บท 90: Chapter 90: Provisional Hero License Exam (IV)
A/N: Do note that this chapter is basically following canon word for word. Shido's a teacher, so it's tough for me to make him relevant to government-related things.
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Lucky for Shoto and Inasa, the other heroes have just arrived in time to help with the capture of Gang Orca.
Everyone used the special moves that they have developed over the training camp. They managed to trap, trip, and net most of Gang Orca's sidekicks. The range of their attacks succeeded in hitting Gang Orca himself as well.
However, Gang Orca wasn't just the number ten hero for nothing. Despite wearing restrictions and weights, they were still in a different league from the students.
Despite being in the middle of the flaming hot tornado, Gang Orca wasn't worried. With his mouth facing the sky, he produced an ultrasonic wave that completely dispersed the flaming tornado.
Just as Gang Orca started to taunt the two completely immobilized heroes, Izuku suddenly appeared behind and landed a kick on him.
Gang Orca lifted a hand and managed to block his kick, and Izuku, seeing his reaction, immediately tried to position himself to aim a second kick on the same spot.
However, just as he was about to do so, the buzzer rang.
BZZZT
"Ahem! At present, every last HUC member on the field has been rescued from impending danger. Therefore, I declare that this test is...over!!"
The commentator announced happily, "The results will be announced once all scores are tallied. Anyone with injuries, please proceed to the medical area...everyone else, get changed, and stand by for instructions."
After a small wait, Shido and the other teachers finally saw a ministage being carried out to the open arena. On the ministage, a screen was present along with a podium.
The all-too-familiar sleep-deprived commentator arrived with his head drooped downwards, and he started speaking.
"It's been a long battle, boys and girls, but now it's time for the results. Before that, though, regarding the scoring system...we of the heroes public safety commission, along with the HUC members, were deducting points on two issues as we watched you perform."
The commentator whipped out two fingers and elaborated, "Essentially, we judged you on your ability to act flawlessly in a crisis. Anyhow, here are the names of those who passed the test, in alphabetical order."
The commentator directed their attention towards the screen, which showed eighty-nine names present.
Being the curious boy he is, Shido flew over and floated in front of the big screen and scanned the entire thing within a minute before flying back to the audience stands.
"So? Who passed?" Aizawa asked.
"Everyone except for our number two and three, Bakugo and Todoroki." Shido replied with a nonchalant shrug before turning his attention to the students below, "Todoroki, I can understand, but Bakugo? Is it because of his uncontrollable foul mouth?"
Aizawa's lip twitched at Shido's guess. It might really just be right.
After a little drama between Todoroki and Inasa that Shido didn't care about, the commentator continued speaking.
"I assume you've all had a chance to view the results. Next, we'll be handing out score sheets. We've explained the scoring system in detail, so read them over carefully. It was a punitive scoring system, with a threshold of fifty points. On your score sheets, you'll see how many points you lost for each given action."
He paused here to return the students their grading sheets and waited for a while to let them look through. Noting that their attention was back on him after looking through how they fared, he continued, "Going forward, those who passed now have the legal right to act in a heroic capacity, but only during emergencies. That means fighting villains, rescuing people in disaster scenarios...even without a professional hero's guidance, you're permitted to take action on your own. But keep in mind that every action you take...comes with a heavy responsibility to society."
The commentator paused to let his words sink in before resuming, "As you all know, the great hero All Might is out of commission. His active presence served as an essential deterrent to crime. Without that factor holding them back, we can be sure that the more daring villains out there will start showing their faces. The balance has shifted, and the world is bound to start changing in a big way. With that in mind, know that you, the next generation, are the central pillar of society. Now, as heroes, you will set a standard. You must become the new bulwark keeping crime at bay. Be aware that the licenses you now receive are provisional ones. The road ahead is still a long one, so study hard at your respective academic institutions!!"
Hearing the commentator's words, Shido wasn't too happy.
"Who said that All Might was the only one who was supporting the society? What about me and my hard work?" Shido snorted softly under his breath, but the two teachers beside him heard him.
"Yeah, that's right!" Yoshinon nodded his head vehemently and agreed with what Shido said.
"Well, that's just too bad since you never actually got a license to become a hero." Aizawa didn't pity Shido's vain contribution and spoke evenly.
"Maybe it's time for me to black-, ahem, I mean ask principal mouse for a license." Shido thought for a bit before nodding his head, seemingly decided on something.
'He was about to say blackmail, wasn't he?!' Both Aizawa and Emi thought at the same time before shrugging their shoulders. It was none of their concern anyway, and they instead focused on the next part.
"Now then...ahem...as for those who didn't make the cut...don't be disheartened by your scores. You don't have time for that. Mostly because there's still a chance. If you sign up for and complete a unique three-month training course...and pass the individual test at the end, you, too, will be awarded your provisional licenses.
You may recall that I just said, 'Going forward.' Looking at that future, we need as many top-class heroes as we can find. The first round was basically a qualifier, and you hundred who were chosen to move on all have potential worth cultivating.
That's precisely why we monitored you all to the very end. Just because you failed doesn't mean that all hope is lost. Instead, if you go back and work on your deficiencies, you have the potential to surpass even those who triumphed today."
The commentator's facial expression didn't change a single bit throughout the whole thing, and he continued in his steady, sleepy voice, "Attending the training course while maintaining your regular course work will make for a packed schedule, but...if you're up for the challenge, the next test is in April..."
As soon as he finished his speech, he left the podium and let the students celebrate by themselves.
"Aizawa-sensei, you don't have to wait for me to head back together. I have something to do now." Shido told Aizawa before facing Emi and handing her a strip of paper containing some words.
He whispered, "It was nice to see you again, Joke-sensei. Here are some of the things and places he likes and enjoys going, with the most prominent one being the zoo's all-you-can-pet corner."
Emi was about to thank Shido for the tips when Shido disappeared without waiting for either of them to respond.
"Sigh, where is this kid going now?" Aizawa looked at the spot where Shido disappeared and sighed tiredly.
"Who knows?" Emi chirped before immediately using the tips on the paper that Shido just gave her, "Say, why don't we hang out in the zoo this coming Sunday?"
"Eh?"
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After Shido disappeared into his shadow, he navigated his way throughout the entire building before spotting someone of his interest. He smiled and headed in that direction.
"Hello, Camie. What are you doing here?"
Camie suddenly turned around and did a roundhouse kick. Shido wasn't startled at the sudden blow and just ducked downwards.
"Woah, getting violent already, are we?" Shido continued speaking with a teasing smile on his face. Seeing that she had calmed down and was not going to attack again anytime soon, he revealed his entire body from the shadows.
Camie saw his body and realised something, "Phantom..."
"So what is a teacher at the famous UA doing here? Are you planning to remove me so that I won't be a competition for your students? Is this the way UA does it?"
Hearing her unexpected words, Shido laughed a little before replying to her, "You overthink. I don't need to do that. In fact, you would be an excellent opportunity for my students to grow. A stepping stone, if you will."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Camie narrowed her eyes and asked, but the smile on her face didn't leave.
"You see, I was watching you fight against my student, Izuku Midoriya, the green-haired boy."
However, hearing his words, Camie suddenly started turning red and panting heavily, and a silly smile replaced the previously calm smile.
"Yes...what about him? He's so cute...."
"Um...okay..." Shido was mum at her unexpected reaction but continued nevertheless, "You see, the way you hide your presence was absolutely astounding. I was just wondering where you have learned it from."
"At Shiketsu, of course. Where else would I have learned it from?" Camie tilted her head sideways and asked back, the silly smile never leaving her face.
"You're lying." Shido stated. It wasn't a question but a fact.
"So, what do you want from me?" Camie neither confirmed nor denied his statement and changed the topic.
"Your identity."
"I'm Camie Utsushimi."
"Show me your quirk then." Shido didn't mind her lies and continued talking.
"And why should I do that?"
"Cause if you don't, I'm going to arrest you for impersonating a Shiketsu student. And you don't want that, do you?"
Camie remained silent for a while before immediately running away in the opposite direction.
"My, my. So you admit that you're impersonating Camie?" Shido didn't care about her futile effort and instantly froze the entire tunnel, trapping Camie and him inside.
"You!" Seeing that her escape plan couldn't be followed, she changed her strategy and instantly pulled a knife and pounced on him.
Of course, Shido wouldn't be hurt by something as simple as a knife. Shido turned himself intangible, the knife went right through him, and Camie was shocked.
"Little girl, you won't be able to harm me. Turn yourself in." Shido advised Camie.
"Never."
Camie obviously refused and lept backward and looked around her desperately, trying to find a way out.
"You're trapped."
Shido instantly went forward and disarmed her, forcing her to drop the knife to the floor. Not wasting any more unnecessary words, he aimed at her chin and pushed his palm forward.
The back of a nape was very vulnerable, and an inexperienced person like him should not carelessly aim at that spot because he might accidentally break her neck vertebrae.
On the other hand, striking her on her chin throws her head back and pinches the nerves at the top of the spinal column, causing her to blackout.
Shido had never wanted a rope more than now to tie her up. He reminded himself to store at least one rope inside his storage space (Haniel Kaleidoscope) so that situations like this could be avoided.
He never knows; he might need a rope someday.
"But for now, let's just get Toga-san to the other heroes." Shido muttered as he dragged her down to the shadow realm for safekeeping before teleporting back to school.
"Shido? What are you doing here?" Nezu's curious voice drifted into his ears, and Shido smiled.
"I have a surprise for you." Shido stated as Camie's figure appeared from the shadows.
"Pft..." Nezu spat out the tea he was drinking, spilling it all over the paperwork. However, he didn't care about that for the time being.
He was more interested in why Shido decided to kidnap a student from Shiketsu high.
"Why did you kidnap a girl?!"
"Huh? I thought you might be interested in Himiko Toga, the shapeshifter from Himura's little gang." Shido tilted his head sideways.
"Really?! Is that her?"
Nezu was excited about capturing a villain.
"Yep, she was infiltrating the provisional hero license exam as Camie Utsushimi, a Shiketsu High School student. As for where the original is, you're going to have to ask her yourself. If there is anything else, just ask Aizawa-sensei about it. Bye~."
Immediately after saying his piece, Shido teleported away before Nezu could even say a word.
"Urgh...so troublesome..." Nezu looked at the unconscious Camie, whose disguise was slowly wearing off, "...yet so valuable."
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A/N: I really want to write more of my other fanfic though...I really can't decide...Don't worry though, no matter how slow my update rate is, it will never go below one per week.
If you want to support me or/and want 14+ chapters in advance, link:
https://www.patréon.com/spirits_everywhere
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