Chapter 10: Gravity and Cruel Logic
The word "Expulsion" dropped onto the class like a boulder into a stagnant pond.
"Expulsion?!" Uraraka cried out, her face pale with panic. "But we just got here! That... that's completely unfair!"
Aizawa's eyes, previously half-closed with lethargy, sharpened into a piercing glare.
"Unfair?" Aizawa repeated, his voice quiet and chilling. He gestured vaguely toward the city skyline looming beyond the school walls. "Natural disasters. Massive highway accidents. Rampaging villains. Calamities that strike without warning. Japan is filled with unfairness. The job of a hero is to overturn that unfairness."
He walked slowly among the frozen students, his messy black hair obscuring his face.
"If you were expecting a cozy field trip or warm memories with friends, you chose the wrong place. For the next three years, U.A. will rain down unending hardships upon you. Go beyond... Plus Ultra. Overcome these obstacles with everything you have."
He flashed that unnerving, wide grin again. "Now, the demonstration is over. The real test begins."
Kuma adjusted his glasses. The words did not frighten him; they focused him. The world outside was harsh—he knew that better than most. The school was merely simulating reality.
Test 1: 50-Meter Dash
The students lined up in pairs.
In the first heat, Iida Tenya stood at the line, his engines purring. He shot forward like an arrow, clocking a time of 3.04 seconds.
"As an engine, that's just third gear," Iida commented, venting exhaust from his legs.
Then, it was Kuma's turn.
His opponent was Kirishima Eijiro, the redhead with the hardening Quirk. Kirishima smashed his fists together, hardening his skin. "I won't lose easily! I'll rush towards victory with full manliness!"
"On your marks... Get set..."
Kuma leaned forward slightly. He didn't take a traditional sprinter's stance; his center of gravity was too high. Instead, he angled both palms backward, the pink pads exposed to the air behind him.
BANG!
The moment the pistol fired, Kuma thrust his hands backward.
Pop!
The air behind him compressed and detonated, propelling his massive body forward like a human artillery shell. He didn't run so much as he "slid" through the air at a terrifying velocity, his feet barely grazing the track. He crossed the finish line in a black blur.
"3.01 seconds!"
Kuma stopped by thrusting his hands forward to repel the air and kill his momentum, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Kirishima crossed the line moments later, panting. "6.00 seconds."
"That was super fast, man..." Kirishima wheezed, waving away the dust. "You left me in the dust."
The class stared in shock. Another perfect score.
Iida touched the frame of his glasses, looking conflicted. "3.01... I should have run faster," he muttered, his competitive spirit ignited.
Bakugo remained silent. He didn't yell. He just watched Kuma with a look of deep, simmering annoyance.
Test 2: Grip Strength
Shoji, the boy with six arms, stood holding the device, his multiple biceps bulging.
"540 kilograms!"
"Whoa!" the students cheered. "You're a beast, Shoji!"
Kuma stepped up. He took the device in his right hand. The machine looked tiny and fragile in his giant grip. He didn't use his repulsion Quirk here. This was a test of raw power, and his body—inheriting genetic factors that granted abnormal physical strength—was more than sufficient.
He squeezed.
The device emitted a pained metallic whine. The digital display numbers scrolled frantically.
Creak.
"312 kilograms."
"Second best score after Shoji," Aizawa announced flatly, recording the data.
"As expected of your giant fist," Kaminari said, as the students gathered around.
Kuma rubbed the back of his head, looking slightly shy at the attention.
The tests continued.
In the Standing Long Jump, Kuma removed his shoes to use the pads on his feet directly. He crouched low.
I must restrain the output, Kuma thought. If I use full power, I will end up in the stratosphere.
Pop.
A controlled burst launched him effortlessly over the entire sandbox. He landed softly on the grass on the other side, clearing the distance with meters to spare.
Then came the Side Steps.
Here, Kuma's size was a distinct disadvantage. He moved back and forth, but his massive frame was like a pendulum trying to oscillate too quickly. He looked almost comical, hopping left and right with a heavy rhythm.
Result: Lowest score in the class.
Some students covered their mouths, trying to suppress their laughter—not out of malice, but simply because the sight of a giant hopping like a bunny was inherently funny.
Bakugo stood with both hands behind his head, watching Kuma with a smirk. "He really is like a balloon..."
Finally, they returned to the Ball Throw.
It was Midoriya Izuku's turn.
The green-haired boy stood inside the circle, visibly trembling. He was the only one who hadn't scored a good result in any test so far. If he failed here, expulsion was certain.
Kuma watched from the back. He saw the fear in Midoriya's eyes, but he also saw something familiar. A resolve that refused to break.
"He is in trouble," Iida whispered beside Kuma. "If he doesn't use his Quirk, he fails. If he uses it, his arm will shatter like in the exam."
"Let's hope he finds a way," Kuma said quietly.
Midoriya prepared to throw. Red energy flooded his arm. The immense power that had destroyed the Zero-Pointer was forming.
Just as he was about to release... the power vanished.
Midoriya threw the ball. It landed pitifully at 46 meters.
"Wha—?" Midoriya gasped. "I tried to use it..."
"I erased it."
Aizawa stood there, his hair floating in the air, his eyes glowing red, the capture scarf around his neck moving like snakes.
"What kind of hero falls injured from his own ability after the first attack?" Aizawa scolded harshly. "You have zero control. No one will save you just because you tried."
Kuma watched with interest. The teacher erases abilities... A frightening power. But it fits a teacher at this academy perfectly. With such a power, he can discipline any student.
Midoriya was given a second chance. He stood again. He closed his eyes.
This time, he didn't coat his entire arm. Kuma focused his sharp vision. He saw the energy gathering... not in the arm, but only in the tip of the index finger.
BANG!
The ball shot out with a thunderous force, creating a massive air current. At the exact same moment, Kuma saw Midoriya's finger turn a bruised purple—broken.
"Sensei..." Midoriya said, clutching his trembling hand. Tears were in his eyes, but a defiant smile was on his face. "I... I can still move!"
Aizawa looked at the device. 705.3 meters.
"Hoh..." Aizawa's creepy smile widened.
"Amazing..." Kuma murmured to himself. It takes extreme daring to break his finger so carelessly... What drives him?
Final Results
After all tests were concluded, Aizawa gathered the students in front of a holographic projector.
"I won't waste time explaining each test result individually," Aizawa said coldly. "So I'll show them all at once."
The screen lit up with a list of names and numbers.
At the very top, sitting on the throne undisputed:
1. Bartholomew Kuma
2. Yaoyorozu Momo
3. Todoroki Shoto
4. Bakugo Katsuki
...
Bakugo stared at the screen, the veins in his forehead throbbing violently. He was shaking with suppressed rage. For the second time, this quiet "Bear" had surpassed him. Not just him, but even "Half-and-Half" and the Ponytail girl. Fourth? He, Bakugo Katsuki, was fourth?!
Kuma scanned down to the bottom of the list.
20. Midoriya Izuku.
A heavy silence fell over Midoriya. He was shaking, despair surrounding him. It was over. Expulsion.
Aizawa clicked off the screen.
"By the way," Aizawa said, turning to leave. "The expulsion was a logical ruse."
Time stopped in the P.E. grounds.
"HAAAAH?!" the entire class screamed (except for Momo, Kuma, and Todoroki).
Aizawa continued indifferently, "It was necessary to draw out your maximum potential."
"It was kind of obvious if you thought about it," Momo said, hand politely covering her mouth.
"It wasn't obvious at all!" Mineta and Kaminari screamed with tears in their eyes, while Kirishima fell to his knees in sheer relief.
Kuma looked at Midoriya, who had collapsed onto the ground, his soul practically leaving his body.
Kuma walked over to the green-haired boy. He reached out with his large hand and patted Midoriya's uninjured shoulder gently.
"You are truly daring," Kuma said in his deep voice. "Your finger... looks in a pitiful state."
Midoriya looked up, his eyes teary. "Kuma-kun..."
The sun began to set. The students started heading back to the classroom to change.
Kuma watched them walking away. He stood still on the field.
"Let's go too," Midoriya said, holding his swollen finger.
"Wait," Kuma said, looking at the empty track. "I wish to try something..."
Midoriya blinked, surprised. "Huh?"