[Some time later]
—Shinkou Academy—
It was finally time, the entrance exams were just an hour train ride away. For a guy waking up at 8 A.M., it barely gave Renji enough time to get ready and get to the station, let alone grab a meal.
Normally, he'd eat in the dining hall or swing by Sanji's place since it was nearby. This morning, though, he couldn't afford the detour.
"Oh shit!" Renji exclaimed as he checked the time on his phone. It was as if all feelings of exhaustion or grogginess disappeared in a split second as he ran to the shower while grabbing his clothes.
After taking the quickest shower in history, Renji emerged wearing a fitted black athletic shirt, black cargo joggers, and lightweight trainers to ground the outfit. Grabbing his things, he bolted out of the room before turning back to snatch a matte silver utility jacket.
Zooming through the corridors and out of the East Wing, Renji expertly navigated his way to Tokyo Station where he would have to take a train to Musutafu. The chilly air bit at his face the moment he hit the street, but the adrenaline kept his stride steady.
Despite himself, an excited grin was plastered across his face. This day would be the first step of his career and he wouldn't expect anything less than an all-out victory.
—Tokyo Station—
Arriving at the train station, the sharp scent of roasted coffee filled the air from a nearby café. As much as Renji wanted to grab a cup, he had to get on the train as soon as possible. Pulling his jacket tighter around himself, he made his way toward the Musutafu line.
"Oh, come on." Renji had stopped to catch his breath only to notice the train had begun letting passengers in and he would miss it if he kept stalling.
I should've woken up sooner. Renji groaned, sliding his ticket into the reader as the gates beeped. He snagged a brief second wind, pushing past the last few stragglers and slipping onto the maglev.
The train was warm compared to the chilly air outside, and he could hear the comforting hum of the train vibrating softly beneath his feet.
He strode down the train looking for his seat and finally stumbled upon it after a few sections.
Tossing his bag in the overhead storage, he sank into the firm but comfortable aisle seat. Just as he was about to drift off to the promised neverland, a soft voice yanked him out of his slumber.
"Hey! Mind scooting over a bit?" a bubbly voice chirped.
Renji's eyes snapped open. He instinctively went to his jacket's inner pocket, fingers brushing the smooth metal he always carried, but then he saw her.
Standing in the aisle was a girl… well, technically, a headless girl, wearing a pleated A-line skirt and a fitted pink turtleneck. But there was no tension in her stance, just a cheerful energy that contrasted greatly with the absurdity of her appearance.
"Oh! Thanks so much!" she exclaimed, bouncing lightly on her toes as she slid into the window seat. "I was worried I'd have to stand the whole ride!"
Renji's lips twitched, unsure whether to laugh or gape. "Uh… yeah, of course," he said, sliding back into the aisle seat.
"I love the window seat! You can see everything zoom past so fast, it's amazing! Don't you think?" she chirped, leaning lightly against the window.
Renji hesitated, but the infectious energy made it hard not to smile. "Yeah, it's something," he said, trying to focus on the view outside and not the fact that there was an invisible person sitting right next to him.
She giggled. "I'm Hagakure! Nice to meet you! Oh, and you must be taking the exams too, right? You look the age. I've been so nervous all morning. I kept practicing over and over, and I still don't know if it's enough!"
Renji nodded, feeling the tension in his chest ease slightly. "Me too, but I guess we'll find out soon enough."
Hagakure bounced in her seat just a little, her excitement palpable. "Exactly! Let's do our best, okay? I can feel we're gonna crush it!"
Renji let out a light chuckle. Hagakure really reminded him of Emi-san, all bright and bubbly.
"Personally, I can't wait to get started! It's kind of like a puzzle! A really stressful, really important puzzle, but still a puzzle!" she said while humming a little tune.
She turned to him suddenly. "Have you studied everything? I mean, math formulas, science stuff, history dates… I tried to cram all of it last night, but I still feel like I'm missing something!"
"I studied enough," Renji replied with a small shrug. "It's not like I'm losing sleep over it."
Hagakure tilted slightly toward him, her energy unwavering. "Don't worry, you look super confident! Like you can stay calm under pressure. That's my goal too. Maybe I'll catch up to you!"
Renji gave her a small nod of agreement, settling in as the train's hum mixed in with the warm air flowing from the bottom of the train.
Hagakure opened her mouth, ready to ask another question, something about his study routine or what he was planning to do after the exams, but then she noticed his eyes were closed.
"Oh!" she whispered, a small giggle escaping her. "He fell asleep already?" She leaned back carefully, trying not to bump him, and tilted her head. "Wow, he really does stay calm under pressure… even on exam day. Impressive!"
She hummed softly to herself, trying not to disturb him, but her fingers twitched with the urge to ask him everything she had planned. Instead, she settled into her seat and peered out the window as the city streaked past.
"Guess I'll have to wait until he wakes up to ask," she murmured cheerfully, her voice carrying just a hint of mischief. "But that's fine! I can enjoy the ride and think of more questions to annoy him with later!"
Hagakure hummed a tune, her energy barely contained while she gazed out the window, leaving Renji to nap peacefully beside her.
The train's smooth hum and her quiet presence created a strangely comfortable bubble even with the exams awaiting them in Musutafu.
—
The train slowed with a soft hiss as it approached the renovated Musutafu Station.
"Here we go! Almost time!" Hagakure whispered to herself, barely containing her energy. She peered out at the platform as other students began funneling out of the train.
Renji stirred beside her, blinking awake. The sudden stop seemed to pull him fully into the present moment. He stretched, feeling the tension in his shoulders from the morning's rush melt away.
Hagakure glanced at him, an invisible grin on her face. "Morning nap, huh? Didn't think anyone could sleep in these conditions. I could barely sit still."
Renji smirked faintly while grabbing his bag. "Guess that means you're ready then."
Her laugh twinkled through the air. "Absolutely!"
She practically skipped off the train, humming happily with Renji jogging to keep pace.
"Race you to the school!" she shouted cheerfully, already bouncing ahead.
"Wait! Don't get us in trouble before the exam even starts!" Renji called, running to catch up.
—
—Written Exam Hall—
Having arrived just on time, the two made it to the school only to find hundreds of other test takers already there and making their way to their rooms for the written exam.
Before long, they were approached by one of the proctors to confirm their identities and their testing location.
Hagakure turned to look at Renji after noticing that their rooms would be quite a ways away. "Good luck—"
Then she froze, her eyes widening. "Wait! Hold on… what did you say your name was?" she asked, her voice small and embarrassed.
Renji chuckled at her antics and shook his head.
"I never actually told you," he said dryly, though a mischievous smile tugged at his lips. "You never asked."
Hagakure's hands shot up to her face, her blush spreading across where her cheeks would be. "Ah! I knew it! I knew I forgot something important!" she whispered, bouncing lightly in place. "The train, the rush, the exams, I totally spaced out!"
Renji's smile widened slightly. "Well… I guess now's as good a time as any," he said. "I'm Kanzaki Renji, it's nice to meet you."
Hagakure's invisible eyes lit up with excitement. "Kanzaki Renji! Got it! Nice to meet you properly!" she chirped, bouncing lightly in place. "And now I can really cheer for you! You're going to crush this written exam, I just know it!"
Renji let out a small, amused sigh, shaking his head. "Thanks, Hagakure. I'll do my best."
She gave him a quick thumbs-up before turning to move toward her room across the massive hall. "Then let's both give it our all! No holding back!"
—
—Exam Room Number 23—
Any and all other personal items had to be put away in a separate room. This did mean that Renji felt a little on edge. Considering that there were thousands of students on campus taking exams with all kinds of volatile quirks, it often took only a minor inconvenience for something drastic to happen.
All he could do was rely on the heroes proctoring the exams to keep him safe.
It's better than nothing.
Sitting down in their assigned seats, most of the students were either fiddling with their pencils or tapping their legs nervously.
They were meant to be the best of the best. It would be clear that they weren't up to par if they didn't pass this exam.
It was even harsher for the Hero Course students who had another practical exam underway right after the written.
However, Renji was far from worried. Hagakure wasn't wrong when she said that he looked confident. In all truth, there was no universe where he didn't pass.
The announcement crackled overhead, the lead examiner's voice filling the hall.
"You have an hour and a half for the written portion. Cheating or quirk usage will result in immediate disqualification. Begin."
And just like that, the silence broke. Papers flipped, pencils scratched, and futures started to take shape.
Renji glanced down at the first page, his pencil balanced loosely between his fingers. Around him, students fidgeted, their tension filling the air like static. He could practically feel the nerves bleeding through the room.
For a moment, he almost pitied them. To most, this test was a wall they had to climb. To him? It wasn't even an obstacle.
He could ace this blindfolded. With his quirk, he wouldn't even have to lift a finger. But that would almost be insulting.
No. He'd do it the old-fashioned way. Just to prove a point.
His lips curved into the faintest smirk as his pencil touched the paper. Calm and unhurried.
This part… I've already won.