MHA; Traflagar D. Water Law

Chapter 03: The Aftermath of Admission Trials

The sprawling campus of U.A. Academy was awash with the golden hues of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the training grounds. The air buzzed with exhaustion and relief as the announcement echoed through the intercom.

"The entrance exam has officially concluded. All participants, please proceed to your designated exit points."

The voice of Present Mic, loud and electrifying, carried over the sprawling testing zones. In each arena, students collapsed onto the ground, their bodies trembling with fatigue, their breaths uneven. A sense of camaraderie and shared struggle lingered in the air, though it was overshadowed by the weight of uncertainty.

In Arena D, the aftermath of an intense battle unfolded. Amidst the rubble of demolished buildings and shattered robot parts, Midoriya Izuku lay unconscious on the ground. His body was battered—his arms and legs grotesquely twisted, evidence of the reckless courage that had driven him to take down the colossal zero-point robot. The boy, small in stature yet immense in spirit, had pushed beyond his limits, rendering himself a broken but triumphant figure amidst the chaos.

Observers whispered in disbelief, their eyes fixed on the massive, motionless robot. No one else had dared confront the towering behemoths, let alone bring one down. Midoriya's actions had been both suicidal and awe-inspiring.

In contrast, Arena C offered a quieter scene. On a patch of grass bathed in sunlight, Trafalgar Law lay sprawled out, his arms resting behind his head. The young man was dressed in a pristine white tracksuit, its simplicity accentuated by the distinct black spots on his woolen cap. Beads of sweat glistened on his face, catching the light as he gazed up at the cloudless sky.

He exhaled slowly, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "This was crazier than I expected," he murmured, his voice barely audible above the soft rustling of leaves.

Closing his stormy gray eyes, Law allowed himself a moment of reflection. Those robots were tougher than I anticipated. Even a fall from five meters barely left a dent in them. Still… His lips curled into a faint smirk. Fifty-five points. Not perfect, but it's enough to get in. That's all that matters.

The area buzzed with the quiet despair of students who hadn't performed as well. Law watched them from his spot on the ground—some sat with their heads in their hands, others wandered aimlessly, while a few girls huddled together, tears streaming down their faces. He sighed as he pushed himself upright, his joints protesting the movement.

This scene reminds me of the anatomy entrance exam in med school back in my world, he thought. The same air of defeat and hopelessness. No matter the field, there's always someone crushed under the weight of their dreams.

As he walked toward the exit, Law took in the remnants of the trial—robot fragments strewn across the streets, scorch marks on the ground, and the faint smell of burning metal lingering in the air. The devastation was a testament to the intensity of the battles fought here.

Near the exit gates, a figure awaited him. Shota Aizawa, his disheveled hair and sharp black eyes unmistakable, leaned against the gatepost. He raised a hand in a casual wave, beckoning Law over.

Law frowned, exhaustion pulling at his limbs. "Great," he muttered under his breath. "I'm tired and just want to rest. What could he possibly want?"

Despite his reluctance, Law approached Aizawa at an unhurried pace. The closer he got, the more he felt the weight of Aizawa's piercing gaze. It wasn't hostility—it was an evaluation, as though the man were trying to read the depths of his soul.

"You have a lazy look in your face," Aizawa began after a tense silence, "what do you think about becoming my intern once you're a student here?"

Law blinked, his gray eyes widening in surprise before narrowing as he fought to mask his reaction. Of all the scenarios I envisioned, this wasn't one of them.

Smiling faintly, he quipped, "You're not exactly a celebrity hero. I might have considered it if you were the type to go on thrilling nighttime missions."

Aizawa's lips twitched, his response laced with subtle sarcasm. "So you're planning to break the rules and play vigilante before you even graduate?"

Law tilted his head, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smirk. "It'd be fun—assuming the police don't arrest me first."

Aizawa closed his eyes briefly before opening them, his tone unyielding. "You'll train under me, but don't expect to indulge your whims. As a pro hero, I have standards, and if you're going to be under my guidance, you'll fight villains under my rules—not your own."

The young man chuckled, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Fair enough. Looks like I'm going to be your student. I'll be in your care."

The day waned into night, the sky transitioning to an inky black canvas adorned with a crescent moon and countless stars. Law finally reached his apartment, a modest unit with "023" etched on the door. Stepping inside, he flipped on the light and glanced around.

"Neat and orderly," he remarked, setting his bag on the dining table. "Am I in the right place, System?"

A synthetic voice resonated in his mind. *[Welcome back, Trafalgar D. Water Law.]

Law sighed. "Drop the full name. Just call me Law."

[Understood, Law-san.]

After removing his jacket, Law wandered toward the bathroom, flipping on the light. The apartment's minimalistic design suited him—clean lines, neutral tones, and a sense of quiet serenity.

Later, clad in comfortable loungewear, he sipped coffee while skimming through a stack of documents on his desk. His brows furrowed as he read through the fabricated details of his life. "Graduated from Saotome Junior High. Parents deceased in a car accident three years ago. Inherited a small company with a decent reputation… enough to cover living expenses."

Closing the folder, he tossed it onto the desk with a sigh. "What a cliché backstory, System. Couldn't you come up with something more original?"

[Would you have preferred starting as an infant?]

Law chuckled, moving to sit by the window. The night sky stretched endlessly before him, stars twinkling like distant beacons. He rested his chin on his hand, a small smile playing on his lips.

"No," he murmured. "You've set the stage perfectly. I can't wait for the real fun to begin."

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