In His Element(s) || avatar / bnha

Exams, Anxieties, and Everything Else

Before they knew it, the Provisional Licensing Exam had rolled around.

"Holy shit, look how big that is!" Kirishima said, shading his eyes as he gazed upwards at the National Dagoba Arena. It was an impressive sight, reflective peaks and striped supporting beams encircling the entire hippodrome. The rest of 1-A milled about as the last of them made their way off the bus. Aang trailed behind them, sticking close to Master Aizawa.

"Hizashi's busy today and I don't trust the universe in general, so I'm bringing you along with me to the exam," the teacher had said that morning. "You can watch up in the stands with me. Shouldn't be any trouble. But wear your gear: just in case some Commission lackey tries to say you're not allowed in."

Aang fidgeted slightly, tapping his folded fan against his leg. He had an odd amount of nervous energy today, for some reason.

"Dude, is that a fan?" That was Sero, who gave him an appraising look as he fiddled with it. He glanced over at the taller kid, who appeared genuinely curious. The rest of the class was talking to each other in low tones- it seemed that he wasn't the only one on edge today, though honestly he had the least reason to be. He wasn't taking the test.

"Oh, yeah, it is." Aang flicked his wrist, snapping the silvery material open. "It's for close quarters."

"But why a fan?" Sero frowned, tilting his head. "How is that useful?"

'Well, I can direct more air for one." Aang tossed the fan between his hands, forming a blur as it flipped. "Also, Mei made it out of a really strong material." He stopped the weapon's movement and tapped a fingernail on both the spines and the paneling in between them with a gentle clink . "It's not sharp, like a lot of war fans are, but it can block strikes without too much trouble." He grinned. "Plus, one of the most terrifying people I know carries two war fans. Watch her fight and you'll never doubt their usefulness again."

"Huh." Sero looked suitably impressed. Aang smiled and flipped the fan shut before clipping it to the back of his belt. His collapsed staff rested on the other hip.

"Listen up," their teacher commanded. The talk died down, all the students looking at him expectantly as he spoke.

"This exam is an important step for all of you. If you pass, you'll essentially be semi-pros." The class chattered among themselves momentarily, clearly excited by the prospect.

"But remember-" Aizawa caught their gazes, serious. "That means you'll be responsible for people's lives. Because that's what pros do, underneath everything the media and fans tell you. It's about saving people."

It grew silent.

"You'll have a lot more responsibility." Aizawa looked across at the subdued class, meeting now-nervous gazes. "But you can do this. Keep telling yourselves that."

"Just how difficult is this exam?" Aang asked once Aizawa had stepped back from his students once more. A cheer and general noise rose up in the background again as a few students from a different school apparently introduced themselves. Aizawa flicked his gaze his way, keeping an eye on the interactions across the pavement.

"Over fifteen hundred students enter the exam each year. Less than half get their licenses." Aizawa lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. "But in the wake of things like the Hero Killer and All Might's retirement, the stakes have gotten even higher. If I had to guess, I'd say that less than 20% of this year's batch will actually end up with a provisional license."

"So, very difficult." Aang surmised, watching a tall, intense young man from the other school walk away with his classmates.

"Mhmm."