Doctor Garaki activated several of his monitoring devices, holographic screens illuminating his face and casting a non-stop torrent of data.
From hidden cameras to nanomachines with sensors designed to study the events at Takoba Stadium. The children participating in the exams were not the only ones who were anxious.
Garaki Kyūdai shared their excitement. He might even be more enthusiastic about the exams than the students themselves.
That was due to the performance of two particular individuals who had caught his attention and that of his Master. Figures who seemed promising at first, but who gradually exceeded the Doctor's expectations.
Garaki was no fool. Even without All For One's vast information network, he would have detected the inconsistencies regarding the Quirk registries of the Terumi siblings from the First Year Hero Course.
A Magnetic Quirk that isn't entirely interrupted by electromagnetic disruption?
An emitter Quirk that allows the temperature of the emitted substance to be increased, but not reduced?
And then there were their superior physical capabilities, the fantastic way they adhered to vertical surfaces, and the inexhaustible production of their respective Quirks.
Too many inconsistencies, too many abilities. Garaki could count on the fingers of one hand the number of individuals whose Quirks could, in a way, grant them multiple abilities.
And none of them fell into the category of common.
With All For One locked away and Shigaraki doing God knows what in the underworld, Garaki Kyūdai decided to study the Terumi siblings more deeply.
He was no longer paying them superficial attention. Now, the doctor was genuinely interested in the brats.
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—Is that woman making eyes at you?— Tetsumaru asked, beginning to destroy Aizawa's peace of mind as soon as they stepped off the bus.
The wide doors of the Stadium welcomed them along with a sea of students entering the facility, tension palpable in their postures.
However, the man's gaze was obstructed by a smiling face with pretty features and squinted eyes flashing with smugness and amusement.
—Tetsumaru, neutralize her!— Aizawa ordered in a low voice.
Mei spared a look of pity for her Sensei for a brief moment before losing interest and continuing on her way, letting her other half know she would wait for him inside.
She had no desire to listen to bland small talk between acquaintances and strangers.
She swept her gaze across the vast stage and all the groups of students entering. She counted a couple of hundred just at this entrance alone.
—Hey, you shouldn't wander off too far,— Todoroki suddenly called out behind her. Mei looked over her shoulder with curiosity.
The boy with the calm face caught up to her and walked by her side.
—I'm not going to get lost, Todoroki,— Mei commented casually. —Or are you too nervous to go in on your own?— she asked mischievously.
—... I just want to go with you— was his brief response. Now Mei raised an eyebrow, genuinely confused. —Very chivalrous of you— she added after a moment, not rejecting his goodwill.
If she had to make a list of the nicest boys in her class, Todoroki would be in fifth place. That was due to his initial attitude, which had really made her want to kick him in the balls more than once.
Both of them moved ahead of their class, observing the ever-growing number of participants crowding the hallways.
Extravagant, exaggerated Hero costumes—some even ridiculous. Hairstyles that were equally crazy, defying all common sense, and mutations of the kind that would have them hunted down in a certain Empire of a certain Humanity in a certain dark future.
Had she been alone, Mei would have climbed onto the ceiling to avoid the tide of bodies and look cool, but she wouldn't leave Todoroki in such a rude manner.
Finally, they entered a wide chamber where the sweat of nervous teenagers assaulted Mei's nostrils like a punch to the face, making her instinctively shake her head.
—Can't these little shits control their sweat glands?— she thought to herself.
Beside her, Shoto noticed Mei's grimace and thought she had seen someone she disliked. His eyes scanned the room, noticing a particular group of students walking in their direction.
Their blue caps and the symbol printed on the front gave them away as students of the prestigious Shiketsu High.
Before he could question his classmate about what was bothering her, someone had slipped in between the two of them and was studying Mei from head to toe.
—Whoa, you're the champion of the UA Sports Festival, EyeGirl!— the Shiketsu girl exclaimed, drawing the attention of those around them, including her own classmates.
—Eye-what?— Mei muttered, clearly confused.
—Is it her!?
—It's EyeGirl, watch your eyeballs!
—I'm your fan!
—Scorch me with your steam, Mei-Chan!
All sorts of reactions flooded the small space. Some were stranger than others, but most shared a common thread: they were referring to the incident where Mei toyed with the Nomu's eye during the attack in Hosu.
—Oh-ho? So the champion is taking the exam too?— commented a young man of imposing build, his friendly smile twisting the moment he locked eyes with Shoto.
—Hey, your brother is the young man who took part in the operation against the League of Villains recently, right!? Is he here too, can I meet him!? I'm Utsushimi Kemii, by the way!— the girl who started the commotion continued babbling.
Mei tried to remain calm in the face of the energetic girl, but the mention of Tetsumaru and the girl's suspicious interest made her frown. She took a deep breath, soothing the inappropriate jealousy of someone whose age, in theory, far exceeded that of this brat.
—What do you care if he's here or not?— she snapped.
Her words caused a slight increase in tension. The Shiketsu group didn't take the kunoichi's tone very well.
Yoarashi Inasa clenched his fist and directed a hollow, disapproving look at Mei, flashing with disappointment. —I couldn't expect anything less from someone who chose to do their internship with Endeavor and his son— he commented with disdain.
—Know your place, brat— Mei clicked her tongue. Kemii tried to appease the atmosphere with her optimistic attitude, but the hostility from her Shiketsu classmates had already settled in.
—We'll see how much of a Champion you really are, EyeGirl— said another Shiketsu student, his narrowed eyes fixed on Mei.
Shoto took a step forward and placed himself protectively between the kunoichi and the imposing Inasa. —I think it's time for you to leave— Endeavor's son threatened.
Inasa, Kemii, and Mei herself blinked at his statement. One out of Shoto's sheer nerve, the second due to the bad timing and poor choice of words, and the third out of pure confusion.
—This isn't over, Todoroki, Champion— the larger boy spat, turning around to head back the way he came. The other members of Shiketsu also dropped the matter for now.
Kemii looked awkwardly between her classmates, Inasa, and the UA students. She felt a bit of guilt, as it was because of her that the atmosphere had soured.
—Uh, I'm sorry!— she bowed her head quickly. —I didn't mean to bother you, goodbye!—
—... What a weird girl— Mei commented aloud. Those who heard her looked at her with "Are you serious, EyeGirl?" expressions. She ignored them shamelessly and patted Shoto's shoulder to snap him out of his thoughts.
—Drop it, my flaming prince. Let's wait for the others— she remarked nonchalantly, without noticing the slight blush on the boy's cheeks.
A short time later, Tetsumaru and the rest of Class 1-A arrived, and Mera Yokumiru's pitiful speech began.
The exams were about to begin, and the attention of many participants was centered on UA, as well as their striking Champion, Terumi Mei.