Chapter Text
When Aizawa called his name, he positioned himself at the running lane. His running partner was someone named 'Tsuyu Asui'. The girl with dark green hair, who crouched down at the start line in a frog like manner. Probably related to her quirk. He would ask her after running.
To make his time more believable, he should limit himself to the speed of Tsuyu.
The countdown started and he got in position, he had to at least look like he tried. At the final sound he sprinted forward, just a millisecond after Tsuyu had taken her first leap. He was keeping up with her, but from outside it must have looked like he was getting faster than her since he continuously moved and she took long, explosive jumps.
In the end they both reached the finishing line at about the same time.
"You were fast!", was the first thing he told the girl.
"Hmm..", the girl just watched him for a second before answering, "you were pretty fast yourself. Ribbit. Is your quirk wind related?"
Venti beamed at the answer, "yes! And yours is related to frogs, right?"
She nodded, "your name was Kaiser, right?"
Right. His made-up surname. He actually did not want to be called by that, it felt weird enough whenever his name was accompanied by it. But these were the customs of Japan, so maybe... Ah, who cares?
"It is, but please call me Venti instead, I think it suits me much more than my family name," his smile became a little bit awkward, although his tone of voice was as cheerful as ever.
There was a short pause in conversation, Asui seemed to be contemplating something. "Then call me Tsu."
Venti could not really guess her thoughts, since, well, her face barely changed throughout the conversation, although considering her words it seemed like he was on his best way to make a new friend. He should definitely introduce her to Izuku, he needed some more friends for after Venti would leave this world.
"Okay, Tsu! May the winds bless your travels!"
Speaking of his friend, he should get back to him by now. He should not let him get lonely.
"Bye, I'll be going now!" He waved a goodbye and hopped away on the tip of his feet.
"Travels? Ribbit?"
___
"Izuku! Your score was pretty good!" Venti called out to his green friend. Midoriya turned at the sound of his name.
He and Ochako were standing together, Izuku's hands were raised into the air and his face was reddened. A mischievous smile made itself onto Venti's face. He had already learned that the boy got easily embarrassed when talking to girls, but it seemed it was especially severe with Uraraka. Maybe he just thought of her as a little too beautiful to speak with.
"Ah, Venti," was the only thing Izuku got out before getting interrupted.
"Oh, was I intruding on something? Ah, forgive this humble bard for such rudeness! I shall leave you two dear people to each other!" Venti dramatically bowed apologetically and seemed to turn away at his last words.
"Huh, what, wait no! What are you saying Venti!" Ochaco's cheeks looked a little more pink than usual while the green haired boy next to her only stood there frozen with a dumbfounded expression.
A second later he finally realized what Venti was hinting at and his body sprang into motion. He moved his arms in a denying manner and muttered something out loud that none of the two listeners could understand.
The only reaction Venti could muster was a heartfelt laugh, "hahaha, don't worry you two I was only teasing you!"
After his comment Uraraka only pouted and Midoriya was still too shy to say anything. It was quite the funny sight. Although it did not last for too long as the next few trials were commenced.
While the test continued and Venti could see Midoriya growing more and more anxious. Venti mainly got high scores in agility parts and rather low ones in strength parts. He would probably pass. Although he was not entirely sure Aizawa-sensei intended on expelling anyone, only that the man would dare to do so. Hopefully, even with his lower scores Izuku could keep away from last place. He did not want to test the teacher.
___
He pressed down hard on the device, closing his eyes, hoping this could get him at least a decent score for the test. He had been working out before coming to UA, so even without his quirk he should be able to get a higher ranking score somewhere. When he could not feel his grip strength increasing anymore, he opened his eyes and looked at the number displayed. Izuku read a 56.3kg. 56! That was not so bad afterall.
Midoriya felt a bit proud at his achievement when he got distracted by sounds of surprise and admiration coming from the other side of the hall.
"Wow, you're super strong!" The small purple haired boy from the changing room called out.
The one he was talking to was a big guy with three arms on each side, connected by a layer of skin, instead of each being free from one another individually. He was pressing one side of his set of arms down on the device for the test.
All of Izuku's self-worth for his score just shattered at the number displayed. 250 kg. He only got 56! How was he supposed to get a higher placement than last place?
As he was anxiously thinking about his options, a hand was suddenly placed on his shoulder. With surprise Izuku turned around a saw-
"Venti", weirdly enough his voice sounded a bit out of breath. Was he muttering again without realizing?
"You okay, Midoriya?" The boy could see a bit of worry in his classmate's eyes. The type of eyes he had ever only seen on his mother's face. Ones that showed care for him. Ones that his old classmates never had for him. Was this the way friends were supposed to look at you?
Trailing his friend was a brown haired girl. THE brown haired girl he met and saved in the entrance exam and that greeted him with the Iida guy this morning! She also looked a bit concerned, although not as much as Venti.
"Yeah... I'm just, uhh, not really sure I can avoid getting last place..." Izuku had a feeling that Venti already knew what was going on, considering the effect of his quirk and that he decided to talk to him at this moment, not earlier. The wind must have told him...
"Hmm..." He put a hand to his chin and hummed a bit. "Uraraka-san, how about you go register your score," he then recommended to the girl.
"Oh, okay, see you on the next one then," she agreed a bit hesitantly, but left the two boys to remain alone.
"So, your new quirk must have some really bad side effects for you to avoid using it, or else it should be easy to get first place with his quirk." Venti bluntly stated pretty much Izuku's whole predicament. Even though he expected him to know something was wrong, him being aware of the whole quirk transference took him aback.
Seeing Midoriya's shocked expression Venti smiled slightly, "don't worry, I won't tell anybody. I promise."
At these words Izuku felt himself relax, even a bit of the tension built up from the test had disappeared. Somehow Venti's calm demeanor freed his mind to some extent, although he could not let go of the thought of failure. It was now clear to him that he was not just afraid of expulsion, but failing to become a hero who could save others while he had been given a chance by the greatest hero of all time. He did not want to disappoint All Might, and most importantly himself.
"I broke my bones while using it in the entrance exam..." He figured Venti might be able to help him. His friend always seemed to know weird wisdoms that no 14-year-old should have. It was strange, he had to admit, but he had come to accept it as a part of Venti. There was nothing wrong with being wise after all!
"Huh?" Venti looked absolutely dumbfounded. He blinked two times then took a different stance, seemingly thinking very hard about it. "Was it all of them?", he finally settled to ask.
"All of my bones? Uh, no, I think it was only my legs and one of my arms..." Izuku did not know why this mattered, but it dawned on him at his friend's next comment.
"Did you use your quirk on those limbs?" Venti was still thinking for himself, but Midoriya already caught on.
He did, and only those parts broke, no other bones. Where was Venti getting with this?
"Yeah, only those that broke." He replied a bit hesitant at the vast understanding of his quirk Venti showed.
"Well, I think if you are going to use it, it would be best to not incapacitate yourself completely. At least I think you want to finish all of these tests with decent scores. You won't be able to, if you have a broken arm and I doubt Aizawa-sensei will send you to the nurse before the test is finished." Venti held his breath for a second and looked at the testing device in his hand. Raising it for Izuku to see a 36 displayed, he happily finished with, "I will go register this now, you want to tag along?" There was a friendly smile on his face, but Izuku could not shake off the feeling that Venti was trying to avoid something with the way he suddenly changed the subject.
Venti seemed to have a clear idea what he could do to get a good score, but why did he not tell Midoriya? Was there something about this way he would not like to do? Something he might not be able to? What reason would there be to keep this secret?
He was strange in these types of situations. He would share some of his wisdom, but not enough to understand it by listening, instead Venti would leave one wondering what his words meant and when directly asked he somehow dodges the question. He was odd in that way, although this time it was not as bad, he did not speak in riddles this time. Compared to some other things he told Izuku this was pretty straightforward.
As an answer to Venti's comment Midoriya nodded and followed him along.