(A/N: "This chapter is special in it's own way.")
Mera: "Please check the list keeping those words in mind."
Kuuga stares sternly at the screen presented and suddenly gains a look of relief while Annya gains a shocked expression.
Kuuga: (sighs) "I passed…"
Sayo: "I passed! I passed! I passed!"
Mineta: "It's there! Minoru Mineta!"
Jiro: "It's there…"
Iida: "I see it!"
Shoji: "All right."
Uraraka: "Uraraka!"
Sero: "Whew…"
Ojiro: "I'm so glad…"
Aoyama: "Merci!"
Sato: "It's there!"
Ashido: "Yay!"
Yaoyorozu: "Little strokes fell great oaks."
Tsuyu: "Kero…"
Hagakure: "I did it!"
Kaminari: "Aw, yes!"
Kirishima: "I'm there! But…"
Kirishima noticed Bakugo shaking with a frustrated look.
Bakugo: "It's not there!"
A dark aura surrounded Annya as she looked down.
Annya: "I knew it… stupid… stupid…"
Sayo appeared behind her and began hugging her.
Sayo: "It's okay, Kuroishi!"
Annya began sobbing.
Annya: (crying) "I-It's Annya!"
Kuuga crosses his arms and shakes his head in disapproval.
Kuuga: "It's kinda obvious after the small drama there."
Inasa and Murasaki are seen looking at the screen with passion.
Murasaki: "Ta… Ta… Takara…"
Inasa: "Yo… Yoarashi! Yo…! There's nothing after Yu…"
Murasaki: "There's no Takara!"
Inasa puts his cap down.
Inasa: "It's not there after all, huh?"
Todoroki also notices his name not being present in the list.
-----
Inasa: "Todoroki!"
Murasaki: "Kuroishi!"
Todoroki and Annya turned around to see Inasa and Murasaki approaching them. Inasa suddenly bowed his head, making contact with the ground.
Inasa: "Sorry! It's my fault that you didn't pass! It's because I was too narrow-minded! I'm sorry!"
Todoroki: "I started it in the first place. Don't worry about it."
Inasa: "But-!"
Todoroki: "There were things I realized thanks to you confronting me directly, too."
Ashido: "Todoroki… didn't pass?"
Sero: "Both of our top two failed?"
Kuuga: "Kuroishi didn't pass as well."
Ashido: "Eh? Seriously?"
Kuuga: "Do I look like I'm joking around?"
Kaminari looks at Bakugo.
Kaminari: "You should rethink your abusive language. Words are important, you know."
Bakugo: "Shut up. I'll kill you."
Izuku: "Todoroki… Annya…"
Mera: "Um, next we will pass out your results. They will have the breakdown of your scores, so please look over them carefully."
Kirishima receives his result.
Employee: "Kirishima."
Kirishima: "Thanks so much!"
Bakugo: "Hand it over…"
Kirishima: "That's not how it works."
Mera: "The cutoff score was 50 points. We scored based on a demerit system. You can see how many points were taken off for which actions were all listed out on the printouts."
Ojiro: "61 points… I barely passed…"
Sero: "I got 84! Look, isn't it amazing? I'm kinda good at this, huh?"
Jiro: "Wait, Yao-momo, you got 94 points?!"
Sayo: "Whoa! I have 86 points!"
Kuuga is seen looking at his paper silently.
Kuuga: (mentally) "83 points… How disappointing… I did most of the things correct… The Shiketsu kid and Annya's drama from earlier affected my points after all… That probably is the same for Aisaka…"
Mera: "Um, for those of you who passed, from now on, during emergency situations only, you may exercise authority the same as that of pro heroes. In other words, fighting villains, saving people from criminal acts or accidents- You may act on your own judgement in these cases without the direction of a hero. However, this means that each and every one of your actions carries with it a responsibility toward society. I'm sure you all know that the great hero All Might has used up all of his power. His existence played a large part in suppressing crime. With that deterrent gone, impudent people will definitely appear. The balance will be destroyed, and as the world changes greatly, you young people will someday become the center of society. Next, you all must become exemplar heroes and become great enough to suppress crime yourselves. This time, all you have received is your provisional license to perform hero activities. I would like you to think of yourselves as fledglings and be even more diligent in your studies at your respective schools. And for those of you who didn't pass- There is no time for you to be dejected that you didn't have enough points. There is still a chance left for you all. After you attend a special 3-month-long special course and pass an individual test, we plan to issue a provisional license to you all, as well."
The crowd begins to cheer.
Mera: "In order to deal with this future that I just spoke of, we need as many good heroes as we can get. The first test was one to weed people out, but we would like to grow the hundred selected in that test as much as possible. That is why we watched all of you until the end. As a result, we saw that it wasn't that you didn't have a promise. Rather, once your inadequacies are corrected, all of you have the potential to be even greater than those who passed. I think it will keep you pretty busy doing this concurrently with your studies, and you may choose to retake the exam in April instead, but-"
Murasaki: "Yes!"
Bakugo: "Of course!"
Inasa: "Please!"
Annya: "I'll take it!"
Izuku: "Isn't this great, Todoroki?"
Mineta: "Stop that. You don't have to take it. Just take it easy. The hierarch-"
Black mist suddenly covered Mineta's mouth.
Kuuga: "Shut your filthy mouth."
Iida: "We're waiting for you."
Izuku: (nods) "Yeah."
Kuuga: "You take the opportunity."
Todoroki: "I'll… catch up soon."
Annya: "No. We'll catch up soon, Shoto."
Todoroki: "Yeah."
-----
The scene changes out of the venue with Kuuga looking at his provisional license with his hero name "Zero" on the front.
Kuuga: "I guess the word zero is gaining its first values…"
-----
Ms. Joke is seen approaching Aizawa, who is still looking at Murasaki's files.
Ms. Joke: "Eraser! Since we've got this chance, do you want to do a joint practice sometime?"
Aizawa: "Yeah, that might be good."
Aizawa stares down at Murasaki's files.
Aizawa: (mentally) "This kid does look strong…"
-----
Inasa and Murasaki are seen approaching the U.A. students.
Inasa: "Hey! Hey!"
Murasaki: "Wait up, Yoarashi!"
Tsuyu: "Oh, my, even Shiketsu's here."
Inasa: "Todoroki! I'll see you at the special course! But you know, honestly, I still don't like you! I'll apologize in advance! Sorry! See you around, Kuuga Kiriu! That's all!"
Kirishima: "Was that supposed to be considerate?"
Todoroki: "I'll make the best of it, too."
Murasaki: "Kuroishi…"
Annya looks up to see Murasaki standing a few feet in front of her.
Annya: "Suicho…"
Murasaki: "When I get into U.A., I will not let you shadow me… "
Annya: "You're joining U.A….?"
Murasaki: "If I pass, which I definitely will… prepare yourself… I will be better than you and that old man…"
Murasaki turns around and walks away.
Annya: (mutters) "I will be looking up to it, brother…"
Kuuga: "Did I just hear someone joining U.A.?"
Annya: "U-Um… I guess?"
Kuuga: (sighs) "Great…"
-----
The scene changes to 1-A alliance at night time with almost everyone hanging out in the common area. Kuuga was still leaning by the counter in the kitchen, staring at his provisional license.
Kuuga: (mentally) "All that just for a card like this…? I'm still making the right choices… right…?"
Kuuga notices Bakugo approaching Izuku and whispers something. He shakes his head and calls the attention of his classmates.
Kuuga: "Hey, what do you guys want to eat?"
Kirishima: "Yes, Kiriu to the rescue!"
Kuuga: (sighs) "Just avoid anything hard to do, please…"
Kaminari: "Is this some sort of celebration since you're catering to us?"
Kuuga: (deadpans) "I literally make almost everyone's food on a daily basis here, I just don't know what to make right now."
Sero: "Oh, can you make that curry?!"
Sayo: "Ooh! Hearty food! I love it!"
Kuuga: "Okay."
Kuuga rolls his eyes and begins gathering the stuff he needs and accidentally hitting his head with one of the pans.
Kuuga: "Ow, damn it."
Out of nowhere, Jiro appeared beside him and began helping him around and is now holding a chopping board.
Kuuga: "What are you doing here?"
Jiro: "Um…"
Jiro glances at the living room to see Yaoyorozu, Kirishima, Kaminari, Ashido, and Sero giving her a thumbs up.
Jiro: "Um… I'm just helping you around."
Kuuga: "Okay…?"
Kuuga grabs the chopping board from Jiro's hand and began to do this business.
Kuuga: "I read something online, when someone suddenly approaches you and starts helping around and you're aware it's not something they do, it means they want something. Just shoot it, I'm not waiting around for that, just let me cook."
Jiro: "Okay, fine. Can we talk later outside?"
Kuuga: "Why not now? I want to be at peace later."
Jiro: "Because it's… a bit of a personal matter."
Kuuga blinks as he stares at Jiro who has a cheeky smile on his face and is shaking a bit.
Kuuga: "Fine. Now are you going to help around or leave?"
Jiro: "Might as well help…"
Kuuga: "Okay. Chop the carrots and potatoes like how you want to see them when you eat them. And I mean the proper cut."
Jiro: "O-Okay."
-----
(A/N: "I suck at parts like these but I personally think this scene is temporary, I'll just hope I'll do a good job.")
The scene changes to very late at night with Kuuga, wearing his signature black coat, walking by the path and running into Bakugo and Izuku.
Kuuga: "What are you two doing at this time?"
Bakugo ignored him and walked past him while Izuku followed nervously.
Izuku: "W-We're all right, Kiriu, Kacchan only wants to talk to m-me."
Kuuga narrows his eyes but shrugs it off.
Kuuga: "It's too late to have a conversation right now, you two better head back, I think it's curfew now."
Bakugo: "Deku!"
Izuku: "R-Right! S-See you tomorrow, Kiriu."
Kuuga nods as Izuku walks past him and walks into the night. He shakes his head and continues on his way back to the dorm while staring at the empty night sky.
Kuuga: (sighs) "What a boring night, no stars or anything… What a let down…"
He continued to walk down until he saw a certain lazy-looking girl standing in front of the dorms, right under a street lamp by the stairs, wearing what appears to be a jacket with a "Deep Dope" logo in front of it. He ignores it and attempts to walk past her to enter the dormitory.
Jiro: "Hey."
Kuuga stops walking and tired-looking purple eyes find themselves staring at lazy-looking Onyx eyes.
Kuuga: "What? It's late at night."
Jiro: "You did agree to talk with me… I figured you went out at this time since I heard someone going out with this."
Jiro looks away a bit, playing with her earphone jacks.
Kuuga: (mentally) "She must've heard Midoriya and Bakugo…"
Kuuga scratches his head.
Kuuga: "Now I'm here. What do you want to talk about?"
Jiro: "I actually want to congratulate you on getting your provisional license. I think you did great!"
Kuuga: "You didn't even see me in the second part."
Jiro: "Th-That's not the point! You did score a lot…"
Kuuga: "I don't have time for this, get to your point already."
Jiro: (blushes) "W-Wait!"
Jiro glances around the area and sighs a bit.
Jiro: "I guess it's now or never… Th-There's no suitable time other than now to say it… but… but… I think I-"
Kuuga: "-Like you, Kiriu."
Jiro: "Huh?"
Jiro looks up with a blushing-puzzled look, staring at Kuuga who has his arms crossed and a clearly unfazed look.
Jiro: "E-Eh?"
Kuuga: (sighs) "Don't play that game with me, Jiro. I'm not dense, you idiot. Ever since the U.S.J. incident, you've been trying to get close to me, and after the week of internships, you had people backing you up in getting close to me. Today, I just confirmed it."
Jiro's eyes widened, noticing a much colder tone coming from Kuuga's usual neutral voice.
Jiro: (nervously) "S-So…?"
Kuuga: "Out of all the people around you, why me? Out of all the people, why choose a person like me? What's your reason? Just because I took the hit for you in U.S.J.? What is it? What?"
Purple eyes continue to pierce her as she looks down.
Jiro: "I-I just think you're cool! You're kinder than you think, Kiriu! And… A-nd I want to make you s-smile! I want to see you smile! Like all of us do! Being handsome is a bonus, too…"
Kuuga: "Is that out of pity?"
Jiro: "Huh? Of course not!"
Kuuga: "I see."
Kuuga closes his eyes a bit before opening them again.
Kuuga: "I appreciate you gathering your courage. But…"
Jiro looks at Kuuga with a pleading look.
Kuuga: "I don't know if I can give those feelings back."
Her eyes widened a bit, with her mouth opening slightly.
Kuuga: "In fact, I don't know what to feel about this… This feeling… is new to me… This confrontation is new to me… all of this… unfamiliar. Can… you give me time to think about this? This… proposal… this confession… I don't know what to feel… I'm confused… Give me time… to give you a proper answer for your feelings… Good night."
Kuuga changes direction and walks past her, not even waiting for a response.
Jiro: (mutters) "I… understand…"
Jiro looks down and sits by the lamp post and hugs herself, on the other hand, Kuuga is now seen inside his room, sitting by the door and staring at the ceiling.
Kuuga: (mentally) "Was that even the right choice…? What should I even feel about the event…? I'm really confused… Damn it..."
End
2297 words
Okay... it wasn't as dramatic as I imagined it to be... but okay... I guess? Inform me for errors.