A/N: Merry Christmas!


November

He'd been accepted, more than accepted. David Shield himself wrote his acceptance letter, which Izuku proceeded to plaster on his wall. His heart soared at the news, Izuku was ready to prove himself to the world, three years ago now marked the day he gave up on his previous dream, and today? Today marked the fulfillment of a new dream. Shaving, tidying up with a button up and some newly bought jeans showering, and even a new haircut that shortened his fluffy hair to be more safe in a testing environment, Izuku looked far more presentable now.

It only took 3 days for the letter to reach him, which leads us to his current situation.

"Oi! Who the fuck are you?" A finger shot up into his face, the short man before him practically scowling up at him with a comical expression. Fiery hair blazed along with his burning expression. The man was around his age, if a little older, and was definitely on the shorter side, Izuku wondered if his inflamed hair was a quirk.

"Erm, Midoriya Izuku? I'm an apprentice?" He held up his ID card that he used to enter this place.

"Oh."

'That's it?????' Izuku rubbed his temple, he just arrived at the Japan shield industries facility and he was already being yelled at…

"Same here, this place is a good test ground for explosives." The man turned and continued walking down the hallway they were in, leaving Izuku scratching his head for a second at his random comment before following him through the gigantic double doors.

The building was a dome, and so the sight that he was met with shouldn't have been too surprising, and yet he was stunned anyways. The green haired man spun around in place as the views assaulted him, the main area of the building was an artificial environment! Grass was green and trees littered the area, at first glance it looked like a park, and then there was the artificial sun in the sky! It was mind boggling to the young scientist, he looked around as dozens of other scientists like him tested their inventions, a ball of hard light flew over his head to emphasize.

"Wow!" The man laughed excitedly, his face contorting into a large grin as he breathed it all in, closing his eyes for a small moment and just letting the artificial wind caress his face.

"Hey Izuku! Glad you could make it!" A yell from above, green eyes shot to the sky as his view filled with a sight for the eyes. Melissa hovering in the sky, waving her arms at him as she slowly lowered. Blue circles shooting out from under the boots she wore, obviously what allowed her to hover in the air so easily. Izuku looked on in awe.

"H-hi M-m-melissa!" He finally said her first name, something the green haired man was preparing to do the entire ride here. Melissa smiled at his use of her name, dropping to the ground and jogging over to him. She was wearing a white lab coat, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. The blonde woman looked like a kid in a candy store.

Taking the device off her feet, "Check it out! These thrusters apply a reversed gravitational field below someone, pushing us away from sources of gravity instead of pulling. Here!" She shoved the boots into his arms, looking on with excitement for his reaction. Izuku was quickly overwhelmed by her energy but nodded anyway, sweat appearing on his face.

"Try it out! It's perfectly safe, almost production ready!" She gave him a nod and a thumbs up, twinkling those pretty sapphire eyes at him, Izuku really wanted to get to know her better.

"S-sure!"


"I like the haircut by the way, you should keep it like that." Izuku sputtered, she really said whatever came to mind he was noticing. She'd just finished showing him the new invisible suit they were coming up with, still in early stages. But Izuku could barely think straight after that comment.

She continued to lead him through the facility by hand, like a child showing off her favorite toys, Melissa was adamant on showing him all the cool new inventions made by her and others at the facility, sort of an introduction and guide to what they worked on and what the different parts of the facility represented.

Izuku thought it was incredible, so many people working on different gadgets and machines to benefit humanity in one way or another. But he felt confusion towards the blonde woman pulling him through the facility, why was she helping him out so much? Even if they were both quirkless, that wouldn't explain her behaviour. Melissa hummed happily while Izuku tried to muster up the courage to ask her a simple question.

Swallowing "H-hey M-melissa." She turned to him with a smile, it seemed like she was always smiling.

"What's up?" He grinned back, their eyes met.

"Are we friends? I-I mean I'm just asking because I'm sure you have many friends but erm, I'd l-like to be your friend... as well?" He bit out the last part awkwardly, luckily for him she took it in stride.

"Why not, I'm actually low on friends myself! The only friends I really have are my dad's friends and they are way too old. I was homeschooled most of my life, it gets kinda boring." She clasped his hands with her own, "I'd love to be your friend Izuku, we're a lot alike ne?" She snickered at his relieved expression, the anxious greenette let out a sigh of relief. His eyes shot open when he felt the warmth leave, Melissa was jogging down the corridor.

"H-hey, wait up!" He jogged to follow her, she led them to a scaffolding overlooking a large project site. Izuku stopped next to her, a light sweat built on his forehead. The green haired inventor followed where Melissa was pointing, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw it.

A giant mechanical construction was being worked on by countless men, silver plates of metal coating a technological skeleton. It was easily 30 meters tall and had to weigh just as much as it was tall, it's large metal head was the most finished part of the project and resembled that of an unnamed dinosaur, wiring and pipes littered through the area. Izuku scanned over the building site taking in all the details, he couldn't believe they were working on something so big.

"Amazing isn't it? That's Kiezer, he's supposed to be our answer to giant type quirks on the field, the only answer we have to villains like that are limited compared to smaller regular sized villains. So my Papa greenlit this baby, impressed huh?" All Izuku could do is nod dumbly, the fact that such a thing could actually be made was incredible.

"We're hoping it's a hit with the people, that giant thing took quite a bit out of our budget afterall." He nodded again, flushing when she tugged on his arm again, pulling him further and further into the building.

Suddenly Melissa doubled her effort, practically dragging him. Izuku felt oddly happy at this moment.

She gave him her best serious look but Izuku just smiled,"I have one more thing to show you, it's super cool but dangerous." She handed him some goggles, urging him to put them.

Izuku's face contorted into a grimace, "D-dangerous? Are you sure it's okay for me to be back here?" She rolled her eyes and nodded, "Of course, now come onnn it's cool I promise." Izuku nodded.

"Well, If I die I'm sure my Mom will miss me at least." He laughed awkwardly at his own self deprecating humor, not noticing Melissa's worried glances.

"Hey, I haven't known you for that long but us quirkless have to stick together right? I'd miss you, I'm sure plenty of people care about a sweet guy like you." Izuku flushed at the praise, but shook his head.

"I'd rather not talk about it, I'm not exactly well liked…" the blonde frowned, shaking her head and continuing forward.


They entered a small white room, Izuku frowned at the sight. Absorbing the view, the two went unaware regarding the 8 legged guest cooped up in the corner. A spider with odd markings, it glowed in an odd orange way.

There was a machine at the center of the room, well two machines facing each other. At first glance they looked like weapons, but clearly that wasn't the case. Circuitry and wiring covered the two machines, a platform at the center that was meant to hold something up between the coils and keep it in place. The machine activated and the two put on the goggles.

As Melissa began to explain the functions of the machine before them, neither of the young inventors noticed the arachnid slowly lowering itself on the back of Izuku's neck. Too enamored with the odd yellow energy beams colliding at the center of the room, radiation beams she called them. This device was called the "Neogenic Recombinator".

"My father personally made this one himself before I came here, said he wanted to figure out how to cure super-cancer and cell death and stuff. We've only tested it on small single celled organisms, but one day we hope to use it on live animals to test if we really can control genetics." Izuku nodded at her explanation, the idea of a machine that could control genetics was insane to him… Would that mean someone could change the genetics of let's say, a quirk?

"The machine shoots out radiation at a safe enough level to supercharge cells, we haven't tested on a live subjec-", Izuku yelped suddenly, startling the blonde woman who looked at him with worry.

Izuku frowned after the pain subsided, "Hey, what happened, are you alright?" He nodded.

"I felt something sharp at the back of my neck, like a bite?" He flushed as Melissa violated his personal space once again, shifting his collared shirt slightly so she could get a better look.

She gasped, "Eew." He frowned and turned around suddenly, "What?"

With a grossed out face, "It looks like a spider bite, where the heck did that come from?" She turned her body to look for the cause, hmphing when nothing showed up.

Izuku yelped as her full attention was brought onto him suddenly, "Well do you feel anything? Dizzy or in pain?" A shake of the head.

'So close!'

"M-must have been non-venomous then." Izuku said, shrugging and still flushing. Melissa shook her head at the situation, how the hell did a spider get in here?

"Make sure you get that checked out okay?" She requested with a worried look.

"I'm sure it's nothing."

"If you're sure."


Izuku had to hold back a nervous breakdown when David Shield shook his hand, the man spoke calmly. "So you're the guy who's caught the attention of my darling girl huh?" Izuku rubbed the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly.

"Papa!" Melissa punched his arm, flushing, her usual grin replaced with a scowl.

The man chuckled at her response, "I kid I kid! I'm just surprised you met another quirkless, you guys are getting rarer and rarer every year after all. And with impressive grades to boot, hard study huh?" Izuku nodded solemnly, finishing their handshake. They were in David's personal office for introductions and details, it was an honor to be here.

The man squared him up, nodding. "Yeah, you'll do. I looked at your plans for a capture device, web shooters you called them." Izuku nodded eagerly, but remained silent as to bask in the presence of this living legend before him.

"Well, while it's impressive you've created a new chemical compound, that's not the main reason I decided to accept you." Izuku tilted his head

"I-i-its not?"

David adjusted his glasses, "Take a seat son." Melissa exited at that point, slightly increasing Izuku's already record high nerves.

Sitting across from one another, the office was entirely quiet now. David spoke first, "The main part I noticed about your design idea wasn't how practical it was, but rather how simple it was. Too many new inventors try to create ridiculous inventions to fill a niche. I've had to send about 8 inventors home already because I truthfully could not see a purpose for their inventions, as well as their goal for these inventions. Man, the amount of arrogant knuckleheads running through here has given me a headache." The older man shook his head, and Izuku absorbed everything he was saying.

"O-oh, sorry to hear that Sir."

"Don't mind that, but another thing is your focus on environmentalism. Those webs of yours are eco friendly right?" A nod.

David clapped, "Wonderful, you're right that most capture tools aren't eco friendly. Erasurehead is a different story because his tool requires months if not years of practice to use effectively, anybody could use these, according to your parameters at least."

Izuku was stunned, here sat one of the greatest minds in the world complimenting him, after years of being just an afterthought for most people, a nobody. He couldn't help but stare at the floor, not being used to compliments of any kind, especially from someone so much higher above him on the social ladder.

David noticed this of course, he could tell that the young man before him definitely lived the life of a quirkless person. He empathized with him immensely, Melissa was quirkless and she was one of the best inventors he had… how could he say no to someone like Izuku? Especially with how much talent he had, reading his file showed just how many inventions the boy made in the past 3 years. Mostly simple, but effective and creative.

"Yes, one of my major goals I mention in sketch #616 was to create an environmentally friendly tool that was easy to use, not everyone has a strong quirk for combat afterall…" Shield nodded, giving a warm smile.

That was enough of an interview for the master inventor, he stood up and shook Izuku's hand once more. "I'm happy to see you here, and I look forward to seeing more of you. And if I may have one request?" Izuku stood attentive.

'What could David Shield want from me of all people?' Izuku thought to himself.

A somber look passed over the man's face, "Please, be good friends to my darling Melissa. She's lived a life of luxury as my daughter and so she hasn't had many of her own friends, most people see her as a token quirkless person in my company and as a person in general. That or they see her as my daughter and just my daughter. But she has taken a liking to you, and you can relate to her like nobody else, not even I can." He sighed, looking out the window.

Izuku nodded, his face losing any apprehension. "Yes sir, of course I'll be a good friend to her, you have my word. It's the least I can do, I have a nagging feeling I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Melissa." Shield scoffed and waved the notion away, his face lighting up.

"Bah, I was sold before Melissa mentioned she met you beforehand. It was quite a coincidence you two met but I wouldn't have accepted you just for being nice to my daughter and quirkless, I'm a super genius remember?" Izuku chuckled, the man was calming to talk to, like a therapist. He was perfectly rational and objective while refraining from having a robotic tone.

"Thank you sir!" Izuku gave him one of his bright smiles and saluting, and from that point on, both Shields were charmed by the unassuming broccoli man.

"We'll be seeing you tomorrow, we'll assign you the room you'll be staying in for the next month, and maybe if you impress, for the foreseeable future. You never know." A pristine smile.

His face dropped into a tired groan, "Now get out of my office so I can take a nap."

Another salute. "YES SIR."


Izuku exited the office and took the technologically advanced elevator down back to ground level. As soon as the elevator doors opened he was bombarded with a strange view, the short man from earlier was raging at a device that obviously failed to function, smoke rising from it. Still on a high from his interview, Izuku tried to calmly and inconspicuously walk pass without drawing any-

"Oi, watch it!" Izuku muttered another apology to the short man, confused due to the fact that he wasn't even near him.

"Um, I don't really think we've been introduced."

"My name's Ryuga!"

"H-hi, I'm Midoriya Izuku."

"Well I don't give a shit!"

"Okay?" A question mark appeared above his head, the fire haired man was very extreme. He sort of reminded him of Katsuki when they were younger, always cursing and yelling… The memory drew an odd smile from Izuku.

Regardless of the abrasive man's vitriol, he couldn't feel deterred. A smile never left the man's face.


The subway was quiet, rush hour had ended long ago and Izuku was glad. The newfound apprentice was scrolling the news on his mobile device, looking for anything to pass the time.

'Meta liberation is back? Click for more info on the situation In America.'

'Detnerat shoots up on the stock market, cash in quick!'

He didn't care for those two articles, so he kept scrolling.

After a few moments of scrolling, he quickly found an article that caught his attention, 'Ground Zero hits the top 5! Youngest hero in history to breach the top 5 heroes!' in the article was his former best friend, Katsuki Bakugo. The last time they really talked was after the UA exams, and it was a painful memory he didn't want to relapse on. One that involved a yelling match and several explosions, his vocal cords still hurt...

Shaking his head, Izuku sighed as he realized how much stronger the man was now. Whatever mile wide gap there was when they were in middle school had to be light-years by now, he still sported his explosive haircut but now was much much more muscular, his arms specifically. He lost the scowl but there was still a perpetual frown on his now chiseled face, he was right ahead Icyhot in the rankings but below Miruko, Hawks, Endeavour and Lemillion still.

Tapping on the video, Izuku laughed as he watched an interview with the explosive hero.

"Can I-"

"No."

"But-"

"Buzz-off."

"Hey you bastard, stop dismissing us!"

"You wanna die camcorder????"

'So he's still the same after all these years…' no, he's a little less angry now, those lacking the usual venom he remembered when they were younger, the article listed his "temper tantrums" as a source of comedy and likability for hero fans.

'I wonder if I could've competed with him even if I got a quirk, he's so powerful now…'

Suddenly, he got dizzy.

'Woah, woah!' Izuku began to wobble, his grip getting loose on the subway handle as his brain did cartwheels. Pupils dilated, his hairs stood up on end and his eyes wobbled, unfocused. Dropping the mobile device onto the ground, Izuku slumped over, unable to hold himself upright and eyes rolling back behind his head. Incapacitated, Izuku sprawled across the floor.

Nobody in that train even bothered to help him, as few as they were, they simply stepped over his body, muttering that a hero would come to help soon, that he'd be fine until one did. His phone still opened to the article with Katsuki, Izuku drifted into unconsciousness, ignored.