Chapter 39: Midoriya Izuku XXXV

A/N: And here we are with more I-Island! Not quite to the end yet, but we're getting there. Bit of a calm before the storm though, this time around. Hope you all enjoy!

Now just what exactly here on the island are Wolfram and his cronies trying to steal…

His little intrusion into I-Island's database was a success. The unassuming program that he had injected into the system during his visit to the Shields' lab had slowly made its way through the island's firewalls, making sure to remain unnoticed while integrating itself in every single nook and cranny available.

Now, he can access a fair amount of the online functions integral to the island through the guise of a verified user, albeit with a few restrictions that unfortunately bar him from the full capabilities of an administrator.

For starters, one of the things that Izuku has gained is cursatory access to an observational role for the island's security system. Luckily for Izuku, it's a network that's wholly automated. While complex in nature, a flaw to its design is that the flesh and blood personnel who are responsible for the system are only alerted to malfunctions and the like. So the chances of him being caught perusing the system are near-impossible.

However, his observational role can only give him so much. Based on recent data logs, there have been only three users with direct access to the system, David Shield himself being one of them due to his contributions to its design. But as of a few days ago, there is a fourth, unlisted user with validated access codes. Likely Wolfram, if Izuku has anything to say about it.

He can't disable Wolfram's access or change up the access codes unfortunately, at least not without brute forcing his way into the system or alerting either Wolfram or the island's security. And he'd rather not resort to either of those choices, lest he reduce his chances of his mission being a success.

For now, Izuku's at least satisfied that the list of potential island personnel who are working with Wolfram has been reduced to the three users with access to the system and their immediate subordinates. If he's lucky, he'll have the perpetrator figured out by the end of the night.

On the other hand, Izuku also has access to I-Island's research and engineering database; the true jewel of his digital intrusion, and the main object of his attention at the moment.

Izuku works away on his laptop, fingers dexterously moving from key to key as his eyes sweep between the various windows he opens and closes within seconds of one another. Most of the things he finds are rather mundane in nature (as in, nothing revolutionary). After all, things like piloted mechs or support gear with longer battery lives or better upkeeps aren't exactly things too out of reach. They're especially not things one would resort to stealing from I-Island for.

There are the outliers, of course. A miracle drug meant to boost one's recovery speed whilst in a life-threatening condition, a omnitool capable of morphing itself to fit a user's needs due to being made of hundreds of thousands of nanobots (and did that sound promising and dangerous at the same time), and even a set of hover gear boasting a simple interface and omnidirectional movement.

But again, not exactly anything too revolutionary. Most of them are just rehashes of quirks already well documented, and while useful to have mass produced aren't anything unique. Definitely nothing that someone would go through the trouble of hiring Wolfram for. So he continues his search.

"Hey, Michi-kun! I have a question!"

Izuku holds in a sigh, looking up from his laptop to address Hatsume, whom he finds lounging around in the bathroom, the door slightly ajar. Knowing that she had just taken a shower (a rare occurrence he's sure, but a reasonable move considering her plans tonight), he's thankful to find that she's modest and wearing a bathrobe. After all, given her lack of understanding in societal norms he wouldn't put it past her to neglect his presence in the room.

Which leads him back down another tangent; the fact that he can't help but feel a bit of his irritation from earlier in the day riling back up. After all, he didn't expect the people responsible for his lodging to be giving Hatsume and him a single room for the duration of their stay.

Not only does the shared room make it much more difficult for him to ensure his Whisper related activities stay hidden, but it also cuts down on his efficiency. For example now, with Hatsume interrupting him from his work. Though, he could at least appreciate the fact that the room had two separate beds. He isn't sure what he would have done if that wasn't the case.

"Remind me again why we're sharing a room?" he mutters.

It was more of a rhetorical question, but that doesn't stop Hatsume from actually hearing it and answering back. "It didn't cost me any extra, that's why!"

Izuku blinks, narrowing his eyes. He slowly looks up at Hatsume. "What do you mean, it didn't cost you any extra?"

"I mean that an extra room would've cut into my personal inventing funds! I couldn't have that!" Hatsume laughs. "Besides, I don't see the problem with it! After all, if I suddenly gain inspiration for inventing in the middle of the night, my assistant will be right by my side ready to assist in some baby making!"

Izuku groans, slapping his face. He ignores her phrasing in priority of his disbelief. "You could've asked me, you know. I could've paid for it."

With Sensei's money of course. He'd be obliged to, for dragging me into this mess.

Hatsume tilts her head to the side. "Huh. Didn't think of that." She straightens back up. "No matter! Not like it matters now!"

"Mhm," Izuku hums, placing his attention back onto his laptop. He starts skimming on through once again, eventually reaching the section he's been waiting for — David Shield's very own repertoire of inventions and nascent ideas.

"Whatcha got there that's so interesting? Huh huh huh?" Hatsume asks, her head peeking out from the bathroom, eyes zooming in on Izuku's position on his own bed.

"Nothing," Izuku responds nonchalantly. "Just a little coding project."

"Ooh!" She visually frazzles in excitement. "Can I see?"

"No," Izuku responds, eyes never leaving the screen.

"Hmph." Hatsume ends up leaving the bathroom afterwards, moving towards her side of the room. Izuku pays her no mind; especially not when he's sure that he's found exactly what he's looking for.

Quirk Amplification Device, huh?

If he's right about what he's reading, the device increases the power output of quirks tenfold, if not more. And the clincher? David Shield seems to be making the thing exclusively for All Might. After all, if the Symbol of Peace were to don such a thing… Izuku's sure that the man would be back to how he was in his prime.

No wonder Sensei wants me here. This could prove a problem to him if it's fully completed. And while I'm sure he wouldn't mind having it for himself, I'm just as equally as sure that he wouldn't mind it just being destroyed either if it means preventing All Might from getting an edge over him.

Izuku lets out a small laugh.

This clears some things up as well. I'm willing to bet that Wolfram and his crew will be acting tomorrow night during the Island's main gala event, rather than tonight during All Might's event. Sure, tonight would provide ample opportunity to keep All Might contained with the threat of civilian harm, but tomorrow would offer the same. And with the added bonus of catching all the heroes on the island at the same time.

After all, the program All Might is holding today is at its core a Quirkless and Heteromorph Awareness Seminar. And, as much as I hate to admit it, most people in attendance will be there solely because All Might is. Not because they care for the topic. Hence a lesser than desirable attendance for a bunch of mercenaries trying to keep the most heat off of themselves.

"Aha!" Hatsume stops with the rummaging she's been doing for the past minute, a small device in her hands.

Izuku looks over at her for her outburst. "Any reason you were trying your hardest looking for that thing?"

"Uh huh! It's so I can do this!" She presses a button on it, the device unfolding and revealing a screen and an antenna. It's at that moment that a window flashes on his own screen, alerting him to an intrusion to his system. It only takes a moment for him to connect the dots.

"Hatsume!"

Nevermind his surprise that Hatsume invented something capable of breaking into his secure systems so effortlessly. Izuku moves quickly, typing in a few commands into his keyboard. In a moment the intrusion is severed, Hatsume and her device cut off from his laptop.

"Oh phooey! And I was just getting to the good parts!"

Let's just hope that she didn't catch a glimpse of any of the more incriminating materials I have stored on here. Izuku shakes his head. This girl is proving to be much more of a problem than I ever imagined she could be.

Izuku finally turns his head in Hatsume's direction, a frown planted on his face. "Are you serious?"

"I was curious!" Hatsume exclaims, unabashed. "You know, you could've just told me that you were perusing the island's whole coded database and network. I understand."

Izuku huffs. "You got that from… What? The three seconds where you were connected to my screen?"

"You bet! Though I've got to say that it's less impressive than I would've thought. I mean, Yuuei's security system is more advanced than what I saw! Oh! Don't worry, I won't tell! Actually, can I help?"

Izuku takes a moment to digest Hatsume's widely fluctuating thoughts. "...Help." He voices aloud, as if testing the thought. "Help?" He reiterates.

"Yeah! It's not everyday that I meet a grey hat capable of hacking into one of the world's most secure places, you know? I mean sure, it's not nearly as advanced as Yuuei's. I mean, you haven't even been on that laptop for more than an hour! And Yuuei took me at least three to crack!"

Izuku dwells on the information being revealed for another moment. "And you decided to hack into Yuuei… because?"

"Nezu wasn't telling me where you went when I found out you were missing from school! So I went ahead and tried to look for answers myself! Ended up being a waste of time though; I didn't find anything about you. Not even your records, strangely enough!"

"You don't say." At least Nezu's covering for me on that front… I guess.

"Okay, but seriously," Hatsume cuts in. "Is that really all you're working on? That supposed 'high importance' project?" she asks, referring to the excuse Izuku had made earlier to avoid him having to follow Hatsume tonight.

"Um… yes?"

"Hrmm." Hatsume shakes her head. "I expected better from you!"

"You did?"

"Yeah! In fact, since I actually do know what you're up to, your excuse from earlier is now as flimsy as aluminum foil!"

Izuku groans, knowing what's coming next. "Hatsume—"

"So I really think that you should come with me!"

"We've already talked about this," Izuku grumbles.

"Yeah! And like I just said, your excuse is as good as sour milk! Trust me, I would know! So come on! It'll be fun!"

Izuku looks at her with an unamused expression. "The only reason you're going is because Melissa's going to be a speaker for the event. And you want to be there to ensure that your working relationship with her stays strong for possible future baby-making partnerships."

"Well duh! But even so, the whole thing applies to you too!"

"Meaning…"

"Oh come on. I heard you talking to Melissa earlier today."

"You… did?"

"You were like, ten feet away. Kendou may not have heard, but I certainly did. My hearing needs to be top notch if I want to know when my babies are about to blow, after all!" Hatsume grins. "So. What d'ya say?"

"I don't know… I mean—"

"Come on! Please please please?"

Internally, he lets out a sigh. I don't want to. Really, I'd rather not. People I'd need to make small talk with? And All Might too? All in the same room?

He looks at her and her expression, oddly pleading in nature. She's really insistent on this… for some reason. And… I guess… I need to keep the promise I made to myself. Need to keep her happy… Ugh. Why does this have to be so complicated?

"Fuck," Izuku groans. He slams his laptop shut, collapsing back into his bed. "Fine. Against my better judgment, I'll go with you."

"Yes!" Hatsume does a little hop. "Now!" She reaches into her huge pile of stuff, and pulls out two things, one on each hand. "Which is better? The red strapless or the black a-line?"

Izuku blinks, mind rebooting as he takes in the sight of the two dresses in Hatsume's hands. His thoughts practically burst forth past his teeth. "When did you pack dresses? Heck, since when did you even get a sense of fashion aside from grease and oil caking your tank top, coveralls, and goggles?"

"Oi! I'll have you know that I've been to a fair share of similar events in the past! All related to the inventing and engineering stock of course! Sometimes you've gotta try and suck up and make a good impression if you wanna get a nice word in with the support companies."

"That so?" Izuku questions. He feigns curiosity despite already knowing the truth. "You seemed surprised when I mentioned my offer to you back at Yuuei."

"I never said that I was successful! They were always put off for some reason! Never figured out why."

"Hmm," Izuku hums, hiding an amused smile. "Yes. I wonder why."

"Doesn't matter now. I have you after all! And I think that it's better off this way! Much more preferable to a bunch of old geezers breathing down my neck wanting me to meet a quota, that's for sure. And you actually help with the baby making process too!"

"But anyways!" Hatsume continues. "Which one, mighty assistant?" She raises one hand. "Red?" And the other. "Or black?! I need a decision now! I don't want to be late! It'll make a bad impression! Choose for me!"

"I don't know!" Izuku exclaims. "How do you expect me to!? I don't have experience in this stuff! I mean…" Izuku pauses, takes a moment to look between the two dresses. "The black one?"

"Hmm." Hatsume cocks her head. "Interesting choice… Well, no harm in making sure! Now let me just try this one so you can see just what yo—"

"Oh for fucks sake Hatsume! Change in the restroom!"

"And thus, here I am now standing before all of you! My life's turned around quite spectacularly for sure. But always remember that the way my life has gone won't be the same for all. So make sure you keep that in mind next time you're out there in the world. You never know when you might find my story here tonight useful. Thank you, and have a good night!"

A small and polite applause rings out throughout the audience after Melissa's speech. It's not deafening or anything of the sort, though that's to be expected given the size of the crowd. A turn-out of four hundred and three people may sound like a decent showing, sure. But Izuku knows the truth.

One factor to take into account is that at least three hundred and fifty-four of those who have attended are there just for All Might (Izuku's checked, he's even heard some few individuals whispering in a manner eerily similar to the way he used to, a long time ago).

And then there's the fact that this program is scheduled as a public event anyone could attend. And out of the nearly fifty thousand people on the island, less than a hundred individuals came due to sharing some sort of sentiment with the material at hand, and not just being a fan of All Might.

Heck, the fact that the turn-out was so small despite All Might's attendance is telling of just how much people care for All Might's attempt of turning the popular opinion around. Worse, it's not as if the low attendance is a result of the man half-assing his efforts; he's actually going above and beyond with televised PSAs and things like tonight's event.

But people just don't want to seem to listen. It's a weird sort of divergence that Izuku's observed. People adore All Might, look up to him like a god on a pedestal. But when he mentions a word of the Quirkless or the Heteromorphs or anything of the sort?

Some actually listen. There's a small minority, those who've come to reflect on their actions and actually listen to the words All Might is announcing to the world. It's a start, and there's no doubt that given time, the numbers will grow.

But now, in the present? Most people look away instead. He knows the root of the problem. Years of conditioning can be quite the thing to break free from, and thus something that keeps the masses woefully oblivious.

But it still makes Izuku simmer in distaste; that they have the audacity to turn around and go back to worshiping All Might, ignoring the messages he's trying to spread? Izuku has a hard time wrapping his head around the duality.

It's a depressing and outright disappointing discovery analysis, but not something Izuku hadn't anticipated. He's known for years now how society treats those like himself, after all. If anything, he's just satisfied to know that All Might is still an all around okay guy.

If only he would do something about Endeavor…

Speaking of. Todoroki is in the crowd as well, a bit far off from where Izuku is himself. And isn't that nice? It's nice to know that I've gotten through to him on this matter, at least.

Izuku eventually joins the crowd with his own quiet clapping. Melissa steps off stage, and then All Might shares a few final words before the main event ends. From then on, it's just a matter of mingling and staying until you find yourself tired out.

But if Izuku's to be honest? He would already be out of there. If it weren't for Hatsume, that is.

"Well?" Hatsume asks from beside him, her voice refined and quiet. "What did I tell you? Worth it, right?"

The way Hasume looks now is largely different than her usual appearance, almost to the point the Izuku's willing to admit that he might not have known it was her if he hadn't had come with her.

Still, it's an interesting side of her, he must admit. Form fitting black dress, hair no longer caked in grime and dust, a demeanor much more reserved and attentive. She wasn't lying when she had said she's practiced being a 'proper posh and stuck up snob.'

It's kind of cute, in a way, just how hard she's holding it all in. I can see it piling up behind those crosshaired eyes of hers, the excitement and tension and her usual eccentricity just waiting to explode and burst at the seams. It's a wonder she's held on for so long.

Izuku huffs at Hatsume's question.

He found all the points Melissa had brought up to be rather on point. An expected outcome, seeing as Melissa is someone who's experienced the same things that he has. From detailing her struggles in a way others would come to empathize with, to pouring her heart out about her feelings and the ways she felt growing up — it was rather well done.

It was quite the sight, if he was to be honest. Being around to witness people actually deep in thought, reevaluating their whole worldview. Seeing the way Melissa's words touched peoples' hearts in a way he never would have been able to. Actually considering the possibility that some of those in attendance might actually take something from this event.

It gave him hope — hope that even if he failed in his mission in the future, that the world could still grow for the better. It would take time, time where countless lives would continue to face hardship and tragedy. But the day would eventually come where the future could be bright.

Not that he'd admit it, of course.

Izuku lets out a sigh. "I'm still trying to figure out when you even had the chance to get my measurements, Hatsume," he says rather blankly. He's referring to the fact that he's wearing a suit (the event pretty much demanded as such) made by Hatsume's design. It's not like he had packed one himself, after all.

Hatsume narrows her eyes at him after that comment. She holds her expression for much too long for Izuku's comfort, the two of them standing there for what feels like a minute stretching on for years. Izuku's about to speak up when Hatusme suddenly gets all in his face.

"I don't believe that for one second, ya know?"

Before Izuku's able to let out a retort, or damn the girl for her perceptiveness, she backs away. Her face morphs into something much more happy and carefree, void of any of her previous looks of suspicion.

"But enough about that!" she voices. "Come on! There's a party going on, and I really think that you need to let loose and stop being so stiff all the time. There's more to life than your work, you know."

Izuku snorts. "Real good coming from you, who's working on her babies all the time and won't stop talking about them."

Hatsume harrumphs, crossing her arms together. "I have fun inventing, you know! Which is my point! You don't have fun doing whatever exactly it is you do! It's clear as day! You're always scowling or thinking critically behind those eyes of yours. And seeing as you are my assistant, it's my responsibility to make sure you don't overwork yourself!"

… Caught all that, has she? … Maybe I'm underestimating just how crafty this girl is.

Izuku scoffs, pushing the thought away for now. "And do tell, just how are you planning on that?"

Hatsume smirks. "You like messing with people, don't you?"

"I do not!" Izuku retorts rather forcefully. He pauses, furrowing his brow. It's a somewhat true notion, after all. He does it all the time when he's Whisper, even if he doesn't like admitting it. "How would you even come to such a conclusion? I mean, you haven't even—"

"So!" Hatsume interrupts. "We should have fun messing with people! There are plenty to go around after all!"

Starting to see why you had such a hard time getting into sponsors' good graces.

Izuku shakes his head, taking a moment before he speaks up. "You seem to be going through an awfully large amount of effort for this. Why? It's a bit out of character for you, I'm even willing to say."

"What? Can't an inventor want her assistant to be up and ready for everything? Easing you up to relax helps with that!"

Izuku quirks an eyebrow at her.

Hatsume grunts. "Fine. I just… Don't want you to find this trip to be a total waste. Remember that I know that you didn't want to come in the first place. This is just… my way of thanking you? For getting me to where I am now?"

Izuku lets out a sigh, leaning his head back in thought. Well. Kendou's here. So's Melissa. If worse comes to worse, I can sic Hatsume on them, get her to leave me alone… Maybe I can even catch up with Todoroki for a bit.

He looks over at the girl in front of him, eyeing her expectant gaze. Can't be too bad, I guess. I enjoy her company at the very least. It can't hurt, I guess.

"Sure," Izuku eventually responds. "What have you got in mind."

"Ohoho! Well, you see…"

Like she said. I'll… relax. Just for tonight. I've got a big day ahead of me tomorrow, after all. Might as well cherish the calm before the storm, right?

A/N: Yeah, another chapter not exactly filled with all too much. But it's all important, character building stuff, you know? Fret not though; the real event does kick off next chapter. So for those who've been waiting for that; stay tuned…