Chapter Twenty-Seven : Final Exams Part One
"Still kinda wild they do rankings…" Clay murmured, staring at the midterm results posted on the wall. His name sat comfortably at number seventeen, but the concept still felt strange to him.
"That's Japan, man," Kirishima said with a grin, clapping Clay on the shoulder. "You don't share your scores with classmates in the States?"
"Oh, we sure do," Clay replied, his tone easy but his hand reflexively scratching Skipper's ears. It was a nervous habit he hadn't shaken. "Just pretty sure there's a law keepin' the school from postin' it up for everyone to see."
Kaminari, leaning against the wall, snorted. "Man, that's soft. How else are you supposed to know where you stack up?"
"Maybe by askin' your teacher instead of broadcastin' it like a sports bracket," Clay retorted, smirking. "Pretty sure some folks back home'd lose their minds over somethin' like this."
"Does it bother you, ribbit?" Tsuyu asked, her calm voice drawing Clay's attention. She stood a few feet away, her gaze flicking briefly to his name on the list before meeting his eyes.
Clay thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Nah, not really. I mean, I'd like it if I wasn't in the bottom five. I've been graded on worse things. Bench press. Shooting. Poker, once. Just feels a little weird to see it up there for everyone, is all."
Kirishima laughed, nudging Clay with an elbow. "You're ranked higher than me, man. Seventeen's solid!"
"Yeah, what're you even complaining about?" Kaminari chimed in, pointing to his own spot at twenty-one. "I'd kill for seventeen!"
Clay noticed Mina's narrowed eyes darting between the rankings, and it didn't take much to figure out which three unlucky souls had scored worse than him. Even so, seventeen didn't feel like much of an accomplishment.
"I think I'd have to do better if I wanna make it to that trainin' camp I keep hearin' about," he said thoughtfully.
"That's the thing you're excited about?" Mina asked, her tone incredulous. Her teeth were bared in a way that made her look more like a rabid dog than a classmate. "Not what you're doing for the two weeks off afterwards?"
"What's she talking about?" Sero chimed in, feigning innocence despite his smug expression—probably because he'd ranked fifteen.
"Guys," Clay muttered, cutting them off before they could escalate. "You're talkin' like Tsu's not standin' right here," he said, half-raising a hand to gesture toward his girlfriend.
"Ribbit," Tsuyu responded simply, her calm demeanor unshaken.
Clay scratched the back of his neck, feeling the attention shift toward him. "She's uh… takin' a trip to Deercrown for a week," he mumbled, his voice softer.
"A trip to Deercrown?" Sero's eyebrows shot up, his incredulous expression turning to a mischievous grin. "You're bringing her home, cowboy?"
Clay felt the heat rise to his ears, scratching the back of his neck as if it could somehow deflect the attention. "Yeah, well, she said she wanted to see it, so… yeah."
Kirishima's grin widened, his sharp teeth glinting in the light. "That's huge, man! Bringing someone back to your hometown? That's serious business!"
"Big step," Kaminari added with a dramatic nod, his voice dripping with faux gravity. "Meet the family, visit the stomping grounds… maybe even see where you learned to wrestle bears or whatever it is cowboys do."
Clay rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched into a grin. "Y'all're actin' like I'm takin' her to the moon or somethin'. It's just home."
Mina leaned in, her elbows resting on an invisible table. "Do your parents know? Your mom's gonna lose it, isn't she?"
"She might," Clay admitted with a chuckle. "I did tell her already, though. She's excited. Probably makin' a list of things she wants to ask Tsu… and seein' what she has in the way of car batteries and jumper cables…"
"Ribbit."
The group collectively blinked at Tsuyu's calm interjection, her wide eyes fixed on Clay with just a hint of dry amusement.
"Car batteries and jumper cables?" Kaminari echoed, tilting his head. "What kind of interrogation is your mom planning?"
Clay laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just an expression…"
"I guess Mama Bear is the only bear Tsu has to worry about!" Mina chirped, her mood instantly lifting now that the conversation had veered into romantic gossip instead of midterm scores.
"Could we go back to what we're doin' for finals?" Clay asked, his tone dry as he felt the pressure on his shoulder shift. Skipper leapt over to Tsuyu with a nimble hop, settling onto her with a satisfied squeak.
"I'd like to avoid bein' stuffed into a concrete piss box while y'all are marchin' your happy asses off to trainin' camp," Clay added, crossing his arms as his gaze flicked back to the group, though he couldn't resist a smile. The written exam concerned him far more than the practical exam, which seemed to be the opposite of Midoriya, who was already speculating about what the practical exam would entail.
The group's attention flicked to their class rep, who stood nearby, his expression calm but distant. His posture was as precise as ever, but there was something about the set of his jaw that hinted at deeper thoughts.
Clay tilted his head slightly, catching Iida's eye. "How you holdin' up, boss?"
Iida straightened, his usual sharp tone returning. "I am focused on ensuring everyone succeeds in their practical and written exam," he said firmly. "Nothing more."
Tsuyu's gaze lingered on Iida for a moment before she turned back to Clay. "You'll pass, ribbit," she said, her calm tone reassuring. "Just don't get distracted."
"Distracted?" Clay echoed, feigning mock offense. "Never crossed my mind."
"You've got a shotgun now," Kaminari teased. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Clay smirked, crossing his arms. "What am I supposed to do? Shoot the test?" Clay's gaze lingered on the rankings board, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful. Tsuyu ranked sixth, far above his own seventeenth, and it didn't surprise him in the least. She'd always struck him as someone who prepared thoroughly, no matter how mundane.
"Guess it's time to hit the books," Mina said with a sigh, dragging her fingers through her hair. "If anyone needs me, I'll be begging Momo to save my grades."
"I'll join you," Kaminari said, his usual bravado dimmed by the looming specter of exams. "She's gotta have some magic study tricks, right?"
"Study group at Momo's it is!" Mina declared, grabbing Kirishima by the arm and starting toward the dorms.
Clay was about to join them, but then he saw a neat bundle of paper squares in Tsuyu's hands.
"You already got a plan, don't ya?" he asked, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Tsuyu nodded, holding up a neat stack of flashcards. "I made these yesterday. Ribbit."
"Of course you did," Clay said, chuckling. He glanced toward the others heading off to join Momo's group and then back at Tsuyu. "Think I could join you instead? Might be easier to focus without Kaminari screamin' about how he's failin' every five seconds."
Tsuyu's lips curved into a faint smile. "Ribbit. I'm not going to go easy on you just because you're my boyfriend," she said calmly, her voice carrying a quiet determination. "I'm going to go harder on you."
Then, in a rare display, she closed her eyes and smiled—a soft, almost serene expression that Clay didn't see often. It was undeniably cute, but there was an edge to it that made it just intimidating enough to inform him that he was in for something. "Right… Wouldn't want you goin' to camp alone."
"Ribbit," Tsuyu replied, her steady gaze meeting his. "You'll pass. I'll make sure of it."
The study session started off nicely enough. The little study room in their dorm building was quiet and inviting, with a table more than big enough for both of them. The faint scent of paper, sweat, and despair hung in the air, and the soft hum of the overhead light added to the tranquil atmosphere.
Clay chose a seat, dragging it toward the table with a soft scrape as he watched Tsuyu calmly settle into the chair across from him. Her movements were steady and deliberate, as always, her composure never wavering.
"We'll start with hero law. Ribbit," she said, her voice soft but purposeful. She held up a neatly organized stack of flashcards, the edges marked with pink highlighter, their uniformity a clear reflection of her meticulous nature.
Clay managed to sit still for nearly twenty minutes before pushing back from his chair with a lazy stretch. "I'm gonna grab some food," he said, reaching up to lift Skipper from his shoulder and setting him down gently on the table.
"Sit down, Clay," Tsuyu said, her voice calm but carrying a playful edge of authority.
"It's fine," Clay replied, already turning toward the door. "You want anyth—"
Before his hand could so much as brush the door handle, Tsuyu's tongue shot out with precision, wrapping firmly around his wrist and pulling him back.
"You'll get us food when I say you've earned it. Ribbit," she said, her wide eyes steady and unwavering as she retracted her tongue, steadily pulling Clay back to the table.
"Yeesh, Tsu…" Clay muttered as he eased back into his chair, casting a wary glance at her. "Thought I's was the one that interned with Midnight. You're startin' to remind me of her."
Tsuyu tilted her head slightly, her calm demeanor unwavering as she shuffled the flashcards with practiced ease. "If that's what it takes to make you study, ribbit," she replied, her tone light but with a sharp edge that made Clay think twice about testing her further.
Skipper squeaked from his perch on the table, clearly amused by the turn of events. He scurried over to the edge of Tsuyu's stack of flashcards, tapping his tiny paw against the top card as if to say, Get back to it.
Clay sighed, running a hand through his hair before facing Tsuyu again. "Alright, alright. Hit me with the next one," he said, leaning back in his chair but keeping his eyes on Tsuyu.
She flipped the top card, her calm gaze locking onto him. "What is the Hero Public Safety Commission's primary responsibility, ribbit?"
Clay frowned, his brow furrowing as he tried to piece together the answer. "Uh… To recruit, train, and maintain heroes to provide safety and deterrence? Am I close?"
Tsuyu's eyes narrowed slightly, though her expression remained neutral. "You're forgetting their role in strategic coordination and public image. Ribbit. Try again."
Clay closed his eyes for a few seconds. "I am goin' to die…"
"You'll thank me when you pass," she replied smoothly, flipping to the next card. "What are the legal restrictions on the use of lethal force by licensed heroes?"
As the questions continued, Clay found himself both frustrated and grateful for Tsuyu's methodical approach. She was relentless but fair, her calm encouragement pushing him to focus despite his natural inclination to let his mind wander.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Tsuyu set the flashcards down with a faint croak. "We've covered enough for now, ribbit. You can get food for us—now you've earned it."
With a relieved sigh, Clay stood up, stretching out an arm for Skipper, who scampered up to his usual perch on Clay's shoulder. "I'll be back in a sec—gonna grab us some grub," he said, heading for the door.
Just as his hand touched the handle, Tsuyu's tongue shot out, this time wrapping snugly around his waist and halting him mid-step.
"Aren't you forgetting something? Ribbit," she asked, her voice calm but laced with a playful undertone.
Clay froze, his mind racing. "Uh… I… love you?" he ventured, glancing back at her sheepishly.
"Ribbit." A faint blush spread across her cheeks as her wide eyes softened slightly. "I love you too."
The written exams were every bit as unpleasant as Clay remembered from last time. As usual, Skipper had been separated from him—an arrangement that never failed to throw him off balance. To make matters worse, Clay had spent a little too much time cramming the night before, leaving a lingering fog in his brain that made every question feel twice as hard. Occasionally he would look up to the front desk to see Skipper there staring at him. It helped a bit, added with the occasional glance Clay would cast to the corner of the room where Tsuyu sat, going through her test as if it were a novel.
Clay just had to count his blessings. He was informed the night before that it wasn't uncommon for some Japanese high schools to have three days of exams.
History, law, ethics, Quirk classifications, more law, more history. The exams threw everything at him—multiple choice, true or false, short essays, long essays. It was an all-out assault of nonsense.
As hellish as it all was, Clay felt a flicker of confidence. The preparation had paid off, especially the hours spent with Tsuyu and her meticulously crafted flashcards. Many of the questions felt familiar, their answers springing to mind almost effortlessly.
What's the minimum number of hours a hero must log in a quarter to avoid their license being suspended? Easy. Twenty.
What year was the Hero Public Safety Commission officially established? Two thousand and four.
Clay's pen scratched confidently across the page. Even though the fog of exhaustion lingered, he found himself plowing through the questions with more certainty than he'd anticipated. He glanced up now and then, letting his eyes dart toward Tsuyu. Her calm, steady demeanor as she worked was as reassuring as it was humbling.
Every so often, his gaze would drift to the desk near the front, where Skipper sat watching him like a tiny, furry drill sergeant. Clay couldn't help but smirk. Well, buddy, looks like the cramming wasn't for nothin'.
When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the written exams, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room. Clay leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head as the ache in his hand reminded him of the week he'd endured. He had finished the last long essay with almost ten seconds to spare. A two pager about how he would handle a bomb crisis.
"You good?" Tsuyu's voice came softly beside him as the students began filing out of the classroom. Mina was uncharacteristically quiet, and Iida walked out with the same swagger as an aggressive rule-follower would have after acing an exam.
"Yeah," Clay replied, standing and stretching once more. "Might've passed. That or I just made a whole bunch of real convincing guesses."
"You'll pass," she said simply, her tone calm but firm.
Skipper scampered across the room, climbing up Clay's pant leg before settling back on his shoulder. He squeaked softly, as if to say, About time.
"Alright, buddy," Clay muttered under his breath, smirking. "Let's see if all that hard work's enough to keep us outta remedial hell."
"We still have practicals, idiot," Bakugo growled from behind him, his voice low and laced with irritation. "What you get on the written doesn't matter if you end up dead anyway."
Clay smirked, leaning back slightly and running a hand through his beard. "Brother, what about me doesn't look practical?" he shot back, his tone light and teasing. "Hell, I'd still be in my gym clothes if they'd let me."
Bakugo's eyes narrowed, his crimson glare promising all sorts of unpleasant things as he scoffed. "You think you're funny, huh? Let's see if you're still laughing when you're flat on your ass!"
Clay shrugged, turning toward the door with Tsuyu beside him. "We'll see, won't we? They might send you back to that denim fella for a haircut if you fail…"
Bakugo bristled, but before he could respond, Tsuyu spoke up, her calm tone cutting through the tension. "Ribbit. You're both going to do fine."
As the group filed out of the classroom, Mina finally found her voice, letting out a loud groan. "Ugh, I don't even wanna think about practicals. What if they make us fight a pro hero?"
"That would be awesome," Kaminari said, his enthusiasm earning him a groan from Jiro, rolled her eyes and immediately plugged one of her headphone jacks into her phone.
"You'll be fine, Mina," Clay said with a chuckle. "Can't be as bad as the written exam. I think that packet coulda stopped a bullet."
Mina sighed dramatically, throwing her arms into the air. "You say that because you're already built like a tank! Meanwhile, I'm over here trying to figure out how not to die!"
"Says the one that can generate acid off her palms," Clay replied, his tone teasing but not unkind.
Kirishima grinned, punching the air. "Come on, Mina! You've got this! Just think of it as another step toward being super manly!"
Mina groaned, casting him a side-eye.
Clay laughed heartily, putting a hand on Kirishima's shoulder. "Mina will figure out how to not die, and maybe one day you'll learn ladies don't wanna be called manly."
The group exchanged a few light chuckles at this, and Kaminari loosened the tie on his uniform. "C'mon, let's get some ramen. I'll cover someone!"