Staring down at Kenji's restful face, Toga couldn't help but struggle with the emotional war waging inside her. Hugging Kenji to her chest Toga squeezed her shut and her hands balled into fist as her jaw clenched so tight the sound of her teeth grinding together could be heard.
Never before had Toga felt so useless…and so loved at the same time, 'Why didn't I do anything?'
Toga remembered every moment of the fight in painstaking detail as Kenji fought for his life and hers, 'And I just sat there, worthless… just like dad said.'
Tears welled up around Toga's clenched eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. Standing up on shaky legs, Toga carried Kenji over to his bedroom and gently set him down.
"I'll do better," Toga muttered underneath her breath as a resolute look set into her eyes, "I won't be worthless any longer."
---
A soft tap on his cheek woke Kenji up from a dreamless sleep and he cracked open his left eye to see Toga staring at him with a disappointed look on her face, "I told you, you should have gone to bed earlier."
Letting out a sight Kenji cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, "I'm fine, just need a second to shake the sleep off."
Standing up with a roll of her eyes, Toga didn't spare Kenji a second glance, "Well hurry up, because we're here."
Kenji said nothing as his eyes drifted over to Toga's shapely rear despite the fact she was wearing a pair of military cargo pants
"Are you looking at my ass?"
"Now why would you think that?" Kenji asked in his most innocent voice, but didn't move his eyes as Toga cocked her hip to the side.
Looking over her shoulder Toga stared down at Kenji with a blank expression on her face, "So predictable."
A sly grin spread across Kenji's face as he stood up towering a good six inches above Toga, "Can you blame me?"
Toga smirked as she went up on her toes, "Only a little."
Sinking back to the floor Toga grinned as she turned around and walked off the train with an extra bit of sway in her hips, "Try and follow your own advice."
Smirking Kenji was quick to follow Toga and they walked through the metro station in tandem eventually reaching the stairs that took them to the street above. Only to find a massive crowd clogging the way forward.
Stopping right behind Toga Kenji scanned the crowd, not surprised that almost everyone there was the same age as them. Outside of that, the crowd was a complete mix of size, shape and everything else.
"I told you we should have gotten here early," Toga muttered as she stepped back and leaned against Kenji. Before Kenji could respond a wave of noise passed through the crowd as the crowd funneled up the stairs, "See, everything is fine."
Eventually arriving at the top of the stairs Kenji winced as the sun shone in his eyes, made sensitive after being underground for so long. But even through his sun blinded vision Kenji caught a glimpse of the massive structure in front him and was immediately awe struck.
A second longer and Kenji's eyes adjusted allowing him to see U.A Academy in all of its glory. The school looked more like a fortress or a military base, with thick concrete walls, arrow slits hiding automatic turrets, and massive spiked metal gates that were currently open letting the flood of examinees into the Academy.
Designed to be a safe haven if the city walls failed the Academy was initially a miniature city in of itself, complete with forests, farms, and its own power grid and metro system. But seeing it online and seeing it in person were two completely different things.
"I can understand why most pro-heros house their families inside those walls" Toga commented equally as shellshocked, "I can't imagine any villain managing to sneak inside."
Joining the queue Toga and Kenji eventually reached the checkpoint where they were asked to identify themselves and searched for any forbidden contraband before being given a slim metal wristband and guided through a side door putting them inside a hallway between the reinforced walls not giving them a glimpse of the city inside.
"They really take security seriously." Toga muttered under her breath as she and Kenji walked shoulder to shoulder down the narrow hallway following the strobing floor lights.
"Well considering we're going to enroll here, I think it's a good thing." Kenji replied just before the hallway widened into a massive chamber that was somehow already crowded. Despite being underneath several tons of concrete the entire room was lit up by massive monitors displaying a repeating video that garnered Toga's and Kenji's full attention.
"Welcome applicants to the practical examination, which will begin momentarily once all applicants have arrived. The following information will explain the important details of the exam as well as the dangers associated with the test.
For this exam, participants will be given the task of repelling an invading beast hoard. During the wave applicants can earn points by either defeating hostile Dread Beasts, mitigating structural damage, clearing and maintaining supply routes and/or rescuing 'citizens'. At regular intervals a new wave of Dread Beasts will be released increasing in both danger rating and quantity.
With each passing wave the base point value for rewardable actions will increase. However if an applicant is deemed at risk of being critically injured or is unable to continue fighting, the provided aegis bracelet will activate, preventing life threatening injury. Once an applicant's bracelet activates they are considered to be eliminated and can not gain any additional points.
Once the final applicant is eliminated or the final wave is repelled the test will end, and all participants will receive a mandatory medical exam free of cost before being escorted outside the Academy.
Test results will be sent via mail, one week after the test. If they are accepted, applicants have three days to notify the Academy whether or not they intend to attend UA otherwise their slot may no longer be guaranteed."