Archive of Our Own

Beep beep beep
“...”
Beep beep beep
“...”
Beep beep be-

A sudden thwack shut the alarm clock off. “Ugh, what time is it?” Finn arose groggily, looking at the well-used alarm clock. “7:30? Good, I got 70 minutes.” A silence fell over the room. “Wait a minute.” Almost as quick as the alarm stopped, Finn bolted out of bed, scooping up whatever pants lay dormant on the floor, hoping they didn’t smell.

“Shit shit shit shit! I’m gonna be late!” Finn exclaimed as he was hopping on one foot, attempting to pull his pants up, rushing towards the bathroom to brush his teeth. “Out of all the days for me to ignore my alarm, today is NOT a good one!”

Finn then practically jumped down the stairs, rushing into the little kitchenette in his aunt’s apartment. “Look who finally woke up, you’re gonna be late.” His aunt was faced towards the sink, washing her dishes, “I already ate, your breakfast is on the table.”

“Thanks Auntie!” Finn exclaimed as he grabbed the plate of bacon and eggs, practically scarfing them down. “Bye Auntie!” Finn then lunged for the door, only to be stopped.

“Forgetting something?” His Aunt asked.
“Hm?” Finn quickly turned around.
“Look down Hun.”
“What do you mean? I remembered pants this-” Finn started as he looked down at his pants. Only his pants. “Fuck.”
And that’s why Finn found himself running towards UA High, about to be late for the entrance exam.

“Name?”
“Nowak. Finn Nowak sir.” Finn wound up being late, despite all his running. “I have to be on the list, I have to!”
“You are sir, that’s not the problem, the problem is that you’re late.” responded the guard at the entrance to the exam. “There’s nothing I can do, sorry sir.”
“Damnit,” Finn muttered, “all that running, for nothing.”

“Now now, I’m sure we can make an exception.” A familiar voice boomed from behind Finn, could it be... “Why? Because I AM HERE!” Finn quickly turned around to confirm that the voice he heard was indeed from the one, the only... “All Might?!” exclaimed Finn. 'What was the world’s Number 1 Pro Hero doing here? To oversee the exam, that’s why. But why here, right next to me!'
“Young Nowak, was it? I believe your brother is a pro hero, am I correct?” explained All Might.
“Y- yes sir! He is. Pro Hero Riptide.”
“Ah, that’s why you looked so familiar.”
“Yes sir, we both have the same quirk.”
“I figured as much! Now it would truly be a shame if Riptide found out that his brother couldn’t follow in his footsteps, wouldn’t it?” All Might said while turning his head to the security guard.
“Y- yes sir it would, sir All Might!” exclaimed the security guard while he opened the gate to UA.
“Thank you, All Might sir.” said Finn, turning his head back while walking through the gate.
“You are very much welcome. Now, go show them what you’re made of!” All Might let out a hearty laugh as Finn ran through the gate to catch up with the other contestants.

“-and that concludes the rules.” said Pro Hero Present Mic. Finn had arrived too late, he had missed the rules. “Any questions? No? Good, now GO GIVE YOUR PLUS ULTRAAAAA!!!” screamed Present Mic.

With that being said (more like screamed), a buzzer sounded, gates opened, and all the contestants rushed into the arena. Clueless as to what to do, Finn ran along with everyone towards the arena, as it was really the only thing he could do.

Upon entering the arena, Finn is met with an urban environment with tons of robots around, causing a ruckus. He sees other contestants start destroying them, blowing them up, freezing them, etc.

“Alright,” Finn cracks his knuckles, “this, I can do.” He then lunges towards the first robot he sees and rips it to shreds with his claws. “Almost too easy!” he exclaims. That’s because it was, after Finn destroyed the robot, he noticed a number 1 on the side of the bot. ‘Point system huh? Makes sense.’
He quickly scans the surrounding area for some bigger targets, then he spots a pair of contestants surrounded by some 2- and 3-point robots. “That should do.”

“Oh man, we’re so screwed.”
“You said it, 1s and 2s I can handle, but 3 pointers? Nuh uh!”

Two contestants had found themselves backed into a corner with robots steadily approaching. When suddenly, a blur appeared in front of them, crushing the 3-pointer right in front of them.

“What the-” one contestant started, but before they could finish, the blur moved forward and started slashing away at the other robots. Within seconds, the once threatening group of robots had become a pile of broken parts. And the cause? A shark named Finn.

“You two alright?” asked Finn as he turned back towards the two.

As he approached, the two contestants cowered back into the wall.
“What? Never seen a shark before?”
“N- no, it’s just-” one contestant started.
“That.” the other finished, pointing at something behind the shark man.

As Finn turned, he was prepared for anything... just not a robot the size of a 2-story building looming directly over them. ‘Well shit.’
“Um, run?”
“Run.” said the two contestants in unison.

And then they all bolted, right through the giant robots' legs.

“Quick! Towards that alleyway!” yelled Finn, as they turned into the alley.

The three ran into the alley, and the bot, too big to follow, stopped its pursuit.
“Phew-” sighed one contestant, “thanks dude, I didn’t even see this alley!”
“You’re welcome, but we still have some bigger problems.” Finn said pointing out the alley, “it might’ve stopped following us but it’s patrolling out there.”
“Oh yeah-” one started.
“You’re right.” the other finished.

“Ok, let’s deal with this first. You two twins or something?” Finn asked.
“Yup! We’re Ame-”
“And Kiri!”
“Alright, and quirks?”
“I can produce small rain clouds out of my hands.” said Ame.
“And I can produce a fog out of mine.” said Kiri.
“The effects are strengthened when we work together though!” exclaimed Ame.
“What’s your quirk?” asked Kiri.
“Well, I’m a shark, if that wasn’t obvious.” Finn said while looking down, gesturing to his body.
“Oh, makes sense.” said Ame, but Kiri had a sinister look in her eyes.
“Is it true that sharks have two di-”

She was promptly shut up by her brother.
“Sorry about that, she’s really fascinated in marine biology.” Ame apologized.
“I- uh- yeah it’s fine.” Finn coughed, “Anyways, let’s work out a plan to get out of here. Cause I might have an idea.”

A couple minutes later

“Ready?”
“Ready.”
“Ok, go.”

The two twins both activated their quirks at the same time, creating a dense layer of fog, pouring out of the alley into the area where the giant robot is.

“Great!” applauded Finn, “Now, let’s stay low and quiet. C’mon.”

The twins nodded, and all three left the alleyway, hoping. The robot scanned the area but could not find anyone due to the dense fog.

“I think it’s working.” whispered Kiri.
“Shut up! We gotta stay quiet!” whisper-shouted Ame.
“Pfft, like I’m going to make any noi- ah- ah-”

Finn and Ame turned around, looking in horror, hoping that Kiri wouldn’t...

“ACHOO!”

The robot, hearing the sudden noise, turned and proceeded to stomp a foot down on the source of the noise.

“Look out!” yelled Finn as he pushed Kiri away as the foot came down, causing it to crush him instead.

‘Fuck.’ Finn thought as the foot lifted. ‘This is how I die isn’t it. Couldn’t even pass the damn exam.’
Slowly, Finn’s consciousness faded, and then, there was nothing.

Finn slowly opened his eyes. It was bright, too bright. He instinctively moved his hand over his eyes but found that it hurt way more than moving a hand should. Finn winced in pain.

“Ah good, you’re awake.” a voice rang out.
‘Who? Who’s talking to me?’
“I- I’ll go get the doctor, just stay right here.” the voice left.
‘Doctor? What- what happened? How’d I get here?’

Memories of the exam flooded Finn’s mind.
‘Right, I was late, missed the rules, battled robots, met those two, and... oh, right.’

Finn began to sit up but winced in even more pain.

“Woah there, don’t move so much.” a new voice.
‘Who’s that? A doctor?’
“It’s ok, you must be confused. I’m a doctor.”

“Wh- what happened to me?”
“Well, you were crushed by a giant robot, which broke all your ribs, fractured your femur, broke your right arm completely, and you’re suffering from multiple points of internal bleeding. I’m honestly surprised that you didn’t suffer a worse fate, truly a miracle that you’re alive.”
“Oh.”

Suddenly, the door burst open and in ran a girl with bandages wrapped over her head and a worried look on her face.

“Is Finn in here?! I heard he woke up!” She quickly scanned the room and locked eyes with Finn on the bed.

“FINNNNN!!!” she lunged forward towards him, hugging him tightly. “Oh thank God you’re alright!”

Finn realized now that it was Kiri who was hugging him tightly, almost too tight.

“Kiri- I- I can’t breathe-” Finn was able to choke out.

“OH!” Kiri quickly let go, “Sorry! I was just so worried that you... well... died.”

“Oh come on! Did you see him slice through those robots; no way he’s dying to that!”

Both Kiri and Finn turned to look towards the door, where Ame stood.

“Well, yeah... but I was still worried.” Kiri pouted, “Besides! He saved my life!”

Kiri then turned towards Finn again, still sitting on the bed.

“If only there was a way for me to repay you~” she said while slowly trailing her fingers up Finn’s leg.

“KIRI NO!” shouted Ame as he grabbed his sister and pulled her out of the room.

“AME NOOO! I MUST KNOW! PLEASEEE!”

The voices trailed off all while Finn was just sitting there, utterly shocked and confused as to what had just happened.

“Okay then... let’s start with some tests to make sure you-”

“FINN!” the door flew open yet again, this time with Finn’s Aunt standing in the doorway, panting.

“Is my sweet baby boy ok?”
“Yes, I’m ok Auntie, just like-” Finn paused for a moment, “30ish broken bones, I think.”
“30?!” Finn’s Aunt rushed towards Finn, giving him his second suffocating hug of the day.
“That’s way too many! What happened?!”
“Oh you know, got crushed by a giant robot while saving a girl.”
“Was she cuteee?”
“Auntie! It was the right thing to do! Cuteness had nothing to do with it!”
“So she was cute?”
“Auntie!”
“I know I know, just teasing you. But crushed? I feel like you should have been hurt even more.”
“Yes, but it’s good that he didn’t.” the doctor interjected, “Now if you would please leave the room so I can go back to testing him.”
“Oh yes, of course!” Finn’s Aunt said, before leaving, “I love you Finn, I know you’ll get better.”
“I love you too Auntie, see you later.”

A Couple Weeks Later

“Finn! You’ve got mail!” shouted Finn’s Aunt.

Within seconds, Finn was out of his room and at the dinner table.
“Woah there buddy, you’re still healing.”
“I know I know! But this could be it!” shouted Finn excitedly. “Today is the day I learn if I was accepted or not!”

Finn reached for the envelope with his name on it, slowly opening it. Inside the envelope was a little disc, which Finn curiously placed on the table.

After a couple seconds, the disc buzzed to life with a holographic video playing with UA’s principal front and center.

“Hello dear Finn Nowak, I would like to congratulate you on your accomplishments during the entrance exam. However, it is with great disappointment that I must say that you did not earn enough points to pass.”

Finn just stood there, shocked. “I- I thought I did good.” A tear rolled down Finn’s cheek.

“However, destroying robots was not the only thing we used to measure points. There was one rule we purposefully neglected to tell the contestants, any selfless acts of genuine heroism granted you points. And you just so happened to save young Kiri from being crushed. So, with that being said, welcome to UA High. We look forward to seeing you in the upcoming term.”

The video then buzzed out, turning off.

Finn stood there, jaw dropped. “I- I did it. I got accepted!”

He turned to his aunt. “I did it Auntie! I did it!”
“You did it! Yes, you did! I’m so proud of you my love!”

Never in his 13 years on Earth had Finn felt this happy, for his hero life was just now beginning.