated too...
"Good morning, my name is Keiko Ryuga, and I'll be your proctor for the first test here. You have 30 questions, and you have 2 hours to complete the test. Please use your time accordingly." A monotone man said Infront of us. We were all seated in desks as the paper was handed out.
2 hours for 30 questions... These are probably some loaded ones too...
Fuck man.
"You may begin now!"
I opened the pamphlet to the first question...
Oh boy.
It's a free response test...
'Hypothetically speaking, if you were the holder of a fire based quirk, and you were trying to capture a villain with a mutant type quirk in a populated area, what do you do?'
Fuck... Let's see...
If I was that hero, I would have immediately called for some type of evacuation. If not possible, I would have to wrangle them away from anyone in danger. But I would have to consider what the mutant quirk is... Of it is for instance like Gang Orca's I could try them out without killing them... It also depends on what populated area too... Man this is too vague! The top priority is to limit the use of my quirk, as fire can spread no matter how powerful it is.
This is gonna be a long test...
~~~~~
"You may return your testing materials now. Please take a break before the next segment."
That test was a bit of a doozy... It questioned the morals, ethics, and overall knowledge of everyone that was taking it...
I breathed out of my nose harshly, taking in the sights as I seen people come into the massive room and hand out sheets, I'm guessing whether they passed or not...
I got mine to see that... I barely scraped by... I needed at least a 60% to past, and I got a 67... Damn.
But with that, a big portion was sent packing, leaving around half left. The same proctor came back once again.
"Those who have passed, congratulations. However, this is far from over as now you have to put that information," he reached into his pocket, pulling out a button, and then pressed it? Fuck it, I activated my quirk.
Ah... I see how it is...
The walls collapsed all around us as it then revealed a whole ass ruined city. I'm not exactly sure how they got that up in time...
"To the test! Now go out and use that information to rescue accordingly. If your gonna be out there as a hero, we need to know that you won't be a liability yourself!" The proctor guy finished.
I already done took off, heading towards a random location. I look to my left to see a tall sign that said "Evacuation Zone", so I'm guessing that's where we gotta put them.
Alright, let's do it!
"Help! Help! Please!" I notice a kid wandering around, bawling his eyes out. It was obvious that they were probably actors, but I gotta treat it as the real deal.
"Kid! Kid, are you ok?" I said, knelling down to his eye level.
"My... My momma is hurt!"
"Okay man, what's your name?"
"... Shinji..."
"Are you hurt?"
"No..."
"Okay, how about you lead me to your mother, and you guys can be safe together... I'll even walk with you!
~~~~~
[3rd Person POV]
Jason was a natural with dealing with children, a side effect of his natural charisma.
The kid, while still in his act, studied the man. All people present are from the HUC, also known as the Help Us Company, who specialize in putting themselves at risk and being saved.
'This guy comforted me, asked for my name, and is hiding me to my mother... So far so good... Let's see how he tackles this!'
They come across a small destroyed building, in which a woman is pinned down with both ankles underneath the cement.
Jason surveyed the area, before speaking towards the victim.
"Hello miss, what is your name?"
"Chihiro..." She said with a cough.
"I'm gonna try and get you out of here, okay Chihiro?" Jason looked at the situation. The cement seemed to pin her legs down, perhaps... He spots a big piece of rebar, rushing to grab it and puts it under the piece of metal.
"Okay, I don't see any other obstacles, so I'm gonna lift this piece of rock with this rebar, do you think you can climb?"
"Y-yes!"
Internally, the woman is showing totally different emotions.
'Not bad... Ensuring comfort seems to be the top of his priority... But I can definitely tell that his quirk isn't helpful with rescue efforts! Not bad at all...'
He then lifts the piece up with some effort, allowing Chihiro to crawl out towards her son.
"Can you to walk?"
"My ankles..."
"No problem!" He then takes her bridal carry style, much to her surprise, and walks along with the son towards the evacuation zone.
"I hope you guys get the help you need- here doc, I'll find more as I go on,so keep an eye out!" Jason says to the doctor that was nearby.
"Uh, thank you!"
'This guy... Is treating it like the real deal!'
Now, since this test is allocated more towards adults, the HUC isn't allowed to give any tips towards them, unlike the Provisional Exam, per se. Jason comes at this as if it was a real thing, he's had his experience with this type of situation.
He rushed out, finding a hero struggling to find someone. When he got closer he heard the voice of a child... But he didn't know where.
"You! What's your quirk?"
"Oh! Uh, I can create rope from my fingers! Uh, who are-"
"Perfect! The kid is over here, this place is echoy, so it would've been hard to find him this soon! He's under rubble, but isn't crushed, more like trapped, can you control the use of your rope!?"
"Yeah?-"
"Wrap your ropes around the specific pieces of rubble as I tell you, okay? Listen to me!"
"Okay!?" The hero wasn't exactly sure of it all, but with the way Jason carried himself, he seemed like he knew what he was talking about. He summoned the rope from his fingers, lashing out and grabbing the specific pieces of rubble.
"There... There... And there..."
It was until the boy was finally revealed, cowering in the rubble.
"Kid, grab my hand!" Jason brought his arm out, the kid hastily grabbed it as he pulled him up safely.
"What's your name, big guy?"
"... Chouso." He said with a cough. He must've breathed in some of the dust, Jason surmised.
"Are you hurt anywhere, Chouso?"
"My elbow hurts!" The boy brings up his left elbow, revealing a gnarly gash. Jason grimaced slightly as he brought the slightly dumbfounded hero out of his state.
"Rope guy, you got anything to clean this with? We're kinda far from the evacuation zone, so we should do what we can as quickly as possible!"
"I have this!" He said with a level of confidence. He pulls out a medkit, filled with a good amount of medical supplies.
"Bet. Stay still kid, this might hurt, but only for a moment. On me, okay!"
"O-okay!"
"3, 2, 1!" He applied the alcohol, much to the boy's apparent dismay. The cut was fake, but he was a pretty good actor. Jason hastily applied some gauze and wrapped it up in medical tape.
"Alright, we gotta get going, Chouso, Rope fella! Get on my back big guy!"
The boy jumps onto the man's back piggy back style as he races over towards the Evacuation Zone. The Rope guy was on look out for any other people in need. Meanwhile, little Chouso was conducting his own analysis...
'A level of cooperation, I see... If you had just picked away the rubble all willy nilly, it would've fallen and "crushed" me, taking you out of the exam for good! Not bad at all, I see... That was supposed to be hard too!'
Jason hands off the boy to the doctors as he then turns around, ready to get back into the fray.
"Let's go!"
~~~~~
The rest of the rescue portion went without a hitch, well, sort of.
Jason did the best he could, despite his flashes of frustration (more towards his fellow examinees).
Now, why was this man trying so hard? Jason isnt too complicated of a man, but yet he harbors a sense of responsibility for the people that need help.
No one was there for him, so he will be there for them.
He doesn't want a circumstance like his to happen again.
He doesn't want another "Jason Mendoza" to be born out of pain and anger.
Was he projecting? Yes he was.
'Man, did I get wiser or what?'
~~~~~
"Those who have passed will see their names on the board here!" The proctor pointed towards the large screen, showing the few names that were listed on there. And just like that, more then half the group failed.
They were currently in another area of the location, within another room.
Except for Jason, of course. He didn't necessarily care.
'Sheesh, not too bad!" He looked over his scores as he got a 89 out of 100.
He looked over the notes as they read:
He has shown cooperativeness and efficiency in regards to rescue. He carries a certain charisma with him as well, lightening the situation for the victims. However, the constant yelling at his fellow examinees makes for distress.
'It is what it is...' he thought remembering the test...
~~~~~
"Hold the fucking light still!" An irrate Jason yelled, much to the dismay of a female trainee. He was looking through a rather dark part of a collapsed building.
"I'm *hic* trying me best!" She said before... Crying.
"Try harder! And quit crying your distracting me!"
"AHHHH!"
~~~~~
"Now then!" The proctor spoke up. "Those who remain will be allowed one hour of break time, as we have one more segment to go."
Jason sighed, glancing around at the downtrodden wannabes, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Hey, uh, excuse me?"
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he turned around to see Rope Guy.
"Listen, uh, I just wanna thank you for making me look a little better out there. I wouldn't have thought that they were checking for cooperation too..." The guy nervously scratched his stubble.
"You pretty smart too, so uh, yeah..."
"... No problem?" Jason didn't exactly know what to say.
"Oh yeah! My name is Aoi Kento, but I wanna go by Whip Lash for my hero name, how about yours?"
"You can call me Jason Mendoza...?"
"Okay... Nice to meet you!" Aoi wasn't the best in communication, the 5'8 man was here to finally get himself registered in order to be a hero, but it is obviously he hasnt exactly goten over his awkwardness...
"Cool man..."
"... Okay enjoy your break!" As he then took off, much to Jason's confusion.
"Weird."
~~~~~
[Jason POV]
After getting something to eat from the small cafeteria they had, me and the rest of the small group reported to the main room after the hour.
"Now then, you have done well to reach this point, but now your combat prowess must be seen as well."
Okay, I can deal with this!
"A number of lower ranked pro heroes have volunteered to fight against the each of you, to see your strength, battle IQ, and key instincts. Each of you will have a pro hero to spar with. Do not kill, maim, or seriously injure each. If you look to your left-" I looked to see the left side of the wall literally fall down, revealing a bunch of heroes outside. What kind of place is this...
"You will see space enough for the sparring to commence. You are allowed to use your quirks... Um..." The guy paused, seemingly looking at a piece of paper.
Alright, lemme see who I'm gonna fight... I was about to look down on the sheet of paper I got when I got here, I was then interrupted.
"All are free to go towards their randomly assigned sparring partner, according to the sheets you have just gotten... Accept Jason Mendoza!"
Eh? What the fuck!?
That Aoi guy looked at me with a look of pity, as he went off to fight. What the hell is going on? The proctor ushered me over as he began to speak, seeming panicked.
"Look sir, if you knew who you're going against, I'd advise that you pick this up at a later date! You have potential, but I fear that you are one of the unlucky ones..."
"Well, who am I fighting?"
"Your fighting-"
"Me!"
I looked behind me to see the woman herself, Mirko, land behind me, her arms crossed with a smug smirk. The proctor looked especially nervous.
"When I heard you're in this test, I knew it was the perfect time to put you in your place!" She said with a snarly grin. Stalker...
"We, uh, couldn't exactly turn her away when she volunteered for this test... Are you sure-"
"Nah, I'll be fine. She may give me some trouble, though."
"But aren't you afraid? Wouldn't you lose?"
I smirked at the hero who was waiting impatiently. I began to walk to her, swirling around my weapon in my hands.
"Nah, I'd win!"
~~~~~
And that's a wrap! Thank you for reading this chapter! Sorry for the little delays here and there, it's gonna get pretty busy soon. I also kinda had to catch up with the MHA manga too... So I read it all in about 3ish days!
Anyways, I hope you guys liked this chapter! Buh bye ;)