"So um…yeah, that's pretty much what I'm capable of at the moment. I-I've been practising with it, you know, just a little, but I've only had the quirk for about 6 weeks so, there's still a lot I don't know…" Izuku, feeling a bit self-conscious, nervously scratched the back of his head with one hand while seamlessly transforming the cordless drill protruding from his other wrist back into a normal hand. This was only the second time he had revealed this ability to someone else, so it still felt very alien to him.
His mother remained silent for what felt like an eternity, her eyes fixed on his hand. Izuku felt a surge of fear in his chest. What if she was horrified by his quirk?! What if she thought he was a monster and kicked him out of the house?! What if quirks were actually a hoax and everyone else was just pretending?! He couldn't afford to be exiled, he had too much homework to do!
But then she screamed, and it was a scream of joy rather than horror. "IZUKU!" she shouted as she jumped up from the chair he had asked her to sit on, hugging him tightly and making him jump up and down with her. "You have a quirk! I'm so happy for you!" This, of course, was when the both of them started bawling tears.
Inko gently pulled back and looked at him with a teary smile, "So, tell me everything! Has anyone else seen what you can do?"
Izuku chuckled, feeling a mix of excitement and relief. "Mei knows, she was there when it manifested. She's been helping me out with tests to see what I can do. It's been um, really fun actually." He answered with a nervous laugh. He paused, gathering his concentration, and transformed one hand into a hammer while the other morphed into a trowel. "Still a bit tougher to make multiple things at once, but I'm getting the hang of it."
Proud of her son's progress, Inko reached out and gently felt the tool-hands. "You are going to be so useful around the house," she said, a cheeky smile on her face. Then she quizzed him, "So, what's the coolest thing you've turned them into?"
Izuku grinned. "A grappling hook with a rope. We were trying things out in Mei's garage," He definitely wasn't going to mention the grappling hook was from a fight with a villain, "When it shot out of my hand and stuck into the wall. It was kinda freaky, but also really cool."
"Izuku, that's amazing! Imagine all the awesome things you could do with a quirk like this, you could be a hero!"
Ah, now came the part Izuku had been dreading. He scratched his cheek with the tip of the trowel, sheepishly admitting, "Yeah, Mom, here's the thing... I don't really have my heart set on being a hero."
Inko's expression softened, and she squeezed Izuku's shoulder reassuringly. "Sweetie, you don't have to follow the crowd if it doesn't feel right for you," she said with understanding. "Being a hero isn't the only way to make a difference."
Oh, that… wasn't really what he was expecting. He'd braced himself for a lecture or a nudge to pursue the hero path. He thought his mother would insist that he owed it to himself to at least give it a try, to see if being a hero was his true calling…
Izuku's eyes welled up once again, "You're not disappointed?" he asked, uncertain.
Shaking her head, she answered "Oh, sweetheart, of course I'm not disappointed. I've always known you were destined for incredible things, but your happiness and fulfilment is so much more important!"
Now feeling a sense of relief, he confided, "It's why I was keeping it a secret, I was worried that if people found out about my quirk they'd pull me out of the support department and force me into heroics."
Inko's expression turned stern as she held her son's shoulders firmly, making him squat slightly to meet her eye level. "Izuku, if anyone tries to take you out of support, they'll have to go through me and Higari."
Confusion washed over Izuku as he sputtered, "Hi-Higari?! You mean Mr. Maijima?"
A hint of amusement danced in Inko's eyes as she rolled them slightly. "Oh, Izuku, sweetie, I've been dating him for three months now. I think I'm past formalities at this point."
"THREE MONTHS?!"
"We weren't even keeping it a secret! You saw us kiss!"
"I just thought you were being European!" Izuku responded wide eyed. "So, he wasn't holding your hand because he's afraid of staircases after all…" Realisation hit him like a freight train.
"Pfft, no, honey." His mother said stifling a laugh. "So this is why you were so afraid when you heard about the sports festival, isn't it?"
Izuku nodded, his worries laid bare. "Yeah, I'm still worried. I don't want people to see my quirk and think that's all I am. I want them to see my inventions, my support gear. I don't want to be known as the kid with a cool quirk instead of the future CEO of Midori-Corp... That's what I've been calling my company..."
Inko pondered his words for a moment, a contemplative look crossing her face. "Hm... Well, when you think of All Might, what do you think of?"
Pausing, he considered the question. "Um, his costume and his hair. Oh, his personality and his big smile."
A gentle smile graced Inko's lips as she pressed further. "Was any of that about his quirk?"
Izuku furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "Well, not directly, no, but-"
"Exactly," Inko interrupted, a glimmer in her eyes. "So when you think of the literal most famous person in the entire world..." She urged him to finish her sentence.
His voice gaining confidence, Izuku replied, "...his quirk wasn't the important part."
"That's right," Inko affirmed. "When people see the incredible things you can build, that's what everyone will be talking about, even if you were turning your hands into all sorts of crazy things. That's what I think, anyway."
Still a little hesitant, but warming up to the idea, Izuku considered his mother's words. The weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders as he began to grasp the potential of his own abilities. "I guess you're right, yeah," he admitted. "But for now, I'd like to keep it just between us…"
A spark of excitement ignited in Inko as a realisation dawned upon her. "Oh! We should call Mei and have our own miniature sports festival!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
"W-what?"
"Now you don't have to sneak around me, you can be more open with testing your quirk! And besides, I want to see what you can do! Call her right now!" Inko exclaimed, her excitement contagious.
"Mom, it's eleven at night. She's probably asleep!" Izuku protested, aware of the late hour. (Unbeknownst to him, at that very moment, Mei was clambering through her bedroom window, replacing the mannequin tucked in her bed.)
Inko's enthusiasm faltered slightly, "Oh right, haha. I was getting a little ahead of myself. Tomorrow, then!"
"I have school tomorrow," Izuku reminded her.
"Tomorrow afternoon! Come on work with me here, kid."
—
As soon as he stepped into the station, Izuku was greeted by the typical symphony of sounds and the vibrant atmosphere of the morning rush. The train station was bustling with people of all shapes and sizes, some rushing to catch their rides, others leisurely enjoying their morning coffee. Izuku scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar face. He spotted Mei standing by the platform, wearing her usual goggles. She was always an early bird, no matter how late she had stayed up the night before. She claimed that she could survive on three hours of sleep, but Izuku suspected her blood was caffeinated.
"Mei!" Izuku called out, waving his hand as he made his way towards her. "I did something."
"That sounds ominous," she said, raising an eyebrow. "But cool, hope they deserved it!" she added, giving him a thumbs up and a grin.
"No, no, nothing like that!" Izuku said quickly, shaking his head. He lowered his voice to a whisper, glancing around nervously so nobody would overhear their conversation. "I told my mom about my quirk."
"YOU DID?!" Mei exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock and excitement. Her loud voice echoed through the train station, attracting some curious stares. She noticed them and cleared her throat, trying to act casual. "You did?" she repeated in a quieter tone, leaning closer to Izuku.
Izuku smiled brighter, feeling a surge of happiness. Ever since telling his mom about his quirk (maybe now that he was more accepting of his quirk, he could come up with an actual name for it) it felt more and more like he had made the right decision. "I was kind of nervous at first," he admitted. "I mean, I'd been hiding it for so long and I didn't know how she'd take it. But she was really understanding and supportive-OW!" He was interrupted by Mei jabbing him in the bicep with her knuckle.
"I told you she would be, idiot!" Mei snapped at him, frowning but relieved her friend had finally ripped off that bandaid.
Rubbing his arm, Izuku relented, "Yeah I probably should have listened to you."
"What was that?" Mei said, putting a hand to her ear dramatically. "I couldn't hear you over your mumbling."
"I should have listened to you! Mei Hatsume! The smartest girl in the entire world!" Izuku repeated louder, playing along with her teasing.
"Oh, only the world?" she said, pouting.
"My mom wants us to have a um, 'miniature sports festival' she called it, so I can practise using my quirk," Izuku said, changing the subject.
"That sounds like so much fun!" Mei said, clapping her hands excitedly. "I could try out the new babies I finished building! Are we going to train on the beach like usual or does your mom have somewhere else in mind? Oh! We could ask Power Loader if we could use one of the gyms."
Izuku's face suddenly flushed at the mention of Power Loader's name. "That's another thing I needed to tell you!" he said, leaning closer. "Power Loader and my mom have been dating for the past three months."
"WHAT?!" Mei shouted, her eyes widening in surprise and disbelief. "I thought they were just-"
"Being European, exactly!"
"Wow…" Mei said, looking wistfully into the distance. "I guess that means Power Loader isn't afraid of staircases after all…" The thought hung in the air as Mei and Izuku boarded the train to UA.
Mei wanted to hurry up and tell Izuku her own secret, but right now there were just too many people around… That was the excuse she was telling herself, anyway.
—
"She is a liability, High Street. We've all witnessed how careless and incompetent her work is. First the incident with Dakamoto's security, then the complete failure at UA-"
"Museum," High Street interrupted sharply, "I have listened to and considered your critique, but Diner still has a vital role to play in our mission."
"Barbershop and I are more than qualified and ready to take over that role!" Museum protested, before forcing a calm tone as the door to the living quarters slid open, revealing Diner standing in the doorway.
"Please, don't let me interrupt." Diner said coldly, taking off her jacket and placing it neatly folded on the dressing table.
High Street addressed Diner, while shooting a warning glare in Museum's direction. "Museum was just updating me on some combat reports, we think it could be beneficial to increase our frequency of weekly training sessions."
Diner simply nodded. "Yes, Master High Street." and took a seat in the far corner of the room. She sat rigid and upright, with her eyes closed in silent meditation. She tried to block out the noise and tension in the room, and focus on her breathing.
Museum, overcome with frustration, abruptly rose from her chair and stormed out of the room, casting a scornful look at Diner on her way out. Diner, unruffled and unfazed, maintained her composure, refusing to let Museum's actions affect her.
Diner, enveloped in the echoes of her mentor's approaching footsteps and laboured breaths, sensed his deliberate presence as he settled on the edge of her bed, making no effort to conceal his sounds. "Diner," he said softly, "I know you are angry with Museum, but you must understand. She is under tremendous pressure, as are we all. We're on the verge of achieving something extraordinary, something that will change the world. But it has not been easy, it has required many sacrifices."
Blinking open one eye, the young assassin peered at her mentor. "But what exactly is our goal, master?" she inquired, her curiosity tempered with a tinge of impatience.
"Not quite yet, my dear. In due time." High Street replied, dismissing her question with a slow, measured shake of his head.
"But I am ready. I have proven myself time and time again. I have done everything you asked of me." Diner protested, feeling a surge of frustration.
"Not yet," he repeated firmly, cutting her off. "You must be patient. We must wait for my visions to guide me." He stood up and extended his hand to her. "Come, my dear. Let's not waste any more time. There's work to be done."
Reluctantly, Diner rose to her feet, positioning herself beside him in sync with her mentor's measured strides. "Am I being assigned a new mission?" she ventured to ask. The duo veered around a corner, traversing a dimly lit hallway, its dilapidation mirroring the state of the compound as a whole, with peeling paint adorning its surfaces. Cables and wiring on the walls and floor of the hallway increased in quantity further down.
"In a sense, yes, it is a mission. I believe you will find it rather intriguing," he responded, knocking on a door three times in quick succession, then two more times slowly. "Barbershop, I'm here with Diner."
Seconds ticked by, before a cacophony of sound reverberated through the thin hallway, sliding locks and keys clicking echoing from the other side of the door. With a creak, the door finally swung open, revealing the entrance to the central information gathering hub of The Market.
This sanctum belonged to Barbershop, an imposing figure who stood tall and gaunt, his head clean shaven. Dressed in a pristine, white lab coat that served as stark contrast to the chaos that engulfed the room, he seemed an anomaly amidst the piles of tangled cables, flickering lights, and scattered remnants of debris. Dominating the heart of the chamber was a large circular table, its surface weathered and worn. Twelve chairs surrounded it, nine of which found their faded upholstery home to a lacework of cobwebs - a testament to their disuse over the years. Along the perimeter, tables hosted an assortment of ageing computers and obsolete laptops, relics from bygone eras.
With his arms firmly crossed and a hand upon his chin, Barbershop stood before a colossal monitor that displayed an aerial view of UA. His face was etched with an intense concentration, the flickering lights of the screen dancing across his stern visage.
High Street extended a hand, placing it firmly on Barbershop's shoulder. Despite being slightly shorter than the bald man, High Street exuded an aura that seemed to elevate his stature to towering heights. "Barbershop, my friend. Enlighten young Diner here with our latest discoveries, if you would be so kind?" High Street had a knack for giving orders while making it seem like it was your idea.
Barbershop maintained his concentrated gaze, gradually revealing a concealed remote control nestled within the cradle of his crossed arms. Without so much as a fleeting glance in Diner's direction, he pressed a button, causing the computer display to unveil an image of a girl donned in a UA uniform, accompanied by a dossier brimming with biographical information.
Diner's brows furrowed as she absorbed the sight. "Yaoyorozu?" she inquired.
"The heir to the Yaoyorozu fortune?" Barbershop replied, his tone laced with sarcasm, as if bewildered that anyone would be unfamiliar with the name. "She is a first-year hero student, and the sole individual at the academy boasting a quirk resembling the one you described. When you… Were unsuccessful in killing Eraserhead." He sneered.
Diner shook her head, resolute in her conviction. "No, the student who attacked me was a boy."
"You must be mistaken, clearly your attention was not sharp enough," Barbershop retorted bluntly, dismissing her claim without hesitation.
"Ah, in the heat of the moment, you can easily misidentify individuals," High Street intervened, attempting to diffuse the escalating argument. "Tell us some more about this girl, Barbershop."
The bald man's gaze shifted back to the screen, his tone now matter-of-fact. "She possesses a quirk known as Creation, which allows her to generate objects by rearranging the molecular structure of her lipids. If you witnessed the sudden appearance of items where none existed before, it was her doing. It's as simple as that."
Diner remained unconvinced, her scepticism lingering beneath her composed facade, yet she acquiesced to the authority of her superiors, and remained silent.
High Street redirected his attention toward Diner, and issued his orders. "I was very intrigued when you first told me about your encounter with those students that day and I'd like to learn more. Your mission is to infiltrate the Yaoyorozu residence under the guise of a new hire in their serving staff. Gather as much intelligence as possible. We need to closely monitor her to determine if she poses a threat when we launch our renewed assault on Aizawa. Also, to determine if the girl could be useful to us. Remember, my dear, this is purely an information-gathering expedition, so violence is strictly prohibited."
"Yes, High Street," Diner acknowledged with a respectful bow of her head.
"All the details pertaining to your new persona are contained within the dresser drawer in your room. Make sure you thoroughly comprehend them all. You'll be retiring the persona of Yuki Haro indefinitely," High Street added.
"I… Yes, master." Diner hesitantly agreed.
—
"Behold! Witness the epitome of innovation from Hatsume Industries!" Mei's voice reverberated through the workshop, her hand confidently resting on her hip with her other hand in the air, clenched in a victorious fist. With a twirl, she pivoted on the spot, swiftly bringing her elevated arm down and securing it horizontally with her other hand. A subtle click resonated as crossbow limbs gracefully extended from the sides of her wrist.
With a flurry of rapid movements, Mei clenched her fist repeatedly, unleashing a barrage of crossbow bolts that streaked towards the rear of the workshop. Power Loader observed with intense curiosity.
"These, my friends, are my magnificent Blunt Impact babies! But fret not, for the wonders of Hatsume Industries are far from over!" Mei proclaimed, twisting her fist to the right, each motion accompanied by a satisfying click. Dart after dart was propelled forward, while she elaborated on their unique qualities.
"Prepare to be electrified by the Stun Effect!" Mei twisted, clicked, and fired. A bolt enveloped in a shimmering blue aura shot forth, crackling with electrifying energy. As it collided with a sturdy pillar, a dazzling cascade of sparks filled the air.
"Watch as I ensnare with the Capture Effect!" Another twist, click, and fire. This time, the bolt detonated upon impact, transforming into a sprawling net that ensnared its target in an instant.
Mei seamlessly transitioned to new positions, directing her aim towards different areas of the workshop with each display.
"Experience the potency of the Chemical Irritant!" Twist, click, fire.
"Leave your mark with the vivid Dye Marker!" Twist, click, fire.
"Find tranquillity in the embrace of the Tranquilizer!" Twist, click, fire.
Her momentum escalating, Mei saved her personal favourite for last. With a final twist, click, and fire, a bolt struck the wall, unleashing a piercing noise that reverberated through the room, accompanied by an intense, blinding flash of light.
"Prepare to be utterly distracted by the sensational Distraction!"
Power Loader lowered the arm that shielded his eyes, blinking repeatedly to clear away the lingering brilliance. "Pretty good, nice work. Yeah, you can use that at the sports festival."
"Is that it?!" she exclaimed, aghast at his underwhelming reaction.
Power Loader shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, projectiles aren't really my thing. You should talk to Snipe about it," he suggested. Mei tilted her head, considering this and storing it away for future reference.
"Alright, Midoriya, it's your turn to show us what you've got," Power Loader redirected his attention to the next participant, Izuku. Rising from his seat, Izuku slipped on a pair of sleek, black gloves reaching just past the elbows and confidently approached Power Loader from the side of the room, where the other support students eagerly awaited their chances to unveil their inventions.
"These are the Midori-Corp STRIKE Gauntlets." Izuku announced, extending his arms before him in a commanding cross. The gauntlets boasted a smooth, matte finish, emanating a dark metallic allure. Along the backside, a reinforced composite material was seamlessly integrated, providing heightened durability. Strategically positioned additional plating safeguarded the wearer's arms, prioritising the areas most susceptible to impacts and attacks.
"Strike?" Power Loader asked, curious about the name's significance.
"Strength-based Tactical Resistance and Impact Kinetics! I know it's STRIK, but I couldn't come up with anything for the 'E'..." Izuku explained.
"But, um," Izuku mentally found his place in his demonstration, "The STRIKE Gauntlets are the latest and greatest in strength enhancement and durability! The kevlar weave and shock absorption technology results in the user's base strength being elevated ten fold! Um, can I use one of the metal poles?" Izuku asked, gesturing to the stack of bars in a crate to the side of the workshop.
With a nod of approval, Power Loader granted him access, and Izuku swiftly procured one of the solid metal poles, firmly clutching it within his hand. Focusing his concentration, a faint hint of discomfort crossing his features, he exerted his newfound strength, effortlessly contorting and twisting the bar into an unusual shape. "Behold, the STRIKE Gauntlets unlock a realm of unparalleled possibilities!" Izuku proclaimed, reciting the well-rehearsed sales pitch in his head.
"Could I please get a volunteer?" he asked, gesturing toward the assembled students. Akari Hana, bubbling with enthusiasm, energetically waved her arms to catch his attention.
"Oh um, Hana, okay, come up here please." Izuku had sort of expected it to be Mei, but this was fine. Pulling out a baseball bat he had prepared precisely for this moment, Izuku placed it in Hana's hands. "When I give the signal, try to strike me with the bat," he instructed.
A wide grin graced Hana's face as she tightly gripped the baseball bat, ready to swing.
"Okay, go!"
"Batter up!" Hana exclaimed joyfully, relishing the experience. She swung the bat in a graceful arc, aimed squarely at Izuku, who instinctively raised his arms, positioning the STRIKE Gauntlets in front of his face and chest. As the bat connected with the reinforced gloves, a powerful rebound ensued, propelling it out of Hana's grasp and sending it hurtling toward the back of the room.
"As you can see, I am entirely unharmed!" Izuku proclaimed triumphantly, bowing theatrically to the students, who showed their respect through their applause.
"Pretty good Midoriya, Pret-ty good." Power Loader complimented, diligently jotting down notes in his notebook. "All approved. Good luck in the festival."
"Thank you," Izuku replied gratefully.
"Alright, that concludes everyone's presentation. You've all created remarkable inventions, and I eagerly anticipate seeing how far each of you will go. If any of you make it to the tournament rounds, I win a coke. So don't hold back, understand?" Power Loader's statement elicited laughter from his students. "Now, all of you, get outta here. With just one week left before the festival, make the most of your time, familiarise yourselves with your new equipment, and, y'know... have fun out there."
—
Later, during their walk back to the train station, a quiet moment presented itself, and Mei gathered her courage to share something with Izuku.
"Um, Izuku, remember when you opened up to your mom about your quirk, and how much better you felt after unburdening yourself? Well, I have a little secret of my own that I wanted to tell you," Mei confessed hesitantly.
"You're Mayhem, right?"
"How did you...? Aw, man, what gave it away?!"
"Well, first, when you saved Uraraka during the entrance exams, I've never seen anyone have so much fun. Second, all the weapons Mayhem uses happen to be the ones you chose not to use for the sports festival, presumably to avoid any connections being made. Third, you became really engrossed in costume design right before Mayhem's debut. Fourth, purple is your favourite colour. And fifth, this is the clincher... Mei Hem, Mei? Really?"
"I freaked out, okay? It was a split-second decision!" Mei admitted, flailing her arms wildly. "You won't tell anyone, right?"
"Mei, I swear I won't breathe a word. You're my best friend, I'm not gonna let you get in any trouble."
"Oh speaking of trouble, there's a slight possibility that some dirty cops are on my tail, and also I'm teaming up with Eraserhead to take out a hitman. Oh, we better hurry, the train's leaving soon!" Without waiting for a reply, Mei dashed off down the street, leaving Izuku momentarily stunned.
"Mei?! What do you mean a hitman!? MEI?!"
