"System. Open menu. Show status. View stats. Inventory. Whatever."
Absolute silence.
Hayashi Ren lowered the hand he had raised in front of his face. Nothing. Not a single floating screen appeared. No translucent windows displaying statistics.
"Damn it."
It was 5:30 AM. He had woken up feeling like he had slept for three hours, which was technically true. Now he was sitting on his futon, staring at the ceiling of his six-tatami room. The UA exam was today.
If I even pass the exam, he thought with a sting of genuine anxiety.
He stood up and walked toward the small mirror hanging on the wall. His reflection greeted him with a completely bald head shining under the morning light. Eyes with slight dark circles. A physique that definitely did not scream "elite athlete."
"Power check," he said aloud. "Telepathy, yes. Telekinesis, check. X-ray vision, of course. Premature baldness that ruins my entire protagonist aesthetic... that one never fails."
He dressed in the athletic gear he had bought specifically for today. Black joggers. A gray compression shirt that at least made him look a little less scrawny. New sneakers that had cost him more than he wanted to admit.
While he prepared a simple breakfast of rice and egg, his mind couldn't stop returning to the same frustrating topic.
Where the hell is my system?
Every damn isekai had a system. "Congratulations, you have been reincarnated. Here is your status screen that tells you exactly how strong you are." But not him. He had to guess if he was level 1 or level 50.
How was he supposed to know if he was strong or not? He had no HP bar. He had no MP counter. He had no skill list with convenient descriptions. For all he knew, he could be weaker than Mineta. MINETA. That perverted grape kid could kick his ass and he wouldn't even know it until it was too late.
He chewed his rice aggressively.
Charles Xavier hadn't mentioned anything about systems. He only said "listen to your instinct" and "telepathy is like a muscle." Completely vague and useless information when you are about to compete against superhuman teenagers who have trained their entire lives.
He finished his breakfast, washed the dishes, and prepared to leave.
Before opening the door, he stopped in front of the mirror one last time.
"Hayashi Ren," he told himself. "You have mental powers that most of these people can't even imagine. You can read minds. You can move objects with your thoughts. You can see through clothes, which is completely inappropriate but undeniably useful for gathering information."
He paused.
"And you are completely bald at fifteen, which is an aesthetic tragedy. But hey, it worked for Saitama. It worked for Professor X. It can work for you."
He didn't sound very convincing even to himself.
He left his room and walked toward the train station. The trip to UA would take approximately forty minutes. He had left early deliberately. He didn't want to arrive late and look unprofessional.
The train was full of middle school students. Ren found a seat near the window and sat down, watching the city pass by.
It has already been a month, he thought, and a couple of weeks since I met Mitsuki.
The image of her in athletic shorts crossed his mind. The memory of her soft moans escaping her lips.
"Nope," he muttered, shaking his head. "We are not thinking about that now. Focus. Exam. Giant robots. Don't die. That is the plan."
The train arrived at his stop. Ren got off along with a crowd of other passengers.
And there it was.
UA.
The building was exactly as he remembered it from the anime. Enormous. Imposing. With that modern architecture that screamed "we are the best hero school in Japan and we know it."
My God, he thought, feeling his heart beat faster. I am really here. This is real.
He walked toward the entrance along with dozens of other applicants. Everyone looked nervous. Some talked to each other with nervous excitement. Others walked in silence, focused.
Ren subtly activated his telepathy. Just a little bit to catch surface emotions.
Nervousness floated in the air. Excitement too. Some students emanated genuine fear. Others showed fierce determination. There was arrogance in some cases. Insecurity dominated others.
Everyone is just as scared as I am, he thought with some relief. At least I am not the only one.
He entered the main building. The walls were decorated with posters of famous heroes. All Might smiled from at least five different posters. Endeavor looked intimidating on others. Several pro heroes that Ren recognized vaguely from the anime filled the rest of the space.
He followed the signs toward the auditorium where the exam presentation would take place. The space was massive. Hundreds of seats in ascending rows. A giant screen at the front.
Ren found a seat in a middle row. Not too far forward, not too far back.
He sat down and looked around, searching for familiar faces.
Where is Midoriya? he thought, scanning the crowd. He should be here. Green hair. Freckles. Probably looking absolutely terrified.
But he didn't see him anywhere.
He continued searching. He saw a tall boy with bicolor hair. Red on one side, white on the other.
Todoroki, he identified immediately. Endeavor's son. The guy with daddy issues and ice and fire powers.
Further away, a boy with spiky black hair and elbows that looked like engines.
Iida, he recognized. The speedster kid obsessed with rules.
His heart beat faster. He was seeing anime characters in person. Real people breathing the same air as him.
Then he saw her.
A girl with short brown hair. Rosy cheeks. A friendly expression as she spoke to someone beside her.
Uraraka, Ren thought, feeling a wave of genuine emotion. It is Uraraka Ochako! I finally recognize someone important!
But then his attention shifted to the person Uraraka was talking to.
And his brain completely short-circuited.
It was a girl. Approximately his age. Dark green hair that reached her shoulders. Large eyes of the same green tone. A soft face with delicate features.
And a body that definitely did not belong to a girl her age.
Curves. Wide hips. Thick thighs that pressed against her athletic leggings. A rear that was absolutely impossible to ignore.
Who the hell is that? Ren thought, feeling his mouth go dry. I don't remember her from the anime. Someone with that body wouldn't go unnoticed. Not with that ass. My God, that ass could have its own zip code.
The girl laughed at something Uraraka said. Her laughter was soft and genuine.
Ren subtly activated his telepathic hearing, amplifying his perception to listen to their conversation despite the distance.
"I am very nervous," the green-haired girl was saying. "I haven't trained as much as I should have. I was busy with work and life in general."
"You will be fine!" Uraraka responded with enthusiasm. "Your quirk is incredible. I am sure you will pass without any problems."
"Thank you, Ochako-chan. You are very kind."
Ochako, Ren thought. So they are friends. But who...
"Inko-san?" another voice called. A boy Ren didn't recognize. "Are you ready for this?"
The green-haired girl turned.
"As ready as I can be, I guess."
Inko?
The name hit Ren like a truck.
No. It can't be. Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Inko. Green hair. Appropriate age to be a student. Friend of Ochako.
Inko Midoriya, he realized with growing horror. That is Inko Midoriya. Izuku's MOM. Except here she is a teenager applying for UA.
His mind worked at a thousand miles per hour trying to process this information.
This makes no sense. In the canon, Inko is a mother. She is in her thirties. She is married to Hisashi who works abroad. Her son is the protagonist of the damn anime.
But here she was. A fifteen-year-old version of Inko Midoriya. With the same green hair. The same kind eyes. And a body that suggested that genetically, she had always had those curves.
What kind of timeline is this? he thought, feeling genuine panic. First Izuku doesn't exist. Now his mother is a student my age. What else is different? Is All Might a villain? Is Bakugo a pacifist?
He needed confirmation. He needed to be sure.
Without thinking too much, he activated his X-ray vision.
His perception shifted. Layers of clothing became translucent.
Uraraka first. She wore simple athletic underwear. A black sports bra. Matching athletic panties. And underneath...
Completely smooth, Ren noted with a distant part of his brain. Not a single hair. She must shave everything.
But his attention moved quickly toward Inko.
A green sports top that barely contained her breasts. Much larger than he expected. The areolas were a dark pink, the nipples slightly prominent even at rest.
His vision moved down. Past the athletic leggings. Past the underwear.
And there it was.
A small patch of dark green hair. Natural.
Green, Ren thought almost hysterically. The pubic hair is green. Because her hair is green. Because genetically all her hair is green. Of course. Anime logic applied to biology.
He was about to cut off his X-ray vision when a movement caught his attention.
Someone passed in front of Inko and Ochako. Or rather, something passed in front of them.
Distorted air. As if space itself were bending slightly.
Ren frowned. He focused his X-ray vision on that distorted space.
And then he saw her.
A girl. Completely visible to him even though she clearly shouldn't be.
Short light green hair... or was it rainbow? A rounded and expressive face. A small and slender body. Completely naked because her clothes were also invisible with his X-ray vision.
Hagakure, he identified immediately. Toru Hagakure. The invisible girl.
But he could see her.
His X-ray vision didn't just see through clothes. It saw through quirks that affected visual perception.
Holy hell, he thought, feeling his scientific excitement momentarily overcome his perverted side. My power counteracts her invisibility. I can see her as if she didn't have a quirk at all.
Hagakure walked through the crowd completely oblivious to the fact that someone could see her. She moved with the confidence of someone who knows she is completely invisible.
Ren watched her walk toward a nearby seat. She sat down. She crossed her legs.
This is incredibly valuable information, he thought. Hagakure becomes a student of Class 1-A. Her invisibility quirk is her only tactical advantage. But if I can see her, that advantage disappears completely.
He cut off his X-ray vision before it became too obvious that he was staring at a specific point in space for too long.
The auditorium lights dimmed. The giant screen lit up.
And there he was.
Present Mic.
Blonde. Orange sunglasses. A huge smile. Energy that was visible even through a screen.
"GOOOOOOD MORNING, HERO APPLICANTS!" he shouted with his characteristically loud voice.
Several students jumped. Others covered their ears.
"Welcome to the UA PRACTICAL EXAM! I will be your presenter today! PRESENT MIC, pro hero and English teacher at this prestigious institution!"
Ren couldn't help but smile. Hearing Present Mic in person was exactly as exhausting as he expected.
"Now, let me explain the rules!" The screen changed, showing images of giant robots. "In the practical exam, you will face VILLAIN ROBOTS! There are THREE different types!"
Ren leaned forward, paying full attention.
Wait, he thought. Three types? Weren't there four?
"TYPE ONE is worth ONE POINT!" Present Mic pointed to a basic humanoid robot on the screen. "TYPE TWO is worth TWO POINTS!" A larger and more menacing robot appeared. "And TYPE THREE is worth THREE POINTS!" A massive robot with multiple weapons appeared on the screen.
Definitely only three, Ren confirmed. In the canon there were four types. The zero-pointer that wasn't worth points. The giant robot that Izuku destroyed to save Uraraka.
He looked toward where Uraraka was sitting. She was listening intently, taking notes.
If there is no zero-pointer, how is she supposed to pass? In the canon, Deku saved her from the giant robot and she got rescue points. But if that scenario doesn't exist...
"You have TEN MINUTES to destroy as many robots as you can!" Present Mic continued. "Use your quirks creatively! Work efficiently! And above all, ACT LIKE HEROES!"
The presentation continued with more technical details. Exam areas. Safety rules. What to do in case of emergency.
Ren listened, but his mind was elsewhere.
This is not the canon, he thought with growing certainty. The differences aren't just minor. They are fundamental. Izuku doesn't exist. Inko is a student. The exam has different robots. What else has changed?
He subtly activated his telepathy again, catching surface thoughts from nearby students.
I hope I get at least twenty points...
My quirk is perfect for destroying robots...
That bicolor-haired kid looks intimidating...
Why is that bald guy looking at me?
Ren cut the connection quickly.
Shit. I need to be more subtle.
Present Mic finished his presentation with a characteristic shout.
"THAT IS ALL, APPLICANTS! You will be assigned to different exam areas! Check your numbers! AND REMEMBER! PLUS ULTRA!"
The students began to stand up. The murmur of nervous conversations filled the auditorium.
Ren stood up. He stretched his arms. He breathed deeply.
Fine, he thought. No Izuku to follow. No reliable knowledge of the canon. No system to tell me how strong I am. Just me, my mental powers, and a lot of robots to destroy.
He walked toward the auditorium exit along with the crowd.
The path led him through enormous hallways. Giant windows showed the UA training grounds. They were massive. Entire cities built specifically for drills.
This is surreal, he thought. A month ago I was dying in a sex shop. Now I am about to fight giant robots to get into the best hero school in Japan.
He arrived at the meeting point. It was a giant entrance that opened into what looked like a miniature city. Multi-story buildings. Streets. Even traffic signs.
Other candidates were already there. Everyone looked nervous. Some were stretching. Others checked the gear they had brought.
Ren activated his telepathy subtly again, reading surface emotions.
There was genuine fear in some. Nervous excitement in others. Fierce determination was also present. The competitiveness was palpable.
And then he caught something interesting.
A thought stronger than the others. More focused.
...I need to get at least thirty points. Anything less is unacceptable. Father will be watching the results...
Ren searched for the source. A tall boy with black hair and a serious expression. Defined muscles visible even through his athletic clothes.
Family pressure, he identified. Probably has hero parents. Or at least one with high expectations.
He continued scanning.
God, that bald kid looks weird...
Ren sighed internally.
Yeah, thanks. I already noticed I am the only bald person here. Very observant of you.
"ATTENTION, CANDIDATES!" a loud voice shouted.
Everyone turned. Present Mic was standing on a raised platform near the entrance.
"In THIRTY SECONDS, these gates will open! When they do, RUN! There is no countdown! There is no start signal! The gate opens and YOU GO!"
A murmur of surprise went through the candidates.
"This is like a REAL villain situation!" Present Mic continued. "Villains don't wait for you to be ready! So YOU don't wait either! ACT LIKE HEROES!"
Ren positioned himself near the front, close enough to have an advantage.
Alright, he thought, feeling the adrenaline begin to flow through his veins. Telekinesis for mobility and attacks. Telepathy to detect ambushes if the robots have some kind of predictive AI. X-ray vision probably won't be useful against robots. Unless they have robot underwear. Which would be strange.
"TWENTY SECONDS!"
Ren flexed his fingers. He breathed deeply.
"TEN SECONDS!"
I have moved objects with my mind.
"FIVE!"
I can do this.
"FOUR!"
The giant gates began to open slightly. The sound of metal against metal filled the air.
"THREE!"
Ren prepared himself mentally. He visualized his strategy. Enter fast. Locate robots. Destroy with telekinesis.
"TWO!"
His heart was beating harder now. The moment had finally arrived.
"ONE!"
The gates opened completely. The exam field was revealed before them.
"ZERO! START!"
And then everyone ran.
Ren activated telekinesis on himself. He propelled himself forward with mental force.
And as he ran toward the test city, with several candidates running behind him, a single thought crossed his mind.
UA Exam. Here I come.
*****
Clicking the like button is the easiest way to tell me you want more.
I'm happy to announce that we've reached our Power Stone goal! As promised, here is the chapter I owe you. The next one will be released once we hit 70 Power Stones. Thank you all for your amazing support
Followme on patreon.com/shurazero