Mei and Izuku, excited to start their first day of studies, entered the doors leading to class 1-H. These doors were noticeably larger than those for many other rooms in the school, featuring a double design as opposed to the single entrances familiar to non-support students. This choice was for two main reasons: to accommodate the taller students who may be enrolled in this particular class; and to allow for the easy transportation of larger types of gear that might need to be brought in and out of the room. Although the homeroom class didn't include the more specialised facilities found in workshops, there could still be the occasional demonstration using more substantially sized items.
The classroom featured a well-organised setup consisting of ten double-wide tables, for the time being the pair decided to share a table between them, Mei arguing they will just be able to move if they're asked. Each desk included integrated toolboxes providing ample storage for various tools and materials. Additionally, they were equipped with electrical outlets, allowing students to easily plug in and use electronic devices during their lessons.
To ensure a clean and safe environment, sanitation stations were strategically placed around the edges of the room. Surrounding them were various safety instructions plastered on the walls, providing clear guidelines for students to follow in case of emergencies or the handling of hazardous materials.
Spanning across the back wall of the classroom was a rack filled with essential safety equipment such as goggles and lab coats. This equipment was readily available for any students running experiments, or demonstrations that required additional protection. Next to this rack was a smaller door leading to Power Loader's personal office, which was locked.
Steadily, an increasing number of students started to enter the room, but it was a smaller turnout than what both Izuku and Mei had anticipated. Soon after, Power Loader made his entrance, wearing his hero costume. Izuku assumed that the costume was worn for today's occasion as a form of formal attire, highlighting his status as a pro hero. But he also wondered if this was a one time thing or if all the teachers regularly attended class in their costumes? It must be very cumbersome to teach like that. Just as he was about to get Mei's opinion on the matter, Power Loader began to address the class.
"Well, looks like you all made it." he declared. The students began to survey the room, realising their class was composed of only six people. "Yeah, I know, a small group this year. But I can tell you this for a fact, each one of you represents the best and brightest applicants we received this year out of a large pool of candidates. Securing a spot here is highly competitive, so you should be proud of your accomplishment." Mei and Izuku exchanged a celebratory fist bump, while they overheard a satisfied "hmph" from a taller boy sitting behind them. Power loader then proceeded to distribute a stack of documents among the students. He didn't comment on the two friends sharing a desk, implying it was fine for the time being.
"Before we get started on introductions and letting you loose on some equipment, we have to go through the standard safety material." He said in a resigned tone.
"NO!" Mei protested, slamming her head on the desk and groaning.
"Afraid so." Power Loader responded, starting to read in a monotone voice as the students followed along. "As aspiring support professionals, it is essential to prioritise safety when developing hero gear and gadgets. This document aims to provide you with the necessary guidelines to ensure a safe and efficient testing environment for all staff and students involved." He let out a sigh, considering the extensive length of the document, but pressed on.
"Number one, plan and prepare. Create a detailed plan outlining the objectives, procedures and potential hazards. Review the plan with your instructor and receive approval. Yada yada yada, ensure you have all necessary safety equipment such as gloves, goggles and protective clothing…" He discretely checked the number of pages remaining and rolled his eyes slightly. "Number two, the testing environment…"
"Psst, Izuku," Mei whispered, trying to make the most of the time. "Any ideas on Uraraka's gloves?"
Without uttering a word, the young inventor revealed a page in his open notebook that showcased an early design for a glove featuring conductive materials on the palms. Mei eagerly took the notebook from him, adding more technical notes to guarantee the design wouldn't interfere with quirk activation. She then handed it back, all the while maintaining the facade of paying close attention to Power Loader's ongoing safety lecture.
"...'By adhering to these guidelines, you will create a safe and efficient testing environment for you and your fellow students. Prioritising safety will ensure the success of future endeavours. Plus Ultra.' Did they really need to put Plus Ultra at the end of all that?" Maijima questioned as he finally reached the end of the safety material. "Now then, how about we do some introductions?"
Izuku's interest was immediately piqued by the announcement, as he'd been trying to figure out his classmates' quirks since they sat down. Most of them were difficult to work out just from going by appearances. Though he was certain he'd find all their quirks very cool, he also hoped they wouldn't poke fun at his weaker green hair quirk.
"Alright, Hatsume, time for you to introduce yourself." Power loader called out to the young student.
Mei confidently strutted to the front of the room, ready to announce her presence with her usual flair for the dramatic. "I am Mei Hatsume, a name you are sure to remember! Future and current CEO of Hatsume Industries, purveyor of the finest-"
"Hatsume, this isn't a sales pitch." Power Loader interrupted.
Mei let out a playful sigh, "Spoilsport." She continued in a more casual tone, "Hi, I'm Hatsume. You can call me Mei, I don't mind really. My quirk is zoom, it lets me see up to five kilometres away… and it gives me laser vision."
Power Loader quickly interjected, "It does not give her laser vision. Thank you, Hatsume, you can return to your seat. Hana, you next."
A petite girl with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and a sunflower-shaped backpack excitedly skipped to the front of the room. As she turned to face her classmates, they could see the sunflower badge pinned to her lapel. She smiled brightly and began her introduction, "Hi! I'm Akari Ha...haa- haaaaa"
"Everybody hit the deck!" Power Loader ordered, quickly diving behind his desk as the other students followed suit.
"CHOOOOO!" Akari sneezed violently, and a plume of flames burst from her nose and mouth. "Oops, hehe. Sorry, Mr Power Loader, allergies!"
Power Loader peeked out from behind his desk, concerned, "Have you had any water today, Hana?" He asked.
Sheepishly admitting, Hana replied, "Guess I forgot! So ummm yeah! I'm Akari Hana. If you couldn't tell, my quirk is nasal flames. I'm supposed to drink lots of water to keep the fire doused, but I forget sometimes." She grinned impishly, "Also, if anyone has any gossip, you gotta fill me in! We've been here nearly a half hour, and I haven't heard anything juicy yet! Okay, I'm done." With that, she happily bounced back to her seat.
"Kazutani, you're up." Power Loader called out.
A tall boy with an air of confidence was sitting behind Mei and Izuku. He walked to the front of the room, striking a pose with one hand casually in his pocket. His serious expression contrasted with his undeniable good looks, featuring dark hair and piercing dark eyes. With a snap of his fingers, he began his introduction.
"Hiro Kazutani. Quirk: statistics. I instinctively know a person's height, weight and blood type."
Mei scowled at him and asked in an accusatory tone "Those had better be the only things you instinctively know."
"Wouldn't you like to know?" he replied with a teasing grin. "I'm here for the hero costume design course, so you're going to have to help me with the engineering." He said casually pointing at Izuku, who was taken aback by the sudden interaction.
"Uh, s-sure."
Without saying another word, Kazutani returned to his seat, leaving the room buzzing with curiosity.
"Kuri, you ready?" Power Loader inquired, addressing the next student in line.
Izuku had only managed to decipher the quirk of a single student so far, and that person was now making their way to the front of the classroom. They appeared rather ordinary, with a typical build and height for his age. There was one strikingly unique feature about him, however. His head bore a striking resemblance to a large chestnut.
"Um, hey there everyone, I'm Kuri Kuri…"
"Oh!" Mei suddenly interjected, "I remember you! You were before us in the applications! You're the one who made that boxing glove baby!"
Kuri's cheeks flushed, and in an instant, a green chestnut shell casing enveloped his head. Speaking through the muffled shell, he stammered, "Y-yeah… That was me, I did make that…"
Leaping to Kuri's aid, Power Loader stepped in to provide some context for the class. "You guys only saw the tail end of Kuri's presentation. He actually demonstrated a whopping nineteen different inventions for us."
"Wow, that's incredible!" Izuku couldn't help but exclaim, "You must have a ton of creative energy! Does your quirk help with that at all?" Eager to learn more, he had his notebook and pen at the ready, prepared to jot down any new insights.
Kuri, stunned, continued speaking, as he wasn't accustomed to people showing a genuine interest in him. "Well, not really, to be honest. My quirk is chestnut, in case you couldn't already tell," he laughed a little. "It lets me create this protective shell around my head." To emphasise his point, he made the shell disappear. "It's pretty tough, but not sturdy enough for me to cause any serious damage or anything like that, so please don't be frightened or anything."
Izuku, with a friendly smile, responded, "I actually think that's pretty awesome. A hero with a quirk like that could come up with some seriously creative strategies." He gave a casual shrug, jotting down some notes in his book.
"Thanks for sharing, Kuri. Good job. Midoriya, you're up." Their instructor prompted.
Taking a deep breath, Izuku felt prepared for what he was about to say. He knew he'd be meeting new people today, so he'd given himself plenty of time to think about his introduction. With as much confidence as he could, he walked to the head of the room.
"Hi everyone, my name is Izuku Midoriya," he began. "I'm here because I want to learn how to create amazing support gear that'll help the next generation of heroes. As for my quirk," he hesitated for a brief moment, contemplating the possible reactions, but ultimately decided to continue.. "Well, my quirk is green hair," he said with a chuckle. "I think that's fairly self-explanatory, don't you?" He smiled, running a hand through his vibrant locks.
Hana, with a curious expression, asked, "So, what exactly does it let you do?"
Slightly hesitantly, Izuku replied, "Oh! Um, it doesn't really let me do anything, you know? It's just green hair."
She seemed unconvinced and pressed further, "It doesn't let you do ANYTHING?" Before Izuku could even think of a response, Kazutani stepped in and interrupted.
"It makes him look unique," he defended, "isn't that enough?"
"Th-thank you Kazutani." Izuku replied, grateful for the save.
Throughout the conversation, Power Loader remained silent. He harboured a secret about Izuku that even the young man himself didn't know. He had made a promise to Inko to keep it hidden, so he simply stayed quiet. Once Izuku finished speaking, the support hero finally said, "Thank you, Midoriya. Now, last up, Yamashita. …Yamashita?"
From the farthest corner of the room, a young girl sporting dishevelled brown hair and round glasses suddenly snorted herself awake with a loud, "Hwuh!?"
Power Loader, rubbing his forehead in slight annoyance, asked. "Yamashita, were you sleeping just now?"
Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she stood up and offered a smile. "Yes, but I swear it'll make sense in a moment." she exclaimed as she walked to the front.
"Hi everyone. My name is Miki Yamashita, and just so you know, one day I'm going to be the CEO of Yamashita Industries!" she declared, pointing an enthusiastic finger in Mei's direction, who grinned at the prospect of a real business competitor. "My quirk is called inventory, and it allows me to…" She held out her hand, and with a quick motion, a pencil from her desk vanished, only to reappear in her grasp. "Do this. I can summon any item within a 10ft radius of the last place I slept."
Turning to Power Loader, she explained, "That's why I dozed off. I wanted to show off my quirk and thought it'd be easier to demonstrate this way."
Power Loader simply shrugged in response. "Sure, I'll allow it, but try not to make it a regular habit."
Izuku had questions! "Woah woah woah hold up, you can summon anything within 10ft!? Is there a size limit? What about living things? Does your quirk make you more prone to tiredness for it to operate? Is that how you could fall asleep so easily?"
"Eep! That's a lot! I don't really want to take up any more class time so could we go through it later?" She requested with a shy smile. Izuku gave a smile and a nod to confirm.
Power Loader continued with a friendly tone, "Now that we've got that out of the way, let's wrap up some housekeeping stuff and then move on to the orientation ceremonies. This year, you'll be working on three mandatory support course modules. First up is design and engineering, which I'll be teaching. Next, we have costume design and application, and that's going to be headed by Midnight. Last but not least, we've got the hero system & copyright law, and that's going to be taught by a new faculty member named Yagi Toshinori. Now, he's not a pro hero himself, so don't be too shocked if you don't recognize the name. He's actually coming to us from an assistance role over at Might Tower, so let's all be on our best behaviour around him, okay? You don't want All Might hearing that you made his PA cry. And of course, you'll be taking the regular general studies courses like Math, English, History, Art, and Citizenship."
Upon hearing this, various students couldn't help but let out an anguished groan.
"I know, I know," Power Loader sympathised, "but trust me, these courses are going to be useful for you in the long run. Especially learning English – that'll open up a whole new world of opportunities for you. At the end of this first year, you'll get to pick a study focus from the three support modules. I know it's still a ways off, but it's always good to think about these things in advance. Umm, let's see, what else... Oh yeah, the sports festival is happening two months from now. The hero classes usually steal the spotlight, but support students can enter with their own gear if they want. Just remember, it all has to be designed and completed within this timeframe, so nobody can enter any super-suits they may have built for their applications."
At this, Mei's ears perked up. "Hey, speaking of which! Where IS my super suit?!"
"Don't worry," Power Loader reassured her, "it's safely stored in the workshop. You'll have it back soon enough. But let me tell you, the effort it took to move it there… damn thing kept shocking us..."
Mei grinned to herself, pleased to hear that the suit's anti-tamper mechanic was working perfectly.
"Alright, last thing," Power Loader continued, "there'll be occasions this year when you'll get the chance to sit in on some hero training exercises, so you can see if you have any suggestions for improving their gear. And I think that covers everything." He checked his watch. "Okay, let's get going for the ceremony. You can leave your belongings here, I'll be locking up behind us."
Diligently, the new students of class 1-H followed their homeroom teacher to the UA courtyards, where a teacher would be making their welcome back address.
—
In the vast courtyard of the esteemed academy, groups of students assembled according to their respective classes and areas of expertise. For many here, this was their first day at the prestigious academy, with all the nerve and excitement of what the next few years would bring. No classes would feel this as greatly as classes 1-A and 1-B, whose homeroom teachers would traditionally deliver a plus ultra-laden speech to welcome new and returning students alike.
This year, only one of those teachers stood next to principal Nezu on the stage. Sekijiro Kan, otherwise known as the blood hero Vlad King, homeroom teacher for Class 1-B. From within their class group, Izuku wondered where the other first year homeroom teacher was, and hoped nothing urgent had happened. Neither he nor Mei knew which class Uraraka was in, but Mei had informed him she couldn't see her anywhere with her impressive eyesight.
With great enthusiasm, Vlad King initiated his address, "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty members, and most importantly, our newest students, I extend my warmest welcome to you all at UA High School!" His words elicited a spirited cheer from the assembled crowd. "Today signifies the commencement of an extraordinary journey for each one of you, as you set forth on the path to becoming remarkable heroes or providing indispensable support to those heroes."
Many hearts swelled with pride upon hearing this.
"Here at UA," Sekijiro continued, "we take immense pride in nurturing the talents of the next generation. Our esteemed faculty, comprising renowned heroes and experts in a diverse range of fields, are committed to guiding you through a comprehensive curriculum tailored to refine your skills and develop your unique abilities." With these words, Sekijiro detached the microphone from its stand and proceeded to traverse the stage.
"As you settle into our esteemed institution, remember that you have been chosen for your exceptional potential. We expect great things ahead from each one of you, and we are confident that you will rise to the challenges that lie ahead." More applause came from the crowd. "Throughout your time here you will forge lasting friendships, learn from one another and grow together. You will be pushed to your limits, but you will also find inspiration in yourself and others, as we all strive for greatness in our own right."
Returning to the stand to place the mic back in its place, he began to wrap up his welcome. "We extend our warmest welcome to each of you, as you embark on this new chapter in your lives. We teachers and pro heroes look forward to witnessing your growth, your triumph, and your unwavering dedication in becoming the heroes and support personnel of tomorrow. Thank you, and once again, welcome to UA High School! PLUS ULTRA!"
"PLUS ULTRA!"
Sekijiro didn't think anyone would hear him mutter, "Damn Eraser, making me do that on my own…" as he returned to his seat.
An atmospheric buzz swept over the crowd as the podium remained empty for a brief moment. Then, out of nowhere, the adorable little face of the UA principal appeared from behind it. "Hello students! You might be wondering, am I a dog? Am I a bear? Well, I can't say for sure, but what I do know is that I'm your principal!" The audience erupted into applause and cheers, with many thrilled to see the legendary Nezu in person. His presence seemed to make the entire day feel even more significant.
"Thank you to 1-B homeroom teacher Vlad King for giving that heartfelt speech for us, while Eraserhead was otherwise unavailable at a quirk assessment training exercise." Izuku and Mei both rolled their eyes, they should have known he'd be the issue.
Nezu continued. "I have one more important announcement to make! We're welcoming a brand new pro-hero to our fantastic staff!"
Whispers and murmurs of speculation spread through the crowd, as everyone wondered and debated who this new teacher could be. Was it a top 10 hero? Did Gang Orca finally accept the position after months of rumours? The chatter was suddenly silenced by a familiar, hearty laugh that echoed over the crowd.
"HA HA HA HA HA! GUESS WHAT, STUDENTS? THAT'S RIGHT!" The unmistakable symbol of peace, the inimitable All Might himself, landed on the stage with a thunderous slam right next to Nezu.
"I AM HERE!"
The crowd went absolutely wild.
All Might took the microphone off its stand with Nezu climbing up to sit on his head. Nezu held onto his hair like handlebars as if he was riding a bike. All Might began to speak, and everyone could feel the excitement in his voice. "I stand before you today with immense pride and joy as I announce my new role as teacher! I am All Might, and I am truly honoured to be a part of the UA family!"
Izuku smiled as he looked up towards the hero, the very same man who had saved him from that nasty sludge villain all those months ago and, in a way, set him on this journey. "I'm glad he's looking so healthy." He said, not realising he'd spoken a bit too loudly.
"Looking so healthy?" Mei asked, clearly confused. "Dude, it's All Might! when has he ever not looked healthy?"
"Oh I just meant his… His hair! His hair looks healthy, that's all!"
"Alright, weirdo." She relented, though she still gave him a bit of a side-eye.
Meanwhile, All Might was wrapping up the second impassioned speech of the day. "Let us forge a path towards a brighter future! Thank you for welcoming me, and I look forward to standing alongside each and every one of you as we create a world built by the hearts and minds of the next generation! As we embark on this journey together, always remember: Go Beyond…"
"PLUS ULTRA!" The crowd shouted.
"AND TRY YOUR BEST!" All Might shouted at the same time, to the confusion of the students.
After hopping down from his perch, Nezu took the mic and thanked All Might for his inspiring words before announcing the last speaker of the day. "Please welcome General Education's Homeroom Teacher, Wash!"
A man dressed as a washing machine hobbled out onto the stage and grabbed the microphone. "Washa! Washawashawasha… Washa." He looked sad for a moment, then made a fist. "Washa washa! Washa…WASHA WASHA!"
"PL…PLUS ULTRA?"
—
With six eager and curious students gathered behind him, Power Loader flipped through his keys, prepared to unlock the doors to the 1-H workshop. This specialised space was designated specifically for the development of new technology and for students to conduct experiments. The workshop's layout was similar to their homeroom, but with a few key differences that made it especially suited for the creative work that would take place inside.
As Power Loader opened the doors, the students were greeted with a large, open room filled with multiple workstations. Each one was evenly spaced across the room, but positioned at greater distance from one another compared to the homeroom, to allow for more individual space. They were also larger in size, providing ample space for students to work on their projects.
Each station was equipped with a variety of tools and equipment, including 3D printers, soldering stations, and shelves and cabinets for storage. Similar to their homeroom, sanitation stations and equipment storage areas were also available. Safety was a priority, and the room was also equipped with fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
Towards one end of the workshop was a collaboration space, featuring a large circular table surrounded by comfortable seats. This area was designed to encourage students to gather, brainstorm, and discuss their ideas with one another in a relaxed and open environment. Nearby was the showcase and display area, a designated section reserved for housing the support gear and costumes crafted by students from previous years, hopefully serving as a source of inspiration to the new first year students.
The students were particularly excited to discover the metal fabricator situated at the back of the room. This incredible machine functioned essentially as a high-scale 3D printer, capable of creating intricate and detailed metal objects. Seeing it in person was awe-inspiring, appearing even more impressive than it had in the prospectus.
"Okay, feel free to look around and acclimate yourself to the area, but for the love of god don't burn the place down."
Mei tapped her foot and gestured to Maijima, "Ahem?" She inferred, before making a 'well?!' gesture towards him expectantly.
"Oh right, the super suit. It's over in the display zone."
Rushing over gleefully, Mei put her face up against the glass casing the Mark V was sitting in, "There you are, my precious baby!"
As Mei was mothering over her creation, Izuku handed Power Loader a piece of paper ripped from his notebook, containing a list of items they needed. "Could you get us some materials? Everything we need is listed here."
Power Loader took a moment to look over the list and then asked,"You guys have only been here for half a day and you're already getting gear requests?"
Hesitating slightly, Izuku explained, "Well, uh, it's not exactly a request, more like a gift, you know? There's a girl in the hero course who's got her hand in a cast, and we're just trying to help her use your quirk one-handed."
The support hero nodded in understanding, "Oh, I see what you're saying now. You're talking about Uraraka, right?"
Izuku couldn't help but mentally facepalm at that moment. Of course, Power Loader would know about Uraraka's situation - he had been there during the rescue! After guiding them over to a storage cabinet, Power Loader began gathering materials from the list. He put everything into a box and set it down on a nearby workstation. "Here you go, have fun." he said cheerfully before heading back to his desk to read the paper.
With ravenous enthusiasm, the duo dove headfirst into their project. They were both in their element once more, meticulously organising and sorting the materials, soldering wires, and precisely measuring fabrics. They were so deeply engrossed in their work, they didn't notice Hana approaching.
They both jumped when she slammed both her hands on the table with a loud "So!"
Totally caught off guard, Izuku blinked. "Uh…so?"
Mei, completely focused on her work, looked at Izuku curiously before spotting their classmate. "Oh, hey Hana! What's up?" she asked, not missing a beat as she continued to cut a piece of aluminium to the perfect size.
Not one to beat around the bush, Hana bluntly asked, "So are you two dating or what?"
Taken aback, Mei and Izuku exchanged a glance. Izuku's face turned deep red, while Mei couldn't hold back her laughter. "What? No way! We're not dating, like, at all! I could never even imagine that happening!"
"Wow, ouch." Izuku said, feigning hurt. "You wound me."
Hana, feeling a little sheepish, tried to explain her assumption. "Oh! I thought you might be, because you're always hanging out and you seem super close and all!"
Still grinning, Mei was quick to clarify the situation. "Izuku's my best friend in the world, but we've never thought of each other that way, you know? Actually, I don't think I've ever thought of anyone in that way."
Now curious, Hana asked,"Oh, so you're ace?"
"Thanks, you're not too bad yourself." Mei answered, giving a cheeky smile at her own response, while Izuku looked into the camera.
"Okay I'll let you guys get back to it! Kuri and Yamashita are going to show me how to hotwire a toaster!" Hana said, excusing herself.
Mei's face suddenly turned frantic, and she quickly spun around to face Izuku. "They're stealing my supertoaster idea!"
"I think you'll be okay, nobody other than you even knows what the supertoaster is." he reassured her. "Okay, how does this look?" Izuku inquired, holding up the glove for inspection. It was sleek and black, adorned with a flexible metallic plate positioned on the lower half of the palm. Additionally, there were small holes strategically placed at the tips of each finger.
Taking a closer look, Mei brought her goggles down over her eyes and carefully examined the glove. She held it to the light to get a better view of the details, and after a thorough assessment, she finally declared, "I gotta say, looks like a pretty good baby to me."
"Awesome! Should we get this over to Uraraka right away?"
Mei's enthusiasm returned quickly, and she replied happily. "Heck yeah! You know, Mr Midoriya, you have been a most helpful assistant. Couldn't have done it without ya." As a playful gesture, she gave a little curtsey while seated in her chair.
Izuku grinned right back at her, responding, "Well, Miss Hatsume, you have been a daring and fearless assistant yourself." He then mimicked her earlier gesture with a mock bow of his own. Together, the pair got up from their seats and eagerly made their way over to Maijima's desk, ready to present their newly crafted invention and seek his approval.
"Hey, teach!" Mei said with a smile on her face, handing the glove over to Power Loader. "How's this baby look?"
Intrigued by the device, he flipped it around in his hands a few times, carefully examining the stitching and overall craftsmanship. He then turned the glove inside out to get a complete view, making sure to inspect it thoroughly. "Looks pretty solid," he commented. "Have you checked the functionality?"
"Theoretically it'll work," Izuku chimed in. "But we can't really test it out properly without Uraraka's quirk."
Power Loader nodded, understanding the situation. "Alright, that makes sense. Go ahead and bring it over to Uraraka then. Oh, and take these with you," he added, reaching into his desk drawer and pulling out a couple of passes. "These will allow you to roam around the school grounds for support work purposes. If Eraser tries to expel you, just show him those and you should be good to go."
Gratefully accepting the passes, Izuku and Mei embarked on their quest to find Class 1-A. The layout of UA was a perplexing maze of hallways and staircases, which seemed to shift and rearrange themselves at will. Despite their expertise in navigating complex circuit boards and gadgetry, both Mei and Izuku were utterly hopeless when it came to directions.
They wandered down one corridor after another, their heads tilted at a map Mei had pulled up on her phone which seemed to do very little to help. Both of them were trying to make sense of the confusing layout, occasionally stopping to squint and rotate the screen in some other direction. The atmosphere was mildly tense, as neither wanted to admit they were lost.
Finally, Mei decided to break the silence and turned to Izuku, posing a question to distract from the current predicament they found themselves in. "So, how's your first day at UA been?" she asked in a curious and friendly tone.
Izuku hesitated for a moment, slightly taken aback by his own unwaveringly positive attitude. He thought back on the day's events, the new experiences, and the new friends he had made. "Honestly... it's been pretty... great?" he replied, his voice filled with surprise and disbelief.
Mei smiled warmly at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Totally agreed," she said, clearly pleased by his positive response. "But, I gotta know, how is your arm doing? Still any pain? We can go see Recovery Girl if you need to."
"The pain I had this morning just gradually got less and less, and right now I can barely feel anything at all! In fact, it's as if-" Izuku excitedly lifted up his arm to emphasise his point, only to feel his stomach plummet into his shoes and his face turn ghostly pale.
"Uh...Izuku, why do you have a screwdriver?" Mei asked, clearly puzzled.
Swallowing hard, Izuku tried to find the words to explain. "Mei… That's…That's not a screwdriver." He said slowly, his voice shaking.
"Um, what is it then?"
Izuku's face grew even paler, and his voice strained as he attempted to speak, "That's... That's my finger. My finger... is a screwdriver."
Completely dumbstruck, Mei's eyes widened in shock, and she suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders. "IZUKU! DUDE, YOU HAVE A QUIRK!"