"Well then, let me introduce myself first. I am Shota Aizawa, your homeroom teacher. Nice to meet you." After the brief standoff between Wu Xuan and Katsuki Bakugo, Aizawa finally got to the point.
His lazy demeanor, looking as though he could be knocked over by a stiff breeze, aroused immediate suspicion in many students, including Inasa Yoarashi. Is it really okay for this kind of teacher to lead the prestigious Class 1-A? Everyone had heard rumors that All Might was joining the faculty; why wasn't he the homeroom teacher?
However, Aizawa seemed used to the skeptical stares. He pulled a blue and white tracksuit from a yellow sleeping bag and addressed the group: "Now, change into these and head to the training grounds. Don't dawdle and waste time."
Since it was only the first day, locker rooms hadn't been fully assigned. The students used the classroom as a changing area, with the boys stepping out while the girls changed first.
While waiting in the hallway, Wu Xuan leaned against a window, staring out at the campus. Izuku Midoriya hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage to walk up. "Yo... Wu-kun, long time no see. I heard you got into U.A. through the recommendation entrance exam. That's... that's amazing."
Wu Xuan turned his head, his sharp, scrutinizing gaze making Midoriya's legs tremble instinctively.
"Not as amazing as you," Wu Xuan finally retorted.
It was impossible to tell if he was being sarcastic or genuinely acknowledging a fact. One For All—the Quirk Wu Xuan had once craved. The combination of that stockpiled power with [The World] would have been a god-tier existence—a super-enhanced version of a certain "Star" Stand.
But the power hadn't come to him. All Might hadn't seen a "Hero" in Wu Xuan's pursuit of raw dominance. He had chosen Midoriya. Because of this, Wu Xuan's attitude toward the boy was complex. He didn't hate him, but a "friendly" relationship seemed unlikely.
Before the silence became too awkward, Inasa Yoarashi marched over. "Wu Xuan! It's been a while!"
"If you dropped the shouting habit, you might actually be able to communicate like a human," Wu Xuan said, turning his face away.
"Since I lost to you at the recommendation exam, I've tripled my training! Let's settle the score soon!" Inasa shouted, undeterred.
Lost to him? So Wu-kun really was a recommended student, Midoriya thought, awestruck. U.A. really was a den of monsters.
The Quirk Apprehension Test
Once the boys changed and reached the grounds, Aizawa looked nearly asleep from the wait. "Thirteen minutes..." he muttered, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in his bloodshot eyes.
As the girls arrived, looking slightly embarrassed by the rush, Aizawa announced the first lesson: The Quirk Apprehension Test.
"What about the opening ceremony? Or the orientation?" Ochaco Uraraka asked, eyes wide.
"If you aspire to be heroes, you don't have time for such fluff," Aizawa said coldly. The atmosphere turned tense instantly.
Wu Xuan, however, looked bored. He knew this was just a series of physical trials—the 50-meter dash, the standing long jump, and the ball throw—all enhanced by Quirks. It was essentially the same as middle school, just with powers allowed. If they wanted to test someone, a combat trial was much more his style.
"Now then... Bakugo, who took first in the practical entrance exam, and Yaoyorozu, who took first in the recommendation exam..." Aizawa started.
The class shifted their focus to Momo Yaoyorozu. Uraraka and the regular students were surprised to see a girl at the top of the recommendation rankings. Meanwhile, Bakugo and Midoriya stared at Wu Xuan. He wasn't number one?
But Aizawa paused, his eyes shifting to Wu Xuan. "Actually, let's go with Wu Xuan, who had the highest physical score in the history of the school's testing. You and Bakugo, step up."
So the written and interview scores dragged his rank down, Midoriya realized instantly.
"Bakugo, what was your soft-ball throw record in junior high?" Aizawa asked.
"67 meters," Bakugo replied confidently.
"And you, Wu Xuan?"
"No idea. I was suspended shortly after transferring," Wu Xuan's answer left Aizawa—and the rest of the class—speechless.
"Suspended?" Tenya Iida adjusted his glasses, horrified. Why would U.A. admit someone with a disciplinary record? Bakugo's grip tightened. He knew exactly why Wu Xuan was suspended: for the brutal beating Wu Xuan had handed him months ago.
"Fine. You're up first," Aizawa said, rubbing his temples and pointing to the pitching circle. "Use your Quirk. Anything goes as long as you stay in the circle."
A single relevant follow-up question:
With Bakugo watching closely and Aizawa looking for "rationality," should Wu Xuan aim to just beat Bakugo's record, or should he unleash a "Muda" barrage to launch the ball into orbit?