Thank you for the comments.
After listening to what you guys had to say, I know exactly what I'm going to do with my MC.
Enjoy, guys!
— X —
"I'm fine, right, A2?" Kouta asked, standing still as a full-body scanner hummed around his naked form.
The scan completed with a soft beep. A2's holographic form appeared, radiating her usual cheer. "You are one hundred percent healthy. No foreign agents, no tracking particles, and no physiological damage."
"Good," Kouta said, pulling his clothes back on. "What about the police and heroes? What's the fallout?"
"They apprehended most of the fighters and audience members present at the raid. However, a significant number of individuals are unaccounted for. Analysis of available footage suggests several surveillance cameras were disabled prior to the event," A2 reported.
"Hmm. That confirms it was All For One's ploy. The Nomu's body vanished instantly. He was using the raid as cover to kidnap people for their Quirks. It was dangerously close. If I hadn't been in the ring, I might have been a target," Kouta mused, the chill of the near-miss settling in.
"Kouta-kun, I strongly recommend you cease all underground fighting activities. Our shell companies and investment portfolios have generated sufficient capital, and we have established material procurement channels through them. The risk no longer justifies the reward," A2 advised.
"True. Let's do that. I've gained enough practical combat experience anyway," Kouta agreed. A more private thought followed: 'Sorry, Roxana, but I'm done fighting in your rings.'
"Additionally, Kouta-kun, the UA entrance exam for the Hero Course is tomorrow. Are you still planning to attend?" A2 inquired.
"No. Let's change the plan. We can monitor the key events from a distance. I'll apply for the Support Course instead. That will give me far more time and resources to complete our primary project," Kouta decided.
"But are you still planning to become a hero?" A2 asked, her digital tone gentle.
"I… don't know," Kouta admitted, sinking into a chair. "I've been weighing the choices. Sure, I have the power to be one, and I could save people who need help. But recently, I've felt like my desire was naive, something I felt I needed to do, either for myself or to fulfill a promise to the original owner of this body. But I could also help people on a massive scale through donations and funding. I just… don't know anymore."
He sighed, the fatigue of the night and the weight of his existential crisis pressing down. The close call had shaken his certainty.
"I don't know. What do you think, A2?"
"Just follow your intuition, Kouta-kun," A2 replied simply. "You have always known the answer, haven't you?"
"That's true. It was my dream to be a hero. But the feeling… it's just not there anymore," he confessed.
"Then do not force it. Pursue what brings you fulfillment," A2 counseled.
Kouta managed a small smile. Her advice, though logical, held a valuable kindness.
"Maybe I should just get a girlfriend," he said, a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood.
"You do not currently have any social connections that would facilitate such a relationship," A2 stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, Mila could," Kouta joked.
"You should keep that particular fetish to yourself, Kouta-kun," A2 responded dryly.
"My bad," Kouta chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. The path ahead was still unclear, but at least he wasn't navigating it alone.
. . . .
In front of UA High School, Kouta joined the stream of applicants, but he veered away from the massive crowds heading for the Hero Course entrance. His destination was the quieter wing for the Support Course exam.
He entered a large hall filled with rows of desks and chairs, each station spaced apart. The room was busy but not nearly as packed as the chaotic grounds outside.
He showed his examinee number to a proctor, who directed him to his assigned seat. Like the others, he sat in silence, knowing any disruption could count against him.
A few minutes later, a hero entered, one who also served as a UA teacher. He was a man wearing a dinosaur-shaped helmet and massive mechanical fists.
Power Loader.
"Everyone, the entrance exam will begin shortly. Get ready," he announced, then nodded to the proctors. "Distribute the materials."
The proctors moved down the rows, placing a broken device, a packet of technical specifications, and a basic toolkit at each station. Every examinee received a different piece of equipment.
"Your task is simple: make it work. I don't care how you do it, as long as the device can be activated or used again," Power Loader stated, checking the clock. "If you have a question, raise your hand. A proctor or I will come to you."
One student raised their hand. "What if we fix it, but it breaks again right after we test it?"
"Don't worry, we're monitoring. We'll be fair in our assessment," Power Loader assured.
A collective sigh of relief went through the room.
As the clock hit the start time, Power Loader called out, "Exam start! You may begin now."
Kouta looked at his device: a heavily damaged large revolver. He skimmed the provided spec sheet.
'Property of Snipe. Model: Custom .44 Caliber Revolver.'
He inspected the gun. The external damage was significant, deep scratches, a cracked grip, and a visibly bent barrel. He checked the trigger; it was stiff but functional.
Opening his toolkit, he carefully disassembled the firearm. Inside, the damage was worse. A critical internal component was shattered, clearly broken from blunt force impact.
'Snipe must have used this as a melee weapon,' Kouta deduced. 'Standard welding won't fix this fracture. The metallurgy is compromised.'
He stood up, holding his chin in thought as he reassessed the tools and parts available.
'I have enough time and material here... I could fabricate a new frame entirely. The firing mechanism is salvageable.'
Nodding to himself, he got to work. Around him, other examinees struggled, a few devices sparked or emitted smoke, and one small explosion prompted a hurried response from a proctor.
With ten minutes remaining, Kouta finished. He hadn't repaired the original revolver; he had used its core components to build a new, compact pistol. It was crude but functional.
The second part of the exam followed immediately: drafting a schematic to improve the assigned device. Kouta kept his modifications practical, focusing on ergonomics, weight reduction, and reinforcing the frame to prevent similar damage.
The final portion, the written exam, would be held on a different days.
A week later...
"How do you think you did on the exam?" Rika asked over dinner.
"Pretty well. It wasn't anything too impressive," Kouta replied between bites. "The written test was straightforward."
A comfortable silence lingered for a moment before Rika spoke again, her tone gentle. "Is there a reason you changed your mind and chose the Support Course?"
"Yeah," Kouta said.
"May I ask what it is?"
"Time," he answered simply. "In the Support Course, I'll have more freedom to focus on developing technology."
Rika looked puzzled but didn't press further.
"Rika-san," Kouta began, setting down his chopsticks. "Would it be alright if I lived on my own starting soon? The commute from here to UA is long. I've already found a place closer to campus."
"Of course," Rika said, though a hint of worry colored her voice. "Do you have enough money saved?"
"I do. Don't worry about that."
"Then you should go ahead. It's important to learn how to live independently," Rika said, offering a small, supportive smile, even as a motherly concern lingered in her eyes.