1. Entrance exam
Not everyone is created equal. Some are more powerful, some less. Some time ago, the supernatural became normal, and dreams became reality. The world has become a superhuman society, and about 80% of the world's population now has some kind of special trait called a quirk. In this world swirling with chaos, the profession that everyone once dreamed about and admired came into the limelight. Pro Heroes.
***
Today was the day. The day of the entrance exam for the prestigious school named UA High.
The redhead girl couldn't be more happier. She was dressed in plaid red knee-leight skirt and white shirt. Her red hair, which reached below her shoulders, was down with two dutch braids that adorned her beautiful fiery hair. She exited her room in joy and ran down the stairs, stumbling a few times on the way.
'Don't be clumsy today.'-she said to herself.
"Are you excited for the entrance exam, Muffin?"-large, brunette man asked.
"I sure am, uncle Ari. I am just scared I will fail because I'm being my usual clumsy self."-the girl said.
"Don't say that, Lollypop."-man with blonde hair said.
"Yeah. Listen to Uri. You will kill it. Just have a little faith in yourself, Cherry Pie."-black haired man said giving girl a pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks, uncle Ori."-she kissed her uncles' cheeks.
She went to the door and turned around.
"Are we going or what?"
"Yep."
"Get the car keys."
"Let's go, people! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!"-the girl laughed at her uncles, the only family she had left.
***
They drove to a beautiful building. The girl couldn't believe this was going to be the school she's going to attend (if she passes the exam, of course).
"We're here, Muffin."
"Thanks, Uncles."
"Are you sure you're going to be okay, Lollypop?"
"Of course I am. Why would you asked me that?"-the girl giggled.
"This is the first time you're going to attend a normal school. Kids can sometimes be... well, kids."
"Don't worry about me, uncle Uri. I can take care of myself.
Just like mom did."-the three man smiled.
Their little niece reminded them so much of their elder sister everyday.
"She would've been so proud of you, Cherry Pie. And hopefully, one day you're going to become Pro Hero and fight alongside us."
"I will. But, I have to pass the entrance exam first."-she exited the car.
"I'll see you later, guys."-she closed the car doors.
"Are you crying, Ari?"-his brother asked him.
"No. I just had something in the eye."-Ari replied while brushing the tears from his cheek.
"Our little girl is all grown up."
"Everyday she is becoming more and more like Julie. It worries me."
"You're right, brother. One day we are going to have to tell her the truth."
***
The yard of UA High was filled with new students ready to enroll in one of the courses, the main and the most famous one being the Hero Course.
The girl looked around in the amazement, this was her first time going to public school instead of being homeschooled. She wasn't paying attention and she accidentally bumped into someone causing her to fall on top of that person.
She quickly got up.
"I am so, so sorry. This is totally my fault. Are you okay?"-she offered her hand to a boy with two hair colors, red and white.
"I'm fine."-he took her hand and got up from the floor.
"Are you okay?"-he asked her.
"Yes. I'm..."-she held out her hand, but she didn't look at the steps that were in front of her, causing her to fall on the ground again.
"Madly clumsy. I'm so clumsy."-she said quietly hope that the boy won't be able to hear her, but he did.
"Are you okay?"-the boy asked while helping her up.
"Yes, sorry about that."
"It's fine. I'm supposed to take an entrance exam, so I guess I will see you around, Clumsy Girl."-she walked in the building.
"Yeah, see you there."-she waved and smiled.
"I'm Nella, by the way."-she whispered quietly.
'I don't need to worry about what uncle Uri said. I will be just fine.'-she thought.
***
The redhead girl walked around the building until she finally found the room with UA High School Hero Course, Exam Orientation.
The room was filled with students, it was a real conference room with Pro Heroes Present Mic in the front.
"What's up, UA candidates! Thanks for tuning into me, your school DJ!
Come on, let me hear you!!"-there was a complete silence.
"Keeping it mello, ha?! That's fine! I will skip straight to the main show! Let's talk about how all those practical exams are gonna go down, okay?! Are you ready?!!"-again, the room was filled with silence.
"Oh, my goodness. It's the voice Hero, Present Mic. So cool."-a greenete boy that was sitting next to Nella, said in admiration.
The blonde boy next to him looked annoyed.
"I know, right."-she said and the greenete boy turned to her.
"I listen to his radio show everyday of the week."-they said in unison and smiled at each other.
"It's so crazy nuts that all UA teachers are Pro Heroes."-the boy said.
"Will you shut up?"-the blonde boy next to him said.
"Like your application said, today you, rocking boys and girls, will be out there conducting two minute battles in super hip urban settings! After I drop the mic, you'll head to your specified battle centers!"-everyone got an exam tickets.
"I see. They are splitting us up so we can't work with any of our friends."-the blonde boy said.
"You are right. Our examinees numbers are one after the other, but we are assigned to different battle centers."-the greenete boy said.
"Get your eyes from my card.
Damn, I was really looking forward to crashing you."-the greenete boy smiled awkwardly.
'That wasn't nice.'
"Okay, okay! Let's check out your targets! There are three types of robo villains in every battle center! You'll earn points based on their level of difficulties, so better chose wisely!
Your goal in this trail is to raise your score by using your quirk to shreed these three villains like a mid-song guitar solo!
But, check it! Make sure you act heroic. Attacking other examinees is a UA no no!"
"Excuse me, Sir, but I've got a question."-Present Mic was interrupted by a boy with glasses and dark hair.
"Hit me!!"-the light were on the boy asking the question.
"On the print out, you listed four types of villains, not three. With all respect, if this is an error on official UA materials, it's shameful. We are examplery students, we expect the best from Japanese most notable school. And mistakes like this, just won't do."-he turned to the greenete boy.
"And additionally, you've been muttering this entire time. Stop that. If you can't take this seriously, leave. You're distracting the rest of us."
"Sorry."-other students laughed.
"All right, all right! Examinee number 7111, thanks for calling in with your request!
The fourth villain type is worth zero points! That guy is just an obstacle we'll be throwing in your way! There is one in every battle center! Think of it as something you're trying to avoid! It's not that it can't be beaten, but there is kinda no point! I recommend you focus on the ones on top of the charts!"
"Thank you very much. Please, continue."-the boy bowed and thanked for the answer.
"That's all I got for you today! I'll sign off with a little present! A sample of our school moto! As general Napoleon Bonaparte once layed down, a true hero is the one who overcomes life's misfortunes!
Mhm, now that's the tasty self bite.
You ready to go beyond?!
Let's hear applause Plus Ultra!!
Good luck! Hope you've practiced more than just books!"
***
The students were being taken to different battle centers. Nella was taken to Battle Center A. She was feeling really nervous.
"I got this, I can do it."-she muttered to herself.
"Tch. Would you stop talking to yourself? It's annoying."-the blonde boy that she recognized from before, said to her.
"Sorry. It's just the force of habit."-she looked down at the ground.
He rolled his eyes.
"Just make sure it doesn't happen when we face the robots. It's distracting."-she nodded.
"I won't, I promise."-she smiled and looked closely at him.
"I'm Nella Duncan."
"Yeah, right. Like I need to know another lame extra."-he said and turned his back to her.
'This guy is the one of those people uncle Uri was trying to warn me about. But, I need to stay positive, like my mom always did.'
As the students were about to enter the Battle Center, Nella walked passed the blonde boy.
"Good luck other there. I hope you do your best."-he looked at her with confused look in his eyes.
In that moment the boy knew he didn't see the last of her.
***
They entered the Battle Center. Nella was running with the rest of the students in her group, anticipating the attacks very soon. The robots appeared in front of them and it meant that the exam had started.
Other students ran towards the robots in order to fight them. Nella knew she had to do something, she needed a good strategy.
While she was thinking of a proper strategy, a robot was coming straight for her.
She jumped on the side and managed to dodge his attack.
She used her quirk to blast an energy projectile and destroyed the robot successfully.
She continued to fight them and managed to earn more and more points.
While she was fighting the robots, Nella saw that ash blonde boy from before blasting the robots. It was no secret he was amazing. Nella saw that one of the robots was coming towards him from behind. He was distracted by the ones in front of him.
"Watch out!"-she stepped out.
A scarlet red color was appearing from her hands as she destroyed the robot.
She turned to the boy, but didn't look at him. She destroyed another robot coming their way.
"I don't need your help!!"
"Get down!"-she said while using her quirk.
"Don't tell me what to do!!"-he yelled and blasted the robots that were coming.
The redhead girl ignored the ash blonde boy and continued shooting energy blasts.
He never saw a quirk like that before, he was impressed and worried at the same time. He wouldn't let that girl beat him.
There were only a few seconds left.
The boy used his explosion quirk to destroy what's left of the robots, and Nella, being her usual clumsy self, stumbled and she came to terms with the fact that she will have close encounter with the floor.
But, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her up before she could hit the ground.
The alarm sounded concluding the end of the entrance exam.
She looked at the person who saved her from the fall and it was that ash blonde boy.
"Instead of helping me, you should really be focusing on how to stop being clumsy, Princess."
'Princess?'
He smirked at her and left her alone.
But, she couldn't think of what he'd just said. All she could think about were the results of the exam.
