A line filled with nervous teenagers stretched across the auditorium, buzzing with low murmurs and the occasional stifled sob. The air was thick with tension, sweat, and the constant rustle of paper.
"Alright, next person!" a hero's voice boomed from the front—sharp and commanding.
Ester stepped forward, his shoes echoing faintly against the polished floor. His palms were clammy, and his heart pounded against his ribs like it was trying to escape.
The pro hero before him stood tall, dressed in crisp white from neck to boot. His brown hair was slicked back, and his sharp brown eyes flicked over Ester with clear impatience. Most striking of all were his hands—huge and hardened, shaped almost like crab pincers. They flexed slightly as he waited.
"Name?" the hero barked.
"Ester..." he replied, voice barely above a whisper.
The hero's brows pinched. "Last name?" he asked, sharper now.
Ester froze. His mind scrambled for an answer—only static echoed back. His throat tightened.
What was his last name again? His adopted family's name…? Why couldn't he remember?
"Uh... I—"
The hero didn't wait. He rolled his eyes and snapped, "Look, kid, this is no time to waste. We've got upcoming heroes waiting in line. If you can't tell me your name, then GET OUT!"
The voice echoed across the auditorium, harsh and unforgiving. A few chuckles and whispers stirred behind Ester. Eyes bored into him. His ears burned with shame.
Then—
"It's Todoroki..."
The voice was calm and low, echoing from deep within his mind.
Velquor.
Ester blinked and quickly spoke up. "It's Ester Todoroki, sir."
The hero narrowed his eyes, suspicious. He shuffled through a thick clipboard stacked with files. The flipping of pages was loud, endless.
Finally, he stopped.
"You're clear. Go to the lockers. They'll pat you down—standard procedure—to make sure you're not hiding anything to cheat on the written exam."
He waved Ester off, already calling for the next student.
As Ester walked toward the lockers, another hero stepped in front of him, wearing a red tracksuit that looked more like a gym uniform than a pro outfit. He had jet-black hair and narrow brown eyes that reminded Ester of a cricket. His gaze scanned him slowly.
"Ester?" the man asked.
"…Yes?" Ester blinked, confused.
The hero gave a quiet hum. "Hmm. Okay, go in." Then turned to examine the next student without another word.
What a weird person… Ester thought as he entered the locker room.
Inside, the air smelled of sweat and sterilized equipment. Students lined up in rows—some getting patted down, others getting sternly lectured.
A tall hero approached, striking yellow hair slicked back and golden eyes that gleamed under the ceiling lights. His buzzed pupils narrowed like someone who'd seen too much.
"Hey, you—kid with red hair. Ready to get patted?" he asked gruffly.
Ester nodded silently and followed him into a more spacious side room.
"Kid, what course do you wish to take?" the hero asked, pulling out a slim electric scanner from his belt.
Ester hesitated. He didn't know. He wasn't from this world, and though he'd read a few things in his notebook, it wasn't enough to understand everything yet.
"…Whichever course the school assigns me… if I pass," Ester replied as the scanner hummed across his arms and sides.
The hero nodded. "Hmm. Got a career path in mind?"
Ester bit his thumbnail. He didn't want to be a hero. Didn't want to get caught up in endless fights or live under constant pressure. More than anything, he wanted to experience life—his teenage years, adulthood—freely.
"…Maybe an author. I want to tell stories," he murmured.
The hero paused and blinked at him. "An author? Then why're you at an elite hero training school?"
"I was forced to attend… but it's fine. I like meeting new people… maybe," Ester added, voice small.
The hero chuckled and handed him a small silver badge etched with a number: Rank 112.
"Well, I wish you luck, kid. You're all done. Just hand that badge to the guy in the red tracksuit. He'll assign you a seat for the written exam."
Ester nodded, gripped the badge, and left the room.
As he exited, his eyes caught sight of a green-haired boy standing near the wall. He looked anxious and timid. Ester looked away and kept walking.
Then a voice echoed in his head.
"Hey, Ester? I'm in this big arena filled with a lot of humans—KEKE. You humans remind me of Rome, KEKE."
Velquor again. But not nearby—just using telepathy.
Ester ignored him for now and handed his badge to the hero in red.
"This will be your seat. A few more examinees will be coming in. You can draw or interact with others while you wait. Phones and tech aren't allowed," the man said, then walked off.
Ester sat down at a clean wooden desk. Two sheets of paper and a sharpened pencil waited in front of him.
I'm in this hero school… just like my niece told me.
He sighed softly.
"Hey, brat? This school smells fishy. I can feel it. But I don't see anything weird—yet," Velquor buzzed in his head.
Ester tapped his fingers on the desk, half-annoyed, half-grateful.
At least I'm not totally alone.
"Maybe you're overthinking, Velquor. Did anything fun happen while you were walking around?"
A moment passed before Velquor responded.
"Hmm, yeah. Some rat saw me. But I ran away. Didn't know humans had an alliance with big rats. KEKE."
Ester frowned slightly. Big rat? He didn't have time to think too hard—someone tapped his shoulder.
"H-hi… it's you again, uhm…" a quiet voice said.
Ester turned and saw the same green-haired boy from before. He nervously took the seat beside him.
"…It's Ester. And you are?" Ester asked, trying to sound polite.
The boy smiled nervously. "It's Deku!"
Ester froze.
Deku…?
That name hit him like a brick. Not just because it meant "stupid"—though that was questionable—but because he'd just met the protagonist of the anime his niece loved.
Deku. That weak-minded character she'd ranted and cried over.
__
The TV flickered in the background, lighting the dim room with pale flashes. Lizzie's voice broke the silence.
"Uncle! You know that character called Deku? He has tremendous growth! He was always nervous and shy, but later he got so brave and confident! He's a real hero now! Sadly, he's been through so much…" she said, flipping through pages of her manga.
Her uncle stared at the ceiling. He wanted to move, to speak properly—but couldn't. Still, he chuckled softly.
"Timid? H-haha… What do you mean, he's been through a lot, Lizzie?"
She grinned. "He saw people he loved die… some even betrayed him! There's more, but I won't tell you yet!"
He tried to smile. Only one side of his mouth moved.
"Haha… he's such a sad character. Just like me… but in a different way."
Lizzie's smile faltered.
"No! Uncle is strong and still living! Even if you're paralyzed… this niece of yours will help you forever!!" she declared, hugging his arm tight as she went on about Deku's journey.
__
"Deku…" Ester whispered.
Deku chuckled, scratching his head. "Y-yeah… I know it means stupid…"
"Uhm, Ester? Your name doesn't sound Japanese… are you from a different country?" he asked gently.
Ester didn't even know himself. He only woke up in this world as an orphan.
"I'm an orphan in Japan… so I don't know."
Deku looked at him closely. Ester's face seemed Japanese… or maybe another Asian background.
"O-oh… I'm sorry," he mumbled, eyes dropping.
Don't be sorry. I can't let people know the Todoroki family adopted me, Ester thought.
Weird… why is everyone so weird today? he sighed internally, turning his gaze toward the front.
The instructor stepped forward. He wore a long black coat with silver chain details, and his pants were sharp, straight-cut polyester.
"Attention, examinees!" he boomed. The room snapped silent.
"There is a box under your desk. Place all electronics inside—phones, smartwatches, glasses, hearing aids. Everything," he said, eyes sweeping the room like a hawk.
A student raised his hand. He wore square gray glasses and had sleek blue hair—clean-cut and serious.
"Sir! What if someone needs hearing aids? That's important, isn't it?"
The instructor smiled coldly.
"JUST DO AS YOU'RE TOLD OR YOU'LL BE DISQUALIFIED!"
The voice cracked like thunder. No hesitation. No flinch.
Reminds me of the old days, Ester thought dryly.
The student flinched and sat down quickly, cheeks flushed.
"Now," the instructor continued, "you will receive four packets: writing, math and science, logic and analysis, and hero history. You have 30 minutes per packet. No breaks. No talking. No questions. If you speak… you will be disqualified."
He turned and left.
A hush fell over the room as exam papers were passed out. Ester swallowed hard and gripped his pencil.
Hopefully… this is like my last life.
He flipped open the first packet and began...
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Hello! This author is going through a breakup right now, but don't worry! I'll keep writing to distract myself! Yes, it hurts, but what hurts even more is leaving my readers without new chapters!
Thank you for sticking with me. Your support means the world. ❤️