MHA;Gomu Gomu!

**Chapter 4: The Turning Point**

Luffy stood at the edge of the field, his dark eyes flickering with a mix of anxiety and determination. The weight of the previous tests hung heavily on his shoulders. He had scored abysmally in the first four tests, and the pressure to make up for lost ground was crushing. His black hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat, and his fists clenched and unclenched nervously. *I can't afford to mess this up,* he thought, his mind racing. *If I don't pull off something incredible, I'm done for.*

The fifth test was about to begin: the softball throw. Luffy watched as his classmates stepped up one by one, each showcasing their unique Quirks. First was Midoriya, who nervously gripped the ball, his arm trembling. With a determined yell, he threw the ball with all his might, but the force of his Quirk shattered his finger in the process. The ball soared through the air, landing an impressive distance away. The class gasped, and Midoriya winced, clutching his injured hand.

Next was Uraraka. She held the ball delicately, her fingers brushing against its surface. With a soft whisper of "Release," she activated her Zero Gravity Quirk, sending the ball floating endlessly into the sky. The device in Aizawa's hand beeped, displaying an infinity symbol. The class erupted in cheers, and Uraraka smiled shyly, her cheeks tinged with pink.

Then came Bakugo. He stepped forward with his usual swagger, his explosive palms crackling with energy. He wound up his arm and launched the ball with a deafening explosion, sending it rocketing through the air. The device beeped again, displaying a staggering distance. Bakugo smirked, clearly pleased with himself.

Finally, it was Luffy's turn. He stepped into the circle, the ball resting in his palm. The class watched him intently, some with curiosity, others with skepticism. Luffy took a deep breath, his mind racing. *I've got one shot at this. I can't afford to mess it up.* He wound up his arm, and with a sudden burst of energy, his arm stretched back like a rubber band, far beyond what any normal person could achieve. The class gasped as his arm snapped forward, launching the ball into the sky with incredible speed. It sailed through the air, landing a remarkable 500 meters away—the fourth-best score after Uraraka, Bakugo, and Midoriya.

The class erupted in murmurs of surprise. "Whoa, did you see that?!" Kirishima exclaimed, his sharp teeth gleaming in a wide grin. "His arm stretched like rubber!"

"That's… actually pretty impressive," Kaminari admitted, scratching the back of his head.

Even Bakugo looked mildly surprised, though he quickly masked it with a scowl. "Tch. Lucky shot," he muttered.

Aizawa, however, remained expressionless, his tired eyes watching Luffy closely. "Next test," he said simply, moving on without comment.

---

The sixth test was flexibility. The students lined up, each demonstrating their ability to bend and stretch. Luffy, with his rubber-like body, easily outperformed everyone else. He bent backward until his hands touched the ground, then twisted his body into impossible shapes, earning the highest score in the class. The students stared in awe, their earlier skepticism slowly giving way to admiration.

"Okay, that's just unfair," Mineta grumbled, crossing his arms. "How is he that flexible?"

"It's his Quirk," Jiro said, rolling her eyes. "Obviously."

Luffy grinned, his confidence growing. "Guess I'm not completely useless after all," he said, earning a few chuckles from his classmates.

---

The seventh test was the standing long jump. The students took turns leaping across a sandpit, each using their Quirks to maximize their distance. Uraraka activated her Zero Gravity Quirk, floating effortlessly across the pit and landing a solid 20 meters away. Iida revved up his engines, sprinting forward before launching himself into the air and landing 17 meters away. Bakugo used his explosions to propel himself forward, landing an impressive 25 meters away.

Then it was Luffy's turn. He stood at the edge of the pit, his mind racing. *How can I use my Quirk here?* he thought. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He crouched low, his legs coiling like springs. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, his legs stretching and propelling him forward. The class watched in stunned silence as he soared through the air, landing a staggering 27 meters away—the best score yet.

The class erupted in cheers and gasps. "No way!" Kirishima shouted, his eyes wide. "He just beat Bakugo!"

"That was insane!" Kaminari added, his jaw dropping.

Even Bakugo looked furious, his hands crackling with explosions. "You damn rubber freak!" he growled, though there was a hint of grudging respect in his tone.

Aizawa, meanwhile, remained as stoic as ever, though his eyes gleamed with a faint hint of interest. "Not bad," he muttered under his breath.

---

The final test was a grueling endurance race. The students sprinted across the field, their Quirks pushed to the limit. Iida took an early lead, his engines roaring as he dashed ahead. Luffy, determined to prove himself, pushed his body to its limits, his legs stretching and propelling him forward with incredible speed. Todoroki and Bakugo followed closely behind, their Quirks giving them an edge.

By the end of the race, Iida had secured first place, with Luffy coming in a close second. Todoroki and Bakugo followed, their faces etched with exhaustion. Luffy collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His black hair was plastered to his forehead, and his gym uniform was soaked with sweat. The other students were equally exhausted, their bodies trembling from the effort.

"You… did better than I expected," Midoriya said, panting as he sat down beside Luffy. "That long jump was amazing!"

Luffy grinned weakly, his eyes half-closed. "Thanks… I guess I'm not completely hopeless after all."

Bakugo, meanwhile, was fuming. "Don't get cocky, rubber boy," he snapped, though there was a hint of respect in his tone. "You're still nowhere near my level."

As the class caught their breath, Aizawa stepped forward, his tired eyes scanning the group. "You've all done… adequately," he said, his voice as monotone as ever. "But remember, this is just the beginning. If you want to become heroes, you'll need to push yourselves even harder."

Luffy lay on the ground, staring up at the sky. His body ached, and his mind was still reeling from the day's events. But for the first time since arriving in this strange new world, he felt a glimmer of hope. *Maybe… just maybe… I can do this.*