Lightning – My Hero Academia
Chapter 5: Get To Work
"Alright, kids. Take your seat. We have important information to go over today," Mr. Maijima said to the class. The students all quickly took their seats. Ako had his notebook and pen ready to go.
"So as you know, the sports festival is coming up in a week and a half. Which means that it's time for your first big project-slash-assignment." He announced. Immediately, a girl's hand shot up.
"Mr. Maijima?"
"Uh, yes, Ms. Myoto?"
"If the sports festival is coming up, shouldn't we be spending our time preparing for that?" She asked.
"Well, that's the thing. This assignment will directly have to do with the sports festival. If you would just let me finish." Mr. Maijima said with a faint chuckle. The other students chuckled too.
"Sorry! Sorry." Myoto quickly apologized.
"Ahem. I know that a number of you are interested in showing your skills at the festival. As you likely already know, as a part of the support class, you can bring your own devices with you into the events as long as you make it yourself.
"That is what your project will be. Whether you intend on participating in the events or not, your project will be to make something in the Development Studio. Those of you with quirks, you can make something suited for you specifically. Or be general if you wish.
"Each of you will be graded on creativity and functionality. Beyond that, you have free range. Going forward, we will be meeting for class at the Development Studio so that you can spend all the time you need working on your projects."
"Mr. Maijima," Ako spoke up and raised his hand. "When will the projects be due?"
"Two days before the festival. You will all be presenting your projects to the class, so obviously they need to be done by then. This gives you a little over a week."
"Mr. Maijima! Mr. Maijima! Are we allowed to work together?" Another student asked.
"No. This will be individually graded. Although, I suppose you could pool together ideas and suggestions," He thought aloud and shrugged. "But at the end of the day, you will be the one receiving the grade, so do with that what you will.
"I'll allow you all to brainstorm for the rest of this class period. Tomorrow, we will start meeting at the Studio every day. If you have any questions, I'll be right here."Mr. Maijima said before sitting in his chair and leaning back comfortably.
The students all began to chatter among themselves, discussing ideas and what they could do. Meanwhile, Ako sat at his desk silently, leaning over a blank piece of paper with his hands on the side of his head.
"What am I gonna do?" Ako thought to himself, "I'm terrible at coming up with stuff like this! Okay...try and think. Mr. Maijima said that we can create something suited to our quirk. But what could I possibly make that could withstand my quirk...?"
And that's when Ako came up with something. It was a simple idea, not very creative, but if he could pull it off, it would practically guarantee a good grade. The wheels in his head started to turn.
"Yeah, that's it! Heroes take a lot of hits. They move around a lot going from place to place. If I can make something that can absorb the impact of a hard landing, that would be perfect for a quirk like mine! It'll decrease injury and also allow me to strike hard!
"I've got it! I'm gonna make a pair of boots!"
So Ako started getting to work, sketching out possible designs for the shoes. He took notes of different materials he could use and how to fasten them together with the tools in the Development Studio. It took a little longer than he would've liked, but he had his starting point...
The next day he was at the Development Studio working on the prototype boots. He had to do some research to learn how to frame them correctly, but by the time he reached the workshop, he was prepared enough to get right into it.
"Loving the determination, Mr. Tanaka." Mr. Maijima complimented him as he passed by.
"Thank you, sir. Oh! Mr. Maijima, would it be alright if I stayed after school to keep working?" Ako asked.
"Do you believe that you need the extra time?"
"Yes, sir. It's gonna take a lot of trial and error for me to get this right. That being the case, I'll have to build models again and again and again until I get it right." Ako explained. Mr. Maijima nodded in understanding.
"I see. Well then, you have my permission. You can stay for an extra hour until the school clubs are supposed to clear out. But no later than that, do you understand? And I expect you to leave the room exactly as you found it." He stipulated.
"Yes, sir. Thank you!" Ako said appreciatively.
"Heh, you're welcome, kid."
So when class came to an end and all of his classmates left, Ako stayed behind and continued working. Now that he was in the workshop alone, he took advantage – he put his headphones on, and he removed his jacket, shirt, and tie, leaving just his undershirt and pants.
Ako nodded along to his music, allowing the rhythm to lull himself into a focused state. He took sheets of metal, fastening and welding them to each other to create his prototype boots. Unbeknownst to him, however, another student had entered into the Studio while he was working.
When she came in, she was surprised to see another student there! He didn't look familiar to her at all, which made her think that he was probably a first-year. Still, since she was usually the only one allowed in here at this time, this aroused her curiosity.
"Hi there!" She greeted him with a wave as she started walking over to him. Ako, absorbed in his work, didn't even see her come in. It wasn't until she was on the other side of the work table that he noticed this girl had walked in.
Ako looked up to see a girl with long pink, braided hair and yellow eyes. She was pretty too. She had a strange intensity in her eyes, even though she was only looking at him and smiling. Ako cleared his throat and removed his headphones.
"Uh, hello. Can I help you with something?" He asked politely.
"Nah, just curious what you're doing here! I'm not used to seeing anyone in the Development Studio after school hours. You must be passionate about this stuff!" She commented with a laugh.
"Not so much passionate, more like I don't want to fail my first assignment," He answered with a faint chuckle. "I actually know nothing about engineering other than what I've learned in class so far, so I need all the help I can get, you know?" He explained.
"Ohh. Well, just change passion to dedication then!" She said with a giggle.
"Haha, yeah, sure. What's your name?" He asked slowly.
"Mei Hatsume, support class superstar, at your service!" She introduced herself with a proud smile.
"Hastume? Hatsume..." Ako repeated to himself, trying to figure out where he had heard her name before, "Oh! You were in the sports festival last year! I remember now!"
"Oh yeah! Haha, I forgot all about that!" Mei giggled.
"Yeah. You're in your second year, right?"
"Yep! And you must be a first year, yeah?" She asked.
"That's right. Ako Tanaka, nice to meet you." He introduced himself, offering a handshake. Mei shook his hand.
"Nice to meet ya! Whatcha working on, Ako Tanaka?" She asked, curiously looking at the metal that he was binding together, "Some kind of robot?" She guessed.
"No. I'm making boots. I'm trying to make something that can withstand a lot of pressure and use. If I get this right, I can take it with me into this year's sports festival. It would be a huge advantage for me." Ako explained his thinking.
"Ohh, I see! Interesting! How's it going so far?"
"Well, this is the mark 1, so I guess I'll tell you once I've tested it out with my quirk. I have a tendency to shatter shoes if I go all out." He admitted with a chuckle.
"Oh yeah? What's your quirk?" She asked curiously, putting her hands on the table and leaning forward with a curious smile.
"Speed," Ako answered simply. "I'm really fast."
"Oh yeah? You just go zoom-zoomin' around everywhere?" She asked, half-joking.
"Haha, yeah. What about you? Got a quirk?"
"Yep! When I focus, I can see really, really far." She answered, holding a hand out to emphasize what she was describing. Ako nodded and hummed.
"Interesting. Like zooming in on a camera?" He asked.
"Exactly like that!" She answered with a laugh.
"Neat!"
"Thanks! Well, let me stop interrupting your process. Let me see how this baby turns out when you're done though, kay?"
"Alright, sure." He replied with a smile.
"Bye now!" Mei waved before turning and going to work on her own projects. Ako watched her walk away for a few moments before resuming his work...
