"If the test is only this difficult, passing shouldn't be a problem."
Igarashi Masata thought this casually while glancing at Yaoyorozu Momo beside him. Judging by her calm expression, she seemed just as confident.
"With a Quirk as versatile as hers, scoring high definitely won't be an issue," Masata muttered, though his gaze soon drifted elsewhere.
"Hm? Why does Izuku look so nervous?" Masata wondered. "He punched that giant robot down with one blow—he should be ridiculously strong. What is there to worry about in a test like this?"
With that thought, Masata walked over and lightly patted Izuku on the shoulder.
"Hey, Midoriya. You look like you're worried about failing the test."
Izuku turned around, startled, only to see Masata's curious expression.
"Igarashi… please just call me Izuku," he said awkwardly. "And yeah… I am really worried about this test."
"Huh?" Masata blinked. "You blew up that robot with one punch. This test focuses on strength and agility—shouldn't it be perfect for you?"
Masata had subconsciously assumed Izuku's Quirk was some kind of extreme physical enhancement.
"No, it's not like that," Izuku said quickly, shaking his head. "My Quirk gives me incredible power, but I can't control it properly. Every time I use it, I hurt myself. After the entrance exam, my arms and legs were basically unusable. It's not as simple as it looks."
Masata paused.
"Can't control your Quirk, huh…" He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "That is tricky. I don't think I can help much directly. My Quirk has felt natural since the moment I awakened it—like an extension of my own body."
Izuku's shoulders slumped slightly, though he still forced a small smile.
"It's okay. I'll figure something out myself."
Masata suddenly grinned.
"Well, I can share a bit of experience—something that helped me get stronger."
Izuku's eyes immediately lit up.
"My biggest advantage is control over my body—rikidō, raw physical force," Masata said confidently.
"Control… over strength?" Izuku repeated.
"The key is power concentration," Masata explained. "Even a basic straight punch isn't just about the arm. Your legs, waist, shoulders, and arm all move together. When everything is synchronized, you can concentrate your strength into a single point."
He demonstrated the motion lightly as he spoke.
"Training that kind of control is hard. It takes constant repetition until it becomes muscle memory—knowing exactly when to contract and release."
Masata sighed.
"But you don't really have time to train that properly before the test. Still, if you keep this idea in mind—using your body efficiently—you might be able to squeeze out more power without overloading yourself."
Izuku fell silent, touching his chin as he processed the words.
"Power concentration… concentration…"
Suddenly, his eyes shone.
"I get it! Thank you, Igarashi!" Izuku exclaimed, bowing deeply.
"Hey, don't thank me too much," Masata said, scratching his head. "I'm just talking. You'll still have to figure out how to apply it yourself."
First Event: 50-Meter Dash
"Iida Tenya—3.04 seconds!"
The bespectacled student shot down the track like a bullet, engines roaring from his calves.
"Asui Tsuyu—5.58 seconds!"
"Her name really suits her," Masata muttered quietly.
"Uraraka Ochaco… huh? Why is she touching herself before running?" Masata tilted his head. "Some kind of personal routine?"
"Oh! A laser?! That's awesome! Even if the aim's a little questionable, it still looks cool!"
"Next group—Igarashi Masata and Bakugo Katsuki."
Aizawa-sensei's lazy voice echoed across the field.
Bakugo glanced sideways, his expression sharp.
"Hah? You again, magma bastard?"
"I won't lose to you this time."
Masata laughed.
"Wow, Little Bakugo is fired up. Since you put it that way, I can't hold back either."
Aizawa raised his hand.
"Ready… go."
"Explosion speed—!" Bakugo started to shout—
—but a gust of wind blasted past him.
"Igarashi Masata—1.46 seconds."
Aizawa announced the result calmly, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Bakugo Katsuki—4.13 seconds."
"Damn it!" Bakugo snarled. "What kind of trick did you use?!"
"No trick," Masata said cheerfully. "Just my Quirk."
Students quickly gathered around them.
"What is your Quirk, anyway?" Kirishima Eijiro asked curiously. "That red glow—was that magma?"
Masata cleared his throat.
"My Quirk lets me generate magma anywhere on my body—not just my arms. The eruption creates explosive force, so I can temporarily boost my physical power by mimicking a volcanic eruption."
He shrugged.
"My clothes don't usually survive it, so I stick to my arms. Just now, I enhanced my legs. Thankfully, I controlled the output well enough not to burn my pants."
Masata shuddered slightly.
"That would've been embarrassing."
What Masata didn't say was that he could only do this because of his passive Quirk—Cell Strengthening.Whenever his body was pushed to its limit by magma output, that Quirk reinforced his cells, gradually increasing his physical tolerance. The two Quirks worked together perfectly.
Of course, he wasn't about to tell anyone he had more than one.
"You're incredible," Kirishima said excitedly. "You're like a man made of iron!"
Nearby, Uraraka watched with quiet admiration, cheeks faintly flushed.
Masata blinked.
"…Wait, is she looking at me?"