Who needs thumbs anyways?!

Chapter 26

Much to Hizashi's chagrin nothing had changed with the written exam. It was the standard fare of every year, a three hour written test. The only thing that could remotely be considered a change of pace were the methods students used to try and cheat.

Sure there were the lazy ones who used the old method of blatantly staring at a neighbor's answers. They were always the first ones to go and rightfully so given the profound lengths others went to, that method seemed outright lackluster in comparison.

There were the ones who managed to sneak in notes, though those ones who did were nearly always the next to go. Their nervous stares and jittery actions give away their devious nature. In the end the only ones who stood an actual chance of successfully cheating were the ones who found some creative way of doing so. Mostly that meant involving their own quirks or those of more suitable neighbors.

It would only be natural to assume that such a mass attempt at cheating would reflect badly on the state of the written exam and U.A as a whole. Since Nedzu has been principal however, there have only been a handful of students who have scored a perfect score or in fact anywhere higher than a passing score. The reason, of course being that in order to even reach that high it is actually needed to cheat.

Sure general students can get a passing score easily but anyone wanting to enter the hero course must at least try to exceed that and do so without being caught.

It was an open secret and most of the time students came to take the test in pairs hoping to have a plan in place ahead of time with a partner. That rarely ever worked though, as the method for separating the applicants was never the same. Nezu wanted to test their ability to adapt as well as working with others they have no former knowledge about. Rarely one of them gets lucky and ends up with who they wanted, however that is by no means a guarantee that they'll succeed in their attempt at cheating.

Whatever plan they had beforehand must be adjusted for the proctor monitoring their exam. Those taking the test under Shota's gaze rarely succeed in cheating. This year's group was getting off lucky due to his attention being drawn to their sleeping son in his scarf.

Hizashi himself couldn't deny his attention wasn't fully on watching the little listeners for new stratagems this year. He was busy pondering Nezu's ominous request for tea time and news regarding their son.

The bell signaling the end of the written exam sounded and after he and Shota walked the rows collecting booklets the applicants were excused for lunch. This also meant they were en route to Nedzu's office for that tea appointment.

Hizashi wiped the sweat off his brow as he placed the last of the boxes on the table and turned to his husband "What do you think it could be about Sho?"

"No idea Zashi, i'm not letting my mind run wild on possibilities with this one let's get there and find out." Shota said, checking the folds of his scarf, ensuring their son hadn't been slipping out while he'd been busy collecting tests.

Hizashi came closer and lightly stroked the top of Izuku's head. "Right, no point in imagining the worst without even knowing what's going on."

"Precisely, let's go ..."

By the time they were entering the chimera's office Hizashi had to admit that despite what they had agreed upon, his mind had indeed gone wild with imagining the worst possible things. He couldn't contain his nerves all that well and his leg started to bounce once they were sat with full and steaming tea cups waiting in front of them.

Shota placed a hand on his husband's knee to curb the bouncing. "Mind telling us what's going on Sir? I'm afraid Zashi here might just burn a hole in your rug just from nerves."

"Oh dear, well that certainly wasn't my intention boys. It's nothing bad, I can assure you."

Both men glared at the chimera, they had no doubt he had intentionally worded in such a way to throw them for a loop. He was no doubt bored and thought this to be a funny way to occupy his time. They've grown accustomed to his eccentricities throughout the years but this time it was just annoying.

Hizashi, now being the much calmer of the two, spoke up, knowing if he left it to his husband they might end up being fired from their teaching positions.

"That's a relief to hear, sir. What is it you wanted to share with us then?"

The chimera clapped his paws together evidently satisfied with something, standing up he put his paws behind him and walked over to a stack of files just a head taller than him. He placed a hand on the side of them.

"It is in regards to one of the hero course applicants, One Bakugo Katsuki"