The ground trembled beneath my feet. Windows rattled. Loose debris skittered across broken pavement.
That's not normal.
A shadow fell over the street, darkening the mid-morning sun. I looked up.
Holy shit.
The zero-pointer wasn't just big - it was a goddamn kaiju. Its head scraped the skyline, mechanical joints groaning as it rolled forward on massive treads. Each movement crushed cars and scattered concrete like toys.
Focus. Two minutes left. I've got sixty-eight points - more than enough to pass. Better to...
"Please! Help!"
The cry barely registered over the mechanical cacophony, but my ears locked onto it.
"Someone! Anyone!"
Damn it. I turned toward the sound, toward the cloud of dust and debris marking the zero-pointer's path. Other examinees ran past me in the opposite direction, their faces masks of panic.
I ran forward.
The zero-pointer's shadow engulfed everything as I navigated the urban wreckage. Smoke stung my eyes. Dust coated my throat. None of it mattered.
"Help! I'm stuck!"
There. Through the haze, I spotted her - a girl pinned beneath a fallen chunk of building. Her face was streaked with dirt and tears, hands bloody from trying to free herself.
I reached her just as the zero-pointer's next step sent vibrations through the ground. The debris shifted dangerously.
"Hold still." My hands found purchase under the concrete slab. "I've got you."
The weight was significant, but months of strength training with Gramps paid off. I lifted steadily, careful not to cause a collapse.
"Can you move your legs?"
"I- I think it's broken." Her voice shook.
I nodded, mind racing through rescue protocols I'd studied. A broken leg complicated things, but moving her wouldn't worsen the injury if done properly. The zero-pointer's proximity meant speed took priority.
"I'm going to carry you." I shifted my stance. "Try to keep your leg as still as possible."
She nodded, face pale beneath the dirt. I scooped her up bridal style, one arm supporting her back while the other cradled her legs. Her arms instinctively wrapped around my neck.
The zero-pointer's next step crushed a building behind us. I leaped over scattered debris, adjusting my pace to minimize jostling her injury.
Everyone's running from this thing. Even those with powerful quirks won't face it. But...
My eyes narrowed. What better way to prove a quirkless hero's worth?
The girl in my arms tensed as another tremor shook the street. Something clicked in my memory - during the exam, I'd seen her using some kind of anti-gravity quirk.
"Hey." I glanced down at her. "What's your name?"
Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing.
"You okay? Is the pain getting worse?"
"N-no! I mean, I'm Uraraka. Ochaco Uraraka."
"Your quirk - it floats things, right? I saw you floating robots earlier."
"Y-yes. Zero Gravity. I can make things weightless by touching them with my fingertips."
A plan crystallized. I smiled.
"That just might work."
Her arms tightened around my neck. "What might work?"
I nodded toward a massive piece of broken building nearby - easily two tons of concrete and rebar.
"How much weight can you affect?"
"Three tons, but..." Her eyes darted between me and the debris. "What are you planning?"
"Something incredibly stupid or brilliantly simple." I adjusted my grip. "Possibly both."
The zero-pointer's red sensors locked onto us. Its massive arm began to rise.
"Uraraka." My voice stayed steady. "Do you trust me?"
She stared up at me for a long moment. Then her jaw set with determination.
"Yes."
"Touch that chunk of building. Make it weightless. When I say 'now', release your quirk."
Understanding dawned in her eyes. "You're going to throw it?"
"Like a discus." I grinned. "Ready?"
She reached out as we passed the debris, fingers brushing concrete. Pink light flared.
I set her down gently behind a sturdy wall, making sure she was okay. The zero-pointer's shadow loomed closer. Its arm descended like judgment from above.
Perfect.
I grabbed the weightless concrete, feeling its mass without gravity's pull.
I released the concrete at the apex of my rotation.
"NOW!"
Uraraka's quirk released. Two tons of building material, accelerated by the force of my throw, struck the zero-pointer's head like a meteor. The impact triggered a chain reaction - armor crumpled, circuits overloaded, balance failed.
The mechanical titan toppled backward with agonizing slowness. Its massive frame crashed through empty buildings before finally hitting the ground with an earthquake-like impact that sent dust clouds billowing through the streets.
Silence fell.
I turned back to Uraraka, who stared at the fallen giant with wide eyes.
"That was..." She shook her head in disbelief. "How did you..."
"TIME'S UP!" Present Mic's voice shattered the moment. "THE EXAM IS OFFICIALLY OVER!"
I offered Uraraka my hand. "Let's get that leg looked at."
The dust settled around us as Recovery Girl's words echoed through the speakers, calling for any injured examinees to stay put. Uraraka's face reddened.
"Would you... I mean, could you maybe..." She glanced toward the entrance, then back at me. "My leg..."
I nodded. "Of course."
Her arms settled around my neck as I lifted her, careful to keep her injured leg stable. She weighed less than the concrete slabs I'd trained with, though carrying a person required different techniques to maintain their comfort.
"I never got your name," she said.
"Izuku Midoriya."
Fragments of conversation drifted past as we navigated through clusters of exhausted examinees.
"Did you see that throw?"
"Has to be some kind of strength enhancement..."
"...matched up against a monster like that..."
Uraraka's grip tightened slightly. "They're talking about you."
"Let them."
A familiar voice cut through the murmur. "Izu!"
Camie bounded over, her usual grace momentarily forgotten. She pulled up short at the sight of Uraraka in my arms.
"Fam, you work fast." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Already sweeping girls off their feet?"
"She's injured," I said. "Broken leg."
"Oh snap, that's mad rough." Camie's teasing grin softened into genuine concern. "Need help getting to medical?"
"We've got it covered." I adjusted my hold on Uraraka. "How'd you do?"
"Forty-eight points." She fell into step beside us. "Lost count of how many people thought my illusions were real villains though. Their faces when they tried punching smoke? Priceless."
We reached the entrance where a makeshift triage area had been set up. A sharp whistle pierced the air. The crowd parted as a woman strode toward us, her presence commanding immediate attention.
She moved with lethal grace, each step precise in white thigh-high boots. A traditional nurse's cap sat atop shoulder-length black hair, one side swept forward to partially cover her face. The loose lab coat she wore did little to hide her figure, and a single buttoned collar drew attention to pale skin and a beauty mark beneath full lips.
But it was her eyes that held me - sharp blue that missed nothing, currently fixed on Uraraka's injured leg.
"Broken leg?" She gestured to an empty cot. "Set her down here."
I lowered Uraraka carefully onto the cot. The nurse's blue eyes assessed the injury with clinical precision.
"I'm Queen. Recovery Girl's assistant." Her hands moved with efficiency as she examined Uraraka's leg. "Clean break, from the feel of it. What's your pain level?"
"Six? Maybe seven?"
Queen nodded. "The zero-pointer?"
"Building collapse," I said. "I had to lift the debris off her."
Her visible eye flicked to me, then back to Uraraka. "Any other injuries I should know about?"
Uraraka shook her head.
"Good. Recovery Girl will be here shortly." Queen's tone shifted, carrying an undercurrent of steel. "And you, muscles?"
"I'm fine."
"Uh-huh." She stepped closer, gaze sharp. "Shirt off."
"…What?"
"You lifted part of a building during an adrenaline rush. Let me see what that did to your back."
I considered arguing, but something in her stance suggested that would be unwise. I removed my shirt and felt the presence of multiple eyes on me.
Queen circled me once, fingers probing specific muscle groups. "Minimal strain. Your form must have been good." She stopped in front of me, arms crossed. "Strength quirk?"
"Nah, just good technique from my sensei. He's very thorough about proper form."
"Smart man." She handed my shirt back. "Keep up with your training. Good technique prevents a lot of stupid injuries."
A commotion near the entrance drew her attention. "Duty calls. Stay with your girlfriend until Recovery Girl checks her leg."
"Oh! We're not-" Uraraka's face blazed red.
"She's not my-" I started.
Queen was already gone, moving toward a group of examinees supporting a limping friend.
Camie's shoulders shook with silent laughter.
"Not one word," I said.
"Wouldn't dream of it, fam." She perched on the edge of Uraraka's cot. "So, since we're waiting anyway - that throw was lit. How'd you calculate the timing?"
I sat on a nearby chair. "Physics, mostly. Uraraka's quirk eliminated mass but not inertia, so the rotational force-"
"Nerd alert." Camie grinned. "Love it though. You two made a sick team."
"We did, didn't we?" Uraraka smiled. "I've never seen anyone think to use my quirk like that."
"The application possibilities are fascinating actually. With proper timing and trajectory calculations-"
"There he goes again." Camie nudged Uraraka.
"I don't mind." Uraraka leaned forward slightly. "What other applications did you see?"
I opened my mouth to continue, but Queen's voice cut through the conversation.
"Recovery Girl's ready for you." She helped Uraraka onto a stretcher.
As they wheeled Uraraka away, Camie bumped my shoulder.
"So. Building toss, huh?"
I shrugged. "Seemed like a good idea at the time."
"You're going to build quite the reputation, you know. Everyone's already talking about the guy who took down a zero-pointer."
"Really? I haven't noticed."
"Sure fam." Her grin widened. "They'll especially be talking about the mysterious strong guy who carries cute girls around and doesn't even break a sweat."
I raised an eyebrow. "Mysterious?"
"Well yeah. Nobody saw you use a quirk, but you just casually threw a building. That's going to get attention."
"Good."
Camie studied my face. "You planned this, didn't you? Making a statement?"
"The rescue was legitimate. The method..." I smiled. "Let's say I didn't mind the audience."
"Devious. I like it." She stretched. "So… what should we do now?"
"Forty-eight points, right?" I glanced at Camie.
"Yeah, but-" Her eyes narrowed. "No. Don't you dare."
"I believe that's twenty points less than my sixty-eight." A slight smile tugged at my lips. "Looks like you owe me boba."
Camie's shoulders slumped. "You're really going to hold me to a bet made before you went all action hero?"
"A bet's a bet." I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Just villain bot points. Your words."
"Izu, you're killing me." She pressed a hand to her forehead dramatically. "Fine. But let me get changed first."
"Changed?" I looked her over. Despite the dust and debris from the exam, her outfit still looked impeccable. "What's wrong with what you're wearing?"
"What's wrong?" Camie stared at me like I'd suggested she fight villains in pajamas. "Fam, this is my test outfit. I need my aesthetic on point."
"Your... aesthetic."
"For the gram." She pulled out her phone, thumbs flying across the screen. "First UA boba run is prime content. Need the right fit, right lighting, right everything."
I blinked. "It's just boba."
"Just bo- no." She shook her head. "You sweet, simple muscle child. There's no such thing as 'just' boba. It's an experience. A moment. Something to be captured and shared with my followers."
"Right." I pushed off the wall. "Where am I picking you up?"
"The Grand Sakura Hotel. I'll text you my room number." She paused. "Give me an hour? Maybe hour and a half?"
"An hour to change clothes."
"An hour to create art, fam." She grinned. "Besides, you probably want to clean up too. You've got that whole post-battle rugged look going, which works for some feeds, but-"
"I get it." I didn't, but arguing seemed pointless. "One hour."
"One hour." She started walking backward toward the exit. "Don't be late. Perfect lighting waits for no one."
I watched her disappear into the crowd, shaking my head. Social media. The amount of effort people put into crafting their online presence baffled me.
Then again, maybe Camie had a point. Image was part of being a hero, after all. All Might's smile wasn't just about reassurance - it was his brand. His symbol.
And I just gave everyone something to talk about.
I smiled. The exam had gone better than planned. Not just passing, but making a statement. Showing what a quirkless hero could do.
Now I just had to survive creating a brand over boba.
Gramps would laugh himself sick if he could see me now.