The gates loomed ahead, same as before, but everything felt different now.
Izuku and Uraraka walked toward the exit with the rest of the crowd, exhaustion settling into their bones. Around them, applicants streamed past in various states of consciousness—some laughing, some crying, one guy just walking in circles muttering about robots.
Whispers followed them.
"That's the guy who climbed the Zero Pointer."
"I saw him. He just... went up it."
"Crazy. Absolutely crazy."
Izuku ignored it. Uraraka did not. Her head swiveled every few seconds like she was watching a tennis match.
"They're talking about you," she whispered.
"I noticed." He glanced back at the crowd. "Feels weird. Like I'm watching someone else."
"That doesn't bother you?"
He shrugged. "They'll forget by tomorrow. Something shiny will happen and I'll be old news."
She looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "You just took down a building-sized robot and you think they'll forget?"
"I didn't take it down. I disabled it. There's a difference." He held up his hands, flexing his fingers. "I just found the right spot and pulled the right wires. Anyone could have done it if they knew where to look."
"Midoriya." She stopped walking, grabbing his arm. "It was the size of a building. You climbed it like a jungle gym and ripped out its insides while it was actively trying to step on people. That's not a 'difference' thing. That's a 'you're insane' thing."
He considered this for a moment. "Okay, when you put it like that, it sounds worse."
"It sounds worse because it was worse. I was there, remember? Under it?"
"Right. Sorry."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
They reached the gates where everyone split up. The crowd thinned, people heading toward trains, buses, waiting parents. Uraraka shifted on her feet, suddenly awkward.
"So," she said. "This is... it."
"Yeah. The great separation."
"We survived."
"Apparently." He looked around at the chaos. "Some more than others. Did you see the guy crying before the exam started? I think he cried through the whole thing."
"I saw him during. He was crying while running from a two-pointer."
"Commitment to the bit. Respect."
She laughed, the tension breaking. "You're really bad at goodbyes, you know that?"
"I'm out of practice. It's been a while since I had someone I actually wanted to say goodbye to."
She blinked at that, something shifting in her expression, then dug out her phone and held it out. "Here. Put your number in. So we can... you know. Stress about results together."
He took the phone, entered his number, handed it back.
She smiled—smaller than before, but warm. "See you at the results, exam buddy."
"Yeah. See you then. Try not to trip on the way home."
"I walked here."
"Then try not to trip on the sidewalk. I'm not there to catch you this time."
She laughed, gave him one last look, then walked away. Glanced back once. Waved. Then disappeared around a corner.
Izuku stood there for a moment, then turned to leave.
A hand grabbed his arm and yanked him into a nearby alley.
He tensed, ready to fight—
"I AM HERE!"
All Might stood before him in full muscle form.
In a narrow alley.
Striking a heroic pose.
Next to a dumpster that absolutely reeked.
Izuku blinked. "All Might? What are you doing here? How long were you waiting in that alley?"
"Quiet, my boy! There could be villains about!"
"We're behind a garbage bin. It smells like something died in there. Multiple somethings."
"Exactly! The perfect place for a secret meeting! Villains never check behind garbage!"
"Also I think that's just regular garbage smell. No one died."
"That's... reassuring? I don't know if that's reassuring." Izuku pinched his nose. "How long were you standing here?"
"Long enough."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the answer you're getting."
All Might dropped the pose, grinning. "I saw the whole exam, my boy! You were incredible! The way you moved, the way you analyzed each robot's weak points—it was like watching a pro out there!"
Before Izuku could respond, All Might's timer ran out.
He deflated mid-sentence: "—and the way you handled that Zero Pointer was truly something to—pffft—"
Steam cleared. Small Might stood there, coughing and wheezing.
"I really need to watch that timing," he gasped.
Izuku sighed. "You couldn't have picked a bench? A bush? Literally anywhere without garbage?"
"Benches are obvious! Villains check benches!" All Might waved a bony hand. "Bushes have bugs. I'm not dealing with bugs again. Last time I hid in a bush I got bitten in three places and couldn't sit right for a week."
A UA staff member walked past the alley, did a double-take at the skeletal man hunched over next to trash, made eye contact with Izuku, and quickly walked faster.
"She definitely saw you," Izuku said.
"She'll assume she imagined it. Happens all the time. You'd be surprised what people convince themselves they didn't see."
"I really don't think that's how it works."
"And yet, here I am. Still a secret." All Might straightened up, placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder. His expression shifted—the theatrics fading into something genuine.
"I watched everything, Izuku. The Zero Pointer. When you ran toward it instead of away. When you climbed it to save those children."
His voice softened.
"I sat in that observation room and watched you do something that would have made most pro heroes hesitate. And you didn't. Not for one second."
Izuku didn't know what to say. The weight of the moment settled on his shoulders.
All Might's eyes were wet. "When I chose you, I knew you had the heart of a hero. I saw it on that day with the Sludge Villain. But today... today you showed me I didn't know the half of it. You didn't just have the heart—you had the skill, the instincts, the presence of mind to act when everyone else froze."
He pulled Izuku into a hug right there in the alley next to the dumpster.
Izuku froze—then hugged back.
"I'm proud of you, my boy," All Might whispered. "So proud. More than I can say."
They stood there for a long moment.
"...you still smell like garbage," Izuku muttered. "It's getting on my clothes."
All Might laughed, pulling back and wiping his eyes. "Worth it for the secrecy!"
"There was no secrecy. That lady definitely saw you and she's probably calling someone right now."
"She'll assume she imagined it. Happens all the time."
"You keep saying that but I don't think it's true."
All Might patted his shoulder. "The other teachers were impressed. Nezu especially. He kept muttering about your tactical approach. Took notes the whole time. That mouse is never satisfied, so the fact that he was writing things down means you made an impression."
Izuku shrugged. "I just hit where it made sense to hit. The robots have design flaws if you know where to look."
"That's exactly it." All Might smiled. "You think. You don't just react. You observe, you process, you act. That's rare. That's what separates good heroes from great ones."
He patted Izuku's shoulder one more time.
"Whatever happens with the results—and I have a feeling they'll be good—know that I meant what I said. I'm proud of you. That's not going to change."
Then he was gone—hopping onto a nearby rooftop, almost slipping on a loose tile, recovering with dignity, and disappearing.
Izuku stood alone in the alley.
The dumpster continued to smell.
For the first time in a year, he felt like maybe he belonged here. Even if his mentor was absolutely insane and apparently okay with hiding in garbage.
The train ride home was quiet. Izuku's mind spun through the exam, the rescue, the hug behind a dumpster. He walked into the apartment still processing.
Inko was in the kitchen, stirring something that smelled amazing. She turned when he entered, nose twitching.
"Izuku... why do you smell like trash?"
He looked down at his clothes. "Long story. Involves All Might."
Inko blinked. "I don't know if that makes it better or worse."
"Worse. Definitely worse. He was hiding behind a dumpster. For who knows how long. Just waiting for me."
"All Might? The Symbol of Peace? Hiding behind a dumpster?"
"That's what I said."
She stared at him for a moment, then laughed and pulled him into a hug anyway, garbage smell be damned. "How was the exam? Really? Tell me everything."
He told her. Not everything—but enough. The robots. The other applicants. The Zero Pointer. He left out the part where he almost died.
When he finished, she was quiet for a moment.
Then she crossed the room and pulled him into another tight hug.
"My baby," she said, voice thick. "My brave, wonderful baby."
"Mom, it wasn't that big a deal—"
"You saved people. You ran toward danger when others ran away. That's everything. That's the kind of person you've always been."
She pulled back, cupping his face in her hands.
"I'm so proud of you, Izuku. No matter what happens with the results, I'm so proud. You're already a hero to me."
His throat tightened. "Thanks, Mom."
She smiled, tears in her eyes. "Now sit down and eat. And then shower. You really do smell like garbage and I love you but I can't keep hugging you like this."
The next week passed in a blur.
Izuku rested. His body needed it after pushing to 8%. Light training to stay loose. Helped Inko around the apartment. Checked the mail obsessively every morning.
Uraraka texted constantly.
Day 1:
Uraraka: I can't sleep
Izuku: "Count robots. It's like counting sheep but more violent."
Day 2:
Uraraka: WHAT IF I TRIPPED IN FRONT OF A CAMERA AND THEY PUT IT ON THE NEWS
Izuku: "You didn't. I would have seen it and I would have laughed, but I didn't, so you're fine."
Day 3:
Uraraka: how are you so calm about this
Izuku: "Decades of emotional repression and a healthy acceptance that worrying won't change the outcome."
Uraraka: you're 15
Izuku: "...it's been a long 15 years. Very eventful. Lots of growth."
Day 4:
Uraraka: my mom keeps asking about the exam
Izuku: "Tell her you fought robots and won. Moms love that."
Day 5:
Uraraka: what if we're in different classes
Izuku: "Then I'll throw paper airplanes at you during lunch. I'll write messages on them. We'll have a whole system."
Day 6:
Uraraka: tomorrow
Izuku: "I know. Try to sleep."
Day 7 - Morning:
Uraraka: IT'S TODAY GO CHECK YOUR MAIL OR I WILL PERSONALLY COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND CHECK IT FOR YOU
Izuku laughed at his phone, got up, and walked to the front door.
A white envelope sat on the mat. Gold seal. U.A. emblem.
He stared at it.
Inko appeared behind him. "Is that—"
"Yeah. That's the one."
He picked it up. Heavier than expected. Like they'd filled it with something important.
They sat together on the couch. He opened it slowly. A projector disc fell into his palm.
He pressed it.
Light filled the room.
All Might appeared—full muscle form, cape billowing dramatically. "I AM HERE... TO DELIVER YOUR EXAM RESULTS!"
Izuku laughed. "Of course it's you."
Inko gasped. "IS THAT ALL MIGHT?!"
"YES, YOUNG MIDORIYA'S MOTHER! IT IS I, HERE TO DELIVER GLORIOUS NEWS!"
Inko fanned herself. "He's so handsome!"
Izuku sighed. "Mom, please."
"First—the written exam!" Above average scores flashed on screen. "Good work, my boy! Solid performance across the board!"
"Now the practical!"
The screen shifted.
"VILLAIN POINTS: 47"
Inko clutched his arm. "Is that good? Tell me that's good."
"Well above the passing line! An excellent showing against the robot opponents!"
"RESCUE POINTS: 60"
"The highest rescue point total in U.A. entrance exam history."
Izuku blinked. "Wait, history? Like ever?"
Inko gasped loud enough to wake the neighbors.
"Multiple examinees filed reports mentioning you by name. The Zero Pointer incident was reviewed by every teacher on staff. The vote was unanimous."
The screen flashed.
TOTAL: 107 POINTS
OVERALL RANK: 1st PLACE
Silence.
Inko whispered, "First place? My baby got first place?"
"You earned this," All Might said softly. The bombast faded, leaving something genuine. "Every point. Every rescue. Every moment you chose to help instead of run. You earned this, fair and square."
The hologram flickered. "I'll see you at orientation, my boy. Congratulations. Truly."
Then it faded.
Izuku sat in silence.
Inko threw her arms around him. "FIRST PLACE?! MY BABY GOT FIRST PLACE IN THE ENTIRE EXAM?!"
"Mom—I can't breathe—you're squeezing too hard—"
She cried. He hugged her back.
"I'm so proud of you I could burst!"
"Please don't burst. That would ruin the moment and also be very messy."
Later that night, alone in his room, blue screens flickered in his vision.
[ FEAT ACHIEVED: PASSED U.A. ENTRANCE EXAM ]
[ +1 SILVER GACHA TICKET ]
[ STYLIST ]
[ COMMON SKILL ]
You have the skill of a skilled hair stylist, enough to get employed by celebrities and nobles. You know how to style hair and make it look good like it's second nature.
[ FEAT ACHIEVED: FIRST PLACE OVERALL ]
[ +1 GOLD GACHA TICKET ]
[ INTERMEDIATE LEADERSHIP ]
[ UNCOMMON SKILL ]
You are a leader. You know how to motivate, take charge of, and lead people with decent effectiveness, instilling confidence and making them do what you want. You are an effective leader.
Izuku read them both. Looked at his wild green hair in the mirror. "Okay, the hair thing is actually useful. I've been looking like a distressed bush for years."
The leadership one he nodded at. That was more like it. He could work with that.
His phone exploded.
Uraraka: I GOT IN I GOT IN I GOT IN DID YOU GET IN?!
Izuku: "Yeah. First place, apparently."
Uraraka: ... FIRST?! I'm friends with an actual insane person who climbs buildings and ranks first
Izuku: "You're the one who wanted my number. You did this to yourself."
Uraraka: best decision i ever made congratulations exam buddy also i just screamed so loud my mom ran in with a spatula she's still holding it she's very proud and also confused
Izuku: "Tell her I said thanks for the emotional support spatula. Those are hard to come by."
Uraraka: i will she says you're welcome and she wants to meet you
Izuku: "Maybe after orientation. Don't want to overwhelm her with my celebrity status."
Uraraka: oh my god
He called up the pending tickets from the exam itself.
[ 3x BRONZE TICKETS ]
[ 1x GOLD TICKET ]
Let's see what I got during the chaos.
First Bronze Roll:
The screen spun.
[ THE SANTA CLAUSE ]
[ COMMON TRAIT ]
You are under the same Clause as Santa himself. People do not mind you entering places you shouldn't be, or lingering in places you are not meant to. But they can still get offended and angry if you cause a disturbance or do something that would offend them.
Izuku stared at the screen.
"...Santa?"
The screen did not respond.
"I got a Santa themed power. From destroying a robot."
He rubbed his face. "Okay. Okay. The effect is good. Infiltration utility. I can work with this. The name is just... I'm never saying it out loud. Ever."
Second Bronze Roll:
The screen spun again.
[ NOVICE ARMS MASTERY ]
[ UNCOMMON SKILL ]
You are able to handle all conventional weapons—knives, swords, axes, polearms, guns, bows, chained weapons, clubs—with basic proficiency. Enough to have familiarity and know how they're used.
Izuku's eyes lit up. A genuine smile spread across his face.
Now we're talking. This is what I needed.
He flexed his hands, feeling the knowledge settling into his muscle memory. A dozen different weapons, suddenly familiar. All Might never trained him with weapons—didn't even think about it. But now? Now he had a foundation.
"This changes everything," he muttered. "I need to find a training center. See what this actually feels like."
Third Bronze Roll:
[ SEXUAL CALIBRATION ]
[ UNCOMMON TRAIT ]
All minor inconveniences sex once had are now gone. No STDs, no hygiene concerns, no unwanted pregnancies. You can adjust how all of those interact with you. In addition, you are very talented in the tantric arts.
Izuku read it.
He read it again.
He looked at the ceiling.
He looked back at the screen.
"...huh."
He scratched his chin.
"Well. That's... comprehensive. The universe is really thinking ahead for me."
He tilted his head. "Future me problems. Present me is just going to file this away and never think about it until necessary."
He dismissed the screen and moved on.
Gold Roll:
[ BLESSING OF BAST ]
[ UNCOMMON TRAIT ]
You are blessed by the goddess Bast, the goddess of Cats and Grace. You have improved cat-like reflexes and agility as well as night vision. In addition, you are beloved by felines.
Izuku twitched. Felt the reflexes sharpening. Looked at the window and realized he could see the fire escape clearly in the dark. The neighbors' balcony. A bird sitting on a wire three buildings down.
"Okay. This is actually really useful. Combat applications are obvious, and night vision is—"
A meow.
He looked at his window. A cat sat on the ledge. Staring at him with unblinking eyes.
Another meow. From his desk.
He turned. A second cat sat on his notebook. It was cleaning its paw.
"...no."
A third cat appeared in his doorway. Then a fourth. Then a fifth.
Inko's voice floated from down the hall: "Izuku, there are cats at the front door should I let them in?!"
"NO! Don't let them in! How are they even finding us?!"
Too late. He heard the door open. The sound of many small paws on hardwood.
The cat on his ledge meowed. The cat on his desk meowed. The cats in his doorway meowed.
It sounded like they were laughing at him. A chorus of tiny judgment.
Izuku put his face in his hands.
"I got cat powers and now I'm the cat magnet. This is my life now."
The cat on his desk started cleaning itself with obvious satisfaction.
Izuku peeked through his fingers. "At least one of us is happy about this. Make yourselves comfortable, I guess. This is apparently happening."
The next two weeks passed.
Izuku trained with his new abilities. Tested the Santa Clause—walked into a restricted area of the mall, no one even glanced at him. Walked into the women's section by accident while testing it, still no one cared. Walked out very quickly anyway, face red.
Practiced with weapons at a local training center. The knowledge was just there in his hands and it was amazing. He picked up a staff for the first time and suddenly knew how to use it. Tried a knife—same thing. It felt like cheating.
Dodged everything with his new reflexes. Including his mom's attempts to hug him from behind. She was not amused.
The cats did not leave. There were eleven now. Inko fed them and gave them names. She was thriving.
Uraraka texted regularly.
Week 1:
Uraraka: bought my school supplies why do they need so many notebooks
Izuku: "Hero analysis. You're supposed to fill them with observations about heroes and quirks. Also I have eleven cats now. Long story."
Week 2:
Uraraka: ONE WEEK TIL UA ARE YOU EXCITED
Izuku: "A little. Maybe more than a little."
Uraraka: liar
Izuku: "Okay, a lot. I'm excited a lot. Also still cats. Send help."
Night before:
Uraraka: can't sleep see you there first place
Izuku: "See you there, exam buddy. Try to sleep. Big day tomorrow."
Uraraka: also what is happening with the cats
Izuku: "I've accepted my fate. They own the apartment now. My mom named one after you."
Uraraka: WHAT
Izuku: "She says she has 'round cheeks and bright energy.' I'm not arguing with her."
Uraraka: i don't know how to feel about this
Izuku: "Join the club."
Morning arrived.
Izuku put on the U.A. uniform for the first time. Looked in the mirror.
Broader shoulders. Taller frame. Sharper features.
He looked like someone who belonged here now.
A cat sat on his bed—Ochaco the cat, apparently. Watching him with judgment.
"I'm leaving," he told it.
It meowed.
"No, you can't come. It's school. Humans only."
It meowed again, louder.
"Your namesake is going to be there. That's close enough."
He left.
Inko met him at the door, crying already. Three cats sat behind her like a furry audience.
"My baby looks so handsome!"
"Mom, please. Not in front of them."
"I'm not crying! You're crying!"
"I'm literally not. I'm completely dry."
She hugged him. "Go be a hero, baby."
He hugged her back. "Thanks, Mom. For everything."
"Text me when you get there!"
"I will."
He stepped outside.
Three cats watched him from the window. Four more had gathered on the fire escape.
The train ride was quiet. Other students in uniform. Some glanced at him—the tall guy with the green hair. He ignored them, watching the city pass by.
He reached the gates. Same gates from a month ago. They felt different now. Less intimidating. More like a beginning.
Students streamed past—first years, second years, third years. He spotted familiar faces—Kirishima with his red hair and sharp teeth, Kaminari with his dumb grin, Jiro with her earphone jacks swinging as she walked.
And there, near the entrance, bouncing on her heels like she might take off—
Uraraka spotted him. Waved wildly.
"IZUKU! OVER HERE!"
He walked toward her, weaving through the crowd.
She grinned. "Ready for this? First day of the rest of our lives and all that?"
He looked at the school behind her. At the students around them. At the beginning of everything.
"Yeah," he said. "I think I am. Ready to see what all the fuss is about."
"Me too. Also—" She lowered her voice. "You have to tell me about the cats later. Eleven of them? How?"
"It's a long story. Involves powers and bad decisions."
"That's the worst explanation I've ever heard."
"It's the only one you're getting."
She laughed. "Fine. But you owe me."
They walked through the gates together.
His phone buzzed. A text from his mom: the cats miss you already. ochaco (the cat) is sitting by the door staring at it. she's very dramatic.
He smiled.
Uraraka noticed. "What?"
"Nothing. My mom. The cats are having feelings."
"We're really going to talk about this later."
"I know."
They kept walking, swallowed by the crowd, into the building, into whatever came next
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Author's Notes:
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If you're enjoying the series and want to read ahead (or just help keep it going), consider checking it out — every bit of support means a lot. Thanks for sticking around and being part of the journey!
15 CHAPTERS ADVANCE OF STARTING WITH BLACK CLOVER
5 CHAPTERS ADVANCE OF MHA: LIMITED CHAOS GACHA
NOTE: finally their first dayy ongg!! I REALLY LIKE URARAKA WARAAAGHHH!!!!!!!