July 20, 2266 — U.A. High School Entrance Exam Venue
The U.A. High School hero course was the pinnacle of hero education—a place where only the most ambitious and talented aspiring heroes would gather. Among similar courses across Japan, it was the most competitive, boasting an acceptance rate of less than one in three hundred.
Graduating from U.A. was a prerequisite for becoming a great hero, a gateway into the world of professional heroism. Legends like All Might, the number one hero who had refused a National Honor Award, Endeavor, the fiery hero who resolved the most incidents in history, and Best Jeanist, a top-ranked hero known for his fashion-forward heroics, had all walked its halls.
The morning sun beat down on U.A. High's sprawling campus, reflecting off the glass towers and sprawling courtyards. Birds chirped in the distant trees, but Izuku Midoriya barely noticed. His heart was pounding like a drum in his chest, the adrenaline of the day refusing to be ignored.
Today was the day—the entrance exam that could make or break his dream of becoming a hero. He had read stories about this place, heard legends of the prodigies who had passed through its gates, and imagined the feats of strength, speed, and courage he would witness. But nothing could prepare him for the reality of standing here.
His excitement, combined with nervous anticipation, made his steps unsteady. And, of course, fate had a sense of irony. As he rounded the first corner of the road leading into the campus, his foot caught on a small stone. He stumbled violently, arms flailing.
"Whoa!" A voice called out sharply.
Before he could hit the ground, a hand gripped his arm and steadied him. He looked up into a pair of warm brown eyes, framed by short, neatly kept hair.
"Are you okay?" the girl asked, her voice carrying both concern and a hint of cheerful reassurance.
Izuku's face flushed crimson. "Y-yes… thank you… I-I'm fine," he stammered, brushing dust from his clothes.
She smiled, and something about that simple expression made him feel slightly less panicked. "I'm Ochaco Uraraka. You're new here, right?"
He nodded quickly. "Izuku Midoriya. I… I just arrived."
They shared a brief exchange of words as they walked toward the main campus together, the nervous energy coiling in Izuku's chest like a spring ready to snap.
His mind raced, trying to anticipate what lay ahead, and for once, he felt the acute pang of doubt that had been lurking in the back of his mind for years. What if he wasn't strong enough? What if his Quirk failed him? What if he couldn't do it?
By the time they reached the main examination hall, a throng of students had already gathered. Excitement and tension crackled in the air, the murmur of conversation punctuated by nervous laughter and the occasional shuffling of feet. Every student carried the weight of their ambition; every glance seemed to carry silent judgment.
A voice cut through the hum of the crowd, amplified by a loudspeaker that vibrated through the air. Present Mic stepped forward, his spiky hair bouncing with each gesture, his energy practically radiating outward. "Good morning, everyone! Welcome to the U.A. High School Entrance Exam! I'm Present Mic, here to guide you through today's practical test!"
The crowd quieted, all eyes on him.
"Listen up!" he continued, voice booming. "Today's exam is a test of your hero skills under pressure! You will face robotic villains scattered across a simulated cityscape! Your goal: immobilize as many as possible in ten minutes! Points are awarded based on difficulty. Highest points don't always mean the best hero, so act smart!"
Izuku's stomach tightened as the rules sank in. He glanced around, noting students flexing their Quirks, preparing themselves with confident smirks. Fire, ice, wind manipulation, enhanced strength—abilities he had only read about in awe.
His own body, fragile and unprepared to handle the full brunt of One For All, felt comparatively puny. He could run, he could think fast, but his legs and arms couldn't handle full activation without risking severe injury. And yet, he had to try.
"Any questions?" Present Mic called out, scanning the crowd with a wide grin.
None were asked. There was no hesitation, no debate. All were ready.
"Then go!" The loud buzzer pierced the air, and chaos erupted.
Students surged forward. One student slammed a brick wall with raw strength, sending debris flying; another launched herself into the air with controlled flight; a third, hands crackling with electricity, disabled a robot before it had moved ten steps. The simulated city became a whirlwind of motion and Quirk energy.
Izuku's legs pumped, carrying him forward at normal human speed. He couldn't risk One For All yet—if he pushed too hard, his bones would snap. He ran with all the endurance his body could muster, dodging smaller robots and attempting to help where he could. Yet each time he reached a cluster of enemies, he found them already dismantled by more powerful Quirks, or the students had surged past with flawless efficiency.
He stumbled over a toppled sign, frustration gnawing at him. Every movement seemed insignificant. Each passing second, he could feel his hope draining, the score of zero glaring back at him with merciless clarity. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it: a massive 0-pointer robot, easily three stories tall, its red glowing eyes scanning for targets. All the other candidates bolted, screams and shouts echoing as they fled from the threat. But under the robot, a figure caught his attention—Uraraka, pinned beneath rubble, struggling against the heavy weight.
"No… I can't just stand here!" he thought, his body moving before rational calculations could intervene.
With every ounce of strength he could muster, he tried to lift the rubble, trying his best to free her. But he noticed the massive 0-pointer robot is already very near to them and there's no escaping.
Midoriya's determination surged. "I won't let anyone else get hurt!". His Quirk flared, muscles tensing. He activated One For All at full strength in his legs, propelling himself forward with a ferocity he had never attempted outside training. The strain was immediate. Pain lanced through his legs, sharp and searing, but he ignored it. The robot's mechanical arms swung, and time seemed to slow around him, each second drawn out by the sheer intensity of his focus.
He reached toward the 0-pointer. Every instinct screamed to stop, to find cover, but his determination overpowered fear. He remembered the words of All Might, "Squeeze your buttocks and yell this inside your heart -- Smash…" That was the sensation he remembered when activating One For All—clenching his body, drawing upon the power buried deep within him. With a guttural yell, he swung his right fist with every ounce of strength remaining, shattering both his legs and crushing his arm in the process as he collided with the robot's chest. The sound of metal twisting and hydraulics snapping reverberated through the simulated city. The robot crumpled into a heap of sparks and torn steel.
The world blurred around him. Pain seared every nerve, but he had done it. Uraraka, freed from the rubble, used her Quirk to lift him and move him to safety. He barely registered her voice above the ringing in his ears.
Around him, other candidates accumulated points, sometimes selfishly, sometimes strategically. The clock ticked down—less than two minutes remained. Midoriya realized the most crucial part of the exam wasn't defeating robots—it was embodying the spirit of a hero. In the monitoring room, All Might couldn't help but smile, quietly proud to witness Izuku's selflessness—the very essence of what it meant to be a true hero.
"Even if I have zero points… I have to save her. That's what makes me a hero!" he thought. And Time's up. The practical exam ended. Midoriya staggered, battered and exhausted, barely able to stand. His body ached, his limbs bruised and strained from using One For All without full control. But his spirit remained unbroken. Around him, the other candidates had fought valiantly, some with impressive scores, others with reckless abandon.
The staff rushed toward the fallen Midoriya, but before they could reach him, Recovery Girl arrived on the scene. Kneeling beside him, she pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, a warm glow spreading through his battered body as his pain eased slightly. With her healing touch giving him a boost, the staff carefully lifted him and carried him to the recovery room.
Later that day, he received a sealed envelope, delivered personally. His hands trembled as he opened it. Inside was a letter, official and crisp: he had been accepted into the U.A. High School Hero Course. His heart swelled. Every injury, every gamble, every ounce of courage had led him to this moment.
As he leaned back in his chair, letting the warmth of victory settle into his chest, he smiled. This was only the beginning. The path ahead would be grueling, filled with challenges he couldn't yet imagine—but he was ready. Heroism wasn't just about power; it was about heart, courage, and the willingness to act when it mattered most. And Izuku Midoriya had all three in abundance.
He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. For the first time in his life, he felt like he truly belonged.
The sun continued to shine outside, indifferent and bright, as the story of a new hero began inside the walls of U.A. High.
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Yet far above, hidden behind a veil of clouds, a solitary figure watched. Silver hair glinted faintly in the sunlight, and a subtle energy radiated from him—a presence so overwhelming it made even the vast campus feel minuscule. Hayato Kurogane observed the events unfolding below with cold precision, his mind calculating, analyzing, and anticipating. The heroic feats of the students, impressive as they were, barely registered as a challenge. A faint smirk curved his lips; the energy he emanated carried the weight of a final boss, a force that would inevitably overshadow everyone around him—including the new hero who had just begun his journey.
The plot has finally started.
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Author's Note: The last paragraph might come off as a bit cringe and edgy, and honestly, it wasn't strictly necessary. I included it anyway—otherwise, some of you would probably argue that this chapter contributes nothing and just retells the canon events. (Which is what it does anyways, lol)