[A few days later – Tennyson Family Home]
The morning sun filtered through the bedroom curtains. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, heart pounding as if it knew today was different.
"Ben ! Something from U.A. just arrived !" my mom yelled from downstairs.
I jumped out of bed in a second.
I ran down the stairs, nearly tripping on the last step. My mom was holding a large envelope sealed with U.A.'s golden crest. Both of my parents were there, watching me with anticipation. They tried to hide it, but the anxiety in their eyes was obvious.
I took the envelope with trembling hands.
I carefully tore it open. Inside, a small projector dropped into my palm.
"This is new," I murmured.
When I pressed the button, a projection of All Might burst into view in front of me, smiling that heroic smile that seemed to light up the entire room.
"YOUNG TENNYSON ! Congratulations! You've been accepted into U.A. High School — Hero Course ! But that's not all…"
My parents leaned in, practically holding their breath.
"In the exams, your score was impressive! Not only did you demonstrate strength, strategy, and agility, you also saved other applicants. Your total score: 108 points!"
The projector glowed brighter.
"FIRST PLACE !"
Silence.
My mom screamed first — a sound between laughter and sobbing. My dad pulled me into a tight hug.
"I knew it ! I knew it, Ben !" my mom said, wiping her eyes. "You're amazing !"
"My boy… you're a real hero," my dad said, and there was pride in every word.
I stood there, between the two of them, holding the still-glowing projector with All Might frozen in his signature pose. A smile spread across my face, and for the first time in a long while… I felt whole.
---
[First Day at U.A. – School Entrance]
The U.A. building was massive, modern, almost intimidating. But at the same time… it felt right.
I used XLR8 to run a few laps around the gates before reverting to normal. Just because I could.
Other students were arriving. I saw faces I recognized from the exam: Midoriya, looking nervous. Bakugou, scowling as usual. Uraraka, chatting cheerfully.
Some even recognized me. The murmurs began.
"Hey, it's the guy who destroyed the zero-pointer…"
"The first-place guy, right ? Tennyson ?"
"He's got some weird mutant Quirk…"
I passed by them with a subtle nod. I used to be the Quirkless kid who got bullied at school. But now ?
Now I had ten different ways to prove no one could bring me down.
I looked at the U.A. building, took a deep breath… and stepped inside.
---
[U.A. – First-Year Hallway – Class 1-A]
My heart was racing as I walked through U.A.'s pristine hallway. The floors gleamed, the walls were lined with tech panels and motivational plaques. And there it was: the door to 1-A.
Big. Imposing.
"This feels like the entrance to an alien base," I murmured with a half-smile.
I pushed the door open.
The room was already packed. Some students chatted in groups, others were settling into their seats. As soon as I stepped in, a few heads turned.
Silence for a moment.
"Hi. Ben Tennyson," I said, trying to sound casual.
"The first-place student," said a boy calmly, with red and white hair. Todoroki.
"Huh, you're shorter than I expected," came a mocking voice. Bakugou, of course.
"Oh, Hey, don't be rude ! — scolded a girl with big eyes and round cheeks. Uraraka. "Hi ! Congrats on your score, Ben !"
"Thanks," I smiled softly, heading to a seat in the back.
As I walked, whispers still followed me:
"They say he beat the zero-pointer with one punch…"
"I heard he turned into a flaming rock monster…"
"That didn't look like a normal Quirk…"
I sat down, leaning back in the chair and watching the room. The atmosphere felt different. Here, no one seemed to look down on anyone for not being special. Everyone here was unique — and now, I definitely fit that definition.
Midoriya walked in shortly after. His eyes met mine. He hesitated, then gave a small nod. I returned the gesture.
Before any conversation could start, the door slid open… and a long figure wrapped in a sleeping bag dragged itself to the front of the room.
"…You're all noisy," he muttered, eyes half-lidded.
Aizawa-sensei.
"I'm Shota Aizawa. I'll be your teacher this year. Put on your gym uniforms and head to the training field. You're lucky: today, you get pushed to your limits."
"What ?! What about the entrance ceremony ?!" Uraraka shouted.
"Ceremonies don't save lives. Performance does," he replied bluntly.
I sighed — and gave a slight smile.
Time to show, once again, what I'm made of.
---
[U.A. Training Field – Physical Tests]
The sky was clear and blue, and the dusty training field looked like the perfect stage for what was coming. Aizawa, with his usual existentially tired expression, watched the students with half-shut eyes, as if already anticipating the headache we'd cause.
"You just got into U.A., but that doesn't mean your spot is secure," he said, adjusting the cloth scarf resting on his shoulders.
"Let's see who really has what it takes."
Everyone exchanged tense glances. For many, this was the first big trial. For me, it was the first chance to prove I belonged.
---
First Test: 50-Meter Dash
Students ran in pairs. When they called my name, I walked to the starting line next to Iida, the class speedster. He gave me a determined look. I just smiled.
When the signal sounded, I activated XLR8.
The sensation was indescribable — like skating on time itself. My feet barely touched the ground before I was already ahead. In less than a blink, the finish line was behind me.
"0.4 seconds," the machine beeped.
Even Iida was stunned. "That… was way faster than me."
Midoriya's eyes widened. "Does he have a pure speed form…?"
---
Second Test: Ball Throw
Heatblast was my pick.
The transformation started at my shoulder, spreading through my whole body. Skin turned dark, flames ignited — intense, hot, with familiar red and orange hues and a golden glow in my chest.
The temperature rose. Papers near the field floated from the heat. My eyes burned like lanterns.
I spun once, channeled a small blast from my back, and hurled the ball with a flaming roar. It vanished into the sky, a dot on the horizon.
BEEP.
"Distance: off the charts."
Aizawa glanced sideways at me, but simply said, "Next."
---
Third Test: Endurance Run
Obstacle course with simulated weights. I used Stinkfly — light, agile, able to glide and scale like a mutant insect.
I leapt through structures with ease, scaling vertical walls with claws, gliding through gaps while others struggled not to fall or get stuck.
---
Fourth Test: Raw Strength
I went with Four Arms.
Monstrous muscles, four limbs pulsing with power. Most lifted about 300 kg. I lifted a ton like I was moving a couch.
"This is ridiculous…" Bakugou muttered angrily.
---
Fifth Test: Long Jump
Time for Diamondhead to shine. My body crystallized, each step making the ground groan beneath faceted feet. I created a platform with a punch, launched myself, and flew like a spear, landing meters away.
"He's got a form for everything…" Yaoyorozu whispered, impressed.
---
Sixth Test: Precision Agility
Moving targets. I transformed into Ghostfreak.
I floated through obstacles, phasing through walls like solid smoke, tagging targets and vanishing before sensors could lock on.
---
By the end, students were split between awe, envy, and admiration. Some were still trying to understand what they'd just seen.
---
[End of Tests – U.A. Field]
The sun was setting, painting the sky in golden and orange hues as everyone gathered in the center of the field. There was sweat, dust, and nervous eyes all around.
Aizawa stood, looking as tired as ever. In his hands, a small device projected a floating holographic screen showing test results. Silence fell.
"You've taken the tests. Ran, jumped, pushed your Quirks to the limit. Now it's time to see who really belongs at U.A." He took a breath, and with a click, the scoreboard appeared in the air.
---
FINAL RANKING – U.A. QUIRK APTITUDE TESTS
1st – Ben Tennyson – 101 points
2nd – Shoto Todoroki – 92 points
3rd – Tenya Iida – 88 points
4th – Katsuki Bakugou – 87 points
5th – Fumikage Tokoyami – 82 points
…
20th – Hanta Sero – 61 points
---
My name was at the top. First place. My eyes widened. I swallowed hard, feeling a strange warmth in my chest — not Heatblast this time, just pure pride.
Bakugou growled. "Who the hell is this guy…?"
Midoriya looked at me like I was an alien. Which… technically… wasn't entirely wrong.
Then Aizawa pressed another button.
The screen changed. A new line of text flashed:
"The student with the lowest score will be expelled immediately."
Everyone gasped.
"Wait a second !" Uraraka exclaimed. "That's not fair ! We just got here !"
Aizawa didn't even blink. "A hero's life is rarely fair. If you can't handle pressure now, you'll never survive out there." He gestured, and the screen displayed the last place.
Last place: Minoru Mineta – 53 points
Mineta fell to his knees. "N-NO ! I SWEAR I CAN DO BETTER ! GIVE ME A CHANCE !"
"I warned you," Aizawa said flatly. "From the beginning. The lowest-ranked student would be expelled. This isn't punishment. It's a filter."
Mineta staggered, as if punched. He looked at Uraraka, Midoriya, even me — his eyes pleading.
No one said anything.
"But… what about my dream ? I… want to be a hero !"
Aizawa crossed his arms.
"Then you should've trained like one. You showed no initiative, no courage. And honestly," he looked directly at him, "your behavioral record from your previous school was already a problem."
Mineta collapsed, murmuring, in shock.
"By tomorrow, your enrollment will be officially canceled. A staff member will escort you to the gates. Now… disperse. The evaluation is over."
The students looked at each other, stunned. Even Bakugou seemed surprised.
Midoriya whispered:
"They really expel people…"
Todoroki simply muttered:
"Welcome to U.A."
I was still staring at the projection. First place. But next to it, the absence of a name now haunted the bottom of the list.
'This is serious. Really serious.'
I walked in silence with the others back to the building, the sky already darkening. Mineta remained behind, still on his knees.
Then, the teacher called me again.
"Ben Tennyson. You've shown versatility, raw power, speed, and control. But… the question isn't if you're strong. The question is: can you use it responsibly ?" he asked, serious and weary at once.
"That's what I'm here for," I said, just as serious, turning away and walking off.