“Just one final question, Genos.” The gsses wearing Hero Association interviewer pced a tablet oable, its s fag him. “Does this building look familiar to you?

  We’ve beely iigating a group of troublemakers that call themselves the House of Evolution.

  Just when we identified its ter of operations, we found the building had been mysteriously destroyed.”

  A stubbly bearded man who looked a bit like Caspian chimed in. “And with overwhelmingly intense firepower.”

  The gsses wearing man ged the tablet’s s and asked, “Are you responsible for this?”

  Silence filled the room.

  I must protect Master Caspian’s is at all costs!

  “I am solely responsible. Why?”

  The interviewers’ moods lightened upon hearing his firmation. The balding interviewer on the far right stamped a piece of paper.

  After shaking the hands of the three and hearing their praise and high expectations for him, he exited the room.

  Master, I hope my words cause them to cease their iigation.

  Traveling down a long, well-lit hallway, he noticed a sign for the men’s locker room aered.

  It didn’t take long to find Caspian, as he was the only person there pag bad forth.

  “What’s wrong Master?”

  “Ah, nothing Genos.” Caspian stopped. “So, you fioo, then?”

  “Yes.”

  “…”

  Genos, though unvinced, didn’t pursue Caspian oter and attempted to cheer him up.

  “Both the written and fitests were far too simple, weren’t they, Master?”

  “Yup, haha. Is that all it takes to bee a hero?”

  Genos, proud that he had made Caspian ugh, tinued, “We should get our results soon.

  70 points is a passing grade. The writte was so easy anyone could get full points on it.

  That just leaves the fitest, which for us should not have posed any problems.”

  “At least, that’s for certain.“

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  One hour, masquerading as many—Is hoian would describe the wait for the Writtes’ results.

  Caspian sat in silence beside Genos on the locker room bench.

  A nervous sweat had formed on the back of Caspian’s neck.

  How was I supposed to ahose ridiculous questions? I didn’t get called for an interview either… Oh Saitama, did I have you all wrong?

  Mercifully, his maddening thoughts helped him fet the passage of time and before he k, a Hero Association staff member approached the two.

  The staff member approached Genos first, his attitude a night and day differeween the bnk look Caspian received when handed his sealed test results.

  Genos stood up. “I got 100 points.”

  “I knew you would.”

  “Thank you for having faith in me, Master. It says I’m certified as a S-Css Hero.”

  “Of course,” said Caspian as he rose to his feet, turning his back to Genos.

  “I am sure these rankings mean little. How did you do, Master?”

  Ploddingly, he slid the test results from the envelope.

  Caspian shuddered. No…

  “Master?”

  “As it turns out…” Turning to face Genos, he raised up his test results. “I’m only a C-Css Hero with a score of 72 points.”

  Genos narrowed his eyes. “It must be a mistake. I will lodge a pint with the testers.”

  “No, don’t! I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to myself.”

  Ding

  A voice echoed through the locker room’s PA system. “Mr. Genos, Mr. Caspian, there will be a seminar for successful didates at 4:00 PM. Please e to lecture hall No. 3.”

  “All right, let’s go.” Caspian motioned fenos to follow. “Let’s just take care of this a bae.”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  After taking aor to the correct flenos followed Caspian down a curving hallway. On the right side, tall barred windows offered a clear view of the city outside Hero Certification Exam Venue No. 6.

  Genos wore a proud smile, his gaze fixed on the refles dang across Caspian’s head.

  Master won’t admit it, but I uand why he purposefully failed the writte.

  “Genos, did y what I asked?”

  He reached into his pocket and handed Caspiaems. “Yes, several packs of gum. I wouldn’t let you let you down.”

  “Thanks Genos. Ah, there’s our room.”

  Genos opehe door.

  Ihe room were rows of desks, each with two chairs.

  “ear to be the only new heroes here,” said Genos as the two sat down at the frontmost ter desk.

  “The passing rate ’t be that high…” Muttered Caspian.

  A slight movement caught Genos’ eye. He gnced over and observed Caspian stuffing aire pack of gum into his mouth.

  The reason for your choice...

  Click

  The door tched shut behind a serious-looking man with spiky bck hair. Stepping onto the elevated ptform, he made his way to the multimedia podium and pced both hands on it.

  “First, gratutions on passing.

  Now one of you only made it on a fluke, so unless you want your luck to go to waste, I better see you giving it your all.”

  Genos tuned out the sed he heard the man put doian.

  Master, to discover the true character of those around you, you did poorly oest in order to start at the bottom. I feel foolish for not following your lead.

  The seminar teacher poio Caspian. “From here on, keep you hero status in mind and act modestly! After all, your faces will be pced on the Hero Associatioe.”

  Peeking enos realized his master’s gum chewing had grown in iy, growing into an enormous bubble. Master’s bubble-blowing skills are immense!

  “Did you hear me? That goofball head of yours is gonna be shown to the whole world.

  If you don’t want to humiliate yourselves…” The teacher leaped onto the podium and began perf some type of ritualistice. “Aspire to be a fine hero like me!”

  POP!

  “Master! This cheap of gum ’t handle your level of talent!” Genos cried out as he tried to offer Caspian a handkerchief.

  Stru an odd pose, the teacher tinued. “As an A-Css Hero, I have some influence over the Association.

  I’ll make sure those who behave irresponsibly…lose points a demoted. Don’t you fet it!”

  You’re already being targeted because of your decision. I hope wheime es, I’ll be able to let everyone know of yreatness.

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  The setting sun bathed a dejected Caspian in golden light as he trudged along a riverside path, its name a mystery to him.

  I had fotten how terrible I was at writing essays ba school. Not sure why I thought I’d ace the Writtehen, but still those questions...

  Caspian paused, his gaze drifting to the cityscape across the river. Oh well. On the bright side, Genos seems even more supportive than usual. Whatever issue he faced the other day appears to have resolved itself as well.

  The sound of someone’s rapid footsteps approached.

  I knew you’d e find me regardless of where I went.

  “The newer seminar isn’t over yet!”

  HWUMP

  Sneded in front of Caspian. “In this business, there’s a thing called rookie crushing.”

  Caspia his hands in the pockets of his ‘Oppai’ hoodie, his patien a thread.

  “A lot of us hero—”

  “I’m holy not a big fan of yours at this point. Just e ‘crush’ me, okay?”

  Sneck, enraged, charged forward. “Arrogance!” he shouted as he unched his 'Biting Snake Fist.' “I’ll give you aended rookie-crushing lesson... like this!” He nded a direct hit.

  “…”

  “…”