Kai's POV
I barely slept.
Not from nerves. From anticipation.
The assessment was my chance to establish myself. Show the class what I could do without revealing too much. Find the balance between impressive and suspicious.
I arrived at school early, changed into my gym uniform, and headed to the field.
A few others were already there. Todoroki stood alone near the track, stretching silently. Iida was doing warm-up laps, his engines humming. Momo had a notebook out, probably researching the tests we'd face.
"Hayashi!"
Ochako jogged over, slightly out of breath.
"You're here early too! Couldn't sleep?"
"Something like that."
"Me neither. I kept running through scenarios in my head." She bounced on her heels. "What if I mess up? What if my quirk doesn't work right? What if I'm the one who gets expelled?"
"You won't be."
"You don't know that."
"I know you saved people during the entrance exam. That counts for something."
She fidgeted with her hands. "I hope so."
More students trickled onto the field. Mina arrived with a yawn, complaining about the early start. Kaminari looked half asleep. Bakugo stalked past everyone without a word.
Then Aizawa appeared.
He looked exactly as tired as yesterday.
"Everyone's here. Good." He pulled a softball from his pocket. "Let's begin."
"Sensei!" Iida raised his hand. "Shouldn't we attend the entrance ceremony first? It's a sacred tradition for new students!"
"Time spent on ceremonies is time not spent training." Aizawa's expression didn't change. "U.A. prides itself on flexibility. I'm exercising that flexibility by skipping pointless rituals."
Iida looked like he wanted to argue but thought better of it.
"Today you'll perform eight physical tests," Aizawa continued. "These are standard fitness evaluations, but you're allowed to use your quirks. I want to see what you can really do."
He held up the softball.
"Bakugo. You scored highest on the entrance exam. How far could you throw a softball in middle school?"
"Sixty-seven meters," Bakugo answered.
"Try it with your quirk."
Bakugo took the ball and stepped into the throwing circle. He wound up, then hurled it with an explosion from his palm.
"DIE!"
The ball rocketed into the sky. We watched it disappear, then heard a distant thud.
Aizawa held up a device showing the result.
"705.2 meters."
The class erupted.
"Over seven hundred meters?!"
"That's insane!"
"This is going to be so much fun!" Mina cheered.
"Fun?" Aizawa's voice cut through the noise. "You think this is fun?"
The celebration died instantly.
"You have three years to become heroes. People with quirks that can destroy buildings, control minds, alter reality itself. And you think this is a game?" His eyes swept across us. "Fine. Let's make it interesting. The student who places last will be expelled."
"What?!"
"You already told us that yesterday!"
"I wanted to remind you." Aizawa smiled, and it was terrifying. "Now you understand the stakes. Let's begin."
Test One: 50-Meter Dash
We lined up in pairs at the starting line.
The first pair was Iida and Tsu. Iida's engines roared to life, propelling him across the track in 3.04 seconds. Tsu hopped along at a respectable 5.58.
More pairs followed. Todoroki used ice to slide across in 4.12. Bakugo propelled himself with explosions at 4.13. Ochako touched herself to reduce weight and ran at 7.15, decent but not impressive.
My turn came. I was paired with a kid named Ojiro who had a muscular tail.
"Ready," the automated voice announced. "Go."
I exploded off the line.
The enhancement from months of essence absorption made everything sharper. Muscles responded faster, legs pushed harder, the world blurred at the edges.
I crossed the finish line.
"4.21 seconds."
Ojiro finished a moment later at 5.49, staring at me.
"Damn," he said. "That was fast."
"Thanks."
I walked off the track, feeling eyes on me. Momo had looked up from her notebook. Ochako was clapping. Even Bakugo glanced my way with a scowl.
Good. Let them notice.
Test Two: Grip Strength
We gathered around machines that measured hand strength.
Shoji, the guy with multiple arms, crushed the previous record with 540 kilograms. His tentacle-like appendages wrapped around the device and squeezed until the metal creaked.
I took my turn.
Wrapped my fingers around the grip. Squeezed.
The device beeped.
"287 kilograms."
Not the highest, but impressive for someone without a strength-mutation quirk.
"Whoa!" Mina peered at my result. "That's crazy! You're like secretly super strong!"
"Just trained a lot."
"What kind of training gives you that kind of grip?" She wiggled her eyebrows. "Something fun?"
"Weights."
"Boring answer." She pouted. "I expected something more interesting."
Test Three: Standing Long Jump
A sandbox marked the landing zone.
Some students excelled here. Bakugo used explosions to launch himself clear across. Aoyama's navel laser propelled him far enough to be respectable. Ochako floated herself to the edge of the sandbox before releasing.
I crouched at the line, judged the distance, and jumped.
Enhanced leg strength carried me forward. I landed well past the halfway point, digging furrows in the sand.
"Impressive," Momo said as I walked back. She'd been watching, notebook in hand. "Your physical abilities are remarkably consistent across all tests."
"Thanks."
"What exactly is your quirk? You mentioned enhancement, but the specifics are unclear."
"It's complicated."
"I'd like to understand." She met my eyes. "For analytical purposes."
"Maybe later."
She looked like she wanted to push, but nodded instead. "I'll hold you to that."
Test Four: Repeated Side Steps
A simple agility test. Move side to side as fast as possible.
Mineta, the short kid with purple balls, excelled here. He bounced off his own sticky spheres, racking up an absurd count. It was clever, if nothing else.
I did well without any tricks. Just pure speed and reflexes.
"You're really good at this," Ochako said afterward. "Like, really good."
"I've practiced."
"It shows." She smiled. "I'm glad you're in our class."
"Why's that?"
"Because you make me feel like we might actually survive Aizawa."
Test Five: Ball Throw
Back to the softball.
Ochako's turn came. She took the ball, touched it with five fingers, and tossed it gently into the air.
It kept going.
And going.
The device in Aizawa's hand blinked, then displayed a symbol.
"Infinity."
The class stared.
"The ball never landed," Aizawa explained. "It's still going up. Impressive use of your quirk."
Ochako beamed. "I did it!"
"Don't get cocky. You still have three tests left."
Her smile faltered slightly, but didn't disappear.
My turn.
I took the ball, felt its weight. No quirk would help me here directly. I couldn't make things float or explode. I just had to throw.
But enhanced muscles meant enhanced throwing.
I wound up and hurled.
The ball arced through the sky, carried by momentum alone.
"412.5 meters."
Not as flashy as Bakugo or Ochako. But solid.
"No quirk assistance?" Aizawa asked.
"Enhancement type. My strength is increased passively."
"Hmm." He made a note. "Interesting."
Test Six: Sit-ups
Endurance test.
We had a set time to do as many as possible. Simple, grueling, effective.
I settled into a rhythm. Up, down, up, down. My core burned but I pushed through. The essence absorption had enhanced my stamina significantly. I could go longer than most without tiring.
The timer beeped.
I'd done more than almost everyone except the physically-mutated students.
"How are you not even sweating?" Mina complained from beside me. She was drenched, breathing hard. "That's not fair."
"Good conditioning."
"Conditioning my ass. You're like a machine."
I shrugged and moved to the next station.
Test Seven: Seated Toe Touch
Flexibility.
Not my strongest area, but the enhancement helped. I reached past my toes, earning a respectable score.
Momo excelled here. Her lithe body bent easily, fingertips extending well beyond the measurement line.
"Yoga," she explained when she caught me watching. "My mother insisted."
"It paid off."
"In flexibility, yes. In combat?" She shrugged elegantly. "We'll see."
Test Eight: Long Distance Run
The final test. A timed run around the track.
This was where endurance mattered most. Some quirks were useless here. Others, like Iida's engines, provided massive advantages.
I settled into a pace and held it.
Lap after lap. Students dropped out, walking the remainder or collapsing on the grass. Mina gave up after lap four, declaring running was torture. Kaminari lasted until lap three before his legs gave out.
I kept going.
By the end, only a handful of us were still running at full speed. Iida, obviously. Todoroki, using controlled ice to cool himself. Me.
The timer ended.
I wasn't first, but I was close.
"Top five," Aizawa noted. "Consistently top five across all tests. Enhancement quirk?"
"Yes sir."
"Specifics?"
"My physical abilities are passively increased."
"By what mechanism?"
I hesitated. "It's... complicated."
He stared at me for a long moment. Then shrugged.
"As long as it's not harming anyone, I don't care. Good work, Hayashi."
The results went up on a holographic display.
Momo Yaoyorozu Shoto Todoroki Katsuki Bakugo Kai Hayashi Tenya Iida
The list continued down. I scanned for familiar names.
Ochako was 13th. Safe.
Mina was 9th. Comfortable.
At the bottom...
Midoriya Izuku. Last place.
The green-haired kid stared at the board in horror.
"Well," Aizawa said. "Looks like we have our loser."
Midoriya went pale.
"I should expel you." Aizawa paused. "But I won't."
"What?!"
"The expulsion threat was a logical ruse to make you perform your best." He smiled thinly. "I do expel students who show no potential. But zero points and last place aren't the same thing. You showed something during that ball throw."
Midoriya had thrown the softball using his quirk at the last second. It had destroyed his finger, but the distance had been impressive. A desperate gamble that barely paid off.
"You have potential," Aizawa continued. "Uncontrolled, dangerous potential. But potential nonetheless. Don't waste it."
Midoriya nodded frantically. "Yes sir! I won't! Thank you!"
"Don't thank me. Thank whatever luck kept you from being truly useless." Aizawa turned to the rest of us. "That's all for today. Tomorrow we begin actual hero training."
The class dispersed, buzzing with relief and excitement.
I headed for the locker rooms to change. Momo fell into step beside me.
"Fourth place," she said. "Impressive."
"You got first."
"My quirk is versatile. I can create almost anything if I understand its composition." She glanced at me. "Your quirk is more mysterious."
"It's really not."
"Then explain it."
I considered how much to reveal.
"My body absorbs energy and converts it to physical enhancement. The more energy I absorb, the stronger I get."
"What kind of energy?"
Dangerous question.
"Various kinds."
"That's vague."
"It's accurate."
She frowned slightly. "You're very evasive."
"I'm private. There's a difference."
"Is there?"
We'd reached the locker room doors. She stopped, turning to face me fully.
"I'd like to understand you better, Hayashi. You're... interesting."
"Interesting how?"
"I haven't figured that out yet." A small smile. "But I intend to."
She walked into the girls' locker room before I could respond.
After changing, I found Ochako waiting outside.
"You did great!" She grabbed my arm. "Fourth place! That's amazing!"
"You did well too."
"I was thirteenth." She made a face. "Barely middle of the pack."
"You got infinity on the ball throw. That's something."
"One good score doesn't make up for mediocre everything else."
"It's the first day. There's time to improve."
She sighed. "I guess. It's just... everyone here is so strong. Todoroki with his ice and fire. Bakugo with his explosions. You with your..." She gestured vaguely. "Whatever it is you do."
"Enhancement."
"Right. Enhancement." She poked my arm. "You're really solid, you know that?"
"Thanks?"
"It's a compliment. I think." She laughed. "Anyway, want to grab lunch? I'm starving."
"Sure."
Lunch was crowded.
The cafeteria buzzed with first-years comparing notes about their days. Different classes, different teachers, different assessments. But everyone was talking about the same thing: survival.
"I heard Class 1-B has a teacher who can clone himself," Mina said, sliding into the seat across from us. "Like, make copies that all fight at once."
"Ectoplasm," Ochako supplied. "He teaches math."
"Can you imagine? A math teacher who can surround you with copies of himself?" Mina shuddered dramatically. "Nightmares."
"At least he probably doesn't threaten expulsion," I said.
"True. Aizawa is the worst." Mina stabbed her food. "I barely slept last night because of him."
"Same," Ochako admitted.
"I slept fine," I said.
They both stared at me.
"How?" Mina demanded. "How are you so calm about everything?"
"Worrying doesn't change outcomes."
"That's very philosophical."
"It's practical."
Mina shook her head. "You're weird, Hayashi. Hot, but weird."
Ochako choked on her drink. "Mina!"
"What? He is." She grinned at me. "Don't pretend you haven't noticed."
"I try not to rate my classmates."
"Boring." She pouted. "Live a little."
After lunch, we had regular classes.
I paid attention, took notes, participated when called on. Normal school stuff, made slightly surreal by the fact that our teachers were all pro heroes.
Present Mic's English class was loud. Cementoss's literature class was methodical. Ectoplasm's math class was intimidating, his clones walking between desks to check our work.
Then came Modern Hero Art History.
Nemuri walked in wearing her hero costume again.
I kept my eyes on my notebook as she introduced the day's topic. Public image management. How heroes controlled their narrative.
"Your public image is your brand," she explained. "How you dress, how you speak, how you carry yourself. All of it contributes to how the public perceives you."
She clicked through slides showing various heroes. All Might's confident smile. Endeavor's intimidating presence. Hawks' casual coolness.
"Each of these heroes has carefully cultivated their image. It's not accidental. It's strategic."
She paused on a slide showing herself. Midnight in full costume, whip in hand, smile seductive.
"I chose the 'R-Rated' aesthetic deliberately. It draws attention, creates controversy, and keeps me in the public eye. Not everyone approves, but everyone remembers."
"Isn't that kind of... manipulative?" a student asked.
"All branding is manipulation." Nemuri smiled. "The question is whether you're doing it consciously or letting others do it for you."
She continued the lecture. I wrote notes without looking up.
But I felt her presence. Every time she walked past my desk, every time her voice rose or fell. The scent of her perfume when she got close.
Torture.
Class ended. Students filed out.
I stood to leave.
"Hayashi."
I froze.
"Stay a moment. I have questions about your assignment submission."
The other students glanced back curiously but kept moving. Soon the room was empty.
Just me and her.
Nemuri waited until the last footsteps faded.
Then her professional mask cracked slightly.
"Hi," she said softly.
"Hi."
"You did well on the assessment. I saw the results."
"You were watching?"
"The faculty gets updates." She moved closer. "Fourth place. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks."
We stood there, barely a foot apart. I could reach out and touch her. Pull her close. Kiss her like I'd been wanting to all day.
But anyone could walk in.
"This is hard," I said.
"I know."
"Seeing you and not being able to..."
"I know, Kai." She reached out and squeezed my hand briefly. "Three more days until the weekend."
"Three more days."
"You can do this."
"Can I?"
She smiled, that familiar teasing edge returning.
"You're stronger than you think. In every way."
Footsteps in the hallway.
She stepped back instantly, the professional mask snapping into place.
"That's all, Hayashi. Make sure to review the rubric before your next submission."
"Yes, Kayama-sensei."
The door opened. Another teacher glanced in.
"Midnight, the faculty meeting is starting."
"On my way." She grabbed her materials and headed for the door. Paused beside me. "Good work today, student."
Then she was gone.
I walked home alone that evening.
The sun was setting, painting the sky orange and pink. Other students moved around me, heading to trains and buses, chatting about their days.
Normal stuff. High school stuff.
My phone buzzed.
Yu: How was the assessment?
Fourth place.
That's my boy! I knew you'd crush it.
It was close. Lots of strong quirks in the class.
But you held your own. That's what matters.
I guess.
You okay? You seem off.
I considered how to answer.
Just tired. Long day.
Get some rest. You've earned it.
Thanks, Yu.
Love you.
Love you too.
I pocketed the phone and kept walking.
At home, I ate dinner and showered.
Lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Three more days until the weekend. Three more days of seeing Nemuri and pretending she was just a teacher. Three more days of watching her walk past me like a stranger.
My phone buzzed.
Nemuri: You looked good in your gym uniform.
I smiled despite myself.
Creepy. You were checking out a student.
I was evaluating athletic performance. Completely professional.
Sure you were.
I'm always professional, Kai. You know that.
I know what you are, Nemuri.
And what's that?
Mine.
A pause. Longer than usual.
Yes. I am.
Three more days.
Three more days, she echoed. Then I'll show you how much I missed you.
Promise?
Promise. Now sleep. You have battle training tomorrow.
Yes, Kayama-sensei.
Brat.
Your brat.
...Yes. My brat. Goodnight, Kai.
Goodnight, Nemuri.
I set the phone aside.
Three more days.
I could handle it.
Probably.