Chapter 7:
The test began with Bakugo throwing a ball very far, hundreds of meters in distance. It blinked out of his eyesight. And then it all went around the same. Izuku didn't have energy stores except for what was humanly normal. The first throw was meant to be him but he arrived late, and the teacher wanted someone to use their quirk injunction with the test to start off.
So, Izuku had to work on the fact that A - he wasn't the most physically fit person in the world, certainly not the class, B - he wasn't risking using his quirk no matter what, C - getting expelled so early from UA was just upsetting.
Mr Aizawa's threat scared him. Some students didn't care, but others did. It seemed to be a confidence issue, the problem with this test was that his quirk relied on his ability to open his mouth. He didn't need to run very far - doing so made it difficult to catch his breath by his nose alone, and opening his mouth meant death for those nearby.
This - amongst the general ability of the class - made him perform poorly. He had no advantage on the sprinting dash, push-ups, or sit-ups. His grip strength was higher than most, thanks to years of clenching his fists in panic.
Over the course of the test, panic settled in. He might actually rank last. The last space was similar vying between 3 people. Himself, a short boy with balls on his head, and an invisible girl. It was mainly the invisible girl he was probably competing with, which was unfair for either of them. Both their quirks didn't rely on how far a ball could be thrown, or physical strength.
Invisibility was an excellent quirk - her only drawback being no one could ever see her, a fact he could relate with - and yet she could face expulsion. Had he taken on more that he could take? Was Bakugo right? He refused to let him be.
He refused to be a villain.
"I was right," he crawled back his legs devoid of energy as Izuku kept crying, "He's a villain, you have to stay away from him. He'll never be a hero!"
A hand fell onto his shoulder, "are you okay?"
He jolted quickly around to see Uraraka. He nodded, 'Sorry, zoned out.'
"It's okay," she smiled, signing the word 'okay,'. "Mr Aizawa is putting out the results in a moment. I wanted to make sure you're okay."
The results gave him some pause, he came 2 nd to last. The grape boy - Mineta - came last and broke down in tears. Izuku felt bad for him, but a part of him was thankful it wasn't him. As the results came in he saw Bakugo sneer at him from through the crowd, his eyes could kill if they were able to.
No matter what Bakugo thought, he'd prove him wrong. That time was a fluke, a mistake, he had goaded him to that point, he had forced Izuku to cry, he had tried to plead with him.
"You did it!" Uraraka's hands met with his and raised them in the air, her hair looked as if it floated for a second as she did so. Did she use her quirk on it? He had found through the entrance exam what her quirk was, how it worked was beyond him though.
Then, in a move of good luck for Mineta, Aizawa proclaimed that his 'expelling the lowest student' had been a ruse, a simple lie to ensure they took the test seriously. It worked, of course, but that kind of thing worried him.
The day continued as normal after that, a general curriculum breakdown. It all seemed to be to within his ability, school generally was at the very least. As long as as teachers didn't expect a direct answer from him he was good.
Of course, at Aldera and elementary school he was a victim of bullying and avoidance but it made it safer for him. If people avoided him, there was less chance they got hurt again. Whilst he certainly didn't want that loneliness at UA, it might be needed if he lost control again.
A hand grasped onto his shoulder, "Midoriya, was it?"
He froze as he came face to face with the glasses boy. Iida, he believed Uraraka had called him. He nodded in response, "Perfect, I was inquiring about what our fellow classmate was doing to you this morning, I presume you are okay?"
Another nod. "I am glad, if you have any other problems, please do come to me and tell me, I am not fond of bullies and other disorderlies."
It was a nice offer, "I'm also of the understanding you cannot speak?"
Izuku's mouth curved inward with another nod, two this time. 'I learnt moving jazz' Iida's hands moved with quick speed or as to what Izuku gathered was what he had signed, it wasn't actually legible to himself so it was a guess, like a baby babbling their first words…
He quirked an eyebrow, "I fear I made a mistake?" Izuku nodded causing Iida to laugh, "I must apologise, the only sign language I am familiar with is that which my brother taught me. Well, then it was a pleasure to meet you, Iida Tenya is my name." He bowed. Surely greetings came first in a conversation, not at the end?
Before he could even attempt to reply he was already speed walking off, his arms making large motions with each step, it was an amusing image. He could almost count him as his second friend at this point, that was nice.
So, as he grasped onto his bag, he walked back to the train station in tranquil silence.
Well, the tranquil silence lasted for a few moments before footsteps caught up to him quickly. He turned around to see no one, did he imagine it?
"Behind you," a sing-song voice called as he spun around again, now doing a full 360.
He came face to face with a smiling Uraraka who had crouched slightly to get behind him. A red blush fell over his cheek as he gave a rather pathetic wave. 'Are you okay?' his hands fell to his chest.
She smiled, "I- yes, I was wondering if at some point you'd be able to explain a little about your quirk, I kind of wanted to leave you my phone number- if that's okay with you, and that if you have a phone of course-" she managed to speak out through several stutters.
He wondered if he'd have had a stutter if he could talk, it seemed likely. 'Sounds nice, would you like to go get something to eat then?'
"Now?" she paled slightly, but a smile was on her lips.
Izuku nodded. That was the social convention, wasn't it?
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