Mha: Sand Sand Fruit

**Hero Course Exam – Training Ground A**

In a hurry, Bakugo Katsuki couldn't resist glancing back at Akira's movements. But instead of sprinting forward like himself, Akira seemed indifferent, casually walking with the crowd in small steps.

Seeing Akira's lack of urgency made Bakugo grit his teeth in irritation.

*What the hell is this bastard doing?* Bakugo fumed internally.

He climbed atop a building and stood there, scowling. The idea gnawed at him. *Does he not even see me as competition?*

Unbeknownst to Bakugo, Akira wasn't thinking about him at all. To Akira, securing a place in U.A. was already a certainty. Why overexert himself when the entrance test was merely a formality?

As the crowd dispersed, Akira meandered onto a quiet street alone. Before long, the familiar mechanical whir of gears caught his attention.

**"Boom!"**

A green-skinned robot emerged, towering over Akira with its mechanical arms raised.

"Target locked! Eliminate!"

The robot's heavy arm slammed down where Akira had been standing, shattering the ground.

Akira leapt back instinctively, landing lightly. In mid-air, his feet morphed into a massive sand blade, slicing through the robot in one swift motion.

**"Whoosh!"**

The robot split cleanly in two, releasing a thick plume of smoke before detonating with a loud *boom*.

"How many points is that?" Akira muttered as he landed. He brushed off the matter without much concern and continued walking.

---

Elsewhere, Midoriya Izuku was also doing well. While not aiming for first place, he was confident in securing a spot in the Hero Course.

"Good thing I'm not in Training Ground A," Izuku muttered to himself. "With both Bakugo and Akira there, I'd have no chance of competing."

All Might had told Izuku earlier that Akira's acceptance into U.A. was practically guaranteed. Even without this exam, the school was eager to admit him. Akira was All Might's apprentice, after all, and his talent spoke for itself.

---

Meanwhile, in the exam control room, U.A. staff and pro heroes observed the candidates' performances on numerous screens.

"This test is about more than defeating robots. It's designed to measure adaptability and quick thinking under pressure," Principal Nezu explained as he studied the screens.

A pro hero gestured to one of the displays. "Bakugo Katsuki's performance is impressive. But Akira Kitagawa… his pace is surprisingly unremarkable so far."

"Don't underestimate him," All Might said with a knowing smile. "He's not one to act unnecessarily unless there's a real reason."

---

Back in Training Ground A, the atmosphere shifted.

The ground trembled as loud, thunderous crashes echoed across the arena. A towering green-skinned robot emerged, easily dwarfing its predecessors. It was the fourth type of enemy—worth zero points but created to instill fear and chaos among the candidates.

As the colossal robot punched the ground, chunks of debris flew into the air, shrouding the area in thick smoke.

"Zero points? Forget it," Akira muttered, turning around. "Let someone else handle that waste of time."

Many candidates screamed and ran, scrambling to escape the massive robot's path.

---

From the control room, one pro hero chuckled. "All Might, your apprentice is taking it easy. Are you sure he's serious about this test?"

All Might simply smiled. "He knows what he's doing. Trust me."

---

Bakugo Katsuki, on the other hand, saw the giant robot as an opportunity. His lips curled into a determined grin.

"This is it! If I take this thing down, I'll prove I'm stronger than Akira!" he shouted, launching himself toward the massive robot.

---

Meanwhile, Akira had already moved to another section of the arena, calmly dispatching smaller robots.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

His sand blades cut through multiple enemies effortlessly. He showed no interest in the giant robot or Bakugo's rivalry. For Akira, the exam was just another task to check off his list.

But for Bakugo, this was personal.

Standing before the massive robot, Bakugo surveyed his surroundings. Seeing no sign of Akira, he smirked.

"Perfect. If I crush this thing before he does, that'll show him who's really the best."