Chapter 10: Eight Tests

Chapter 10: Eight Tests

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Yahari Kyoujiro stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his new sports uniform. The material hugged his lean, muscular frame perfectly, as if it had been custom-made for him. He raised his arms, watching how the fabric stretched with his movements, and couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction. The uniform may have been standard issue, but it looked and felt exceptional.

Around him, the locker room buzzed with energy. His fellow students from Class 1-A were all wearing the same navy blue and white tracksuits, the emblem of U.A. High School proudly displayed on their chests. Some were chatting excitedly, while others focused on warming up or stretching. The air was thick with anticipation for what lay ahead.

"Hey, guys," Kirishima, the red-haired boy known for his hardening Quirk, called out. "What do you think of these uniforms? Pretty cool, right?"

Yahari chuckled, glancing over at him. "Yeah, not bad at all. Fits like a glove. They definitely know what they're doing here."

Kirishima grinned, flexing his arms proudly. "Looking the part is half of being a hero!"

Midoriya, standing nearby, was adjusting his sleeves with a thoughtful expression. "I heard these uniforms are designed to withstand a lot of physical stress. It's pretty impressive."

Kaminari, the electric Quirk user, chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Yeah, but they could've added some flair. I mean, how about some lightning bolts for me?"

"Or a built-in sound system!" Sero joked, earning laughs from the rest of the boys. "Imagine fighting villains while blasting your own theme music."

The room filled with laughter, and for a moment, the stress of being in such a competitive environment seemed to fade. Yahari felt a sense of camaraderie among his peers—despite being rivals, they were all in this together.

A few minutes later, the light-hearted banter faded as the group filed out of the locker room, heading toward the training grounds. Yahari followed, his focus shifting from the relaxed atmosphere to the upcoming tests.

When they stepped onto the sprawling field, their instructor, Shota Aizawa, was already waiting for them. The girls from their class were gathered, too, with familiar faces like Uraraka, Asui, and Yaoyorozu among them. The excitement was palpable.

Aizawa's voice cut through the chatter. "Today, you'll be taking part in eight physical tests designed to measure your Quirk capabilities. This isn't just about raw strength—it's about strategy, control, and how well you can apply your Quirks in different scenarios."

Yahari's curiosity piqued. He was eager to see how his rubber-based powers would hold up in these challenges. As part of Class 1-A, he knew competition would be fierce.

Aizawa continued, listing the tests: "You'll compete in a 50-meter dash, grip strength test, standing long jump, sustained sideways jumps, ball throw, toe-touch, seated toe-touch, and a sidestep test. Each one is designed to push you to your limits."

The tests began, and Yahari observed his classmates with interest. Midoriya used his Quirk sparingly, careful not to overdo it, while Bakugo blasted through the 50-meter dash with his usual explosive power, setting a high bar for the others.

When it was Yahari's turn for the dash, he lined up beside Iida, known for his incredible speed. Iida grinned, his engine-like legs revving in place. "Think you can keep up, Yahari?"

Yahari met his gaze with a determined smile. "We'll see."

The signal went off, and Yahari sprinted forward, his body absorbing the impact of his rubbery strides. He felt the ground give slightly beneath him, but quickly adapted, pushing himself to keep pace with Iida. Though Iida surged ahead, Yahari wasn't far behind, finishing the race respectably.

Next came the grip strength test. Yahari watched as Kirishima, using his Hardening Quirk, crushed the device effortlessly. When Yahari's turn came, he gripped the device, stretching his fingers to apply maximum pressure. His score was solid, but not the best.

In the standing long jump, Yahari's elasticity gave him an edge. He bounced off the ground with a surprising leap, landing farther than he'd expected. His classmates cheered, and he couldn't help but smile at the result.

As the tests progressed, Yahari found himself caught in a friendly rivalry with his classmates. During the ball throw, he wound his arm back like a slingshot, using his Quirk to launch the ball high into the air. It soared before crashing down with a satisfying thud.

"Nice one, Yahari!" Kaminari called from the sidelines. "But let's see you beat Bakugo."

Bakugo, unimpressed, blasted his way through the tests with his usual aggressive flair, determined to claim the top spot.

In the sidestep test, Yahari found himself paired with Todoroki. The two exchanged a nod of respect before starting. Yahari's agility allowed him to twist and weave through the cones with ease, while Todoroki's precision, using both ice and fire, made him a formidable competitor. Yahari managed to keep pace, but he knew Todoroki's control was exceptional.

Throughout the day, moments of humor lightened the tension. Uraraka and Asui exchanged jokes during the sustained sideways jumps, while Mineta made awkward attempts to impress the girls, much to their amusement. Yahari appreciated these brief moments of levity—they reminded him that, despite the challenges, they were still just students learning together.

As the tests concluded, Yahari stood among his classmates, awaiting the final results. He wasn't expecting first place—Bakugo and Todoroki's performances had been incredible—but he hoped he had ranked well.

Aizawa began announcing the results, starting from the top. As expected, Bakugo took first place, with Todoroki following closely behind. Yahari was pleased to hear his name called mid-rank—a respectable position for his first major test.

The day's events left him both exhausted and exhilarated. As the class dispersed, Yahari reflected on his performance. He had proven himself capable today, but he knew this was only the beginning. There was still much to learn, and many challenges yet to come.

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