Chapter Text
The student population was gathered into the auditorium, filling the seats up. Jacob had been seated next to Sunwoo, while to the boy’s right sat Younghoon and Haknyeon.
Across from him, he spots Eric sitting next to a boy on his left with light blonde hair, narrow eyes and thin lips decorating his features. He was rather pale but his outfit stands out from the crowd. Next to Eric’s right sat two more boys, chattering with Eric and the other boy. One had lavender hair, sharp eyes and sharp nose and a delicate smile decorating his face. One had green hair, wide eyed and the apple of his cheeks hosting a dimple in each. (“He looks like a chipmunk.” Jacob thought to himself.)
Jacob continued to scan the auditorium for Sangyeon and Jaehyun, not being able to find either boys. From the corner of his eye, he spots Younghoon scanning the crowd for Chanhee, seemingly unable to find him too.
He jumped when he hears a microphone being tapped, a strong voice following afterwards.
“Good morning students.” Jacob watches as a woman walks out, clad in a suit as she walked onto the podium, microphone in hand. She slots the handle into the stand before looking at the crowd, aspiring to be apart of modern society’s hero population.
Behind her walks five more figures, and he feels his breath hitch in his throat at the sight of one of them.
“I’m CU’s headmistress Choi Sooyoung. Its a pleasure to see new faces. I can see that many of you are hopeful and full of positivity.” The crowd of students applauded as the five figures took a seat in the chairs prepared on the stage. “This year, the school will be having sponsors, some of the most well known companies and influential people in our society.”
Jacob watches as one of them stands up and waves to the crowd of students. “Our sponsors this year are none other than the illustrious conglomerates, many of whom support our dear university.” Sooyoung continues. “Presenting, Mr. Shin Taekwon!”
The middle aged man waves as some applauded their hands for him, thanking the applause with a small bow before sitting down once again. Jacob watched as their headmistress continued to introduce names, from the Boo conglomerate to the Lee conglomerate. He watched as the middle aged men stood and wave, students applauding.
“Finally, one of the most powerful families in our society, notable for a great help in aiding our top heroes.” Sooyoung announced, smile on her face. “Ms. Kim Saeyoung!”
A woman no older than 40 stood up, bowing 90 degrees to the crowd. From the corner of Jacob’s eye, he watches as Younghoon scowled at the sight of the woman. Jacob felt his own face form a frown.
His eyes followed Kim Saeyoung’s figure as she sat down, crossing her legs in an elegant matter. The applause fades as Sooyoung started speaking into the microphone once again.
“The admission exam will be as follows- The faculty has given you all a card before entering the auditorium correct?” A loud chorus of yeses rang out. “The numbers inscribed into your cards are which arena your examinations will take in.” Jacob fished the card out of his pocket, looking at the number.
1-A.
“We will be monitoring your performances from the control room and once the exams has been concluded, we will sum up your scores to determine which class you will be in here in CU. The General Class, Sidekick Class or Hero Class.” Sooyoung concludes.
“Good luck and welcome to CU!”
—
Jacob was grouped along with Sunwoo, Haknyeon and Younghoon and they were making their way into their assigned arena, Jacob spots Jaehyun’s ash blonde hair in the distance along with Sangyeon’s strong build. The two were talking with Choi Chanhee and another boy, taller than all three and has great proportions. His face decorated with sharp eyes and the ends of his lips upright.
“Yah! Lee Jaehyun!” Jacob hears Eric call, walking from the other side of the hall with the three boys he saw him with earlier. He watches Jaehyun and Sangyeon greet Eric, before Sangyeon spots Jacob.
“Jacob! You guys are in the same arena as us?” Sangyeon asked. Jacob hummed in affirmation as he watched the other boys introduce each other. He came to learn that the other boy Jaehyun and Sangyeon were with besides Chanhee is Lee Juyeon; whilst the three boys with Eric are named Hyunjun, Kevin and Changmin. Jacob learns that Chanhee and Younghoon knew Juyeon due to having influential families, while Kevin is from Vancouver.
Hyunjun was stirring up a conversation with Sunwoo, Haknyeon and Eric; who were the youngest ones in the group. The four hit it off immediately, Jacob’s eyes crinkling into crescents as he smiled like a proud father.
He feels an arm slinging on his shoulder, looking on his left to see Younghoon’s side profile, gray and red hair disheveled from Chanhee and Juyeon’s greetings.
“You think we can handle whatever’s in there?” He hears Younghoon’s voice murmur, the overlapping chatter of the other boys muffled in the background. “I don’t know.” Jacob murmured back, resting his cheek on the younger’s shoulder while looping his right arm into Younghoon’s left.
The two stayed like that for who knows how long before a cough snapped them out of their trance; Younghoon standing up straight and Jacob unloosing his arm and removing his cheeks on Younghoon’s shoulder. The two turn around to see the group, some wearing grins on their faces while Jacob watched Chanhee snicker.
“Come on.” Sangyeon ushered. “The PA just announced that the test is starting in 5 minutes.”
The two nodded before separating, Younghoon striking a conversation with Jaehyun whilst Jacob ended up walking side by side with Chanhee. All 12 of them made their way into the arena, seeing other students taking the test chatting.
“So- Its been a while huh hyung?” Chanhee whispered. Jacob looked at the purple haired boy before a grin made its way onto Jacob’s face. “I know Hee.”
—
“Welcome. The trial will start now.” Sooyoung’s voice rang from the speakers. All the applicants were huddled into the center of the arena, Jacob and his newfound friends huddled together. Their surroundings changed to be that of a city, skyscrapers decorating their surroundings. In the distance, Jacob sees a road with an arch of trees beside it. More and more building emerge, mimicking the streets of-
“Incheon.” Jacob hears Jaehyun mutter, eyes scanning their surroundings. He watches Jaehyun and Younghoon scan the streets before Younghoon gasped in realization. “This is Songdo.”
“You mean- the trial is taking place in a mock of Songdo?” Hyunjun asked. Jacob sees Haknyeon gasp in amazement (“He’s from the countryside in Jeju, he rarely gets to see cities.” Sunwoo mentioned, Eric applauding at Haknyeon happily.) staring off into the distance. Younghoon and Jaehyun nodded. Jacob came to learn that Jaehyun is from Songdo, and he knows very well that Younghoon is too. “We should split into two teams of 6, there’s 12 of us so its perfect.” Sangyeon says, Juyeon nodding in agreement.
“We should have at least one person from each team that knows Songdo.” Kevin mentions. “One team should have Jaehyun and the other Younghoon. Both are from Songdo.” Jacob suggests. Everyone agreed with Jacob’s suggestion and soon enough, they formed two teams. One made up of Jaehyun, Eric, Sunwoo, Haknyeon, Kevin and Hyunjun. The other made up of Younghoon, Chanhee, Jacob, Sangyeon, Juyeon and Changmin.
“Let’s meet up here at the final wave.” Changmin speaks up. “Who knows what will happen.”
All of them nodded. “Got it!”
The horn blows.
—
Jaehyun leads his team, the rest running behind him. He could hear electricity spark behind him, Eric’s aura building up onto his quick. His whole body was glowing neon green as his speed increased.
“This is your quirk?!” Jaehyun hears Haknyeon call out. “Yeah! Wait until you see me in action!” Eric flashed a cocky smile.
“Well I think you should show us what you’re capable of by now!” Hyunjun yells. Ahead of them was a copy of a droid wrecking buildings. A few students were already surrounding it, prepared to attack, but Eric was faster.
Jaehyun watched as Eric propelled himself onto the walls of the buildings, building his momentum before delivering a kick and knocking the droid down onto the asphalt, not functioning.
“Good job Eric!” Jaehyun cheers. Eric greets him with a thumbs up before pointing behind them. “Behind you guys!”
Hyunjun shifts into a panther, pouncing on a droid before clawing its wires out. Sunwoo started blowing the droids up as their metal carcasses fall onto the ground while Haknyeon controls vines to constrict the droid’s movement. Jaehyun launched himself as a dagger materializes into his right hand and stabs the bot’s arm. Kevin’s body stated to materialize into a solid form as his arm stretched around the droid’s neck, snapping it.
Jaehyun smirks as he spots Eric plunging into the ground, knocking two droids at once.
This is gonna be fun.