Further back in the group of students, Tsuyu Asui spoke to the boy beside her. "I didn't think anyone could throw a ball that far, kero..." She turned to Midoriya after he said nothing. "Midoriya-chan?"

The two had met during the practical exam, and Asui already considered him a friend, even if she found him a bit clumsy.

'When did Kacchan get this strong? I know he's light-years ahead of me, but this... it feels like he's not even giving it his all.' With trembling hands, Midoriya now understood how his childhood friend had surpassed Endeavor as a kid.

"Midoriya-chan?"

"Ah!" He quickly turned to her, looking embarrassed. "S-sorry, Asui-san, I was lost in thought."

"Call me Tsu," Asui said, tilting her head slightly. "What were you thinking about, kero?"

Midoriya averted his gaze, looking back at Bakugo, who was walking toward the group with his hands in his pockets and a confident posture. "Just... that Kacchan is much farther ahead than I thought."

"Kacchan?" Tsu asked, curious about the nickname.

'Amazing...' That seemed to be the only word Uraraka could think of whenever she saw Bakugo in action.

She bit her lower lip, trying to look away from the boy, but it was impossible. The sound of the explosion still echoed in her mind, along with the shockwave that had briefly sent her hair flying.

"This isn't just strength," Momo murmured reflexively, crossing her arms.

"Bakugo-san demonstrated a high level of control over his quirk... He didn't just use the explosion to throw the ball but also planned its trajectory to maximize distance."

She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, looking deeply analytical. "And from what I could hear, he added extra force with smaller explosions even after the ball was already far away."

Uraraka listened to Momo's words and nodded. 'Hearing this, Momo-san makes him sound so untouchable...' She clenched her fists. 'I need to push myself, or I'll fall even further behind!'

A similar thought crossed Momo's mind. 'I need to pick up my pace. I can't just rely on my intelligence and strategic skills.' She looked in the direction where Bakugo's ball had disappeared. 'I need to master my quirk the way Bakugo-san masters his.'

Aizawa sighed as the class finally quieted down. "This is the standard I expect. Now, you'll have to give your best not to be left behind. Oh, and for those of you who aren't motivated enough," he paused, letting the words sink in, "the student who places last in all eight tests will be expelled."

Silence fell over the field.

"...I knew it wouldn't be that simple," Midoriya murmured, swallowing hard. 'This is bad, really bad.'

"Expelled?!" Uraraka repeated indignantly. "That's unfair!"

"In the real world, injustice is a constant. It's up to heroes to reverse these situations. If you want to hang out at cafés with your friends after school, tough luck. For the next three years, U.A. will place obstacle after obstacle in your way." He paused briefly, his eyes scanning each face as if testing their determination. "Go beyond. Plus Ultra."

[1st Test: 50 Meter Dash.]

"Iida, Asui, you're up first," Aizawa announced, pointing to the track.

The two walked to their respective positions, and as they prepared, Momo noticed Uraraka looking uneasy. "Nervous, Uraraka-san?"

"Uh, yeah."

Momo offered a reassuring look. "Do you really think he's going to expel someone? It's clearly a bluff. Aizawa-sensei is just testing our determination."

[Ready... BAM!]

The sound of the starting gun echoed across the field, and within seconds, Iida crossed the finish line.

"3.4 seconds," Aizawa announced.

Right behind him came Tsuyu, finishing in 5.58 seconds.

As soon as the first round ended, Uraraka quickly turned to Momo, hope dancing in her eyes. "Do you really think so? That it's just a bluff?"

Momo gave him a gentle smile. "I'm sure of it." Her gaze then shifted to Bakugo, who was approaching them, visibly irritated. He seemed to have finally managed to escape the endless conversation with the pink-skinned girl.

Momo raised an eyebrow, deciding to include him in the conversation. "Do you agree with me, Bakugo-san? Don't you think Aizawa-sensei is just trying to push us?"

He scoffed, throwing a quick, disinterested glance at the two. "Why does it matter?"

"Uraraka-san is worried," Momo responded directly, making Uraraka feel her face heat up with embarrassment.

"I-it's not exactly that," Uraraka stammered, gesturing with her hands. "I mean, I'm a little nervous, but it's more about someone from our class getting expelled."

"Tsk." Bakugo averted his gaze as if pondering the issue before looking back at them. "I agree with Yaoyorozu. He just wants to see how we handle pressure."

Uraraka blinked in relief, but before she could say anything, Bakugo continued, "Even so, I don't get why you're so worried. You're strong."

"...I am?" Uraraka felt her heart race. No one besides her parents had ever described her as "strong."

Bakugo crossed his arms. "You passed the same exam as everyone here, didn't you? It wasn't luck. You made it because you have what it takes. If you doubt that, you're already starting off wrong."

Uraraka blinked a few times, processing his words. "Thank you, Bakugo-kun."

"Uraraka, Ojiro," Aizawa called the next two to the track.

Uraraka turned her head upon hearing her name. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the starting line with firm steps.

"Good luck," Ojiro said with a friendly smile, positioning himself beside her.

"You too." Uraraka tapped her clothes and shoes, removing their gravity.

[Ready... BAM!]

The two took off as soon as the machine gave the signal, Ojiro propelling himself with his tail and Uraraka running as fast as she could.

Ojiro was the first to cross the finish line with 5.49 seconds, followed closely by Uraraka, who finished in 6.30 seconds.

Uraraka quickly pressed her fingers together, releasing her Quirk. 'I was faster than I thought.' Her face lit up with a radiant smile.

"You did great," Ojiro praised, dusting off his tail. "Using your Quirk like that was smart."

"Thanks." Uraraka pressed her hands against her knees, trying to catch her breath. "You did great too."

"Aoyama, Ashido," Aizawa called the next pair.

"Congratulations, Uraraka-san," Momo said with a warm smile as soon as Uraraka rejoined the group.

"Thank you, Momo-san!" Uraraka responded, still breathless. Her eyes then discreetly flicked toward Bakugo, as if hoping he would say something too.

He noticed her gaze and let the silence drag on for a few seconds before sighing irritably and muttering, "You did what you had to do. Good job."

The compliment was short and even a bit dry, but for Uraraka, it was enough. A wide smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Bakugo-kun!"

He looked away, trying to hide his slightly uncomfortable expression. "Tsk, don't make a big deal out of it."

"Okay!"

Momo observed the interaction with interest, holding back a small laugh at the dynamic between the two.

Bakugo positioned himself at the starting line, practically feeling the nervousness of the boy beside him.

[Ready... BAM!]

The sound of the starting gun echoed, and Bakugo reacted instantly. With his hands aimed backward, he unleashed a powerful explosion.

'Explosive Speed!' he thought, propelling himself forward.

The finish line seemed to approach in an instant. As soon as he crossed it, Bakugo planted his feet into the ground, skidding several meters before finally coming to a stop.

"2.20 seconds," Aizawa announced, still in his monotone voice. "And 7.02 seconds for Midoriya," he added, looking at the boy who was crossing the line, exhausted.

"Haah... haah..." Midoriya leaned on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"Pathetic," Bakugo muttered, his voice low enough to be heard only by the green-haired boy.

Midoriya lifted his head. "K-Kacchan—"

"You said you were going to keep up with me," Bakugo interrupted, turning slightly to face him. His red eyes glowed with a mix of disdain and challenge. "Is this all you've got? Even the invisible girl was faster than you."

Midoriya clenched his fists tightly. Bakugo's words hit him like a punch, but at the same time, they ignited a fire in his chest, overshadowing his fear of being expelled and disappointing All Might. 'I... I will prove to you that I can do this!'

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.