Chapter Text
“Hey, hey, hey! What’s happening, my little listeners? Are you ready to get started? Let me hear you say: YEAH!” Present Mic cheered, walking back and forth across the stage while somehow trying to address the entire auditorium of teenagers all at once.
Silence answered the hero, save for a lone shout near the back of the room.
“Yeah!” Izuku yelped, holding the back of his head where Katsuki had smacked him, before mumbling. “Oh my gosh! It’s Present Mic! I can’t believe we’re seeing a real hero before the exam even begins! Is this what it’s gonna be like if I make it in? What kinda heroes are here? Are there only spotlight heroes here or are there underground heroes, too? I wonder if they’ll sign my hero notebook, or would that be weird?”
Izuku continued mumbling just under his breath, Katsuki huffing next to him but not acting on it any further, while Present Mic continued his speech with a wide smile.
“That’s what I like to hear!” Present Mic practically screamed, causing the majority of the teens to cover their ears with a wince. “But let’s get back on track! So, you’ll start with the written exam, take a short break where UA will be providing lunch in the main cafeteria, and then move into the practical exam at one of our faux cities!”
Behind the hero, a screen lit up showcasing the letters ‘A’ through ‘H’ split into what Izuku could only assume were room numbers throughout the building.
“Each of you were assigned a letter when you signed up for this exam, they’re listed on the top right corner of the temporary ID card you were given when you checked in today. That assigned letter is the group you’ll be with for both the written and the practical exams, with the room numbers listed behind me being where you’ll go for the written exam after this orientation of sorts is over.”
A hand shot up a few rows ahead of Izuku, square glasses and square shoulders following suit as the teenager stood, as well. Of course, Izuku could only see these features clearly after the boy whirled around to reprimand the freckled teenager.
“You! You have been mumbling for almost the entire presentation, and it is very rude to both our presenter and our fellow examinees!” The tall teenager scolded, chopping the air towards Izuku before turning back to the stage to address the hero. “And, sir, you haven’t mentioned anything about the parameters of the practical exam!”
Present Mic’s enthusiastic smile waned a little as awkwardness settled in the air, the uncomfortable look on the hero’s face becoming clear as the screen behind him switched to a camera feed focused on his face.
There was a moment of silence while the hero looked towards the person behind the camera for help, seemingly locking eyes with the entire crowd, while Izuku started muttering again, crossing his arms and shooting a glare at the student who was still standing as he waited for an answer.
“Ah, yes! Good point, examinee number 4706, or something.” Present Mic recovered, mumbling the last bit under his breath even though the microphone picked it up anyway.
Seriously, though? What genius thought it was a good idea to give Present Mic, the hero known for having a voice-amplifying quirk, a microphone?
Whatever.
“I was just finishing up about the written exam, and then we’ll move onto the practical.” Present Mic continued, his anxious smile turning energetic, again, the longer he spoke. “Also, try not to call out your peers before the tests even begin, yeah?”
The student finally sat back down, nodding in approval at the hero’s answer. “Thank you, sir!”
“Of course! Now, let’s get to the practical!” Present Mic started again, switching the screen behind him back to the slide presentation as he went over the different robots the teenagers would see soon.
Izuku, having read through all the information UA had sent about the entry exams when he’d applied, turned to Katsuki on his left. “That guy up there could stand to learn some common decency, huh? I mean, calling me out is one thing, but a UA teacher who’s also a pro hero? That’s just stupid and super freaking rude.”
Katsuki groaned, rubbing a hand down the length of his face before side-eyeing him. “Will you shut the fuck up? I didn’t read up on this like you did, Nerd, so knock it off.”
Izuku covered his mouth, eyes wide, and gave a quick apology to the blonde before immediately turning to the person on his right. “Seriously, though, what kind of background do you have to have to think you can call out a pro hero in the middle of a presentation that obviously wasn’t over, like, come on.”
The boy, he’d started ranting at, who Izuku only now realized after he’d finished was startlingly tall, looked down at Izuku with confusion written all over his features, but stayed silent.
“I mean,” Izuku continued, shifting so he was leaning almost in the other boys’ personal space, “it’s not everyday that you get to hear a pro hero give a presentation, even if it’s only about school. I totally get wanting to ask questions - heck, I have a whole list in my head that I’m still adding onto - but interrupting them and disrespecting them like that is totally not cool.”
The taller boy, who’s space Izuku had definitely invaded, leaned away slightly but didn’t shift otherwise.
“Present Mic, in particular, is super nice and outgoing towards fans and civilians, so I’m positive he’ll stick around after the exams to talk to anyone who asks - at least for a bit. His radio show has call-ins from random people all the time and he always treats everyone with respect, even when they’re rude, just like that guy!” Izuku rambled, pointing at the examinee a few rows up and shaking the arm of the boy who’d yet to stop him from talking.
“Yeah, that guy was a jerk.” The boy finally spoke in the flattest tone ever, not bothering to shake Izuku off but continuing to lean away so their faces weren’t so close.
“Thank you!” Izuku beamed, releasing his hold on the taller boy and offering out his hand. “I’m Izuku Midoriya! Sorry for talking at you!”
The boy stared at the hand held out to him for a moment, letting out a sigh and taking hold before long. “Shinsou, and it’s chill. It’s not like anything you said was wrong.”
“I didn’t keep you from hearing about the exams, did I?” Izuku questioned quickly, concern masking the happiness on his face. “I can explain anything you missed so you’re not left in the dark.”
The tall boy waved off the question, shifting in his seat so the two were closer and they could talk quietly rather than the whisper-yelling they’d been doing before. “Nah, I read the info they sent out before coming here, I’m all good.”
“Ooh, me too!” Izuku cheered, glancing at the stage to see Present Mic wrapping up his speech. “What letter are you?”
Shinsou glanced at his temporary ID before responding, “I’m with group C, you?”
Izuku frowned, not having to check to know his group was different but looking anyway. “I’m in B.”
The pair sat in silence for a moment before Izuku spoke up, again. “Do you wanna sit together at the break?” The freckled boy bounced a little in his seat, his smile returning full force at the idea.
Shinsou looked a bit taken back, but nodded warily after considering his options. “Sure.”
“Awesome!” Izuku cheered, seeing people starting to stand and leave to take the written exam, before hurrying out the rest of his words. “I’ll meet you outside this room after the written test, yeah?”
Shinsou nodded mutely, and that was enough of an answer for Izuku as the freckled boy smiled one last time and waved before making his way through the rows and out of the auditorium towards his testing room.
–
“We’ll be starting the written exam in just a few moments. If you need to use the bathroom, go now. There should be a sealed packet on your desk, don’t break the seal until you’ve been instructed to do so.”
Izuku sat in the back row of the classroom he’d been assigned, filling out the front page of his packet with all his information and the number listed on his temporary ID. He was passively listening to the test administrator read the rules straight from the book in an even more bored tone than Shinsou had used, doodling in the margins once he finished the front page.
“The test will last two hours and fifteen minutes, we’ll be starting at ten so we should be finished by twelve-fifteen if we don’t have any interruptions.” The administrator droned, pushing hair out of his face to check the clock on the wall. “You may now break the seals on your packets and begin.”
Izuku shoved his pencil between the pages and snapped the seal, starting on the test with a smug smile resting on his face after seeing the first few questions. The multiple choice section was a breeze, the questions being the exact same (if worded slightly different) as various past tests the freckled boy had scoured the internet for and studied religiously the past few days. Izuku blew through each of the different topic sections before coming up on the written portion, consisting of two essay questions.
The first was super basic, asking him to explain the responsibilities of, and assess a scenario given to him through the eyes of, a spotlight hero. The second made Izuku pause, his eyes glinting as he adjusted his grip and settled into his hunched over posture with renewed vigor.
‘How have quirk laws dating back to the dawn of quirks carried over into our current age, and who is most affected?’
Well, what do ya know? First year UA has allowed quirkless applicants and they’ve got a question specifically targeted at them, huh.
Izuku’s pencil hit the page and didn’t leave it for more than a millisecond here or there before he had to raise his hand to ask for an extra page to finish. The administrator raised an eyebrow, but set another page on the freckled boy’s desk.
“Thank you, sir!” Izuku chimed, immediately going for the extra page and putting all his attention back into his essay.
The administrator nodded gruffly, pausing to glance over Izuku’s paper, before making his way back to the front of the room. “Five minutes, then pencils down.”
Izuku worked up to the last second, with the administrator actually having to tap his desk for the boy to give up his paper while he read over it, an embarrassed smile stretching his face.
Once all the tests were collected, the administrator waited until he had the attention of the room to dismiss the group. “This concludes the written portion of the test, you’re all free to go get lunch in the cafeteria. The practical portion starts at one-thirty, so make sure you’re at your assigned testing center before then. Outside this room is a map of the campus and the building, as well as the bus routes you’ll have to follow to get to your testing center, don’t get lost.”
As soon as he finished, the administrator gave a little nod and left the room, the examinees following suit before long.
–
“Shinsou!” Izuku cheered, speeding towards his new friend? Acquaintance? Whatever he was, the tall boy looked up from his phone at the sound of his name.
“Hey.” Shinsou waved, stuffing the phone in his pocket.
“Did you wanna eat inside or outside?” Izuku questioned, coming to a stop a step away from the other boy, a sheepish smile spreading. “Personally, I don’t really wanna be around a whole lot of people right now. My anxiety is off the charts.”
Shinsou looked at the freckled boy, understanding flashing in his eyes, before letting a small smile work its way onto his face, nodding. “Outside sounds good.”
Izuku’s awkward look turned more genuinely excited at the answer, the boy bumping against Shinsou’s shoulder and walking down the hall towards where the cafeteria was located, hopefully. Probably. Maybe.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Shinsou asked after a few twists and turns in comfortable silence.
“Nope!” Izuku answered. Popping the ‘p’, while looking around the halls for another map like the one his test administrator had pointed out.
Izuku may or may not have completely ignored it in his hurry to meet up with Shinsou.
Oops.
“Did you look at the map after the written test?” Izuku asked, his eyebrows scrunching together the longer he went without seeing a map.
“Map? There was a map?” Shinsou answered, his oblivious look confirming it.
“Yea, my administrator said there was a map, but I kinda, maybe didn’t look at it.”
“Mine didn’t even mention anything like that.” Shinsou grumbled, looking around in hopes of spotting their shot at getting food before the second test.
“Good afternoon, you two!” A voice called out, making the pair jump and whirl around. “To get to the cafeteria, you’ll take the next left and go to the very end of the hall, take a right, and you’re there!”
The two exchanged looks, a mix of concern and curiosity on both their faces, when they couldn’t find the source of the voice, hall empty.
“I’m not going crazy, am I?” Izuku muttered, his eyes drifting to the ceiling where a PA system speaker was placed. “I can’t go crazy before I’m even finished with the entrance exam.”
A laugh sounds from the same voice as before, a slight static confirming Izuku’s newfound suspicions. “Neither of you are going crazy, I assure you! I hope you two enjoy the rest of the exam, and remember: the practical starts at one-thirty, don’t be late!”
Static followed the voice, but nothing else came over the PA system.
“Should we follow those directions?” Shinsou asked, also looking up at the speaker above them.
“Dismembered voice? Creepy laugh? Random wishes of good luck?” Izuku listed, letting a finger up with each question, before turning to Shinsou with a cheeky smile. “Definitely!”
Shinsou chuckled, shaking his head slightly before starting forward and leading the way. “ We should probably hurry if we want to grab some food and find a spot outside.”
“Totally!” Izuku chimed in agreement, practically skipping next to Shinsou as the pair made their way to the cafeteria, as told by the voice in the ceiling.
–
“You could have just sent one of the teachers to show them the way.” Eraserhead spoke, watching the two boys walk down the given path towards the cafeteria.
“Oh, of course!” Nedzu laughed, sipping his tea and hiding a smile as the pair on screen joked before turning a corner. “But where’s the fun in that?”
Eraserhead sighed, pushing some of the hair out of his face before speaking. “I’m guessing the reason you called me here has something to do with an interest in one of them?”
“Indeed! I have my eyes on Izuku Midoriya! I believe he was in your testing room for the written portion of the exam.” Nedzu spoke, gesturing towards the smaller of the two on screen.
Eraserhead watched the boy in question, huffing when the teenager tripped over his own foot just short of the cafeteria doors. “I saw his essay, but I doubt that’s all there is to it. Do I want to know why?”
Nedzu let his smile show, teeth visible when he put his cup down to free his hands, and looked the man in the eyes. The rat/bear/marsupial-like creature opened one of the drawers at his desk, placing a folder within Eraserhead’s line of sight and opening it to reveal the nervous face of the green-haired boy.
“‘Izuku Midoriya, a late bloomer by all definitions, registered a quirk, Photocopy, at the age of eight. Before that, he was seen as quirkless, and, according to his medical records, he should be.” Nedzu summarized, looking to Eraserhead to see his reaction.
The man’s eyes had widened slightly, but otherwise showed no reaction. “Should we offer to get him re-evaluated professionally?”
“No, probably not.” Nedzu shook his head, closing the folder and placing it back inside the desk.
“And why not?” Eraserhead questioned, confusion lacing his tone, crossing his arms in front of him with a frown.
“That’s where it really gets interesting!” Nedzu cheered, his interest in the boy obvious. “Midoriya applied as a quirkless student! He left his registered quirk off the application entirely!”
Eraserhead’s eyes weren’t the only thing to go wide this time, his mouth dropping slightly before he schooled his features. “Why would an applicant with a registered quirk apply as a quirkless student?”
Nedzu’s eyes held a gleam that made Eraserhead shift in his seat.
“My guess?” The principal started, folding his paws on his desk. “Midoriya doesn’t really have a quirk at all, and knew that a quick background check would lead to this very conversation.”
Eraserhead stayed quiet, uncrossing his arms and moving towards the door to the office, pausing in the entryway. “If - no. When this Problem Child is accepted, please don’t put him in my class.”
Nedzu only laughed as the man closed the door behind him, turning his attention to the clock before getting up and walking to the door himself.
“Time to see if my interests have any merit.” He spoke, making his way to the viewing center for the practical exam where the rest of the staff would be waiting for him. “Good luck, Izuku Midoriya.”