After defeating Shoto Todoroki and Inasa Yoarashi, Wu Xuan recalled [The World]. He stepped onto the simulated hillside and shot toward the finish line like a bullet.
"First place: Wu Xuan!"
Present Mic shouted, raising his hand. He had just consulted Principal Nezu via his communicator and confirmed that no rules had been violated.
About fifteen seconds later, Momo Yaoyorozu—who had used her Quirk to manifest a hang glider—soared over the ridge and through the gate.
"Second place: Momo Yaoyorozu!" Mic announced.
As Momo touched down and packed away her glider, Wu Xuan approached her with an expression of genuine interest, his eyes lingering on the device. Feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze, she couldn't help but stammer, "W-what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I was just wondering... can your Quirk create absolutely anything?" Wu Xuan asked, his curiosity piqued.
Momo thought for a moment. "Generally speaking, as long as I understand the molecular structure of the object, yes."
"Oh? Does that include cold, hard cash?" Wu Xuan's lips curled into a predatory smile.
"That's a crime!" Momo snapped back, her face flushing with indignation. "How can a Hero even have such thoughts?"
Wu Xuan merely shrugged and turned his back to her. Momo hesitated, her expression conflicted as if she wanted to say something more, but the moment was interrupted.
Inasa Yoarashi and Shoto Todoroki finally arrived, propelled by their respective Quirks. Inasa secured third place by a narrow margin, leaving Todoroki in fourth. Both were soaking wet from their plunge into the pool, but Wu Xuan could tell Todoroki hadn't pushed himself to his limit at the very end.
They probably figured a pass is a pass, Wu Xuan thought.
"Wow! That was incredible, Wu Xuan!" Inasa boomed, still radiating that noisy energy Wu Xuan detested. "That final attack was so exciting!"
Todoroki stood silently, hands in his pockets, staring at the ground for a long while before finally looking up. "Next time, I won't lose."
"Don't worry about 'next time.' We can fight whenever you want," Wu Xuan replied.
He knew that for [The World] to evolve, he needed constant cultivation and battles against powerful opponents. Aside from Pro Heroes, these two were likely the only peers currently qualified to challenge him.
"Alright, alright! You four, head back to the main building for your interviews," Mic called out, ushering them along. "The faculty is waiting."
"Teacher... what about the others? The injured students?" Momo asked hesitantly.
"They've been sent to Recovery Girl for treatment. They'll be given a second chance to test later. You four, get going."
"A second chance? U.A. is far too kind," Wu Xuan mocked.
Mic scowled. And whose fault do you think it is they need medical attention?
Since Todoroki and Inasa were drenched, they were led to a separate locker room to change, meaning Wu Xuan and Momo boarded the bus back to the main campus alone. For some reason, Todoroki seemed unwilling to use his fire abilities to simply dry his clothes on the spot.
"How boring," Wu Xuan groaned on the bus. He slumped his arms over the back of the seat and turned to face Momo. "Hey, Yaoyorozu. Conjure something fun for me."
"I am not a magician," she replied flatly.
A heavy silence fell between them for a half-minute before she slowly spoke up again. "Back there... during the exam. You didn't hit me. Why?" She looked at him searchingly. "Is it because... I'm a girl?"
"No. It's probably just because you're good-looking," Wu Xuan said, crossing his legs and leaning back, completely blunt. "It would have been a shame to see that face swollen."
Momo's eyebrows shot up, her face darkening with a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. She hadn't expected such a shallow, direct reply. There was a clear element of a compliment in there, yet she couldn't bring herself to feel happy about it.
After another two minutes of silence, she asked, "Do you... think I'm weak?"
"Hmm. Very weak," Wu Xuan answered without a second of hesitation.
Momo let out a sharp breath, her shoulders tensing. This guy is way too direct! Doesn't he know how to talk to a girl?
"Wu Xuan, you're so strong... you must train incredibly hard, right? You must really want to become a top Hero," she said, trying to steer the topic toward something more substantial.
"I train, sure. But it's a simple pursuit of power. As for being a Hero... hah."
Finding the conversation tedious, Wu Xuan stood up, walked to the very back row of the bus, and lay down across the seats.
The conversation was officially dead. Momo sat in silence, unable to find another topic. While Wu Xuan didn't usually mind being surrounded by women, he wasn't in the mood to chase after someone as serious as her after a fight. He liked his women a bit less... rigid.