The exam was divided into several venues, each one comparable in size to a small city. Just standing there and looking around was enough to feel how spectacular it all was.
As expected of U.A. High School.
From the lobby all the way to Test Site A, Bakugo Katsuki hadn't stopped glaring at Shin for even a moment. Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might have assumed there was some deep-seated grudge between them.
"I believe everyone is clear on the rules," the leading teacher announced once all the candidates were assembled. "You have ten minutes to prepare. After that, the exercise will officially begin. Finally, I wish all of you the best of luck in achieving results you can be proud of."
As soon as he finished speaking, the teacher vanished in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
"I'll ask you one more time," Bakugo growled, striding right up to Shin and blocking his path. His gaze was defiant, almost manic. "Do you dare to compete with me?"
Looking at Bakugo's furious expression, Shin felt genuinely exasperated. He knew Bakugo's personality well enough to understand—if he refused to engage, Bakugo would probably never stop pestering him.
"…Fine," Shin sighed. "How do you want to compete?"
As he spoke, his eyes slowly turned a deep, unsettling scarlet.
"We'll see who takes first place!" Bakugo bared his teeth in a savage grin, then turned and walked away. "Tch. Just wait. I'm going to crush you, pink eyes."
"Your relationship doesn't seem very good…did something happen between you two?" a warm-hearted candidate asked, approaching Shin with concern.
"It's nothing," Shin replied calmly.
Seeing that he was unwilling to elaborate, the candidate tactfully didn't press further. Instead, he moved aside to prepare himself for the exercise.
Inside the main control room, the teachers and pro heroes of U.A. were gathered around a massive bank of screens displaying each test site.
"I hope this year's students can give me a few surprises," Aizawa Shouta muttered, his tired eyes half-lidded. Resting his chin on one hand, he regarded the monitors with a bored expression.
"Well," the principal said beside him with quiet confidence, "the candidate who defeated that sludge villain is among them. I don't think you'll be disappointed."
"Heh. Hypnosis, though. It's basically useless against machines," Aizawa said dismissively, his gaze drifting to Shin's scarlet eyes on the screen. "Honestly, I'm more optimistic about that boy who rushed in to save him ten months ago."
Months earlier, Aizawa had reviewed Shin's file in detail at the police station. Of all the candidates, the ones he was most familiar with were Shin and Bakugo.
"If you use it properly, Hypnosis has plenty of applications in real combat," All Might offered mildly. But even as he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Izuku Midoriya, whose whole body was trembling in front of the monitors.
Come on, young Midoriya, All Might thought silently. Show them what you can do.
"Are you ready?"
After nine minutes and thirty seconds, the middle-aged man dressed like a rock singer suddenly reappeared at the front of the venue, spreading his arms wide with infectious energy.
"Ready!" the candidates roared in unison, their determination clear.
For an exam like this, no one dared be careless.
"Haha! I like that enthusiasm!" the man said with a grin. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. "The test will start in ten seconds. I wish you all good luck."
As soon as he spoke, many candidates started rolling their shoulders, stretching, or clenching their fists, bracing themselves for action.
"Three, two, one…start!"
Bang!
The front gates slammed open, and the examinees burst through in a rush, stampeding forward with the fervor of bargain-hunting shoppers.
Among them, Shin was in no hurry and set off at a steady pace. To Bakugo, who glanced back and saw this, it looked like contempt.
"Hah. A rookie through and through." Bakugo clicked his tongue in disdain. In the next instant, he blasted forward on an explosion of propulsive fire from his palms, disappearing from view in a heartbeat.
But in Shin's eyes, the whole scene unfolded in slow motion.
Ahead, a candidate was just about to unleash his Quirk on one of the mock enemies when, without warning, a red-eyed shadow blurred past.
"Too slow."
A faint smile curved Shin's lips. He clenched his fist and struck the joint of the tall robot with unerring precision.
Crack—
The mechanical enemy froze, the structure failing instantly. It collapsed into a pile of inert parts that clattered across the pavement.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" the candidate shouted, voice cracking in disbelief. "That was my target! You stole it!"
"Was there a rule in the manual saying candidates can't compete?" Shin asked calmly, his expression serene. "Maybe you should read the test instructions more carefully."
"You…!"
But before the candidate could spit out another word, Shin had already leaped effortlessly onto the roof of a nearby three-story building and disappeared from view.
"…Power Quirk?" the candidate muttered, his throat dry. "I…probably shouldn't pick a fight with him."
In the main control room, Aizawa Shouta's eyelids twitched as he watched the replay of Shin destroying the robot in a single blow.
"…What is going on?" he muttered. "Isn't his Quirk supposed to be Hypnosis? How is he this strong?"
"Destroyed an enemy with one strike?" the principal murmured, surprised. "This candidate is quite interesting. I remember his file said his Quirk was Hypnosis."
"I…think so," Aizawa said, still watching the screens in bewilderment.
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A/N: Please Leave A Comment Or Drop A Powerstone It'll mean alot to me...