"Why is there so much paperwork!!!"
Asuka groaned dramatically, slamming her head onto the polished white desk.
Stacks of documents surrounded her like walls closing in—performance reports, partnership contracts, R&D budget sheets, employee feedback forms… and a proposal for a Humagear ice cream vendor shaped like a giant banana? Hm....
She peeked up from behind her arms. "I thought being president meant I got to tell people what to do, not do all the doing myself…"
"Incorrect," Izu replied cheerfully, standing by the desk as if immune to the chaos. "As president of Hiden Intelligence, your approval is required for all critical decisions and oversight reports. You must also review quarterly developments for our Humagear advancements."
Asuka narrowed her eyes. "...Do you enjoy this?"
Izu blinked. "I lack the emotional programming for enjoyment. However, I am pleased to see your productivity increase by 37% since last week."
Asuka let out a loud groan and let her face fall back onto the desk with a dramatic thud.
[MORNING – HIDEN ESTATE GYM]
"Come on, Asuka-sama! Again!"
"Uggghh, this is torture!"
Asuka threw another punch at a high-tech training dummy that absorbed the impact and calculated force output in real time. Izu stood nearby holding a tablet, tracking every movement.
"You must strengthen your body to sustain the Zero-One Driver's combat loadout. Without the proper stamina and muscle control, prolonged transformation will result in critical strain."
"Why didn't anyone tell me being a superhero would feel like death by squats?!"
Sweat poured down Asuka's face as she pushed herself through weighted lunges, explosive jump-kicks, and coordination drills. Every move was precise, calculated—designed to sharpen both her reflexes and her durability.
Later, she collapsed onto the floor, panting. "How do heroes do this every day…"
"Most U.A. students have trained their bodies since childhood. You must close the gap within two weeks."
Asuka screamed into a towel.
[EVENING – HIDEN LABS / SIMULATION CHAMBER]
"Deploying training simulation: Urban Pursuit."
The lab's floor lit up in neon blue, and holographic buildings rose around Asuka in a projected city environment.
"Reminder: You cannot rely solely on Rising Impact. Precision. Speed. Adaptability."
"Got it!" Asuka cracked her knuckles, then launched into action.
She sprinted up a fire escape, dodging simulated rubble and laser turrets. A training drone fired stun rounds, which she narrowly ducked under with a flip, landing hard and rolling into a fighting stance.
"Hyaah!!" she shouted, delivering a precise kick to one of the drones. It fizzled and dropped.
From the control room, Izu typed calmly. "Reaction speed up by 18%. Target tracking still requires improvement."
"I'm not a robot, you know!!" Asuka called up, leaping across a rooftop mid-sentence.
"Noted."
[LATE NIGHT – HIDEN OFFICE]
Back in her private office, Asuka sat slouched at her desk once again, sipping a sports drink and staring at a report.
Her eyes were heavy. Her muscles ached. Her hand shook as she reached for a pen.
"…Still gotta finish this before tomorrow's meeting…"
Izu walked in and gently placed a warm honey bun and a small smiley face post-it next to her. "For motivation."
Asuka blinked. Then smiled.
"…Thanks, Izu."
Asuka looked up at the massive window that overlooked the city, her mind racing with everything ahead—exams, fighting villains, inheriting something she wasn't sure she deserved.
The next morning, Asuka stood at the Hiden Intelligence helipad in her school uniform with her backpack slung over one shoulder and the U.A. entrance exam registration form in hand.
A black Hiden Intelligence car-turned-hovercraft pulled in front of her.
"Izu, I still feel like my legs are gonna fall off," Asuka muttered, stretching one leg behind her. "Can we reschedule the leg day after the exam?"
"Unfortunately, no," Izu replied, opening the passenger-side door for her. "Your physical endurance and reflexes remain below optimal levels. However, with current metrics, your odds of success at U.A. are now at 63%."
Asuka plopped into the seat with a dramatic groan. "Wow. Really inspiring confidence, Izu…"
The vehicle lifted into the air with a hum, flying over the waking city as morning light painted everything gold. Asuka stared out the window, watching the skyline blur past.
"…My dream used to be making people laugh," she said softly. "Now I'm running a company and training to punch villains in the face."
Izu glanced over at her. "Humans are capable of pursuing multiple dreams simultaneously. You can be a hero who brings laughter."
Asuka blinked at her, then smiled. "You know, for someone who says they don't understand feelings, you say some really emotional stuff sometimes."
"I am only stating calculated truths."
"Uh-huh,"