Control Your Reality: Katsuki Bakugo

Chapter 17

After everyone had changed, the students were told to go back out onto the arena field. A lot of people were nervous and talking amongst themselves. There was a stage and screen set up, and Mera was standing at the podium.

Hitori and Bakugo walked in silence and stopped near the rest of the crew. Kaminari was practically clinging to poor Kirishima.

Having to wait was the worst part. Hitori was confident that she had passed, but not knowing was still annoying. It seemed to weighing more heavily on Bakugo though. He hadn't spoken a word, and was glaring at the screen as if he wanted to blast it to smithereens. Hitori wasn't sure she even wanted to try to talk to him.

"Alright," Mera said. Everyone fell silent. "It's been a long battle ladies and gentlemen. But now it's time for the results. Before that, though, regarding the scoring system. We of the heroes public safety commission, along with the members of HUC, were deducting points on two issues as we watched you perform. Essentially, we judged you on your ability to act flawlessly in a crisis."

So, what were the two issues then? Conduct and adaptability?

"Anyhow, here are the names of those who passed, in alphabetical order. Keeping everything I said in mind, please take a look."

The screen lit up behind Mera. Students gasped and started whispering excitedly.

Hitori scanned the list of names and grinned. One by one, her classmates started cheering. All except for Todoroki and Bakugo. Her smile fell away as she turned to look at him.

He was furious. Kirishima was on his other side and shared a worried look with Hitori.

"I didn't pass..." Bakugo snarled.

"Todoroki!"

Hitori turned to see Yaorashi stomping over. She instinctively touched Bakugo's arm and got ready to act just in case. But Yaorashi stopped in front of Todoroki and glared at him. Then he suddenly bowed so low he slammed his head on the ground again.

"I'm sorry!" Yaorashi said loudly. "It was entirely my fault that you didn't pass! My pettiness is to blame! I'm sorry!"

"Nah," Todoroki said. "I started it back then. There's no need for all of this. You approached me openly and honestly, and helped me realize some things."

"Todoroki, you failed?" Mina asked.

"Wow, so neither of our top guys passed!" Sero said.

Bakugo flinched but didn't lash out. Hitori glanced worriedly at him.

"Time to clean up your potty mouth, huh?" Kaminari grinned, elbowing Bakugo. "Just like meatball said. It's pretty obvious why you failed!"

"Shut up if you don't wanna die," Bakugo growled.

Hitori pushed Kaminari away and gave him a look to keep him quiet.

"You both failed because you two are big-time," Mineta said. "Your own defining qualities worked against you here. The old hierarchy is falling to pieces."

Ida walked up behind Mineta and turned him away from Todoroki.

"I assume you've all had a chance to view the results," Mera said. "Next, we'll be handing out score sheets. We've explained the scoring system in detail, so please read over them carefully."

Several men in sunglasses started walking around with stacks of paper. One by one, they handed out scoresheets. Bakugo received his before Hitori got hers. She looked at it out of the corner of her eye and was surprised to see a 35 in the score box.

"Whoa, Yao-Momo! You got a 94?!" Jiro exclaimed.

"Suneya."

Hitori took her score sheet, and quickly folded it up after she caught a glance of her score. She passed, and that's what mattered. She could scrutinize over the details later.

"It was a punitive scoring system with a threshold of fifty points. On your score sheets, you'll see how many points you lost for each given action."

"What'd you get, Scrappy?!" Bakugo demanded. He snatched the paper out of Hitori's hand. His eyes widened.

"Don't say anything!" Hitori hissed and grabbed it back.

Bakugo growled but kept his mouth shut.

"Going forward, those who passed now have the legal right to act in a heroic capacity, but only during emergencies," Mera said. "That means fighting villains, rescuing people in disaster scenarios, even without a pro hero's guidance, you're permitted to take action on your own. But keep in mind that every action you take comes with a heavy responsibility to society."

Wow, I'm already on my way to being a hero. I can't believe this is actually happening.

When she had first gotten the idea to even try to get into UA, the idea of being a hero and finally escaping her hell was just a dream.

"As you all know, the great hero All Might is out of commission. His active presence served as an important deterrent to crime. Without the symbol of peace holding them back, we can be sure that the more brazen villains out there will start showing their faces. The balance has shifted, and the world is bound to start changing in a big way. With that in mind, know that you, the next generation, are the central pillar of society."

It already has changed. The atmosphere is different now.

"Now as heroes, you will set a standard. You must become the new force keeping crime at bay. Be aware that the licenses you now receive are provisional ones. The road ahead is still a long one, so study hard at your respective schools. Now then, for those who didn't make the cut..."

Bakugo tensed up.

"Don't be disheartened by your scores. You don't have time for that. Especially because there's still a chance for you. If you sign up for and complete a special three-month training course, and pass the individual test at the end, you too will be rewarded your provisional licenses."

Hitori glanced at Bakugo, who was snarling and looked like he was barely keeping it together.

"You may recall that I just said 'going forward'," Mera continued. "Looking to that future, we need as many top-class heroes as we can find."

Is this guy ever going to shut up?

"The first round was basically a qualifier, and you hundred who were chosen to move on all have potential worth cultivating. That's exactly why we monitored you all to the very end. Just because you failed doesn't mean that all hope is lost. Rather, if you go back and work on your deficiencies, you have the potential to surpass even those who triumphed today. Attending the training course while maintaining your regular coursework will make for a packed schedule, but if you're up for the challenge, the next test is in April. With that, you're dismissed. Pick up your licenses on your way out."

"Woohoo!!!"

"We did it!"

"Let's go get our cards!"

Most of the students started making their way toward the exit to leave the stadium. Bakugo turned and stomped away.

"Wait, Katsuki," Hitori said, running after him. She put a hand on his forearm but he yanked it away.

"Leave me alone!" He snarled viciously.

Hitori stopped walking. She frowned as she watched him walk away with his head bowed and shoulders hunched.

"He's really upset about this," Kirishima said. He stopped and stood next to Hitori. "I don't even know what to say to him."

"I don't think there's anything we can say to make it better," Hitori said. "Honestly, we'd probably just make things worse for him if we try."

And if I can't talk to him, no one can.

Hitori had a feeling that Midoriya passing and her score were both weighing heavily on Bakugo. But she also knew that that was just the tip of the iceberg. His downward spiral that had started when they moved into the dorms had been building up to this point.

She glanced at her scoresheet and started walking again with Kirishima at her side.

The 96 she received no longer felt like it was worth it.