Chapter 12: Knees weak, arms heavy

12.45 pm

U.A Academy

The tall proud school for heroes stood, its doors currently devoid of people. Then the banners welcoming students to the entrance exams fluttered slightly before a huge wind nearly sent it crashing down.

"I!" A blue streak came and announced its presence loudly as it came to a complete halt. "Am here!"

"Safely." All Might then placed the passenger that held onto dear life during the journey down from his back. Legs shaking and would've fallen face-first to the ground if he hadn't intervened. "Steady there, no need to feel worried now!"

"Thank you, I must go now for the written exams!" A quick bow and then going into a run into the school gate, it quickly faltered when three other staff greeted the arrival.

"Ah, you arrived!" Nezu smiled with a raised paw, flanked by Eraserhead and Hound Dog. The two of them bored holes with their gaze and caused the late entrant to take a step back unwillingly.

"Thank you All Might." The principal bowed his head to All Might as the latter gave a thumbs up. "Would you like some tea?"

"No problem! But I'll have to decline, duty calls!" All Might turned the offer but that's only for show. After all, the news of the number one hero that'll be slated for teaching in UA has yet to be made official.

"Oh-uh, can I still take the exams?" A timid voice interrupted as they glanced from All Might disappearing figure and then to Nezu.

"You're late." Hound Dog deadpanned with a glare as Eraserhead rubbed the back of his head.

That took the winds out of the late entrant, hanging their head low with shoulders drooping.

"I'm sure you have a good reason, come in, and let's talk first," Nezu suggested with a smile, inviting them inside. An offer that was quickly taken as they accompanied Nezu.

"So, why were you late?" He patiently asked, curious as all details given to him regarding Tatewaki Kurono indicated that he was never tardy.

"...Well, you see." Kurono rubbed the back of his neck.

One hour ago

11.40 AM

The wind blew merrily in the air, carrying birds and leaves with its passing presence. Giving a cool breeze for the people walking in the busy streets.

Some, however, are using it as if their lives depend on it even if the flight is taking place a few feet off the ground.

A boy with pink hair, had two black wings sprouting from his back and using it to glide forward. Not at a breakneck speed but equivalent to someone running. Luckily, the neighborhood street was still free of people and the lack of police officers around had him take the chance.

Tatewaki Kurono, currently sweating like he was in a sauna, snapped his foot outwards as a brief way to keep the speed up by kicking the ground once before tucking his legs upwards again.

It looked awkward but at this point, Kurono couldn't give less of a damn as he focused on constantly moving and checking for any pedestrians.

It would've been faster if we fly for real…Crona said off the cuff as they maintained their floating capabilities.

Yea, and get arrested or electrocuted. No thanks. Kurono shut it down quickly despite how sorely tempting the idea was. A lesson his father was more than willing to educate him on, especially flight requirement safety and minimum height.

The comedic pictures of people accidentally flying into cables or wires, while hilarious, turn to be less funny when his dad pointed out that those are actual cases that happened.

Crona also mentally winced at that memory, a blade, bullet, or even wall was something they probably could deal with. Electricity was another.

Still, they're making good time. If they continue at their speed, they can reach U.A within 15 minutes! 5 minutes before the set time!

So long no crotchety or stick up their ass cops are in their path…

They caught sight of a traffic light from afar, showing green light and cars passing. Pedestrians crowded and waited for the signal to cross.

Kurono and Crona both slammed the brakes down, legs extending outwards with their weight returning to its normal state. Allowing them to quickly halt in their place easily as they slide a few inches before stopping at the crosswalk.

His wings quickly folded together before going back inside his body, wincing at the movement but stoically keeping his expression neutral. It drew a few eyes as they wondered what he was doing but by then, the wings were gone.

Kurono tapped his fingers impatiently with the left hand, currently holding the right arm from habit. Despite it being twenty seconds, to them, it might as well have been hours.

Then the signal finally turned green and they readied themselves for another dash-

Only to have that plan come to a halt when an orange blur suddenly slammed down from the sky. Krumping the front of a car and shocking the driver, more so when the airbag deployed itself.

"I am the Great Tiger! And today, I'll make my debut as a villain! Starting with this!" The orange ball of fur revealed itself and stood to his full height before driving a fist downwards into the engine. The impact severed the front of the car.

It took a moment before everyone panicked, shouting and screaming as they ran. Serving to rouse Great Tiger into a booming laugh and throw his head back. "Hahaha! That's right! Run!"

All the while, Kurono felt like puking blood as his eyes widened at the appearance of a villain. The blood pressure within him shot upwards without his quirk powers.

Really? Really?! His jaw dropped Incredulously at the latest events unfolding in front of him. Left hand pulling at his hair in utter frustration and anger to the point tears formed.

First, he missed his stop, followed by a sinkhole opening, and now a villain attack?!

His eyes went to the back of the villain who's currently posturing around, an intense moment came to him as he wanted to rip the life out of him. Violently.

Crona dropped their bag in hand. Eyes changed in their intensity as blood flowed to their palms. Reciprocating Kurono's feelings as they begin to step forward.

"Stop." Kurono will slam downwards to the left side, pausing it mid-motion.

Crona tilted their head, did they not want to solve the problem?

"We'll just hide and run, a hero is going to be here soon anyways." Kurono coldly said and looked across the street from the sides. It was a t-junction, and if he acted like a panicky civilian, the villain won't notice and they can slip right across the street.

Crona nodded mutely at that but noticed something as Kurono was taking control of their legs and hurriedly ran across the street.

The driver is still trapped.

"What?" Kurono this time paid more attention, and true enough, the unlucky car still had the driver trapped inside and desperately trying to get out but wasn't able to.

Great Tiger had deigned to walk above it, denting the car further as the villain effortlessly lifted another car above his head. Sending the driver into a near panicked, pleading and hammering the doors to get out.

Kurono gnashed and ground his teeth, that knowledge changed everything.

How, how would he approach the situation?

That question remained unanswered as Great Tiger saw another target of opportunity, heaved the car in his hands, and threw it mightily towards his quarry.

Snapping towards where it'll land, Kurono and Crona's pupils grew in fear.

Children.

Three of them, one however had tripped while the other one had run to help her friend during the panic. Unaware of the large metallic car heading towards them.

Click.

Both Kurono and Crona didn't hesitate.

Clack.

Wings unfurled themselves as they crouched down, blood and muscle coiling, expanding, and gathering energy within. Like a spring pressed to its utmost limit.

At its apex, they exploded forward. Shooting themselves like a bullet.

The child with two hair buns at the side picked up her friend before spotting the car. Eyes widening in fear before looking at her friend, then wrapped her arms around and put herself between them.

Kurono and Crona's thoughts blazed at the speed of light to decide on the necessary course. The wind felt like a wall to him as they streaked closer. At the last moment, they somersaulted forward, both of their wings morphed into a singular wing.

Foot slammed into the ground, body weight increased alongside black blood solidifying itself. His wing covered and shielded himself but most importantly, the two children behind them.

The car slammed right to the wing, further burrowing Kurono's foot deep into the asphalt road. The impact rocked downwards, traveling down into his body, bones, and teeth.

Shrieking, denting, and crushed metal mixed with glass shattering filled the air before it rolled off his wing. The wreckage of the car suddenly flew to the sides before dropping like a sack of bricks to the ground as a blue and white blur zoomed past them.

"Hero Ingenium arrives on the scene!" Ingenium announced as smoke rose from the exhaust connected to his arms. The edge of it slowly cooled down from orange and back to the metallic hue.

"You okay?" He turned towards them, and the children behind Kurono.

"Y-yes, thank you!" Hope and joy came as the kids quickly picked themselves up but one of them had scrapped their knees, unable to stand properly.

The armored hero then turned his attention to Kurono giving a nod. "You did well, just leave it to me."

"There's a person still trapped in the car that the villain is standing on." Crona pointed to Ingenium with his fingers raised. "I'm not sure if I can deal with that…"

"Don't worry, I can." Ingenium cooly replied and gave a thumbs up. "Help me out and get the kids to safety, will you?"

A nod was all that Ingenium needed as he turned his attention to the villain.

"A hero?! You dare stand in the way of Great-" The villain howled, bringing their attention back as Kurono and Crona quickly retreated backward as Ingenium occupied Great Tiger's attention.

"I gotcha," Kurono said as Crona offered their hands to the injured girl. Easily carrying her with one arm as she put her arm around his neck. His other arm held the other girl, leading them as they moved to a safer distance.

The last girl joined them as they half-jogged and walked. Once they're far enough and behind cars for cover, Kurono knelt down and quickly looked at the kid's knee carefully.

"We'll need to wash it, it's going to be painful. Bear with it, alright?" Kurono said before the girl with two black-haired buns offered her bottle without any hesitation. "Thanks."

Washing the wound, tying it with a piece of his uniform that he hacked off. It wasn't serious but acted more as a placebo to keep her calm.

Looking at the fight, two of Ingenium's sidekicks joined the fray. Aiming to rescue the trapped driver first as Ingenium slid to the sides against Great Tiger leap, the latter howling and charging him down in a flurry of aggressive attacks.

With the heroes here, Kurono's eyes turned to the right side. The problem was under control, the villain was distracted, and he could leave without any problem.

Time to go, Crona. The moment Kurono finished that thought, he stood up…

Only to have two tiny hands grasp his arm and draw his attention to the girls, all three of them afraid and clinging to him tightly the moment he started to move.

"Do we need to run again?" The bravest of them said without any change to her expression, her wide eyes focused on him but her fingers were shaking.

Crona and Kurono both shared a look before his shoulders lowered.

"...no, I was just taking a look," Kurono said before directing their singular wing closer, providing a shade for them. "I'm not going anywhere."

"And that's why I stuck behind." Kurono finished his story as he sat in the principal office with a teacup in hand.

"Ah, quite the story, quite the story indeed," Nezu said as he took a sip from his teacup. Noting that Kurono had yet to take a single sip.

Next to Nezu was Eraserhead, hunched forwards and hands over one another. His tea remained untouched whereas Hound Dog remained standing and close to the small portable kettle a few feet away from their conversation.

"I know it sounds made up but-"

"I believe you." Nezu placed his teacup down and reassured Kurono. The two pro-heroes also shared the same sentiments.

It was far-fetched to hear that many strings of misfortune come upon Kurono in a single morning. For anyone normal, they might have called him a liar. Not so, however, for a pro-hero. That's mainly par for the course. After all, evidence and testament no doubt would clarify more of it.

But that's a topic for another time.

"But your late arrival aside, we have a slight issue with you and the exams placement."

Kurono's head tilted to the side and glanced downwards to his tea for a moment before looking back at his own. "Issue?"

"We suspect you and one of the participants, Himiko Toga, are colluding together in cheating in the exams." Eraserhead dropped the bomb.

Crack!

"Oh my," Nezu commented with a tinge of distress. That was his favorite set of teacups as well.

Hound Dog's ears twitched at the sound but remained in place, similar to Aizawa who maintained eye contact with Kurono, ignoring the split tea and damaged cup.

"...Sorry but come again?" Kurono's eyes twitched as he placed the teacup back onto its plate and on the table. Placing the broken porcelain handle to the side of it.

"During the exams, Himiko Toga took your appearance and maintained it until the exams were fully conducted." Nezu patiently explained to the latter. "At first, we thought it was mainly due to either limitation of her choice or that she can mimic physical strength-enhancing quirk."

But that's not what her quirk can do. Crona said, realizing where this was going. Much to Kurono's mounting frustration as he gritted his teeth and struggled to maintain a neutral expression. Veins were visible on his hands as he covered his face.

But it seems like he was forgetting something important in regards to Toga as well.

No, that's not important for now.

"Himiko Toga chose her time to put on and discard her disguise very carefully as well." Hound Dog added with a snort. "She also actively avoided the staff until I found her."

Toga, why? Kurono didn't know what he wanted to do, throttling her or himself first for allowing this to happen. Taking a deep breath, calming himself by bringing his hands together.

Right now, they need to resolve this issue. They can't let Toga's future be destroyed.

"Look, I know it looks like I asked her to sub in for me but I swear, that's not the case." He explained to Nezu, pleading even. "Besides, why on earth would I ask her to cheat, I'm stronger than her!"

"You underestimate just how many have tried cheating their way in over the years." Eraserhead drolled on. Not bothered or sympathetic to his side of the story and sighed.

"People tried to cheat to be heroes?" Crona took over briefly, taken aback by that nugget of information. Feet shuffling inwards and uncrossing his hands to his usual pose. That line of thought seemed so contradictory.

"Hnng. Grr-effort," Hound Dog commented before continuing in a string of lowly growls, grunts, and howls that were completely unintelligible by then.

"Haha! That's true." Nezu amusedly laughed at Hound Dog words, much to Kurono and Crona's perplexment. Sensing their confusion, Nezu extrapolated further. "Ah, if only they put the same effort into studying and actual heroics. Some of them would have passed."

"But I'm going off-topic." Clearing his throat, Nezu gestured with a raised paw. "While it's true we did suspect you, after clearing it up with Toga, and most of all, hearing your circumstances…"

Kurono and Crona both swallowed nervously, the latter even shifting their feet anxiously.

"We agreed that there's no foul play involved." Playfully, Nezu clapped both paws together.

All tension flowed from Kurono and Crona, collapsing into their seats wordlessly.

Thank god. The former profusely muttered inwardly and gave his gratitude even though he was not devout at all.

I can't deal with this. Crona followed suit in their thoughts and for once, Kurono agreed with that sentiment.

"But wait, then I can take the exams, right!?" Kurono realized that implication, shooting upwards, and spirits revived at that.

Eraserhead's movement at the side caught his attention, almost like he was waiting for this moment.

"About that, just because you're cleared doesn't mean you're completely free. After all, you did arrive late and by the rules, shouldn't even be allowed to take it." Eraserhead said as he sat straighter to face him before flashing a large grin and brushed his hair backward. "So, I'll be giving and overseeing your exams personally."

Kurono's blood went cold to the point his fingers shivered, despite knowing some important parts on Eraserhead, or Shouta Aizawa, the man himself still managed to get him to feel fear.

1.00 PM

U.A Examination hall.

Right on the dot, row after row of students flipped their papers and began the written examination portion. Despite the early exhaustion of the practicals, they're still expected to perform the written exam immediately.

Far away from the main halls, however, an empty classroom stood. This one houses an examinee too but one under a much more rigorous condition. All tables and chairs had been cleared save for one set.

Sitting at the front of the teacher's desk, Eraserhead listlessly observed his charge undergoing the exams. The latter of whom was busy at quickly writing and answering the questions, unphased by the fact that multiple observers close to him were watching his movement like a hawk.

Ectoplasm, pro-hero and math teacher for U.A students, had utilized his quirk and created four of his clones. They're then stationed at each table corner. Allowing them a full view of Kurono.

The real one was currently stationed in a different room alongside multiple screens. Information is fed to them via multiple camera bots set up in the room at different angles. Monitoring Kurono and accompanied by other smaller bots that often moved around to catch any other oddities.

"So far, he's not doing anything suspicious. Yet." Ectoplasm report to Eraserhead and his other clones.

Eraserhead barely acknowledged it, eyes focused on Kurono as the latter quickly started, scanning the question as his head tilted to the right slightly.

It looked habitual but one can never be too sure, which was why to see if it was the case, he'll have to up the pressure.

Kurono and Crona, meanwhile, were certainly feeling it.

He got his wish, he was sitting in the exam of U.A.

It was a second chance, a god-sent chance.

He was not wasting it, not again.

Browsing and quickly moving through the first few English questions easily. Then the second part stood out to them as they scrunch their faces.

It was...not easy for him but the sheer confusion and panic from Crona told him enough.

These weren't lower-secondary level questions, they're upper-secondary.

Flicking the paper down to the last two questions, Kurono's eyes widened.

College-level.

Really hard ones as well.

Even Kurono felt doubt building up as he read the questions.

You little fuc- Kurono eye twitched and face darkened from rushing blood to his head. Left-hand tense like iron, tendons, and veins showing prominently.

"You're getting too eager," Crona muttered through clenched teeth and shallow breath. Snapping Kurono's attention back to the questions, The latter held Kurono's left hand with the right despite fingers shaking.

"W-We can deal with it. Yea, we can deal with it, n-no problem." Crona assured nervously even as their eyes were spinning around from trying to comprehend some of the questions.

Kurono's lips tightened and thinned before tapping his fingers against his head. Calming themselves down and taking things from the start.

As the one who had the higher ounce of knowledge, it's up to him to take the reins this time.

Taking the exam questions paper, he unclipped the stapler from it roughly and set it aside. Separating the hard question to the left and moderate ones to the right. Pens now held in both hands readied and more than willing to use everything.

Usually, Kurono would often leave it to Crona since the latter lacked formal education. It was for his benefit so they'll learn and improve themselves.

But If U.A is throwing level questions, that changes things. After all, what do they need to fear when he's a university graduate?

He might be out of practice and it wasn't that fancy of a university but those are semantics.

Click.

Crona also determinedly looked at the questions, grit themselves, and began answering them to the best of their abilities. This was for the sake of helping others and helping Kurono achieve his goal.

So for that, Crona paid full attention to answering the questions.

Clack.

Gears turned and grind.

Together, as one.

Ambidextrous? Ectoplasm pressed his fingers against his lips, eyes focused on the screen. The examinee was actively moving his arms, pens in both hands.

From the way Kurono held himself, he expected them to be right-handed.

"Hmm." Humming, he shifted to the other angle of cameras, aside from the initial outburst of movement. There hadn't been any other tells of cheating.

That disqualifies some of the staff's speculations. Ectoplasm ears caught footfalls before the door opened.

"No problems so far?"

"No," Ectoplasm muttered back as Nezu stood to the side. "How's the other?"

"She's at her seat, under observation from Midnight." A curt reply from the principal had the latter looking upwards to the camera with a smile. "But Eraserhead is thorough, the recommended student backup exam questions turned out handy."

"I took a look at the questions, they're quite difficult." Ectoplasm commented in a low voice, eyes narrowed through his mask. The sound of his peg leg clacked against the floor once as he turned around to Nezu. "This is...unfair."

"Aye, it is," Nezu replied. "Aizawa however said he'll handle this matter personally, and I'm inclined to agree on this one."

"Poor decision of choices and circumstances?" Ectoplasm can only shake his head at that before returning to the screen with a wave of his hand. "Besides being able to use a pen in both hands. There's nothing noteworthy."

"Both hands?" Nezu raised an eyebrow, as much as an eyebrow that white mice with a quirk possess at that. Prompting Ectoplasm to swap to another camera angle from above Kurono, showing him writing with both hands.

"He's answering two questions at once instead of using it to write together."

Ectoplasm opened his mouth to say that wasn't it the same but slowly closed it back as he squinted his eyes.

True enough, two papers were being done at once and it was the essay part. Topping it off was also how smoothly the process was. Nary a hesitation or pause in their movements, practically second nature.

"Could you do that?"

"With practice." Nezu cheerily replied, tapping his chin. Chiyo hadn't told him that Kurono was capable of doing that.

4.00 PM

Kurono's throat felt parched, eyes strained and fingers shaking. Sweat poured down to his shoulders and clung to the back of his neck. Head lolled backward, taking a forced rest as their head felt it was going to split apart.

Crona likewise, was a stone-throw away from puking. Breath was running ragged and similarly, their arm sagged freely to rest.

T-Two, just two more. Kurono said, blinking blurrily, and pulled up his bottle to the side. Opened and drank its content in big gulps. Not caring when some spills over his mouth in his haste.

"Don't worry, you got time." Ectoplasm assured them gently.

Nodding back with a gurgled and weak thumbs-up gesture, Kurono, and Crona's thoughts blanked themselves out in favor of resting.

It felt like everything was just drained out of them, as if he had just been through the wringer with Ojiro, Toga, and capping it off with a full spar with his dad at the end.

Maybe that was why. The entire day was just one thing after another. That, or they missed lunch.

The lunch, definitely the lunch. In Kurono's humble opinion.

Looking at the clock that hung high, it had been fifteen minutes.

"Alright, back in the saddle-" Kurono said to Crona mentally, getting them back to the exams before realizing something was off.

Hmm? Crona felt the same as they held their pen and directed their head to the left.

Then it hit them, the left arm. Hanging limply. An effort to move it only bore sluggish movement

Move, damn it, move! Kurono forced it and managed to raise it to the table level but a throbbing pain from his head disrupted his concentration, making it slam down onto the table like a brick.

"Ow!" Kurono hissed as pinpricks of pain exploded to a burning sensation that comes after a hard exercise or physical labor.

"Are you alright?" Ectoplasm quickly checked on them. "Is there something wrong?"

That can't be, he always recovered quickly. Why now? Why isn't it working this time? It's like it's been stopped completely-

That's when it hit him as he quickly looked upwards, he hadn't been paying attention at all to Aizawa but the latter looked like he's glaring at him.

Of course.

Crona, pop some blood.

Oh-Uh, what shape? Crona tilted his head to the sides at this sudden change of topic.

Candy.

Okay.

Crona's hands rose and stayed there, barely a thought and will come but nothing happened. Each moment passed only adds to Crona growing confusion as they stare at the right hand.

This never happened before. Crona started to put more will and effort into it, opening and closing their hands several times.

"We can suspend the exam if you're not feeling well-" Ecto finally said after observing Kurono's peculiar behavior before being interrupted.

"It's not working. It's not forming at all." Crona panicked as he looked at his hands. What was going on?

Ectoplasm kept a stiff lip underneath his mask. "And why would you use your quirk?"

"To recover myself. Did you do something?" Kurono looked at Ectoplasm first before Aizawa, the latter sitting upright before closing his eyes. Took out a small bottle of teardrops and squeezed some to his eye nonchalantly.

Belatedly, he hadn't realized just how long he had been under observation from Aizawa's quirk. Was he doing it since the start of the exam?

"Hmph, you're still under suspicion. Don't forget that. I'm leaving things up to you, Ectoplasm."

"Very well."

That just confirms it as Kurono feigned ignorance. It didn't answer the soreness though.

Come to think of it, was the stiffness in his arms due to him overusing his quirk, pushing the muscles to their limits by tensing up the whole time?

That certainly took the wind out of his sail as It took precious time to recover. Time which he doesn't have. Crona can answer half of it but the latter half is beyond them.

I-I can try! Crona answered nervously as the latter redoubled his efforts in the math exam portion.

Well, at least try to fill up the equation part fully. At least we'll get some points from it.

Advice in mind, Crona faced the maths portion alone for now. Leaving Kurono to wrack his brains while recovering. Eyes briefly glanced at the clock, half an hour left.

Too little time. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, what was he supposed at this point, grow another arm?

"That's it!" Crona shouted at that line of thought, much to everyone's surprise as the latter even stood up at that.

"Yes?" Ectoplasm clones warily circled him but Crona quickly addressed Aizawa instead. " ? Is it possible for me to use my quirk? It's nothing to do with cheating."

"...What do you plan to do?"

"This." Crona gestured by raising his left shoulder before blood gathered, and rushed outwards from the back. It formed to its typical black wing before it shrank into a smaller form.

Wings slowly transformed, the edges coming together into small digits until it resembled an arm. Then once it was done, Crona released their concentration and surrendered control of it to Kurono.

It jerked and straightened into a jab, nearly hitting one of Ectoplasm's clones if he hadn't sidestepped it. Then Kurono gingerly and apprehensively tested by wiggling the fingers.

The sensation was dull, shaky even, fingers twitched and shivered but an overwhelming sense of nostalgia came.

The arm was his, there was no need for them to match one another. Something they had forced themselves upon for fourteen years even on the most basic action.

Chuckling and gasping in joy as he looked at his arm. Almost marveling from the simple sensation that it was his alone to control independently. Small tears formed at the sides of their left eye.

"Twenty-five minutes left." Aizawa reminded them sharply, snapping them back to reality as Crona hurriedly sat back down to focus on the test.

Click.

This time, however, the arm formed from their blood joined Crona as they lifted the pen with ease and continued writing. Spirits of exhilaration, eagerness, and motivation came in drove, further lifting Crona's own.

Clack.

The sensation of their heart pumping faster and distant echoes of grinding noise returned. Barely faint at the edges of their ear but it was there.

This time, it sounded more like music.

6.00 PM

Finally,

"Pens down." Aizawa stood up from his seat, walked over, and picked up the examination papers from his charge. He looked through the papers, giving it a brief check before casually dropping a crucial detail.

"By the way, if you failed this paper. The offer to resit still stands."

"Wait, what?" Kurono muttered with a blur, unable to process his words at all.

"You get a resit. Since you went through extenuating circumstances, it would've been unfair if you had sat in our regular exams."

"...Then what the hell did I just go through?"

"An exam hosted by Eraserhead, the other U.A entrance exam for late kids." Grinning as he waved the exam paper. "One that you gave your best at."

A moment of silence hung between them as Ectoplasm also shared a similar confused expression before widening in realization. The former, however, still in their seat and splayed in it, didn't.

"Yea, that's illegal." Weakly, Kurono retorted.

"Plausible deniability you mean," Aizawa replied as he made his exit, stopping just before the door as he turned around. "We needed to be sure you weren't cheating."

"And you splendidly showed that you did not!" The doors were thrown open, revealing Nezu behind it, with hands raised. "Wouldn't you agree, Ectoplasm?"

"Well, aside from his brief quirk usage, yes." Ectoplasm cleared his throat when the attention was focused on him, Aizawa taking this opportunity to leave without a word. "He's shown no evidence of cheating or colluding."

"With that, both you and Toga are cleared from suspicion!" Nezu followed with a clap of his hands before bowing towards Kurono. "I apologize you had to go through so much trouble for this."

"...You don't need to." Kurono turned away, his third arm rubbing the back of his head in response to his flustering emotion. "If anything, I should be thanking you for being so lenient with me. Any other schools wouldn't go this far."

"To ignore students' plight, even one of them would be remiss of me."

"You do this for everyone?"

"Of course, as you said, any other school wouldn't go this far. But we're U.A. Going above and beyond is our motto." Nezu proudly said.

"Plus Ultra?" Kurono muttered, saying those words felt corny as heck.

"Plus Ultra!"

"I like it." Crona smiled at that before covering his mouth immediately at the slip of control. Coughing to mask it, both of them agreed on one course of action and bowed together to Nezu. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Nezu accepted with a bow of his own before gesturing for him to go. "I'm sure your friends must be worried, go meet them."

"Ok! We will." Kurono replied as they quickly left, their phone returned and opened it, getting a shock of their life as they exited the room. "80 missed calls?!"

Nezu chuckled at that, having briefly interviewed Himiko Toga. Recalling some keypoint during that brief talk.

Hours earlier

Principal Office

The air in the principal office was tense as Hound Dog alongside Eraserhead stood outside the door, feeling annoyed as they're dragged suddenly for an impromptu manhunt. Finding their quarry didn't take long but doing so while not attracting attention proved an additional challenge.

Granted, the girl was much more slippery than he initially thought but the moment Hound Dog got her scent, it was a matter of time.

While the two stood outside, Nezu faced Toga with a neutral expression. Only simply studying her calmly as a Japanese-style teacup sat in front of her.

Toga didn't show any outward sign of panic at all, only looking around her surroundings and sipping the cup. Or at least, pretending to do so. The volume of liquid hadn't decreased at all, so at most, she's just wetting her lips.

Reading her details, including some about her fascination with blood, alongside the long quirk therapist session. Something that stems from her quirk.

Transform, she called it. Like its name, she can take the appearance of whoever she chooses. The problem lies with the requirements, blood.

Sipping his tea, Nezu can make an educated guess about the problem that comes from it. Alongside the societal norm and repulsiveness of certain subjects.

"Do you know why you're here?" He began, breaking the silence as Toga placed her tea back on the table.

"No." Shaking her head, confused and puzzled as she tilted her head to the side. "Is there something wrong?"

"You disguise yourself as your acquaintance, Tatewaki Kurono, during the exams."

Without missing a beat, she raised a finger and pressed it against her cheek. "And?"

"Some of the staff are wondering why."

"Because he's strong!" Toga smiled like a doll as she pumped her fist. "And cute too!"

"I see, but your quirk doesn't extend beyond physical appearance, don't they? I'm curious to know why you still chose that form. If anything, your athletic ability alone should've sufficed."

"Ah, it's simple. When I take his appearance, like, It gets my mind all focused!" She explained, scrunching her face to a more serious appearance in an instant. "We probably can handle it."

Quick as it came, Toga changed back to her jovial tone. "Totally the same, right?"

"Haha, I'm sure it is." Nezu humored her, he had never met Kurono face to face before. "You respect him, do you?"

"Yup!"

"So why do something that can potentially drag not only yourself but Kurono as well through a scandal?"

Toga's smile tightened at those words but she maintained her looks"...I don't follow."

"You're a person that deeply cares for him, and no doubt, he cares for you since you look up to him so much." Nezu patiently explained before getting to the heart of the matter. "Your action won't reflect well if they're presumed to be aiding him, especially when he's not here. Worse, they may think you're both involved together."

"And there's no proof of that, ain't it?" Toga's tone changed immediately, dropping her sweet smile as she looked at him intensely. "With my quirk, I don't have many choices to impersonate, and with the test...It's useless."

"True," Nezu nodded, familiar with their test limitations and the downside that comes with it. "The test does have the downside of more subtle quirks not showcasing their full talents. Yet chances to go into the hero course are still plentiful."

"However, it's a different matter if one is suspected to be colluding together."

"There's no proof for that." She replied defensively.

"Indeed, but unfortunately, the image of a hero can easily be affected. Gang Orca, despite his often regular social events to help teach children to swim, aquatic and environmental preservation, is still voted highly on the hero that looks like villain list "

Toga's eyes twitched at that, toes curled inwards tightly as she struggled to maintain a calm demeanor.

Nezu on the other hand kept about his toes in dealing with the youth. She knew this was one possibility that'll happen and already made preparations to skirt around it.

This would not do.

"If that's the case, allow me to dispense myself from being the principal of U.A, and talk to you as simply Nezu."

"You're smart and capable, your performance alone showed us that. This is why I genuinely wish to help you and Kurono from getting any misguided or construed views from staff and students alike."

Toga's face muscles and eyes widened as she leaned forward slightly. Those words...are sincere.

She was expecting reprimanding, harshness, and rejection. Yet it was met with kindness, understanding, and sincerity.

Why couldn't others do that for Kurono?

Biting her lips but not enough to draw blood, Toga finally spoke out true.. "Because Kuro is my hero, and I want to help him to become one."

That finally gave more insight to Nezu regarding Himiko Toga, allowing him to piece some of the missing puzzles that he had read from her files.

Why would she take such a reckless move that can endanger her future?

The answer was simple as it was straightforward.

After hearing such an honest and heartfelt answer. It assuages his concern, and after Kurono's test, further solidified his decision.

Although it concerned him with how focused she was entirely on Kurono, perhaps too much. In this case, if the two were accepted, he'll have to do much to help both.

Heading back to his office, he stopped in his tracks. Recalling one particular sentence spoken from Kurono at the end.

We?

A.N : Alright, the entrance exams are done. The next chapter is going to be SOL and then into the class.