At the same time that Kaminari and Tetsuo arrived at the examination center
A black luxury sedan rolled to a stop at the curb. The vehicle's tinted windows shielded its passenger from the eyes of the other examinees, who were arriving in far less extravagant ways—on foot, by train, or crammed into the backseats of their parents' cars.
With a soft click, the locks disengaged. The driver, a man dressed in a sharp gray suit, swiftly exited the car and moved with precision to the passenger side, pulling open the door with a respectful bow.
"We've arrived, young master."
A polished black dress shoe stepped onto the pavement, followed by a tall, poised teenager with jet-black hair streaked with silver. His eyes swept over the crowd, absorbing every detail of who arrived with whom, who looked confident, who was trembling, who might be worth his attention.
Ryo Kurogane exhaled softly, adjusting the high-collared coat of his custom-tailored uniform. Unlike the standard UA-issued attire, his had been meticulously crafted with woven metallic fibers, an enhancement designed specifically for his
Quirk: Magnetism
Type: Emitter User: Ryo Kurogane
Ryo's Quirk, Magnetism, allows him to generate and manipulate magnetic fields, enabling him to attract, repel, and control metallic objects within a specific range. However, unlike a simple magnet that only affects iron or steel, his Quirk can influence any paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material, including certain alloys, minerals, and even some reinforced hero gear.
Without hesitation, he strode toward the examination building, paying little mind to the anxious chatter and excited energy buzzing around him. Most of these hopefuls weren't worth his time—nervous, inexperienced, and oblivious to the reality of what awaited them.
But then, something caught his attention.
Ryo's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the implications. He had seen a boy arrive alongside Denki Kaminari, a former Pro Hero. That alone set him apart from the average examinee.
"So… Chargebolt has taken on an apprentice? Why, though?"
Was it because the boy had actual promise? Or was he just some personal project Kaminari had taken on out of sentimentality?
"I'll have to see for myself."
Ryo made no move to approach. There was no need.
Instead, he simply observed, filing away every detail for later.
"You better be worth my time, Kaminari's apprentice."
And with that, he stepped into the examination hall.
Present Moment
The first examination was over.
Tetsuo exhaled slowly, shaking his arms loose as he tried to push away distractions. He needed to focus on the practical exam ahead. Still, curiosity got the better of him, and he stole a glance over his shoulder.
Sure enough, Kurogane stood among the examinees, that unreadable intensity still in his eyes. Tetsuo had seen him on TV before, some fancy elite kid with a powerful quirk. He was kind of jealous. Not just because Kurogane had that cool, untouchable aura, but also the fact that the guy had met Reverie—Eri herself.
"Lucky bastard," he thought to himself.
But Ryo wasn't the only one catching his attention.
Off to the side, another figure stood eerily still—a blue-haired guy with different coloured, eyes.
His stare wasn't just focused, it was calculating, like he was breaking down every movement, every breath, every hesitation in the crowd.
Tetsuo clicked his tongue. What's with all these serious types? Kids acting like 30 year olds
we see the fit bro! Tetsuo thought in a mocking tone
Shaking his head, he turned back toward the testing field.
Looking at Ryo once again.
His mind flickered back to what had happened just after the first exam ended…
Tetsuo had been stretching, rolling out his shoulders, when a voice cut through the buzz of examinees around him.
"You there."
Tetsuo blinked and turned his head. A guy with sharp features, black-and-silver hair, and an air of authority was standing a few feet away, hands casually stuffed in his pockets. Even without the designer uniform, everything about him screamed expensive.
Tetsuo pointed at himself. "Who? Me?"
"Yes," Ryo replied, cool and composed.
Tetsuo wiped the sweat off his palms. "Oh! Wassup, man? How can I help you?"
Ryo didn't waste time.
"You better make it into UA."
That… was unexpected.
Tetsuo tilted his head. "Huh?"
Ryo studied him, gaze sharp and calculating.
"You were with Chargebolt. That makes you… mildly interesting."
Tetsuo squinted. "And what's that got to do with you?"
A smirk tugged at Ryo's lips. "I'm saying I expect you to be competent enough to make it. Because chances of passing are slim to zero."
Tetsuo felt his eye twitch.
"So," Ryo continued smoothly, "it'd be a shame to let your mentor down, don't you think?"
Tetsuo's fists clenched.
This guy was asking for it.
"You asshol—"
Before Tetsuo could finish cursing, a green blur slipped between him and Ryo.
"Easy there, Mr. Armani Attitude. You'll wrinkle your suit."
A calm, cheeky voice cut in.
Tetsuo turned and saw a green-haired girl standing between them, hands on her hips, wearing a wide grin.
"Daddy's money messing with your blood pressure?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Ryo.
Ryo gave her a flat look, clearly unimpressed. "Think what you want."
He turned and walked away like he hadn't just tried to pick a fight in the middle of a hero exam.
Tetsuo exhaled, still a bit annoyed. "Thanks." He offered his hand. "I'm Tetsuo."
The girl took his hand with a confident shake. "Aoi Hamura. Nice to meet you, cutie."
Tetsuo blinked. "Wait, what?"
Before he could say anything else, she was already walking off.
"Catch you later, handsome~" she called, tossing a playful wink over her shoulder.
Tetsuo stood there, stunned. "Was that flirting? Is now really the time?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to reset his brain. Then he looked back at Ryo.
"What's that guy's problem anyway?"
"Like she said—silver spoon wedged somewhere uncomfortable," came a tired voice behind him.
Tetsuo turned and saw a girl stretching and yawning, clearly unimpressed by everything.
"And you are?" he asked.
"Airi."
"Just Airi?"
She gave a lazy shrug. "If we survive this, maybe I'll tell you the rest."
Before Tetsuo could reply, an announcement echoed across the area.
"All examinees, please report to Campus 3 for the second examination," a woman's voice called out.
"Well, showtime," Airi mumbled, grabbing her bag and walking off without another word.
Tetsuo sighed.
"Great. A moody genius, a cocky rich kid, and a flirty wild card. Who am I? The comic relief?"
Present
"Whatever."
Tetsuo took a deep breath and got himself together.
"Let's just survive this round without throwing hands… hopefully."
The announcement repeated again.
"All examinees to Campus 3. The second exam is about to begin."
He rolled his shoulders, cracked his knuckles, and walked forward.
"Alright, UA. Let's see what you've got."