[7] Overdraft

I stood at the edge of a city that shouldn't exist.

Hands shoved deep in my pockets, I surveyed the sprawling urban landscape before me. Skyscrapers pierced the sky, their glass facades gleaming in the morning sun. Streets wound between them like arteries, dotted with cars, streetlights, and even the occasional tree struggling through a crack in the sidewalk. It was a perfect replica of downtown Tokyo, right down to the faded graffiti on an alley wall.

Except it wasn't Tokyo. It was a stage, a playground built for the sole purpose of testing a bunch of hormone-addled teenagers with superpowers.

"How much cash does UA burn through on this shit?" I muttered, eyeing a conveniently placed pile of rubble. "Rich bastards."

A gust of wind ruffled my hair, carrying the scent of concrete dust and anticipation. All around me, other examinees fidgeted and whispered, their excitement palpable. I scanned the crowd, assessing potential rivals.

My gaze landed on a guy with spiky blond hair and a face like he'd just bitten into a lemon. His red eyes darted around, sizing everyone up with a sneer. If looks could kill, half the crowd would be six feet under.

"Careful there, Pomeranian," I chuckled under my breath. "Your face might get stuck like that."

To my left, a girl with literal vines for hair stood quietly, her emerald tresses swaying gently in the breeze. Her quirk was obvious, but the applications... now that could be interesting.

A light tap on my shoulder interrupted my people-watching. I turned, coming face to face – well, face to forehead – with a girl about fifteen centimeters shorter than me. She wore a black bodysuit that left little to the imagination, her light brown hair framing a face split by a grin.

"Yo, you the dude who roasted Four Eyes during Present Mic's yap session?"

I raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Guilty as charged. Though I prefer to think of it as 'providing constructive feedback.'"

She laughed, a sound like wind chimes in a summer breeze. "Nah, fam. That was a straight-up verbal curb-stomp. Hella savage."

"I aim to please," I said with a mock bow. "Akira Sakamoto, at your service."

"Camie Utsushimi," she replied, flashing a peace sign. "Gotta say, your vibe's mad chill for someone about to throw down in a giant battle royale."

I shrugged. "What can I say? I work best under pressure. Besides, half these jokers look like they're about to piss themselves."

Camie's eyes darted around the crowd, her expression suddenly sharp and assessing. It was a jarring contrast to her bubbly demeanor, gone in an instant but impossible to miss. "True that. But don't sleep on 'em, yeah? Appearances can be mad deceiving."

"Oh?" I leaned in slightly, intrigued. "Speaking from experience?"

She winked, tapping the side of her nose. "A girl's gotta have her secrets, Aki-boy."

Before I could respond, a shrill whistle cut through the air. Present Mic's voice boomed from hidden speakers, impossibly loud and obnoxiously cheerful.

"ALRIGHT, LISTENERS! IT'S TIME TO SHOW US WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF! REMEMBER, YOU'VE GOT TEN MINUTES TO RACK UP AS MANY POINTS AS POSSIBLE BY TAKING DOWN VILLAIN BOTS! BUT WATCH OUT FOR THE ZERO-POINTERS – THEY'RE BIG, MEAN, AND NOT WORTH A SINGLE POINT!"

The crowd tensed, a collective intake of breath as we all prepared to sprint into action.

"Guess that's our cue," I said, rolling my shoulders. Black and red sparks began to dance across my skin as I activated my quirk, the familiar rush of power surging through my veins.

Camie's eyes widened slightly at the display. "Ooh, sparkly. What's your quirk, anyway?"

I grinned, the energy crackling between my fingertips. "Now where's the fun in telling you? You'll just have to watch and learn."

She pouted playfully. "Aw, no fair! I'll show you mine if you show me yours~"

"Maybe later," I replied. "Right now, we've got some robots to smash."

"THREE!" Present Mic's voice rang out.

I crouched slightly, ready to sprint.

"TWO!"

Camie winked at me. "May the best illusionist win, Aki-boy."

"ONE!"

Wait, what did she mean by–

"GO!"

The world exploded into chaos.

I launched myself forward, my quirk enhancing my speed and strength. The ground cracked beneath my feet as I sprinted into the mock city, leaving a trail of crackling energy in my wake. All around me, other examinees scrambled into action, their quirks manifesting in a dizzying array of powers.

A metallic screech pierced the air. I skidded to a halt as a three-pointer robot lumbered around the corner, its red eyes locking onto me.

"Target acquired," it droned. "Prepare for termination."

I grinned, electricity arcing between my fingers. "Bring it on, tin can."

The robot charged, its arms transforming into wicked-looking blades. I waited until the last possible second before sidestepping, my hand shooting out to grab its arm. The moment we made contact, I felt the surge of its kinetic energy flowing into me.

"Thanks for the boost," I laughed, my body humming with stolen power. I spun, using the robot's own momentum to slam it into a nearby wall. The concrete crumbled, and the bot sparked and twitched before going still.

"Three points," I muttered, already scanning for my next target. "Time to raise the stakes."

I took off down the street, weaving between other examinees and piles of debris. A flash of movement caught my eye – a one-pointer scuttling along a rooftop. I grinned, an idea forming.

Charging towards the building, I leapt, using my enhanced strength to propel myself upwards. My fingers found purchase on the windowsills and cracks in the facade as I scaled the wall in a matter of seconds. The robot barely had time to register my presence before I was on it.

"Sorry, buddy," I quipped, grabbing its head. "But I need to make a withdrawal."

I absorbed its energy, feeling the mechanical life force flow into me. Then, with a grunt of effort, I hurled the deactivated bot off the roof. It sailed through the air, crashing into a two-pointer that had been harassing a group of examinees below.

"You're welcome!" I called down, giving a mock salute before leaping to the next rooftop.

For the next few minutes, I was a whirlwind of destruction. I bounced from robot to robot, absorbing their energy and using it to amplify my own attacks. A roundhouse kick enhanced by stolen kinetic energy sent a three-pointer flying into its companions. A palm strike charged with electrical potential fried a two-pointer's circuits.

I lost myself in the rhythm of the fight, my senses hyper-aware of every movement, every opportunity. This... this was what I lived for. The thrill of pushing my limits, of proving I was the best.

A distant rumbling pulled me out of my battle trance. The ground began to shake, and a shadow fell over the mock city.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," I muttered, turning to face the source of the disturbance.

A colossal robot, easily the size of a skyscraper, lumbered into view. Its single red eye swept over the battlefield, sending examinees scattering in terror.

The zero-pointer. The so-called obstacle we were meant to avoid.

I smirked, cracking my knuckles as sparks danced across my skin. "Now that's more like it."

A scream cut through the air, drawing my attention to the base of the mechanical monstrosity. A girl with vine-like hair – the one I'd noticed earlier – was trapped beneath a pile of rubble, her plants straining to lift the heavy concrete.

For a split second, I hesitated. The smart move would be to ignore her, to keep racking up points while everyone else ran. But something tugged at me, a voice that sounded suspiciously like my mother's.

"Ah, fuck it," I growled, sprinting towards the trapped girl. "Hey, Poison Ivy! Hold on!"

I skidded to a stop beside her, assessing the situation. The rubble was too heavy for me to lift normally, even with my enhanced strength. But maybe...

"This is gonna suck," I muttered, placing my hands on the largest piece of concrete. I took a deep breath, then activated my quirk at full power.

Pain lanced through my body as I absorbed the potential energy of the massive weight, converting it into raw power. My muscles screamed in protest, but I grit my teeth and pushed through it.

With a roar of effort, I heaved the rubble off the girl. She scrambled out, her vines helping to pull her to safety.

"Thanks," she gasped, looking up at me with wide eyes.

I managed a strained grin, my body trembling from the overload of energy. "Don't mention it. Now if you'll excuse me..."

I turned to face the zero-pointer, which was getting way too close for comfort.

"Time to go all-in."

I sprinted forward, pushing my quirk to its absolute limit. The world blurred around me as I moved faster than I ever had before. I leapt, the stolen energy propelling me high into the air until I was level with the robot's head.

For a moment, I hung there, suspended between earth and sky. The zero-pointer's eye swiveled towards me, its gears whirring as it prepared to attack. A grin spread across my face as an idea struck me.

'A move this flashy deserves a name,' I thought. 'Let's call it...'

"BLACK FLASH!" I roared, the words tearing from my throat.

I shot forward like a bolt of lightning, my fist connecting with the robot's eye in an explosion of energy. Glass shattered, metal crumpled, and electricity arced across its surface in a dazzling display.

The zero-pointer stumbled backward, its systems overloading from the massive influx of energy. I pushed off its face, using some of my stolen power to launch myself away as the behemoth began to topple.

I plummeted through the air, the ground rushing up to meet me at an alarming rate. My body crackled with residual energy from the zero-pointer, but it wasn't enough to completely break my fall. I needed something, anything to slow my descent.

My eyes darted frantically, searching for a lifeline. There! A sturdy-looking light pole jutted out from the side of a nearby building. It was a long shot, but it was my only chance.

I twisted in mid-air, angling my body towards the pole. Black and red sparks danced across my skin as I pushed my quirk to its limit, drawing on every last ounce of stored energy. With a grunt of effort, I thrust my arm out, fingers grasping desperately for the metal structure.

For a heart-stopping moment, I thought I'd miscalculated. Then my hand made contact, and I latched on with all my might. The momentum of my fall swung me in a wide arc around the pole. Metal groaned in protest, threatening to buckle under the strain.

"Come on, come on," I muttered through gritted teeth, willing the pole to hold.

My body completed its swing, and I felt my grip starting to slip. With one last burst of energy, I launched myself off the pole, aiming for a nearby pile of rubble. I hit the ground rolling, absorbing the impact as best I could.

When I finally came to a stop, I lay there for a moment, panting heavily. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, but I was alive. I let out a breathless laugh, equal parts relief and exhilaration.

"Stick the landing, Sakamoto," I wheezed, pushing myself up to a sitting position. "Style points for creativity."

Silence fell over the mock city, broken only by the creaking of settling metal. Then, from somewhere behind me, a cheer erupted. Other voices joined in, a cacophony of relief and excitement.

I struggled to my feet, my legs shaking from exhaustion. Looks like I had a brused rib and a turned ankle. Could have been a lot worse. A flash of movement caught my eye, and I turned to see Camie sauntering towards me, a huge grin on her face.

"Damn, Aki-boy!" she exclaimed. "That was straight fire! You've been holding out on me."

I managed a weak laugh, running a hand through my sweat-soaked hair. "What can I say? I like to make an entranc—"

My words cut off abruptly as a wave of dizziness washed over me. The world tilted sideways, and I stumbled, barely catching myself on a nearby piece of rubble.

"Whoa there, Aki-boy!" Camie's voice sounded distant, muffled. "You okay?"

I tried to respond, but my tongue felt thick and uncooperative. The adrenaline that had been coursing through my veins moments ago vanished, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion. My limbs felt like lead weights, and even keeping my eyes open was a monumental effort.

"I... I don't..." I mumbled, my knees buckling.

The last thing I saw was Camie's worried face as the world faded to black.