The Rubber Hero

After they explained everything we needed to know, we were sent to the place where the practical part of the exams would take place.

After we changed clothes, Itsuki and I were separated again.

– Good luck, Red Head. –

– You too, Rubber. –

Bumping our fists together, we headed toward our respective sectors.

Many of the students were in special suits and had gadgets for their quirks, which helped them a lot.

There was one guy, literally shining, who had a belt.

Another had gloves, and one had boots.

And me?

I just wore sportswear. And, of course, my straw hat.

A red tracksuit with a white T-shirt underneath, black leggings, and black shorts over them.

Unfortunately, the principal scolded me and made me put on sneakers. I had to agree and temporarily say goodbye to my sandals…

Standing there, waiting for everyone to gather, I saw Izuku and the glasses guy. Looks like we were in the same sector… And it seemed like that black-haired guy was picking a fight again, misunderstanding everything as usual…

I just sighed and looked at the city that had been artificially built for the practical test. And honestly, it didn't look like a place to showcase your powers, but more like a place people could actually live in.

They even built a giant wall so we couldn't see what was happening inside.

But it's nothing surprising, since this world is filled with superpowers that make everyone stand out.

There were seven sectors in total, and I ended up in block "B," while it looked like Itsuki was in sector "A"...

Something's off here… If you think about it logically, we're supposed to be heroes. Do heroes just stand around and wait? I'm not trying to create some heroic ideal, but…

The gates were open, and Present Mic was standing on top of the wall.

Spreading out my Observation Haki, I heard mechanical grinding, which I assumed were our "villains."

– Well then… – I stretched a bit, and after taking a step back, I ran toward the gates.

– Hey! What are you doing?! – the glasses guy shouted behind me – We haven't gotten the signal to start yet! –

What's his deal, always needing to get through to someone…

– Heroes don't need a starting signal! – I smirked and kept running.

At that moment, a voice came over the speakers.

– Aaaand… START! –

– Eh? – everyone was surprised.

– What's wrong? In a real fight, no one counts down! The race has started! –

Everyone was stunned, while I smiled and stretched my arm out, grabbing onto a lamppost.

Using the same method, I grabbed onto a rooftop with my other hand and launched myself upward to scout for where the enemies were.

– Yahoo! – I was at the top of the buildings – Using my quirk freely! I've been dreaming about this for so long! – I fell freely.

Like Spider-Man, I climbed higher and higher while spreading my Haki.

To the north, I heard five… no, six mechanical noises!

Grabbing onto the buildings again, I swung like Spider-Man, heading toward my targets with the wind in my face.

My plan was to go where there were lots of robots but not many people, to give myself an advantage.

When I arrived, I saw the villains, who were actually robots. One had a "3" marked on both sides. The others had "1," and together, there were eight points waiting for me.

– Gomu-Gomu no… – I shouted as I started punching the air so fast that afterimages of my fists remained – Gatling! –

The robots were completely destroyed, and I didn't even break a sweat. Even though rubber is supposed to be soft, the laws of physics still apply.

– Nice. – I smirked and moved on.

Having rubber properties, I didn't use Armament Haki yet. No need to let everyone know I have Haki, too.

In this world, having a quirk is a gift, but having two would only bring trouble and unwanted attention.

Though, if I put it another way, it makes sense to say I only have one. After all, Luffy's power comes from his hard work as the main character of that anime I used to watch in my free time.

While I was thinking, I came across two more robots, each worth two points.

But then I noticed a girl who seemed to have fallen while trying to attack them from behind.

– Lucky me. Free points. – I smiled and jumped off the three-story building.

The two robots moved toward the girl, but I was faster, slamming down onto them from above with full force.

– Gomu-Gomu no Stamp! –

– Wh-What? – the girl gasped, looking at me.

Not waiting for her to say anything, I dashed away.

Hm… What if I steal points right under their noses? – I thought – Well… either way…

– It's not against the rules! –

So, I kept hunting down any stray robots I saw.

Of course, I didn't attack the villains that others were already fighting. I only destroyed the ones trying to attack from a distance.

Though it was strange… Almost everyone either ran away or tried to drive the robots off. And there was fear coming from them…

Is this some hero tactic, or am I missing something? I probably should have studied the modern tactics of new-generation heroes, but I just never cared…

– Whew… – I checked my phone – It's been eight minutes since the test started, and I've only managed to rack up 79 points. Will that be enough to pass? –

In this exam, I only needed to use three techniques, the same ones the real Luffy used.

1. Gomu-Gomu no Gatling.

2. Gomu-Gomu no Stamp.

3. Gomu-Gomu no Pistol.

Aside from that, the rubber properties and the inertia I built up while swinging helped me.

And Observation Haki helped too, both passively and actively. Sensory skills are useful anywhere, though they can cause issues like eye and brain fatigue.

Just as I thought that, I started to feel it. Well… I'll try to use my Observation Haki one last time. Just my luck… Either my willpower was failing from exhaustion, or in the center where most of the participants were, I heard massive engines.

– What the hell?! – I stretched my arms toward a rooftop and climbed up to get a better look.

Suddenly, the ground shook, buildings started cracking and collapsing, and nearby, a colossal robot marked with a "0" appeared.

– Is that the fourth one?! – My eyes widened as I ran toward it.

The closer I got, the more I realized I'd have to use my unfinished technique.

– Alright then… – I was about to attack, but I was beaten to it by a green-haired, curly kid.

– SMASH! –

Shouting that, he punched the giant with everything he had, shattering it to pieces.

– Izuku! – I yelled, looking at him.

His quirk was just insane. Having power on that level… it's basically cheating, but…

A wide smile spread across my face.

– So that's the kind of hero you want to be. –

My smile didn't last long, though, as I felt fear, sadness, and regret coming from him. The kid was falling, crying, clutching his arm. Damn it… His arms and legs were completely broken!

I jumped while I still had the chance and caught Izuku, pulling him toward me.

– L-Luffy-san?! –

– Shi-shi-shi, you're strong. – I told him as I carefully landed next to a girl who was floating on a piece of metal debris from the destroyed robots.

– Finally… – she sighed and touched her fingers together.

The platform she was on dropped, and she started vomiting… rainbows…

– Izuku, you alive? – I placed him on the ground.

– I… I still need to get at least one point… – he tried to stand, but Present Mic's voice echoed.

– The test is over! –

Sirens went off all around the area, and everyone stopped.

Izuku collapsed in tears, and I couldn't feel any joy coming from him. Only sadness and a handful of despair.

It was like he died…

The kids who had been running from the robot started gathering around us, looking at the debris and at Izuku, who had taken down the giant.

– Hey, Izuku? – I looked at him again to check if he was still alive – Out cold… –

Verdict… Looks like he didn't score enough points…

– Move aside, I'll take care of this boy. – came the voice of an elderly woman who slowly walked toward us.

She was a short, elderly woman with gray hair tied in a bun and a syringe sticking through it. She wore a medical coat, a dress with a yellow-red vest, and a pink belt. She had pink boots and a protective helmet on her head. She also walked with a cane shaped like a syringe.

She was giving out candies, bringing smiles to the kids.

– Here you go too, sweetie. – she handed me a candy as well.

– Thank you, Granny. –

Looking closely, I felt like I'd seen her somewhere before… Wait… That hero outfit… That kind aura…

– Would you happen to be Chiyo Shuzenji? – I asked her.

– Hm? Yes… – she nodded and kissed Izuku, stretching her lips.

The boy's body started healing instantly. Right before everyone's eyes, all his broken bones returned to normal, shocking many.

– Whoa. Old man Touma told me a lot about you. –

– Touma… – she thought for a moment and remembered something – You know Touma? –

– Yeah. My name's Luffy. Do you remember me? –

She looked me over and smiled brightly.

– Ha? Monkey D. Luffy? – Chiyo asked, and I nodded – So you really did recover! –

Granny Chiyo was the one who treated me for a year. She was an old friend of our former principal, which was surprising. The world is small…

– Yeah, I'm healthy now. – I nodded – Now I'm aiming to become a hero, shi-shi-shi! –

– Oh ho ho! Good for you. – she looked me over and waved me closer – Bend down, dear, I'll heal you too. –

– Oh… Um… Sure. –

I didn't refuse. After all, medical care here was free, as they told me.

She stretched her lips and kissed my cheek. Wow… I immediately felt more energized than before. Exactly what you'd expect from a retired heroine.

– All done. – she smiled and turned back to Izuku.

– Thank you so much. – I bowed to show my respect.

– Oh, it's nothing… Instead, would you help me take this poor boy to the infirmary since you know him? –

Thinking for a moment, I nodded. I'd repay her kindness at least this way.

– Sure. – I nodded, lifting Midoriya like a sack of potatoes – But why are his bones… you know… like that… – I hinted.

– His quirk didn't synchronize with his body, so he ended up breaking his bones, yeah… –

Sighing, I headed to the infirmary Granny Chiyo had pointed out to me earlier.

Strange… A quirk is supposed to grow slowly with its user from childhood. In my case, my power isn't even from this world; I'm basically a parallel version of myself from another universe.

That's why my power grows differently than everyone else's. But this kid… to have such a huge drawback in control all this time?

There are only two possible answers here.

First, he awakened his quirk recently. Second, he never trained.

But judging by his physique and recent training, the second doesn't really add up…

Hah…

– You're interesting, but weak… – I sighed as I left the sector where our test had taken place.

…

After dropping Izuku off at the infirmary, I changed clothes and contacted Itsuki, who had already changed a while ago. She was waiting for me at the academy gates and seemed to be in a good mood…

Well… Looks like my ears will be filled with stories from that red-haired beast, along with questions from the kids back at the orphanage…

How bothersome…

But before that, I headed toward the faculty office, which I found with some effort.

It was on the second floor.

But apparently… I wasn't the only one who came, as a girl walked out ahead of me and ran down the stairs.

– Isn't that the girl who tried to save Midoriya? – I remembered her from her hair color and the pinkish blush on her face.

Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, I knocked on the door.

– Who is it now? – came a familiar voice.

The door swung open, and in front of me stood Present Mic, who had supervised our practical exams.

– Ooooh! It's you! Rubber boy! – the blond man patted me on the shoulder.

– Um… Hello. I'm Monkey D. Luffy, nice to meet you, Present Mic. – I bowed.

– And nice to meet you too, Luffy-kun! –

There wasn't anyone special in the faculty office, just a couple of regular office workers sorting papers.

– So, what did you want? – Mic asked me.

– Izuku Midoriya… I wanted to give him some of my accumulated points. –

He looked pretty surprised.

– Hm? You too? –

What do you mean "you too"??? So that girl came here for the same reason?

– Well… something like that. – I nodded, taking off my straw hat – Earlier, he saved a girl and shouted that he needed at least one point. But the time ran out… So… – I scratched my head and looked at Present Mic – I've made up my mind. I believe Izuku deserves to study at this school. –

He nodded wisely and smiled.

– I see. Short and clear. But unfortunately, I can't give him your points. – he patted my head – Don't worry, though, he'll get in, yo. –

Weird that they say that to a student.

– By the way, you're a good kid. I'm sure your future will be loud and bright! –

If a hero says that, then I guess he's hinting that both Izuku and I will get into the school.

– Thanks. – I smiled at the pro hero – Oh… one more thing… – I pulled out my phone – Can I get a photo? My brothers and sisters will be happy to see you with me, shi-shi-shi! – I laughed.

– Yoo! – he shouted across the office – Of course! –

And so… I finished the day of my entrance exam. It was a tough day for me, with so many adventures packed into one day, it's honestly hard to digest…