Chapter 6 — The Entrance Exam and developments?
The gates of U.A. loomed ahead, gleaming in the morning sun like a doorway into destiny. Izuku Midoriya adjusted his backpack strap, trying not to fidget. His heart thudded so loud it almost drowned out the chatter of the other applicants.
Beside him, Nerissa strolled along, humming softly. The light breeze teased the strands of her two-toned hair black and blue hair catching the sunlight with every sway. Her calm, radiant energy made Izuku's nerves worse.
He'd faced down a villain. He'd trained under All Might himself. But asking her out? That terrified him more than any robot.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked, tilting her head. Her pink eyes sparkled with concern.
Izuku blinked, caught staring. "O-oh! Yeah! Totally fine. Just… pre-exam jitters."
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "You'll do amazing. You always do."
He scratched the back of his neck, cheeks warming. Just ask her after the exam. You've got this, Midoriya.
The pair stopped at the security checkpoint, joining the line of students streaming inside. The campus stretched before them like a miniature city — sleek buildings, testing arenas, and training fields that gleamed under the sun.
Orientation
Inside the auditorium, Present Mic's voice boomed from the stage. "WELCOME TO U.A., FUTURE HEROES!"
Izuku tried to focus as holographic displays flared to life, showing images of the combat grounds and robotic targets.
"You'll each have ten minutes to score as many points as possible by defeating robots!" Present Mic shouted, his energy infectious. "Remember — teamwork isn't required, but it is allowed!"
Nerissa leaned over, whispering, "Guess we're not in the same zone, huh?"
Izuku shook his head, a bit disappointed. "Yeah… different sites."
She flashed him a grin. "Then let's both give it our all."
He nodded. "Yeah."
Site B — Exam Grounds
The mock city stretched out in ruins before him skyscrapers gutted, streets cracked and littered with debris. Examinees stood tense at the starting line.
Izuku exhaled, loosening his shoulders. "Alright, focus. Analyze, plan, adapt."
When the gates began to creak open, he summoned his partner with a steady voice.
"Come forth."
From the shadow at his feet, Igris rose — tall and menacing, blue eyes glowing beneath a black helm. The knight bowed silently, awaiting command.
Gasps rippled through the nearby examinees.
Before anyone could comment, Present Mic's voice boomed: "THERE'S NO COUNTDOWN IN A REAL BATTLE — GO, GO, GO!"
The gates burst open, and chaos ensued.
Students sprinted into the mock city, quirks flashing everywhere, explosions, lightning, bursts of flame. Izuku ran forward while scanning the area.
"Three small bots on the left, one big one up top," he muttered, slipping into analysis mode. "Igris, get em."
The knight obeyed instantly, blade cleaving through a one-pointer after one pointer in a single, clean arc. Metal screamed as it split apart. He darted past izuku to get a 2 pointer that snuck up on him.
Izuku darted forward, dodging a rubber bullet from another. "Thanks, buddy!"
He rolled behind cover, grabbed a chunk of debris with his shadows, and hurled it into a robot's optics. Igris followed up with a precise strike, ending it.
Izuku's movements were quick but human, not powered by super strength or speed, but by instinct, strategy, and training. The shadows responded fluidly, obeying every flicker of his focus.
Still, the effort was draining. The link between him and Igris tugged at his energy like a weight pulling on him . His lungs burned.
He wiped sweat from his brow. "Can't overdo it… not yet."
Another wave of bots rounded the corner. Igris intercepted them, blade flashing like a crescent moon, sparks scattering with every blow.
Izuku stayed close, directing, supporting and running strategies in his head.
Then the ground began to tremble.
The shadow of something massive blotted out the sun.
Izuku looked up. "Oh, come on…"
The Zero Pointer towered above the cityscape, a mechanical titan that made the buildings look like toys. Examinees screamed and scattered.
Instinct screamed at him to run — but a faint cry cut through the noise. A girl, trapped under debris.
Izuku's eyes widened. "Igris!"
The knight didn't hesitate. He sprinted forward as Izuku followed, dodging falling rubble. They reached her in seconds — Igris heaved the debris off her while Izuku helped her up.
"Get out of here!" he said. She nodded shakily and ran.
Then he turned to face the giant.
"Alright," Izuku whispered, breath steadying. "Let's see how far I've come."
His eyes darted across the battlefield — twisted wreckage, crushed robots, and among them, a hulking humanoid training drone built like a knight, shattered and still sparking.
"I could use a little backup…"
He extended his hand. "Come forth!"
Shadows poured from his feet, racing toward the ruined drone. The air turned cold and heavy, light bending around him. The remains were covered in shadows, then sank into the darkness before reforming — taller, broader, plated in black armor streaked with faint crimson light.
No weapon visible or at least able to be seen but izuku could tell this one was made for hitting hard and getting hit in turn.
Izuku smiled faintly. "Welcome to the team, …..Hercules."
The armored berserker turned, kneeling before him in silent obedience.
"Alright, you two," Izuku said, heart pounding. "Let's take it down."
Igris and Hercules launched forward, one swift and graceful, the other brutal and heavy-handed. They struck in tandem — Igris slicing through joints while Hercules hammered fisted the Zero Pointer's legs.
Sparks exploded. The giant lurched, its metal groaning in protest.
"Almost there!" Izuku shouted, racing closer.
He planted both hands on the cracked pavement, summoning every ounce of will he had left. Shadows surged outward, coiling around the robot's base like black serpents.
"Move…" he whispered.
The darkness strained but held. His muscles screamed in protest, veins burning as he pushed harder.
"Come on—MOVE!"
The ground split beneath him. Igris struck the final blow, severing the last joint, while Hercules brought down, his fists crashing into the chest plate.
"Now!" Izuku roared, thrusting his hands forward.
The shadows erupted like a wave pulling at the Zero Pointer.
The Zero Pointer toppled backward, crashing into the cityscape with a sound like thunder. Dust and debris billowed skyward, blotting out everything.
When it cleared, Izuku stood panting, surrounded by ruin — and two kneeling shadows at his side.
He tried to speak, but his vision swam. The world tilted, the edges dimming. He caught a final glimpse of the two figures bowing their heads before darkness took him.
Observation Room
In the UA control room, silence reigned.
Smoke still swirled across the feed, but one image remained clear: a boy standing before a fallen titan, flanked by two shadowy knights.
Aizawa crossed his arms, squinting. "He did that?"
All Might didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the screen, conflicted. "He's incredible… but that power is a double edged sword."
Principal Nezu's whiskers twitched, a gleam of curiosity in his eyes. "A quirk that uses darkness that can rival our largest machines… fascinating." He smiled faintly. "It seems U.A. will have quite an interesting year ahead."
— outside U.A. After the exam —
The crowd around them began to thin as students headed toward the gates or met up with friends, but Izuku and Nerissa lingered by the railing overlooking the training zones. From here, the shattered remains of robots and scorched concrete stretched out like the remnants of a battlefield.
For a long moment, they just stood there in silence — letting the wind carry away the tension that had built up during the exam.
Izuku's heart thudded steadily in his chest. This is it, he thought. You've fought monster robots, faced down the zero-pointer, and can command reanimated shadows… but you can't even ask her one simple question?
He swallowed hard and glanced at Nerissa. She was leaning on the railing beside him, hair brushing her cheek, her gaze lost somewhere in the golden haze of sunset. The sight alone made his throat tighten.
"You know…" he started quietly, "I was really worried when they split us up."
She turned toward him, smiling softly. "I figured. You've always been like that — worrying about everyone else before yourself."
Her teasing tone was light, but there was warmth behind it. Izuku couldn't help smiling back.
"I guess that's true," he admitted. "But still… I kept thinking about how we've trained together, how much you've helped me. I don't think I'd have gotten this far without you."
Nerissa blinked, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. "That's… really sweet, Izuku. But you're the one who kept pushing forward. You just needed someone to keep you from overdoing it."
He laughed under his breath. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
The quiet stretched again — not awkward, but charged. The kind of silence that carried more than words. Izuku's palms felt suddenly sweaty. He glanced down at them, then forced himself to speak before he lost his nerve.
"Nerissa… after the results come out… would you maybe… want to, uh—" He stumbled over his words, heat rising in his face. "Go out somewhere? Just the two of us?"
For a moment, Nerissa just blinked at him — eyes wide, lips parted slightly in surprise. Then her expression softened, a gentle smile tugging at her mouth.
"I was wondering how long it'd take you to ask," she said lightly blushing.
W–Wait, really?" he stammered.
She nodded, laughing softly. "Yeah. I've kind of been waiting for you to say it first. I could tell it was something you need to do."
Izuku's heart nearly stopped. His mind raced — not with strategy, or analysis, or battle reflexes, but with pure, dizzy disbelief. "So… that's a yes?"
"That's a yes," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Once we find out if we passed, you can pick the place and remember your paying." she said in a signing ton at the end
He exhaled a shaky laugh, his nerves unraveling in relief. "Okay. Deal."
As they started walking toward the station together, the last of the sunlight dipped below the skyline, leaving long shadows trailing behind them. For once, Izuku didn't mind them — they felt like a promise of something new, something brighter, waiting just ahead.
Three days passed like a blur.
Every moment between training, meals, and restless nights was filled with the same anxious thought: Did I do enough?
Izuku sat on the couch, a familiar weight of nervous anticipation in his chest. The room was quiet, the only sound being the ticking of the clock on the wall. His mom was in the kitchen, pretending to read a magazine but sneaking worried glances his way every few minutes.
Then, finally — the faint ding of his tablet lit up the screen with a message marked U.A. Entrance Examination Results.
He swallowed hard and tapped the icon. The screen went black for a moment, and then —
"All Might?" he gasped.
The Symbol of Peace appeared in a holographic projection, larger than life, beaming his trademark grin.
"YOUNG MIDORIYA!" he boomed, voice echoing through the room. "If you are watching this, then I have the pleasure of informing you that you have PASSED the U.A. entrance exam!"
Izuku's heart skipped a beat. "I—I did it," he whispered, almost not believing it.
All Might continued, the recording shimmering slightly. "Not only that! Your heroic spirit and unshakable determination during the practical earned you the highest rescue and combat score in your testing site! Quite the feat, young man!"
His mom gasped softly from the kitchen, tears welling in her eyes. "Izuku, that's amazing!"
But before Izuku could even process the words, another face appeared on the screen — Principal Nezu, his calm smile a striking contrast to All Might's boisterous presence.
"Additionally," Nezu said, his voice bright yet formal, "we were very impressed with the unique nature of your Quirk. Given its complexity, we believe it would benefit from further supervised study. Therefore, you are being granted special early access to U.A. 's facilities for pre-semester training."
Izuku blinked. "Early access? But… doesn't the semester start in a few months?"
"It does," Nezu replied cheerfully, as if hearing him. "But we believe students with such… unusual potential could use a little head start. Oh, and you won't be training alone — we've extended the same offer to another promising applicant. I'm sure you'll be delighted to know it's Nerissa ravencroft."
Izuku's breath caught. "Nerissa's coming too?"
"Indeed," All Might said, stepping back into frame. "The two of you have proven that teamwork and heart go hand in hand. So, we'll see you both in a few days, young hero."
The screen blinked out, leaving only Izuku's stunned reflection staring back at him. For a long moment, he didn't move — and then a slow, disbelieving grin spread across his face.
"I… I did it. I really did it."
His mother rushed forward, hugging him tightly. "I'm so proud of you, Izuku!"
He held her close, smiling into her shoulder. "Thanks, Mom. I won't let you down."
—cut to a day later at the start of the date—
They ended up meeting at a small café near the pier, splitting a dessert neither of them could pronounce and making jokes about who had the worse training bruises. The air between them was lighter than it had been in months — for once, no talk of quirks, villains, or expectations. Just smiles and stolen glances.
When they left, the stars were already out. Nerissa walked beside him, quiet for a moment before saying softly, "You know… nine months ago, you could barely talk to me without stuttering."
"I still stutter," he admitted sheepishly.
"Yeah," she said with a little smirk, "but now you do it confidently."
They stopped at the edge of the boardwalk, ocean wind brushing past. Izuku looked out at the waves — and for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel small.
He turned to her, voice steady. "We made it this far. Together."
Nerissa's smile was soft, her hand intertwined with his. "Then let's keep it that way."and they both blushed up a storm.
For a moment, the world was still — just the stars, the sea, and the quiet promise between them.
— a few days later at U.A.—
The air was crisp and alive with energy. The sprawling U.A. campus stood before them, gleaming under the sun — all polished steel, glass, and promise.
Nerissa stood by the main gates when Izuku arrived. Her hair caught the light, the blue undertones glimmering faintly. She looked over at him, a teasing smile on her face.
"About time you showed up," she said. "I was starting to think you overslept."
"W-well, I had to make sure my mom didn't pack my lunch three times," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
She laughed — that bright, easy sound that always made his nerves calm down. "Still the same old Izuku."
"Hey," he said with mock indignation. "I've grown, you know."
"Oh, I noticed," she said with a sly grin. "You don't stammer nearly as much anymore."
That earned her a flustered glance and a half-suppressed smile from him, which only made her laugh harder.
Before either of them could say more, All Might's booming voice cut across the courtyard.
"Ah! Young Midoriya! Young Ravencroft! You made it!"
The towering hero strode toward them, his presence instantly commanding the area. Nezu followed beside him, perched on all Might's shoulder.
"All right, you two," All Might said, clapping his hands together. "Today marks the start of your special pre-semester training. You'll have full access to U.A.'s private facility, and I'll be monitoring your progress personally!"
"That's right!" All Might said proudly. "Both of you have shown exceptional promise. But the path of a hero is not an easy one! Your quirks are strong, but only through discipline will they truly shine!"
Izuku and Nerissa exchanged a glance — part excitement, part awe.
Nezu chimed in, voice cheerful. "We've also arranged living accommodations here on campus for the duration of your training. Consider it a taste of dorm life before the semester begins."
"Dorms?" Izuku repeated, a little nervous.
"Don't worry," Nezu said, smiling knowingly. "You'll each have your own space. But teamwork will still be encouraged. "
All Might laughed heartily. "He's right! Now then, let's not waste daylight! To the training fields!"
As they followed him, the sun climbed higher over U.A., painting the sky gold. Izuku could feel his pulse quicken — this wasn't just another day of practice. This was the start of something real.
The path to becoming a hero… and maybe, something even more.