— Ryo POV —
The exam grounds stretch out like a massive city zone, towering metal buildings, wide streets, and robots lurking somewhere inside.
My heart is pounding. My gauntlet arm feels warm.
Focus…
Present Mic's voice explodes through the speakers:
"AREEE YOU READYYYY?! AAAAAAND—START!!"
My body moves before my brain does.
I dash forward at full speed, legs hammering against the ground, wind slamming into my face. Instinct. Pure instinct. Get ahead. Get points. Go!
Halfway down the street, I skid to a confused halt.
No one else is running.
All the other examinees are just standing there behind me, staring like I'm a strange NPC who moved before loading the cutscene.
"Eh? Am… am I mistaken?" I mutter, looking back at them.
Everyone stares at me. Some confused. Some amused.
Then—
"WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?!" Present Mic roars. "THERE IS NO COUNTDOWN IN REAL LIFE! GO, GO, GO, GO!!"
...
I died inside.
"Oh COME ON!" I groan, gripping my head.
I spin around and sprint again, faster than before, purely out of embarrassment.
Great. Perfect. Amazing. Now I look like that guy who tries to be cool but fails.
Never stopping halfway again. Never.
Still, it's time to get serious.
— Mezo Shoji (Dupli-Arms) POV —
I was just idly chatting with some other examinees, discussing strategies. Mobility. Teamwork. Avoiding the big zero-pointer. Pretty standard stuff.
Then Present Mic shouted, "START!"
Everyone froze.
Except one guy.
He took off like a bullet, sprinting into the exam grounds as if his life depended on it.
The rest of us blinked.
He kept running.
Then he stopped dramatically and stared back at us.
Someone beside me whispered, "Wait… is he showing off?"
Another said, "Is that… aura farming?"
Honestly… it kinda looked like it.
Then Present Mic screamed again, scolding us for not moving.
My stomach dropped.
"I should've run with that guy," I muttered. "He's about to secure all the early robots…"
I stretched my arms and sighed.
"Well… too late. Let's just do our best."
And with that, we all rushed inside too, though some of us were now slightly intimidated by the fast starter.
— 3rd POV —
Observation Room
Above the exam grounds, in a heavily secured monitoring room, several U.A. teachers watched the exam unfold through dozens of screens.
Screens filled with smoke, running students, and exploding robots.
One teacher sighed, scribbling a note."I wanted to see Endeavor's son in this year's practical. Too bad he already passed the special recommendation exam."
"Yeah, I was curious too. But that's how recommendations work."Another teacher pointed at a screen. "Look at this one, Katsuki Bakugo. He's blowing robots apart left and right."
"And half the street with them," someone added. "If he gets in, our repair costs are going to skyrocket."
"Hmm… look at this student. Minoru Mineta. He's immobilizing robots with… sticky balls?
"The teacher squinted. "Does that even count?"
"If the robots are restrained, it's valid," another replied. "Same way Hanta Sero over here is using tape to trap them. Non-destructive takedowns are still takedowns."
They all nodded.
"It's still early. Let's keep watching. Plenty of time for someone to surprise us."
Their eyes drift back to the screens.
And somewhere among them, a boy with a crimson gauntlet arm is just getting started.
—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~
Comment on any inconsistencies Thanks