章 258: Top and Mediocrity

While the students that participated in the exam gathered in the hall, which was built in the middle of the stadium, the teachers, who accompanied them, sat in the audience area of the stadium, watching them from a distance.

Aizawa also sat in this area with his acquaintance Ms. Joke or Emi Fukukado. In the past, their office was quite close, so they knew each other. Because of this, their relationship was quite close, and she had always proposed to him to marry jokingly, which made him roll his eyes.

However, it had nothing to do with the students of Class 1-A currently since they were waiting for the announcement of the representative of the Hero Public Safety Commission, who supervised this exam.

Still, leaving the listless supervisor aside, there were so many people in this exam.

"There are so many people..."

"Hey, is it only me, or are they looking in our direction?"

"No, they're looking at Mineta."

As of now, Class 1-A gathered together in the front area of the hall, but even so, they became the center of attention. No, they had become the center of attention accidentally since they were standing with Mineta.

Everyone in this place was, without a doubt, curious about Mineta. Even the staff of the exam also kept looking at Mineta. However, they had to say that the more they looked at him, the more awe they were since this guy was so handsome.

"Er... well then, let us begin the provisional license thing. All right. Umm... my name is Mera, and I am from the Hero Public Safety Commission. My favorite form of sleep is NREM sleep. Good to meet you all."

Mera sighed as he lowered his head. "My work has been so busy I have hardly been able to sleep... there's just not enough manpower...! I want to sleep! All right. With that out of the way, let me explain this to you all."

Everyone was looking at Mera worriedly since this guy could fall anytime.

"There are 1540 of you here taking this exam. We will carry out an exercise to whittle down your numbers."

"Just like that, huh?"

"Is he serious?"

Everyone was speechless at how simple the exam was.

"In today's day and age, we are said to be living in a hero-saturated society. Ever since Stain's capture, there have been many who question the current state of affairs with heroes."

While Mineta didn't even show an interest, Midoriya and Iida showed solemn expressions since Stain's message left a deep impact on them.

A hero cannot seek compensation for his efforts.

It is a title one must be willing to go to the greatest lengths of self-sacrifice to earn.

Those pure boys aside, Mineta felt that Stain's words were stupid since a hero in the profession was different from a hero in the fairy tale. The hero was a law enforcer, so their nature was different.

As for why people called this profession the name of a hero, it was because it happened to be that way.

However, this thing wasn't absolute, especially when it was just a name.

To be honest, Mineta felt that a hero should be called a knight since, this way, no one would cause trouble like a Stain, considering a knight was paid while it was someone who helped a people.

Mera also thought the same and thought that Stain was ridiculous since, at this time and moment, who could live without money?

Money might not bring happiness, but with money, everything would be easier.

"Therefore, what's being tested is your speed! The first 100 examinees who achieve the required conditions will pass."

"!!?"

"Wait, hold on a second. There are 1540 of us, right? That's like 5% of us, isn't it?!!"

"Well, a lot has happened recently in the world..." Mera didn't take the complaints of the participants seriously. After all, if they were weak, they would be eliminated. Currently, what everyone needed was a strong one instead of the weaklings, so this method was the most efficient and the best.

"Is he serious?"

"And so, I will tell you about the passing conditions."

Mera then held two devices in his hands as he explained. "These." He showed the ball and some kind of target in his hands. "Every examinee will have three targets. You can place them wherever you would like, but it must be an exposed area. Places like the soles of your feet or your armpits are not allowed. You will each get six balls to carry. If a ball hits a target, the target will light up. If all three of your targets get lit up, you lose. The individual who lands the third hit will be credited with a "take-down." Those with at least two takedowns pass. Those are the rules."

The rules were so easy to understand.

Mineta almost yawned, wondering when the exam was going to start.

"Well then.. once the explanation is complete, balls and targets will be distributed to you all. We'll start one minute after you have all spread out."

"Expansion?"

They were all confused, but after receiving the balls and targets, they saw the hall was automatically opened, like in the sci-fi movie.

"All of you should be able to find a terrain that works for you, I think. Make the most of what you have, and do your best!"

After the hall was opened, what was shown before them was the miniature of various terrains from a city, factory, suburb, mountain, and various others.

Once again, they had to say the government was rather generous in educating the heroes.

Yet, for him, it was a normal thing since what the government needed was a stable country. With a stable country, everything was possible, especially in this chaos-like world caused by the appearance of Quirk.

Everyone from various schools also started to run in various directions, trying to go to the place which gave them the most advantages on this exam.

Mineta didn't follow and stretched his hands while shaking his waist since his waist was a bit sore.

'As expected, doing it with more than five girls last night is a bit too much.'

While Mineta didn't say anything, Midoriya suddenly said solemnly, "If it's just about the first to pass... there is no need in us trying to compete with each other... the best way to win is for us, who all know each other's abilities, to team up together...! Everyone! Don't stray too far! We should move into a group!" He thought that everyone would follow him, but many were looking at Mineta.

"Mineta-kun, what should we do?"

Even Bakugou and Todoroki didn't move and stared at Mineta.

"We're Yuuei. We're students from the best high school in the country. While I don't deny that it is best for all of us to pass this exam by teaming up together, I personally think that we should pass this exam individually. The best will survive, and the weak will be eliminated." Mineta took a deep breath and looked at everyone. "I know that my words are cruel, but if you want to become the best of the best, this is what you should do, but if you only want to pass with a so-so result, then go ahead and team up with the rest. Also, it isn't like the world will end if you fail since there is a next exam later. However, I believe that you all will pass, so..."

"3... 2.... 1..."

"Let's see each other later."

"START!"

Suddenly, Mineta disappeared and appeared on the side of several people as he took down ten people at once.

"The-The first person has passed! It is the fastest on record! It hasn't been two seconds since the exam, and he has taken three people at once! Ah, please stop! Don't eliminate more people, Mineta-kun!"

Mera quickly shouted from the loudspeaker, causing everyone in the stadium to be in a daze.

Hearing the voice, Mineta stopped and looked at his classmates. "See you!" Leaving those words, he walked to the waiting room, waiting for them in that place.

While they were in a daze, his words echoed in their hearts.

Some people grinned and were excited, but Midoriya felt heavy since he knew this was the difference between the people who aimed at the top and those who only aimed for mediocrity.