"All right, Hayashi. No unnecessary shows. Keep a low profile," he told himself, even though his mind was screaming with excitement.
About a hundred meters away, a one point robot emerged from an alleyway, its red eyes scanning for targets. Ren extended his hand, visualizing an invisible strike.
"Take this!"
BOOM!
The impact was an explosion of uncontrolled kinetic force. The robot was sent flying against the facade of a three story building, punching through the concrete and ending up as smoking scrap metal. Debris rained onto the street. A cloud of dust rose. Ren stood staring at his hand, stunned.
"Shit... I overdid it," he muttered.
The problem with not having a leveling system or an MP bar was that he had no idea how much mana he was injecting into each attack. He could only guess based on vague sensations.
Two two point robots appeared on his right flank. Ren tried to be more subtle this time. He visualized a constant pressure, as if he were crushing an empty soda can. But the result was the opposite. His telekinesis barely made the robots stumble. The wires screeched, but the machines continued advancing toward him without stopping.
"Are you serious? Am I a mental noodle now?" Ren huffed, frustrated by his own lack of control.
With a grunt, he launched a second pulse, this time with more aggression. The robots collapsed under invisible pressure, their chassis folding as if an invisible giant had stepped on them. Twisted metal. Flying sparks. One of them exploded in a small fireball.
Too strong again. Dammit. Why can't I find the middle ground?
Ren wiped the sweat from his bald head. The artificial sun at UA was surprisingly realistic. He looked around. Other candidates were fighting their own robots. A guy with blue flames was methodically burning a type three robot. A girl with an acid Quirk was melting the joints of another.
Everyone seems to have better control than me. Damn Charles Xavier and his nonexistent telepathic training.
He continued running through the artificial streets. He passed a fake apartment building. There were parked cars that were already destroyed. Bent traffic signs. The design of this city was incredibly detailed for something that would be demolished in ten minutes.
He found another type one robot. This time he took a deep breath before attacking.
"Control yourself. Like pushing a door, not like throwing a meteor," he said to himself.
He pushed with his mind.
The robot stumbled backward. It lost its balance and fell. Perfect.
There it is! That is the right level.
He pushed again to make sure. The robot stopped moving, its circuits fried.
Three points so far. Not impressive, but respectable.
The sound of metal against metal caught his attention. He turned his head to the left. Between two buildings, a type two robot was cornering something against a wall. But Ren could not see the victim. He only saw the robot raising its massive arm, preparing to strike downward.
Wait. Distorted air.
Ren narrowed his eyes. There was a slight visual distortion where the robot was attacking. Like visible heat over the pavement in summer.
Hagakure. It is Hagakure Toru.
The robot dropped its fist like a hammer.
Ren, without thinking, reacted on instinct.
He extended both hands. He visualized an invisible wall between the robot and the girl. He pushed with all his mental strength.
CRASH!
The type two robot flew sideways like a projectile. It tore through the air at an overwhelming speed. It slammed into another building fifteen meters away. The impact created a crater in the wall. The robot remained embedded, completely destroyed. Black smoke poured from its broken components.
Shit. AGAIN with the excessive force.
Several nearby candidates stopped to look. One whistled, impressed. Another muttered something about a mental projectile Quirk. The distorted air where Hagakure had been also remained completely still.
Ren quickly acted exhausted. He doubled over, putting his hands on his knees. He breathed heavily as if he had just run a marathon.
"God... that... that was everything I had," he gasped exaggeratedly. "Adrenaline... I guess..."
Sell the performance, idiot. Make it look like you used all your energy in a panic attack.
He straightened up slowly, making a show of staggering slightly. He walked toward where the distorted air had been.
"Are you okay?" he asked aloud. "I know someone is there. I saw the robot cornering you."
The distorted air moved nervously. A female voice, trembling but trying to sound strong, responded from thin air.
"I... yes... I am okay. Thank you. That was... impressive."
"It was luck," Ren lied shamelessly. "When I saw that robot was going to hit someone, I just... reacted without thinking. I probably could not do that again even if I wanted to."
Please believe me. Please do not think I am abnormally powerful.
"Is your Quirk telekinesis?"
"Yeah. Nothing special. I can move things with my mind. Sometimes with more force than I intend when I get scared."
There was a pause. The invisible voice sounded calmer now.
"I am Hagakure. Hagakure Toru. My Quirk is invisibility."
"Hayashi Ren," he introduced himself. "And hey... do you want to team up? I just used probably half of my mental energy on that hit. I need to be smarter with my resources. And you are clearly good at evading. We could cover each other's weaknesses."
Silence. Ren imagined she was processing the offer.
"How did you know exactly where I was? The robot detected me because I stepped on something noisy. But you..."
Shit. She is observant. Too observant.
"I can feel alterations in the air when I use my telekinesis," he improvised. "It is like... feedback. When I pushed the robot, I felt there was something between him and me. Someone invisible was the obvious conclusion."
"Ah. That makes sense."
Thank all the fictional gods. She bought it.
"So, team?" Ren pressed gently.
"All right. But only because you just saved me. And because I desperately need more points."
"Perfect. Do you have any weapons or special techniques?"
"I found a metal rod a few minutes ago. I am using it to attack the robots' weak points. Ventilation slots. Exposed joints. Places where I can cause short circuits."
"Smart. Very smart."
They began moving together through the artificial streets. Ren maintained his act of being exhausted for the first few minutes. He walked slower. He breathed with exaggerated difficulty. He was more conservative with his telekinesis.
They found a type one robot patrolling an intersection. Ren pointed to it.
"I am going to distract it. You attack from its blind spot."
"Understood."
Ren extended his hand. This time he was extremely careful with the amount of force. He pushed gently. The robot stumbled, but did not fall. He pushed again. Again. The robot finally collapsed after the third hit.
Much better. Three hits for a type one.
"Are you okay?" Hagakure asked. "You look really tired."
"That big hit left me with not much energy," Ren lied. "But I can handle the smaller robots. I just need to be more tactical."
They found a type two robot attacking two other candidates. A thin boy with a soap bubble Quirk and a girl with a reptile tail. They were being cornered against a wall.
"I am going," Hagakure whispered.
Ren nodded. He extended both hands toward the robot. He pushed with calculated care. The robot felt the pressure. It turned toward Ren, ignoring the other two candidates who took the opportunity to run away.
The machine charged toward him. Ren pushed again, this time aiming for the legs. The robot stumbled, but kept advancing.
Good. Not too strong. Not too weak. Right in the middle.
The robot raised its arm to strike. Ren prepared himself mentally to dodge if necessary.
POKE!
Hagakure's metal rod appeared out of nowhere. It stabbed directly into the robot's exposed shoulder joint. Sparks flew. The arm became completely useless, hanging like a broken pendulum.
"Great job!" Ren shouted with genuine enthusiasm.
He pushed again with his mind, this time concentrating on the robot's legs. The machine lost its balance completely. It fell onto its back with a metallic thud.
Hagakure took the opportunity. The distorted air moved quickly. Ren heard the sound of metal against metal. The rod finding the main access panel on the robot's back.
CRASH!
Massive sparks. The robot stopped moving entirely.
"Two points!" Hagakure exclaimed with childish excitement. "It is yours, Hayashi kun. You knocked it down first."
"You destroyed it with your technique," Ren insisted. "It counts as yours."
"Teamwork means sharing. We will split it. One for each. How does that sound?"
"Sounds perfectly fair to me."
They continued like this for the next few minutes. Ren distracted the robots with his telekinesis. Hagakure destroyed them from their blind spots. Occasionally they swapped roles when Ren managed to knock a robot down well enough.
They destroyed three type one robots. Two additional type two robots. The points accumulated slowly.
This is working surprisingly well. Teamwork really helps.
Then they reached an absolute obstacle.
A type three robot.
It was massive. The size of a school bus. Four articulated arms with integrated weapons. Thick armor that shimmered under the sun. Miniature cannons installed in its chest.
"Monumental shit," Ren murmured.
"Can we handle that one?" Hagakure asked with obvious doubt.
"I do not know. But it is worth three full points."
"That is a lot."
"It is."
Ren prepared to attack. But then he saw three other candidates already facing it. A tall guy with an ice Quirk was freezing the robot's legs. An incredibly fast girl was dodging its blows like Neo from the Matrix. A third one with explosions was throwing balls of concentrated energy.
The type three robot handled them without any trouble. It broke the ice with brute force. It caught the speedster in the air with one of its four arms. It absorbed the explosions with its reinforced armor as if they were firecrackers.
"Too strong for us," Hagakure said with practical realism. "Let's look for more type ones and twos. Quantity over quality."
Ren nodded. She was right.
I am not strong enough for a type three. Not without looking exaggerated. And that would be stupid.
They moved away from the giant robot. They searched for more manageable targets.
Ren destroyed two type one robots completely on his own. They were easier battles now that he was finding the middle ground of his strength. Push three times. Knock down. Confirm the damage.
Then he heard the explosions.
Ren turned his head sharply. On the other side of the artificial street, behind several buildings, he saw flashes of emerald green energy lighting up the sky.
What the hell?
"Hagakure, wait here for a second," Ren said. "I need to check something."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. It will only be a moment."
He ran toward the source of the explosions. He jumped over debris. He dodged a fallen robot that was still smoking.
And then he saw her.
Inko Midoriya.
She was standing in the middle of a destroyed intersection. Her curvy body was completely surrounded by bright green energy that crackled like visible electricity. Sparks jumped from her exposed skin. Her dark green hair floated wildly as if she were submerged in turbulent water.
Ren hid behind an overturned car. He watched without being seen.
Inko raised her right arm slowly. The green energy concentrated massively in her fist. It glowed like a miniature sun.
BOOM!
The blow connected directly with a type three robot. The impact was absolutely devastating. The robot literally flew backward as if it had been hit by a high speed train. Its supposedly reinforced armor cracked like cheap glass. Metallic parts detached. The robot crashed into a building thirty meters away.
A single blow. A type three robot completely annihilated with one hit.
But when Inko lowered her arm, Ren saw the horrible consequence.
Her index finger was completely fractured. Bent at a grotesquely unnatural angle.
"Shit..." Inko grit her teeth hard. Tears formed in her large green eyes.
She did not stop.
She raised her other arm. The green energy crackled again. She aimed carefully toward where four type one robots were conveniently grouped.
SMASH!
The green explosion was even bigger this time. The expansive shockwave literally disintegrated the four robots simultaneously. Metal parts flew in all directions like shrapnel.
The middle finger of her left hand fractured audibly.
"Ahhh..." Inko let out an involuntary groan of pain.
Ren was completely paralyzed behind the car. His mind processed information at supersonic speed.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Is that... One For All? Dammit, so that explains everything. Inko took Izuku's place in this timeline. Izuku does not exist, but All Might's successor does... and it is Mrs. Midoriya.
He observed more closely. The green energy. The electric sparks. The way it concentrated on specific points of her body. The physical self destruction as the cost of power.
It was identical to what Izuku Midoriya did in the original anime. Exactly identical.
It is One For All. She is the successor chosen by All Might.
Inko used her Quirk two more times. Each hit destroyed multiple robots with tactical precision. Each hit methodically fractured another finger. But she did it intelligently. She positioned her fists so the shockwave would hit multiple targets.
Four fractured fingers in total. But at least twenty robots destroyed.
She is smarter than the Izuku from canon. She maximizes the damage for each fracture. One finger, multiple robots. Brutal efficiency.
Though I must admit she is very sexy in this version, Ren thought, observing her curvy figure surrounded by green energy. The Midoriya genetics definitely improved in this alternative universe.
Finally, Inko stopped. She was breathing heavily. Sweat covered her face. She was visibly trembling.
But she smiled through the obvious pain.
"That... should be more than enough..." she said between labored breaths.
Ren pulled away silently before being detected. He ran back toward where he had left Hagakure.
Critical information obtained. Inko Midoriya is the wielder of One For All. All Might must be watching this test. He is probably proud. And he is probably going to scold her later for breaking her fingers.
He found Hagakure waiting where he had left her.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"Yeah. Just curious about some big explosions. Nothing important."
They continued destroying robots together, accumulating final points.
The siren sounded.
"TWO MINUTES REMAINING!"
Ren pushed one last type one robot. Three measured hits. It fell. Its circuits failed.
Forty points in total. It should be enough.
The final siren rumbled throughout the artificial city.
"TIME! THE EXAM IS OVER! HEAD TO THE EXIT!"
Ren felt exhausted as they both headed for the exit. Using telekinesis and X ray vision constantly to keep track of his naked partner had taken its toll.
It is now or never; in my past life I was a failure because of my shyness, this time it will not be like that.
Ren laughed a little, breaking the silence.
"Hey, Hagakure san... by any chance, are you an exhibitionist?"
The distorted air froze completely.
"WHAT?" her voice sounded both offended and confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Ren scratched his bald head nervously.
"Ah, well... it is just that my Quirk is not only telekinesis. I also have another aspect. Something like... enhanced vision. I can see through things."
Absolute silence.
"See... through... things?" her voice was dangerously quiet.
"Yeah. Like X rays. I do not use it much because it is exhausting. But during the exam, I activated it a few times to locate you better. You know, to make sure you were safe and to coordinate better. And well..."
Ren left the sentence unfinished, waiting for her to connect the dots.
There was a long, long silence.
Then, a very small and very high pitched voice:
"Wait."
Pause.
"Wait, wait, wait."
Another longer pause.
"Are you telling me...?"
"That I can see you. Yes."
"COMPLETELY?"
"Completely."
The distorted air trembled. Ren could almost visualize her face processing this catastrophic information.
"Oh, God."
"Hagakure san..."
"Oh, GOD."
"Look, I am sorry, I should have told you earlier, but..."
"YOU HAVE BEEN SEEING ME NAKED THIS ENTIRE TIME!"
Her voice had risen at least three octaves. Several nearby candidates turned their heads toward the source of the invisible scream.
Ren raised his hands in universal surrender.
"I technically saved your life first! That should give me some credit!"
"I AM NAKED! COMPLETELY NAKED! AND YOU CAN SEE ME!"
"Are you not always technically naked? Your Quirk is permanent invisibility."
"THAT IS NOT THE POINT!"
"Then what is..."
"THE POINT IS THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE ME! THAT IS LITERALLY THE REASON WHY I AM NAKED! BECAUSE NO ONE CAN SEE ME ANYWAY!"
Ren had to admit she had a valid argument.
"Look, if it is any consolation, you have a very nice body."
"WHAT???"
"I mean, objectively speaking. From a perspective..."
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!"
The distorted air practically vibrated with embarrassment and indignation.
"How much did you see?" her voice was dangerously quiet now.
"Uh..."
"HOW MUCH, HAYASHI?"
"...Everything?"
"Define everything."
"Literally everything. Your face. Your hair. Your... um."
A strangled sound came from where Hagakure was.
"I am going to kill you."
"Hagakure san..."
"I am going to stab my rod into both of your eyes."
"That seems excessive."
"YOU SAW MY BREASTS!"
Several candidates were definitely watching them now. Or more specifically, they were watching the bald boy apparently shouting at nothing.
"In my defense," Ren spoke quickly, "I needed to make sure you were safe during combat. And your invisibility makes it hard to know your exact position without using my special vision. It was strategic. Nothing perverted."
"Nothing perverted?"
"Well. Mostly nothing perverted. Maybe a five percent perverted. Ten percent maximum."
"TEN PERCENT!"
"I am a teenager! It is scientifically proven that our brains do not work correctly! It is not my fault!"
Hagakure made a sound that was half frustrated scream, half hysterical laugh.
"I cannot believe this. I cannot believe this is happening. The ONLY boy in all of Japan who can see me and he turns out to be a bald pervert with X ray vision."
"Hey, the bald part is unnecessarily cruel."
"YOU SAW MY BREASTS!"
"And they are very nice, by the way!"
Deadly silence.
"Hayashi Ren."
"Yes?"
"If we get into UA..."
"Yes?"
"You are going to promise me that you will NEVER, EVER, tell anyone about your ability to see me."
"Not even the teachers?"
"ESPECIALLY the teachers."
"But..."
"If someone discovers you can see me, my ONLY advantage in combat disappears. My Quirk becomes useless."
Ren processed this. She was right. Hagakure's invisibility was only useful because no one could see her. If it were known that a way to counter it existed...
"I understand," he finally said. "I will not tell anyone. I promise."
"Really?"
"Really. Professional secret. Your invisibility remains your tactical advantage."
There was a pause. Then her voice, calmer but still mortified:
"Did you really... did you really see everything?"
"Everything."
"Even...?"
"Yes."
"Oh, God."
"If it helps, I think a D cup definitely suits you. Maybe DD."
"HAYASHI!"
"I am sorry! I am sorry! I cannot help it! My brain just says it automatically!"
Despite everything, Ren heard a small, muffled laugh from where Hagakure was.
"You are the worst."
"I know."
"The absolute worst."
"Completely agree."
"...But you saved my life."
"That too."
"So I guess we are even."
"Even?"
"You saved my life. I do not tell anyone you are a pervert with X ray vision. Fair pact."
Ren smiled genuinely.
"Fair pact."
They arrived at the exit along with hundreds of other exhausted candidates. The huge UA gate closed behind them.
Ren looked back once. Somewhere back there, Inko Midoriya was probably being treated by Recovery Girl. A girl with the power of All Might running through her veins.
Now that I understand part of what is happening, I can sleep peacefully.
Not bad for my first day at UA.
He felt the distorted air move beside him as they walked.
"Hey, Hayashi."
"Yes?"
"If you ever, EVER, mention my breast size to anyone else..."
"I assure you the secret dies with me."
"Good."
Pause.
"Though... do you really think they are D cups?"
Ren choked on his own saliva.
"Excuse me?"
"It is just... I have never been able to see myself in a mirror. I do not know what I look like. So... D cup?"
"Uh... yeah. Definitely. Maybe DD depending on the brand."
"Huh."
They walked in silence for a moment.
"This is the weirdest conversation I have ever had in my life," Ren finally said.
"Welcome to the club," Hagakure replied.
And despite everything, both of them laughed.
The exam was over.
Now all that was left was to wait for the results.
****
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