The roar of the crowd echoed through the stadium as the UA Sports Festival reached its climax. The arena was alive with energy, with students and spectators alike caught up in the excitement. Among the competitors, Mei Hatsume stood out, not for her physical prowess, but for her dazzling array of gadgets—her "babies" as she affectionately called them.
During the obstacle race, Mei had found a perfect opportunity to showcase her inventions to the pro heroes in the audience. And she had the perfect guinea pig for it—Izuku Midoriya, the determined but somewhat frazzled student who had just barely secured his place in the competition.
To Mei, Izuku was just another student, another means to an end. She didn't care much about his quirks or his ambitions—only that he could put her gadgets to the test in front of the biggest audience possible. She saw him more as a walking advertisement than a fellow competitor.
"Hey, Midoriya!" Mei called out, her voice cutting through the chaos of the festival. She zipped over to him on a hoverboard, one of her newest creations. "I've got some amazing babies that'll give you a serious edge in the cavalry battle. What do you say?"
Izuku, always one to help out a friend or classmate, agreed without hesitation. "Sure, Hatsume! I'd be happy to help!"
As the battle unfolded, Mei guided Izuku and his team, deploying her inventions at every critical moment. From jetpacks to grappling hooks, her gadgets allowed Izuku to outmaneuver the competition in ways that surprised even him. But to Mei, it was all about the tech. She watched the pros in the stands, eagerly awaiting their reactions to her creations, barely noticing Izuku's tireless efforts.
After the festival ended and the excitement died down, Mei returned to her workshop, diving back into her inventions. Her mind was consumed by new ideas and improvements, the adrenaline from the festival fueling her creative drive. Izuku, however, was just another successful test run—a distant memory as she focused on her work.
But as weeks turned into months, Mei found herself thinking back to the festival more often than she expected. She would be deep in her work, fine-tuning a piece of equipment, and suddenly a thought of Izuku would surface—how determined he had been, how earnest in his desire to help others, and how well he had adapted to her inventions. His praise of her gadgets had been so genuine, so heartfelt, that it had caught her off guard.
At first, she dismissed these thoughts as distractions—mere background noise in her relentless pursuit of innovation. But they persisted, creeping into her mind during late-night sessions in the lab and quiet moments when she should have been focusing on her next breakthrough.
It wasn't until she was working on a new prototype—a pair of enhanced gloves designed to improve a hero's grip and control—that she realized just how often she was thinking of him. The gloves were modeled after some of the modifications she had made for Izuku during the festival, and as she tinkered with them, she couldn't help but remember his smile, his awkward yet endearing thanks, and his unyielding spirit.
"Why am I thinking about him so much?" Mei wondered aloud, adjusting the tension on a tiny spring. It was a rare moment of introspection for her, usually so consumed by her inventions that she had little time for self-reflection.
She shrugged it off, attributing it to her natural obsession with improving her designs. Despite her attempts to push the thoughts away, they continued to linger, slowly growing stronger. She found herself paying more attention to Izuku when she saw him around school, noticing the way he interacted with others, how he never hesitated to lend a hand, and how his determination never seemed to waver.
Mei didn't fully understand what was happening. She was too dedicated to her craft, too focused on her passion for technology to fully grasp the emotions that were beginning to stir within her. But every time she thought of Izuku, a small, unfamiliar warmth began to grow in her chest—something different from the excitement she felt for her inventions, something new and uncharted.
She didn't know it yet, but the seeds of something deeper had been planted, waiting to take root and grow.
And so, as she continued her work, lost in the world of gears and circuits, Mei remained blissfully unaware of the quiet transformation taking place within her, her mind still preoccupied with her "babies" yet her heart beginning to turn toward a new focus—one that she would soon find impossible to ignore.
The lab buzzed with the hum of machinery as Mei worked tirelessly on her latest project. Scattered around her were blueprints, wires, and half-finished prototypes—each one a testament to her relentless creativity. Today, she was particularly engrossed in developing a new piece of technology—a compact energy source that could drastically enhance the power output of her inventions. It was a delicate piece of equipment, highly unstable, but Mei was confident in her ability to perfect it.
As she carefully soldered a connection, her thoughts began to wander once more. She hadn't seen much of Izuku recently, and despite herself, she started to miss the way he would enthusiastically test her inventions or thank her with that bright, genuine smile. The memory of him, his determined green eyes and awkward yet endearing demeanor, crept into her mind, distracting her just as she was about to adjust a critical component.
"Midoriya would probably love this if it works," she mused aloud, a small smile playing on her lips. She had even actually bothered to remember his name and face, a trait she deeply lacked and did not care to improve.
But in that moment of distraction, her hand slipped, and the unstable energy source sparked violently. Mei's eyes widened as the device began to overheat, glowing with a dangerous intensity. She barely had time to react before it exploded with a loud *bang* sending her flying backward through the lab.
She crashed through the double doors, the force of the explosion hurling her into the hallway. Disoriented, she landed on something solid yet soft. As she regained her senses, Mei adjusted her goggles, the lenses slightly cracked from the blast. She looked down to see what had broken her fall. To her surprise, she found herself sprawled atop Izuku, who had apparently been on his way to visit her lab. He lay beneath her, his face a deep shade of red, eyes wide with shock.
"Oh, hey, Midoriya!" Mei greeted him cheerfully, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. She beamed down at him, completely unaware of the compromising position she was in.
Izuku, on the other hand, was utterly petrified. His heart raced as he realized how close Mei was—her body pressed against his, her hands resting on his chest, and her face mere inches from his. But what really sent his brain into overdrive was the fact that her full-bosomed breasts were happily pressing down on his own chest, the light texture of her dirty tank top did little to conceal their perfect shape from the physical contact. He also got the perfect view of her cleavage, adding to his state of panic.
"Ha-Hatsume!" Izuku stammered, his voice barely a whisper as he tried to find the right words. He was too embarrassed to move, his mind became a chaotic swirl of thoughts.
Mei, however, was completely oblivious to his distress. "What a lucky coincidence!" she exclaimed; her grin as wide as ever. "I was just working on something super cool, and I was thinking about you when—boom! It kinda blew up in my face. But don't worry, I'll fix it!"
She remained on top of him, still talking excitedly about her project, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. Izuku, meanwhile, was desperately trying to maintain his composure, his hands awkwardly hovering above the ground, unsure of where to place them.
"H-Hatsume," he managed to squeak out, his voice strained, "c-could you, um, maybe—"
It was only then that Mei noticed their position. She tilted her head slightly, her hair brushing against his face, and looked down at him quizzically. "Oh, am I hurting you?" she asked, finally catching on but still missing the point.
Before Izuku could respond, Mei leaned in closer, her face now almost touching his as she examined him for injuries. "You don't look hurt… Hmm, maybe I cushioned the fall," she mused aloud, completely unaware of the effect her proximity was having on him.
Izuku's mind was a whirlwind. He wanted to get up, to say something, but his body refused to cooperate. The warmth of her body against his, the scent of her hair, and her casual demeanor despite the situation—it was all too much for him to handle.
Finally, with a slight blush of realization creeping into her own cheeks, Mei chuckled. "Oh, I get it! You're shy, aren't you? No worries, Midoriya!" she said, still smiling as she finally rolled off him and stood up, brushing off dust off herself as if nothing had happened.
Izuku scrambled to his feet, his face still burning with embarrassment. "I-I was just coming to check on you!" he blurted out, his voice shaky. "I heard a loud noise and thought—"
Mei waved her hand dismissively. "Just a minor setback. It happens sometimes when you're pushing the limits of science!" She grinned, completely unfazed by the near-disaster. "But you came at the perfect time. I was just thinking about how you could help me test this new energy source once I get it stabilized."
Izuku, still trying to steady his breathing, nodded slowly. "S-sure, Hatsume. Anything I can do to help."
As they walked back into the lab together, Mei's mind was already racing with new ideas for improving her prototype. But for a brief moment, as she glanced sideways at Izuku, she felt that unfamiliar warmth in her chest again. It was stronger this time, more noticeable, but still something she couldn't fully understand.
She brushed it off as excitement for her next invention, but deep down, a part of her was starting to wonder if it might be something more. Something she wasn't quite ready to admit, even to herself. As Mei led Izuku back into the lab, she was met with the sight of utter chaos. The explosion had left the room in disarray—tools scattered across the floor, a few prototypes smoldering, and a thick layer of dust coating everything. The energy source she had been working on was now nothing more than a twisted, charred mess on the workbench.
Mei, however, was unfazed. To her, this was just another day in the lab—a minor setback on the road to innovation. She adjusted her goggles and began assessing the damage with a focused expression, already thinking of how to improve the design for next time.
Izuku, still feeling the lingering embarrassment from their earlier encounter, watched as she effortlessly moved through the wreckage. Despite the chaos, there was something undeniably impressive about her single-minded dedication. But before he could offer to help clean up, the door to the lab burst open, and Power Loader, the teacher in charge of the Development Studio, stormed in.
"Hatsume!" Power Loader's voice boomed through the lab, his mechanical arms waving in frustration. "What in the world happened here? You can't keep pushing these dangerous experiments without proper safety protocols! This is a school, not a demolition site!"
Mei barely acknowledged him, her attention already fixed on a set of damaged circuits she was fiddling with. "It's fine, it's fine," she mumbled absentmindedly, her mind clearly elsewhere. "Just a little mishap. I'll have it all fixed up in no time."
Power Loader's patience was clearly wearing thin. "Hatsume, you need to start taking these safety concerns seriously! You could have injured yourself—or someone else! I'm shutting down the lab for the rest of the day."
This finally got Mei's attention. She paused her work, her eyes widening in genuine surprise. "Wait, what? But I'm right in the middle of—"
"No buts!" Power Loader interrupted, his tone firm. "You're done for today. I want you out of here, now."
Mei opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, Power Loader pointed toward the door. With a huff, she begrudgingly complied, grabbing a small toolbox and heading out. Izuku followed her, casting an apologetic glance at Power Loader as they exited the lab.
Once they were outside, Mei let out a frustrated sigh, kicking at a loose piece of debris on the ground. "Can you believe that? Right when I was on the verge of a breakthrough!" She shook her head, still fuming. But then, her mood shifted almost immediately as she turned to Izuku with a bright smile. "Hey, since we've got some time now, how about we test out those new prototype gloves I've been working on? I've made some upgrades, and I'd love to see how they perform in the field!"
Izuku hesitated, feeling a bit torn.
He appreciated Mei's enthusiasm, but he already had plans. "Actually, Hatsume," he began, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "I'm really sorry, but I already promised to meet up with Uraraka this afternoon. We're supposed to train together."
Mei blinked at him, the name clearly not registering. "Uraraka? Who's that?"
Izuku chuckled nervously. "You know, Ochako Uraraka? My classmate...? The one with the Gravity Quirk?"
Mei squinted, trying to recall, but she was drawing a blank. She was so absorbed in her work that the faces and names of other students often blurred together. "Oh, her," she said slowly, still not entirely sure who he was talking about. But then, something clicked.
"Wait, is she a girl?" Mei asked, her tone neutral but with a hint of curiosity.
Izuku nodded, not picking up on the subtle shift in her demeanor. "Yeah, she's a close friend of mine. We've been training together a lot recently."
Unexpectedly, a strange emotion began to stir within Mei. It was an unfamiliar sensation for her, something she had rarely, if ever, felt before. She was used to being so focused on her inventions that she never paid much attention to personal relationships. But the thought of Izuku spending time with another girl—someone who wasn't a "guinea pig" for her gadgets, but an actual friend—sparked a twinge of something she didn't quite understand.
Mei's brow furrowed as she tried to process this new feeling. "Oh, I see," she said, her voice slightly less enthusiastic than before. She wasn't sure why, but the idea of Izuku hanging out with someone else, someone he clearly cared about, bothered her more than she expected.
She brushed it off quickly, not wanting to dwell on it. "Well, maybe another time then," she said, forcing a smile. "The gloves will be ready whenever you are."
Izuku, oblivious to the internal struggle Mei was experiencing, smiled back, relieved that she wasn't upset. "Thanks, Hatsume. I appreciate it. I'll definitely take you up on that offer soon!"
As he waved goodbye and headed off to meet Ochako, Mei watched him go, a strange tightness in her chest. She tried to shake off the feeling, telling herself it was nothing—just a passing thought. But as she stood there, alone in the hallway, she couldn't help but feel a little less excited about returning to her workshop. This was new territory for her, emotions she wasn't used to dealing with. For the first time, her thoughts weren't entirely consumed by her inventions. And as she walked away, heading to the dorms instead of her lab for once, she couldn't help but wonder why the idea of Izuku spending time with someone else made her feel so unsettled.
For the past four days, Mei had been in a state of complete and utter frustration. Her normally bustling workshop had fallen silent, her half-finished projects gathering dust as she found herself unable to concentrate. Every time she tried to work on a new invention, her mind would draw a frustrating blank, leaving her staring at a mess of wires and circuits with no idea where to begin.
It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Creativity and innovation had always come naturally to her; her mind was usually a constant whirlwind of ideas, always racing ahead to the next big breakthrough. But now, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't focus. It was as if something was blocking her inspiration, and it was driving her crazy.
Sitting at her cluttered workbench, Mei let out a loud groan, rubbing her temples in an attempt to clear her mind. "What is wrong with me?" she muttered, glaring at the unresponsive gadgets in front of her as if they were the ones to blame.
She had even started avoiding the lab, spending most of her time aimlessly wandering around the school grounds or lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. This lack of productivity was unacceptable to her, and the longer it went on, the more annoyed she became. She was Mei Hatsume, genius inventor extraordinaire—she couldn't afford to waste time like this!
As she sat there, trying to figure out what had caused this sudden block, her thoughts kept circling back to the same moment: the day Izuku had come to visit her lab. The day she had blown herself up—quite literally—on top of him.
Her cheeks flushed slightly at the memory, but she quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought. "No, it has to be something else," she reasoned aloud, though she wasn't entirely convinced. But as she replayed the events in her mind, she realized that everything had started going wrong after that day. Her distraction, the explosion, and then the strange feeling she had when Izuku mentioned he was meeting up with his female friend, whatever her name had been.
Mei bit her lip, frowning as she leaned back in her chair. "It doesn't make sense," she said to herself, trying to piece together the puzzle. "Why would thinking about Midoriya mess with my creativity?"
But no matter how she looked at it, the timing was too coincidental. Ever since that encounter, her thoughts had been drawn to him more and more frequently. At first, she had brushed it off as simple curiosity—after all, he was always an interesting "guinea pig" for her inventions. But now, it was clear that something else was at play.
After much internal deliberation, Mei finally came to a conclusion. "It must be because I never gave him those prototype gauntlets!" she declared, standing up with sudden determination. "That's it! I've been so distracted because I didn't finish what I started."
She convinced herself that completing this task would put her mind at ease and allow her creativity to return. After all, when had she ever let an unfinished project get in the way of her work?
Grabbing the nearly completed gauntlets from the shelf, Mei felt a surge of energy as she made a few final adjustments. She could feel that warmth in her chest again, the one she had been trying to ignore. The idea of seeing Izuku, handing him the gauntlets, and watching his face light up with excitement—it made her smile in a way she didn't entirely understand.
Without wasting any more time, she slipped on her goggles and headed out of the workshop, the gauntlets safely tucked under her arm. She didn't bother checking where Izuku might be; she was determined to find him, even if it meant searching the entire campus.
As she made her way through the hallways, her mind raced with thoughts of how to present the gauntlets to him. Maybe she'd have him test them out right then and there. Maybe she'd ask for his feedback on how to improve them further.
But as she neared the common areas of the school, a small part of her—one she wasn't ready to acknowledge just yet—was simply eager to see him again. She wanted to see that bright, determined smile, to hear him speak with that earnest tone about how her inventions could help him become a better hero.
Mei paused for a moment, standing in the middle of the hallway as she realized just how much she was looking forward to it. Her heart fluttered slightly at the thought, and she frowned, trying to suppress the feeling. "This is just about the gauntlets," she reminded herself firmly, continuing her search. "Nothing more."
But deep down, she knew it wasn't just about the gauntlets. Something had changed, something that had her feeling more than just the thrill of invention. And as she continued her search for Izuku, she couldn't help but wonder if, maybe, this strange new feeling was the key to unlocking not only her creativity but something else entirely.
Determined and a bit nervous, Mei pushed forward, her eyes scanning every corner as she searched for the green-haired boy who had unexpectedly become the center of her thoughts.
As Mei hurried through the hallways, her mind laser-focused on finding Izuku, she almost ran headlong into someone coming around the corner. She skidded to a stop just in time, her goggles slipping slightly down her nose as she caught herself.
Standing before her was Tenya Iida, his usual stern expression replaced by one of mild surprise as he adjusted his glasses, regaining his composure. "Hatsume," he greeted, his voice carrying that distinct air of formality. But there was a trace of wariness in his tone, as if he wasn't entirely pleased to see her.
Mei blinked at him, tilting her head in mild confusion. "Do I know you?" she asked bluntly, completely oblivious to the growing irritation on Iida's face.
Iida's eyes widened in disbelief, and he took a step back, pointing at himself as if to remind her of who he was. "It's me, Iida! Tenya Iida, Class 1-A representative! You used me as a—"
"—as a human advertisement during the Sports Festival!" Iida finished; his tone exasperated. "You strapped all those gadgets to me and made me run around like a walking billboard for your inventions! It was humiliating!"
Mei stared at him blankly for a moment before a small flicker of recognition crossed her face. "Oh, right! You're that guy with the engines in your legs, aren't you?" She shrugged nonchalantly, clearly unbothered by his annoyance. "Sorry, I've been busy with, you know, actual important stuff."
Iida was left momentarily speechless, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find the words to respond. He couldn't believe that she had not only forgotten who he was but also seemed completely unrepentant about the whole ordeal. "You...you don't even remember my name?" he finally managed to ask, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Mei waved a hand dismissively. "Names aren't really my thing," she said, already shifting her attention back to her main objective. "Hey, have you seen Midoriya around?"
The sudden change of subject threw Iida off balance, and he stared at her in confusion. "Midoriya? Why are you looking for him?"
"I need to give him something," Mei said simply, holding up the prototype gauntlets as if that explained everything. "Where is he?"
Iida let out a deep sigh, clearly fighting the urge to lecture her about basic manners and social interaction. Instead, he pointed down the hallway, toward the school's training facility. "He should be at the training grounds right now. He mentioned something about sparring with Uraraka earlier."
Mei's eyes lit up with a bright smile, entirely missing Iida's growing frustration. "Great, thanks, Glasses Boy!" she chirped, already turning on her heel and hurrying off in the direction he had pointed.
Iida was left standing in the hallway, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he watched her go. "It's Iida...not 'Glasses,'" he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples as he tried to push back his exasperation.
As Mei rounded the corner, heading toward the training facility, her mind was once again filled with thoughts of Izuku. She didn't dwell on her brief encounter with Iida—he was just another person in the background of her life, another name and face that didn't stick. What mattered was finding Izuku, giving him the gauntlets, and, hopefully, getting back to her usual creative self.
But as she drew closer to the training grounds, that strange warmth in her chest began to grow, and she couldn't quite shake the feeling that this wasn't just about the gauntlets anymore. Something else was driving her, something she wasn't fully ready to confront. And as she neared the door to the training facility, her heart started to beat just a little faster, anticipation and curiosity mingling together in a way she hadn't expected.
The sound of explosions echoed through the air as Mei approached the training grounds, her goggles reflecting the flashes of light from the ongoing combat. The smell of burnt metal and the sight of training robots being torn apart made her heart race, but it wasn't just the spectacle of destruction that had her on edge. As she stepped closer, she spotted the source of the chaos: Katsuki Bakugo, gleefully obliterating robots with his relentless blasts, a feral grin on his face.
But it wasn't Bakugo that held Mei's attention. Just a little further away, she saw Izuku moving with swift precision, using his legs to deliver powerful kicks to the robots, dismantling them with calculated force. His movements were fluid, each strike deliberate and controlled. There was something about watching him in action that made her shiver, a strange sensation that spread through her body and left her feeling unsteady on her feet.
Mei stood there, captivated, as she watched Izuku train. Her heart pounded in her chest, her earlier frustration forgotten as she observed his focus, his determination. He looked...different from how she usually saw him. Less like the curious guinea pig she was used to and more like a powerful hero in the making. The realization sent another shiver down her spine, one she couldn't quite explain.
Just as she was lost in thought, a voice called out to her, breaking her reverie. "Hatsume? What are you doing here?"
Mei turned her head to see a brunette donning the school's gym uniform approaching, her expression friendly but tinged with curiosity. Ochako's eyes flickered to the gauntlets in Mei's hands, then back to her face. "Are you here to see Midoriya?"
Mei nodded, trying to keep her voice steady as she answered. "Yeah, I have something for him."
Ochako's friendly demeanor shifted slightly, her brows furrowing as she looked Mei up and down. "What do you want with him?"
There was an edge to Ochako's voice that Mei couldn't quite place, but it made her pause. For the first time, she noticed the way Ochako was standing, her posture protective and slightly defensive. It was like she was guarding something—or someone.
Mei blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. "I just need to give him these gauntlets," she said, holding them up as if that explained everything. "That's it. Then I can go back to my workshop."
Ochako's frown deepened, and she opened her mouth as if to say something else, but before she could, Izuku's voice cut through the tension.
"Uraraka! Hatsume!"
Mei's heart skipped a beat as she heard him call Ochako's name first, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. Izuku jogged over to them, his face flushed from exertion but brightened by a wide smile. "What are you doing here, Hatsume?"
As he approached, Mei suddenly felt very self-conscious. The warmth that had spread through her chest earlier was now mingled with something else—something heavy and uncomfortable. She glanced at Ochako, who was standing next to her, and suddenly became acutely aware of the girl's presence. So, she was the one that stolen his attention from her some days back. The one Izuku always seemed to be around, the one he liked hanging out with.
When Izuku reached them, his cheerful expression made Mei's heart flutter, but she quickly swallowed the feeling. She wanted to give him the gauntlets, say a few words about how to use them, and then leave. That was the plan. But now, standing here in front of him with Ochako so close by, Mei felt her confidence slipping away.
Izuku tilted his head slightly, noticing the awkward silence. "Hatsume?"
Mei forced a smile, but it felt hollow, even to her. Without saying a word, she handed him the gauntlets, her hands trembling slightly as she did. Izuku looked at the gauntlets in surprise, then back at Mei, confused by her sudden change in demeanor.
"Thanks, but—" he started, but Mei had already turned away, her mind swirling with a fix of emotions she couldn't fully comprehend. She couldn't stay there, not with this strange, unsettling feeling gnawing at her insides.
"I-I have to go," she muttered, her voice barely audible as she walked away, each step faster than the last.
"Hatsume, wait!" Izuku called after her, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. If she did, she might just lose control of the confusion, the envy, and the strange fear that was clawing at her heart.
As she left the training grounds and stepped outside, Mei found a quiet spot against the side of the building. She leaned against the wall, trying to steady her breathing, but the emotions she had tried to push down were now surging to the surface. With a shaky breath, she clutched at her chest, her heart racing in a way that had nothing to do with excitement.
"What's wrong with me?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she tried to make sense of it all. She had never felt like this before—this overwhelming mix of want, jealousy, and fear all tangled together, making it impossible to focus on anything else.
It was Izuku. It had to be him. Ever since that day in the lab, ever since she had found herself thinking about him more and more, she had felt this strange, unfamiliar pull. But now, it was stronger than ever, and it scared her. Because for the first time in her life, Mei Hatsume, the inventor who had always been so sure of herself and her goals, didn't know what to do.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm the storm of emotions inside her. But as she stood there, leaning against the cool stone wall, she knew one thing for certain: this wasn't going to be as simple as finishing a project or handing over a pair of gauntlets. This was something deeper, something that wasn't going to go away no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.
The weeks that followed were unlike any Mei had experienced before. Her once single-minded focus on her inventions had been completely derailed. Instead of working on her "babies," as she affectionately called her creations, she found herself fixated on something—or rather, someone—entirely different.
Izuku Midoriya.
Since that day at the training grounds, Mei had begun monitoring Izuku's every move, trying to decipher what it was about him that had captivated her so deeply. She'd never been one to dwell on emotions, her life always revolving around her work and the endless possibilities of support technology. But now, there was something new driving her, something she didn't fully understand yet but couldn't ignore.
She started keeping a small notebook dedicated solely to Izuku, meticulously documenting his habits, his quirks, and even his interactions with others. It began with simple observations—how often he trained, the way he helped his classmates, the way he muttered to himself when deep in thought. But as time went on, her notes grew more detailed, more personal. She studied the way he smiled, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about being a hero, and the way he carried himself with a determination that was both inspiring and endearing.
It was invasive, she knew that much, but Mei couldn't help herself. Every time she saw him, that strange burning joy in her chest returned, stronger than ever. It was as if just watching him filled her with a warmth that nothing else could, a warmth she had never known before. And the more she observed him, the more she realized how much she loved that sensation.
At her workbench, where she used to spend hours tinkering with gadgets and prototypes, she now found herself doodling his name, sketching his face, and losing herself in daydreams about him. The shift in her focus was bizarre, even to her. She'd always prided herself on her dedication to her craft, but now...now, Izuku had become her primary subject of interest, and she didn't know how to stop.
She didn't want to stop.
Every time she thought of him, she smiled. She imagined them talking, hanging out together, maybe even working on something as a team. The thought of it made her heart race, and she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be close to him, to have him notice her not just as the eccentric inventor, but as… something more.
Then, one day, while quietly tailing him around campus, Mei overheard something that made her heart leap with excitement. Izuku was talking with Denki and a few others about plans for the weekend, mentioning that they were going to the mall to pick up some supplies and maybe grab a bite to eat.
The idea of seeing him outside of school, away from the usual environment, filled Mei with a sense of anticipation she hadn't felt before. She decided then and there that she would follow him to the mall, just to see what he was like in a more relaxed setting. It wasn't about being intrusive, she told herself, but about understanding. Understanding what it was about Izuku that made her feel this way, and why she couldn't seem to get him out of her mind.