My Hero Academia Episode 53: The Test

A student named Mei is enthusiastic about helping Izuku develop a fighting style centered on kicking. She offers to create new leg parts for him, and Izuku reminds her he wants to maintain his costume's basic design. Mei, undeterred, gets permission from a teacher named Power Loader to proceed. Another student, Ochaco, watches their conversation with a downcast expression.

Four days later at a training facility called Gym Gamma, Izuku demonstrates his new fighting style and costume upgrades by breaking a falling rock that was threatening a hero named All Might. Two students, Denki and Eijiro, praise Izuku's new moves and express surprise at his new style. Izuku explains he received powerful new soles from Mei and states that his "Shoot Style" isn't quite a super move yet, though All Might believes it's a significant step forward. A teacher named Shota warns All Might to keep a safe distance from the training. All Might apologizes to a student named Katsuki, who then tells All Might to be more careful before walking away. This interaction makes All Might realize he is now the one being protected.

Izuku notices that Denki and Eijiro also have new costume upgrades. Denki excitedly talks about his new style but is interrupted by the arrival of a teacher named Vlad King and students from Class 1-B. A student named Neito from Class 1-B taunts Class 1-A. Shota stops him by revealing that Class 1-A and Class 1-B will not be competing against each other in the upcoming provisional hero license exam. Shota further explains that most exam participants will not be first-year students and will have more experience than Class 1-A.

That night at a dormitory called Heights Alliance, the girls relax in the common area. Mina, Toru, and Momo discuss their hard work in preparation for the approaching exam. Momo mentions her body isn't yet ready for her ultimate move, while a student named Tsuyu reveals her new move is more frog-like. The group tries to get Ochaco's attention, but she seems distracted. Tsuyu eventually gets her to respond, and Ochaco admits her mind has been elsewhere. Mina speculates that Ochaco is in love with either a student named Tenya or Izuku. This embarrasses Ochaco, and she uses her Quirk to float away. She then sees Izuku practicing kicks outside a window and watches him with affection.

On the morning of the Provisional Hero Licensing Exam, Class 1-A travels to the National Dagobah Arena. A student named Minoru expresses nervousness about getting his license, and Shota encourages him. Shota tells his students that if they pass the exam, they will become semi-professional heroes. Eijiro enthusiastically starts a "Plus Ultra" chant, but a student named Inasa appears and chants it himself, interrupting Eijiro. Inasa's classmate, Seiji, tells him not to barge in. Inasa apologizes by loudly slamming his head into the ground.

Shota recognizes Inasa as a first-year student from Shiketsu High School, which he identifies as the best hero course in western Japan. Inasa loudly declares his love for U.A. High School and his desire to say "Plus Ultra" once in his life. Shota informs his class that Inasa achieved the highest scores among those recommended for U.A. but declined his acceptance. Izuku is surprised to learn that Inasa is a first-year student whose abilities are supposedly superior to those of a student named Shoto.

To his apparent displeasure, Shota is approached by a hero named Emi, who emphatically calls out his hero name. She tries to make him laugh and flirts with him, but Shota rejects her advances. Izuku explains that Emi is the "Smile Hero: Ms. Joke" and that her Quirk, "Outburst," causes people to laugh uncontrollably. Ms. Joke introduces Class 2 from Ketsubutsu High School. Two of her students, Tatami and Yo, enthusiastically greet Class 1-A. Yo introduces himself individually to some students, but Katsuki dismisses him, doubting his sincerity. Tatami asks Shoto for his autograph, having seen him at the U.A. Sports Festival. Shota tells his students to prepare for the exam, and Emi realizes Shota likely omitted an important detail when explaining the exam to his class.

The exam participants gather in a large, rectangular room. A worker from the Hero Public Safety Commission named Yokumiru Mera addresses the students. He begins by stating his tiredness and the Commission's understaffing. Yokumiru explains that the exam is a free-for-all, emphasizing that heroes now respond to crises very quickly, so students will be tested on speed. Only the first 100 students out of 1540 will pass the first test. Each student has six red balls and three targets to attach to their body in visible locations. Students must hit other students' targets; once a student has all three targets hit, they are eliminated, and whoever attached the third ball claims the defeat. Participants need to eliminate two students to advance to the next phase.

The rectangular room then unfolds to reveal a large arena with diverse environments. Yokumiru attributes his fatigue to the effort spent on this elaborate terrain reveal. In the stands, Emi sits near Shota and jokes about his fly being down. She comments on Shota having twenty students and notes it's unusual he hasn't expelled anyone yet. Emi then brings up the piece of information Shota had not yet told his class.

Izuku realizes that students will likely stick with their schoolmates and suggests Class 1-A move as a unit. Katsuki immediately walks off, and Eijiro follows him. Shoto also goes off on his own, stating it's difficult for him to use his Quirk effectively in a large group. Izuku argues that going alone is a bad idea because, due to the U.A. Sports Festival, everyone already knows about Class 1-A's abilities. Emi states that while the test changes, one tradition remains constant: the immediate targeting of U.A. students.

Yo Shindo leads an attack, with him and his peers throwing their balls at Class 1-A. Izuku immediately counters with a "Shoot Style" kick, and his classmates defend themselves using their Quirks. Shota explains that he didn't tell his students about this aspect of the exam because it wouldn't change the fact that they must overcome obstacles like true heroes. He also notes that Pro Heroes' Quirks are widely known and apologizes that his students are more advanced than hers. Izuku leads his classmates, encouraging them to continue fighting.