One With The Shadows

Chapter 14

Nezu's Pov:

   Ah! What a joyous morning.

  The sun has just crested over the city skyline, casting long golden rays across UA's sprawling campus. The birds chirped sweetly, oblivious to the chaos soon to be unfold. I sipped my morning tea. Earl Grey, steeped precisely at 92 degrees for 3 minutes and 47 seconds. Perfect.  My whiskers twitched in delight.

  Today was no ordinary day. No, no, no. Today was Entrance Exam Day. Oh, how I adore this day.

  The anticipation in the air was practically electric. Hundreds of wide-eyed, hopeful students would soon arrive, brimming with nerves, ambition, and terror. And rightfully so. After all, it wouldn't be much of a test if it didn't push them to their absolute limits, now would it?

  After all, I have a name, and a principle, to uphold.

  Just as I was savouring my tea, a knock echoed from the door, cutting through my thoughts. "Come in!" I chirped, then sipped. The door opened, revealing Aizawa, with Izu trailing close behind him.

  "Well, good morning!" I greeted cheerfully. 

  "Morning!" They replied in unison.

  "Tea, anyone?" I offered, gesturing towards the still steaming pot. "Yes please." Izuku replied with a polite nod.

 "I'll pass," Aizawa said, conjuring a mug seemingly from thin air and took a sip. "Triple shot black coffee for me, as always."

  "You know, I'll never understand how you can drink that stuff." Izuku muttered with a deadpan stare. Aizawa merely shrugged and took another sip from his mug.

 "Alright, before we dive into today's agenda," I said, turning to Izuku with a proud smile, "I want to congratulate you on your first solo stakeout last night. Aizawa filled me in on all the details. Impressive work!"

  Izuku offered a shy smile, eyes dropping to the floor "Thank you!" 

  "Now, getting back to the main topic, the entrance exams." I began. "You already know what you have to do Aizawa, but there are two options available for you Izuku." Aizawa and Izuku shared a glance, not expecting what I had just said.

 "What do you have in mind?" Izuku asked, leaning slightly forward.

  I took a sip of my tea. "The first option - the one you know of - is to take a seat with the other teachers in the examination room, observing the participants directly as an official examiner. You get to provide your own points and get to focus on those we miss. Giving you the free will to analyse all participants." A pause and a sip.

  "The second option... is to act as a fake participant." 

  "Oh boy!" I heard Aizawa mutter before sighing slouching deeper into his chair.

  "You'd be in disguise," I continued. "Running through the tests alongside the applicants. A hidden examiner of sorts. You'll be judging their reactions, powers, and strategy. Most importantly, you'll be the final decider of whether they deserve to pass based on their actions. The choice is yours."

 "So, what you're basically saying is I either sit behind screens with the other teachers, or I get hands on action by playing with the applicants." Izuku said summarising what I had just explained. 

 "Very much so." I replied in a chipper voice.

 But before Izuku could even form his answer, a familiar shape stirred at his feet. Nuro rose smoothly out of his shadow and jumped on Izuku's lap.