Failure was never an option. This, she knows.
Rin Kirigaya knows it from her bones. Much like how she knows pain, knows neglect, and knows the grief of losing something she never had. Even though loss is the price of love, one she'll pay again and again andagain.
Rin's awake before her alarm rings. She puts her phone in silent, getting ready in haste. Today isthe day, after all. The Saints Out Shining Orphanage is a complete hour away from Yueei, and she couldn't afford to be late.
"Ree-san!" A tiny voice calls out from down the hall, breaking the stillness of the early morning.
Rin pauses, her fingers tightening on the straps of her backpack. She knows who it is before she even turns around.
A small girl, no older than six, comes barreling down the hallway, her bedhead sticking out in every direction. Her mismatched socks barely cling to her feet as she skids to a stop in front of Rin, wide eyes filled with excitement.
"Good morning, Haruka," Rin says softly, her voice just above a whisper. She kneels down to the child's level, smoothing out her frizzy hair. "What are you doing up so early? You should still be in bed."
Haruka shakes her head vigorously, clutching the edge of Rin's shirt. "I wanted to see you before you left! You're going to Yueei today, right? The hero school?"
Rin hesitates for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, today's the big day."
Haruka's eyes sparkle with awe. "Will you be a hero, Ree-san? Like All Might?"
The question catches Rin off guard, though she keeps her expression steady. A hero. The word feels heavy, laden with expectations she's not sure she can meet. She had always told herself that she'd become somethingmore, more than what anyone bothered to think of her, but–
"I'll try," Rin finally says, brushing a strand of hair behind Haruka's ear. "But I have to go now. It's a long trip, and I don't want to be late."
Haruka lets go of her shirt reluctantly, her face falling slightly. "Okay... but you'll come back, right? You'll visit us?"
Chuckling, Rin shook her head. "Today's the exam day, Haruka-chan. I'm not going off to become a hero right away." If only it were that easy.
She stands and gives the little girl a small smile before turning toward the door. The other children are still asleep, the staff barely stirring. Rin slips out of the orphanage quietly, the cold morning air biting at her skin as she steps outside.
Saints Out Shining Orphanage—what a name, Rin thinks as she walks down the dimly lit street. A place that claimed to raise heroes, yet the children inside were barely cared for. But the Saints didn't shine for everyone. Some were left in the dark, forgotten. Like her.
Rin quickens her pace, her mind on the journey ahead. She'd wager that most students in Yueei had never known what it was like to be abandoned. They didn't understand the weight of surviving alone. But that didn't matter. She would make them see.
Failure is not an option. Not for her.
And it wasn't going to start today.
Rin stepped off the train, her nerves threatening to get the best of her as she approached the towering gates of U.A. High. The sight of the grand building, where so many hopefuls would soon become heroes, brought a lump to her throat. The school loomed over the city like a fortress of hope, a symbol of everything she wanted to achieve—but also of everything she could lose.
There were other students present, of course, with a plethora of quirks– mutations, emitters, and transformations. A good number were already using their quirks in practice, probably from nerves.
Rin felt a familiar twinge in her stomach as she watched the other students casually display their quirks. Some showed off their fire abilities, others sent small bursts of electricity between their fingers, and a few had strange animalistic features—wings, tails, claws. The air was filled with energy, tension, and anticipation. For many of them, using their quirks seemed as natural as breathing, and it made her painfully aware of her own hesitation.
Rin's quirk,Manilecule, emitted a soft purple pulse on her hand, forming a solid disk as she looked at it. It wasn't much—the biggest disk she could produce was just large enough to cover her body as a shield—but it had potential. Years of self-study had made her realize that her quirk was more complex than she initially thought. She wasn't simply generating shields from nowhere. She was manipulating molecules, pulling them together and creating solid objects by bonding the atoms in the air and ground around her.
When she was younger, Rin thought her quirk was limited to just defense, a simple shield she could throw up to protect herself or others. Little Rin, with her bright hazel eyes and boundless optimism, had called itShield—a straightforward name for what she assumed was a straightforward power. But as she grew older, as her understanding of chemistry and physics deepened, Rin began to understand the true intricacies of her quirk.
It wasn't justShield. She was rearranging molecular structures at a basic level, bonding atoms together to create temporary constructs, though the migraines that came with prolonged use of her quirk served as a reminder of its complexity—and its limits. She still had a long way to go before she could fully harness it. But one thing was clear:Manileculewas no ordinary quirk.
Rin's hand pulsed again, the purple hue intensifying for a moment before the disk wavered. She dispelled it with a sigh, rubbing her temple as the faint signs of a migraine started to creep in. She could feel the mental strain building.
You need to control this better,she told herself. If she was going to succeed at U.A., she needed to push her limits while keeping herself in check.
Busy inside her own head, Rin didn't see the cracked piece of pavement sticking out in front of her. Her thoughts were still swirling between the pain of her fading migraine and the adrenaline of the upcoming exam, so she didn't notice the uneven ground until it was too late.
She was about to trip—
But instead, Rin found herself momentarily suspended in midair, as if gravity had suddenly lost its hold on her. For a second, she blinked, confused, before a sharp voice rang out:
"Release!"
In an instant, she was slammed back down onto the pavement, her knees hitting the ground with a harsh thud. Grimacing, she braced herself on her arms, feeling the impact reverberate through her body.
Before she could fully gather her bearings, she heard a panicked yelp from behind.
"I'm so sorry—!"
Rin turned her head, still rubbing her sore arms, and saw a girl rushing toward her, her hands raised in apology. She was small and wide-eyed, clearly flustered. Rin's mind quickly pieced it together—this girl had used her quirk to momentarily levitate her and then let go too soon.
"I didn't mean to—oh no, are you okay? I thought you were going to fall, and I panicked, so I used my quirk without thinking—" The girl's words tumbled out in a rapid stream, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Rin shook her head slightly, standing up and brushing the dust off her knees. "It's fine. No harm done," she said, trying to muster a reassuring smile despite the ache in her legs. "Thanks for trying to help."
The girl gave her a sheepish look, still clearly nervous. "I should've been more careful… I didn't even think about how you'd land."
Rin waved off the apology, taking a deep breath. "Seriously, it's okay. What's your name?"
The girl looked up, blinking, then smiled shyly. "I'm Ochako Uraraka. I just… don't usually use my quirk on people."
"Kirigaya Rin," she introduced herself, rubbing her shoulder where she'd landed awkwardly. "Your quirk—what does it do exactly?"
"Oh!" Ochako perked up slightly. "It lets me manipulate the gravity around small objects and people. I can lift them up, make them float, but it doesn't last long– otherwise I start throwing up. I, um… haven't really practiced it on people that much, so it's a bit tricky."
Rin nodded. "It'll come with practice. You saved me from falling on my face, so that's something."
Ochako laughed nervously. "Well, at least I didn't drop you too hard."
The two shared a brief smile before Rin straightened, her mind refocusing on the exam.
"I should get going," Rin said, glancing toward the entrance. "But thanks again, Ochako-san. Goodluck."
Ochako smiled, eyes determined. "You too!"
Yueei looks even more impressive from the inside, if that were even possible. The sleek, towering walls of the entrance hall gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the massive windows, and the sheer size of the place was overwhelming. Everything about it exudes an aura of greatness, as if the very walls themselves held the weight of all the heroes who had passed through these halls before. Rin's breath caught in her throat as she took it all in.
Students milled about, their excitement palpable. Some were whispering in awe, others were already moving in groups, forming bonds and chatting about the upcoming entrance exam. There were a few who walked with the confidence of people who had known they were destined for this their whole lives, their heads held high and proud. It was clear that this school wasn't just a dream to them—it was their birthright.
Rin felt a small pang of uncertainty but quickly brushed it away.I made it here,she reminded herself.I could do this.She kept her head down, her nerves creeping higher with each step, but she reminded herself to breathe.
The buzzing of the crowd grew louder as students filed into the auditorium, gathering for what was likely the welcome assembly. Rin followed, feeling the weight of anticipation settle over her again. The vastness of the place, combined with the atmosphere of possibility, was almost overwhelming. But there was also a spark of something else—excitement. The idea that anything could happen here.
The written test was both easier and harder than Rin had expected. As she worked through the questions, she felt a strange mix of confidence and doubt. The essays had come naturally to her—she had always been good at articulating her thoughts on paper, especially when it came to topics like ethics and heroism. Writing about what it meant to be a hero, the importance of responsibility, and the weight of power had flowed from her mind almost effortlessly. She was sure those answers would impress the examiners. Math flowed over her easily, she loved her numbers.
But then came the science portion.
Rin had studied hard, pouring over textbooks and notes in the weeks leading up to the exam. She knew that understanding the science behind quirks, as well as the physics of hero work, was crucial. Yet, as she read the more complex questions, especially those related to advanced chemistry and molecular structures, her confidence wavered. Despite her quirk's connection to manipulating molecules, the technical details often slipped through her grasp.
She scribbled answers as best as she could, her mind racing to connect what she knew about chemistry with the more theoretical questions. But by the time she reached the final page, she couldn't help but feel that her responses were lacking. There were gaps in her understanding, and she knew it.
By the time the exam ended, Rin let out a quiet sigh, leaning back in her chair. She wasn't sure how she'd done. The essays felt strong, she's never worried about math in her life, but the sciences… she wasn't so sure. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she pushed it aside. There was no point in dwelling on it now.
As the proctors collected the exams, Rin glanced around the room. Some students looked completely at ease, like the test had been a breeze for them. Others wore the same tired expression she imagined she had. It was done now, and all she could do was wait for the results.
"WHAT'S UP YUEEI CANDIDATES?"
Rin jumped out of her musings, wincing. Dear God, it's Present Mic.
"Thanks for tunin' in to me, your school DJ! C'mon, lemme hear ya!"
OhGod. It was Rin's weakness! (one of many) Awkwardness!
Feeling sorry for Present Mic, Rin gave a weak clap, the sound echoing in the quiet auditorium. Slowly, other students followed her lead, and claps trickled in from around the room. By the looks of it, it made Present Mic's day. His grin stretched wide across his face as he beamed with pride, his usual energetic self magnified by the small gesture of support.
Rin smiled.
"Alriiiight!" Present Mic drawled, his voice booming once more. "Let's get to the main show! Let's talk about how the practical exam is going to go, okay?"
Instantly, Rin's back straightened, her attention fully locked onto the pro hero. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for. The practical exam was where she could prove herself, show that she belonged here with the future heroes of the world.
"The exam will take place in different battle centers, each of you will be assigned to one," Present Mic explained, the giant screen behind him lighting up with various maps and locations. "Your task? To take down as many villain robots as you can! Each type of robot is worth different points depending on their difficulty. But be careful, some of these bots are built to be tougher than others!"
Rin leaned forward in her seat, her fingers gripping the edge of the chair as she listened intently. She needed to know every detail—every possible advantage she could take to maximize her score. This wasn't just about brute force; it was about strategy, about knowing when to use her quirk and when to hold back.
"Excuse me sir!" Someone from the front shot up their hand. "I have a question."
"Hit me," Mic nodded.
"On the printout," the boy continued, his tone growing more intense as he held up the paper, "you've listedfourtypes of villains, not three."
A hush fell over the auditorium as the boy's voice carried through the space.
"With all due respect," he went on, adjusting his glasses once more, "if this is an error on official Yueei materials, it is shameful. We are exemplary students. We expect the best from Japan's most notable school."
The air around them tensed as murmurs rippled through the crowd, some students exchanging confused glances. Rin glanced down at her own printout, eyes scanning the page. Sure enough, there it was—four types of villain bots listed, but Present Mic had only talked about three. Still, she frowned, eyeing the boy warily. Yueei wasthebest school in Japan. It didn't make mistakes.
Present Mic blinked, clearly caught off guard by the pointed critique. For a brief moment, his usual exuberance faltered. But he quickly recovered, flashing a wide grin as he raised both hands in mock surrender.
"Whoa there, four-eyes! No need to go full throttle on me!" he said, his voice still carrying its usual energy. "You're right, therearefour types listed, but the fourth one's special." He pointed to the large screen behind him as it flickered, showing the image of a massive, towering robot. "That big guy right there? That's theZero Pointer. It's not worth any points, but you'll wanna keep your eyes peeled, 'cause if you get in its way, you're in for a world of hurt! Avoid it if you can, but… if you're feeling brave, you might just find another way to shine."
A mix of relief and tension filled the room. The students leaned back in their seats, some letting out quiet sighs, while others, like the boy who had asked the question, remained stiff and alert.
Rin felt a rush of understanding hit her.The Zero Pointer.It was a distraction, a trap for those too focused on brute force, but… if there was no point value to it, if someone got caught in its path, would stepping in to help score more than defeating a regular bot? Are there other ways to gain points? Or is the presence of the Zero Pointer wrecking havoc the trick in and of itself?
Her mind raced with possibilities, and she realized that this exam was more complex than just smashing through enemies. It was about being smart, thinking like a hero, and knowing when to fight and when to help.
The boy sat down with a sharp nod, seemingly satisfied with the answer, though his face remained serious.
Present Mic clapped his hands together. "And with that, we're all clear! Now, get ready to show us what you're made of out there! PLUS ULTRA!"
As the students began filing out of the auditorium to head to their assigned testing areas, Rin's mind raced. She knew her quirk had limitations. The migraines, the strain it caused on her body—but she also knew that if she could focus on strategy, she could make up for any weaknesses in her quirk.
"All applicants, please proceed to your designated battle centers. The practical exam will begin shortly."
The time had come.
Rin followed the crowd as they made their way to their respective testing grounds. The closer they got, the more her heart pounded in her chest. Battle Center E was a sprawling mock city, designed to simulate real-world environments where heroes would operate.
Rin stood at the starting line, her gaze fixed forward as she waited for the signal. Her heart raced, but she grounded herself by flicking her hands.
The countdown began.
"Three..."
She clenched her fists, feeling her quirk bristle beneath her skin.
"Two..."
Her breath steadied, her focus sharpening.
"One…"
Failure is not an option.
"START!"
The gates flung open, thus the chaos began.
Rin bolted forward, her legs carrying her into the mock city as students scattered in every direction, quirk energy lighting up the streets. She spotted her first target—a one-point villain bot crawling along the side of a building. Without hesitation, she summoned a purple disk from her hand, angled it just right, and with a swift flick of her wrist—slice—the bot crumbled to pieces.
Grinning, she barely had time to admire her handiwork. In a world filled with quirks, very rarely were people allowed to actually use them in public. But here, today, there were no restrictions—just the rush of adrenaline and the need to prove herself.
But there was no time to stop. She needed more points. Fast.
Rin weaved between buildings, dodging chunks of flying debris and the flashing lights of quirk attacks from other students. The city was alive with battle—robots towering over buildings, energy blasts cutting through the air. Larger villain bots loomed in the distance, but Rin knew better than to rush into them head-on. She had to be smart about it, pace herself, and conserve her strength for the right moment.
She made quick work of a few more one-pointers, her disks slicing through their metal exteriors with surgical precision. Each time she used her quirk, she could feel the strain slowly building in her head—a faint pressure that warned her not to overdo it. Her quirk was effective, but prolonged use would take a toll. She couldn't afford to waste energy on showmanship. Every move had to count.
After taking down her seventh two-pointer bot, Rin paused for a brief moment, catching her breath as she surveyed the battlefield. The damages around her were immense—robot parts littered the streets, smoke rising from the destroyed bots and buildings that had been used as collateral. It was like something out of a war zone.
Her mind wandered for a moment, wondering just how ruch Yueei must be able to afford such elaborate tests every year. The sheer destruction seemed absurd—were they rebuilding the city after every exam, or were there different locations for each one? Rin shook her head, pushing the thought aside.Focus.She needed to focus.
As she turned to move again, a loud rumble echoed through the mock city, shaking the ground beneath her feet. Students nearby gasped, their eyes widening as they looked toward the source of the sound.
The Zero Pointer.
Rin's heart skipped a beat as the massive, lumbering machine came into view. It towered over the buildings, its size and power dwarfing the other villain bots she had been fighting. Around her, students scrambled to get out of its path, knowing full well that it wasn't worth any points—and that getting too close could end their chances in the exam.
No points,Rin reminded herself.Don't waste time on it.
But as she began to turn away, something caught her eye. A girl—Ochako—was trapped under a pile of rubble, struggling to get free. She was too close to the Zero Pointer, and it was moving in her direction, its giant mechanical foot ready to crush everything in its path.
!
Rin hesitated for only a second. The logical part of her screamed to keep moving, to focus on the points and avoid unnecessary risks. Totally unnecessary! Yueei wouldn't put their prospective students in danger, right? But–
But the rest of her— the worrier, the concerned friend, the girl who wanted to be seen—knew what she had to do.
Without a second thought, she bolts toward Ochako Uraraka.
Okay, now what?
Shield!
But was it strong enough?
Rin grabbed Ochako's outstretched arm, her fingers trembling as the weight of the situation bore down on her. The ground beneath them quaked as the Zero Pointer drew closer, the mechanical behemoth's foot looming above, casting a dark shadow over them both.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!
Ignoring the searing pain shooting through her skull—her quirk always did this when she pushed it too far—Rin threw her other hand into the air. The familiar purple energy sparked to life, swirling above them before forming a dome-like shield, a solid barrier encasing them in a protective bubble.
But was it strong enough?
The migraine hit her almost instantly, sharp and unforgiving, like a hammer pounding inside her head.Come on, hold it together,she begged herself.Please, hold!
Her world slowed to a crawl as the Zero Pointer's foot came crashing down, but just as it was about to slam into her shield with an earth-shaking force, it stopped. The massive machine froze in place, and Rin blinked in confusion.
"TIME'S UP!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the loudspeakers, signaling the end of the exam.
Ochako's voice reached her, faint and panicked. "Rin! Are you okay?"
Rin let out a breathless laugh, her body sagging with relief. "Yeah," she said, barely believing it herself.Holy shit.She turned toward ochako, who was still pinned under the rubble, and sent her a wide grin. "That was—wait, you're still stuck!"
As if only just realizing it herself, ochako blinked in surprise, her cheeks flushing. "Oh! Yeah... Erm..."
Before either of them could react, a loud, booming voice interrupted the moment, making them both squeal in surprise. "ARE YOU GUYS ALRIGHT?!"
Rin whipped her head up and saw a tall boy flying above them, riding a gust of wind that whirled around him like a small tornado. His voice was as loud as the wind he was controlling, and he seemed to be practically beaming with energy.
"Here! Let me help you!" he shouted enthusiastically, clearly not fazed by the destruction around him.
Before Rin could say a word, the tornado expanded, swirling toward them. With a sudden whoosh, both she and ochako, along with the rubble, were lifted into the air. Rin's stomach dropped, and despite every ounce of dignity she could muster, she found herself letting out a very undignified scream.
"PUT ME DOWN!" she yelled, her voice cracking as she was swept up by the wind.
Beside her, ochako was also floating helplessly, but she seemed a bit more composed, blinking in surprise at their sudden ascent. "Oh, wow! We're flying!"
Rin, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as thrilled. (There totally weren't tears in her eyes) "I noticed!"
The boy, still grinning, guided them safely back to the ground, the tornado shrinking away as soon as their feet touched the pavement. "There you go! All safe and sound!" He landed beside them, dusting off his hands as if it was the most casual thing in the world.
ochako smiled at him, looking far more collected than Rin felt. "Thanks! That was really cool."
"Yeah... sure... thanks for the ride," Rin muttered, still catching her breath, her heart racing from the unexpected flight. She wasn't exactly fond of being swept up in tornadoes, but at least ochako werwasn't trapped under rubble anymore.
"No problem!" the boy beamed. "Glad to help out! Name's Yoarashi Inasa, by the way. Good luck with the rest of the day!" He waved at them before dashing off, leaving a small whirlwind in his wake as he hurried to assist other students.
As the adrenaline slowly ebbed from her veins, Rin groaned, rubbing her temples. "That... was not how I thought today was going to go."
Ochako chuckled softly, finally standing free from the rubble, thanks to Yoarashi's help. "Could've been worse," she offered with a smile. "At least we're not squashed."
Rin snorted, the absurdity of the situation finally hitting her. "You're right. I guess we survived."
The two girls made eye contact, and as if a spell had been cast, both of them suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. The kind of laughter that comes when the tension breaks after a moment of intense stress. The adrenaline, the chaos of the exam, the giant robots, the near-crushing moment—it all felt like something out of a ridiculous dream now.
Rin doubled over, clutching her stomach, her laugh uncontrollable. ochako wasn't much better, wiping tears from her eyes as she tried to calm down but kept getting swept back into the giggles.
"Can you—" Rin gasped between laughs. "Can you believe… we almost got flattened… and then just flew out of it like—like it was nothing?"
ochako nodded, struggling to catch her breath. "And you—you screaming to be put down!"
Rin groaned, laughing even harder. "Don't remind me! It wasn't my finest moment! I'm scared of heights!"
Rin was scared of a lot of things.
They stood there for a few minutes, their laughter echoing in the now quiet aftermath of the exam. Other students passed by, some giving them confused looks, but the two girls were too lost in the hilarity of the situation to care.
When the laughter finally subsided, the two of them were left leaning against each other for support, catching their breath, a shared bond formed in the chaos of the day.
"Well," Rin said, still grinning, "I don't know about you, but that was one hell of an entrance exam."
Ochako nodded, a tired but happy smile on her face. "Definitely unforgettable."
Rin may have been sore for the next three whole days, every muscle in her body protesting with every step she took. Her arms ached from using her quirk so much, her legs felt like jelly, and her head still throbbed from the overexertion. But despite the physical toll, her mood was on an entirely different level.
She floated through those days like she was walking on air, the memory of the exam replaying in her mind over and over again. But despite the lingering high, doubt gnawed at her.Did I pass? Was I disqualified?Her thoughts kept cycling, overanalyzing every moment.Should I have shielded ochako-san, even though the Zero Pointer stopped before it crushed her? What if they thought I wasted time? What if I failed?
The possibility sent her spiraling. She had no backup plan. No alternate path to follow if this didn't work out.
Plan A was becoming a pro-hero by getting into Yueei.
There was no Plan B.
Her entire future hinged on that exam. If she didn't make it, if all the pain and effort amounted to nothing, what would she do? She had no wealthy family to fall back on, no safety net waiting to catch her.What would the kids at the orphanage think? What about Haruka-chan? Would she see me as a failure too?
Rin clenched her fists as she walked home from the train station, her body still sore but her mind racing. Every step felt heavier as her thoughts spiraled deeper.Stop it,she told herself, trying to shake off the doubt.You did your best. That has to count for something, right?
But even as she tried to calm herself, the fear of rejection loomed larger. If she didn't get in, it wasn't just her dream that would be shattered—it was the one thing she was holding onto, the one thing she believed would give her life meaning.
Rin took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.Focus on what you can control,she reminded herself. She just had to wait.
It arrived exactly one week later.
A small envelope, stamped with the official Yueei. High emblem was left in the orphanage's mailbox that morning. Rin stood frozen for a moment, staring at it, her heart hammering in her chest. The envelope felt impossibly heavy in her hands. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for, dreading, obsessing over.
"Ree-san!" Yusuke's voice called out. "Reeeeee-san!"
"Later!" Rin yelled back, already spinning on her heel. She hurried upstairs, taking the steps two at a time—"No running!"—ignoring the distant reprimand from one of the caretakers. Her hands shook as she clutched the envelope to her chest, her pulse racing.I have to see. I have to know.
She slammed her bedroom door shut, her breath coming in shallow gasps, grateful that her roommate, Mei, wasn't around. The small room felt like it was closing in on her as she stared down at the envelope.
For a moment, she stood there, clutching the letter to her chest, her mind racing through a hundred scenarios. Slowly, she slid a trembling finger under the seal, tearing the envelope open. Inside, she found a small, familiar device. She recognized it immediately. The same device the ochako had talked about through text that same morning—the one that held their results.
Rin's heart pounded in her ears as she pressed the button on the device, her hands shaking.
The screen flickered to life, and her stomach twisted with nerves. Then, the room filled with Present Mic's booming voice.
"Yo, Rin Kirigaya! Congratulations! You did it!"
Her breath caught in her throat, her legs wobbling.Did it?
"You showed some real hero instincts out there!" Present Mic's voice continued, as animated as ever. "Not only did you rack up enough combat points to pass, but you also earned a big boost inrescue points! Jumping in to save your classmate from that Zero Pointer? That's what being a hero's all about!"
Rin could barely breathe. She had passed. As Present Mic's final words, "Welcome to Yueei High!" echoed in the now quiet room, the screen went dark, leaving Rin in stunned silence.
Her pulse pounded in her ears, her chest heaving as the weight of the moment settled in. She had done it. She had really done it.
Her eyes drifted down to the letter that had come with the device. In her haze of emotions, she hadn't noticed the fine print. There, printed neatly in bold letters, was something that made her heart leap even higher:
Welcome to Class I-A.
Her fingers trembled as she traced the letters, barely able to believe her eyes.
A small, disbelieving laugh escaped her lips. This was the class of heroes. The class that would be led by the best teachers and have the most challenging experiences. It was everything she had dreamed of, and everything she had feared she might not be worthy of.
With the letter clutched tightly in her hands, she let out a long, shaky breath and leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling with a dazed smile.
She's in.