[6] Secret Examinee

November blended into December, then January. Each day, a carbon copy of the last. Wake up. Go to school. Pay attention in class. Hit the gym. Come home. Repeat.

Responsible. Boring. Safe.

I hated every second of it.

Don't get me wrong, Noel was thrilled. Her little brother, finally on the straight and narrow. Teachers praising my improved attitude. Even my muscles were starting to pop, thanks to the daily workouts.

But inside? I was dying. The itch under my skin, the need for something more, something exciting... it was driving me crazy.

I found myself staring out windows during class, imagining scaling buildings and outsmarting security systems. My fingers twitched during exams, muscle memory wanting to pick locks instead of filling in bubbles.

Even the gym, which should have been an outlet, felt like a cage. Regulated sets, approved exercises. Nothing like the freeform parkour and improvised fight training I'd done during my... extracurricular activities.

But I kept at it. For Noel. For my shot at U.A. For the chance to be something more than just another statistic.

Didn't make it any less mind-numbingly dull, though.

January 28th. A Friday. I sprawled on the couch, flipping through channels without really seeing them. Noel was working late, again. The apartment felt too quiet, too empty.

My phone buzzed. Unknown number.

I answered, more out of boredom than curiosity. "Hello?"

"Am I a bear? A dog? A mouse? You'll never know! I'm Principal Nezu of U.A.!"

I sat up straight, suddenly very awake. "Principal Nezu? Uh, hi. Is everything okay? Did I do something wrong?"

His laugh crackled through the speaker. "Quite the opposite, young Sakamoto! I'm calling to check in. How are you finding life on the straight and narrow?"

I hesitated. Lie and say it's great? Tell the truth and risk looking ungrateful?

Screw it. If they wanted me at U.A., they'd have to take me as I am. "Honestly? It's boring as hell. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the chance and all, but... I feel like I'm sleepwalking through my days."

There was a pause, and for a second I thought I'd blown it. Then Nezu chuckled. "Refreshingly honest! I appreciate that, Akira. And I suspected as much. It's not easy to go from a life of excitement to... shall we say, more mundane pursuits."

I relaxed a bit. "Yeah, well. Gotta do what I gotta do, right? Small price to pay for staying out of jail and all that."

"Indeed," Nezu said. "But what if I told you there was a way to... let off some steam, as it were? Legally, of course."

My interest piqued. "I'm listening."

"The U.A. entrance exam is coming up. The practical portion, to be specific. Now, you're already guaranteed a spot in the hero course, but... perhaps you'd like to participate? A chance to use your quirk, test your skills against other aspiring heroes?"

I sat up straighter, a grin spreading across my face. "Are you serious? That'd be... I mean, yeah. Absolutely."

"Excellent!" Nezu's voice was filled with that unsettling cheer. "Consider it a trial run. A chance for us to see how you measure up against your future classmates. And for you to stretch those... talents of yours in a controlled environment."

"Sounds perfect," I said, already imagining the possibilities. "When is it?"

"February 26th. I'll send you the details. Oh, and Akira? Do try to keep this between us. We wouldn't want to cause any... unnecessary concern."

I nodded, then remembered he couldn't see me. "Right, got it. Our little secret."

"Splendid. Well then, I'll leave you to your evening. Do take care, Akira. We're all quite looking forward to having you at U.A."

The call ended, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief.

A chance to really cut loose. To use my quirk, to push my limits. To feel that rush again...

I jumped up, suddenly full of energy. The entrance exam. I had to prepare. Sure, I'd been working out, but this... this was different. This was what I'd been training for all along, wasn't it?

I paced the apartment, mind racing. I needed to plan, to strategize. What kind of test would it be? Combat? Rescue? Both?

As I schemed, a part of me wondered if I should tell Noel. She'd want to know, right? But then I remembered Nezu's words. Our little secret.

Besides, what Noel didn't know couldn't stress her out. And hadn't I put her through enough stress already?

No, this was something just for me. A chance to make a name for myself. I'll just tell her I had to do a test at U.A. during that time.

Let's see if being a hero is as exciting as being a vigilante.

The next few weeks flew by in a blur of preparation. I threw myself into training with renewed vigor, much to Noel's surprise and delight. She thought I was just getting excited about U.A. 

I scoured the internet for any information on U.A.'s entrance exam. Most of it was speculation and rumor, but I pieced together enough to form a rough idea. Robot villains. Points for defeating them. 

It wasn't much, but it was something to work with.

I adjusted my workout routine, focusing more on agility and quick thinking. Parkour in the local park (much to the annoyance of the regular joggers). Reaction drills. Anything to keep my edge sharp.

The hardest part was not using my quirk. The itch to absorb and redirect energy was constant, like a phantom limb. But I resisted. Couldn't risk blowing my cover now.

February 26th. The day of reckoning. Or, you know, just another Saturday for most people.

I woke up before my alarm, adrenaline already pumping. Noel had left for an early shift at the hospital, her note on the fridge wishing me a good day. If only she knew.

Standing in front of my closet, I faced the age-old question: what does one wear to secretly crash a hero school entrance exam?

"Alright, Akira," I muttered to myself, rifling through hangers. "First impressions and all that jazz."

I pulled out a baggy black hoodie, holding it up to the mirror. Paired with some tight black jeans... yeah, that could work. Casual, but with a hint of 'I could probably parkour off that building if I wanted to.'

But what about for the actual exam? They'd probably let us change, right? Can't have kids doing acrobatics in school uniforms.

I dug deeper, finding my white compression shirt. It hugged my frame, showing off the results of months of grueling workouts. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

"Hello, future pro hero," I grinned at my reflection, flexing dramatically.

Loose black joggers for mobility, and my well-worn black sneakers completed the look. Perfect for kicking robot ass and looking good doing it.

I packed the workout clothes in my bag, then slipped on the hoodie and jeans. A quick glance in the mirror – hair artfully tousled, confident smirk in place. Yeah, I could pass for a regular kid just going to take an exam. Nothing suspicious here, officer.

As I headed out, I caught sight of the family photo on the wall. Mom, Dad, Noel, and me, all smiles at some picnic years ago. My hand hesitated on the doorknob.

Was I doing the right thing? Sneaking around, keeping secrets... again?

But then I remembered the mind-numbing boredom of the past few months. The itch under my skin, begging for action. This was my chance to prove myself, to show U.A. they hadn't made a mistake in giving me this shot.

"Sorry, Noel," I murmured. "What you don't know can't stress you out, right?"

With that less-than-convincing justification, I headed out into the crisp February morning.

The train ride to U.A. was a blur of nervous energy and last-minute mental prep. I kept reminding myself that I didn't actually need to pass this exam. My spot was secure. This was just for fun, a chance to stretch my quirk after months of playing it straight.

So why did it feel so damn important?

I arrived at U.A.'s imposing gates, joining the throng of hopeful students. The air crackled with a mix of excitement and anxiety. I breathed it in, feeling more alive than I had in months.

The check-in process was smooth, efficient. They directed us to a huge auditorium for the briefing. I found a seat next to a tall guy with long black hair tied up in a bun. A nasty scar ran over his left eye, giving him a rugged look.

He caught me looking and grinned. "Checking out the competition?"

I shrugged, smirking back. "Just sizing up my future classmates. Akira Sakamoto."

"Aoi Todo ," he replied, his grin widening. "So, Sakamoto, important question. What's your type?"

I blinked, thrown by the sudden change in topic. "My type?"

"Yeah, you know. In women."

I laughed, surprised by his boldness. "Seriously? That's what you want to know before a potentially life-changing exam?"

Todo shrugged, unabashed. "Hey, a man's got priorities. Plus, it's a great ice breaker. So? Spill."

I leaned back in my seat, considering. What the hell, might as well be honest. "Alright, if you must know... I like a woman who could kick my ass and look good doing it."

Todo's eyebrows shot up, then he burst out laughing. "A man of culture, I see! I can respect that. Nothing hotter than a woman who can hold her own, am I right?"

"Exactly. Life's too short for boring relationships. So Todo, what kind of woman is your type?"

Todo grinned. "A tall woman with a nice big ass!" 

I nodded sagely at Todo's declaration. "A noble pursuit, my friend. But if we're talking peak aesthetics, you can't beat a good pair of thighs."

Todo's eyes widened. "Oho? A thigh man, are we? Interesting, interesting. But consider this - a nice, round-"

"Dude," I cut him off, grinning, "I'm gonna stop you right there before this conversation gets us both in trouble."

Todo laughed. "Fair enough. But seriously, thighs? I mean, they're nice and all, but-"

"Think about it," I said. "Thighs are the perfect blend of form and function. Strong enough to crush watermelons, yet soft enough to-"

"YEAAAAH!" A voice boomed through the auditorium, cutting off our burgeoning philosophical debate. We both jumped, heads whipping towards the stage.

A man with spiky blonde hair and a leather jacket strutted out, his grin visible even from where we sat. "Welcome, listeners, to today's live performance! Everybody say 'HEY'!"

Silence.

I glanced at Todo, who shrugged.

The man on stage - Present Mic, I realized - seemed unfazed by the lack of response. "Keeping it mellow, huh? That's cool, that's cool. Let's get down to business then! I'm here to present the guidelines for your practical exam. Are you ready?"

A few scattered "yeah"s echoed through the room.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Present Mic shouted, his enthusiasm apparently impervious to the lukewarm crowd. "Now, pay attention, listeners! This test is the real deal. We're talking robot villains of three different types, each worth different point values!"

As Present Mic launched into the details of the exam, I leaned forward, all thoughts of thighs vs. butts forgotten. "Your goal, dear listeners," Present Mic continued, "is to use your Quirks to immobilize these faux villains and earn points! But be warned - any unheroic actions will result in disqualification!"

I smirked. Good thing I had months of practice toeing that particular line.

"Excuse me, sir!" A hand shot up a few rows in front of us. A tall, bespectacled guy with neatly combed hair stood ramrod straight. "You mentioned three types of villains, but the handout clearly shows four! Such an error is unbecoming of U.A., Japan's top hero academy!" 

The tall guy turned around pointing around my area. "Additionally you with the unkempt green hair you've been muttering this entire time. Stop that. If you can't bother to take this seriously then leave. You're distracting the rest of us."

I turned around, curiosity piqued by Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass's outburst. A few rows back, a scrawny kid with a mess of green hair was shrinking in his seat, face redder than a tomato.

"S-sorry," he mumbled, eyes fixed on his lap.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. The kid looked like he was about to pass out from embarrassment.

"Yo," I called out, loud enough for the green-haired kid to hear. "Don't sweat it, man. Some people just can't handle a little muttering."

The bespectacled guy whipped around, glaring at me. "This is a serious examination! We should all be giving it our full attention!"

I raised an eyebrow. "And some of us process information better by talking it out. You got a problem with different learning styles, Four Eyes?"

The guy sputtered, clearly not used to being challenged. "I- That's not- It's disruptive!"

"You know what's really disruptive?" I shot back. "Yelling at people in the middle of a presentation. But hey, you do you, buddy."

A few chuckles rippled through the crowd. Even Green Hair cracked a small smile.

"Alright, alright, settle down listeners!" Present Mic's voice boomed, cutting through the tension. "To answer our examinee's question - yes, there are four types of villains. The fourth is worth zero points! It's more of an obstacle to be avoided. Think of it as a thwomp in Super Mario Brothers!"

The bespectacled guy sat down, looking mildly chastised. I caught Green Hair's eye and gave him a wink. He blinked, surprised, then offered a shaky thumbs-up in return.

Todo leaned in, whispering, "Nice save there, Sakamoto. You always play hero for the underdogs?"

I shrugged, keeping my voice low. "What can I say? I've got a soft spot for nervous wrecks. Makes me feel better about my own mess of a life."

Todo snorted. "Fair enough. But I wouldn't count Green Bean out just yet. Sometimes it's the quiet ones you gotta watch out for."

I nodded, my eyes drifting back to the green-haired kid. He was furiously scribbling notes now, muttering under his breath again. There was something about him, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"Alright, listeners!" Present Mic's voice snapped me back to attention. "That's all for the exam rundown. I'll leave you with our school motto - Go beyond! Plus Ultra!"