The Next Generation

C2: The Entrance Exam

When Optimus accepted Principal Nezu's offer to join UA, there were only three weeks until the day of the entrance exams. Once he'd agreed, Optimus moved out of Tsukauchi's apartment and into a small cabin not far from UA. For the first few days, Nezu tested Optimus's combat ability and physical strength. They learned a lot.

Despite his new body, Optimus was every bit as capable a fighter as he had been before. Nezu didn't see this as an issue, but Optimus was disturbed by the fact that his fist was made of flesh and when he hit something hard, it tended to bleed every easily. Nezu explained that if he got in, he could simply ask for a costume that included body armour like his old frame used to have.

The other thing they learned was that Optimus had a serious weakness, one that Tsukauchi had already pointed out. During intense training, Optimus focused on whatever task he was doing, which often led to him holding his breath. Even when he was worn out and breathing more heavily, Optimus would start thinking about breathing too much. Sometimes in these times, he would pass out without any warning. Luckily, Nezu had a solution for this as well.

After those first few days of physical assessment, Nezu figured Optimus was fit enough to take the exams, so they spent the rest of those weeks doing research. Nezu would drop Optimus off at the local library and let the Prime read to his spark's content, as well as use a laptop to google any other questions he might have.

This gave Nezu the chance to actually do his job and prepare for the entrance exams and the start of school.

While reading wasn't really a perfect solution for the lifetime of education that Optimus was missing out on, but it did help him, and it gave him the opportunity to fix his other big problem. Focusing too hard seemed to be one of the two major causes for Optimus's breathing issue, so he was able to practice breathing techniques while doing research. A few times this resulting in him being slumped over the table, but he had about two weeks to figure it out fully.

Nezu explained that Optimus would take the written part of the exam, but he was not going to be penalized for it due to special circumstances; however, once he got into UA, there wouldn't be much Nezu could do to help Optimus with his lack of knowledge. So this research was the most important thing he could be doing to prepare.

Before long, the day was finally here and it was time for Optimus to prove himself to the UA faculty. He tried to stay inconspicuous as other students piled into the building and took seats around him, chattering excitedly about their chances at passing and the exam rumors. Optimus observed them closely, imagining that these students might soon be his peers.

The day before, they had taken the written exam. As he expected, it was hard. Optimus did his best, but there wasn't much he understood with his limited knowledge. He considered himself lucky enough to even know what they were talking about sometimes. The only portion that he didn't struggle with was translating Japanese to English and vice versa. Thankfully, the languages he learned before becoming a human stuck with him. If he ever saw Miko again, he would need to thank her for suggesting he download Japanese.

Today, however, he was more in his comfort zone. The people around him were young and this was a school, so the practical exam couldn't possibly be very dangerous. According to the loud man explaining things, all he needed to do was disable a few robots and be on his way. Optimus only wished he knew how many points were required to pass, because he didn't want to destroy so many foes that other students wouldn't have the opportunity to do their best.

He was given a card and instructed to go to the gates in front of a large suburban battleground, labeled 'Battlestation A'. There were about two dozen other kids here, many of which looked anxious or excited to get in.