Mei gazed out at the vast expanse of broken appliances, dismantled cars, and discarded metal that was once the picturesque Takoba Beach. Wrinkling her nose at the sight of the once pristine shoreline now transformed into a dumping ground, she turned to Izuku, and remarked matter-of-factly, "This place is a dump."

Izuku glanced at her with a sidelong look, responding hesitantly, "Uh, yeah-"

"It's perfect!" Mei's expression suddenly shifted to one of excitement as she exclaimed, grabbing Izuku by the shoulder and shaking him in her enthusiasm. Pointing at various objects in the junkyard, her voice rose with each discovery. "Just imagine all the copper we could salvage from that refrigerator! And is that a GameCube?! We could repurpose its components for our projects! And that car seat over there – it could be useful for so many babies!"

Mei dashed off, and began sorting through the piles of trash, beaming at the potential she saw in the discarded items. Izuku watched her with an amused smile, appreciating her passion for finding value in the seemingly worthless. After a moment, he felt a touch of inadequacy and wondered if he'd be able to keep up with her pace, before joining her in the fray. "Mei! Gloves! Don't get tetanus!"

After a while, the two of them settled cross-legged on their own spot of sand, admiring the junk they'd scavenged. Izuku was more selective with his choices, preferring smaller pieces that were easier to carry. A dishwasher had got him a good selection of parts, and he was happy to find some random sheets of corrugated metal that he guessed had once been part of a fence. Mei, on the other hand, decided 'go big or go home', headed for the biggest and most impressive items she could find and almost completely dismantled a rusty jeep. She had dragged two car seats to their spot (the other two were too damaged to be useful), removed the tires from the wheels, and gathered a tangle of wires and circuitry attached to the detached steering column. Disappointingly, the engine was missing, but Izuku was quietly relieved to avoid that extra threat of an explosion.

Izuku wiped his brow, beads of sweat forming from the day's exercise. He hadn't moved a huge amount to gather his materials, but even the slightest physical exertion seemed to be taking its toll on him. Turning to Mei, he could see the gears forming in her head. Her zoom-enhanced eyes darted back and forth as she scanned across the various pieces she had collected, mentally constructing her next invention. Izuku couldn't help but ask, "You already know what you're building, don't you?"

A wide grin spread across Mei's face as she leapt to a standing position. It was evident that she was well-rested and eager to dive back into her work. In a flash, she darted back to the area they had designated for their workbench and began furiously scribbling notes. Taking her cue, Izuku smiled and jumped to his feet, pulling a notebook from his back pocket and matching her enthusiasm as he began writing.

"Pass me that screwdriver - no, the other one."

"Have you managed to find any light bulbs? I'll check in that corner"

"Izuku! My hand is trapped!"

"Let go of it then!"

"But I wanted it…"

"Help me move this washing machine."

"I need some more rubber tubing."

Together, the two of them worked fervently, their shared passion driving them forward. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the waters of Takoba Beach shimmered in the fading light, the stars began to emerge in the night sky. They were both so engrossed in their projects that they barely noticed the passage of time.

In the spacious and formal office of the UA principal, two vastly different figures were engrossed in a weighty discussion regarding the future of the nation. One of them, a diminutive yet dignified creature with soft cream-coloured fur, was dressed in a finely tailored suit and held a delicate teacup in one paw. His expression was grave and contemplative, and his name was Nezu, the esteemed headmaster of the most prestigious hero academy in the country. The other figure was an imposing man of impressive stature, instantly recognisable as All Might, the undisputed number one hero and the iconic symbol of peace.

Nezu leaned forward slightly, his tone politely but firmly questioning as he spoke. "Has any progress been made in the search for a worthy successor for One for All?"

All Might boomed dramatically, his voice filling the room as he responded. "Well, not exactly…"

Regarding All Might with a quizzical expression, Nezu's sharp mind worked overtime analysing the hero's every movement and gesture. Despite All Might's penchant for theatrics, Nezu could sense the weight of responsibility and burden that hung over his huge shoulders, and encouraged him to continue.

"I've been searching for a suitable candidate for a considerable period of time, but it hasn't been as easy as I initially imagined. It's rare to find someone with the heart of a true hero and the strength of will required to bear the legacy that accompanies my Quirk," All Might declared resolutely.

Nezu nodded at him sympathetically, their frequent meetings in recent months had revealed much about All Might's struggles."I understand the challenge you're facing, but you also know that your time is running out." He interjected, hopping up on the desk and placing a reassuring paw on All Might's hand. "You can't keep using your power like this, it's taking a toll on your spirit as well as your body."

As if prompted by Nezu's words, All Might reverted to his smaller form, shrinking his muscles, deflating his hair, and causing his face to take on a tired and gaunt expression. He coughed up some blood and wiped his mouth with a tissue. "I know, but I can't abandon my duty. The world still needs a symbol of peace and justice. Until I can find someone who can inspire hope and courage in others, it still has to be me filling that role." he said in a weaker voice.

"I have a proposition that may be beneficial to both of us." Nezu replied in a friendly tone. "We currently have a teaching position available at UA."

All Might blinked at the furry man in surprise, he tilted his head and responded with confusion."I'm not a teacher, Nezu. Don't you need a licence or something for that?"

"Pishposh!" He waved away All Might's concern with his paw, "Do not worry about such trifles. I can easily arrange for you to obtain a provisional licence. With your vast experience and knowledge, you could teach our students a great deal about heroism and our hero society."

Doubt plagued All Might, he'd never taught anyone anything before, and how would this affect his other priorities? "I'm…flattered by your offer." He said hesitantly, "Do you think it will help with finding a successor?"

"I am confident that it will." Nezu replied firmly. "However, that isn't my only reason for extending the offer. You have more than your legacy to offer my students. You're a powerful and skilled hero, yes, but it's your strong sense of justice and morality that I'm most interested in. You're a role model for a great many people, All Might."

All Might looked down at the table in front of him, at the slowly cooling cup of tea he'd been offered earlier but had neglected to take a drink of. Since his injury he didn't often feel like a role model, particularly in his depowered form. "Thank you for the praise, Principal. But I have plenty of flaws and weaknesses, as well you know."

"That is precisely why I'd like you to teach here," Nezu said softly. "You are humble, and honest with yourself. Perhaps too much so at times. I trust I'm not being too forward when I say this, but you need a stronger support structure, one that I hope the UA staff will be able to provide. You're much like our students in that way."

Looking at Nezu with a curious expression, All Might contemplated the turmoil of his life and what might have been if he didn't have the spectre of One for All hanging over him. "I think I understand." He replied slowly.

Nezu gave a nod of agreement to the hero, his keen intellect and experience guiding him towards the decision he hoped All Might would make. "Our students are talented and ambitious, but with that talent comes challenges, pressures and high expectations," he said. All Might listened attentively to the principal, and his own sense of responsibility grew as he considered the gravity of the situation.

Hopping back down into his chair and taking a sip of tea, Nezu smiled warmly and continued, "So who better than the man with the biggest expectations of all to help them?" The weight of Nezu's words hung in the air, and All Might felt a surge of emotion well up in his chest. He knew he had to step up to the plate and help these students, even if he wasn't sure he was suited for the task.

"I'm still not sure I'm qualified or ready, but… I care about the future of the heroes of this country," All Might said thoughtfully, his mind racing with the enormity of the task ahead. Nezu didn't interrupt his contemplations, allowing him the time he needed to think. Eventually, All Might looked back at him with a resolute expression and temporarily reverted back to his heroic form. "I'll do it!" he declared, determination filling the room.

"Wonderful!" Nezu exclaimed, clapping his paws together in delight. Immediately, he pulled out a roll of forms from a desk drawer and laid them out on the desk, a pen already clicked and ready in his hands. "Welcome to the UA Faculty." He smiled as he watched All Might fill out the employment papers.

The Beach, Day 15

"Let me just check the focus real quick," As Izuku adjusted the camera, his hand came into view, delicately twisting the lens until the image of Mei became clear and crisp on the screen. She was standing next to a towering metal skeleton that dwarfed her by at least a foot. The makeshift contraption had been fashioned from the chassis and seat of the old jeep, with appendages constructed from metal bars. An old umpire's mask sat where the head of the skeleton should have been, which added an eerie and unsettling element to the already peculiar creation.

The intricate design of the exoskeleton was something to behold, with raw and exposed circuitry snaking its way through its construction. A tangled web of wires lead to a car battery that lay at Mei's feet. Izuku gave a thumbs up, signalling that the camera was ready to roll, and Mei began to fiddle with a control stick she'd built from the jeep's steering wheel.

"This is the Hatsume Exoskeleton MK1, test number 18." Mei announced, her voice tinged with excitement. With a press of two buttons and the flick of a lever, the arms slowly rose to waist height. Carefully, Izuku placed a watermelon between the mechanical hands, while Mei adjusted the positioning of the arms until they were just right.

"Three, two, one," Mei counted down, anticipation palpable in her voice. She pushed a button, and the Exoskeleton suddenly came to life, crushing the unsuspecting watermelon into a messy pulp. Chunks of red goo rained down on Izuku and Mei, who remained motionless for a moment taking in the spectacle.

Then, simultaneously, they both erupted into ecstatic celebration, shouting and laughing in equal measure. "Hahaha! YES!" Mei shouted, giving Izuku a high five, more watermelon spraying off their hands. She wiped the remnants of the fruit off her face before leaning in close the camera, "UA support course motherf-"

The Beach, Day 20

Mei positioned herself behind the camera and adjusted the lens, making sure everything was in focus before turning to Izuku. "Okay Izuku, we're rolling," she informed him, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Izuku nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other, clearly not as comfortable in front of the camera as Mei was. He took a deep breath and asked, "Is the cap off?"

After a few moments of unscrewing and readjusting, Mei replied, "Okay, now we're rolling." Izuku swallowed hard and cleared his throat before starting his demonstration.

"Izuku Midoriya, Dynamic Exploration Kinetic Unit test number 11," he announced, his voice still a bit shaky. With a slight grin, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a small robot that he had been working on. The robot had a barrel-shaped body and head, and its arms were made from metal tubing. Its eyes were made from bright LEDs, and it had claw-like hands similar to Izuku's previous tether device, as well as rectangular feet.

"I call him Deku," Izuku said with a smile, holding up the robot for the camera to see.

"Hey, Deku, can you hear me?" Izuku asked the little robot.

"Loud and clear, baby!" came the garbled metallic voice. "What gives, dog? I can't see shit!" Izuku bent down and fiddled with a few screws near the robot's neck, and the LEDs in its eyes flashed to life. "Oh, there you are!" Deku said, sounding much clearer now.

"Test number 11, commencing now," Izuku declared. He then threw a frisbee into the mountain of garbage on the beach and commanded, "Deku, fetch."

Deku. took one step forward, but as he did, his head popped off his shoulders and rolled to a stop at Izuku's feet."...More testing required."

Mei gave herself a stomach ache laughing so much.

The Beach, Day 55.

"Fire!" Izuku exclaimed as he severed the rope on a homemade catapult, propelling a watermelon high into the sky. A metallic figure swiftly leapt upward to intercept the airborne fruit, effortlessly seizing it before executing a flawless superhero landing in the centre of a cleared-out patch of sand. Spinning the watermelon like a basketball, the sunlight gleamed off the metal.

This updated exoskeleton bore a resemblance to its predecessor, but with notable improvements. The sleeker design featured polished metal arms and legs, devoid of any rust. The previous umpire's mask had been replaced with a fully enclosed helmet, and an intricate array of shaped panels contributed to a more humanoid appearance. A striking black and gold colour palette completed the look.

With a hydraulic hiss, the front chest of the suit opened up, revealing Mei as she stepped out from the cushioned interior. Izuku came sprinting toward, camera in hand, his voice filled with excitement.

"Mei, that was incredible! How much air was that?!" The footage on the camera trembled violently as he dashed toward her, barely able to contain himself. "How are the exteriors? Any impact damage on the landing?" He inquired, inspecting the suit's appendages.

Mei winced as she lowered herself onto the sandy ground, her hands brushing off the grit and pushing her hair out of her eyes. "Hurt my ass a bit, but nothing that can't be fixed," she muttered, before a sudden realisation hit her.

"...Holy shit," she gasped, her eyes widening in amazement.

Izuku's concern was evident as he asked, "What's wrong? Vertigo?"

But Mei was too stunned to answer. She stared blankly at the horizon, now visible thanks to the space they had cleared on the beach during their building and salvaging efforts.

"Izuku, dude..." she finally spoke, her voice filled with awe. "I built a goddamn mech suit!" She threw her arms up and fell backwards into the sand. "A freaking mech suit!"

Izuku chuckled. "Sorry it wasn't 40ft tall. Do you think it's enough for the assignment?"

"They're going to name a section of the building after me," Mei declared.

Izuku knew she wasn't joking or even bragging. Mei had poured her heart and soul into this project, she was making a promise. As she sat up again and locked eyes with him, Izuku could see her crosshairs dilate, indicating she was zooming in for a closer look.

"Your turn, greeny," she said, a challenge in her voice.

Amidst his nervous excitement, Izuku carefully took out the recently redesigned Deku robot from the briefcase it had been upgraded to. The revamped machine now showcased a sleeker and more robust appearance, with a wider range of rotation for both their head and eyes, as well as an improved level of balance and coordination.

Izuku gently placed the robot on the sandy surface, laying them flat before addressing them, "Deku, wakey wakey." In response, their eyes illuminated instantly, their feet firmly planting into the ground as they rolled their entire body into an upright stance. The head and torso rotated to face izuku, followed by a respectful salute

"Howdy boss!" Deku said cheerfully.

"Ready for another test?" Izuku asked, brandishing a foam ball he removed from a small basket.

"As I'll ever be, dog!"

Izuku strolled several metres along the shoreline, gathering momentum before hurling the ball with all his might across the sandy beach. In response, Deku extended an arm, which elongated impressively, intercepting the ball without needing to budge from their position. "Gimme something harder!" they challenged.

Chuckling, Izuku beckoned Mei to join him in the test. He handed her the basket brimming with balls, and together, they unleashed a volley at Deku, ensuring they varied the heights and trajectories with each throw.

Agilely stretching, spinning, and dancing upon the sand, Deku successfully caught every ball. In a blur of motion, they swiftly tossed each one back into the basket, producing a satisfying sound. Following this display of skill, they began to floss.

Overjoyed, Izuku and Mei embraced each other in celebration. "Night night, Deku," Izuku declared, prompting the robot to shut down and collapse onto the sandy beach.

Gazing at Mei with a solemn expression, Izuku confidently stated, "I think we're getting into UA."