Chapter 18: Pressure Points
The sunlight over U.A. High glinted off the training fields like steel—sharp, clear, and unforgiving. It was the kind of light that showed every weakness.
Class 1-A stood outside in their brand-new P.E. uniforms, still unsure whether to be excited or afraid.
Aizawa didn't care either way.
"All right," he said, scratching his head as his yellow capture cloth dragged behind him. "Orientation's canceled. We're skipping straight to practicals."
"But—wait," Uraraka raised her hand in confusion. "Aren't we supposed to—?"
"U.A. is not a normal school. If you're here expecting warm welcomes and parties, leave."
Silence.
"Today's test will determine whether you belong here."
His deadpan tone didn't help anyone's nerves.
A floating tablet appeared beside him, displaying each student's name and photo.
"You're going to take a Quirk Assessment Test. Eight physical challenges. Same format you did back in middle school—except this time, no Quirk restrictions."
Bakugo perked up instantly. "Finally."
Aizawa turned to him. "Bakugo. What was your best softball throw in middle school?"
"Sixty-seven meters," Bakugo replied, already stretching his arm.
"Use your Quirk this time."
Bakugo stepped into the ring, gripping the ball like a grenade. "Let's blow this thing up."
With a roar of explosion from his palm, he launched the ball into the sky with a loud BOOM.
The screen beeped.
705.2 meters.
"WHOA!" Kaminari whooped. "This is gonna be awesome!"
Aizawa's eyes narrowed.
"Awesome, huh?"
He tapped something on his device. The screen flashed:
> "Last place… gets expelled."
The entire class froze.
"What?!" Uraraka yelped.
"That's insane!" Kirishima said.
"That's not fair at all!" Iida adjusted his glasses, voice firm.
Aizawa didn't blink. "Life isn't fair. If you want to be a Pro Hero, get used to that. The world doesn't wait for weaklings."
Arata stood still among the group, eyes narrowed. He wasn't afraid.
He understood what Aizawa was doing.
This wasn't just a test of Quirks.
It was pressure—on purpose.
---
Test 1: 50-Meter Dash
Students took turns in pairs. A machine measured their time.
Todoroki finished in 3.04 seconds, freezing the track behind him.
Iida broke 3.03, engines screaming.
Arata stood beside Sero for his turn.
Sero flexed. "Let's make it a clean run, yeah?"
Arata gave a short nod. His body was already tuned, muscles loose, breathing calm.
Beep.
They launched.
Arata surged forward—no Quirk flash, no explosions. Just clean, practiced acceleration.
He finished in 6.19 seconds.
Not flashy. But efficient.
---
Test 2: Grip Strength
Sato crushed the machine with over 500 kg using his sugar-fueled strength.
Kirishima broke 540 kg, laughing loud.
Arata's number blinked quietly.
167 kg.
He stepped away before anyone could comment.
---
Test 3: Standing Long Jump
With a small breath, Arata bent his knees and launched forward. His boots landed neatly across the edge of the final marker.
Not wild. But clear.
Aizawa noticed. Silent. Watching.
---
Test 4: Side-to-Side Shuffle
Arata moved fluidly, dodging cones with precise timing. Not the fastest. But consistent.
He never tripped. Never stumbled.
"Efficient," Aizawa muttered under his breath.
---
Meanwhile…
Midoriya was struggling.
He hadn't used his Quirk yet. Every test stacked against him.
Arata noticed him hesitating.
That's the same look I had back then, he thought.
The Midoriya who'd jumped in front of Bakugo during the entrance exam — where was he?
---
Test 5: Ball Throw
Midoriya stepped up, visibly shaking. He remembered the robot. The pain. The power he didn't know how to control.
He clutched the ball.
Arata watched from a distance. Quietly.
C'mon, he thought. You can do this.
Midoriya raised the ball above his shoulder, muttering to himself.
"All Might… please."
His right arm glowed. A surge of power.
He threw.
WHOOSH.
The ball sailed.
705.3 meters.
A gasp rippled through the class.
"Wait… that was more than Bakugo?!" Kaminari shouted.
Bakugo's eye twitched. "What… the hell?!"
Midoriya landed on the ground, holding his broken arm.
Arata felt it. Inside his mind.
In the sea of flames, the Izuku fire suddenly flared—brighter than ever.
---
Test 6: Seated Toe Touch
Test 7: Sit-ups
Nothing fancy. Arata got through both with quiet stamina.
He didn't lead. But he didn't fall behind.
---
Test 8: Long Sprint + Agility
This time, Aizawa paired Arata… with Bakugo.
Great.
"Tch. I'll blow past you in seconds," Bakugo growled, popping sparks from his palm.
Arata didn't respond.
He crouched at the start line. Eyes sharp.
Beep.
Bakugo shot forward, palms bursting with mini-explosions.
Arata followed. No blasts. No flair. But with trained precision — corner turns, low center of gravity.
They reached the end — Bakugo first, of course — but Arata only 2.3 seconds behind.
As he came to the final turn, his foot slipped on dust.
Instinct.
Air-step.
Just one.
He landed clean.
No one noticed.
Except Aizawa.
---
Test Results
The board blinked.
1. Todoroki
2. Yaoyorozu
3. Bakugo
4. Iida
5. Tokoyami
6. Arata Tetsuki
7. Kirishima
8. Kaminari
…
9. Mineta
"WAAAAAAAH! I'M GONNA DIE!" Mineta cried.
Aizawa sighed. "I was lying about the expulsion."
Everyone freezes.
"It was a logical ruse to draw out your best effort," he added calmly. "If you panicked, you don't belong here."
Students sighed, collapsed, groaned.
"Man's ruthless," Kaminari muttered.
Arata didn't say a word.
His fists were clenched—just slightly.
He had made sixth place. Without even activating his full ability.
---
Later That Evening
Arata sat alone near the hill overlooking the field. His body was sore, but nothing unbearable.
He closed his eyes.
Inside his mind, the bond-fire world swirled softly.
Renjiro's flame towered strong as always.
Riku's flame — his mother — glowed warmly.
Izuku's? Brighter than ever.
Bakugo's ember still flickered — erratic. Not warm. But there.
Then…
A flicker behind him.
Someone new.
Someone else from the class — maybe Uraraka? Kirishima? He couldn't tell yet. The fire hadn't taken full shape.
But the connection had begun.
---
Phone Buzz – [New Voice Message]
> "Sixth place, huh? Not bad, kid. Holding back like I taught you. You're starting to get it. But remember — power without understanding means nothing. Use that brain. And watch the quiet one — the scarf guy. He knows."
– Renjiro
Arata smirked.
"I know, old man."
He locked his screen and looked up at the moon.
Tomorrow would be the first real day of U.A.
New faces. New flames. New pressure.
But he was still standing.
And every step… was stronger than the last.