Tomorrow, I gotta a passport thing so no chapter.
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Iida couldn't help but take another good look at Kuro as they spoke. The boy's black hair was spiky, but not in a wild, untamed way—more like it was deliberately styled to give off an air of carefree energy. He was shorter than Iida, but that was hardly unusual; Iida was taller than most.
But what caught Iida's attention were Kuro's eyes. They were large, almost childlike, and so clear it was almost unsettling. It was as if nothing could cloud them, as if they saw everything in a pure, unfiltered way. Combined with Kuro's sunny disposition, it was easy to see why others might find him charming, even disarming.
And yet, despite Kuro's friendly demeanor and infectious enthusiasm, Iida felt an inexplicable sense of unease. It was as though, during their conversation, Kuro had been analyzing him, reading him in a way that most people couldn't. It left Iida with the unsettling feeling that there was more to Kuro than met the eye.
But before Iida could dwell on these thoughts any longer, Kuro was off, mingling with other students with the same boundless energy. He struck up conversations effortlessly, his enthusiasm drawing people in like moths to a flame. Iida watched him for a moment, still feeling that odd tension, before turning his attention back to the exam.
The guards soon called for quiet, signaling that the written exam was almost over. The students who had finished began to file out of the exam room, and among them were Bakugo Katsuki and Izuku Midoriya.
Bakugo looked bored out of his mind, his eyes half-lidded as if the exam had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Izuku, on the other hand, was nervously muttering to himself, trying to count how many questions he had gotten right. His hands fidgeted as he ran through his mental checklist, clearly anxious about the results.
But Bakugo's boredom didn't mean he wasn't paying attention. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the faces around him, when suddenly they locked onto a familiar figure. His expression shifted from disinterest to irritation in an instant.
Standing among the other students, chatting away with that infuriatingly cheerful smile, was Kurokami Tenshin.
The sight of those "stupid goody-goody eyes" immediately set Bakugo on edge. He stormed through the crowd, shoving past a few startled students, and grabbed Kuro by the collar of his shirt, yanking him forward. Kuro, however, didn't resist—instead, he simply let it happen, that same bright smile never leaving his face.
"Why are you here?! You damn doe-eyed bastard!" Bakugo snarled, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of everyone nearby.
Kuro didn't flinch, his calm demeanor completely unshaken by Bakugo's outburst. "It's good to see you too, Bakugo," he replied with a grin, his voice full of the same infectious enthusiasm that had irritated Bakugo so much over the past year.
Izuku, who had been standing nearby, finally noticed the commotion and hurried over. "K-Kacchan, do you know him?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.
Bakugo shot him an annoyed glare as if the answer should have been obvious. "Of course, I know him! He's that damn soccer player from Karakura Junior High. The one with the stupid quirk that makes him act like he's better than everyone!"
Realization dawned on Izuku, and his eyes widened. "Oh, that's right! You've mentioned him before. So... he's one of your friends?"
Bakugo's glare intensified, and he shook Kuro slightly for emphasis. "He's not my friend, Deku! This doe-eyed bastard is not my friend!"
Izuku blinked, taken aback by Bakugo's vehement denial. Despite the harsh words, Izuku couldn't help but notice the strange familiarity in the way Bakugo interacted with Kuro. It reminded him of the way Bakugo used to act around him when they were younger, back when things were simpler between them.
Iida, who had been watching from a distance, decided it was time to intervene. He had seen enough of Bakugo's aggressive behavior to know that it wasn't something to be taken lightly. But just as he was about to step forward, Izuku gently placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
"It's okay," Izuku said quietly, his eyes understanding. "Kacchan's always like this. He doesn't mean it... not all of it, anyway."
Iida hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he considered Izuku's words. There was a calmness in the way Izuku spoke, a familiarity with Bakugo's outbursts that suggested this was, unfortunately, normal for them. Still, Iida couldn't shake the feeling that this was something that needed addressing.
Nonetheless, Iida decided to follow Izuku's lead and introduced himself politely to Kuro. "My name is Tenya Iida," he said, bowing slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Izuku followed suit, giving a nervous but genuine smile. "And I'm Izuku Midoriya. Nice to meet you."
Kuro, ever the social butterfly, beamed at their introductions. "It's great to meet you both! I'm Kurokami Tenshin, but feel free to call me Kuro."
The moment of introductions was interrupted by a loud commotion as a guard appeared, sternly approaching Bakugo. "You there! No yelling in the atrium. You're disturbing the others."
Bakugo, still holding onto Kuro, growled in frustration but released his grip as the guard closed in. "Tch, whatever," he muttered, clearly annoyed at being reprimanded.
Kuro, still smiling, looked over at Iida and Izuku with a playful glint in his eyes. "So, should we go save Bakugo from himself, or do you think he's got it covered?"
Izuku chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Uh, maybe we should..."
But before they could do anything, the guard had already grabbed Bakugo by the arm and began dragging him away. Bakugo, not one to go quietly, protested loudly, but the guard was having none of it.
Iida, watching the scene unfold, sighed. "It seems Bakugo has gotten himself into trouble again. Oh, I suppose this is the first time for me."
Kur chimed in, "Nah it's cool."
...
High above the bustling atrium, in the relative quiet of the judges' room, Principal Nezu and Aizawa sat reviewing the final preparations for the U.A. entrance exam. The room was a stark contrast to the chaotic energy below; here, everything was orderly, precise, and methodical. Yet, the tension was palpable, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air.
Principal Nezu, the diminutive yet highly intelligent creature, sat perched on his chair, his small frame almost dwarfed by the large desk in front of him.
Despite his size, Nezu's presence commanded respect—he was, after all, one of the most brilliant minds in the hero world. His eyes, sharp and observant, flicked over the screens displaying various sections of the school, each filled with students preparing for the practical exam.
Beside him, Shota Aizawa, better known as Eraser Head, looked even more disheveled than usual. His long, unkempt hair seemed messier than before, and the dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced, suggesting a severe lack of sleep.
He sat slouched in his chair, his gray scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, giving him a decidedly bedraggled appearance. Aizawa's demeanor was as tired as his appearance, but there was a certain resolve in his eyes.
Nezu glanced at Aizawa, his small, beady eyes narrowing slightly with concern. "Aizawa, are you sure you're up for this? You look like you haven't slept in days."
Aizawa gave a slow, lazy nod, his voice as monotone as ever. "I'm good to go. I'll tough through it. It's my job, after all."
Nezu nodded, though the concern in his eyes didn't entirely fade. He knew Aizawa was a dedicated teacher, but even he had his limits. Still, this was U.A.—they couldn't afford to show weakness, especially not today.
"Very well," Nezu said, his tone lighter as he reached for the control panel in front of him. "It's time to start the practical exam."
With a quick press of a button, the announcement was sent out, the speakers in every corner of the building crackling to life. The instructions echoed through the halls, clear and commanding: "All students, please proceed to the theater room for further instructions."
As the announcement echoed through the atrium, the students began to stir, the anticipation turning into a flurry of movement. The theater room, like the rest of UA, was massive—built to accommodate large numbers of students with ease. The walls were lined with monitors and projectors, ready to display the details of the upcoming practical exam.
Down below, the four students who had been talking—Kuro, Bakugo, Iida, and Midoriya—were caught up in the surge of people moving toward the theater room. The crowd was thick, and in the chaos, Kuro found himself separated from the others, swept away by the tide of bodies.
Izuku noticed Kuro's absence almost immediately, a look of concern flashing across his face. "Uh, guys, I think we lost Kuro. Should we try to find him?"
Bakugo, still annoyed from the earlier encounter, scoffed. "Good riddance. Let him get lost for all I care."
Iida, ever the voice of reason, adjusted his glasses and shook his head. "There's no need to worry, Midoriya. Kuro has a knack for finding his way back when he wants to. I doubt a large crowd would stop him if he was determined to stay with us."
Izuku nodded, though he still looked a bit uneasy. "Yeah, I guess you're right…"
Meanwhile, Kuro, who had indeed been swept away by the crowd, didn't seem the least bit concerned. He was smiling to himself, enjoying the excitement in the air. He hadn't intended to get separated, but now that he had, he figured he might as well see where this new path took him.
He found a seat in a different section of the theater room, plopping down with his usual carefree demeanor.
...
As the lights in the theater room dimmed, the monitors flickered to life, displaying the U.A. crest. The students quieted down, all eyes turning toward the stage. The tension in the room was palpable, each student bracing themselves for the announcement that would set the stage for the practical exam.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by an enthusiastic voice that echoed through the entire hall. "YEAH! LISTEN UP, EVERYBODY!"
Izuku's eyes widened in recognition. He knew that voice. It belonged to none other than Present Mic, the pro hero and U.A.'s resident loudmouth, Hizashi Yamada. His quirk, Voice, allowed him to amplify his voice to extreme levels, making him the perfect announcer—or at least, that's what he thought.
Present Mic took the mic with his usual flair, his broad smile and spiked hair as vibrant as ever. His energy was infectious, filling the room with a buzz of excitement that even the most nervous students couldn't ignore.
"WELCOME TO THE U.A. ENTRANCE EXAM, EVERYONE!" Present Mic boomed, his voice reverberating off the walls. "I HOPE YOU'RE ALL READY TO SHOW US WHAT YOU'VE GOT!"
Aizawa, who was watching from the judges' room, sighed heavily and rubbed his temples. "Please, someone take this loudmouth away," he muttered, though he knew it was a lost cause. Present Mic was here to stay, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Back in the theater room, Present Mic continued, clearly relishing his role as the announcer. "Alright, you aspiring heroes, here's how this is gonna go down! You'll be facing off against VILLAINS—but don't worry, they're just robots for this part of the exam."
As he spoke, the monitors behind him displayed images of the different types of robots the students would be encountering. "There are FOUR types of robots you need to know about! First up, the 1-Pointer—the easiest of the bunch. Then we've got the 2-Pointer, and the 3-Pointer! But watch out, because there's one more type you'll want to avoid—the 0-Pointer! That guy's just there to mess with you, so don't bother fighting him!"
As Present Mic's voice echoed through the room, most of the students were listening intently, absorbing the information they'd need for the upcoming challenge. However, not everyone was paying attention.
Bakugo, for one, had completely tuned out. He was leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed and his eyes half-closed, as if the entire presentation was a waste of his time. In his mind, the plan was simple—blow up every robot that got in his way. No need to overcomplicate things.
Izuku, on the other hand, was furiously scribbling in his notebook, but not about the exam. He was jotting down notes about Present Mic, detailing the new hero facts he'd just learned. His focus was so intense that he barely registered the details about the robots.
Iida, seated beside them, noticed both of their inattention and sighed, exasperated. "You two weren't listening, were you?" he asked, already knowing the answer. He quickly explained the key points to them, ensuring they were at least somewhat prepared for what was to come.
As Present Mic wrapped up the instructions, the students were handed slips of paper indicating their assigned zones for the practical exam. Bakugo glanced at his paper, noticing that he, Izuku, and Iida had been placed in separate zones.
"They're splitting us up," Bakugo muttered, his voice laced with irritation. "Probably to prevent us from working together."
Iida nodded in agreement. "That seems to be the case. It's a fair method, ensuring each student's performance is evaluated individually."
Izuku, gathering his courage, turned to his companions. "Well, I guess this is it," he said, his voice shaky but determined. "Good luck, everyone."
Bakugo shot him a fierce look, his eyes blazing. "Don't you dare screw this up, got it, Deku? If you fail, it'll be a waste of time for all of us."
Iida, while not as harsh, offered his encouragement. "Do your best, Midoriya. We'll meet again after the exam."
Izuku nodded, feeling a strange mix of fear and determination. He had to succeed—not just for himself, but for everyone who believed in him, even if Bakugo's support was wrapped in hostility.
While the rest of the students were gearing up for the practical exam, Kuro was sulking in his chair, his earlier excitement having faded.
He had hoped to find someone interesting to talk to, but the crowd had left him isolated in a sea of unfamiliar faces. He regretted getting separated from Bakugo, Izuku, and Iida—at least with them, there was always something interesting happening.
But as Kuro sat there, lost in thought, one of the exam proctors handed him a slip of paper with his assigned zone: 'Zone C.'
Kuro glanced at the paper and, almost immediately, his mood brightened. "Zone C, huh?" he said to himself, his earlier disappointment vanishing. "Sounds like fun!"
With renewed energy, Kuro hopped out of his seat and made his way toward the designated area, weaving through the crowd with ease. The excitement that had temporarily faded was back in full force, and Kuro couldn't wait to see what the practical exam had in store for him.