BNHA: Force Within

UA towered over them as Anakin and Mirio stood at the entrance gates. They'd arrived early for the recommendation exam, giving Mirio time to change clothes if his quirk acted up before they started.

"Bigger than I expected," Mirio said, gripping his bag full of spare uniforms.

Other recommended students began arriving. Anakin spotted a girl with long blue hair floating several feet off the ground, waves of power spiraling around her as she tested her quirk - Wave Motion, according to the discussions he'd overheard.

"Remember," Mirio said, "they're testing us on more than just quirk strength. Great-Grandma Chiyo tell you anything useful?"

"Just smiled and said I'd find out soon enough."

They followed the signs to a large auditorium where Present Mic waited to address the recommended students. There were only about twenty of them total - the best students from schools across Japan.

"WELCOME TO UA!" Present Mic's voice boomed without his quirk. "You're here because your schools believe you have what it takes to be heroes! Today's exam will test your judgment, skill, and quirk application through various trials!"

As he explained the format, Mirio phased through his chair. His uniform dropped onto the seat as he sank into the floor.

"Happens every time," Anakin muttered, gathering his friend's clothes with The Force before anyone noticed.

Mirio popped up behind the back row and ducked out to change. He returned just as Present Mic finished explaining their first trial - a rescue scenario in UA's disaster simulation facility.

"They're really not making this easy," Mirio whispered as they headed to the locker rooms. "Multiple trials instead of just one big test."

The changing room buzzed with nervous chatter. Anakin focused on stretching, preparing to use The Force to enhance his movements like he'd practiced.

"Good luck," Mirio said, now in his PE uniform. "Try not to show off too much!"

"Try to keep your clothes on."

The first trial placed them in groups of four. Anakin found himself with Mirio, a tall boy with enhanced strength, and a girl who could create barriers. The blue-haired girl was in another group, still looking excited rather than nervous.

Their task: rescue training dummies from a collapsing building while dealing with hazards like fires and unstable floors. Points would be awarded for speed, safety, and proper quirk usage.

"Begin!" Present Mic announced.

Anakin reached out with The Force, sensing where the "victims" were located in the building. He lifted debris blocking their path while Mirio scouted ahead, popping his head through walls to check stability.

"Two on the third floor!" Mirio called, his uniform falling as he phased through a wall. "Structure's unstable!"

Anakin made a Force-enhanced jump to the third floor, using his power to hold the crumbling ceiling in place while the barrier girl created a safe path. The strong boy carried out the dummies while Mirio, now in a fresh uniform, continued scouting.

From another section, they heard Wave Motion quirk girl's power cutting through obstacles as her team worked through their own rescue scenario.

A sudden shift in the building's stability forced Anakin to split his focus - holding up one section with The Force while helping guide his team through another. Sweat beaded on his forehead from the concentration required.

"Last one!" Mirio shouted, now in his third uniform. He'd phased through to find a dummy trapped under debris.

Anakin carefully lifted the wreckage, allowing Mirio to pull the dummy free. They cleared the building just as the structure gave way completely.

Present Mic called time, and the teams regrouped for their scores. Anakin's team had worked efficiently, though the girl with Wave Motion's group had managed an impressive rescue count as well.

"Next trial!" Present Mic announced. "Combat assessment!"

They moved to a different facility for one-on-one sparring matches. Quirk usage was allowed, but excessive force would result in point deductions.

Mirio's first match ended quickly when he phased through the floor by accident, losing his uniform in the process. His second bout went better, using his quirk's timing to gain advantages despite having to constantly redress.

Anakin faced different opponents in the combat trials. Against a speed-quirk user, he used The Force to sense where his opponent would move before raising his hand and catching his opponent mid-run. During his match with a strength-enhanced student, the other boy charged straight at him. Anakin thrust his hand forward, sending his opponent flying backward with a powerful Force Push. The display of raw power made several other examinees step back, but Anakin maintained his focus, showing he could control the force of his attack to stop rather than harm.

The blue-haired girl dominated her matches, her Wave Motion quirk providing both offense and mobility as she flew above her opponents.

More trials followed - quirk control exercises, tactical scenarios, even a test of rescue judgment where they had to decide which situations to prioritize.

By the final trial, everyone looked exhausted. Mirio had gone through nearly all his spare uniforms, and even the ever-energetic Wave Motion girl showed signs of fatigue.

"Last test!" Present Mic called. "Team coordination!"

They were paired randomly for a capture-the-flag scenario. Anakin found himself working with two students he hadn't partnered with before, while Mirio ended up on the opposing side with the blue-haired girl.

"This should be interesting," Mirio said, pulling on his last clean uniform.

The capture-the-flag arena split into two territories with a dividing line down the middle. Each team's flag sat atop a tower at opposite ends. Present Mic explained they would be judged on both strategy and quirk usage.

Anakin studied the field layout as his teammates discussed their plan. The girl with Wave Motion hovered above Mirio's team, her blue hair floating as she scanned their defenses. Mirio had changed into his last clean uniform, looking determined despite his quirk's constant wardrobe malfunctions.

"BEGIN!" Present Mic's voice echoed across the arena.

Anakin's teammates moved to guard their flag while he stepped forward, hand raised to sense incoming attacks through The Force. The blue-haired girl shot upward, waves of power streaming behind her as she circled the arena.

Mirio burst through the ground in front of them, clothes left behind at his starting position. Before anyone could react, he'd phased through their defense line and disappeared into the tower.

"He's going for the flag!" one of Anakin's teammates shouted.

Anakin lifted his hand, catching Mirio with The Force just as he emerged from the tower wall. He held his naked friend suspended in mid-air while their teammates scrambled below.

"Not fair!" Mirio called down, trying to activate his quirk to escape but finding himself unable to phase through The Force's grip. "Since when can you stop my quirk?"

"Since about five seconds ago."

Wave Motion girl seized the opportunity, diving toward their flag while Anakin was occupied with Mirio. She released a spiral of power that forced Anakin's teammates to dive for cover.

Anakin had to choose - hold Mirio or stop her. He thrust his free hand toward the blue-haired girl, sending a Force Push that disrupted her flight path. But the split attention forced him to drop Mirio, who phased into the ground immediately.

"Two minutes remaining!" Present Mic announced.

Both flags remained uncaptured as the teams clashed. Anakin used The Force to deflect Wave Motion's attacks while trying to predict where Mirio would surface next. His other teammates handled defense, but they were slowly getting pushed back.

Mirio popped up through the tower floor, reaching for their flag. Anakin sensed his presence and spun around, hand extended to pull the flag away just as Mirio's fingers brushed it. The blue-haired girl dove toward the falling flag, but Anakin caught her in a Force hold mid-dive.

"One minute!"

Anakin held both opponents with The Force, but Mirio phased free and dropped through the floor again. Wave Motion broke loose with a power burst that sent her spiraling upward.

Their own flag secured again, Anakin switched to offense. He made a Force-enhanced leap toward the enemy tower while his opponents regrouped. Mirio appeared in his path, now wearing a spare uniform he'd stashed nearby.

"Nice try!" Mirio moved to block him, then accidentally phased through the tower wall instead. His uniform dropped to the ground as he called from inside, "Okay, that wasn't supposed to happen!"

The blue-haired girl swept down, unleashing waves of power to stop Anakin's advance. He raised both hands, using The Force to part her attack like curtains, clearing a path forward.

"Thirty seconds!"

Anakin reached the enemy tower. He stretched out his hand, calling their flag to him with The Force. It flew from its perch just as Mirio burst through the wall naked again, trying to intercept.

Wave Motion girl fired a final desperate attack. Anakin dropped and rolled, keeping his grip on the flag while using The Force to stabilize himself. He came up running, flag in hand.

"Time!" Present Mic called. "Trial complete!"

The teams regrouped, Mirio now wearing his backup uniform. The blue-haired girl landed softly nearby, her hair settling as her quirk deactivated.

"That's some quirk you've got," Mirio said, clapping Anakin's shoulder. "Though I still say stopping my phase wasn't fair."

"Says the guy who kept popping up through the floor naked."

They gathered with the other recommended students as Present Mic explained the next steps. Written exams would follow lunch, then they'd have to wait for results.

"Your performance will be evaluated on all aspects," Present Mic explained. "Not just quirk power, but judgment, control, and potential. Results will be mailed within the week!"

As they headed toward the cafeteria, Mirio tried to stay positive despite phasing through another set of clothes. "Well, at least we ended with something exciting!"

"You mean embarrassing?"

"Hey, if I get in, UA better have some solution for the clothes thing. I can't keep bringing a suitcase of uniforms every day."

They ate lunch quickly, both tired from the morning's trials. The blue-haired girl sat with her own group, still looking energetic despite the intense exercises.

The written exam felt easy compared to the physical trials. Even Mirio managed to keep solid in his chair most of the time, only phasing through it twice.

Walking out of UA that afternoon, Anakin looked back at the massive building. His great-grandmother was probably watching from somewhere inside, but she'd kept her distance during the exam like she promised.

"No matter what happens," Mirio said, carrying his bag of empty uniform changes, "that was the most interesting test I've ever taken. Though maybe next time I'll bring more spare clothes."

"Pretty sure there won't be a next time."

"True! Either we get in or..." Mirio phased through his shoes, caught himself, and pulled them back on. "Well, let's focus on getting in."

They split up at the station, heading home to wait for results. As Anakin watched Mirio leave, his friend phased through one last shirt, retrieved it, and waved goodbye with his usual grin.

Now came the hard part - waiting to see if they'd done enough to earn their spots at UA.