"In short, your strength has already exceeded U.A.'s expectations. For that reason, you won't be allowed to continue the assessment. Allowing it wouldn't just be irresponsible toward your classmates—it would also be irresponsible toward you."
Aizawa Shouta coughed lightly as he delivered what was, at best, a somewhat forced explanation.
"…Alright then. I'll stay and watch, at least?"Shina Etsuha still felt a bit conflicted, but after a moment, he nodded in agreement.
"Of course. There are still announcements to be made after the assessment anyway—you won't be going home early," Aizawa replied, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
Finally dealt with…
The school's sudden decision hadn't come without reason.
Etsuha's Quirk was simply too troublesome.
At any moment, he could create massive quantities of ultra-low-temperature ice. Even under direct sunlight, it barely melted.
But the real problem?
After creating it… he just left it there.
That left all of U.A.'s teachers in a difficult position. Even Cementoss—who could freely manipulate concrete—found it a headache to deal with.
We're talking about towering ice structures, easily hundreds of meters tall.
They stood like frozen monuments in the center of the arena. And if one of those collapsed, even U.A. would suffer serious damage.
Because of that, teachers and students with suitable Quirks had to be mobilized just to clean up the ice Etsuha left behind. It took hours just to deal with half of it.
And just as they were about to celebrate…
Another massive icicle rose—this time right on the running track.
The entire staff nearly lost their minds.
What now?!
That was how the earlier decision came about.
At this point, Aizawa Shouta and Present Mic could only twitch helplessly. Especially Aizawa—he finally understood what Etsuha had meant earlier when he asked about U.A. covering damages.
The kid had been setting this up from the start.
…
The assessment itself wasn't particularly complicated.
Aside from races, there were strength-based tests like shot put, long jump, and other athletic events—all enhanced through the use of Quirks.
By the time everything wrapped up, it was already afternoon.
In the end, four students stood out and were selected:
First place: Shina Etsuha
Second place: Inasa Yoarashi
Third place: Yaoyorozu Momo
Fourth place: Furuya Dozō
Although the other participants performed well, most had noticeable weaknesses.
For example, those with "high-temperature" or "magma" Quirks were extremely powerful in combat—but their abilities were limited in application. In events like shot put or long jump, where versatility mattered, they struggled.
By contrast, Inasa Yoarashi's wind-based Quirk proved incredibly flexible. Whether in combat or athletic challenges, he consistently performed at a high level.
If not for Etsuha's overwhelming dominance, Inasa would have easily taken first place.
Over the course of the day, everyone came to understand U.A.'s evaluation philosophy:
Versatility.
In real battles against villains, any weakness could be exploited. A Quirk with major flaws could endanger not only the user—but others as well.
As evening approached, Aizawa Shouta gathered the students and made the final announcement:
"The assessment is now complete. Students who did not pass may remain at U.A. for a one-day visit. As for those who passed—congratulations. You have secured eligibility for admission through recommendation."
"Mr. Aizawa, I have a question!"
Inasa Yoarashi suddenly spoke up.
Aizawa nodded. "Go ahead."
"Can someone who was eliminated apply to U.A. again later?"
"Of course," Aizawa replied calmly. "Being recommended simply means you've already gained recognition at a young age, so the school offers you certain advantages. But failing the recommendation process doesn't mean you've lost your chance. As long as you pass U.A.'s general entrance exam, you can still enroll."
The previously dejected students immediately lit up with hope.
"So we still have a chance!"
"I thought it was over for me…"
"Thank you, Inasa! That's exactly what I wanted to ask!"
Inasa's expression, however, showed a hint of hesitation—something Etsuha noticed immediately.
Is this about Shoto Todoroki?
Etsuha quickly pieced it together.
According to what he knew, Inasa had developed a strong dislike for Todoroki after a brief encounter—triggered by the cold look in his eyes.
If Todoroki were to enroll later, Inasa might even consider choosing a different school entirely.
It was an incredibly straightforward way of thinking.
If he liked something, he liked it. If he didn't, he didn't.
Giving up on U.A. just because of one person—it sounded absurd, but it was completely in character.
He's a good guy…
Etsuha's thoughts stirred.
Maybe I should find a way to keep him here.
At that moment, Aizawa continued:
"There's one more announcement—this one is specifically for students admitted through recommendation…"