The morning sun bathed the entrance of U.A. High School in a warm glow as Izuku and Amelia stood in awe before the towering gates. The grandeur of the institution, with its modern architecture and the emblematic UA logo, struck them with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The imposing structure, a beacon of heroism and excellence, seemed almost otherworldly in its splendor.
"Wow," Amelia breathed, her eyes wide with admiration. "We're really here. The place where heroes are made."
Izuku nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "It's incredible. I've dreamed about this moment for so long."
They took a step forward together, crossing the threshold into the grounds of U.A. High. The energy was palpable, a mix of nerves and anticipation buzzing among the throng of examinees. Izuku's eyes darted around, taking in the sight of other students preparing for what would undoubtedly be the most important test of their lives.
As they walked, Izuku, caught up in the moment and his own clumsiness, tripped over his own feet. He let out a yelp, his arms flailing as he stumbled forward.
Amelia, quick on her feet, reached out and caught him just in time, steadying him with a firm grip. "Easy there," she chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Wouldn't want to make an entrance by face-planting in front of the whole school."
Izuku blushed, adjusting his glasses nervously. "Thanks, Amelia. I guess I'm just a bit overwhelmed."
"Don't worry about it," Amelia said, giving him a reassuring smile. "We've got this."
The bustling auditorium of U.A. High School was filled with a sea of anxious faces as the prospective students settled into their seats. The vast room, with its high ceilings and state-of-the-art facilities, buzzed with anticipation. Amelia and Izuku found seats towards the middle, their eyes scanning the crowd for any familiar faces.
"Testing… testing…!"
A booming voice echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's attention to the stage. Standing there was Present Mic, U.A.'s dynamic and energetic hero, his presence commanding the room. The examinees fell silent, eyes wide with awe as they watched him.
"WELCOME, FUTURE HEROES!" Present Mic bellowed, his voice amplified by his Quirk. "I hope you're all fired up, because today's the day you show us what you're made of! We've got a lot to cover, so let's get right into it!"
A holographic screen flickered to life behind him, displaying various diagrams and images of robots. The examinees leaned forward, eyes glued to the presentation.
"Alright, here's how it's gonna go down," Present Mic continued, pacing across the stage with boundless energy. "First up, we've got the practical test! Your mission? To dispatch as many villain bots as you can within the time limit. These bots come in different models, each worth a different amount of points. The more points you rack up, the better your score!"
The screen shifted to show images of different robots: a sleek, agile bot worth one point, a sturdier model worth two points, and a massive, tank-like bot worth three points. The examinees murmured among themselves, the atmosphere thick with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"Now, pay attention, because this is important," Present Mic said, his tone growing serious. "You're not just smashing bots for the sake of it. This is about showing us your Quirks, your strategies, and your hero instincts. Use your abilities wisely and think on your feet. And remember, you're being watched, so make it count!"
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. Just as he was about to continue, a tall boy with glasses stood up, his hand raised in a disciplined manner.
"Excuse me, sir!" the boy called out, his voice echoing in the quiet auditorium. "I have a question. You mentioned that we are to destroy these robots for points, but you haven't explained the role of the 'zero-point' villain you mentioned on the pamphlet. As this is a prestigious institution, it is imperative that we understand all aspects of the exam."
The room turned to look at the boy, some in awe, others in annoyance at his interruption. Amelia nudged Izuku and whispered, "Looks like someone's taking this very seriously."
Present Mic blinked in surprise before a wide grin spread across his face. "I was just about to get to that, little listener!"
The examinees chuckled at Present Mic's light-hearted response, easing some of the tension in the room. The boy's posture was still rigid before he nodded at the teacher.
"As our diligent friend here pointed out," Present Mic continued, addressing the entire room, "we have a special villain bot worth zero points. This bad boy is here to create a little chaos. So if you see it, run away. You won't get points from it so there's no reason to do anything to it."
In the exam hall, rows of examinees sat at their desks, the atmosphere thick with concentration and tension. Amelia flipped through her test papers, her brow furrowed in focus. The written exam was challenging, testing not just their knowledge of hero laws and ethics, but also their problem-solving abilities and tactical thinking.
Izuku, seated in a different room, scribbled furiously, his mind racing through the questions. He had quizzed Amelia on the ride over, helping her with last-minute revisions. Now, he applied the same rigour to his own exam, driving him forward despite the complex questions.
As the time ticked down, Amelia double-checked her answers, her confidence growing. She had prepared diligently for this moment, and it showed. With a final flourish of her pen, she completed her last answer, a sense of accomplishment washing over her.
The faux urban environment of the practical exam was both vast and intimidating, a labyrinth of streets and buildings designed to challenge the examinees. Amelia stood at the entrance, her eyes scanning the landscape for any sign of the robotic villains.
"You have ten minutes to score as many points as you can by destroying villain bots. Remember, real battles don't have countdowns—so go, go, GO!" Present Mic's voice echoed in her mind as she surged forward.
Immediately, Amelia spotted a hulking robot lumbering towards her. With a swift motion, she launched herself into the air, her heat vision slicing through the robot's chassis. It exploded in a shower of sparks, and Amelia landed gracefully, already targeting her next opponent.
Her strategy was clear and effective. She combined her combat skills with her agility, moving swiftly from one robot to the next, dismantling them with precision. Her experience in spars and battles honed her instincts, allowing her to anticipate and counter the robots' attacks.
In the midst of her onslaught, she noticed an examinee struggling against a pair of robots. Amelia dashed forward, blasting one robot with heat vision and smashing the other with a powerful kick. The examinee, a boy with dark hair, looked up at her with gratitude.
"Thank you!" he gasped, backing away from the wreckage.
"Keep moving," Amelia urged, her eyes already locking onto her next target. "Don't let them corner you."
As she continued, Amelia's score climbed steadily. She saved several examinees from tight spots, each rescue earning her valuable points. Her movements were a blur of speed and precision, her strikes calculated and efficient. She felt a surge of pride as she realized she was not just keeping up but excelling, her points tallying higher and higher.
With only a few minutes left, Amelia spotted a massive robot—a towering behemoth worth zero points but capable of causing immense destruction. Without hesitation, she leapt towards it, using her heat vision to slice through its joints. It crumpled to the ground, its size and power neutralized in a matter of seconds.
As the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the practical exam, Amelia stood amidst the wreckage, panting but exhilarated. She had not only met her expectations but surpassed them.
Amelia waited nervously in front of U.A. High's entrance, her heart pounding with anticipation. She scanned the crowd of examinees, searching for any sign of Izuku. The excitement of the day still buzzed through her veins, but now it was mingled with concern.
Finally, she spotted him, limping slightly but grinning widely as he made his way towards her.
"How'd it go?" she called out, her eyes shining with curiosity and worry.
Izuku gave her a tired but triumphant smile. "I think I did okay," he said, his voice filled with cautious optimism. "How about you?"
"I managed to rack up a lot of points," Amelia replied, her own excitement bubbling over.
Izuku's eyes widened in awe. "That's amazing, Amelia! I knew you could do it."
As they stood together, the reality of their achievement began to sink in. Now they just had to wait for their results.