Chapter Text
Alroy shuffled anxiously as she approached the grand entrance gates of U.A. The towering gates, adorned with intricate designs, loomed over her, a stark reminder of how significant this day was. Having recently moved to Japan with her father, she felt a whirlwind of nerves, grappling with the unfamiliar language that felt just out of reach. It was so different than anything she’d ever heard.
Today was the entrance exam, and she couldn't help the anxiety creeping in the back of her mind, whispering the words she'd been told so many times. Her long, droopy ears twitched with anticipation, catching sounds of students chatting and laughing, their voices blending into a nervous hum.
As she glanced around, the diverse crowd of aspiring heroes came into focus. Individuals of all shapes and sizes filled the campus, each as unique as the quirks they possessed. Some with strikingly bright skin, others with peculiar facial features, and even a few sporting multiple arms. Despite their varied appearances, Alroy couldn’t escape the stares directed her way as she walked, the sound of her hooves clacking against the concrete resounding in the air, and her tail swishing lightly in a nervous rhythm behind her.
The campus itself was a marvel. The main building, a masterpiece of modern architecture, featured sleek lines and an array of windows that sparkled in the sunlight, reflecting the clear blue sky above. ‘It’s the exact opposite of the guild,’ she thought bitterly.
In the midst of her wandering, an unexpected commotion broke her thoughts. A boy stumbled right in front of her, and, almost instinctively, she extended her arm, grasping the back of his shirt to prevent his face from meeting the ground. He yelped, startled, as she pulled him upright, barely saving him from an embarrassing fall.
“H-HUH?” The boy exclaimed, his dark green hair tousled around his round, freckled face. He looked up at her, wide-eyed, his jade green eyes shimmering with surprise.
“You should be careful. You could have hurt yourself,” she said in rough Japanese, her Irish accent weaving through her words.
He stared for a moment, an awkward silence enveloping them before he finally regained his composure. “A-ah. Thank you. I’m Izuku Midoriya,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He averted his gaze, bowing deeply as a blush crept to his cheeks.
She responded with a mischievous grin. “Yes. I’m Alroy O’Neil. But please, call me Alroy,” she replied, reaching out to pat his fluffy green hair, surprising him with the unexpected gesture.
Izuku scratched the back of his neck, still feeling flustered. “I-I’m sorry if I sound rude, Alroy, but you don’t sound like you’re from around here.” His voice was quiet, and he straightened up, attempting to appear more confident.
Alroy chuckled softly, glancing down as if to collect her thoughts. “Ah, I am not. I lived in Ireland. I only moved here recently. Apologies if my Japanese isn’t perfect,” she admitted, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Izuku nodded in understanding.
“What’s your quirk?” she asked, tilting her head curiously, a playful lilt in her voice.
Midoriya jolted slightly at the question, his green eyes widening. “Oh… um, I only developed my quirk a few months ago, but I can enhance my strength,” he muttered, casting his gaze down at his feet.
Alroy nodded thoughtfully, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. “I see. I think my quirk is what they call a ‘villain quirk.’” She fiddled with the strings of her hoodie, her brow furrowing slightly. “It is difficult to explain. I’ll show you later,” she added apologetically.
“Ah, all right! I’ll see you at the entrance exam, Alroy! Good luck!” He flashed her a shy smile before turning to leave.
“Villain quirk?” came a voice from behind her, quiet and tinged with tiredness.
Alroy turned to see a boy with spiky purple hair and dark circles under his eyes, looking like he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in ages. His demeanor was heavy, weighed down by something unspoken. “Yes, I think that’s the term for it,” she replied, mirroring his height as she faced him.
“I get it,” he sighed, shuffling his feet in the gravel. “I’d be surprised if they even let me into general ed.”
“Why’s that? What’s your quirk?” Alroy crossed her arms, intrigued.
He glanced at the ground, his voice barely above a murmur as he replied, “…if someone answers me, I can mind control them.”
Her eyes widened. ‘Mother would have frothed at the mouth to have him in the guild,’
She coughed lightly, snapping herself out of her thoughts. “I see. I don’t think that’s a villain quirk,” she said, placing a reassuring hand on his head. His eyes widened in surprise at her touch. “My quirk is called Blood Beast. I can create monsters out of blood,” she explained, holding out her palm with a flicker of excitement.
He watched in a combination of awe and disbelief as she produced a pocket knife from her belt. With a swift motion, she sliced it across her palm just deep enough to draw blood. The dark red liquid dripped onto the concrete, pooling beneath her. Almost immediately, the blood began to shift and spill into a writhing shape, growing larger with each droplet. The boy’s eyes widened as the small puddle contorted into a small, twisting snake, roughly the length of her forearm. It slithered up her leg, leaving a trail of crimson behind.
“See? Blood is what powers me. Quite evil, right?” She let out a soft laugh, her grin genuine as she introduced herself. “I am Alroy. You are?”
The purple-haired boy stared at the snake in disbelief, caught off guard by the sight. “Uh… Hitoshi Shinso,” he murmured. “Wow. My quirk seems almost angelic compared to yours,” he added, realizing too late how that sounded and instinctively slapping a hand over his mouth.
Alroy chuckled, the sound lightening the air. “Well, Hitoshi, neither of our quirks will likely be very helpful in the exam,” she said lightly, gesturing towards the entrance exam materials. “The robots have no blood and can not answer your questions. That’s why we must be resourceful. We need to prove we deserve to be here. Master combat as well as our quirks,” she continued, her gaze steady and determined.
She held his gaze, a spark of camaraderie forming between them. “Let’s do this for the villains, eh?” she said with a bright smile, her enthusiasm infectious.
Hitoshi managed a small smile in return, the weight on his shoulders feeling a little lighter.
“Right. We’ll do our best. I’ll see you in the hero course,” he replied, a newfound resolve settling in as they shared a moment of understanding.
Alroy nodded. The snake disappeared, and she walked away, hooves clacking on the stone surface.
-
She sprinted through the gates the moment they swung open, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Clutching her pocketknife tightly, its cool metal felt reassuring against her palm. With a burst of energy, she leapt onto a one-pointer, her lips curling into a triumphant grin as she spotted the control panel nestled at the back. Without hesitation, she plunged her knife into the panel, prying it open and attacking the maze of wires inside. With a satisfying crash, the robot collapsed to the ground, its metallic form now a mere heap.
An explosion sounded behind her. A loud, booming echo that rang in her ears for what seemed like forever. She froze for a moment, instinctively locking her muscles. After a moment, she shook her head, returning to her senses.
As she rounded the corner, a striking sight captured her attention. A girl with shimmering blue hair and delicate fins stood frozen, pale skin glistening under the harsh light. Blood streamed from a deep cut on her arm, pooling ominously at her feet. Alroy’s heart fluttered at the sight. She bit the inside of her cheek. Now is not the time. The girl’s wide eyes shone with terror as she clutched her bleeding arm.
Desperation surged through Alroy. She reached out with her quirk, pulling at the blood that seeped from the girl. With a fierce determination, she willed it to rise and twist into form. As the crimson liquid coalesced, a tall, slender figure emerged, its grotesque form crafted from the essence of the girl’s blood. The girl’s scream pierced the air as black eyes met with unnatural yellow. Yet, the creature, with its crooked arms, gently patted her on the head, almost soothingly.
“It’s okay! It’s going to help!” Alroy reassured, commanding the creature to engage the robot looming nearby. The girl was losing enough blood to summon more of these strange beasts, and soon four towering figures began encircling the robotic foe, ready to obey whatever order Alroy desired.
Alroy sprinted to the girl’s side, quickly pulling a wrap bandage from her pocket. She always carried one for emergencies. With careful hands, she wrapped the girl’s wounded arm, her touch firm. After securing the bandage, Alroy effortlessly lifted the girl, who looked up at her with wide eyes and a flushed face.
“T-thanks…” the girl murmured, her voice shaky as she winced in pain. Alroy pumped her legs, rushing the girl to safety.
“It’s alright,” Alroy replied, her voice steady. “I need to go, but you stay safe, okay?” She offered a reassuring pat on the girl’s head before turning away.
Just as she started to move, Alroy sensed another rush of blood pooling from another host. Anxiety flooded her chest as she sprinted back into the fray, sighing softly. The beasts she had called forth had dismantled the three-pointer, now shifting their attention to other targets. Alroy continued her frantic work, aiding the injured and crafting monsters from their spilled blood, and by the time the dust settled, she tallied an unimpressive fifteen points in total.
A wave of disappointment washed over her. She thought she had failed until the cheery voice of the announcer echoed through the arena, revealing a secondary point system. To her astonishment, she discovered her score: 320 rescue points. A flicker of hope ignited within her.
Meanwhile, Hitoshi had garnered a mere four points, likely from manipulating someone to protect him rather than fighting himself.
Her shoulders eased slightly at the revelation, but a bittersweet regret twisted in her heart. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed that Hitoshi wouldn’t be alongside her in the hero course. He seemed like a genuinely nice person, albeit shy, and she wondered if it would be possible to strike up a conversation with him.
As she twirled a strand of her dark red hair around her finger, furrowing her brow in thought, a gentle tap on her shoulder jolted her from her reverie. Turning around, she found Hitoshi standing there, his expression blank, devoid of the exuberance that surrounded them.
“Congrats, you’re probably getting into the hero course,” he said, his gaze downcast as if the weight of the world rested upon him.
“Hitoshi, tell me: did you fight?” she asked, her hands planted firmly on her hips, challenging him.
He glanced up momentarily, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. “No.”
Alroy rubbed the bridge of her oddly shaped nose in exasperation. That explained quite a bit. “Hitoshi, you cannot rely solely on your Quirk to become a hero. You must be proficient in all forms of combat,” she asserted, her voice firm with determination. “I will teach you before school starts.” She didn’t give him a chance to respond as she snatched his phone from his bag and deftly typed in her number. “You have no choice in this.”
“Right… okay then,” he accepted slowly, the hint of surprise clear on his face as he turned away. He didn’t seem inclined to argue, and Alroy couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope for what was to come.