"Good luck, Izuku, my precious little genius baby!" Inko exclaimed with overwhelming joy, emanating pride and love as she looked at her son. She couldn't help but wrap her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace, and planting a few dozen kisses all over his face.
"Mom! Mom, please, there might be pro heroes around…" Izuku protested, trying to maintain his composure. When he eventually managed to pry himself from his mother's loving embrace he scanned the area around the train station with a wary eye, making sure nobody had witnessed any of that. His cheeks flushed as he wiped his face with his sleeve, trying to erase the evidence.
With tears blossoming, Inko couldn't help but gush, "I'm just so incredibly proud of you and Mei!" She turned her attention, and her eyes started to fill."Oh, Mei!"
"Hey, w-wait! What are you looking at me like that f-" Mei stammered, suddenly feeling the spotlight on her. But there was no escape. Feeling the full force of Mama Midoriya's affections, she was wrapped up in a suffocating hug.
"Thank…You… Ms…Midoriya…" Mei managed to choke out, her face turning a shade of red similar to Izuku's. Inko finally released her, allowing the young girl to catch her breath and regain her composure.
Scanning between the two of them, Inko's motherly instincts kicked into overdrive as she made her final checks. "Do you both have all your equipment? Did you remember to charge your phones? Did you eat breakfast?" She reached out and started adjusting Izuku's collar and making sure Mei's goggles were on straight, fussing over them like a mother hen.
"Mom! We're fine!" Izuku laughed, trying to reassure her. He gave her one last gentle hug and said "I promise, I'll call you after to let you know how everything went, okay? But we've really got to get going now! We don't want to be late for the presentation."
The two young hopefuls gathered their belongings and set off toward the UA campus, actually feeling more excited than nervous. They'd spent the last two months working diligently on their support gear projects, and neither really felt like they had anything to worry about. They both gave Izuku's mom one final wave as they exited the station.
Inko waved back and yelled one final thing, "Give my love to Mr Power Loader!" She smiled proudly as she watched them disappear out of the gates.
"Izuku, how does your mom know Power Loader?"
"I have absolutely no idea!" he replied, incredibly confused.
—
Every year, the Support Course Admissions Panel is comprised of a diverse group of four top rescue and support heroes. As always, the panel was led by Power Loader, who this time was accompanied by Cementoss and Thirteen. Initially, Ragdoll from the Wild Wild Pussycats was supposed to be part of the panel; however, she agreed to swap places with Present Mic, who wanted to join the panel because he thought "it sounded fun."
Each applicant for the Support Course had a total of fifteen minutes to present their project and elaborate on its virtues and potential applications. Following the presentation, the panel would evaluate and provide feedback. Power Loader, who was not an overly strict judge, believed that reaching this stage and having a completed project were significant achievements in themselves. So he focused more on understanding the students' personalities and determining the additional work required for them to successfully deliver sales pitches in the future. Cementoss naturally assumed the role of the hard-to-please judge, while Thirteen was more skilled at making the students feel comfortable. Present Mic, on the other hand, simply wanted to see something cool.
Inside Gym Gamma, the four panellists were seated behind a long table facing a stage Cementoss had made, decorated in the style of a talent competition, complete with red velvet curtains and bright spotlights. Currently, a nervous-looking boy with a head shaped like a chestnut stood on the stage holding a gun with a boxing glove attached to the barrel. Cementoss appeared grumpy, while Thirteen tried to encourage the boy with a "go ahead" gesture.
With sweat dripping down his face, the boy placed a glass bottle atop a small table, shielded his eyes with his elbow, and pulled the trigger. The boxing glove shot out at a decent speed on a concertina, gently pushing the bottle onto the floor. The impact was not particularly strong, and the bottle remained intact upon landing. Power Loader observed carefully and jotted down some notes, while Present Mic stood up and applauded enthusiastically. From the back of the room, Izuku and Mei exchanged glances, wondering if their inventions were a bit too extravagant.
As the chestnut-headed boy hurried off stage, Present Mic stood up and shouted, "IZUKU MIDORIYA IS NEXT! OH YEAHHH!"
Izuku and Mei approached the front of the room, where Mei whispered something to Power Loader. After considering her request, Power Loader announced, "Izuku Midoriya and Mei Hatsume will be presenting their projects together. They have fifteen minutes in total."
Suddenly, the lights in the building flickered and went out, plunging the room into darkness. Moments later, a large, projected video began playing on the back wall of the stage. The image displayed a stunning, high-resolution view of Earth slowly spinning in space. A deep, resonant voice narrated, capturing everyone's attention. "Our Earth is in turmoil, struggling under the weight of our actions."
The voice continued, growing more sombre. "In our world of incredible power and technological advancements, the environment suffers the consequences of our negligence."
Cementoss, puzzled by the sudden change in atmosphere, turned to Present Mic and quietly asked, "When did they set up that projector?" Present Mic shushed him gently, saying, "Quiet, the movie's starting!" He then eagerly returned to munching on some popcorn, eyes glued to the screen.
The video shifted, revealing a growing problem at Takoba Beach. The screen displayed black and white footage of the once-pristine beach, now marred by mountains of trash and debris littering the shoreline. Solemnly, the voiceover explained, "The once crystal clear waters and sandy shores are now tarnished, pollution has taken its toll on this beautiful natural wonder, transforming it into a sad reflection of its former glory."
Power Loader, intrigued, tilted his head thoughtfully and tapped the nib of his pen on his notebook. Present Mic, visibly moved, wiped away a tear that had formed in the corner of his eye.
The video continued, transitioning to an interview with Inko, filmed in her living room. "Takoba Beach used to be one of my favourite spots in the city," she reminisced, sadly. "But it's changed so much over the years." As she spoke, the footage cut to a heart-wrenching scene of a seagull, its leg trapped in a tangled mess of plastic. "Honestly, it just makes me feel really sad."
Mei's parents appeared on screen next, standing together outside the family garage. Her mother adjusted her glasses and cleared her throat before speaking. "Do I think anything can be done to fix the problem?" She said, looking directly into the camera. "Absolutely. We just need to take responsibility for our actions, and all do our part. It's important to remember that we're all in this together."
Mei's father nodded in agreement. "The biggest differences can be made with the smallest actions," he added. "Each and every one of us can do our part, no matter how small."
The video's image suddenly star-wiped into bright colour with happy music, showing stock footage of smiling people picking up litter, being kind to animals, and gardening. "And that's exactly what we did!" Mei shouted as she walked onto stage waving and wearing a studio headset.
"Hi, I'm Mei Hatsume!" she said, grinning from ear to ear. "And I'm so excited to be here today!"
More timidly, Izuku joined her on stage. "And I'm um, Izuku," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The mic wailed in feedback, causing him to wince. "Izuku Midoriya…" he trailed off, feeling embarrassed.
Present Mic applauded them. "Great job! Incredible! Bravo!"
"That's right folks," Mei looked down solemnly, the mood in the room shifting. "Takoba Beach was in trouble. The water was polluted, the sand was littered with trash, and the wildlife was suffering."
She had natural showmanship, but Izuku needed to work more on that aspect of the career. He looked down at his cue cards nervously. "Yes. Takoba Beach was in trouble," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "So my friend Mei," he gestured to Mei robotically, "my friend Mei and I, decided to do something about it."
Pulling out her phone and pressing the screen, Mei enthusiastically proclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present the latest breakthrough in rescue technology: the one-of-a-kind, direct from Hatsume Industries, Hatsume Exo-Suit Mark V!" As she spoke, the gym's skylight slowly opened, and the exo-suit gracefully descended, landing directly between Mei and Izuku. With a flourish, Mei added, "The Hatsume Exo-Suit! A game-changer for heavy lifting and rescue operations!"
She pressed her phone screen again, and the front of the suit opened up to reveal its sophisticated interiors. Mei confidently climbed inside and closed herself in.
"This state-of-the-art technology offers a wide range of benefits," Mei continued, "such as Enhanced Strength!" She flexed her arms, and the video playing behind her displayed the suit effortlessly lifting a rusted-out car.
Izuku, clutching his cue card, nervously chimed in, "Agility and Precision. The exo-suit is designed with advanced servos, allowing for precise movements that are ideal for navigating difficult terrain." The video showcased the suit in several dynamic action poses, expertly dodging projectiles and looking incredibly cool. Present Mic's mouth formed a progressively larger 'O' shape as they continued.
"And let's not forget its applications in disaster relief!" Mei beamed. "Need some debris lifted? I'm your gal!"
"But Mei," Izuku interjected, reading his cards in a somewhat robotic voice. "What about people trapped inside buildings? The exo-suit can't fit into small gaps, can it?" He overemphasised the question and gave a mistimed shrug as he asked.
"Unfortunately, it can't… However, we have an amazing solution for you! We recommend teaming up the Hatsume Exosuit with the Midoriya Corp Dynamic Exploration Kinetic Unit!"
Izuku nervously pressed the strap of his backpack, and suddenly, his little robot companion DEKU leapt out with enthusiasm. They landed gracefully in front of the audience, striking an impressive pose. Thirteen couldn't help but let out an "aww," Power Loader's eyes widened in surprise, Cementoss displayed a rare moment of emotion, and Present Mic leapt to his feet, exclaiming, "A FREAKING ROBOT!"
Grinning with pride, Izuku introduced his creation to the panel, "Everyone, meet Deku! Say hello, Deku!"
"Hello Deku!" The witty robot replied, giving a playful wink to the captivated panel.
"Haha, oh you," Izuku said, as if they'd rehearsed this exchange a hundred times. "So, Deku, what kind of things can you do?"
Deku's voice filled with excitement as they responded, "What can't I do! I can crawl into small spaces!" The robot wiggled their body, mimicking a swimming motion, while the video showcased Deku expertly squeezing through debris at the beach. "I can deliver supplies!" They continued, pantomiming, handing something over with their robotic arms. "And I can make you laugh!" They added, spinning their arms like a helicopter. Present Mic was absolutely loving it, his laughter filling the room.
"The Dynamic Exploration Kinetic Unit, or DEKU, is the perfect addition to any rescue squad." As Izuku finished speaking, Deku hopped up onto the exo-suit's shoulders, and the three of them bowed gracefully to the judges. "Thank you for listening!" They said in unison, as the on-screen video displayed the vast area of the beach that the two inventors had managed to clear together.
The video's narration gradually came to an end, with a final announcement: "This has been a Hatsume Industries & Midoriya Corp presentation." Two animated versions of Hatsume and Midoriya's faces appeared on the screen, giving a playful wink before the lights in the room slowly returned to their normal brightness.
Cementoss scratched his head, clearly puzzled by the presentation. "I still don't understand how they managed to manipulate the lights like that," he admitted.
After turning off the exo-suit's systems and carefully climbing out, Mei flashed a bright grin at the panel of judges. "So, any questions for us?" she eagerly inquired.
Power Loader glanced at his watch, then wiped his forehead with the back of his arm. "Well, uh, it was certainly an impressive display," he began, clearly struggling to find the right words.
"IMPRESSIVE?!" Present Mic suddenly shouted, leaping to his feet with excitement. "THEY BUILT A FREAKING ROBOT!" Thirteen quickly stood up, placed a calming hand on Present Mic's shoulder, and gently guided him back into his seat.
Power Loader tried to continue his thoughts, stammering, "This was, well..." before placing his pen down on the desk and shaking his head slightly. "Did you really build these in just two months? Only two months?"
"That's right!" Mei confirmed with enthusiasm.
"Um, well, that's not... Not entirely accurate..." Izuku interjected nervously, fidgeting with his hands.
Clearly alarmed, Mei's eyes widened as she maintained focus on the judges, and she hissed out of the side of her mouth "Izuku, what are you saying?!"
"I don't want to give them the wrong impression! We both know we didn't actually do this in two months!" Izuku insisted, feeling compelled to set the record straight.
Power Loader relaxed a bit in his chair, relieved by the clarification. "Ah, okay, that makes more sense. I didn't think anyone would be able to build something like this in such a short timeframe. So, how long did it really take?"
"Well, technically, we didn't start actually working on the builds until about two or three weeks in... So it was more like a month and a half," Izuku explained, mentally calculating the timeline.
Upon hearing this, Cementoss rose from his chair and began walking away from the table toward the exit. "Just tell them they're in the class and we can take a break," he grumbled as he left.
Thirteen followed suit, patting Power Loader on the shoulder and saying, "Good luck, Higari," before also making their exit.
Power Loader looked at the students on stage, who eagerly awaited his decision. After a few agonising seconds, he threw his hands up in resignation and declared, "Alright! Yes, you're in the class! Of course, you're in the class! You built a-"
"FREAKING. ROBOT!" Present Mic interjected, finishing the sentence with his signature enthusiasm. The sheer volume of his voice caused one of the arms on Mei's exo-suit to fall to the floor. She gingerly picked it up and commented, "Still some kinks to iron out, I suppose."
Without warning, Deku jerked upright, their normally calm green LED eyes flashing to a bright red hue. Power Loader, sensing the abrupt change in behaviour, quickly stood up from his chair with concern etched across his face. Present Mic helpfully asked, "They haven't turned evil, have they?!"
Izuku hesitated, then replied, "N-no, no, this is only supposed to happen when Deku is in search and rescue mode, but we're not near any disaster zones! I don't know what triggered this!" Turning to the robot, he commanded, "Deku, initiate shutdown sequence, night night."
Deku ignored the order, and spoke in an urgent voice. "Low life signs detected," they announced suddenly. The robot extended an arm and rotated it precisely thirty degrees. Pointing in a specific direction, they said, "350 metres in that direction."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Power loader explained calmly, "Oh, that's just the hero course test. Don't worry about it. Pretty much the entire faculty is out that way, so whoever it is, they'll be well taken care of. Recovery Girl will see to them."
"Life signs continue to deplete," Deku added, causing a stir in the room.
"Oh, thank goodness there are heroes down there, huh, Mei?" Izuku asked, looking to her for reassurance. Instead, he saw her expression changing rapidly. Her eyes widened and her brow furrowed. Her mouth tightened into a thin line. This was a look that was very unlike Mei. He had seen her determined before, but this expression was something new altogether.
Without saying a word, Mei forcefully jammed the broken arm back onto the exo-suit with a loud click and a whirr. She climbed inside the metal contraption, activated it, and started moving swiftly toward the door, heading in the direction of the potential danger.
"Mei! Where are you going?!" Izuku shouted after her, Power Loader and Present Mic echoing similar words of concern. Quickly turning to Deku, Izuku implored the little robot, "Go with her, Deku!" Diligently, Deku stretched their arms and legs to catch up, wrapping themselves onto the back of the exo-suit like a backpack.
Power Loader and Present Mic chased after them, leaving Izuku behind. He slunk down onto the stage and opened the Deku video feed on his phone, his heart pounding as he wondered what the hell Mei was thinking.