Gray sat at his assigned desk, looking over the other applicants as the examination staff prepared the room.
There were fewer students than he expected. Around a hundred applicants were scattered throughout the hall, most sitting quietly while a few were doing some . Their uniforms came from different schools, some of which Gray recognized as prestigious academies. He noticed a few students with mutation-type quirks, but most gave no indication of what their abilities might be.
The written portion came first, which Gray expected. He had spent enough time reviewing the necessary material that he wasn't particularly concerned. His grades had consistently ranked near the top of his class, and the mock examinations he took during the previous weeks had been relatively easy.
Once the proctor finished explaining the rules, the papers were distributed and the examination began.
Gray turned over the first page.
'Alright, let's see.' Gray thought as he glanced over the page. He flipped through the long exam.
The questions covered hero regulations, quirk usage laws, emergency procedures, and public safety questions. Some required choosing the correct response to a particular incident, while others presented more complicated scenarios where the applicant needed to explain their reasoning. There were also general studies questions for subjects like Japanese, math, science, and foreign languages
He started from the first page.
Gray worked through them steadily. Answering most of them with ease.
A few questions required more thought than he anticipated, particularly those involving multiple heroes responding to an incident with conflicting priorities. The legal questions were straightforward, though, and the written scenarios weren't anything he hadn't seen when he was studying.
His experience in Antarctica helped more than he expected. He had spent three months working alongside a professional hero agency, and although he had mostly handled administrative responsibilities, he had learned quite a bit about how hero operations actually functioned. Reading reports and helping with research equipment had exposed him to the less exciting responsibilities that came with the job. But it did help with this essay.
He finished with plenty of time to spare so he spent the rest of the time looking over his answers.
When the examination ended, Gray handed in his paper and followed the other applicants outside. He stretched a bit. The examination was a bit long, and he felt stiff from sitting for so long. The questions weren't hard for him, but he actually worried about Natsu. Based on what he knew about Natsu, they might be a bit difficult for him. But he trusted that he would prepare properly. Right?
*crack* "That's nice." he moaned after a nice stretch. After the quick-ish break, he headed to the exit and out onto the field. He found Shoto waiting for him there.
"How'd it go?" he asked.
"Pretty easy. You?"
"Easy."
Gray nodded. He hadn't expected anything less. Shoto was almost as smart as he was, and he wasn't someone who had a second life like him. The two chatted while they waited for the next exam portion.
The applicants were given a short break while the staff processed the written examinations. The staff would grade it quickly before the next part. Gray and Shoto spent most of it wandering around the designated waiting area, occasionally looking toward the surrounding buildings. He had seen a few photographs of U.A., but the campus was considerably larger than he expected.
Eventually, the results were announced. Both Gray and Shoto had cleared the written portion of the exam.
Gray smiled when he heard the announcement. He left for the field where the practical would take place.
"You aren't going to check the score?" Shoto asked.
"Nah." Gray replied, hands in his pockets.
He didn't bother to check his score. It was enough that he passed it. The score was unnecessary.
The written portion was pretty easy for him, as it was for almost all the applicants. These students were all recommendation students, and all of them excelled in middle school. He guessed everyone probably got a very high score.
-
The remaining students were directed toward another section of the campus, where the practical examination would take place. They changed into appropriate training clothes before following a member of the staff through a large passageway leading outside.
Finally, the exciting part. Gray wondered what the test would be. Maybe a fight? He hoped it was a fight.
When Gray stepped through the exit, he stopped for a moment.
The course was enormous.
The testing area contained several large artificial structures constructed from steel, reinforced concrete, and other materials. Elevated platforms stood at different heights, connected by narrow passages and suspended walkways. Several sections contained running water, including a wide channel that divided part of the field. Farther ahead, rotating platforms and mechanical obstacles continuously moved through obstacles.
There were also steep walls, raised barriers, and sections of uneven terrain.
Large mechanical fans had been installed along certain parts of the course, while other sections contained moving gates that opened and closed at regular intervals. Gray could see several cameras positioned around the field, along with observation platforms where the examination staff would monitor the applicants. It was definitely more elaborate than anything he expected. He wasn't even sure what kind of test it would be. It reminded him a bit of the Grand Magic Games.
Gray gave a low whistle.
"Now that's interesting."
Shoto stood beside him, studying the different obstacles.
"Based on this terrain, we have got to be playing hide and seek." Shoto said deadpan.
"What?"
"It was a joke." Shoto replied with the same deadpan expression.
"Oh, right. Haha…" Gray's eye twitched, he still wasn't used to Shoto's "jokes". He said them so seriously.
"But either way, it should be an obstacle course of some sort." Shoto said.
Gray was already considering several possibilities. The elevated sections wouldn't be much of a problem, and if the water was intended to slow him down, that wouldn't work either. The moving obstacles could be annoying, depending on how quickly they operated, but he had several techniques that could make short work of them. But maybe it was best if he didn't wreck the course.
He didn't want to ruin the test for the others, that would be no fun.
While they waited for instructions, Gray noticed a girl approaching them. She was a tall girl, almost as tall as he was, with long black hair, tied into a spiky ponytail. She had large, sharp onyx-colored eyes. She wore a red track outfit. She looked at both brothers before offering a polite bow.
"You're Todoroki Shoto and Todoroki Haise, correct?"
Gray nodded.
"Yeah. And you are?"
"Yaoyorozu Momo. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
Gray returned the greeting while Shoto acknowledged her with a small nod. Momo explained that she recognized their names from the applicant information, particularly because both had been recommended by Endeavor.
"There's applicant information?" Gray asked, turning to Shoto.
"No clue." Shoto shrugged. Neither of them really researched the other applicants. They didn't even know there was such a thing.
She seemed composed, although Gray noticed that her attention regularly returned to the course. She was clearly studying the obstacles and considering how to approach them.
Gray appreciated that. He let her out of the conversation, letting her focus.
Momo kindly excused herself to review the course. Gray watched her return to the other applicants, noticing that most of the students were doing the same thing. Some were studying the obstacles, while others were stretching or quietly discussing possible approaches with their classmates.
Gray looked over the course again. He was curious about the other applicants and what kind of quirks they possessed.
Shoto stood beside him, quietly examining the elevated platforms and moving obstacles. Neither brother seemed particularly nervous, though Gray could tell Shoto was already considering how best to approach the course.
Before either of them could say anything else, a loud voice erupted from the speakers surrounding the field.
"YEEEEAAAH! HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TODAY?!"
Gray immediately turned toward the main platform.
Present Mic had arrived.
The pro hero stepped forward and greeted the applicants with his usual enthusiasm. Gray recognized him immediately. He was a pro hero Gray had seen on the televisions regularly. He also hosted a radio show.
"WELCOME, RECOMMENDATION STUDENTS! HOPE YOU'RE READY, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ONE HELL OF A COURSE FOR YOU!!!
Gray covered his ears. This guy's voice was loud, he felt his body tremble from it.
Present Mic gestured toward the enormous testing area behind him.
The examination was relatively straightforward. Applicants would be divided into small groups of six and released onto the course simultaneously. Their objective was to reach the finish line as quickly as possible, passing through the marked checkpoints along the way. There were several obstacles placed in their paths to deter them. It wasn't just about speed, but also strategy and patience. The exam would cover it all.
Full Quirk usage was permitted, and the applicants were encouraged to use their abilities however they saw fit, provided they followed the course boundaries. There were no support items allowed, unless it was exclusively part of their quirk.
Their times would be recorded automatically.
Gray listened carefully. The whole explanation boiled down to an elaborate obstacle course.
Present Mic continued explaining the regulations, including and the requirement to pass through the designated checkpoints.
Gray looked toward the field again.
He already had a few ideas.
After the explanation finished, the staff began calling applicants by their assigned numbers.
Gray glanced down at the number printed on his track suit. Every student had changed into a track suit. No special equipment was allowed.
Seventeen.
He was in the first group.
"Looks like I'm up," he told Shoto.
Shoto checked his own number.
"Good luck."
Gray smiled. "You too."
He walked toward the starting area alongside the other applicants assigned to his group. Each student took a position behind the marked line while staff checked that the timing equipment was ready.
Gray rolled his shoulders and looked toward the course.
From this angle, he had a much better view.
The first obstacle involved a series of elevated platforms positioned above a wide stretch of uneven ground. Beyond them was a water channel and a large wall with several narrow openings. The course continued through moving platforms and mechanical barriers before curving toward a raised section near the finish line.
Gray considered using different techniques he prepared that would work.
But he had something better in mind.
He had spent months developing the ability to manipulate ice after creating it. More importantly, he had learned to move complex constructs without having to devote his entire attention to each individual section.
His mobility techniques had benefited enormously from it. He had an old technique in mind that he would use as mobility.
Time to test it properly.
A voice sounded through the speakers.
"ALRIGHT, FIRST GROUP! GET READY!"
Gray slightly hunched over, leaning forward.
Around him, the other applicants prepared their quirks. One student's arms changed shape, while another began producing faint sparks around his legs. A third crouched low against the ground, clearly preparing to launch forward the moment the signal sounded.
Gray kept his attention on the course.
"THREE!!!"
"TWO!!"
"ONE!"
"GOOOOO!"
The starting signal sounded, and the applicants immediately took off.
Gray moved at the same time.
"Ice-Make: Gungnir!"
A thick lance of ice erupted beneath him, angled sharply toward the first checkpoint. He shot out like a bullet.
Gray stepped onto it as the entire construct accelerated forward.
The movement was almost immediate.
The lance shot upward, carrying him over the uneven opening terrain. Gray kept his balance without difficulty, maintaining control of the weapon beneath his feet while adjusting its direction toward the elevated checkpoint.
He passed through the first gate before most of the other applicants had reached the platforms.
Gray glanced ahead.
The next section was a wide water channel, but unlike the previous obstacles, this one was designed to directly interfere with the applicants. Several high-pressure water jets fired across the course from both sides, creating powerful streams that would knock anyone attempting to cross off balance. The jets constantly changed direction, making it difficult to find a clear path through them.
Gray barely slowed down.
He extended one hand toward the channel, and the entire section froze almost instantly. The rushing water turned solid, including the powerful jets that had been firing across the course. Ice spread into the openings of the nozzles, blocking the water from escaping. Almost instantly, the machinery began groaning as pressure built inside the water system. The metal pipes creaked, and several of the mechanisms started vibrating under the strain.
Gray blasted forward, guiding his ice construct straight through the frozen obstacles. The entire crossing took him barely two seconds, and he passed through the next checkpoint without difficulty.
Once he was safely across, Gray released his hold on the frozen water. The ice broke apart, turning into mist and dropped into the channel, clearing the blocked nozzles. The machinery sputtered briefly before the water jets resumed their normal operation.
Gray glanced back for a brief moment, satisfied that nothing had broken, then turned his attention toward the next obstacle. "That was easy." He muttered as he sped away.
The next section was considerably more crowded. Several mechanical barriers moved across the course at different intervals, forcing applicants to time their movements carefully. Beyond them, large mechanical arms swept through the air, while rotating platforms blocked the most direct path toward the third checkpoint.
Gray adjusted the angle of Gungnir and accelerated toward the first opening. The lance tilted sharply to the left, carrying him between two barriers just before they shut over him. He immediately redirected it upward as a mechanical arm swept across his path. The massive ice weapon passed above the obstacle with barely any room to spare before descending toward the next section.
Despite his speed, Gray had zero trouble keeping track of the moving obstacles. His control over the lance allowed him to make corrections almost instantly, and he could reshape its size without issue. His control was flawless. He froze anything he didn't feel like dodging.
The third checkpoint stood beyond several rotating platforms. Gray studied their movements as he approached, noticing that the openings between them were constantly changing. He could have simply flown above most of the obstacles, but the checkpoint required him to pass through a specific section of the course.
He decided to take the direct route.
Gray leaned forward and narrowed the front of Gungnir, reducing the space it needed to pass between the platforms. The lance accelerated through the first opening before curving around the next obstacle. A rotating barrier moved into his path, but Gray adjusted his trajectory and passed beneath it. He immediately rose again, clearing another platform before it could swing across his route.
The entire sequence took only a moment.
Gray passed through the third checkpoint without slowing down. He glanced ahead and noticed that the course was beginning to straighten out. There were still a few obstacles remaining, but they were spaced farther apart, with a relatively clear path leading toward the final checkpoint.
Huh. Almost done already?
He had expected the course to be considerably more difficult.
Gray pushed a little more power into Gungnir, accelerating through the final section. The remaining barriers passed quickly as he guided the lance between them. He cleared the last checkpoint and spotted the finish line directly ahead.
With nothing else blocking his path, Gray maintained his speed until he was almost at the end. He pushed off the lance, landed on the ground, and immediately transitioned into a sprint. Behind him, Gungnir broke apart into little motes of ice, which Gray directed away from the course as he crossed the finish line.
He slowed to a stop several meters beyond it and straightened, taking a moment to look around.
"Well, that was fun."
Gray glanced back toward the course. The other five applicants from his group were still competing, and he could see one of them approaching the first checkpoint in the distance. Another appeared to be struggling with the high-pressure water section, which had resumed operating normally after Gray released his ice.
Gray raised an eyebrow.
Are they still back there? Was the course broken?
He knew he had been moving quickly, but he hadn't expected to finish that far ahead of everyone else. He had barely broken a sweat, and most of his attention had gone toward navigating the obstacles rather than full speed. If he wanted, he could've just frozen and shattered everything along the path.
A sharp electronic beep interrupted his thoughts.
Gray turned toward the large timing display positioned beside the finish line. His name appeared on the screen, followed by his recorded time.
TODOROKI, HAISE - APPLICANT 017
00:14.11
COURSE COMPLETED