It is time for the entrance exam.
I am sitting for the U.A. High School Hero Course. My mother insisted I become a hero, so I have decided to comply. If I am to operate as a sorcerer in this society, I require a license to utilize my Cursed Technique freely. In hindsight, registering my Blood Manipulation (Sekketu Sousjutsu) under the quirk name "Blood Control" was likely a mistake. In this era, if one uses a technique in public, it is invariably mistaken for a Quirk. My mother, my father, and even Hisamiko were under the impression that I simply possessed a blood-controlling Quirk. I have tried to explain that it is something fundamentally different, but… I suspect the nuance is lost on them. They likely still view it as just another Quirk.
It isn't the same thing at all, but what can one do?
It seems to be a settled fact that there are no other sorcerers in this day and age. I am certain of it. Were there any true sorcerers around, the sight of the city overflowing with Cursed Spirits would be an impossibility.
The spirits I see are, without exception, mere small fry. One rarely encounters the sort of wretch that could strike a person dead with a curse instantly. Even so, leaving them be is an eyesore. I should like to exorcise every last one of them around my home as soon as possible.
But truly… what a massive school this U.A. is. Look at this architecture. How many floors does this building have?
Should I praise it as befitting the most prestigious school in Japan? A deviation score of 79? That is preposterous. That's for the Hero Course, but even the General Education Department's requirements are staggering.
…And to think Himiko attends this school. On a merit scholarship, no less. She may look like she spends all her time finding new ways to humiliate me, but the girl actually puts in the work. As a scholarship student, she has to maintain her grades. She is likely desperate to get away from those parents of hers as quickly as possible. That is why she works so hard. I must support her.
Now then. I shall put Himiko out of my mind for a moment. I must focus. I have safety schools lined up, but Himiko desperately wants us to commute together. I must pass this, no matter what.
The Hero Course exam is split into a written portion and a practical one. I have no concerns regarding the practical. If the information Hisamiko gathered is correct, I simply have to fight some dolls they call "robots." The problem is the written exam. My mock exam results were… not particularly encouraging.
Himiko said I "might" be able to pass, but her face soured when she saw my practice scores. Since then, she's been teaching me with a terrifying level of intensity. I suspect my chances were actually looking quite dismal.
If I manage to pass, I suppose I owe her some gratitude. Would she be happy if I offered myself as a "present" again, like I did on our birthday?
No, wait… wrapping myself in ribbons again is… I have no desire to wear such a mad outfit ever again…
…Still. If I pass… maybe just once more. If it makes her happy, I can endure a bit of shame.
Ah, she has truly corrupted me. The moment I think about Himiko's smile, I find myself willing to do anything. Have I really fallen for her that hard? It is not a bad feeling, I suppose.
But how could I not? She expresses her affection every single day, and she devises so many ways to serve me. To ask me not to be swayed by such devotion is an impossible demand…
No. I must stop. This is no time to be daydreaming about Hisamiko. I must focus on the exam before me. Focus. I have to pass. If I don't, Himiko won't smile.
…Which is why I told myself to STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!
◆
As for the written exam, I believe I fared reasonably well. About sixty percent of the questions were exactly what Hisamiko predicted would appear. As for the remaining forty… I was clueless on half, but managed the rest. I should have about an eighty-percent accuracy rate. I certainly hope so.
Except for English, of course. I didn't understand even half of the English section. I may be doomed.
The interview… I believe it went well. Probably. No matter how much I practiced, my natural way of speaking would slip through, so we eventually settled on me simply mimicking Hisamiko's speech patterns. I shall never do that again. The interview left me with nothing but a lingering sense of anxiety…
Haaaaaaaah.
Right. Time to switch gears. Next is the practical exam. Some loud-mouthed proctor gave a long-winded explanation. In short, I just have to demolish these "robots," right? Fine. Leave it to me. Compared to the written exam, I have no worries at all.
Speaking of which, I wonder if Tokoyami is doing alright. Or rather, was that actually Tokoyami? I saw a back of a head that looked remarkably like him, but I didn't have the chance to speak. He seemed focused, and I certainly didn't have the luxury of worrying about others.
Now then. When does this practical begin? I am currently standing outside. Before me is a testing ground built to resemble a cityscape. I am simply meant to overrun these robots, yes?
"ALRIGHT, START!!"
I see, I see. It's beginning. What a lackluster signal. It hardly gets the blood pumping.
Still, once the signal is given, I'm free to move. Very well… I shall vent every ounce of frustration I've accumulated from studying onto these things.
You robots. Please, for my sake, I hope you're strong. If you're flimsy, I won't be satisfied!!
I shall give you the conclusion first: The robots were weak. Do not mock me. I cannot accept that such things are the standard. First of all, why do they break just from being punched? Why do they fly away just from a kick? And when I actually used my technique… they simply exploded. Why? It was utterly anticlimactic. Are they only impressive to look at?
Halfway through, it became so ridiculous that I simply used Red Binding to snag every robot in my line of sight and render them immobile. It felt no different from dealing with a swarm of low-level fly-heads. With five minutes left on the clock, I was actually considering just stopping.
However, as someone with a shaky written exam score, I couldn't afford to slack off on the practical. So, I spent the rest of the time wandering around, breaking things until the very last second. I felt a bit bad for stealing targets from the other examinees, but I too wish to pass U.A. This is a competition, after all. Me versus everyone else.
To think I would end up competing with children. You truly never know what life has in store.
And then. I was ordered to leave the field early. There were three minutes remaining. The proctor screamed something like, "One of you is being way too much of a powerhouse! The test can't even function like this! You're overdoing it, DESTROY GIRL!!"
I don't understand. I simply shot some blood at every robot I saw and broke them. That's all.
I cannot accept this. It makes no sense. If I fail this exam because of this, I shall curse you, Mr. Proctor!!
Take that! Three updates in one go!
Looking at the poll, it seems "2nd Year General Education" is currently the favorite. I'm looking forward to the final results.