The exam room was completely empty. They couldn’t see the evaluators. Only a single training dummy stood in the center. 

“Just show off your best attack and best defense against the dummy. You have one minute.” The loudspeaker’s voice clicked off, and a timer appeared above the dummy’s head. 

Hiro finally sucked in a breath, preparing for his attack. The dummy began attacking. Its fighting technique was incredibly basic. He blocked and dodged every attack, and the timer ticked down to zero. All of his training had paid off. Then came the next part. 

There was only one thing he could do. Attack with a full force frontal assault. His ability was too difficult to use at this point. All he knew was that it would keep him safe from irreparable harm in a basic attack. So, he punched with all of his might. CRACK! The dummy’s head barely dented. Damn it. 

He was immediately ushered out of the examination room. Did he just blow it?

He left the arena with the rest of the other applicants, and took the written quiz in the secondary examination center. Most questions were just asking what he’d do in certain situations. Which was an easy answer. Save everyone, and take the villain to justice. Just like he tried to do earlier. Honestly, what other answer was there? It’s not like heroes were allowed to ignore civilians, or harm anyone unless completely necessary. But the other practical questions, like arithmetic and history were a whole other story. And the sciences left him blank faced. 

He walked aimlessly out of the Academy. How was he supposed to wait a week for his results?! What was he supposed to do? 

“Hey, it’s you!” Reiki ran up next to him. “I thought you’d never make it out,” he grinned at Hiro. 

“M-me neither,” Hiro blurted out. Not sure what to say to someone like him. 

“So, how’d you do?” Rivas appeared from behind Reiki. Hiro’s face must’ve said it all because he followed up his question with, “That bad huh?”

Hiro punched his fist into the air, “But I'm gonna be a hero no matter what!” 

“That’s the spirit,” Rivas chuckled and Reiki laughed hysterically. 

“True determination I’ll give you that.” They walked a little ways before Reiki stopped in his tracks. “Wait. How long do we wait for the results?”

“1 week,” Rivas answered, “That’s standard anyway. There may be some that are notified early.”

Hiro and Reiki almost seemed to vibrate in unison. “1 week,” they both chattered, “how am I supposed to wait for a whole week!” 

“How will I know if my new bud Hiro made it!?” Reiki looked at his hands, “Rivas, what will we do?”

Rivas rolled his eyes, “You’re so dramatic?”

“What’s life without a little power?” Sparks flickered off of him, seemingly electric. 

Hiro narrowed his eyes, “Wait… Why are we only waiting for my results? You took the exam too.”

“Oh, I know I got in,” Reiki stated matter-of-factly, “They’ll have to wait and see if I accept them.” Reiki pointed at them, “You two should be more worried. Especially as the ones who actually want to get into this school.”

Hiro’s face flushed, but only for a moment. “Then why–”

“I already know what you’re gonna ask,” Reiki nudged Rivas, “I’m here for him. I had no plan and he wanted to join the best hero academy. So here I am. Your overqualified rookie, hehe.” 

“Really now,” Rivas shook his head. Then looked at Hiro, “Well, I’m not that worried. I think you will get where you need to go.” Rivas pulled Reiki along, “Come on, let’s get out of his hair.”

Hiro waved them goodbye. Did he just make a friend? And not just one, but two? That’s two more than he ever had. How odd. 

The next week went by so slow. Hiro trudged his way through his daily training, counting the minutes until the day came. The notification. 

“Hello, Hiro Hatako. This is Aito Valen, the Headmaster of the Academy. Regarding your entry into the Academy, unfortunately your written test scores were fairly low and your demonstration during the practical was essentially average.”

He knew it. Was this really it? The end of the road? Now what? He could try another Academy. Then transfer in? But that was even harder than just passing the exam. What–

“That being said,” the recording continued, “a hero had brought to our attention your recent efforts in protecting citizens in a villain attack. With her recommendation, and skills in defense I am pleased to inform you on your acceptance into the Academy’s hero track. Congratulations. Be sure to arrive a day before classes start to pick up your uniforms and claim your dorm room. We look forward to seeing you in our glorious academy!”

Hiro sat staring at the screen. There was no telling how long it was before he finally got up. Then he went for a run and found himself in the middle of the city. Strara's capital, Sefillia, was the largest city he had seen. Granted, he grew up in the outskirts of Ania. He only ventured into its cities after being accepted into the Kisai training academy. Even then, it didn't last all that long. Hiro had ran far enough from his cheap hotel room to see the tallest building. The one he… He had been accepted! If he werent in total shock he mightve cried. But instead he felt as if he would burst. He continued to run towards the building. He was stopped by a large reinforced wall long before he could reach it. It was the wall separating the Academy from the rest of Sefillia. Its own world. His world. 

He could help but smile. Then it finally hit him and he laughed as tears streamed down his face. He did it. He really did it! It wasn't a prank right? He opened up his holo band and pulled up his acceptance letter again. It said that he was to report to the Academy gates in 2 days to pick up his uniforms, and then receive his dorm assignments. 

As far as he understood, the Academy had many different dorm room configurations. There were the master homes, used by faculty and the top students of the school. The upper level students had their own rooms but still shared a building. Then mid levels had double rooms sharing a place with one other person. Then the lowest levels had group living. However, group or double living was allowed for upper levels upon request. 

Naturally, Hiro had found himself in a group living situation. But he preferred that. It's what he was used to anyway, living at the Hatako orphanage all his life. It was kind of lonely these past 2 weeks living on his own. 

“I wonder who-”

“Hiro!” Reiki shouted as he ran frantically towards Hiro, pulling Rivas along behind him. “You actually made it!”

Reiki tackled him, almost causing Hiro to fall to the ground. “I'm so proud of you! Rivas even made it!” He took a happy breath, positivity radiated from him like the sun. “Now let’s find out our room assignments!”

Rivas chuckled nervously as Reiki facepalmed and melted to the ground. “Well, I won’t be alone at least,” Rivas rubbed the back of his head. 

“Whyyyyy,” Reiki wallowed on the ground, “Why’d I have to shatter the damn thing? I should’ve just looked like a wimp. Like Riv–”

Rivas bonked him on the head. “You idiot. I told you to request the lower dorms.”

Hiro shook his head. It was really baffling. Who would want to score worse? How could someone be so nonchalant about the Academy? Why…

“Why would you want to score worse? Aren’t you aiming for the top?” Hiro blurted out the question without realizing. 

“Hmm…” Reiki stood up, “You have a point. I mean, I did say I was here for Rivas. And that really is all. So, I’d like to live comfortably if I can. You know?” Reiki gave him a playful punch to the shoulder. “Besides, then I don’t need to be your rival. Just your friend.” 

Hiro didn’t even realize tears formed in his eyes until Reiki began laughing. “Oh man,” Reiki wiped away his own tears from laughing, “You’d think you never had a friend… before.” Reiki’s voice trailed off as he noticed something. “Wait, are you serious?”

Rivas and Reiki exchanged glances as Hiro could only nod. “I mean, yes?”

The two boys nodded at each other then stood on either side of him. “Well then,” Rivas smiled, “You’d only be my second so don’t worry. Reiki’s a pro. Even if he is overly-dramatic.”

“Yep!” Reiki pulled them both along, “To Hiro’s place!” 

Turns out, Rivas and Hiro were assigned to the same room. Reiki was given an upper level suite, so he had a whole room to himself. But after getting their uniforms they arrived at the group dorm. It was pretty far from the main building, but pretty close to a training field and study halls. 

BAM! 

“Woah!” a voice bellowed from the dorm room, “You seriously punched the wall?”

“I wanted to see if it was really true that the walls here were actually sturdy.”

There was now a hole in the wall, revealing a group of students behind. How many people in this dorm were there?

A boy with an odd pink check mark beneath his right eye, poked his head through the hole. “Oh hey guys! I assume you’re the other mates in ‘ere? Welcome!” His pale skin was almost blinding behind his holo recorder. 

He was pulled back by another boy, with darker skin this time and deep purple eyes. “Sorry about him. Please, come on in.”

Reiki was the first through the door. “Already a party going on I see. So who broke the wall?”

“That’d be me,” a girl with pink skin pointed gleefully at herself. “The name’s Vinnie.”

Rivas gasped, “Wait. Didn’t you score in the upper level? What are you doing here?”

“I put in a group dorm request.”

Rivas glared at an aloof Reiki who was already moving on in conversations. “Ryu and Lino…” Reiki narrowed his eyes, “Do I know you from somewhere?” 

“Hehe…” the pink check mark one, Ryu, chuckled deviously before the two struck a pose. “Ryu and Lino, your resident holotubers you all know and love, Liyu!” 

Vinnie clapped, “Bravo. You get the cheesiest intro award!”

“Says the one who destroyed the wall,” Ryu folded his arms, “You only get a pass because you let me film. Not that I can post it…”

“Hmm…” Vinnie looked at the wall, “We may want to get it fixed– huh?” 

The whole group watched as the broken pieces filled the hole. It didn’t look perfect but… the wall was fixed. 

“Are you really destroying the dorm rooms already?” A fairly tall girl with long hair pulled back into a ponytail stepped through the door. “What is this, the misfit house?”

Vinnie looked around, “I suppose so. Not a single normal person here. We even have a trespasser.”

Reiki put his hands up, “Hey, I’m here with my buddies.” Vinnie approached and Reiki gave out a yelp. “Don’t punch me.”

Rivas rolled his eyes before extending a hand to the new girl. “Hello, I’m Rivas. Who might you be?”

“Rella, Rella Mori.” She shook his hand and they both bowed their heads. 

“Mori?!” Hiro’s eyes sparkled. “Like the hero Tera Mori?”

Rella smiled, “Yep. The one and only.”

“How’d a prodigy child like you end up here?” Vinnie asked, “Didn’t see you in the list of high scorers.”

“I uh…” Rella turned away, “It’s none of your business.”

“Oh, so a not so prodigy child then?”

“Shut it! That test just wasn’t suited for me, okay?” Rella’s face burned a bright red. 

“Okay, okay,” Vinnie tapped her on the nose, “just teasing you, hehe~”

Rella ran off to look at the rest of the building, Vinnie following close behind. 

Zap! A red laser pierced through the wall that was just fixed. “You gods be damned ***, ***, asshole!”

“Hey now, you could have really hurt someone.”

Ryu sighed, “And Rella just fixed it,” he opened his holo recorder again, “Welp, more entertainment!”

Hiro wasn’t sure if Ryu was a good person or not. But Lino seemed to be looking out for him since he shut off the holo recorder, “Ryu, please. You need filming permission first.”

Everyone still standing around were now by the door, looking at the sight. 

“It’s not my fault girls think I’m good-looking,” he had spiky red-brown hair, and he really did look as good as the hero Elvin when he was in his debut era. “You just can’t see it through your fried eyes. Plus,” he smirked, “I know you’re just jealous.” Honestly, even Hiro had to admit he was at least jealous of his smile. 

“Screw you!” She stomped off, “Enjoy the loser cabin!”

“Hey, don’t make fun of my place!” Ryu shouted. 

The girl turned around, her hot pink hair bounced just above her shoulders, and shot them all an intense glare with her bright red eyes.

“Man,” Reiki looked down at the newcomer, “What did you do?”

He shrugged, “I literally just exist and it’s like Aldie’s mission to just hate me.” He chuckled, “But I know, it’s just her way she shows her love.” 

Everyone stared at him blank faced as his eyes practically turned to hearts. 

“Riiight…” Reiki looked away, with a ‘help me’ expression on his face. Looks like he finally found someone more dramatic than himself. 

A cabin of weirdos seemed to be right. Not losers though, Hiro knew that much. 

The group made their way inside, and Rella did her best to fix the wall. Again. They gathered around in the common area, or living room, and Ryu took center stage. “Welcome to the misfit abode, name already trademarked, don’t worry. I am Ryu Ji, your resident film enthusiast. And this is my assistant and actor, Lino Clary,” he gestured to Lino who did a slight bow. “Okay, that’s it for me. Who’s next?”

“I’m Vinnie,” She stood up, “And trust me, things will never be dull in this place with me around. I may be an upper level, but let’s all be friends. Kay?”

Rella looked away, her face going red again. “Whatever,” she sighed before regaining her composure. “I’m Rella Mori. And please, stop destroying the house just because you know I can fix it.”

“Ha, yeah. Sorry about that,” the newest said, “That last one is on me. I’m Ichioka Osu, but you can call me Ichi. I’m your resident lady-killer.”

Rella and Vinnie rolled their eyes in unison. “It seems you only do that to one in particular.”

He shrugged, “Can’t help it if I’m that good looking. You two just have no taste.”

“Well, you have nothing on me,” Reiki smirked, “Reiki, your resident trespasser.”

“Are you not part of the group?” Ichi asked. 

Rivas shook his head, “He cleverly forgot how powerful he was and didn’t put in a group dorm request. So he’s on his own. And I’m Rivas by the way.”

“Ah, so a looker and a genius,” Vinnie nodded, “I approve.”

“Well I don’t,” Rella huffed. 

Vinnie shrugged. “Maybe you have no taste.”

Ichi and Vinnie laughed. 

Hiro could barely keep track of every conversation happening now. Is this how it was, to be with other people his age? Everyone at the orphanage was either much older, or much younger than him. The few times he was with others his same age…well…it didn’t go so well. 

“Hey,” Rivas nudged him, “are you gonna introduce yourself?”

“Oh yeah,” Hiro cleared his throat and stood up, “I’m Hiro Hatako, the next number 1 hero!”