5 Chapter 5
With the 0-Pointer using massive tank treads to get around, there was a gap nearly three meters tall beneath its chassis. If Izuku could get under and then behind it, he may be able to climb onto its back. The risks were many, but one of the reasons the examiners waited until the last minute to release it was because it was programmed to 'not' attack students. After all, if someone died during a mere entrance exam, UA's reputation would plummet.
Confident of his assertions, Izuku waited until the 0-Pointer turned its upper body to attack a building before rushing at it. The previous night, he had been able to cover 50m and 100m in just under 4 and 6 seconds. His maximum speed should be around 33m/s, but he couldn't confirm it since a local policeman saw how fast he was running and warned him not to use his 'Quirk' in public.
Though the ruined terrain slowed him down a bit, Izuku reached the base of the 0-Pointer in around seven seconds. He failed to factor in the time it would take him to decrease his momentum, but it ultimately didn't matter as the 0-Pointer was designed to be exceptionally slow. Even with treads that allowed it to turn in place, it took several seconds to do so. By then, Izuku was already on its back, climbing up its multi-segmented spine with an adrenaline-fueled grin on his face.
"Thirty seconds remaining...!" shouted Present Mic, but Izuku didn't hear him. All he could hear were his heartbeat, pounding in his ears, and the sound of the destruction wrought by the 0-Pointer. Unfortunately, while he was able to reach the top of the giant robot, that was the extent of Izuku's planning. The 0-Pointer had several obvious weak spots, but he lacked the power to take advantage of them.
("So this...is my current limit...") thought Izuku, gasping even in his mind. He guesstimated it would take at least 500 Strength for his punches to have any meaningful effect on the 0-Pointers legitimate armored plating. He could reach that in about two and a half years with his current training method, but it would require him to remain weak and avoid trouble at all costs...
With the 0-Pointer abruptly shutting down, Izuku blinked to awareness just in time to hear Present Mic shouting, "And that's it, ladies and gents! This year's UA High Entrance Exam has officially come to a close! I hope everyone did their best because it's too late for regrets now!"
"Haaaa...."
Plopping onto his bottom and subsequently lying atop the 0-Pointers head, Izuku closed his eyes and silently lamented that he hadn't been transmigrated a few years earlier. Sure, growing up and going through elementary school would have been a pain in the ass, but if he had a full ten years to prepare, his status would be at least five times what it was now.
Fortunately, while he was more than a little dissatisfied with the outcome of the Entrance Exam, Izuku knew it was only a matter of time before he surpassed the majority of his peers. He might not be able to top the Hero Billboard Chart, but that was never his goal. He only enrolled in the Hero Course because there was a certain little girl he felt compelled to save at all costs...
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While most of the examinees quickly left the mock city after the entrance exam, Izuku had a grim countenance as he dug through the rubble at the city center. The sword he brought with him might not appear expensive at a glance, but acquiring the materials and manufacturing it cost more than ¥15,000,000. He had more than enough savings to commission a new one, but he was currently saving up to purchase a decently-sized house and a plot of land in the countryside...
Interrupting Izuku's search, the familiar, somewhat timid-sounding voice of Uraraka called out to him, saying, "Excuse me, Midoriya-kun? Could this be what you're searching for...?"
Rising to his feet and turning in a single motion, Izuku's round green eyes glistened when he saw the sword in Uraraka's hands. The previously grim look on his face was nowhere to be seen. Instead, an uncontainable smile developed across his face as he answered, "We meet again, Uraraka-san. And yes, that is exactly what I was searching for. Did you pick it up during the exam?"
Smiling bashfully, Uraraka proferred the sword to Izuku as she replied, "Sorry if there are any scratches on it. I found it lying on the ground, so I picked it up and tried using it. It made taking out the robots a lot easier, ehehe~"
Without bothering to inspect the blade, Izuku's smile broadened as he said, "I'm glad to hear that. And don't worry. By returning it to me, you've done me a tremendous service and saved me a ton of money. If you need my help, don't hesitate to ask. I'm someone who always repays his debts."
Chuckling nervously, Uraraka waved her hands as she replied, "There's no need for that. I mean, it's just one sword. How much could it have cost...?"
Shaking his head, Izuku didn't hesitate to reveal, "Don't be so quick to judge. If sold for its material value alone, the price of this sword would easily exceed ¥13,000,000."
Hearing Izuku's words, the previously bashful smile on Uraraka's face cramped. She was one of the many individuals who sought to become a Hero for financial stability, so Izuku mentioning his sword's worth caused her brain to short-circuit. It wasn't a ludicrous amount, but it was enough to purchase one of the more economical sports cars...
Amused by Uraraka's reaction, Izuku shouldered his sword and asked, "What's wrong? Are you regretting giving it back to me?" in a joking tone.
Regaining her senses, Uraraka shook her head and waved her hands as she stammered, "T-That isn't the case! I...I was just..."
Unable to come up with an excuse, Uraraka's words gradually trailed off, her brown eyes meeting Izuku's for several seconds before she abruptly turned around and ran away at her maximum speed, shouting, "This is all just a misunderstanding...!" as she went.
"..."
Though he had gotten accustomed to the people of this world behaving differently than those of his previous life, Izuku was still caught off guard by Uraraka's escape. Her behavior exuded a certain charm, but he would be lying if he didn't say her response was a little over the top.
Shaking his head, Izuku waited for Uraraka to cover a fair distance before heading in the same direction. The results of the Entrance Exam wouldn't be published until next week. If he were accepted, the UA Academic term would begin on April 1st. That left Izuku with a little more than five weeks to prepare and, most importantly, adapt to his present capabilities...
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Interrupting Izuku's plans, Present Mic stopped him as he attempted to leave, singing, "Yo, yo, yo, are you Izuku Midoriya~kun? Mind coming with me for a moment~?" while performing a strange, walking dance routine.
Though he was 'very' tempted to refuse, Izuku nodded and replied, "Yes, I'm Izuku Midoriya. Might I ask what you need me for?"
Striking a pose, Present Mic pointed toward Izuku as he responded with an amplified "Yeaaaaaah~!" Then, in a far more normal tone, he explained, "The Principal wants to talk with you. It's nothing serious, but he noticed some irregularities during your entrance exam. He needs to ask you some questions to fairly evaluate your results."
As he anticipated something like this occurring, Izuku wasn't surprised by Present Mic's words. It was a bit sooner than he expected, but he nodded a second time, replying, "Sure. My Kaa-chan isn't expecting me home until later this afternoon, so I've got time."
Striking another pose, Present Mic exclaimed, "Right on~!" before leading the way to the Principal's office, a well-lit room that provided an overview of the entire campus from one of UA's central towers. There, Izuku came face-to-face with the infamous 'mascot' of My Hero Academia, one of the few animals that had awakened a Quirk.
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Name: [Subject 301]
Quirk: High Spec
Current Level: 8 (7004 EXP)
Effective Level: 82
[Attributes]
Strength: 2
Agility: 17
Vitality: 33
Intelligence: 549
Dexterity: 41
Luck: 183
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Though he was surprised by Nezu's status, particularly his Intelligence, the little white mouse-bear-thing wasn't the only one in the room. There was a 'very' familiar, exceptionally muscular man standing off to the side, his trademark smile and rabbit-like hair recognizable to people around the globe.
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Name: [Toshinori Yagi]
Quirk: Transfer, Stockpiling, Singularity, Gearshift(sealed), Fa Jin(sealed), Danger Sense(sealed), Blackwhip(sealed), Smokescreen(sealed), Float(sealed)
Current Level: 20,108 (1,094,563,994,217 EXP)
Effective Level: 60,563
[Attributes]
Strength: 219,703
Agility: 54,256
Vitality: 299,492
Intelligence: 69
Dexterity: 32,008
Luck: 108
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("Holy fucking shit...") thought Izuku, his body tensing and eyes becoming as round as saucers. Before now, the highest Level he had seen was 1,508, belonging to Mt. Lady in her giant form. He knew Toshinori, better known as All Might, had to be stronger, but what kind of ridiculous shit was Level 60,563!?
As he was used to people being starstruck by his presence, Izuku's slack-jawed response didn't trigger any red flags in All Might's mind. Instead, he made a thumbs-up pose and said, "Greetings, Midoriya-shonen! I had the opportunity to witness your performance in the Entrance Exam! Some of your actions were a little reckless, but I see the makings of a true Hero in you! Keep it up...!"
Recovering from his stupor, Izuku forced a smile as he replied, "Thanks. That means a lot coming from Japan's #1 Hero. I promise to do my best to meet your expectations."
With his original self being one of All Might's biggest fans, Izuku wasn't insincere when he said he wanted to match up to All Might's expectations. The man wasn't without flaws, but there was a reason he was the 'Symbol of Peace' and one of the most memorable GOATs in anime.
Nodding in approval, Nezu inserted himself into the discussion by saying, "I also have high hopes for your future, Midoriya-kun. That's why I called you here on such short notice. Nothing is official just yet, but your efforts earned you more than enough points to qualify for the Hero Course. There are just a few things we need to make certain of before you can become a student at UA."
Standing a little straighter, a genuine smile developed across Izuku's face as he asserted, "So long as they don't pry into my personal or private life, I would be happy to answer your questions, Principal Nezu."
Nodding a second time, Nezu said, "I understand. However, as most of my questions are related to your capabilities, I'm afraid they will infringe on your privacy a bit. The Association has entrusted us with the heavy responsibility of preparing the next generation of Heroes, so we need to know what you're capable of if we're to guide you properly."
Supplying a nod of his own, Izuku replied, "Fair enough. I'm assuming this is related to my Quirk?"
Adopting a strangely human smile, Nezu answered, "Indeed. According to your medical and academic records, you should be Quirkless. I'm curious to know when you awakened one and, more importantly, why you elected to keep it a secret."
Matching Nezu's expression, Izuku rebutted, "To be fair, I did inform my mother. And now that you're the one who's asking, I'm planning to inform you as well. As for why I didn't tell anyone else...it's due to the nature of my Quirk. Based on my research, there hasn't been anything like it in the history of Quirks. I was afraid that if word got out, my Kaa-chan would be pressured into enlisting me in a Quirk study program. She was enduring a lot of stress at the time, and I didn't wish to make things worse."
Hanging his head slightly, Nezu muttered, "I see..." in a faint tone. He was well aware of the double life Izuku's father lived, so he couldn't blame the former for being 'cautious.' Especially if his Quirk was as unique as he said it was.
After waiting several seconds, Nezu raised his head, regaining his smile as he said, "You're a very considerate boy. Now that you've mentioned it, however, I can't help feeling curious about the nature of your Quirk. Will you share it with us?"
Nodding his head, Izuku replied, "Of course. The two of you are among the most respected people in all of Japan. I believe that, even if I tell you everything, you won't expose my abilities to the public."
"You have my word," replied Nezu, his expression conveying a sincerity rarely found in humans. He knew what it was like to be experimented on and studied, so he would never allow his students to suffer a similar fate.
Though it was unnecessary, All Might followed Nezu's words by stating, "As a Hero, it is my sworn duty to protect the people within my reach. I promise you, Izuku Midoriya. No matter what happens, I will not allow any harm to befall you."
Feeling All Might's 'charisma' crash into him like a pressure wave, Izuku was momentarily stunned. He had heard heartfelt claims before, but this was the first time he could feel the 'weight' of someone's promise. It was a strange but reassuring feeling. Thus, after a long moment of silence, he adopted a serious expression and began his account, stating, "It all began two years ago when I looked into my bathroom mirror..."
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(A/N: For those that are curious, here's the MC's appearance. He started training a full year ahead of Deku and tends to keep his hair shorter.)
