Chapter Text
It was this same dream again.
The pale fluorescent lights of a hospital room flickered overhead. The rhythmic sound of his heart monitor beeped quietly beside him. The idle chatter of doctors and nurses reverberated through the room, although he couldn’t make out what they were saying. He was much too young, much too undeveloped.
How many times have I come back to this same memory? And why… can I never remember it when I wake up?
Blurry, opaque shapes appeared in the corners of his vision. He strained his eyes to see them, to make out their faces, but he couldn’t. No, his vision was much too weak for that. Too…Unfinished. The voices became louder and while he couldn’t understand what they were saying, the emotion in their voices were clear. Concern. Worry. Despair.
He looked at his hands, which were so small that they could hardly be called such. He watched as 10 fingers stretched out slowly, grasping uselessly at the air.
He was cold. So very, very cold. He shivered, wishing to curl in on himself. His body refused to respond to him. The sounds were getting louder and louder, tears welling at the edges of his eyes. He could hear the desperation in the room, the anger. He wanted them to stop sounding afraid.
How could they? They couldn’t hear him. They couldn’t understand him. This was nothing but a memory. One that only a version of himself existed in.
His eyelids began to close. He felt so tired- so weak. He didn’t want to close them. He was afraid. Afraid that when he did, he’d slip back into nothingness. Into that empty black void where there was nothing but silence. He couldn’t hear his heartbeat anymore.
Why was he so afraid back then? Had he known what was waiting for him on the other side? Had he still remembered?
The rhythmic sound of his heart monitor, once steady, began to slow. The voices were even louder now, but he couldn’t hear them. He could feel himself slipping away, piece by piece.
He already knew what would happen next. It happened every time without fail.
He closed his eyes.
And then he fell. He fell down, down, down into the abyss that waited for him below. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Just the sound of the wind rushing past his face and the sight of a void beneath him.
Then… silence. An unbearable silence that consumed his entire being. A silence that swallowed his fear, his despair. A silence that left him drowning in an ocean of emptiness. He could no longer see or hear… but he could feel.
Then… warmth.
Not the material warmth of blankets or sunlight peeking through the hospital window. It was an ancient warmth that reached into him far deeper than a living hand ever could.
He couldn’t see her face. He could only see a silhouette wrapped in shadow, softer and gentler than the night. Long strands of black drifted around her as though suspended beneath still water. A pale hand cradled the back of his head, her thumb brushing gently across his cheek.
There was no pain or fear. No anxiety or confusion. There was only peace. A voice reached him, quiet enough to disappear between heartbeats.
“Come.”
Not a command, but a request. A promise that he could finally rest. A promise that all of his worries would melt away, and he’d return to that warmth. His tiny fingers relaxed. His eyelids grew heavy. Every instinct told him to surrender. To let go. To follow this warmth into the endless quiet.
But something resisted.
A flicker. So weak and fragile, and yet so impossibly stubborn. Something deep inside of him, beneath the fear and exhaustion, lay a heartbeat. Not in chest, but in his soul.
The woman paused. Her hand remained against his cheek, neither forcing nor pleading. She simply waited. And then, she reached towards him, offering nothing but warmth.
And again, he refused.
Her hand, which had reached out to him, slowly drew back. The warmth faded, leaving him alone in the endless cold once more.
“If that is your wish.”
She turned away, her silhouette dissolving into the darkness until even the memory of her began to blur. Just before she disappeared completely, she looked back over her shoulder.
“Not yet, little one.”
She smiled sadly.
“I will return when your journey has come to an end.”
Then she was gone.
And Izuku was pulled back into the light.
<><><>
Izuku awoke to the warmth of sunlight beaming down on his face. He blinked wearily, still dazed. He didn’t remember falling asleep, but that was probably bound to happen when you’re too busy worrying and contemplating instead of sleeping the night before the biggest exam of your entire life.
He hadn’t exactly asked about the contents of the exam, but a small part of him still secretly hoped Toshinori would give him a hint. A larger part of him wanted to pass this on his own merits. The larger part had inevitably won out in the end.
He’d made it to the pick up spot that Yuei had sent him on his scroll over two hours early. It wasn’t like he was doing anything productive in his room anyway. He might as well just be unproductive waiting out here instead.
Izuku sat up, rubbing his eyes as he glanced around himself. What had been an empty field full of nothing but dandelions and trees was now a bustling hub of activity and laughter. Candidates like himself of all shapes and sizes were sprawled out, chatting amongst each other.
Izuku wasn’t a light sleeper by any means. He must’ve been really tired to not have noticed everyone else showing up. He had gotten here before dawn- how long had they all been waiting to get picked up? He reached into his pocket, pulling out his scroll to check the time.
08:00.
“…Huh.” Izuku murmured, his eyes glued to the screen. He could’ve sworn the pick-up time was two hours ago. He took a quick look around before his eyes settled back to the watch. None of the other candidates seemed very worried, so maybe they knew something he didn’t. Or, Yuei was just late.
He reached over for his bag, a boxy, dark-yellow backpack with thick shoulder straps, and tucked it behind his back as a makeshift cushion. He reached a hand into his green jacket, pulling a mid-sized notebook from his interior pocket. He flipped through a few of the pages, reading what he’d written the night before. He didn’t remember writing… so much. The pages were an organized mess of analysis, thoughts, and plans. The notebook was still fairly new, so he hadn’t filled out that many pages.
He’d had to replace the old one after an… explosive encounter with a certain blond. Although, that made it sound like their other interactions were somehow less explosive. He quickly turned back to the cover and uncapped a pen. He scribbled ‘Exorcist Journal #13.’ He’d try to be a little more protective of this one. He wasn’t sure he could handle another private funeral like the one he’d held for its predecessor the day prior.
Kacchan was most likely somewhere in the horde of candidates, although Izuku doubted he’d see him. Musutafu was already one of the largest cities in the province, and somehow it seemed to get more crowded every year. Though, while that was true, it didn’t stop Izuku from checking.
His eyes flickered over to the crowd, stopping when he saw an interesting face. A girl with green hair and sharp teeth chatting excitedly to a much larger multi-armed boy with white hair. He didn’t even need to look to tell the guy had some sort of muscle enhancement quirk. The way his arms and legs were flexing, even in a relaxed state, was nothing short of impressive.
A few feet away from them was a girl who looked like she was made out of living circuitry. Her eyes were bright yellow, and she was studying the crowd with a look of focused analysis on her face. He wondered if she was the type to analyze a situation, or just to gather data.
Izuku’s gaze lowered back to his notebook. He was easily one of the least impressive looking people here. He’d been expecting some fierce competition walking in, but maybe not this fierce. How many people had tried out for Yuei last year? He remembered looking it up, but not the exact number. There had to be at least a few hundred people. He heard the acceptance rate was less than 1%. The thought did absolutely nothing to calm his nerves.
A small part of him wanted to approach them and ask about their quirks. A much larger part of him kept his rear rooted to the ground. His social anxiety always decided to rear its head at the worst possible moments. He sighed, running a hand through his curly green hair.
C’mon, Izuku. You’re never gonna make friends just sittin’ around. Go out there and introduce yourself!
It was the words Izuku’s dad had told him before shoving him into a group of his fellow kindergartners. It didn’t end very well. He’d ended up tripping over his own feet and faceplanting. It was embarrassing at the time, but looking back at it always made him smile. He reached up, touching a small scar that now adorned his lip. His dad had been mortified, taking him to the hospital to get his face stitched up.
Focus, Izuku. You’ve got this. He thought internally, smacking both of his cheeks. He couldn’t afford to psyche himself out again. He needed to focus on what was in his control. Which, at the moment, wasn’t much. He’d promised Toshinori that he’d try, by the gods, try he would. How could he face a Yokai if he was scared of social interaction?!
He scanned the crowd again, searching for literally anyone who looked moderately approachable. Izuku internally winced- why did so many sixteen to eighteen year olds look so intimidating? He was certain that some of these had to be grown men in disguise.
A burst of laughter caught his attention. His eyes trailed toward the edge of the field, where two girls were chatting amicably away from the larger crowd. The older-looking of the two had long golden hair that spilled down her back in loose waves. She leaned casually against a large duffel bag, only half-listening as her smaller companion gestured wildly with both arms, apparently in the middle of some very passionate explanation.
“That one has a collapsible spear! Is that a flaming sword?! There’s just so many cool weapons here, Yang!” She said, leaning over to the girl he now knew as Yang. Yang just chuckled and shook her head.
“Rubes, you’re only saying that because you’re a fanatic. They’re just weapons, you know.” She responded with a small smirk. Rubes looked back at her with a mortified expression.
“Just weapons? Just weapons?! Sure, none of them could match up to my baby Crescent Rose, but they all look so cool! Like that boy over there with the…uh…He’s looking at me.” She finished, a red hue traveling up her neck.
Beneath her hood was a mess of black hair tipped in dark red, framing a pair of wide silver eyes. He felt his neck and ears burn with embarrassment as he threw his head forwards, averting his eyes. He’d been caught. Staring at two girls, no less. Two very cute girls. He briefly wondered if he could find a hole to bury himself in.
*That one looks good.* Izuku thought, looking at a small ant hill located near his boot. He leaned down, contemplating his options. With a sigh, he rubbed a palm over his face. There was absolutely no way he was seriously considering stuffing his head into an anthill rather than talking to two… girls.
“Come on, Izuku. You’re not a child. Go say hello to them.” Izuku muttered to himself. Before he could lose his courage, he rose to his feet, grabbing his bag in the process.
Izuku turned on his heel and prepared to approach them when the sound of whirring began to echo overhead. Izuku stared slack jawed at the airship hovering above the field. The rotating blades sent blasts of wind at the students, drowning out the sound of their excited chattering.
“WELL?! I’M NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER! CLIMB UP OR GET DITCHED!” A booming voiced echoed from the loudspeakers. There was a single moment complete silence before the world around him erupted into chaos. Candidates around him surged forwards, grabbing onto the ropes to pull themselves up. Eventually, Izuku’s brain managed to shake itself out of its daze and he followed the mass, grabbing onto a rope. His grip tightened as his feet flailed, scrambling to find proper footing on the rope.
He hauled himself upwards, eventually rolling himself into the cargo bay. He rubbed at his shoulder, which had taken the brunt of the impact. Students pushed past him, flooding the interior which actually looked a lot cozier in the inside than it looked on the outside. The walls were lined with plush red seating and large windows that would allow the occupants a good view of the sky. A single podium stood at the front of the bay, covered in what looked like dozens of buttons and switches. A microphone sat at the top of the podium, where a single wire trailed from the back of it into the ceiling.
Izuku made his way deeper inside, turning to see the cargo doors close. If he’d had wanted out, that was his last chance. He looked around, his eyes widening at the sheer number of students crammed into the airship. Ultimately, he decided to take a seat near the very back. The only sound in the room was the whirring of the blades and the soft murmurs of the other candidates.
Izuku watched the ground disappear below them as the ship rose higher and higher. He'd been on airships before, but none of them had been as large as this one. The view of the city as they rose was breathtaking. The city sprawled out for miles, large and small buildings dotting the landscape. He could see the river that bisected the city, and the large bridge that spanned its width.
Izuku pulled his notebook back out as the ship reached cruising altitude. He knew he'd need to make friends eventually, but the flicker of courage he’d gotten had already faded to dust. Eventually, he promised himself. He started writing everything down in his notebook, separating each quirk into categories by type. He could only do a lot based on appearance, but it was at least a start.
Emitter.
Transformative.
Heteromorphic.
The last of the three was often the hardest to identify. Plenty of the candidates around him had animalistic features: ears, tails, horns, claws, even patches of fur or scales. Some were the result of Heteromorphic quirks. Others were simply Faunus. Without asking, there wasn’t always an obvious way to tell the difference.
Though Izuku supposed the distinction mattered more on paper than it did to most people. Over the centuries, the two had become so thoroughly intertwined in the public consciousness that a Faunus was often mistaken for a Heteromorph, and a Heteromorph for a Faunus.
Izuku moved his weapon to his left, letting it occupy an entire seat rather than lay stuffed between his legs. He’d move it if anyone asked, but for now it was fine. Peacemaker was his partner, and would be treated as such.
He didn’t consider himself a weapon fanatic, although he did find them extremely interesting. They were the great equalizer between mankind and Yokai. They had been designed specifically to combat supernatural threats. They were also highly customizable, able to be modified to suit the user's specific needs.
“Interesting. Peacemaker isn’t the largest weapon here, although it might be the largest relative to its wielder. The boy with the shield is carrying something much larger in terms of surface area, but it appears smaller relative to his frame. He looks around six foot two, give or take an inch. Multiple arms. Likely increased physical strength and endurance…”
Izuku continued, observing people as they interacted with one another. A girl with pink skin had immediately began chattering with as many people as she could, bouncing around from group to group. Some, like him, were already seated and dozed off. He’d gotten so carried away in his notes that he didn’t see the figure standing in front of him.
“Excuse me..” The voice said, her tone soft and gentle. Izuku didn’t hear her, too engrossed with his own thoughts to be paying attention. He buried his face deeper into his notebook, his muttering growing more fervent.
“Excuse me?” She tried again, louder this time. Izuku remained completely oblivious to her presence. With a sigh, she softly pressed a finger to the boy’s shoulder. He flinched, looking up at her while instinctively shoving his notebook back into the confines of his jacket.
“Ah- I-I’m so sorry! Did you need something?” He stuttered, feeling like an idiot for not having noticed her earlier. The girl standing over him wore a large cloak that concealed nearly everything except her eyes and the lower half of her face. Warm brown eyes regarded him from beneath the hood, soft with curiosity rather than annoyance.
“I apologize, but there do not appear to be any seats remaining. Would you mind moving your sword?”
Izuku’s eyes flickered to the seats around them. For the second time that day, he’d failed to notice people filling the space around him. He fought down an embarrassed blush, leaning over to his left.
"Y-yeah! Of course!" He quickly grabbed Peacemaker, sliding the weapon between his thighs. He hooked the guard over his shoulder, keeping it steady. He’d be ever more embarrassed if the weapon somehow fell to the floor. That would be downright blasphemous. It was slightly uncomfortable, but he didn’t mind.
The girl bowed in thanks before taking the seat beside him. Izuku immediately found something fascinating about the opposite side of the ship. Even without looking at her, he could feel himself growing nervous.
“You were muttering to yourself. Is something the matter?” The girl suddenly spoke, her tone soft and curious. Izuku sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. It seemed that *eventually* was coming sooner rather than later.
“Ah, it’s nothing, really! I was just… analyzing everyone else’s weapons and quirks. I like observing things and taking notes.”
“Oh?” The girl hummed, leaning in slightly. Izuku felt his face flush at the proximity. “And what have you discovered so far?” The hood that covered her face made it difficult to read her expression, but he could’ve sworn she was smiling.
“Well…” he started nervously, pulling his notebook back out. He flipped through several pages before stopping on one of his earlier observations. “There’s this girl here.”
He turned the notebook slightly so she could see. A rough sketch depicted a girl with long green hair, unusually large eyes, and a tongue that Izuku had noticed was just a little too long when she’d spoken.
“I’m not entirely sure about her. She has several amphibian characteristics, but that doesn’t necessarily tell me anything. She could be Faunus, or they could be mutations associated with a Heteromorphic quirk.” Izuku tapped his pen against the page.
“But her legs are interesting. They’re proportionally longer than you’d expect for someone her height, especially below the knee. Her calves are developed too, but not in the way I’d expect from ordinary strength training.”
“So maybe jumping? Some kind of enhanced leg strength? If the rest of her features are related, then…”
Izuku put pen to paper as his brain fired off possibilities, words filling the margins around his sketch.
“Amphibian physiology. Enhanced jumping, probably swimming too. Maybe some kind of adhesion? Frogs can cling to surfaces using specialized pads on their toes, although I couldn’t see her hands well enough to tell if she has anything similar. Her tongue might also be functional rather than cosmetic, which could mean increased range or prehensile control and then there’s the possibility of aquatic respiration, camouflage, toxin secretion depending on the species she’s based on, enhanced vision, temperature sensitivity, although if she’s ectothermic that could be a pretty serious weakness and-”
Izuku stopped to take a breath. He blinked, noticing that the girl had leaned in closer to him, her eyes skimming through his notes. His brain short circuited for a moment, forgetting how to speak. She was so close that Izuku could smell a faint whiff of cherry blossoms.
“That’s incredible.” She murmured, straightening herself back up. Izuku’s face burned. He quickly shut his notebook, shoving it back into his jacket. He hadn’t meant to ramble for so long. He was about to apologize when the girl raised a hand, discreetly pointing towards something on their far right.
“What can you tell me about that boy? The sleeping one with dark hair.” She whispered. Izuku followed her finger towards the boy in question. He was sprawled across his seat with all the concern of someone taking an afternoon nap rather than traveling toward the most important examination of his life. His head rested against the wall behind him, chest rising and falling beneath a fitted black compression shirt. Every few breaths, a quiet snore escaped his lips.
Izuku’s attention drifted downward.
His pants were loose around the legs, dark cargo trousers with several reinforced pockets along the thighs. Two holsters were strapped against his hips, though Izuku couldn’t tell what they carried from this angle. His footwear was stranger. They resembled combat boots at first glance, but the material looked lighter and more flexible, with webbing between the clawed toes and soles designed for traction rather than heavy protection.
Aquatic equipment?
Resting between the boy’s legs was a long black scabbard. One hand remained loosely curled around it even while he slept. The weapon was nearly as long as Peacemaker, though considerably thinner, with a curved profile and a silver hilt protruding from the sheath.
“An ōdachi,” Izuku murmured. “Or something based on one. That’s an unusual choice. They’re difficult to draw quickly because of the blade length, especially indoors. He has two other weapons on his hips, though, so maybe the sword isn’t meant to be his first option.”
Izuku leaned slightly to the side, trying to get a better look.
“The shoes are probably specialized for water. Webbed toes, flexible material, claws for traction…” His muttering picked up again. “Maybe an aquatic Heteromorphic quirk? No, the rest of him looks human. Could be equipment designed around an Emitter instead. Water manipulation would explain the lack of conventional armor too, assuming mobility is more important to his fighting style, and then there’s the sword, which could mean he’s trained as a Samurai, but why would a water-based fighter carry an ōdachi instead of something lighter and…”
The boy shifted in his sleep, folds in his trousers straightening. Izuku’s eyes widened. Embroidered into the fabric near his thigh were three silver rivers, flowing inward until they converged at a single point.
“Three rivers converging at the center. That’s the Mizuhara crest! Daito Mizuhara uses it! He’s the current Pillar of Water and head of the Mizuhara Clan. He helped defend the northern provinces during the Hyakki Yagyō outbreak! There was this recording where he redirected an entire river through a village to extinguish a Yokai fire, and apparently he maintained control over it for almost six minutes, which is ridiculous considering the volume of water involved, unless his quirk somehow reduces the Aura cost based on existing momentum, or maybe he was using some kind of…”
The girl let out a small giggle. He snapped out of his muttering, covering his mouth. “Oh- uh, sorry. I got carried away.”
She shook her head, her eyes crinkling with amusement. “No, it’s just that you’re correct. That’s Renji Mizuhara.”
Izuku blinked. “You know him?” He asked, his eyes flitting from her to Renji. “Then why did you…?”
She gave a small shrug, a smile playing softly at her lips. “I was curious to see what you could learn by observing. You have a very keen eye.” She looked at him warmly, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "So I ask, what are your observations on me?"
Izuku stiffened. She had asked it so casually, but he felt like he was being put on the spot. He hesitated, trying to piece together some sort of analysis.
“Your hands,” he began, his eyes glancing down toward her lap. Since most of her body was covered, he focused on one of the few things left exposed. “They’re calloused.”
The girl blinked, looking down at them herself.
“But not in one place,” Izuku continued. “You have them along your palms, your fingers, the sides of your thumbs… even a few around your knuckles. If you trained with one weapon all the time, I’d expect most of the wear to be concentrated in the same areas. So you probably train with several.”
He tilted his head, studying them a little more closely. Her eyebrows raised slightly, filling Izuku with confidence. He continued, his words coming out slightly smoother.
“But your hands are also really well taken care of. Your nails are trimmed evenly, there’s no dirt underneath them, and your skin is…” He paused.
Smooth.
He suddenly became very aware that he was describing a girl’s hands to her.
“…healthy.”
Good save.
“Your cloak too. It looks simple, but the stitching is almost perfect. The material looks expensive, especially around the lining. I don’t think something like that was bought off a rack.”
Izuku’s eyes traveled upwards to her upper body, flitting from her back to her neck.
“Your posture is… perfect. I haven’t seen you slouch once. Not when you sat down, not when you leaned over to look at my notebook, Your back is always straight, your shoulders are relaxed, and even the way you keep your hands in your lap…”
The girl had stopped moving. Izuku swallowed slightly, afraid he’d become too invasive. However, he’d long past the point of no return. His mouth was a water spout, and she’d accidentally broke the handle.
“So… you’re wealthy. Probably very wealthy. But you’re not sheltered, because those callouses are real. You train regularly, and with enough different weapons that I don’t think you specialize in any one of them.”
She hadn’t moved in nearly thirty seconds. Izuku’s eyes flitted from her embroidered linen sleeves to her wide brown eyes. He felt his confidence promptly take its leave, his shoulders hunching in on themselves.
“S-so to summarize… your postures… and clothes… you’re from one of the great houses…?” He finished lamely, his last sentence sounding more like a question rather than an observation.
The girl broke into a smile, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Her hand rose up to hide her mouth, but it couldn't muffle the sound. Izuku felt his ears and neck flush as the airship around them faded into the background. He doubted that anyone was looking at them, but he could’ve sworn he felt eyes on them.
She finally composed herself, placing her hands back in her lap. “I-I apologize. I suppose I hadn’t expected to be discovered so easily. Yes, you are quite right in your analysis. Now, as for your reward…”
Before Izuku could respond, she reached into the satchel resting at her feet and carefully withdrew a small lacquered wooden box. The polished lid caught the morning light as she set it between them.
A delicate sweetness wafted through the air as she opened it. Inside sat several beautifully crafted nagamashi, each one shaped like a tiny flower in full bloom. Pink, white, and pale green, they looked almost too perfect to eat. She offered the box toward him.
“Please, help yourself.”
Izuku blinked and pointed at himself curiously. “That’s… for me?” She nodded. “As a reward for your deductions. And for making me smile.”
Izuku carefully took the box, his hands brushing against hers. He took a single piece, surprised at how soft it was. He popped the small treat into his mouth, the sweet flavor dancing on his tongue. He could taste the faintest hint of cherry. He let out a small hum of appreciation.
“They’re really good.” He commented. The girl smiled brightly. She reached out to take one for herself. Izuku let out a small laugh, and for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel like he was being judged. He wasn’t sure how to describe it.
“By the way…what’s your name?” He asked, looking up from the box. The girl paused, as if mulling over something. She finally nodded to herself, turning back to him. She pulled her hood down, revealing a cascade of thick black hair tied into an intricate ponytail. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the light. Her lips curved into a small smile, her brown eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.
“Momo.. Kodai. It’s very nice to formally meet you. May I ask for yours?”
Izuku smiled, setting the box down. He held out his hand for her to shake.
“I’m.. Izuku Midoriya. It’s nice to meet you too, Kodai.” The girl clasped his hand, and they exhancged a soft shake. For some reason, Izuku had felt more comfortable talking to her than he had felt in a long time. Although, as he gazed down, he finally realized..
He was touching a girl’s hand.
And he was totally fine with it!
Before he could throw a mental celebration, a sudden movement at the front immediately killed all conversation in the room. One second, the hall was full of chatter and voices and the next, Izuku could practically hear his own heartbeat.
A man stood at the podium.
He had long black hair tied loosely behind his head, dark circles under his eyes, and the expression of a guy who hadn’t sleep in days. A white scarf-like cloth hung around his shoulders, though Izuku highly doubted anything worn by a Yūei instructor was just a scarf. Overall, if this hadn’t been in a Yuei airship, Izuku might’ve mistaken him for a homeless man.
“Good morning, candidates,” he said flatly. Somehow his voice had managed to sound even more tired than he was. “My name is Shota Aizawa, and I will be one of the instructors overseeing this examination.”
The name sounded familiar, but Izuku couldn’t remember where he’d seen it before. He wasn’t the only one, either. In the corner of his eye, he saw several students exchange glances, brows furrowed as they tried to place the name.
Aizawa continued as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Your task is simple. You will be placed into a forest crawling with Yokai. There are relics hidden throughout the woods. Your job is to locate one, and make your way North to the academy grounds. You will be judged on combat ability, judgment, survival, adaptability, investigation, discipline, and teamwork. If you manage to do this without dying, you may be considered for admission.”
A few hands were slowly raised into the air, only to be completely ignored by Aizawa as he continued.
“The Hunting Ground spans roughly two hundred and fifty square kilometers of mountain terrain. Some Yokai you encounter will be little more than beasts. Others will imitate voices you recognize. Some will flee. Others will lure you into traps or attack without warning. If you assume every problem has an obvious solution, you will likely die before the exam is over.”
Aizawa folded his arms.
“Understand this now. Aggression is not competence. Survival is not cowardice. Working with others is not weakness. Exorcists who cannot adapt do not remain Exorcists for very long. Pay attention to the people around you. Whether by choice or circumstance, the allies you make during this examination may determine whether you pass. Or whether you leave the mountain at all.”
Izuku swallowed hard.
“The forest is enchanted. Once you enter, you will not be able to contact anyone outside of it. There are no medics. No second chances. You may withdraw at any time by signaling the administration. But you will not re-enter the exam once you do. Do not be foolish.”
His eyes scanned the room, and for the first time since he’d entered, Izuku felt the sheer weight of the instructor’s attention. Aizawa’s gaze lingered on each and every student, silently judging them.
“Over the course of the next hour, you will be randomly placed into the woods. It is your job to orient yourself. Do I have any questions?”
A hand rose near the front of the cabin.
A pale girl near the front raised her hand. Her long white hair was pulled into a high side ponytail, held in place by a small silver clasp. Bright blue eyes stared toward Aizawa with an intensity that made her look perpetually unimpressed. A faint scar cut across her left eye.
Her white coat was tailored almost too perfectly, trimmed in silver and pale blue, and she sat with the rigid posture of someone who had probably been corrected for slouching since she could walk.
Aizawa nodded towards her, his expression unchanging.
“I was under the impression that our partners will be selected during this portion of the exam, as they were last year. How will that be coordinated?”
Aizawa tilted his head slightly before letting out an amused chuckle. “Let’s see. Last year, it was eye contact. So this year… the first applicant you make physical contact with after entering the Hunting Ground will be your permanent partner for the remainder of your time at Yūei.”
A mixture of surprise and confusion swept through the crowd. Izuku’s brows furrowed. The first person to touch him would become his partner for the rest of his schooling?
“One more thing,” Aizawa continued. “The relics scattered throughout the Hunting Ground cannot be claimed by a single candidate. Each one is sealed. It will only respond when both members of a pair are present.”
His tired eyes swept across the cabin.
“So before any of you get the clever idea of avoiding everyone else and completing the examination alone, don’t bother. You can’t.”
A few murmurs broke out.
“Find your partner. Find a relic. Reach Yūei before the examination ends. If either of you fails to make it back, neither of you passes.”
Aizawa looked toward the pale-haired girl.
“Does that answer your question, Ms. Schnee?”
Schnee?
The girl blinked, her cheeks going red. “What if someone is paired with a completely incompatible partner? Someone incapable of fulfilling the role the team requires? This seems rather unfair-”
“Unfair?”
The room fell silent as Aizawa narrowed his eyes. He leaned forward. “You think life’s fair?”
The girl froze, her mouth shutting.
“Out in the real world, you will have to work with people you don’t like. You will be thrown into life threatening situations with strangers. You will be expected to function as a unit whether you want to or not. If you cannot handle this simple assignment, you have no place in this academy. Is that understood?”
The girl looked down, her face still red with embarrassment. She quickly nodded, not meeting his gaze. Izuku looked down nervously. He knew that she wasn’t talking about him specifically, but that didn’t stop the bubble of worry that erupted deep in his gut. He still hadn’t used the quirk he’d received yet. He didn’t know how and he didn’t get time to train with it yet.
Another candidate near the back raised their hand.“How exactly are we being dropped into the woods?”
Aizawa pressed a button on the podium and the floor beneath them groaned. Before he could react, Izuku felt large straps bind his arms and feet to the chair tightly. He yelped, struggling as Aizawa gave them a devilish grin.
“Literally.”
Off to the side, Renji stirred awake with a yawn. He blinked and tugged experimentally with his arms and legs, finding that he couldn’t move them.
“Huh?”
He looked around the cabin. The other candidates looked at him as he a panel underneath his feet shifted and moved, pulling out from under him.
CLUNK.
“What’s goin’-?”
He didn’t get to finish his sentence as his chair suddenly plummeted through the hole in the floor, him still inside of it.The other applicants watched in shock as the boy disappeared into the clouds, his screams fading away.
Izuku stared slack jawed at the empty space that the dark haired boy had just occupied. He turned back to his right, Momo’s eyes as wide as his own. He prepared to speak when the sheet metal under his own seat suddenly slid open. The last thing Izuku saw was her mouth the words I’ll find you.
Izuku didn’t even have time to shout before he was sent plummeting from the sky.