A month had passed since registration.
And now... I stood at the examination site.
— All participants, please proceed inside! — a heroine shouted. — Parents must remain outside!
Taking a nervous breath, I nodded to myself.
— Good luck, Luffy-kun. — Saya saw me off.
— Thanks. — I nodded.
Saya — accountant, caretaker, and the director's granddaughter all in one.
Black hair and red eyes. A porcelain-doll-like body standing 160 cm tall. At 17, she's still studying but always finds time to help her grandfather.
Strangely enough, she was wearing her favorite maid outfit today.
As for her Quirk... she doesn't have one, same as me.
— I'll wait here, Luffy. — She pointed to a bench and waved as she walked away.
Meanwhile, I headed toward the building.
This past month, I'd studied mathematics, physics, logic, and geometry. Turns out, academic knowledge here matches my previous world's.
Except some subjects are introduced earlier here. Well, Japan never ceases to amaze...
Thankfully, I know Japanese from Luffy's memories—otherwise there'd be problems since I didn't know it in my past life.
I'd borrowed the director's computer to study everything necessary.
My coma turned out fortunate—had I been attending school normally, I likely couldn't have participated.
Finally entering, I followed staff directions down a long hallway to the classroom.
About two dozen kids sat inside, looking around.
Without disturbing anyone, I took my seat and surveyed the room—assessing my battlefield, so to speak.
— Hmph, I'll win this competition and prove I'm the smartest here! — a voice drew everyone's attention.
The speaker was a girl with an inflated ego—slender, cat-like eyes with thick upper lashes, her irises bluish-purple.
Her straight, pale-gray hair reached her shoulder blades, with neat bangs framing her face.
She wore a beret, skirt, and white blouse with a red bowtie.
— That's Saiko from the Intelli family! — someone whispered.
— I heard from mom and dad the Intellis are top five among wealthy families.
Hm? If she's so rich, why join this competition? And why brag about it?
Saiko seemed angered, glaring at whoever mentioned her family's status.
— Smartest? — I whispered, smirking before returning to await the proctors.
Soon, the examiner arrived.
— Competition rules are simple: no Quirk-assisted cheating, no talking unless asking teachers questions. Complete the test within allotted time. — Everyone nodded. — Good. Now... — He glanced at his colleague, who tapped a tablet.
Our desks split open, revealing touchscreens with questions.
— 100 questions, 70 participants, 3 hours. START!
Everyone got to work.
...
Some time later.
— Damn it... — I cursed while washing my hands.
The exam ended, giving us an hour's break before results and awards.
It's cool how quickly they grade these, but I'm still nervous!
Sighing, I left the restroom to return to class. They'd already provided free lunch, so no worries there.
Most participants sat waiting—some confident, others anxious.
Besides first place, four other prizes existed—though non-monetary (computers, phones, etc.).
So some might be aiming for those.
Sitting down, I glanced at Saiko again. She sat proudly, looking down on everyone.
Noticing my gaze, she glared.
— What're you staring at? — Saiko demanded. — It's improper for boys to stare, hmph.
My eye twitched. Sighing, I ignored her and faced forward.
This seemed to shock her—I felt her glare burning into my back.
Later, three suspicious "janitors" entered.
— Rog... — one said. Another nodded, raising his hands.
Suddenly... an invisible energy swept the room.
Kids began panicking and standing.
— Everyone sit down! — one shouted, transforming his arm into a rocket launcher and firing at a corner camera.
— V-villains?! — children screamed and cried.
I frowned, ducking under my desk to avoid becoming a hostage.
From Luffy's past experience, I knew that's exactly what would happen. Another year-long coma sounds terrible.
— Which of you are from wealthy families?! Come down! Or I'll make you! — presumably the leader shouted.
Silence... Then another explosion made kids shriek.
I waited, hearing footsteps as children approached the villains.
— Hahaha! Look! We hit the jackpot with rich kids! — another villain cheered.
Crap... They want ransoms? Unfortunately, I can't afford such luxuries...
— By the way, you kids don't know how to use your Quirks yet, right? — one said, his voice nearing. — Well... let me tell you... Nobody hides from my Quirk! — A bald villain grabbed my collar and slammed me onto a desk.
— Ghh... — I nearly choked from the impact.
— Hm? Which family are you from? — The black-eyed bald man demanded.
— I'm... cough... an orphan... — I glared.
He stayed silent.
— Hahaha! Look at his eyes! — He pointed at me, laughing toward his allies.
— Quit wasting time, Rog. — their boss said. — Mole, prepare our exit. — he ordered his shorter accomplice.
Nodding, the man burrowed underground like a drill and vanished.
— Fine... But first... — Rog approached Saiko's desk. — One more big catch!
— Eek! — she shrieked as Rog grabbed her hair. — Let go!
— Whoa! Isn't this the Intelli family's daughter?!
— Really? — The boss's eyes widened. — Yeah... That's her. Jackpot!
— Major score! Let's move! — Rog began leaving but glanced at me. — What about him?
— Take him too. Maybe we'll get spare change. — The boss smirked as Rog grabbed me.
— Let me the fuck go! — I swore, struggling against the bald man. — Bald pervert!
— What?! What'd you call me?! — He choked me.
— I said... let... go... — I growled, feeling energy building inside—yet something restrained it.
— What? Want to scream but can't? Haha! — He loosened his grip. — Speak up, brat.
— Cough... I... said... — I glared and snarled — Let me go now! — then shouted.
I don't know why I shouted, but something inside compelled me. Though initially, I hadn't planned resistance... My emotions peaked, demanding this outburst.
And then... the pent-up energy erupted like waves across a still pond.
Time seemed to freeze. Everything went silent. I barely comprehended what I'd done...
Everyone—kids included—began collapsing. Rog's grip weakened, dropping me onto the desk.
— Cough cough... — I looked around weakly. — What... was that? — I managed to stand.
— You... bastard... — Rog foamed at the mouth, his other hand—holding the rich girl—weakening too.
Before Saiko fell, I caught and gently laid her on the desk. Though she tightly gripped my wrist, and I lacked strength to break free...
— Ugh... Head hurts... — I slumped into a chair. — What was that? — I massaged my forehead.
Remembering this world's heroes and villains—and that I'm Monkey D. Luffy—it hit me.
— Haki. — I realized firmly.
— Boss! — someone shouted.
Wait... There were three. That Mole guy!
— Boss?! I dug the exit... What happened?! — He emerged from his tunnel.
"Damn it!"
I closed my eyes, playing dead to avoid detection.
— Boss! Heroes are outside! Wake up! — he shouted.
Strangely, even with closed eyes, I sensed him—panicked and confused. Mole tried shaking his boss awake, only getting incoherent mumbles.
— Looks like... a kid used some Quirk... — He checked us, then ran over. — Shit! Rog's down too!
Yelling, he looked at me, then Saiko.
— Screw it! Taking this girl! She looks loaded! — Grabbing her, he fled into his tunnel.
After confirming he'd left, I sat up.
— Phew... Thank god it wasn't me. — Then I noticed... — Wait... Why does my arm feel stretched? And why's my hand stuck?
Looking down, I saw my arm elongating toward the tunnel.
— Oh come on! — It dragged me toward the hole until I fully reached it.
Not wanting adventures, I grabbed a desk leg with my free hand.
— Why the hell did my fruit powers activate now?! — I strained against the pull.
Slowly, consciousness faded as my grip weakened.
— Damn it... Passing... out...
...
Meanwhile...
Near the crime scene, one escaping villain emerged from his tunnel.
He carried the pale-haired girl.
— Damn! Gotta run! — Mole sprinted toward a getaway car but suddenly struggled.
Stopping to catch his breath, he turned—seeing an absurdly stretched arm...
— What the... — He examined the girl's hand gripping it tightly. — Some kid's Quirk?
He couldn't pry it loose. Even pulling harder did nothing...
— Sorry, whoever you are... — Mole revealed drill-like hands. — But you're in my way.
As he attacked Luffy's arm, unknown threads entangled him completely, immobilizing the villain.
The girl began slipping but was caught by more threads.
— This is Best Jeanist. — A blond man in tattered denim said. — Captured a villain near the crime scene. Requesting police and medical.
He lifted the girl. The stretched arm—still gripped by Saiko—slackened and retracted toward the tunnel.
— Without these arms, I might've been too late... — The hero waited for authorities.