The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the heavy, expensive curtains of a suite more luxurious than a presidential room in a five-star hotel.
Wu Xuan woke up instantly. He didn't have the habit of lounging in bed; to him, there was no joy in it. In a world like this, there were far more interesting things to pursue.
Looking around the ornate European-style suite, he still felt a flicker of unfamiliarity. Just yesterday, following Momo Yaoyorozu's persistent invitation, he had checked into the Yaoyorozu mansion as an honored guest.
Should I start acting like some immortal vampire and aim to seize the family fortune? he mused with a dark chuckle.
Knock, knock—
A soft tap came from the door. "Mr. Wu Xuan, the Master, Madam, and the Young Lady are already up. Would you like to join them for breakfast in the dining hall, or shall I have it delivered to your room?" the maid asked from the hallway.
"I'll go down," Wu Xuan replied.
He opened the massive wardrobe. Last night, Momo's father had instructed the staff to stock it with a collection of designer clothes tailored to his measurements. The efficiency of the wealthy was truly something to behold.
In the grand dining room, Wu Xuan, now dressed in a sleek black overcoat, took a seat to Momo's left.
"Wu-kun, please, see if these suit your palate," the father said, gesturing toward a spread that included Japanese, European, and Chinese breakfast options served in exquisite porcelain.
"Not bad." Wu Xuan took a bite of artisan bread and nodded.
"I'm glad," the father smiled. "I hear that in ten months, you'll be enrolling at U.A. High alongside my daughter. You'll both have to work hard."
As he spoke, a maid approached and handed him a letter. "Master, the Young Lady's acceptance letter from U.A. has arrived."
"Is it here?" Momo sat up straighter, an unmistakable nervous energy radiating from her. She glanced at Wu Xuan. "Wu-kun, yours should have arrived at your home by now, right?"
Wu Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly. "I haven't been back. The address on file is my old apartment."
"That's a minor issue. Don't be polite, Wu-kun; consider the servants and cooks here at your disposal," the father said. He beckoned a bodyguard over. "Go to Wu Xuan's residence and bring any official mail back immediately."
"Yes, sir." The guard departed instantly.
Wu Xuan felt a touch of surprise. He still wasn't used to the way rich people solved problems. But... it certainly is convenient.
Momo couldn't wait any longer. She tore open her envelope, her hand trembling so much she nearly dropped the letter into her coffee.
"Let me see my girl's results too," her mother said, walking over with a beaming smile. When she saw the contents, she let out a gasp. "First place!?"
Even though they knew their daughter was brilliant, the parents were stunned. U.A.'s recommendation exam was filled with the elite of the elite; to take the top spot was a monumental achievement.
"I... I was certain it would be Wu-kun," Momo whispered, staring at the paper in disbelief.
Wu Xuan leaned over to glance at the notice:
Name: Momo Yaoyorozu
Written Test: 30/30
Physical Test: 45/60
Interview: 9/10
Total Score: 84
Ranking: 1
Placement: Hero Course, Class 1-A
The scoring system was split: 30% written, 60% physical, and 10% interview. Seeing this, Wu Xuan finally understood why he hadn't taken the top spot.
Soon, the bodyguard returned with Wu Xuan's envelope. Under the watchful eyes of the entire Yaoyorozu family, he opened it. After five seconds of reading, he went back to eating his bread, passing the letter to a curious Momo.
Momo and her mother scanned the results:
Name: Wu Xuan
Written Test: 5/30
Physical Test: 60/60
Interview: 6/10
Total Score: 71
Ranking: 4
Placement: Hero Course, Class 1-A
Pfft!
Seeing the "5" on the written portion, Momo couldn't help but let out a tiny, stifled laugh. Her face turned bright red a second later, and she waved her hands frantically. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Wu-kun, I didn't mean to laugh!"
Wu Xuan didn't care about the number. For him, the only thing that mattered was that admission meant more opportunities to fight powerful enemies.
"Look at this," the father said solemnly. "He got a perfect score on the physical test."
Momo suddenly remembered why she had asked him to stay. She stood up and bowed a full ninety degrees. "Wu Xuan, please... please guide my training."
She realized that despite her high ranking, she had been leagues behind Wu Xuan, Inasa, and Todoroki in raw physical capability during the exam. Furthermore, the encounter with Himiko Toga had been a wake-up call. Toga's Quirk wasn't even combat-oriented, yet she had completely dominated Momo.
Without practical combat skills, she would never be a true Hero.
"You won't be able to keep up," Wu Xuan replied, his voice flat and without hesitation.