One With The Shadows

Chapter 15

Aizawa's Pov:

  The entrance exams have just begun. 

  The written portion was no obstacle with Izuku smashing it, finishing it in mere 10 minuets. But he isn't there to compete though, he's there to analyse the participants closely.

  But now comes the decisive stage, the practical exam. 

  With a heavy groan, the massive gates opened, signalling the start. The field stretched before them like a battleground. Students scattered in every direction, some charging forward with reckless determination, others frozen in determination, completely at a loss.

  Izuku's sharp eyes tracked everything. He wasn't looking for power alone, he was studying how they fought, how they thought, how they acted, and how adapted under pressure.

 "Hey Nezu, isn't this kid the one tutoring under you?" Sekijiro, better known as Vlad King, asked, pointing at Izuku's projection on the monitor. "If you ask me, he's doing pretty terribly. Barely lifting a finger."  

  Nezu chuckled, his small paws folded neatly as he took a slow sip of tea. That familiar twinkle danced in his eyes, sharper than any blade.
"Maybe," he said lightly, "he's not here to compete."

 The words hung in the air, a simple statement that only deepened the confusion in the room. The pro heroes exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. They all looked lost, except me and Choyo.

  We didn't speak up and we didn't offer any clarification. Instead, we kept our gazes fixed on the screens, watching the chaos unfold below. Outwardly, we were calm, neutral observers. Inwardly, though? We couldn't help but smirk.

 We continued observing until the examination concluded.

 "Alright everyone! That concludes the examination." Nezu announced, clapping his paws together with a bright smile. "It's time to head towards the meeting room. We'll reconvene in half an hour. Choyo you can head down and assist any child in need of help."

  Choyo gave a firm nod and rose gracefully from her seat. Without another word, she exited the room. The remaining teachers stretched and shuffled papers, murmuring among themselves as they prepared for the debrief.

   Once half an hour has past, the staff began filing into the meeting room one by one.

 Nezu hopped into his seat, paws folded neatly and cleared his throat. "Now, just before we begin," he said with his usual cheer, "we are waiting for one more person to join us."

 Confusion shown on everyone's faces. Well, almost everyone. I obviously know who it is. "And who might that be? I'm pretty sure everyone's here." All Might asked.

 Nezu's smile widened. "You'll see soon enough." 

 As if on cue, a sharp knock echoed against the door.

 "Right on time," Nezu said, eyes glinting with amusement. "Come in."

  The room fell silent. Every pro hero's gaze turned towards the entrance, curiosity thick in the air. The door opened and standing there was none other than Izuku.

 "Yo!" He greeted casually and monotonously. His eyes scanned the room, then inclined his head. "Nezu. Aizawa."  

  The two of us returned the gesture with equal respect. Without hesitation, Izuku stepped forward and slid into the seat beside me, moving as though he belonged there all along.

  The silence was almost deafening. Dozens of eyes locked on Izuku, suspicion and confusion written all over the faces of seasoned pros.

  Midnight leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. "Wait, wait, wait. Did I miss a memo or something?"