I Like Sephiroth. So References Will Come.

So, finally, getting to the plot huh? Be a shame if I liked it...added more filler. ;|

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10 Months Later

Ten months had passed since that fateful day when Bakugo first confronted Kuro about his cryptic advice. Since then, Bakugo had fought Kuro more times than he'd care to admit. Each battle was a test of strength, a contest of wills, and although Bakugo hated losing, there was something about the challenge that kept him coming back.

Kuro's attitude was as infuriating as ever, but it had a way of pushing Bakugo to new heights, forcing him to train harder and fight smarter. Strangely enough, Bakugo had started to adopt a new attitude—a more calculated approach, less driven by raw anger and more by a desire to prove himself.

As for Izuku Midoriya, things had changed as well. Bakugo's relentless pressure had worn him down, and it seemed like Izuku had finally given up on his dream of becoming a hero. At least, that's what it looked like on the surface.

Bakugo had distanced himself, no longer hovering over Izuku with harsh words and scathing remarks. To Izuku, it seemed as if Bakugo had simply stopped caring about him, and while a part of him was relieved, another part was deeply saddened by it. After all, despite everything, they had once been friends.

...

But today was a new day, and it was one of the most important days of their lives—the day of the U.A. entrance exams.

The streets leading to the U.A. were bustling with activity as students from all over made their way toward the prestigious academy. Among them was Kuro, dressed in a simple sweater that contrasted with the seriousness of the occasion.

His usual bright smile was in place, and his large, pure eyes sparkled with excitement. To anyone watching, he looked like just another hopeful candidate, though he didn't get into recommendations because you need either money or connections, he's getting in here.

As Kuro walked, lost in his thoughts about the upcoming exam, he was suddenly bumped into by a small, green-haired figure. The impact was slight, but it startled both of them.

"I'm so sorry!" the figure exclaimed, quickly bowing at a perfect 90-degree angle. "I didn't see you! I'm really, really sorry!"

Kuro blinked, taken aback by the sudden flurry of apologies. The boy before him was none other than Izuku Midoriya, his eyes wide with panic as he continued to bow repeatedly.

"Ah, no worries at all!" Kuro replied, his voice warm and reassuring. "It's fine. I should've been paying more attention too."

Izuku finally stopped bowing, though his hands were still fidgeting nervously. "I-I didn't mean to bump into you. I'm just... a bit nervous about the exam."

Kuro smiled, his usual sunny demeanor shining through. "I get it. It's a big day, huh? But don't worry, we've got this! My name's Tenshin Kurokami, by the way. But most people just call me Kuro."

Izuku nodded, trying to calm his racing heart. "I'm Izuku Midoriya. It's nice to meet you, Kuro."

They exchanged a brief but friendly handshake, and Kuro's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "So, Izuku, what's your quirk? If you don't mind me asking."

Izuku hesitated a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. The truth was, he had a quirk now—something he never thought possible. But it was new, and he was still getting used to it. The guilt of partially lying to Kuro gnawed at him, but not enough to stop him from answering.

"It's... It's a power-type quirk," Izuku said nervously, scratching the back of his head.

Kuro's smile widened, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "Really? That's awesome! Mine's a power-type quirk too. It's called 'Ki'."

Izuku's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Ki? That sounds interesting! What does it do?"1

Before Izuku could finish his question, Kuro interrupted with a grin. "Oh, it's pretty versatile! But let's not focus on that right now. What's important is that we give this exam our best shot, right?"

Izuku nodded, feeling a bit more at ease thanks to Kuro's upbeat attitude. But even as they talked, a small part of him still felt uneasy.

He wasn't lying about having a quirk anymore, but there was still so much about it that he didn't understand—so much that he couldn't control yet. And now, standing next to someone as confident and powerful as Kuro, he couldn't help but feel like he was still the same quirkless kid, just playing pretend.

Kuro noticed the slight shift in Izuku's demeanor and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. I'm sure your quirk is amazing. We're going to crush this exam, okay?"

Izuku forced a smile, nodding again. "Yeah... Thanks, Kuro."

As they continued walking toward the U.A. entrance, who knows what would happen? I might kill an extra though.

...

After saying goodbye to Midoriya, Kuro continued his walk up the stairs, his mind already shifting gears to the next part of his plan.

The U.A. entrance exam was no ordinary test; it was a competition where every advantage mattered, and Kuro intended to make sure he had one. As he reached the top of the stairs, he approached one of the guards stationed near the entrance to the exam hall.

"Excuse me," Kuro said, his voice light and innocent, his large eyes wide with an almost childlike sincerity. "I need to use the washroom."

The guard glanced at him, then nodded, his stern expression softening slightly. Kuro's request seemed harmless enough—after all, what could a kid possibly do? "It's down the hall to the left," the guard directed, motioning Kuro forward.

"Thank you!" Kuro responded with a cheerful smile, his demeanor as sunny as ever. But as soon as he was out of sight, that smile faded, replaced by a look of focused determination.

Once clear of the guard's line of sight, Kuro took a deep breath and concentrated. A faint, light purple aura began to surround his feet, shimmering with barely perceptible energy. This was the essence of his quirk, "Ki," a versatile ability that allowed him to enhance his body in various ways. Today, he'd use it for something a bit more unconventional.

Kuro approached the wall and, with effortless ease, placed his foot against it. The "Ki" around his feet allowed him to adhere to the surface, and soon, he was walking vertically up the wall as if it were the floor.

His movements were fluid, his body perfectly balanced as he reached the ceiling. With a silent leap, he latched onto the ceiling, his "Ki" keeping him securely in place.

From his new vantage point, Kuro began to carefully make his way up, his senses heightened as he tuned into the conversation occurring several floors above him.

It was a risky maneuver; maintaining this level of concentration for an extended period was taxing, but the potential payoff was worth it. Any bit of information he could gather would give him an edge in the exam.

Above him, just a few floors up, the exam supervisors, judges, and teachers were gathered in a room. These were the people who would determine the future of every aspiring hero who walked through U.A.'s gates today. If Izuku had been here, he would have recognized them immediately—especially the two figures currently engaged in conversation.

Shota Aizawa, better known as Eraser Head, stood with his usual tired expression, his unkempt long hair and black uniform giving him a somewhat disheveled, almost homeless appearance.

The only thing that stood out more than his lack of enthusiasm was the gray scarf he always wore, draped casually around his neck. Despite his appearance, Aizawa was a formidable hero, known for his ability to erase the quirks of others with just a look.

Next to him, perched on a chair far too large for his small frame, was Principal Nezu—a white, mouse-like creature with a scar over his left eye.

Despite his diminutive size and seemingly cute appearance, Nezu was a brilliant strategist and one of the few animals with a quirk. His intelligence and leadership had earned him the respect of everyone at U.A., even someone as cynical as Aizawa.

"I think it's about time we get started," Aizawa said in his usual monotone voice, clearly eager to get the day over with. "When can we begin the written part of the exam?"

Principal Nezu responded in his usual chipper tone, the contrast between his voice and Aizawa's evident. "In about 10 minutes! We want to give the students a little more time to settle in before we start. It's important they feel ready for the challenge ahead."

Aizawa sighed, his tired eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you have your eyes on anyone this year?"

Nezu shook his head with a bright, almost mischievous smile. "Oh no, Aizawa! I'm not going to be biased at all! Every student will have an equal opportunity to impress us. We're here to observe and guide, not to judge prematurely."

Aizawa gave Nezu a skeptical look but didn't press the issue. He knew better than to question Nezu's methods. The principal was always several steps ahead, even when it didn't seem that way.

As Kuro listened in from his hidden position, a slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. So, the written exam was about to start in 10 minutes, and Nezu wasn't showing any favoritism.

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[Auther: Yo. Not much to say.]