)
"Those who have finished the written portion will wait here. The practical exam will be held shortly at the USJ simulation facility."
The moment Wu Xuan stepped out of the classroom, a lethargic voice drifted into his ears. He looked up to see a middle-aged man clad in a black bodysuit with a signature captures-weapon bandage wrapped around his neck.
With his messy, long hair that looked like it hadn't seen water in weeks and those bloodshot, listless eyes, it was hard not to mistake him for a vagrant. This was Shota Aizawa, also known as the Eraser Hero: Eraser Head.
"Where's the bathroom?" Wu Xuan asked after a brief pause.
Aizawa pointed a limp finger to the right. "At the end of the hall."
"Thanks." Wu Xuan turned and sauntered off.
Aizawa remained posted outside the door, using his presence to ensure no students attempted to use their Quirks to cheat on the remaining portion of the test.
After finishing his business in the restroom, Wu Xuan bumped into a skeletal, gaunt man in an oversized yellow suit. The man jumped slightly upon seeing him, then raised a bony hand.
"Oh! Young Wu Xuan, why are you out so early? Did you finish the written exam already?"
It was All Might—or rather, the diminished form he took most of the time now. It was a secret kept from the general public, but Wu Xuan knew exactly who he was.
Deciding to play dumb, Wu Xuan tilted his head. "Do I know you?"
All Might froze, suddenly remembering his current appearance. He coughed into his hand, forcing a hollow laugh. "Ahem... I, uh, I'm a teacher here at U.A. High! I've reviewed your file, hahaha..."
"Is that so? And what's your name, 'teacher'?" Wu Xuan's lips curled into a smirk, deliberately prodding the hero's nerves.
"Uh... well... it's..." The skeletal All Might stammered, unable to come up with a fake name on the fly.
"Heh, keep your secrets then," Wu Xuan said, waving it off. "But since you're a teacher, could you do me a favor and get All Might's autograph? I need it for two girls."
"Eh?"
Wu Xuan gave a faint, wicked smile. "I promised it to two girls who just... recently became women, thanks to me."
While he didn't plan on a long-term romance, he figured since he'd taken something precious from them, a legendary autograph was the least he could do to settle the score.
"Ah... ahahaha... I see. I'll... I'll find All Might and get that for you after the exam," All Might replied, looking like he was about to cough up blood again from the sheer awkwardness of the request.
"Great. Thanks." Wu Xuan flashed a sharp grin and walked away.
The written test was over. The candidates were loaded onto a bus to head toward the practical exam site: the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, or USJ.
"Wu-kun, are you sure you're okay?" Sitting next to him, Momo Yaoyorozu couldn't help but ask. "I saw how fast you left the room."
"Who knows? If I fail, I'm blaming you for not letting me copy," Wu Xuan shrugged.
"I told you, that's out of the question!" The girl pouted, turning to him with a serious expression. "Wu-kun, if you truly want to be a Hero, you have to take your studies seriously!"
Wu Xuan rolled his eyes, letting the valedictorian's lecture go in one ear and out the other.
"HELLO! MY NAME IS INASA YOARASHI! I LOOK FORWARD TO COMPETING WITH YOU!"
A head suddenly popped up from the seat behind them. A young man with a buzz cut was shouting at the top of his lungs, causing Wu Xuan to wince.
"Too loud. Pipe down," Wu Xuan muttered.
"MY APOLOGIES! I AM JUST SO INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT JOINING JAPAN'S TOP HERO ACADEMY!" Even while apologizing, Inasa's volume didn't drop a single decibel.
"Hello, I am Momo Yaoyorozu. And this is Wu Xuan," Momo introduced them with a polite, albeit strained, smile. "He actually helped save my family's bank recently..."
"OH! AN HONOR TO MEET YOU! TRULY AN HONOR!" Inasa continued to roar.
Upon arriving at the USJ, the candidates were floored by the sheer scale of the disaster simulation zones. Present Mic stood at the front, giving a thumbs-up and projecting a voice that actually managed to rival Inasa's.
"Next up is the practical portion, which carries the most weight for your final score! It's a three-kilometer cross-country marathon!" Mic pointed toward the mountain and flood zones. A finish line ribbon was visible atop a distant peak. "Use your Quirks freely! Aim for number one!"
"YES, SIR!" the students shouted back.
"I have a question," Wu Xuan called out. "Is it legal to interfere with the other participants?"
Mic paused, then let out a loud laugh. "No problem at all! U.A. High finds its best Heroes through fierce competition!"
"Then let's get started."
Following the command, the candidates lined up at the white starting line. For some reason, Wu Xuan was uncharacteristically focused, positioning himself dead-center of the pack. Momo watched him, her curiosity piqued by his sudden change in demeanor.
"Ready..." Mic raised his hand, then chopped it down. "GO!!!"
"THE WORLD!"
The instant the signal was given, Wu Xuan unleashed his Stand.