Chapter 30: Quirk Apprehension Test — Aizawa's nervousness!
"You have been taking standardized tests most of your lives," Aizawa said, eying the 1-A students. "But you never got to use your Quirks for physical examinations before, right?"
Luke couldn't relate to the befuddled expressions on everyone's faces.
It was exactly opposite for him, if he were to be honest about it. All his life, he had been using his Quirk, and to use that Quirk effectively, he had been forced to study.
Of course, that he liked all the study materials was a different matter altogether.
So we will be using our Quirk openly, Luke nodded within. That… can be a problem.
Luke looked at the back of Yuga Aoyama, the Seat No. 1 of Class 1-A.
Unlike everyone here, only Luke knew that Yuga actually was a Quirkless person.
The Quirk he possessed now — Navel Laser — was a Quirk given to him by All For One. In return, he was spying on UA, sharing confidential information with his benefactor.
Again, without any solid proof, Luke couldn't just blurt out the truth.
Even if he did have proof like that, he wouldn't have shared it with anyone.
The fact that Yuga Aoyama was a spy was known to none but Luke, giving him the greatest advantage of what info the boy would be sharing with All For One.
Even though Luke found making social relationships difficult, he still knew the worth of such a versatile pawn.
The only issue was — how far should he go with these tests?
"The country's idea that all are equal by not letting you use your Quirks —," Aizawa continued," — is not rational. I am here to correct that mistake for you.
"Bakugo. You secured the highest marks in the Practical Exam, if we don't count the Rescue Points, right?"
The students briefly looked at Luke and then at Bakugo.
Luke found Aizawa's gaze scanning him briefly as well.
By now, Mr. Principal should have briefed all the Pro Heroes about his special circumstances and his family background.
However, if Luke was right about it, and as much as he could remember about Aizawa from his days with Momo, this man couldn't care less about Luke's background or circumstances.
As Luke contemplated the difficulties to come in his life as a UA student, Bakugo went ahead and used his Quirk — Explosion — for a Soft Ball throw, following Aizawa's order.
With a massive boom, the ball disappeared from the students' visions, leaving behind a cloud of dust behind Bakugo.
Luke and Nyx's eyes went hard for a moment, remembering the explosions from their previous lives; the explosions that had claimed their lives.
They could still hear them — in the back of their minds — along with the same word as Bakugo just said while throwing the soft ball — Die!
Aizawa turned around, facing the students. "All of you need to know your maximum capabilities. It's the most rational way to figure out your potential as a Pro Hero."
Then, with a dead expression, he lifted the device in his hand that showcased the distance of the soft ball thrown by Bakugo.
705.2 meters!
Wide-eyed and hurraying, the students instantly became excited, finding it all fun.
Then Aizawa dropped the bombshell on all of them, making even Luke's eyes tremble.
"So this is fun, huh?" Aizawa said sarcastically. "In three years, you need to become a Pro Hero. You think it will be all games and play time?"
As the cheers and smiles died on students' faces, for the first time, Aizawa grinned.
"Idiots!" he said, staring into the students' souls. "To gauge your potential, I have set up eight physical tests. Which means, whoever comes last, has no potential, and will get expelled immediately."
What?!
Aizawa's grin only became creepier. "If you have a problem with it, you can go home right now…"
"Sir, that's not fair!" Uraraka complained.
"And natural disasters are?" Aizawa shot back. "For the next three years, UA will throw at you one hardship after another. Show me it's no mistake that you are here…"
On the other end, Luke and Nyx exchanged another glance.
So, his plan to lie low wouldn't work. Not to mention, in the public's eyes, he could only use Gigantification Quirk on Nyx.
I need to hide the true strength of Bioalchemy and Sequences to use it where it matters the most, Luke thought, nodding to himself. But… I also can't be a pushover, letting these children throw me to the last place.
"Nyx…" Luke asked, "… are you ready to do some awesome stuff?"
Nyx scoffed. "I was born ready. I only died not ready — unready… But, then I was born ready once again!"
Luke's mouth twitched, hoping she wouldn't cause a disaster.
…
The first test was 50 meter dash.
Luke had a simple strategy. He would outdo all in at least two tests, doing average in the rest of them.
This way, no matter who came at first and who came last wouldn't matter to him.
Still, he couldn't help but realize Momo's enormous advantage in all this. As he looked up, he found her creating roller skates, letting out puffs of smoke from their ends.
Something clicked in Luke's mind. He looked around searching for Nyx and found her perched on Fumikage Tokoyami's shoulder.
Fumikage had the Quirk — Dark Shadow.
He could manifest a sentient shadow monster from his body.
As Luke approached them, he heard what the bird was whispering to the boy.
"So, what are you doing tonight?" Nyx was asking, pruning her feathers. "I generally don't date young ones… but I can make an exception for you…"
"Nyx!" Luke gasped. He hurriedly apologized to the kid. "Sorry. She isn't like that most of the time…"
"Yo! What gives!" Nyx complained as Luke took her away. "That's the most handsome raven I met in my life!"
Luke felt a headache coming. He had completely forgotten the matter of Fumikage looking like a black bird.
Luke took Nyx to Aizawa.
The homeroom teacher was waiting for students to make their preparations. When he saw Luke coming over, his eyes narrowed barely.
"Sir," Luke said, pointing at Momo. "Can I also use my Quirk beforehand?"
Aizawa replied flatly. "I don't care how you reach the finish line."
Luke nodded and turned around.
"Wow!" Nyx giggled. "That man is handsome, too. But not my type… too serious…"
"Nyx!" Luke eyed her, pinching her beak and looking around to see if someone had heard her or not.
Behind them, Aizawa narrowed his eyes at Luke and the bird on his shoulder.
He still remembered the scenes from the boy's Practical Exam. The kid was a textbook Hero. A perfect case of doing everything by the books. Neither did he stand out nor did he lie low.
Then there was the time when he took down Bakugo.
Those moves… Sand's face flashed by Aizawa's eyes. What's the trick here?
Nezu had told him that Luke could control the bird's size, but this… didn't feel like a bird.
Hit by an uncertain nervousness, Aizawa's hair stood on end as he used his Quirk — Eraser.
He could erase another person's Quirk in his line of sight, and that sight fell on Luke this time.
To Aizawa's great shock, both Luke and Nyx paused as if hit by a bolt of lightning.
But by the time they looked at Aizawa over their shoulders, the Pro Hero had already canceled his Quirk, his heart booming in his chest.
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