Chapter 4: Withdrawing from the Exam
"That's Best Jeanist!" Camie Utsushimi blurted out in astonishment. She turned to Yoshikage Kira and asked, "Was this all part of your calculation?"
"Ah, it's because this movie theater is in a high-crime area. Pro Heroes make a point to check on this place during their daily patrols."
Yoshikage didn't hide anything, openly explaining the situation. "What's more, the commercial district isn't far from here, and there are several hero agencies there. Even if it's just for the sake of their own business, the Pro Heroes won't let any major incidents happen nearby."
"Oh, I see," Camie said, a look of realization on her face. "The competition between agencies here is fierce. A single slip-up could damage their reputation, and they could eventually be pushed out of business."
That was more or less the gist of it. Although Pro Heroes received government subsidies, they still relied on public support. Hero agencies with poor reputations received less funding from the country. If it got to the point where they were universally despised, their licenses could even be revoked, permanently barring them from being heroes.
Because someone without a sense of responsibility could never be a qualified hero.
Therefore, Pro Heroes needed to make frequent public appearances to maintain their visibility and popularity. This was how newer agencies could avoid being crushed by the more established ones.
With the main instigator gone, the commotion gradually died down. The people who had been in the center of the incident began to exit the theater, excitedly discussing what had just happened.
"Did you guys see that? As expected of the No. 4 ranked Pro Hero! He didn't even move, but that guy who was raging like a T-Rex a second ago was completely tied up, unable to budge!"
"I know, right? That's Best Jeanist's Quirk, Fiber Master. He can manipulate all kinds of fibers, even breaking down his own denim clothes to restrain enemies from a distance!"
"That sounds so powerful!" "I know, I know!"
"Are you not leaving?" Yoshikage asked Camie, who was still lingering by the counter. Twenty minutes had passed since the incident, the crowd had long since dispersed, and the theater lobby was now empty except for her.
Camie deliberately blinked her big eyes at Yoshikage. "I'm a customer. Are you trying to kick me out?"
His junior coworker, who had returned from watching the excitement, tugged on Yoshikage's sleeve. "Senpai, she's a pretty girl. It's not a problem if she wants to stand there..."
"First of all, I'm just a ticket-taker. I don't care about this theater's revenue," Yoshikage said, his face stern. "Secondly, as a customer, the movie you wanted to see has already started."
"You're no fun," Camie muttered, just loud enough for Yoshikage to hear.
Is she provoking me? She has to be! Does she really think I can't do anything to make her leave?
Just as Yoshikage was about to do something, another person suddenly appeared in his line of sight—someone he never expected to see here.
"Inasa Yoarashi?" Yoshikage looked on in confusion as the tall young man, dressed in athletic wear and a completely mismatched black hat, ran in, panting. "Aren't you supposed to be taking the U.A. exam right now? What are you doing here?"
Camie raised her hand and waved it back and forth, trying to get Inasa's attention. "Over here, over here~"
"Eh?!" Inasa seemed just as surprised. He caught his breath and strode over. "Kira, what are you doing with someone from Shiketsu High?"
So the person Camie was waiting for was Inasa? And she's from Shiketsu High?
Camie grinned and stepped in front of Inasa, then turned to face Yoshikage. "This isn't a good place to talk, is it? Let's go to the cafe next door. You have to come, okay?" She then led the way out the door.
"You've got this," Yoshikage said, gesturing to his coworker, who nodded his head vigorously with an exaggerated expression.
Yoshikage came out from behind the counter and, along with Inasa, followed behind Camie.
"Inasa, how do you know her? And shouldn't you be at your exam?" Yoshikage asked, tilting his head at Inasa, who was sweating for some reason.
"Haha, well, there are a lot of reasons for that..." Inasa said evasively, laughing nervously before quickening his pace to walk alongside Camie.
Something is definitely wrong... Yoshikage's eyes narrowed. Inasa was hiding something. He followed them without saying another word.
Although it seemed to be her first time at this cafe, Camie glanced at the menu only once before ordering. "Ceylon black tea, thank you."
She rested her chin on her hand, seeming to be in a very good mood. She beamed at Yoshikage and Inasa. "It's spring, you know? The fresh black tea tastes the best. I recommend you two get it as well."
If anyone should be making recommendations, it should be me, the local, Yoshikage thought, ignoring her questionable comment.
Inasa placed his hands on the edge of the table and asked solemnly, "Is the offer from Shiketsu High real? Can I really take your entrance exam?"
Before she could answer, Yoshikage cleared his throat, reminding Inasa that he was still completely in the dark.
"Oh, right. Kira, here's what happened," he said, a little guiltily, and slowly began to recount the events of his day.
"Okay, so let me get this straight," Yoshikage summarized. "You ran into Endeavor's son during the exam, he ignored you just like his father would, and you felt so insulted that you didn't want to go to the same high school as that guy. So, in a fit of rage, you told the proctor you were withdrawing from the exam? And because you also listed U.A. for the general entrance exams, you used the principal's connections to get in touch with Shiketsu High so you wouldn't be left without a school to go to. Is that right?"
Inasa covered his face. "That's the gist of it, but why does it sound like I'm just being overly prideful when you put it that way!"
"Well, aren't you...?" Camie said under her breath, cradling her cup and taking a small sip of her tea.
"That's not it at all."
It was the first time Yoshikage had seen such a dark expression on Inasa's face. "That man, Endeavor, he doesn't deserve to be called a Pro Hero. There's no light of justice shining in his eyes. He's just a power-worshipper who constantly glares at All Might with hatred. In my eyes, he's no different from a villain. They're both just people who use their Quirks to vent their frustrations, only the targets of their violence are different."
The words that came out of Inasa's mouth were as deep and dark as hell itself, utterly tearing down Endeavor—the No. 2 Hero in Japan, the man who held the record for resolving the most criminal incidents in history—and painting him as nothing more than a brute who only solved problems with violence.
But was that really the truth?