Entrance Exam!

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As the day wrapped up, I strolled home, half expecting Bakugo to pop out of an alley for his usual post-school routine of "Let's make Ryuu's day worse." To my surprise—and mild disappointment—he didn't show.

When I got home, Mom greeted me with a raised eyebrow. "You're early. No detours today?"

I shrugged, kicking off my shoes. "Nah, decided to keep it simple. No need to tempt fate, you know?"

She gave me a knowing look. "Did something happen?"

"Define 'something,'" I said, heading toward the kitchen. "If you mean Izuku declaring his grand ambition to become the next All Might, then yeah. Something happened."

Mom's eyes lit up. "He did?"

"Yep," I said, grabbing a pear from the counter. "Finally grew a spine. It only took a decade and a half."

"Ryuu," Mom chided, but I could tell she was holding back a smile. "Be supportive."

"I am supportive," I said, biting into the fruit. "I just express it through sarcasm and tough love. You should try it sometime. Very effective."

She shook her head, muttering something about how I was going to give her gray hair before her time. I finished my pear and tossed the core in the trash, already planning my next move. If Izuku was serious about this whole "hero" thing, then I couldn't afford to slack off either. After all, what kind of brother would I be if I let him outshine me?

"Alright," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Time to get to work."

Mom looked up, her expression curious. "On what?"

I grinned. "Being amazing, obviously."

The next day, I followed Izuku because, let's face it, curiosity and boredom are my toxic combo. Sure enough, I found him at Takoba Municipal Beach Park, and it looked like someone had decided to throw a garbage apocalypse. Trash was piled up so high you could probably summit it and earn a medal. And there he was—Izuku, sweating bullets, dragging what appeared to be a busted refrigerator across the sand while All Might stood off to the side, arms crossed like a proud gym coach.

I leaned against a lamppost, watching the scene unfold. "What the hell is this? Training or trash collection?"

Izuku nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard me. The fridge slipped from his grip and landed with a dull thud. "R-Ryuu? What are you doing here?"

"Spying, obviously," I said, strolling closer. "And judging by the smell, you're cleaning up a landfill. Did All Might sign you up for community service or what?"

All Might turned toward me, his trademark grin plastered across his face. "Ah, young Midoriya's brother! Good to see you! And no, this is a tailored training regimen to prepare him for U.A."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing between the mountain of trash and my scrawny stepbrother. "Right. Because nothing screams 'future hero' like hauling rusty appliances."

"It's more than just cleaning," All Might said, his tone still upbeat. "It's about building strength, endurance, and character. Plus, when this beach is clean, it'll be a symbol of his hard work and dedication."

"Or a monument to your cheap labor," I muttered under my breath. Izuku shot me a nervous glance, clearly not wanting me to piss off his idol. "Alright, alright. I'll behave."

Pulling up the blue screen in my peripheral vision, I activated Analyze on Izuku. If All Might saw something special in him, I wanted to know what it was. The screen blinked for a moment before displaying the results:

Target: Izuku Midoriya

Quirk: None detected.

Strength: 4

Agility: 5

Intelligence: 16

Charisma: 6

Luck: 100

Traits:

Relentless Optimism: Refuses to give up, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Hero Worship Syndrome: Unhealthy obsession with All Might and hero society.

I snorted. "Relentless Optimism? Hero Worship Syndrome? These sound more like mental illnesses than traits."

Of course, I did that in my mind. But, man, Luck 100? He is a hundred times luckier than me. That is how he got me as his brother. Makes sense. Makes sense. Also explains my Luck 1. That is how I got him as my brother. Makes sense. Makes sense.

All Might's booming laugh brought me back to the trash apocalypse in front of us. "Young Midoriya is showing great progress! His spirit shines like a beacon of hope!"

"Or like a beacon of sweat and garbage," I muttered. Izuku shot me a glare, his hands still gripping the refrigerator like it was a contestant on "Japan's Next Top Debris."

All Might grinned wider. "Progress comes with effort, young man! Perhaps you would like to join your brother?"

"Oh, I would love to," I said, kicking at an empty soda can, "but I have a strict policy against unpaid manual labor. Especially when it involves hauling ancient appliances. Who even throws out this many microwaves?"

Izuku groaned, dropping the fridge onto the sand. "Ryuu, if you're just going to stand there making jokes, you might as well leave."

"Leave?" I scoffed. "And miss this comedy gold? Nah, I'm good. Watching you two play 'Heroes vs. Trash' is way more entertaining than anything Netflix has."

All Might clapped a hand on Izuku's shoulder, nearly sending the poor kid face-first into the sand. "Do not let him discourage you, young Midoriya! Hard work and determination will lead you to greatness!"

"Yeah, and maybe if you're lucky, they'll lead you to a tetanus shot," I added, pointing at a particularly rusty washing machine.

"Ryuu!" Izuku's face was red now, and not just from exertion. "If you're not going to help, then just go home!"

I held up my hands. "Alright, alright, I'll back off. But don't come crying to me when you wake up tomorrow with a pulled muscle and regret."

Izuku huffed and turned back to the fridge, resuming his Herculean effort to drag it closer to the dumpster All Might had designated as "Base Camp."

"Don't listen to him," All Might said, giving Izuku a thumbs-up. "Your progress is inspiring, young man. You're on the path to becoming a true hero!"

I couldn't stop myself. "Yeah, Izuku. Just remember to save the world one rusty blender at a time."

I eventually got bored of heckling and left them to their "symbol of hard work" project. My feet carried me to the usual stomping grounds: a convenience store with overpriced energy drinks and the best view of the main street for people-watching. I grabbed a can of something radioactive-looking and parked myself outside on the steps, watching the afternoon crowd shuffle by.

The System pinged in the corner of my vision. I gotten used to its interruptions by now, but this one actually seemed useful for once:

[NEW QUEST: ASSIST YOUR BROTHER'S TRAINING! REWARD: +50 XP. FAILURE: ZERO PROGRESS AND ANNOYED ALL MIGHT.]

"Pass," I muttered, cracking open the drink.

[WARNING: NEGLECTING THIS QUEST MAY RESULT IN REGRET, SELF-LOATHING, AND A FROWN FROM YOUR MOM.]

I took a long sip. "Yeah, not biting, System."

[COUNTERPOINT: XP IS GOOD, AND YOU NEED IT.]

I frowned at the screen. "Fine. What do I have to do, anyway?"

[OBJECTIVE: MOTIVATE IZUKU MIDORIYA WITHOUT BEING AN ASS.]

I nearly spit out my drink. "Okay, see, that's where you lose me. 'Being an ass' is, like, 90% of my personality."

[YOU CAN MANAGE. PROBABLY.]

Sighing, I closed the notification and made my way back to the beach. Izuku was still at it, his face a mask of determination… and sweat, mostly sweat. All Might was cheering him on, oblivious to the fact that the kid looked like he was one rusty hubcap away from a heatstroke.

I strolled up casually, hands in my pockets. "Alright, Waterworks, move over. Big brother's here to save the day."

Izuku looked up, his expression equal parts confusion and annoyance. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about efficiency," I said, rolling up my sleeves. "You're out here playing tug-of-war with garbage when you could be using leverage. Let me show you how it's done."

Grabbing a sturdy metal pipe from the pile of junk, I wedged it under the edge of a particularly stubborn washing machine. "Physics, baby," I said, pushing down on the pipe. The washing machine tipped over and slid a good two feet toward the dumpster.

All Might's laugh boomed again. "Excellent ingenuity, young Midoriya! Perhaps you have the makings of a hero after all!"

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, dusting off my hands. "Let's not get carried away."

Izuku's eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh! I get it now! Leverage makes it easier to move heavy objects!"

"Wow, you're a regular Einstein," I said, smirking. "Now hurry up and use your newfound knowledge before I change my mind about helping."

He actually smiled, which was weird. Normally my sarcasm just made him pout. But hey, if it got him to stop looking like he was about to keel over, I would take it. Together, we managed to clear a decent chunk of the trash pile before the sun started to set.

[QUEST COMPLETE! REWARD: +50 XP. CURRENT XP: 90]

"Finally," I muttered, swiping the notification away.

As we packed up for the day, All Might clapped me on the back, nearly knocking me over. "Well done, young Midoriya! Your assistance today was invaluable!"

"Yeah, sure," I said, stepping away before he could dislocate something. "Just don't expect me to make a habit of it."

Izuku gave me a tired but grateful smile. "Thanks, Ryuu. Really."

I shrugged. "Don't mention it. Seriously, don't. I have a reputation to maintain."

He laughed, and for a moment, it felt… nice. Like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't entirely useless after all.

Then the System chimed in:

[NEW QUEST: SURVIVE BAKUGO'S WRATH. REWARD: +20 XP. FAILURE: HOSPITAL BILLS.]

"Oh, come on!"

And like that, ten months passed by. Izuku overworked himself to the point of collapsing nearly every day. The bastard clearly thought I was going to carry his sweaty ass home every time. Too bad for him, I found a shopping cart in a dumpster early on. Most days, I wheeled him back like a drooling sack of potatoes. It wasn't glamorous, but neither was I.

In those ten months, I managed to level up twice, bringing me to Level 4. The grind was slow as hell because the System refused to hand out freebies. Most of my XP came from dumb, low-stakes quests like "Mock Bakugo Without Getting Punched" (failed that one three times) or "Convince Mom to Let You Skip Chores" (also a failure).

My stats looked like this:

Strength (STR): 14 – I wasn't winning arm-wrestling contests, but I could bench more than most guys my size.

Agility (AGI): 17 – Quickstep was my go-to move, and dodging Bakugo's explosions was practically cardio.

Intelligence (INT): 20 – My brain stayed sharp, mostly from thinking up insults on the fly.

Charisma (CHA): 27 – Let's just say Mt. Lady didn't call security the last time I hit on her.

Luck (LCK): 1 – Some things never change.

The Day of the U.A. Entrance Exam arrives!

The morning started with Izuku pacing the living room like a caffeinated hamster. "What if I fail?" he muttered, clutching his notebook like it was a lifeline.

"You won't fail," I said, tossing an apple from hand to hand. "Worst case, you die, and All Might writes a heartfelt eulogy. 'Here lies Midoriya Izuku: the kid who cried his way into greatness.'"

Izuku glared at me, which only made it better. "I'm being serious, Ryuu!"

"So am I!" I tossed the apple at him, and he barely caught it. "Look, you've been hauling fridges and garbage for months. If you can survive All Might's training, you can handle a few tests."

He frowned but didn't argue. Mom, ever the supportive mother, walked in holding two bento boxes. "Izuku, Ryuu, here's lunch for the day. Make sure to eat before the practical exam."

I grinned, taking my box. "Thanks, Mom. If I survive, I'll bring you back the school's gate as a trophy."

"Don't you dare," she said, narrowing her eyes.

The gates of U.A. looked like something out of a sci-fi movie, all sleek lines and intimidating grandeur. Kids swarmed the area, each of them looking way too excited for a glorified battle royale. I leaned over to Izuku. "See that guy over there?" I pointed to a kid with a jetpack on his back. "Bet he fails because he forgets to refuel."

"Ryuu, stop," Izuku hissed.

I spotted Bakugo a few yards away, surrounded by a couple of lackeys. He looked as smug as ever, which meant I couldn't resist. "Hey, Boom Boom!" I called out.

Bakugo's head snapped toward me, eyes narrowing. "What the hell do you want, Green 2.0?"

"Just wanted to wish you luck," I said, smirking. "You'll need it after I win the top spot."

As we were about to enter the building, a girl caught my attention. She was standing nearby, adjusting the strap of her bag, looking a bit nervous but still radiating this down-to-earth charm. Her short brown hair framed her face, and her eyes had this kind of warm sparkle, like she was ready to take on the world but still wondering if the world would be kind back.

I grabbed Izuku by the collar before he could make a beeline for the entrance, dragging him to a halt like the socially inept sack of anxiety he is. Ignoring his protests—and the mild choking sounds—I sauntered over to the girl, plastering on my signature cocky grin.

"Hey there, beauty," I started, leaning just enough to get her attention without invading her space. "Is your quirk an arrow? Because it just went straight through my heart the second I saw you."

She blinked, clearly caught off guard. Then she giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "That's… definitely an opening line."

"An opening line for an open heart," I shot back, tapping my chest. "But hey, if it worked, I'll take it."

Izuku, now free of my grip, stood behind me, looking like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole. "R-Ryuu! W-We're going to be late for the exam!"

The girl glanced at him, then back at me. "Are you two brothers?"

"Stepbrothers," I clarified, jerking a thumb at Izuku. "I got all the charm, and he got…" I paused, pretending to think. "Well, let's just say he's really good at crying."

"Ryuu!" Izuku's face turned bright red, his voice hitting that high-pitched squeak it always did when he was flustered.

The girl laughed again, her nervousness visibly easing. "Well, it's nice to meet you both. I'm here for the entrance exam too."

"Of course you are," I said smoothly. "Because why wouldn't U.A. want someone like you?" I tilted my head, pretending to size her up. "Let me guess—your quirk's got something to do with…" I snapped my fingers. "Gravity?"

Her eyes widened. "How did you…?"

"Lucky guess," I lied, mentally patting myself on the back for pulling that one out of nowhere. The System had been annoyingly quiet for once, so I could only thank Analyze for the assist.

Izuku, ever the over-sharer, blurted, "Ryuu's really good at reading people. It's almost like a quirk!"

"Almost," I agreed, leaning slightly closer to the girl. "But enough about me. What's your name? You know, so I can cheer you on when we both inevitably pass."

"Ochaco Uraraka," she said, offering a small bow. "And good luck to you too. Both of you."

I returned the bow with a mock salute. "Don't need luck, Ochaco. I've got charm, skill, and a killer smile. But I'll take it anyway."

Before I could add anything else, the loudspeakers crackled to life, calling all examinees to their assigned areas. Ochaco gave us a quick wave before hurrying off, leaving Izuku and me standing there.

Izuku finally found his voice. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked innocently, heading toward the exam hall.

"Flirt with random girls! And… and make fun of me!"

I shrugged. "Because it's fun? And you make it way too easy. Come on, let's get this over with before they start without us."

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