'Good luck on the recommendation exam!'
'Thank you, Midoriya. I'll try my best!'
Momo held the phone to her chest as she closed her eyes and smiled. The relief of her friend's message brought a sense of calm as the limo made its way to U.A. She gazed out the window at the passing buildings, her thoughts on the test she was about to face and her friend's kind words. Her mother was with her and let out a sigh as she smirked causing her daughter to look at her.
"Ah young love! Reminds me of when I met your father."
Momo blushed up a storm as she snapped her head back at her mother's scandalous remark. She looked down nervously, flipping the phone in her hands.
"Like we keep telling you! We are just friends!"
'Besides, he and the Hulk are so focused on becoming a hero! It's important to him. I can't get in the way of that. I need to be strong enough to stand by him.'
Momo's mom saw the look of silent resolution on her daughter's face and sighed in pity. She decided now was the time to share some motherly advice.
"I know what you're thinking dear."
Momo jumped out of her thoughts and looked at her mother questionably.
"You're thinking you can't distract him from his dreams. Am I right?"
Momo's eyes went wide before she nodded her head in confirmation. Her mother leaned back, a smile of reminiscence on her face. Momo leaned forward, interested in her mom's explanation.
"You see I had the same thoughts when I first met your father."
Seeing her daughter lean even more, the woman continued her explanation.
"It was our first year at U.A. We in the business course had to partner with another student from another department in a sort of sponsorship deal."
"Let me guess, you were assigned father?"
Her mother let out a fond laugh. She gave her daughter an amused look.
"Yes, but he didn't even show up!"
Momo let out a chuckle of her own as her mother continued.
"I was furious! Here I was trying to be a serious business woman and my client didn't even show up! So I stormed to the support studio ready to give him hell when…"
Momo leaned in as her mother had a lovestruck look on her face.
"I found a scruffy looking but cute inventor tangled up in his own capture device. Wires everywhere and a slightly confused look on his face. I think he was more concerned with fixing his invention than the formerly wrathful teen in front of him."
The girls shared a laugh this time. It would seem her father was always an inventor whose head wasn't screwed on just right. She remembered her finding her father in similar situations.
"Anyway! After he convinced me to free him, we sorted our partnership. It wasn't long before I wanted the relationship to be more than professional."
Her mother then got a wistful look in her eyes.
"He would show me his invention and dreams and I would be surprised when he showed interest in mine. Soon I felt like you do now dear. Wanting him, but not wanting to stand in his way."
"What did you do, mother?"
"I waited. At first I thought I would have to swallow up those emotions so as not to spoil our partnership. Unknown to me, he made the first move."
She then tapped the Bluetooth device on her ear with a loving smile.
"He gifted me this. Said it took him months, but he wanted to help me with the business side. Even when he thought it was a bore. That's when I knew he was the one. The next day I asked him out and the rest is history."
Momo gave a thankful smile and put a hand on her chin, pondering her mothers story. Her mother noticed her thoughts and with her parents' intuition nodded her head. She moved to sit next to her daughter and placed a loving hand on her shoulder.
"What I'm trying to tell you is have patience with him dear. He may be focused on that incredible dream of his, but never forget that dreams are better when shared with others. I'm sure he feels the same way, he's just waiting for an opportunity."
Momo smiled at that and thought about her friend turned crush. The time they spent together. The training to become heroes. Their hopeful entry into U.A. Academy. She nodded with confidence, her mind made up.
'I'll pass this exam! Then I'll be good enough to stand by him. As a hero and hopefully…'
The car came to a stop outside of U.A.'s gates as Momo finished her quiet declaration. The mother and daughter gave a final look to each other before meeting in a hug.
"Good luck darling."
"Thank you mother."
With that the young heroine exited the car, prepared to ace the Recommendation Exam.
Momo had just finished changing into sportswear for the practical portion of the exam. The written test had been easy enough. A perk of how her quirk works and having a study buddy to do pop quizzes with. The thought of her crush made her smile. With an upbeat attitude, she hoisted her bag over her shoulders. She grunted slightly from the weight. She'd have to fix that soon, but then again this was her first time trying this.
With confidence she made her way to the testing area. Soon she found it and was directed to a waiting area. Sitting down, she took a moment to compose herself and think about the coming practical. As she prepared, she looked around the room to see the other examinees.
There were two others waiting with her, all boys it would seem. She knew through research that there were going to be four test takers, so she was second to last to arrive.
There was a boy with no lips and a pale complexion. He was currently passing the time on his phone, reading it would seem.
The next boy had two toned hair, white on one side and red on the other. He had a scar on the left side of his face and currently looked to be meditating.
She couldn't quite place it, but she felt some sort of rage from him. Perhaps it was her friendship with Midoriya, but she knew silent anger when she saw it.
Izuku and Momo were taking a break from one of their joint jogs. A way to hang out while also pursuing their shared dream of heroism. They drank from their waters, simply enjoying the nice day and each other's company.
Unfortunately the day would get a little sour with an approaching group of certain middle schoolers.
"Hey, isn't that Deku!?"
Izuku froze at the sound of that question while Momo looked towards it puzzled. The group of middle schoolers were from Aldera and were a part of Bakugou's personal praise squad. As they approached, Momo noticed the silent hatred in Izuku's slightly glowing green eyes.
"Hey, is he with a girl?"
"How'd a guy like Deku get a hottie like that?"
"Y'know he's a monster right? A villain in the making?"
"Hey if you'd like to hang with good people we'll gladly keep a hottie like you company."
Momo was getting annoyed by these bullies. She turned to Izuku and had to repress a shudder. If looks could kill, she reckoned the entire world would be dead with the gaze her friend had. She wanted to ignore them, but it seems that was not an option. Giving Izuku a smile she turned to the interlopers.
"Whom I spend my time with is my business. Now please take your leave."
Izuku was momentarily stunned at her refined refusal, reminding himself she probably dealt with comments like this on a daily basis. One of them didn't get the message and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, we were just being-"
He didn't get a chance to finish as Momo took his hand off him and twisted it in a painful hold. Her self defense training after the incident was coming in handy.
"As I said, please take your leave."
The bullies wanted to push, but her own steely gaze combined with Izuku's sent them running. With that, Momo turned back with a smile. One which Izuku returned.
"Thank you."
The thought of Izuku's silent anger that day reminded her of the boy across from her. Like the heroine she was, she wanted to help like she did then. However there was an exam to do.
'Would Midoriya help him? Even during an exam?'
She shook her head and nodded with confidence.
'Of course he would! But how to approach him?'
As she thought about how to help the silently angry boy, the last examinee arrived.
"IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU ALL!"
At that proclamation, everyone in the room looked at the excited boy who made a big entrance. It was a tall muscular boy with buzzed black hair. He had a manic grin and excited eyes. It slightly unnerved the students. The no lips boy and Momo both were wide eyed while the scarred boy looked annoyed.
Noticing the feel of the room, the boy immediately bowed his entire body down. His head made a cracking sound as he made contact with the hard floor.
"APOLOGIES! I'M INASA YOARASHI! I AM JUST VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE!"
Momo gave a laugh, if anything he was just a fanboy. Unlike her crush though his excitement was less stunned silence and more loud appreciation. As he settled next to the scarred boy as she and the no lips boy observed.
Eventually the time came for the test to start as a mature black haired woman came into the room and observed them, a sinister but joyous look in her eye.
"~Hello dearies. I'm the R-Rated heroine Midnight! I'm here to tell you your testing site assignments. Give me a good show.~"
Momo and the others stood, all ready for their practical exam. Midnight smiled back and tapped on her tablet to get things going.
"Momo Yaoyorozu and Juzo Honenuki?"
Momo and the pale, no-lipped boy stepped forward.
"Here./Yo."
"You two will follow me to Ground C. As for you two, Shoto Todoroki and Inasa Yoarashi, you will be coming second. Understood?"
The students, sans Todoroki, gave confident nods as they went off in their groups. Momo smiled and calmed herself as she walked with Honenuki to Ground C. As she adjusted her gym bag as her compatriot looked her way.
"Hey, good luck."
Momo looked at him with a smile.
"You too."
Midnight smiled at the two's good natured spirits. The joy of youth.
After exchanging pleasantries the two hopefuls arrived. They saw two more staff members. There was a man with concrete grey skin and a rounded square head. Next to him was some sort of creature. A small rat-dog-bear thing with a scar and a polite but excited look on his face. Midnight walked up and introduced the two other observers.
"This is Cementoss, one of our illustrious instructors, and this our wonderful principal Nedzu."
"That's right! Am I a bear, a mouse or a dog? Maybe, but the most important thing is I'm the principal! Nice to meet you hero hopefuls."
They exchange greetings with bows and pleasantries. Eventually Nedzu spoke up, an excited tone in his voice.
"Now that formalities are out of the way, let's begin the test shall we."
Cementoss touched the ground and pillars and walls sprouted up. An obstacle course With a click of a button, Nedzu activated various turrets and traps sprang to life inside. Cameras linked to their tablets would let them see their progress. With excited glee, the principal explained.
"You will both run this course using your quirks however you wish. You will be judged on creativity, speed and problem solving. You have five minutes to make any last preparations."
Momo and Honenuki gave a nod as they went to a bench near the start line. Momo opened the bag and gazed at the contents. She had already checked ahead and was given the ok to use the items she brought at the gate. After all she made these with her own quirk so it was allowed. She once again thought of her crush. If it wasn't for him, she would have thought of these too late.
"Hey Momo, I have a question."
The girl in question looked at Izuku. They had just finished another round with her father's training bots and were in the library, eating lunch and studying material for exams. Eventually they started discussing their future hero costumes. Though both had to laugh and blush at the fact that both would be showing off some skin. However Izuku had some notes about Momo's. Not just because he wanted to preserve her modesty ( no matter how much he shamefully liked seeing her in so little) ,but also to offer some protection.
"So…those gauntlets you make…"
"What about them?"
"Well, you treat them like a last resort mode. In fact, when we trained today you made those boots that beat me and Hulk in the race."
Momo gave a chuckle at that. They had a race as secondary training and Momo took the win by making a set of boots like her gauntlets. But of course making them along with the temporary reactor left her spent at the end of the race. Izuku laughed as well before continuing.
"I was thinking, why not wear the gauntlets and boots all the time?"
Momo gave a thoughtful look and put a hand to her chin. Usually they were powered by the mini ARC reactor she made, but it was still imperfect and used too much power too quickly. However, Izuku's comments got her thinking about it differently.
"I have, but I wasn't sure if I could with how my quirk works."
"I know, but wouldn't they cover only your forearms and shins?"
Momo then felt a flash of inspiration hit her. Of course! She could always wear them. That way she could focus on perfecting the ARC reactor. In fact she could power them independently with some minor adjustments and save the reactor to power the pulse blast and beams. Why hadn't she thought of that before. With a smile she turned to Izuku.
"Thank you for the input. Mind if I could borrow your talents? I need to make a blueprint while the idea's still fresh."
"Of course!"
With that they set off, making and trading ideas on not only her own hero costume but his as well.
"Now let's talk about your combat pants."
With a laugh they continued their idea trading. The two didn't even see the sunset until Momo's father came in hours later.
The gauntlets and boots clicked in place as they powered up. They were less bulky and more form fitting for her athletic, but sleek frame. Blue lights on the top of her arms and up the sides of her legs hummed as she clenched her fist. With confidence she stood at the start line along with Honenuki.
The staff gave one final look at the hopefuls before they spoke.
"At my word the test will start. Best of luck to you both!"
"~Go and show us those Plus Ultra spirit darlings~!"
"Keep it nice and clean. Show us the hero's spirit."
Momo and Honenuki nodded with confidence as the principal began his countdown.
"On 3…2…1…Go!"
At the principal's order, Momo leapt into action. Surprise found the way to her features at her new speed. She smiled, the boots were doing their job. Making her fast, but not too fast she couldn't handle it. With high confidence, she passed into the first area and was faced with the first challenge.
It was a massive wall with no way of climbing provided. No matter, she would make her own. Her boot light glowed bright as she broke into another run. Creating a staff from her stomach, she grasped it ready to vault.
As she got close, she then noticed turrets at the top. They began to fire softball size paintballs. Thinking quickly, she zigzagged and was soon fast approaching the base. With a grunt, she pole vaulted. With her boosted speed and enhanced strength from her items, she sailed over the wall before landing on the other side on one knee. She stood and with a twirl of her staff she resumed running the course.
Soon she found the next obstacle.
It was some sort of arena space, a circular half wall blocking the way. There was a gate, but it was closed. Soon three of the robots from the regular entrance exam popped up and surrounded her. After a moment of observation, they attacked and Momo dodged. Observing them on the run, she noticed targets on the bots. Each was in a different location. The center of the one pointers wheel, the tip of the two pointers tail and the back of the three pointer in the center of its missile launchers. Dodging more explosions, she knew what to do.
'An accuracy test. I need to shut them down quickly and efficiently. No problem!'
Thinking quickly, the girl knelt and then leapt up. As she flew over the three pointer she struck, hitting the target and causing it to shut down. She landed and rolled, dodging the one pointer's attacks. Striking, that target fell as well. She soon found herself facing down the two pointer. It fired its laser beam at her, which she easily dodged. She changed the hold of her staff too and underhanded one as her gauntlets glowed brightly with energy, enhancing her strength. With a grunt, she threw her staff like a javelin. The tail target was hit dead on as her staff flew faster than the bot could react. It embedded itself in the wall as an alarm buzzed and the path was opened to her. Grabbing it as she headed out the heroine hopeful made her way to the next obstacle.
Momo was feeling ecstatic. No matter the next obstacle, she'll face it and get into U.A.
'Wait for me Midoriya. We'll be heroes.'
She felt her heart warm at the thought of him.
'Together.'
Soon she found breezing through the next two portions. There were side steps over a deep pit, but her training and extra speed and strength from her boots made it child's play. She was thankful they were working properly. She felt proud.
'I wonder if this is what father feels with his successful inventions?'
The other one she breezed through was another gate, but this one was locked with a small memory game. It took her not long at all. If anything she found the small break fun. However she knew the purpose of this part of the test.
'Even in tense situations. A hero must think first and act second. As expected of U.A.'
It was time for the final obstacle. Momo went through the last gate and was faced with a clear path straight to the finish line. Or so it seemed. Closer observation revealed circular patterns and cracks along the ground. Curiously, Momo created a small ball and tossed it out onto the track. Upon contact with the circles, an explosion rang out. Said explosion carried the ball to the cracks which broke into a tiger pit it seemed.
'I see. A mine and pit field. No way across, unless you can fly…'
Momo felt a light bulb go off on that statement and her stomach glowed with the telltale sign of her creation quirk. If there was a time to use her final move, it was now. Luckily she could make it better, a small thought of thanks going through her mind at her crushes help.
Soon a chest piece manifested, a glowing and more intricate looking ARC reactor alight in its center. Moving quickly, she attached the loose wires and attached them to her gauntlets and boots. The lights glowed even brighter, powering up with boosted power ready to be unleashed. Taking a deep breath, she put her hands to her sides, palms out and fingers spread. She concentrated as her armored limbs started to build up energy.
With a humming sound she started to levitate above the ground slightly. She was a little wobbly at first, but was quick to adjust. Her eyes opened, excited and determined. She was ready for the final stretch.
With a final smile and nod she was off like a rocket. Her mind was amazed by her speed as she was rapidly closing in on the finish line, the traps on the floor completely useless against her new flight capabilities. She laughed at the feeling of speed and the thrill of her idea working.
However things at U.A. were ever so simple. Two turrets popped up and started firing. Momo's eyes went wide as she banked side to side. The projectiles flew past her, but she almost hit the ground. She corrected and was grazed by one of the projectiles for her trouble. She stopped in place for a moment to regain her bearings, her eyes closing to calm herself.
'You've got this Momo! Your parents and Midoriya are counting on you. Prove them right!'
Grey eyes opened as she smiled in confidence and was off once more. Giving her repulsors a little more power, she zoomed between the projectiles with elegance. Even if it was a little wonky at times, she was getting the hang of this new power.
'I'll need to draw up designs for a vizor. That would help.'
The heroine hopeful finally made it past the finish line, putting her palms out in front of her to slow her momentum and come to a comfortable hover. A delightful alarm rang out as confetti and fireworks went off signaling the end of the practical for her. She landed as the supervisors approached her, each giving a clap at her show of skill and quirk.
"Excellent work!" Cementoss cheered.
"~Quite the display!~" Midnight commented.
"Nicely done Ms. Yaoyorozu," the principal stated simply.
Momo blushed and then bowed at the praise.
"Thank you for the opportunity!"
Midnight led the girl to the locker room to change and get ready to head home as Nedzu looked at the replays of Momo on his own tablet. A smile found its way to his animal features as he observed her quick thinking and combat skill. As he sent Cementoss off with the other examinee, he thought about the tech the young woman brought and made. One thought crossed his mind.
'Well Keiji, your daughter is truly impressive. I cannot imagine how proud you are, old friend.'
With her test done, Momo changed and began her journey home. She saw the other applicants, though only Honenuki gave her a goodbye and good luck. Both Inasa and the scarred boy had those angry looks. Shame she'd have to help them with that if they got in. Ever since Izuku, when she saw angry people she just wanted to help them.
She chose to walk a short distance before meeting the limo, to enjoy the evening and think about the test she just completed. She looked back at the main campus and gave a confident smile. Her thoughts drifted to her crush and his test coming the next day.
'Perhaps we can become even more than heroes...'
At the U.A. Entrance exam the next day...
Katsuki Bakuguo looked up at his future alma mater with confident, but angry eyes. With the utmost cockiness, he shifted his bag over his shoulder as he made his way through the front gates. Soon his red eyes landed on a head of fluffy green hair in front of him. It seems that the monster decided to make an appearance.
"Deku," the blond grumbled out.
The monster turned to him, his own green eyes glowing slightly upon an angry sneer.
"Kacchan," the boy stated neutrally.
The blond gave a scoff and walked past his monstrous rival. One thought going through his angry mind.
'You'll see. I've surpassed you damn monster. I'll protect everyone from you!'
Outside of the testing grounds...
Bakugou was doing some last minute stretches, getting his body ready for the strain it was about to go through. He found his gaze observing some of the other test takers, each one doing some variance of last minute prep. He flexed his fingers as he stretched once more, his gaze back on the gates of the mock cityscape they would be testing in.
'I'll show these extras what a hero looks like.'
With a loud blare and rumbling mechanics, the gates opened and Bakugou went off like a rocket. Literally in this case, with his hand open and arms extended behind him propelling him through the air with explosions. Eventually the explosive blond found his first victim.
It was a group of one pointers, zooming around on their wheels. They noticed him and quickly surrounded the angry boy. They charged at once and the boy quickly dodged by launching himself up. As they collided he let loose another explosion upon their heads. The bots were reduced to scarp and he landed, rolled and continued flying.
'Tch. Knew it! I've gotten stronger! Look out Deku!'
More robots rolled and crawled up, each one read for combat. Bakugou gave a confident smirk and rocket into the fray. He would show them how strong he was. The strongest there is.
A robot's head beeped slowly as the blond crunched it under his boot. His hands were smoking as he stood victoriously on a pile of scrap metal that used to be the testing bots. A sinister, but confident smirk on his face as he caught his breath.
'Thought U.A, would be tough!'
The blonde's confident thoughts were interrupted by a rumbling sound. His gaze matched the other students on the object that just made itself known. The massive Zero-Pointer's red eyes scanned the crowd as all pandemonium was let loose. However, Bakugou did not panic. He looked at his new challenge with a cocky smirk. He let off small explosions in excitement at the giant robot that was causing such chaos.
'Look at that! Must be the zero pointer one the cockatoo was egging on about. Even if it's a waste of time…'
The explosive teen dodged to the side as the bot brought its arm down right where he had been, his smirk never leaving.
'But I know that monster won't resist knocking this thing down! So I'll just have to do the same to surpass it!'
The bot swiped once more and the blond dodged with more explosions. With wild and challenging eyes he began to fly up the robot's massive frame. His red eyes were looking for any sort of weakness. Small gaps in the armor. Control panels. Anything to take this beast down. Within the clanging metal, he saw it!
Twirling in the air with controlled explosions, the wannabe hero made his way to the object he saw. Within the moving armor plates, the boy had spotted the delicate joints that made up the internal hardware of the mechanized menace. If he struck there, the robot's arm would surely cease to function, maybe even fall off. His sharp red eyes scanned the rest of the bot's body and found a similar opening. Tiny, yet visible if one was looking for them.
He spun once more before landing on the top of the right shoulder. Small sparks began to pop on his palms as he built up energy. Before too long he thrust his hands down into the opening as a massive explosion left his palms.
"GO TO HELL!"
With multiple explosions, the arm fell from it's sockets. Buildings below crumbled as they bore the weight of the scrapped arm. Luckily, other examinees had long since given the giant robot a wide birth. Though many saw the spectacle Bakugou was putting on.
"Whoa!"
"Is he insane!?"
"Such power!"
"Manly!"
Bakugou smirked at the praise below. He could hardly blame them, people knew a hero when they saw one. And they knew a monster too. Just as he was about to decimate the rest of the bot, an alarm rang out amongst the testing grounds. Then the Voice hero's voice rang out amongst the grounds.
"The test is now over! Please would all listeners make their way to the entrance gates!"
As the zero pointer shut down, Bakugou let out a scoff. Disappointment filled him as he made his way down to the ground using controlled explosions and some parkour he learned. Though he would have preferred to completely annihilate the zero pointer, he still felt an arrogant confidence in his own performance.
'Like to see the monster beat that! Probably spent the whole time beating the same bot over and over again. Maybe he attacked another contestant and got disqualified.'
Stretching and wiping his brow, the young man went to the lockers to change back for the walk home.
'You'll see Deku! A monster like you has no place in this school.'
Meanwhile in the control room, the U.A. teachers and staff were evaluating the footage they had just seen. Debating points to give out as well as who was worthy of the most prestigious hero academy. The principal's mind was racing with glee as he took a sip from a teacup he had next to him. Swirling it around, he spoke his mind.
"So many young heroes and quirks to see! Still, to think two would go after the zero pointer! Such bravado!"
"~I agree! The fires and passion of youth!~" the heroine Midnight proclaimed.
"They saw an opponent, one that was supposed to be an obstacle and took it head on. Bravery or stupidity?" a man in a trench coat, Ectoplasm, commented.
"I think you'll find most great heroes are a mixture of both," Cementoss joked, "Even then, they had different approaches, but similar results."
"Ya' call on destroying one and one without an arm similar results?" a cowboy like hero, Snipe, commented.
"They eliminated a threat and saved others. If anything I think the points should-"
"Absolutly not," a tired voice commented.
All the other teachers turned to the voice that made itself clear. It belonged to a man with black scraggly hair and stubble. He had wrapping around his neck and black clothes that blended together. All Might, who was staying silent wanting to keep his bias out, thought he knew what the man was about to say. Even if they disagreed on what a hero did and how the presented themselves, he knew they both knew heroics when they saw them. Nedzu knew it too and turned to the tired hero himself.
"And what, pray tell, is the difference between them, Eraserhead?"
The hero walked forward and pointed at the screens first was the boy who just moments ago was a green giant. He was still helping the bubbly girl get treatment from their resident nurse.
"The green one only fought it to save another. Although the risk was great, he knew it and took it on. A bit loud for my taste, but heroic notwithstanding."
All Might smiled at that. Though there was an insult mixed in, his now fellow teacher was praising his student. Maybe Midoriya would be alright if he got his class afterall.
Eraserhead then pointed to the screen showing the second boy. While most were praising him for fighting the zero pointer, he was paying them no mind. In fact it seemed he had a perpetually angry expression on his face, but there was an underline of disappointment.
"Meanwhile the blond one fought it for the sake of fighting. He saw a strong opponent and wanted to match it. He fought to prove something. Not bad in itself, but could lead to trouble."
All Might agreed with that as his thought of his fellow top hero. Ambition was good, but could be poisonous if used wrongly. Nedzu let out a laugh.
"Astute as always, Eraser! I agree!"
Eraser nodded and went back to his corner, sparing a glance at the silent All Might and the green haired boy on the screen. He let out a sigh as he returned to his corner, his grey eyes in thought, Nedzu watched as the other teachers started grading the performances of those involved. He sipped more tea as he chuckled to himself, his own animal eyes looking at the boy he knew All Might had mentored. He was reminded of the recommendation exam as well in his thoughts.
'Certainly will be an exciting year! I can't wait to see what the next generation is capable of!'
The bear-mouse-dog thing chuckled. Surely his U.A.'s next year would be incredible.