"Is it better to use third-person point of view?"
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After graduation day, Nora returned to his usual routine. With school finally behind him, he spent most of his time streaming or gathering any information that might help him with the entrance exams for U.A. and Shiketsu.
After all, in a world filled with advanced hero gadgets, scientific development had reached extraordinary heights—which meant his own meager knowledge of science was severely lacking.
While Nora did have the advantage of a more mature mind and a more complex way of thinking, that didn't mean he could neglect studying altogether. In fact, sometimes starting from a blank slate was far better than moving forward with poor preparation.
Days passed in a cycle of studying and training.
"Who would've thought I'd willingly spend my time studying?" Nora muttered with a self-mocking grin.
Because he had already lived through failure once, he had no desire to repeat the same mistakes—especially after being given a second chance, no matter how twisted and unconventional that chance might be.
"So… this is U.A.?" Nora muttered, taking in the sight of the grand school. It looked impressively expensive, yet at the same time, it resembled a fortress.
"Not bad," he said, a smile of genuine happiness spreading across his face. The thought that he might be studying here for the next three years filled him with anticipation.
Carrying his examinee's pass along with the crowd of other applicants, he stepped into the testing hall.
"As expected," he murmured, eyes scanning the exam laid out before him.
The test began with a standard written exam, much like any other school's.
Even after nearly a century—since the days when using a video call could get someone branded a witch by suspicious villagers—education itself had changed little. Even in this warped world, the system of learning was surprisingly familiar.
Two hours later.
"Mmh…" he groaned, stretching his stiff body after the grueling two-hour test. He didn't expect a perfect score, but Nora was confident he had managed at least 80 percent—or more.
Soon, everyone was gathered in a vast hall.
As expected of the number-one school, U.A., the examiners explained the upcoming practical test: a hunt game, with robots serving as the prey. Points would vary depending on the type of robot—well, that was only natural.
The practical exam was refreshingly straightforward. With so many examinees, they couldn't all be tested in the same location, so participants were divided among multiple venues.
…
In front of the massive entrance to a miniature metropolitan city, dozens of examinees had gathered for the practical test.
'How rich,' Nora thought honestly, taking in the sheer scale and resources required to build the city. Even with quirks, which could make certain tasks cheaper or faster, the cost and effort must have been immense—especially considering how many locations were used as exam sites.
Shaking off the thought, he refocused on the exam at hand.
He scanned his fellow examinees, immediately noticing a man with spiky hair—the same one who had been a victim in a recent villain attack. Nora also took note of others who seemed strong, calculating quietly. Even as a second plan, he was determined to give his absolute best to secure a place at this prestigious school.
As they waited for the exam to begin, a stunning woman in extremely tight, provocative attire approached them.
It was the renowned R-rated hero: Midnight.
Is this… appropriate? Nora thought for a moment. Then he realized that, technically, every inch of her body was covered—her outfit simply accentuated her curves. Still, it was hard to focus with a teacher like this. But well… a feast for the eyes, at least.
"Start!!" Midnight snapped her whip against the floor, signaling the beginning of the exam.
"DIE!!" The spiky-haired kid shot forward, sparks of explosions crackling from both hands to propel him with incredible speed.
Everyone surged ahead immediately.
To think an adult mind could be at such a disadvantage. Nora shook off the thought and quickly began his own late start.
In his vision, only he could see the interface: four blocks. Three could be activated as skills, while the fourth was passive.
"God's Strength," he muttered, chanting the words.
In an instant, every part of his body ignited with energy. His black hair, ears, and tail transformed instantly to brilliant white.
***
'If the examiners knew I was taking both U.A. and Shiketsu exams… would they beat me to death?'
With a mix of doubt and apprehension, Nora stepped into Shiketsu's exam hall. Everyone knew that Shiketsu High dominated the west, while U.A. reigned in the east. And here he was, having just taken the U.A. exam last week, now attempting another one at a rival school.
'Isn't this… a betrayal?'
Even if the exams could have been held simultaneously, they deliberately scheduled them a week apart. Nora pondered this and justified his actions. After all, both schools were educational institutions meant to nurture new heroes. It wouldn't make sense for heroes to refuse cooperation simply because of school rivalries.
If he had to pinpoint the biggest difference between Shiketsu and U.A., it was simple:
U.A. was colorful, while Shiketsu was monochrome.
U.A. encouraged creativity and a sense of rivalry, allowing students to push each other, test each other's limits—in other words, a Shokugeki-style environment.
Shiketsu, on the other hand, was like a military academy: disciplined, stable, and orderly.