Koto's POV

It was a long week of grueling training before the Provisional License Exam and yet, it didn't seem long enough. I worked with Ectoplasm on my quirk, but I still felt woefully unprepared.

Upon learning more about Echolocation, he seems to think that I can control the actual size of the area I fill. Maybe with training, but every time I've tried to use it, I had to concentrate on the whole room, so it's understandably difficult to switch my mindset. Especially in that gym, if I even try to use that move, I immediately feel the drawbacks of my quirk. The couple times I tried, the nosebleeds were bad enough that I nearly passed out. Eventually, Cementoss made a box for me to sit in and train with.

"Think about it," Ectoplasm would say through the walls. "No real room you're going to be in is going to be completely closed. There's always going to be vents, cracks under a door, space between molecules. There's always space, so channel whatever lets you hold back!"

Despite his words, I could never get ahold of it. Sure, it made sense, but I don't think my quirk is strong enough yet to complete such a task.

Additionally, I had tried to work on the move I was practicing with Nyikang where I controlled the movements of somebody else's body. But again, I couldn't grasp complex movements, barely able to keep someone standing, despite my best efforts. I couldn't even think of a cool name for it.

Safe to say, I don't think I'm ready for this.

However, I did use this week to get some alterations for my hero costume. Not only did I add more traction to my boots so Sonic Boom can't sweep me off my feet as easily, but I also added a sort of hearing aid device to block out sound when needed. As per Mic's advice, I'm trying to stop my own hearing damage before it starts.

The morning of our exam, my classmates and I all gather in the common room. Most people show some sign of their nerves, whether it's bouncing their leg or pacing. Momo sits in the kitchen, binge eating, though I know that's to help with her quirk, so I don't think too much of it since she's otherwise keeping her cool.

I sit in the corner with my headphones in until I see the front door open. Mr. Aizawa walks in and addresses us.

"The bus will be here soon," he says. "You must all be in front of the school in ten minutes."

The moment he closes the door behind him, it's as if all the tension in the room has finally snapped. Mina tries to keep Toru from hyperventilating while people move away from Kaminari who has sparks flying off of him.

"Attention, class!!" Iida yells over the commotion. "We must be punctual! As aspiring heroes, we cannot afford to be late!"

"Huddle up, guys," Momo calls out, inviting us to join her in the entryway.

"Now, I believe in every one of you that you will tackle the harrowing trials ahead!" Iida continues. "The price of failure is high, but with all the ambition I see, we will not fail!"

We all share nervous glances, wondering if he knows how intimidating he's making this.

"Hey, we've grown a lot this year," Momo interjects. "After everything, I'd say we're more powerful than ever. We're definitely ready to be licensed heroes. I see the heart of a hero in everyone here."

"Yeah!" Toru cheers. "Everyone's gonna do great!"

"We've all worked so hard, ribbit!" Tsu adds.

"Everyone here is worthy of being where we are," Tokoyami interjects, looking around.

"I'm so proud of us, guys!" Eijiro exclaims, pumping his fist in the air.

"I'm so grateful for all of you," Koda speaks up, wringing his hands. "I know I tend to keep to myself, but you've always made me feel welcome. Like I belong, which isn't something I've really felt before."

Everyone shouts and cheers that he's amazing and definitely belongs with us. Eijiro rushes to grab Bakugo as he tries to escape and pulls him between us, both of us putting an arm around him so he can't run off.

"Everyone's so g-great!" I stutter out. "I b-b-believe in us, guys! We're gonna d-do awesome!"

The rest of my classmates go around, sharing their exclamations of support. Bakugo only grumbles, "whatever," but we know there's support behind it. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have left the huddle yet?

Walking to the bus, I illuse music to pump us up and calm our nerves. By the time we're en route, my classmates and I are practically bouncing with anticipation, all hyped up.

When we arrive at the exam location, I've managed to psych myself out again. I don't bother with the commotion being caused. The other students are definitely passionate, I'll say that. The first year Shiketsu students seem to be significant competition for us. I make a mental note to try to avoid them in the exam.

After changing into our hero costumes and joining the other students, a tired looking man stands before the assembled group.

I know that most of these students aren't actually first years and that having been on TV showing off our quirks would put us at a disadvantage. That being said, I didn't get to use my quirk that much during the festival. As far as these guys know, it doesn't do too much. I can use that!

"Okay then, let's do this exam thing," the man groans from the podium. "I'm from, uh, the Heroes Public Safety Commission. Name's Mera. My Circadian Rhythm is so screwed up."

His what now?

The man goes on a bit about how tired he is. We can clearly tell that. I'm confused as to why he has to say anything about it. I mean, we're hero course students after all. We understand tiredness like nobody's business.

"So, about the content of this license thing. Basically, 1,540 examinees compete in a free-for-all exercise or whatever we're calling it this year. See, we've got a lot of pros around, and since Stain was arrested, many people have expressed doubts about the status of heroes in society. But, when you really think about it, getting paid makes sense. If you're going to risk your life to save someone, why shouldn't you ask for a reward, huh? That's just the way the world works. God, I could use a coffee."

Just get on with it! I hop up and down on my toes, trying to keep my anxiety down. Why can't he just explain what we'll be doing and get on with it? I can't take the stress much longer!

"Anyway, whether they're in it for compensation or out of a sense of duty, we've got too many heroes working together in the streets these days to keep villains at bay. Honestly, the time between when an incident begins and when it's resolved is ridiculously short. You're all here trying to receive your provisional licenses so you'll be swept up in this tiresome mess yourselves pretty soon. Those of you who don't have the speed, frankly, just won't cut it. Which is why that's what you'll be tested on."

Okay cool, I think, though I don't feel exactly "cool" at the moment. I know that my quirk can take down somebody rather fast, seeing as it has a wide range and is powerful enough to take down somebody like Bakugo without having to get close.

A large screen behind the man suddenly lights up, displaying the number 100.

"The first 100 students to fulfill the requirements will pass today."

"What?" I gasp out.

"There are over 1,500 people taking this test," Momo whispers beside me in horror. "I thought they said that about half of us would be passing."

"This means it's actually less than ten percent who will get a license," Tsu adds.

"Oh man," I mumble, rubbing my arms. "I'm g-getting way more n-nervous."

"Well, the world can be pretty crappy," the man says, pushing off the podium to stand up straighter. "I suppose I should say something about luck. So, anyway, here are the basic rules..."

He goes through, showing us how we will each have three targets to place somewhere on our bodies and six red balls to throw at other people's targets. Once all three targets on a person have been pressed, that person is out and the person who tags the last target will be the one to get the credit. I just have to take down two people and I will be one of the hundred who pass.

I decide to place my targets in a vertical line on the front of my torso. I'm most likely to block there anyway. No matter what, as long as I can see the projectiles coming at me, I should be able to bat them away with sound. I shouldn't care about avoiding all of them, just the ones aiming for my torso. That will help me not waste my energy.

The man says something about getting "open," which I don't understand until the room begins shaking. The ceilings and walls collapse like a box, opening the room up to a giant colosseum. The arena has a bunch of different zones, much like the USJ.

"Everyone!" Midoriya calls out, getting our attention. "Stay close together, we'll fight them as a group."

Some of our classmates agree, but I fully expect Bakugo's reply when it comes around.

"Yeah right," he spats. "This isn't a field trip"

"Idiot," Kirishima shouts after him. "Wait up!"

"I'm going on my own too," Todoroki announces, shocking everyone. I personally don't mind; I need a bit of time away from him anyway. "It's hard for me to use my power safely when a big group's around."

As he runs off, I look around, noticing we're the only group left in the collapsed room. Not only that, but we seem to be on the lowest level. There could be people just above who could take us out the moment time starts. I point this out to Midoriya and he looks at me with his wide green eyes.

"You're right, let's go!" Our class begins following us out of the sunken area and towards some higher ground. "I don't think it's a good idea for those guys to go off on their own, though."

"How come?" I ask, running alongside him.

"Think about it," he replies. "Everyone already knows what powers we have."

"They did research?" Ochaco asks from my other side.

"The Sports Festival," I say, having already thought about this. I just didn't want Todoroki staying around us.

"I see!" Iida calls out behind us.

"The other schools have probably figured out the same way to win that I have," Midoriya continues. "This is going to end up being a battle between schools. With that in mind, first, it's likely they'll gang up against quirks they know."

"Does that mean..." Mina trails off.

"Don't tell me," Toru laments.

The intercom announces the beginning of the test. I readily reach into the bag I was given and pull out the red sphere. Thankfully, I can use my quirk to guide it, otherwise I would fall victim to my horrible aim.

Almost instantly, students seem to appear out of nowhere, closing in from all sides.

I stand in the middle of my classmates as our opponents begin attacking us with the red projectiles. Sorry, I think in reference to a couple people standing on higher ground with targets exposed.

I redirect some of the balls from our class up to them by illusing drums at just the right spot along the curved side. I manage to actually hit some of their targets, but not enough to get any of them out.

Damnit!

"Yamada, was that you?" Sero whispers from behind me. I nod my head silently in response.

"I think it's time we show these guys what the rest of us are made of, huh?" Mina asks, nudging me.

Midoriya, meanwhile, jumps up and kicks the rest away in a large gust of wind with an assist from Tokoyami and Dark Shadow.

Ochaco lets herself float as she and Sero take to the air and we all simultaneously protect our fellow teammates and redirect the incoming orbs.

"We've got this, you guys!" Midoriya exclaims. "Show them what UA can do!"

We all cheer at his proclamation, letting out a war cry.

The attacks don't take long to halt. When we look up at our opponents, we notice a boy with long hair setting a purple aura around some of the balls and throwing them directly into the ground. I get a sudden reminder of Mineta and have to shake away my disgust to stay focused.

They seem to move under our feet, making the ground shake below us. I crouch down, sure to cover at least one of my targets with my leg as I do, and place a hand to the ground, closing my eyes. "Cover m-me," I call, activating Echolocation.

Dirt, dirt, hardened rubber. Four projectiles, zooming below us. I think hard and illuse a deep tremor into them. Thankfully, two of them seem to shatter which breaks whatever hold the guy had on them with his quirk, though I'm sure he sensed this. The remaining two begin to move around more erratically.

I'll never be able to do a precise attack like this, I think to myself. Fine. I take a deep breath and open my eyes, deactivating my quirk.

"Did you get them?" Midoriya asks, concerned.

I only hold up two fingers, saying, "b-brace yourselves." Putting my hands together, I sign, "Sonic Boom!" I crouch down, placing my bare palms to the ground and letting out a massive wave of sound into the earth, breaking it up as it goes.

Our opponents become off balance as their precious high ground begins deteriorating, dropping them. It's only now that I realize the two remaining projectiles had survived the attack and are now headed straight for me.

Before I can do anything, Mina cries out, "maximum strength and viscosity! Acid Veil!!" She swings her arms through the air, firing acid and destroying the balls mid-air.

"Thanks," I gasp out, realizing I may not've been able to do anything in time.

"You just work on destroying them, Koto!" She chirps, smiling my way.

Tokoyami begins attacking the other students with help from Dark Shadow and the rest of our class follows suit. Now it's their turn to scramble and show how good they are at dodging.

However, this doesn't seem to be their plan. The kid with the spiky black hair who greeted us earlier places his hands to the ground, much like my previous move.

"Maximum force! Tremoring Earth!!" He cries out, sending a shockwave back in our direction. The ground once again crumbles underneath us, but his move seems to be much more powerful. We try to stay together, but there's nothing we can do as the ground drops, separating us from each other.

------Author's Note------

Hey guys! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter as much as I've enjoyed writing it!

As of right now, I've got a lot of stuff on my plate, so updates probably won't happen as frequently, especially as I get back into canon MHA plot. I'll try to publish a new chapter every two or three weeks. This should give me time to adequately write and edit each one. I hope you don't mind.

Anyways, we have more fan art that I'm so excited about!

This first one is a beautiful collage by the lovely JunieWeathers!! Thank you again for this, it's gorgeous! All the details fit her so perfectly!

Next is a Pokémon team assembled by sd1229 for Koto! Thank you so much, Shelby! They all fit so well with her quirk and then there's Kirlia that ties in her ballet! Just *chef's kiss*

Thank you all for voting and commenting! It always makes my day!

See you next time for part two of the license exam!