After a few minutes, I finally passed the final check and found myself in the arrivals hall, and then I stood there. "So..." I looked around. "So."
People were streaming in all around me. Some were greeting their families, others were hurrying to get taxis or buses. Japanese was being spoken from all directions, and I suddenly realized an unpleasant fact.
I have absolutely no idea where to go.
"Impressive."
„Co?"
"You survived the demonic dungeon, but you were defeated by the airport."
"Shut up."
I pulled out my phone and opened the email from U.A. It must have said somewhere who would pick me up or how to get to school or something. But before I could start looking, I noticed something strange. A few dozen meters away stood an incredibly tall man. Blond hair, a wide smile, he was holding a sign in his hand, and on the sign it said in large letters:MEPHISTO DARKNESS
...
"You're fucking kidding."
"It seems not."
Because that man was without a doubt All Might, the world's strongest hero, and he was holding a sign with my name on it.
"This is so terribly embarrassing."
"I agree."
"Do you agree with me?"
"Exceptionally."
I sighed and headed in his direction, All Might noticing me almost immediately. "YOUNG MEPHISTO!"
Half the hall turned.
Of course.
"Hi."
"Welcome to Japan! I hope your trip went smoothly!"
"She was fine."
"I'm glad to hear that!"
Up close, he looked even bigger than he did on TV. I honestly wasn't sure if it was even physically possible to be that huge.
"Excuse me for asking, but... why are you here?"
All Might laughed. "Because I wanted to meet the student who gave half the faculty a mini-heart attack during the entrance exams!"
...
„Co?"
"Nezu was thrilled."
"That doesn't sound good."
"It wasn't."
"That's what I thought."
All Might laughed again. "Come on, the car is waiting."
I followed him out of the airport. After a few minutes, we were sitting in a black company car, driving slowly through the streets of Tokyo. And I had to admit one thing. Tokyo was crazy, buildings everywhere, neon lights and crowds of people. Compared to where I grew up, it felt like a completely different world.
"So what do you say?"
"It's bigger than I expected."
"That's what most people say."
"And noisier."
"That too."
We drove in silence for a while.
Then All Might looked out the window. "You know, the teachers have been talking about you for weeks."
"That doesn't sound reassuring."
"Maybe not."
"Definitely not."
All Might smiled. "Your results were exceptional."
"Thanks."
"Not just in points."
That made me look up. "What do you mean?"
"Most applicants focus on getting points. You focused on helping others."
"That was because of the possible points."
"Of course."
His smile immediately told me that he didn't believe a word I said. (o/ Allmighta thinks so because students shouldn't know about those points in the results)
"Seriously," he continued. "I noticed one thing."
"What?"
"You never stopped to think about whether you were helping anyone."
I blinked.
"When you saw someone in trouble, you just acted."
I didn't know what to say.
Because really? I didn't even think about it, it just came naturally. If I could help someone without much effort, why wouldn't I?
"That sounds too heroic."
"Maybe."
"That scares me."
"That's normal."
"It's not."
"Is."
I sighed, talking to All Might was strange. On the one hand, he was the most famous person on the planet, and on the other, he seemed absurdly normal. Suddenly, I remembered something. "By the way."
"What?"
"How many people applied for that foreign position?"
"Over four hundred."
...
"What?"
"Four hundred and twenty-seven, to be exact."
I was silent for a moment. "And they chose me?"
"Yes."
"That sounds suspicious."
"That's not suspicious."
"Is."
"It's not."
"Is."
All Might just laughed. "Trust me. After what we saw during the trials, the decision was surprisingly easy."
That didn't exactly reassure me. Quite the opposite. Because if the decision was easy, it meant I probably stood out more than I thought. And that was never a good sign.
"Agronomist."
"What?"
"I have a bad feeling."
"So, a normal day."
"Thanks."
"Not at all."
The car continued through the city, and just as I watched the Tokyo skyline pass by, a blue window suddenly appeared before my eyes.
I froze because I completely forgot about it.
[Main task completed]
[Get to U.A.]
[Reward ready for collection]
[Do you wish to accept the reward?]
"Finally."
"That took time."
I confirmed without hesitation.
[Reward awarded]
[Ability obtained: Shadow Domain Lv.1]
[Profession change option unlocked]
[Shadow Domain Lv.1]
The user can create an area connected to their shadow. In this area, all shadow abilities are amplified. Shadow soldiers gain increased strength, speed, and regeneration. The size of the area depends on the amount of mana.
„..."
"That's interesting."
"Interestingly?"
"Very."
Agron's voice sounded truly serious for the first time in a long time. "This ability will be extremely dangerous in the future."
"For me or for others?"
"Yes."
"That's not the answer."
"Is."
I didn't want to admit it, but he was right. I could already imagine dozens of ways to use her. And she was only on the first level.
[Profession change option unlocked]
The opportunity to change professions has been unlocked for you. Your profession will determine your future focus, and your future abilities will adapt to that profession.
I smiled and leaned my head against the window. And for the first time in a long time I felt something I had barely known in the past few years. Peace. The task was accomplished. Of course, new problems awaited me.
A few minutes later, the car left the center of Tokyo. In the distance, familiar silhouettes of buildings began to appear, a massive complex and one building I would recognize anywhere. U.A. Hero School, the place I had spent years training for.
"Welcome to the U.A., young Mephisto." All Might said.
I just smiled.