Chapter 06 ~ Test of speed
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Under a bright, refreshing sky, the sports field at U.A. High School buzzed with energy. A gentle breeze swept over the lush green grass, sending waves through the trees around the open, sunlit grounds. Aizawa stood before his class, his dark, tired eyes scanning each student as they assembled in their UA sports uniforms, the faint shadows of his perpetual fatigue etched under his gaze. His ever-present scarf of fabric wound around his neck, fluttering lightly in the breeze, added an air of mystery and vigilance.
Aizawa's voice cut through the lively hum of anticipation, "Seems like everyone's here, so I'll get straight to the point." He didn't bother with pleasantries. Instead, he began detailing the physical tests they were about to face. "You'll be participating in a series of eight physical tests, each pushing your abilities to the limit. But let me show you exactly what I mean." His eyes turned to Bakugo, signaling him forward.
Bakugo stepped out confidently, a determined gleam in his eye. In his usual fashion, he approached the baseball and prepared to throw. Taking a deep breath, he launched the ball with raw strength, managing a respectable, natural distance without using his quirk. Aizawa nodded, his tone matter-of-fact as he explained, "At UA, we allow you to use your quirks freely during training. Now, Bakugo, show us what you can do with your quirk."
Bakugo's eyes narrowed with focus, and a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his hand as he channeled his energy. With an intense spark, he released the ball, propelling it forward with a fiery explosion. The ball shot through the air, leaving a faint trail of smoke, and landed far beyond his previous throw. The sheer force multiplied his distance tenfold, sparking an instant reaction from the other students.
Mina Ashido's eyes widened in awe as she exclaimed, "Amazing!" Her pink-skinned face lit up, matching her bubbly excitement. "We're actually allowed to use our quirks here? Every other school just drills it into us not to use them—even in sports!"
"Exactly what I'd expect from UA," Tenya Iida added, adjusting his glasses with a look of admiration and approval.
Asui's eyes sparkled with a hint of enthusiasm, her frog-like smile evident as she muttered, "It does make it… a little exciting. Ribbit."
Izuku Midoriya, however, remained silent, his eyes lingering on his hand. For a brief moment, he clenched his fist, wrestling with his uncertainty. He hadn't yet mastered his quirk—if he used it here, he'd risk shattering his bones. Thoughts churned within him; his determination flared, but he knew he couldn't unleash his power without severe consequences.
Breaking the reverie, Aizawa's voice sharpened. "You think this is fun?" His eyes glinted with a hint of his usual blunt intensity. "Let's make it more interesting: the student who places last in these tests… will be expelled."
The words hit like a shockwave. Faces dropped, and whispers quickly spread among the students. "Expelled?" one muttered, disbelief thick in their voice. "But it's our first day! Is he serious?"
Amid the murmurs, Gabimaru remained silent, blending into the crowd. But internally, his thoughts churned with irritation. He'd hoped to go unnoticed, to blend into the background and curb his abilities. After all, winning or losing held little meaning—until Aizawa introduced the threat of expulsion. The thought of failure—and of the ramifications it could hold for his own goals—made his jaw tighten. Now, he'd have no choice but to give his all.
The physical tests began. The first was a test of speed—a straightforward sprint, yet this was one of the most revealing trials for anyone daring to challenge Iida. When Aizawa called out Gabimaru and Iida to the starting line, the students' chatter grew louder, intrigued by the pairing.
At the sound of the starting cue, Iida shot forward, the engines in his calves flaring with a powerful burst. A rush of wind erupted from his strides as he focused intently on the finish line, his gaze steely beneath his glasses. With unwavering confidence, he thought, *When it comes to speed, I simply don't lose!*
Gabimaru, however, felt a subtle shift within himself. Watching Iida pull ahead, something awakened—a primal resolve that burned as intensely as any training he'd endured. Muscles tense, he steeled his mind. Failure, in this case, was not an option. In an instant, he poured everything into his body, unleashing a surge of strength. His sudden burst of speed tore through the air, rattling the very ground and sending a wave of wind rippling outward, catching everyone off guard.
"Whoa!" several students gasped, their hair tousling wildly from the force of Gabimaru's sprint.
As Iida's engines roared, he glanced back, his expression morphing into shock. Gabimaru, defying all expectation, had closed the gap with alarming speed. *What?! How is he this fast?* Iida thought, stunned as Gabimaru's presence closed in beside him—and then, in an instant, Gabimaru surpassed him, crossing the finish line first.
Silence settled over the field. For a heartbeat, the students seemed too shocked to react. Iida was frozen at the finish line, his eyes wide with disbelief. He, the one who specialized in speed, had been beaten.
Gabimaru halted at the finish line, his expression steady, though a faint glimmer of tension lingered in his eyes. He was aware of how close he'd come to losing but showed none of it. Wordlessly, he turned, walking back toward the crowd of students who watched him in stunned silence, his effortless victory leaving an undeniable impression.
In the whispers that followed, one question repeated itself among the students: *Did Gabimaru use his quirk to achieve that speed?*
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