Izuku and his mother were enjoying a moment of tranquillity in their living room, sipping tea together and bonding over their shared love of crime procedurals. The television was tuned to Inko's favourite show, a series about a pair of detectives whose will-they-won't-they relationship was as suspenseful as the many dozens of murder cases they'd managed to solve. Izuku always wondered why the main detective only ever seemed to use his telepathy quirk in the final act, but he'd been told to stop being such a smartass and to just enjoy the show for what it was. For the moment, he was dividing his attention between the TV and mindlessly scrolling his social media feeds.

Inko momentarily dismissed the episode, her brow furrowing in confusion as though she could sense a disturbance in the force. "Do you hear that?" She asked him, tilting her head and listening intently. The tea in their cups began to vibrate, creating tiny ripples on the surface, as a thunderous thumping noise grew louder and more insistent, drawing nearer and nearer.

The apartment door suddenly burst open with an ear-splitting bang, revealing Mei standing in the doorway, one leg dramatically raised in the air and a wild, manic expression plastered across her face. "IZUKU! THEY'RE HERE!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice reaching an almost inhuman pitch.

Izuku sprang from his chair in a panic, spilling tea all over his clothes and the floor in the process, and assumed a defensive battle stance. "WHO'S HERE?!" He yelled back, his eyes wide with terror.

"THE UA APPLICATION FORMS CAME BACK!" Mei shouted back, triumphantly waving a letter in her hand.

"WHAT?!" Izuku gasped, his heart racing even faster. Without a moment's hesitation, he bolted out of the apartment alongside Mei, leaving a stunned Inko sitting on the couch, her hair windswept from the sudden gust created by their hasty exit.

The two of them sprinted downstairs to the mail slots with fervent anticipation, Izuku clumsily fumbling with the key to unlock the box adorned with his house number, as Mei bounced excitedly like a kangaroo. As soon as he'd managed to wrestle the letter out, they slammed the envelopes down on a nearby bench and stared at them with wide eyes as if they were both holding bombs.

"...You open it first." Izuku said, looking at Mei with a hint of fear, as if the letter might spring to life and bite him in the face.

"I'm not opening it first! It's your apartment building, you open it!" She fired back.

"Ok…We'll both open them together. On three."

At the count of three, they tore the letters open and began to read, simultaneously. "Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have successfully passed the written portion of the test for the UA Support Course at the highest possible standard!" They read aloud in unison, their voices rising in pitch and volume. The two of them cheered for themselves and exchanged a triumphant high five, feeling a surge of relief and joy. Mei did an impromptu victory lap around the table and clapped her hands, before urging him to continue reading solo.

"Your performance was truly exemplary, and we commend your dedication and hard work. However," Izuku was abruptly cut off by Mei's yell in his ear.

"However?! What however?! There's no however!" She panicked, her arms flailing about in distress.

"However, the journey does not end here. In order to secure your place in the UA Support Course, you must now pass the practical portion of the submission process. We challenge you to create something Plus Ultra that showcases your skills, creativity, and passion for support!" Izuku's voice got more and more excited as he read, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "We have to build gear!" he shouted with glee.

"We have to build babies!" Mei shouted with excitement at the same time.

"Your creation will be presented in front of a committee of experts who will evaluate it based on its ingenuity, practicality, and potential impact on the world of heroes. We encourage you to think outside the box and push the boundaries of what is possible."

"Oh I am going to push so many boundaries they're going to have to hire a cartographer!" Mei declared, pumping her fist with insane determination.

"Once again, congratulations on your outstanding performance so far, and we look forward to witnessing your Plus Ultra creation. Best of luck… Power Loader, UA Support Course Admissions Committee." Reading that last part completely broke Izuku's emotional dams and he felt a tear roll down his cheek, followed by another one. And another one. Bawling uncontrollably he clutched the letter to his chest. This in turn set Mei off, who joined him in his tears, wrapping her arms around him as they both cried their hearts out. The two of them did a little jig together as they flooded the courtyard, inadvertently startling a little old lady who was walking her dog nearby.

After they'd calmed down and rehydrated - and gave Inko the good news, which also flooded their living room - they looked over the letters again for any important information they might have missed in their initial excitement. It was then that Mei made a discovery that sent her spiralling into a panic.

"It says the deadline for submission is in two months!" Mei exclaimed in shock, pointing at the section of the letter and holding it too close to Izuku's face. "That's not enough time to build a 40ft mech! That's barely enough time to form the head!" She shook Izuku by the shoulders like a ragdoll, making his head bob up and down. "I HAVE TO FORM MORE THAN THE HEAD, IZUKU!"

"Mei! Mei It's alright, calm down!" He was starting to worry she would have a meltdown, "How many ideas do you have for inventions-"

"Babies" she quietly corrected.

"How many ideas do you have for babies right now?"

"About six." Mei answered, counting on her fingers.

"I expected more?" Izuku responded, somewhat surprised.

"No I meant, I just had six ideas just now. Now it's fifteen." She clarified, holding up her other hand and wiggling her fingers.

"I have at least thirty-five in my notebooks, if we spend some time looking through everything we have we should be able to design and complete something with plenty of time for testing." Izuku said optimistically, grabbing his notebook and flipping to a blank page. Determined, he wrote down 'Plus Ultra' at the top of the page in huge letters and underlined it.

Mei put a hand on his shoulder, smiled at her friend, gave a thumbs up and said "Now it's twenty-seven."

The friends looked at each other and nodded, they had plenty of ideas and plenty of time.

They just had to make them happen.

The weary head of the UA Support Course department, Higari Majima - otherwise known as the diligent Power Loader - rubbed his tired eyes and tried to refocus after an exhausting all-nighter.

The highly anticipated Hero Course student's trials would be commencing soon, and he had the crucial responsibility of getting these sophisticated combat robots fixed and ready for action. In particular, he had to address the issue the zero pointer was having with detecting students in its immediate vicinity. The very last thing he needed was a disastrous scenario where someone got injured, or worse, crushed. Taking a much needed swig of his now cold coffee, he rotated the intricate schematics on his cluttered desk by 180 degrees. Sometimes, changing his perspective on things helped him uncover overlooked solutions. However, his train of thought was interrupted by the sudden ringing of a phone call.

"Nezu," He answered without hesitation. He didn't need to check the caller ID, as he knew Nezu would be the only other person awake at the ungodly hour of 5am.

With an enthusiastic tone, Nezu replied,"Quick housekeeping call!" He was a morning hamsterbear who took great delight in bothering the humans during their early hours. "I see the application forms have been returned to our dear students!"

"Mhm, yep, all sent out. We've got some impressive applications this year. A couple of them really stand out," Power Loader said, thinking of two names in particular.

"Mei Hatsume and Izuku Midoriya," Nezu finished for him, having the same two students in mind.

"Right, yeah, their work is exemplary, that's why you're calling, right? I did some digging and discovered that they were both regular fixtures at about a dozen different young inventor fairs."

"Indeed! It appears Mr Midoriya and Miss Hatsume have been making quite a name for themselves for some time now. Do you remember the pro hero Kingsguard?" Nezu inquired.

"Sure, he rose up the ranks about three years ago. Around that time we helped him with the energy distribution gear. Guess it really worked out well for him."

"Quite! That revolutionary gear was designed by young Midoriya himself. Kingsguard wasn't the only one to benefit from his genius, either. He also designed innovative gear for Optigirl, Punchgate, Heartbreaker, and possibly even more! All of them were working as sidekicks in low crime areas and have now advanced to high-profile agencies!"

"Hold on, hold on a second," Power Loader said, trying to shake the light drowsiness from his head, convinced he must have misheard. "Midoriya designed that gear? This was years ago! How old is this kid?"

"I believe he had just turned eleven when he offered the designs to Kingsguard. The boy is exceptionally talented. Exceptionally talented, if you're picking up on the italics in my voice." Nezu said with a hint of intrigue

"You think it's quirk related?"

"I do! On the application form he had written his quirk down as green hair. Rather absurd!" Nezu laughed down the phone.

"So, you think he has something unregistered, like an intelligence quirk?"

"I'd like you to contact his mother for an interview, see if you can find anything else out about him. It may be prudent to contact Hatsume's parents as well, the two families seem well acquainted with one another."

"Sure, I'll get right on that." Power Loader agreed, unceremoniously ending the phone call. Feeling the need to stretch, he stood up, put a shirt on, and evaluated his appearance in the mirror. Deciding against the shirt, he took it off again and headed for the door. With the key in the lock, he suddenly remembered it was only 5am. Reluctantly, he returned to his desk and got back to work.

Mei stared at the piles of notebook paper littering her family's garage, her brow furrowing deeper and deeper with frustration. It felt like she was drowning in a sea of scribbled sketches, none of which seemed to make sense or inspire her. Every idea she was coming up with for the entry submission didn't seem good enough for her high standards, she and Izuku wanted to create something that would impress everyone. Something that would embody the spirit of Plus Ultra! She slammed both her palms on the table with a loud bang, startling Izuku from the nap he didn't realise he was taking on a nearby couch.

"What does Plus Ultra even mean?!" She shouted, venting her anger and frustration.

Izuku grunted involuntarily and wiped his nose, feeling a droplet of saliva on his chin. He panicked for a moment thinking he was going blind before remembering he was wearing a pair of goggles, and looked around the messy garage. It was filled with tools, wires, spare parts and gadgets that Mei had collected or invented over the years. Izuku couldn't help admiring her creativity and passion, but was well aware how hard she could be on herself. It made him want to help her with finding a great idea even more, something that they could both be happy and proud of. Thinking about what Plus Ultra meant to him, he tried to answer her question. "I think it means like, going beyond. Going further than other people."

"Going further going further going further…" Mei repeated to herself as she paced around the garage, rubbing her chin, and scanning the walls for inspiration but finding none. What did it mean to go further than other people? Being smarter, faster, stronger? More innovative, heroic? She could understand and appreciate all of these qualities, but how did they translate into a concrete project? She needed to think of something that would stand out, something that would show the world what they were capable of.

Suddenly, she stopped and spun around on the spot, snapping her fingers and pointing one in Izuku's face. "Going FURTHER!" She said triumphantly, as though she'd just solved a difficult puzzle.

Izuku looked at her confused, but interested in where she was going with it. The excitement in her eyes was palpable. "...Y-yeah, going further?" He smiled encouragingly.

"Izuku! What do heroes do?!" Mei asked quickly, as if they were on the verge of a breakthrough.

"They help people?" he asked unsurely, not sure where she was leading him with this question. But then he repeated it with confidence. "They help people!"

"What's the most important thing for people?!" she asked him again, as though she wasn't a person herself.

"Uh, their families? Their families!" Izuku answered, thinking that was a reasonable response.

"And where do their families live?!" she yelled. Izuku really wondered where she was going with this.

"...Houses?" he replied in a higher pitch than usual.

Mei proclaimed loudly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Earth! They live on Planet Earth!"

Izuku jumped to his feet, suddenly completely understanding what Mei was getting at. Inspiration surged within him as he realised she had found a way to connect the project to something bigger than themselves, something that would benefit everyone. "Oh my God! The environment! That's going further, that's heroic!"

"Izuku, you and me, we're going to heal the planet!" she did a victory pose, happy to have come up with an idea at last.

"Yes, absolutely!" Izuku shared her posing, then looked slightly confused. "...How are we going to heal the planet?"

"...Mm yeah that might be a bit tricky." Mei admitted sheepishly, scratching her head. "We could start small, and build up?"

"What about Takoba Beach? The place is a dump, it used to be beautiful there but people kept dumping all their trash." Suggested Izuku, remembering a place he used to visit as a child. He had fond memories of playing in the sand, but had been shocked and saddened by how much the beach had deteriorated over the years due to pollution and neglect. Cleaning up the beach would be a good way to start their project, it was something they could do locally for one. "What if we made gear to help tidy it up?" He proposed.

Mei's eye's sparkled, and Izuku was sure he could see a lightbulb flash over her head. "What if we used the trash as the raw material?!"

"That's fantastic, Mei! If we document the entire process, we can submit that as part of our project too! We'll recycle the trash, create gear, and clean the beach - all at the same time!"

With a clear goal in mind, Mei and Izuku decided to set off to the beach as soon as possible, excitement and motivation surged within them as they made checklists of everything they would need to make the process go smoothly.

Their bags were carefully packed to include everything they felt would come in useful. Basic tools like hammers, nails and screwdrivers, as well as more specialised equipment like Mei's trusty goggles, which she had been tinkering with for years and were now capable of far more than simple eye protection. They also packed a camera to document their progress, and a laptop to keep track of their plans and ideas. In addition to the tools, they also brought a foldable workbench that they'd built themselves some years prior. It was lightweight and easy to set up, making it the perfect addition to their kit. Naturally, Izuku brought along his notebooks.

With everything packed and their bikes ready, Mei and Izuku set off toward the beach, talking excitedly about their plans and what they hoped to achieve as they rode. They were both determined to make a difference with their projects, and were sure they were well-equipped to do so.

Finally, they arrived at the beach, ready to start. They set up their workbench and began unpacking their tools on the small space of sand that wasn't taken up by decaying machinery and trash. Together, they were ready to tackle this challenge and to make their mark.

On that very same day, as Izuku and Mei collaborated diligently in the garage on their latest project, Higari Maijima, also known as Power Loader, ascended the staircase to the Midoriya family's apartment building. He was there to discuss Izuku's application to UA High School with his mother, Inko. Wanting to appear professional and respectable, Maijima had begrudgingly donned a shirt, despite his disdain for the way it clung to his arms. Although it had been quite some time since he could genuinely consider himself in peak physical condition, the height of his crime-fighting days having long since passed, Maijima couldn't help but feel that he still cut an impressive figure when shirtless. As he reached the door to the Midoriya residence, he gave it a firm knock.

Upon hearing the knock, Inko's voice responded from within the apartment, "Hello?"

"Good afternoon, ma'am," Maijima replied respectfully, introducing himself. "I'm Higari Maijima, a teacher at UA High School. I was hoping to discuss some matters regarding Izuku's application with you, if that's alright?"

"Oh, please come in!" Inko warmly welcomed him, opening the door and inviting Maijima into their living room. Upon entering, Power Loader couldn't help but notice the array of homemade gadgets and devices scattered throughout the room. Each one bore the unmistakable mark of being crafted by an amateur, with slightly dented exteriors and exposed circuitry. Despite their rough appearance, the majority of the items seemed to have been 3D printed, and their overall craftsmanship was quite impressive. Maijima's curiosity was piqued by a small, beetle-shaped contraption perched on a windowsill, which he picked up for a closer examination.

Inko observed his interest, and with a proud smile, she explained, "My Izuku made that about two years ago. It can clean windows and even spray out a little perfume once it's done." She relished the opportunity to boast about her son's accomplishments, particularly to one of his potential future teachers. In years past, the prospect of discussing her son's future with someone who could have such a profound impact on his life may have filled her with anxiety. However, Izuku had consistently proven himself to be a genuinely gifted and talented young man, easing her concerns over time. "Would you like something to drink, Mr. Maijima?" she offered.

"Coffee, please," he replied appreciatively. "These machines are quite impressive. Did Izuku create all of these himself?"

"Well, he sometimes gets help from his friend Mei," Inko admitted, receiving a nod from Maijima, who was already familiar with Mei Hatsume. "But most of these inventions came straight from that brilliant mind of his!" She beamed as she prepared the coffee. "Izuku has always had a passion for inventing and experimenting with new ideas. Is there anything specific you'd like to know about him?"

Maijima considered her question before responding, "I don't want to take up too much of your time. I just wanted to get a better understanding of some of my potential future students. Has Izuku ever created anything else, like weapons, armour, or similar devices?" His curiosity was evident in his tone.

Inko hesitated momentarily before replying, "Well, he's certainly tried... But he's never really had the resources or opportunities to fully develop those types of projects. He's crafted some very impressive gadgets for various fairs, and he never goes anywhere without some of them. However, I can only imagine what he could accomplish with access to a proper lab." She paused, reflecting on her son's aspirations. "Izuku wanted to be a hero when he was little, but his quirk diagnosis changed that. Even so, he never lost his desire to help others. He threw himself wholeheartedly into support work..." A sudden memory brought a chuckle to her lips. "Actually, we have you to thank for that!"

Power Loader looked at her with a puzzled expression, prompting her to explain further. "You probably don't remember, as it was so long ago, but you saved my son and me from a villain. In a way, that experience set him on this path!"

Maijima's eyes widened with realisation as he recalled the incident. "Ah, Quiller Killer! That must have been, what, ten years ago?" He shook his head, marvelling at the passage of time. "You hardly look a day older, Mrs. Midoriya."

Inko blushed slightly, correcting him, "Ah, it's Ms., actually..." She handed him his cup of coffee.

Majima coughed, attempting to recover. "Ah, right... Speaking of Izuku's quirk diagnosis, what exactly is his quirk?"

Inko paused for a moment, weighing her words carefully before answering. "In truth, his quirk is simply green hair," Inko began, but Maijima could sense that there was more to the story. He raised an eyebrow, urging her to elaborate.

After a moment of hesitation, Inko opened up further. "There's actually more to it than that. It's something I haven't even told Izuku yet." She spoke quietly, almost as if she were afraid of being overheard. "When he was five years old, we took him to a doctor to have his quirk factor checked. The doctor told me that Izuku has a dormant gene that hasn't awakened yet. It's rare and unpredictable, and it could manifest at any time, or never at all." Inko's voice faltered slightly, and Maijima could see that she was tearing up. It was clear that this was the first time she had spoken these words aloud.

Maijima was stunned. He had never heard of a quirk gene remaining dormant for so long. If Izuku truly had this gene, then he must have a quirk, but the fact that it had yet to manifest was unprecedented. "You've never told Izuku about this?" he asked gently.

Inko shook her head, looking up at him with a mix of fear and hope. "No, I haven't... I didn't want to give him false hope. I just wanted him to be happy. If he didn't have his support gear or his friend Mei, I don't know how he would have turned out..." Her voice trailed off as she wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry for burdening you with all of this, Mr. Maijima."

Maijima felt a surge of sympathy for Inko, and a newfound admiration for Izuku. This brief conversation had only strengthened his resolve to have the young man in his class. While he couldn't be certain that Izuku didn't have some sort of intelligence-enhancing quirk, the fact that he had accomplished so much with such limited resources was a testament to his ingenuity and determination. As he finished his coffee, he placed the cup down on a coaster and stood up, surprising Inko with a deep bow.

"I have good news for you, ma'am." He paused for a moment, as if to let the gravity of his words sink in, before continuing, "Izuku is definitely getting into UA. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind."

Inko's eyes widened in disbelief, and she gasped before clasping her hands tightly over her mouth. "Really?" she stammered, her voice shaking with emotion, "Are you absolutely certain about this?"

Power Loader nodded, his expression serious. "I'm not technically supposed to tell you this yet, but I believe you deserve to know. Izuku scored so exceptionally high on the written exam that he could honestly submit any of the machines and gadgets I've seen in the past ten minutes, and he'd still score higher than 70% of applicants we've seen in the past. In fact, only one person this year scored higher than him." Inko didn't even need to ask; she instinctively knew it was Mei.

"But I have one last favour to ask you," Power Loader added, his voice taking on a more solemn tone.

Inko's eyes, still brimming with tears of joy, met his gaze. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I would like to request your permission to keep a personal watch on Izuku," Power Loader began with determination. "I'd like to closely monitor his progress and development as a student. If his quirk ever awakens, I want to be there to help guide him through it."

Inko looked at the veteran hero, slightly taken aback by his humble and sincere request.

Power Loader continued, "I can see something truly special in Izuku, and I believe he has the potential to become something extraordinary." Inko looked deep into his eyes and saw the sincerity behind his words, feeling a peculiar connection to the man before her. She took a deep breath, and after a moment of contemplation, she made her decision.

"Yes, of course, I will allow you to do so, on one condition," she said, firm yet gentle.

"I will help him in any way I can," Power Loader assured her, "What is your condition?"

Inko's expression grew serious as she spoke, "Please, don't tell Izuku about his dormant quirk until he's truly ready to know. Don't pressure him or make any pushes to awaken it; let him discover it on his own, at his own pace. And above all, just... protect him."

Power Loader nodded solemnly and agreed, "Deal. I promise to respect your wishes, to protect your son, and I thank you for entrusting me with this responsibility." He bowed once more, then extended his hand to Inko.

With a warm and grateful smile, Inko shook his hand. "Thank you for caring."