BNHA: Singularity

Charging toward Izuku as if she were a piece of metal attracted by a powerful magnet, the salmon-haired girl, Mei Hatsume, exclaimed, "Is that the Shield Mk. 47 Ultimate-Series Tool Set!? How on Earth did you get your hands on such a precious set of tools!?"
As the SMK47-USTS cost well over thirty million yen, it wasn't something the typical 'hobbyist' could afford. However, as Izuku's primary revenue stream came from modifying and filing new patents, getting his hands on a top-of-the-line set of tools was very important.
Though he didn't mind in the slightest, Izuku adopted a wry smile as he replied, "You should probably change your top before we talk. At this rate, I'll be too distracted to answer your questions properly."
"Hmmm~?"
Staring down at her fairly ample bosom, Hatsume asked, "What's the problem? The bikini I wear during Summer shows off a lot more skin. Besides, it's hella hot in here. You want me to overheat and pass out?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Izuku replied, "If that's how it is, I won't press the matter further. As for your previous statement and the question that followed, firstly, I received permission from the Principal to make use of the Support Department's facilities. Secondly, yes, this is the Shield Mk. 47 Ultimate-Series Tool Set. You have a good eye."
Raising her hands as if she were about to give double peace signs, Hatsume pointed to her eyes, controlling her reticle-like pupils to expand and contract as she explained, "It's thanks to my Quirk, Zoom. It gives me a headache if I overuse them, but if I really focus, I can see objects up to five kilometers away. Pretty cool, huh?"
"I'll say," replied Izuku. "It's like having a high-powered microscope in your eyes sockets. I bet it's super useful for working with circuitry and microchips."
As quite a number of people regarded her Quirk as useless, Hatsume couldn't help smiling in response to Izuku's words, exclaiming, "I know, right!?"
Before Izuku could respond, Hatsume beat him to the punch, adding, "Anyways, Powerloader-sensei isn't here right now. Even if you really do have permission, I can't let you start working until he approves you. If it turns out you were lying and I allowed you to do as you pleased, I'd risk having my special privileges taken away."
Once again speaking before Izuku could respond, Hatsume beamed as she exclaimed, "Oh, I know! How about I show you around and introduce you to some of my babies!? You must be pretty skilled if you own a set of tools like that. Maybe you can give me some tips!"
Without waiting for Izuku's response, Hatsume grabbed his hand and hauled him toward what many would presume to be a pile of scrap metal. Instead, it was a small mountain of Support items, haphazardly packed together as if a Katamari Damacy had come through...
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Though Hatsume was a little overbearing, Izuku couldn't help smiling as she demonstrated dozens of her 'babies,' original Support items she had somehow managed to complete in the week since school began.
As he had told Mina, Izuku's preferred type was a woman who was passionate about something she loved. Hatsume embodied this to an almost ludicrous extent, so much so he didn't even mind when one of her 'babies' blew up in his face. Luckily, just before her little exhibition began, she lent him a pair of goggles with a powerful magnification property, an invention inspired by her Quirk.
Instead of asking if Izuku was okay, Hatsume exhaled a carefree laugh and commented, "Sorry about that. But you know what they say, failure is the mother of invention. Each mishap brings you one step closer to true greatness~!"
Continuing from where she left off, Hatsume picked up a glove with rings around the joints and thin wires running along the interior of the fingers, explaining, "Take this baby, for example. She can increase a person's grip strength by up to 150kg. The downside is that the wires have a tendency to break due to friction. If I could figure out a way to decrease the tension between the wires and the joints, I could increase the output five, maybe even ten times...!"
Having wiped away the soot from his face, Izuku took a look at the gloves Hatsume had presented him, asking, "Have you considered replacing the metal wires with artificial silk or micro-hydraulic cables? The latter may be bulkier, but you could get around the friction issue."
Opening her eyes wide and smiling even broader than usual, Hatsume exuded a somewhat 'scary' aura before abruptly grasping Izuku's hands and shouting, "You and I are going to make so many babies together...!"
"..."
Though he knew Hatsume was referring to Support items, Izuku's mind momentarily blanked. He hadn't even considered Hatsume as one of his potential 'targets,' but she had suddenly secured herself the top position among the girls he interacted with at school.
Realizing how her words could be misconstrued, Hatsume released her hold on Izuku's hands, crossing her arms as she casually remarked, "You have quite the active imagination, don't cha? That's a necessary trait for an inventor, but you shouldn't let it distract you. Besides, whoever I end up with needs to be able to support me, both creatively and financially. I don't have time for a romance that doesn't advance my goal of being the world's greatest inventor."
Recovering from his brief stupor, a wry smile developed across Izuku's face as he shamelessly revealed, "I currently make around &yen;165,000,000 a year, and it's only-"
Before Izuku could finish touting his worth, Hatsume once again grabbed his hands, her eyes practically sparkling as she said, "Please date me with marriage in mind! I'll let you touch my boobs...!"
Underlining her point, Hatsume squished her breasts against Izuku, her reticle-like eyes staring into his as if she were attempting to peer into his thoughts. It was surprisingly intimidating, but Izuku managed to remain fairly calm as he replied, "As tantalizing an offer as that is, I think it best we start as friends. If it's financing your after, I could potentially become your Sponsor. I-"
Interrupting Izuku before he could finish, Hatsume replied, "Deal!" before giving him a firm, lingering hug as she teased, "Looks like I might have to start calling you Papa. Let's make lots of babies together...uh...what was your name again?"
Adopting a somewhat forced smile, Izuku replied, "Izuku...Izuku Midoriya. Also, you-"
Preempting Izuku's point, Hatsume abruptly released him, hands on her hips as she shouted, "Good to meet you, Izuku! I'm Mei Hatsume, but you can just call me Mei! We'll be working together nice, close, and personally from now on, so there's no need for formalities!"
Abruptly transitioning to a more serious persona, Mei gazed at Izuku's body, muttering, "Speaking of which..."
Approaching Izuku for the umpteenth time, Mei began feeling up his body as if it were a perfectly natural thing to do.
"Whoa...you look kind of ordinary in your uniform, but it turns out you're pretty jacked, huh?"
Moving around to Izuku's back, Mei pressed her breasts against him, her hands reaching around to caress the front of his body, adding, "Nice. Is this a six&mdash;no, an eight-pack? Mind taking off your clothes so I can get a better look?"
Inhaling a deep breath, Izuku grabbed Mei's hands, preventing them from roaming his body as he warned, "You're playing with fire, Mei-san...if you mistake me for an 'ordinary,' herbivorous high schooler, you're going to get burned..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Mei responded with a dismissive, "Eh, I'm used to getting burned." while wriggling her fingers in Izuku's grasp. She knew her actions were a little inappropriate, but she could tell Izuku didn't mind them. As for his 'threat,' she didn't take it seriously. After all, what was the worst he could do while they were on campus grounds?
Just as Izuku was seriously considering teaching Mei a lesson, the door to the Development Studio opened, followed by the entrance of a short, shirtless man wearing an oversized helmet resembling an excavator claw.
Noticing the position Izuku and Mei were in, a tense, awkward silence permeated the studio before the diminutive man exhaled a tired sigh and asked, "What did I tell you about accosting other students, Hatsume-san? If you get expelled for sexual harassment, you'll never be able to become a successful inventor..."
Retracting her hands from Izuku's grasp, Mei exhaled an awkward laugh before defending her actions by pointing out, "Don't worry, Sensei. Izuku is a fellow inventor. He's also my patron, so we'll probably start dating once he overcomes his shyness. At the very least, I'm confident he won't report me to the school's Disciplinary Committee."
Exhaling an exasperated sigh, the diminutive man, Higari Maijima, also known by his Hero name, Excavation Hero: Power Loader, shifted his gaze to Izuku and said, "Please don't take this fool of a girl's actions to heart. I promise you she doesn't mean any harm. She's just..."
Sparing Power Loader the effort of having to excuse Mei's actions, Izuku shook his head and affirmed, "It's fine, Sensei. I'm well aware that Mei is simply passionate about her work. I can respect that."
Undercutting Izuku's words, Mei beamed like a lighthouse in a storm as she said, "Izuku and I are going to make tons of babies together, Sensei! You won't believe this, but he totally figured out a solution to Baby No. 26 after looking at it for, I dunno, maybe six seconds? Please, please, please let him work here...!"
Ignoring Mei's words, Power Loader directed his gaze at Izuku, stating, "I heard about you from the Principal. He lauded you as a genius in the field of Support, but I'll need to evaluate your skills personally before I let you use these facilities. I can't always be around to supervise you, so I need to know you're capable of handling yourself."
Resisting the urge to point out he allowed Mei, infamous for creating devices that exploded, to work without supervision, Izuku nodded and replied, "I'm ready." in a firm tone. He had redistributed his stats earlier that morning, so his Intelligence and Dexterity were currently sitting at 100. He might not be able to compare to a monster like Mei, but he was confident he could both meet and surpass Power Loader's expectations. After all, while his experience might be lacking, his attributes were even higher than the excavator-headed Hero's...
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Name: [Izuku Midoriya]
Quirk: Digitalization, Transfer, Stockpiling, Singularity, Gearshift(sealed), Fa Jin(sealed), Danger Sense(sealed), Blackwhip(sealed), Smokescreen(sealed), Float(sealed)
Current Level: 19 (91,069 EXP)
Effective Level: 34
[Attributes]
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 100
Intelligence: 100
Dexterity: 100
Luck: 22
Free Attributes: 0
Rerolls Available: 2
[Perks]
[Lesser Regeneration], [Healthy Body], [Sharp Mind], [Eidetic Memory], [Nimble Fingers], [Keen Senses]
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Name: [Mei Hatsume]
Quirk: Zoom
Current Level: 12
Effective Level: 37
[Attributes]
Strength: 11
Agility: 8
Vitality: 21
Intelligence: 149
Dexterity: 83
Luck: 103
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Name: [Higari Maijima]
Quirk: Iron Claws
Current Level: 25
Effective Level: 51
[Attributes]
Strength: 91
Agility: 28
Vitality: 208
Intelligence: 73
Dexterity: 59
Luck: 54
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After passing Power Loader's tests with relative ease, Izuku earned the right to make use of the Development Studio. Better yet, instead of being restricted to Sundays, he was allowed to come in whenever he had a free afternoon. That was how much Power Loader valued his aptitude, enough that he was effectively willing to overlook the fact Mei behaved as if there were no personal boundaries between them.
Fortunately, while Izuku wasn't able to escape becoming Mei's guinea pig, he didn't especially mind the salmon-haired girl's antics. Rather, now that he had become One-for-All's successor, he knew he wouldn't have nearly as much time to dedicate to Support work as he intended. Thus, while he planned to continue inventing, he was already considering just supporting Mei. She possessed the 'spark' he lacked as an inventor, so if he focused on funding and promoting her creations, Izuku was certain he could make both of them very, 'very' rich...
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After gaining access to the Support facilities, Izuku split his afternoons between his duties as Vice Representative, helping Hagakure train, and working in the Development Studio. Mei had readily agreed to help him conceive and produce a new Hero costume, so the two of them worked together to ensure it was as stylish as it was functional.
Unsurprisingly, Hagakure couldn't help wanting to know where Izuku disappeared to when they didn't train together. As a result, it wasn't long before her curiosity got the better of her, driving her to follow him in secret. She didn't enter the Development Studio directly, but she caught him exiting with Hatsume, compelling her to ask, "Who was that girl with the pink dreadlocks?" a few days later.
Though he was briefly confused by Hagakure's words, Izuku collected himself fairly quickly, asking, "Are you referring to Mei-san, the girl from the Support Department...?"
Pointing to her own set of invisible eyes, Hagakure added, "The girl with the scopes for eyes."
Nodding his head, Izuku affirmed, "That's Mei. Mei Hatsume. She's been helping me design a new Hero costume, but I'm confused. When did the two of you have the chance to meet?"
"Uh..."
Realizing she hadn't thought of an excuse to explain how she knew Mei, Hagakure fumbled for a bit before flailing her arms and exclaiming, "That isn't important right now! Aren't the Support facilities supposed to be off-limits to students from other Departments?"
"Yeah, but I received permission from the Principal to make use of them," replied Izuku. "I'm sure I've mentioned this in the past, but I have a knack for creating and modifying things. Before I enrolled in the Hero program, I was seriously considering enrolling as a Business or Support student."
"Ah..."
Recalling Ochaco mentioning something in the group chat about Izuku having made a fortune by modifying patents, a potent blush developed through Hagakure's face. She had 'mistakenly' believed that Izuku was using his free time to flirt with girls from other Departments. Now that she knew the 'truth,' she felt like an idiot.
Feigning obliviousness to what Hagakure was thinking, Izuku remarked, "Speaking of which, I heard about a third year who was able to have a Hero costume made from his hair. His Quirk is powerful, allowing him to phase through objects, but the caveat is that it also causes him to phase through his clothes. By donating some of his hair follicles, the Support Department was able to cultivate enough to manufacture him a costume that became permeable along with his body. Want to try doing the same?"
Though she was a little surprised and happy to learn Izuku was thinking about her, even when they weren't together, Hagakure smiled wryly and explained, "I'm actually a third-generation Invisibility user. My parents and grandparents tried something similar in the past, but the result was that the clothes would become visible as the cells in the hair died. Trust me, if there were a way to avoid having to run around naked in my Hero costume, I would know about it."
Rubbing the back of his head, Izuku smiled wryly as he remarked, "That's a shame. Though, at the risk of sounding a little perverted, it's also kind of hot. The other day, when you suddenly fell silent, I thought for a moment you were going to suggest training in our Hero outfits. I'd be lying if I said the notion didn't make me a little...lightheaded."
If she was blushing before, Hagakure was completely crimson when she heard Izuku's rather 'brazen' remark. She often lamented being invisible, but, in this particular instance, she was extremely grateful no one could see her face.
Cupping her fiery cheeks, Hagakure averted her face and body, her eyes swimming in their sockets as she muttered, "Midoriya-kun, you perv..." in a 'tickled-pink' tone. She had little experience dealing with boys since the majority simply ignored her. After all, while Invisibility had a certain allure to it, most people based attraction purely on what their eyes could see...
Thinking he may have pushed a little too hard, Izuku's expression became genuinely apologetic as he said, "Sorry, that was probably out of line. I'll be more careful from now on."
Catching Izuku a little off guard, Hagakure shook her head with enough vigor that her entire body moved with the motion. Then, in an incredibly hushed, nearly inaudible voice, she stammered, "I-It's fine...the truth is, I actually did consider it...just a little bit..."
("Naruhodo...")
While muttering 'I see...' in his mind, Izuku couldn't prevent a smile from developing across his face as he said, "That's a relief. I was afraid I had offended you. These afternoon training sessions have been enjoyable, so I would have regretted it immensely if they came to an end."
Seeing the relief in Izuku's expression and hearing the sincerity in his tone, the butterflies in Hagakure's chest and stomach threatened to rise up from her throat in the form of a girlish squeal. Instead, she massaged some of the tension from her cheeks, a vain attempt to calm herself as she mustered the courage to suggest, "We could try it, you know...training in our Hero costumes..."
As if she couldn't believe her own words, Hagakure covered her invisible face with her equally invisible hands, forcibly containing a squeal. As for Izuku, he was momentarily stunned by the proposition, his mind drawing a complete blank as his lips replied, "I would like that..." seemingly of their own accord.
Sneaking a peak at Izuku through her fingers, as she was the sole person unable to see through her body, Hagakure noticed the dazed, somewhat 'adorkable' look on his face. Izuku was several centimeters taller than the original, but his rounded face, large eyes, and four-spotted freckle pattern made him more cute than conventionally handsome. He was working hard to change that, but there was only so much he could do. The rest was up to genetics, testosterone, and his pituitary gland.
Realizing that Izuku was more baffled than 'eager,' Hagakure covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. Doing so caused Izuku to regain his senses, an embarrassed smile developing across his face as he said, "Sorry. I think I may have spaced out for a bit. I must not be getting enough sleep."
Seemingly having found her courage, Hagakure's tone contained a hint of laughter as she mused, "Oh~? Are you thinking your mind is playing tricks on you? I was serious when I suggested we trained in our Hero costumes, you know~?"
Amazed by how quickly Hagakure's aura had changed, Izuku's feigned embarrassment gained a hint of authenticity as he ran his hand through his hair and replied, "I'm not sure that's a good idea...I certainly 'want' to, but it might cause some misunderstandings that could get us in trouble with the teachers and staff. Not to mention our classmates..."
Believing that Izuku might be a so-called 'sheep in wolf's clothing,' Hagakure felt a little emboldened, leaning forward in a way that nearly permitted him to see down her collar as she asserted, "It's fine. It's not like we'll be breaking any rules. We'll just be training. Just like we have for the past week..."
Resisting the urge to get a better vantage, Izuku replied, "If it's okay with you, I'm certainly not going to complain. I mean, this is a tremendous win from my point of view..."
Regaining a bit of her timidity, Hagakure fixed her posture, hands linked behind her back as she avoided Izuku's gaze and responded, "Then we'll start tomorrow. I need to...prepare my heart a bit..."
Without waiting for Izuku's response, Hagakure turned around and ran away. They hadn't even started training yet, so this placed Izuku in a somewhat awkward position. Fortunately, it wasn't like he was without options, so after a moment of consideration, he decided to make his way to the Development Studio. There were a lot of Support students present since it was a school day, but each had a designated workstation to avoid mishaps, sabotage, or theft of work. Izuku happened to share Mei's, much to the chagrin of her many cynics and admirers, so the two spent the afternoon 'making babies,' stopping only when Power Loader kicked them out and told them to go home...
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True to her word, Hagakure showed up to training the next day in her Hero costume. More accurately, she showed up in the version that ditched her gloves and boots for 'maximum stealth proficiency,' nearly catching Izuku by surprise if not for his [Keen Senses] Perk.
Interrupting Hagakure's attempts to sneak up behind him and pointlessly cover his eyes with her hands, Izuku turned around, staring at the empty space where he presumed her face was located as he asked, "Hagakure-san? Is that you...?"
Thinking for a moment that Izuku could see her, Hagakure covered her body with her hands, blushing across her entire body as she asked, "H-How did you know it was me?"
Tilting his head slightly, Izuku pointed to the padded flooring below and said, "I could hear you approach, and your feet leave indentations in the matting. Now that we're this close, I can also smell your conditioner. Did you take a shower before coming to meet up...?"
"..."
Slowly lowering her hands, not that Izuku could see them, Hagakure's expression became slightly accusatory as she remarked, "You have really good senses..."
"Thanks," replied Izuku. "As aspiring Heroes, it's important for us to be aware of our surroundings. Yours is the most comprehensive I've heard of, but you're not the only one with an Invisibility Quirk. Besides, I was really looking forward to this, so it's impossible for me not to notice you approaching."
Feeling a little better, Hagakure regained a hint of her usually bubbly personality as she moved a little closer to Izuku and asked, "Were you reeeeeeally looking forward to this? Is being in the presence of a naked girl all it takes to excite you~?"
Waving his hand dismissively, Izuku asserted, "You aren't just any girl, Hagakure-san. You're my classmate, and I'm still one hundred percent convinced you're one of, if not the cutest girl in our Class."
"..."
Moving even closer to Izuku, Hagakure's tone was inordinately faint as she asked, "But how can you be sure without confirming it? Go ahead...so long as it's just my face, I don't mind if you touch me..."
Blinking in surprise, Izuku asked, "Seriously...?" in a similarly hushed tone. Hagakure nodded in response, but realizing Izuku couldn't see her, she softly replied, "It's fine...I want you to know what I really look like, even if it's just a vague impression through touch..."
Swallowing the knot that had formed in his throat, Izuku extended his hand, not realizing how close Hagakure was standing to him. As a result, the tips of his fingers pushed against something 'very' soft, causing a faint but startled "Ah...!" to emanate from Hagakure's throat.
Retracting his hand as if he had just touched a hot burner, Izuku's eyes widened as he internally exclaimed ("Well, that was fucking stupid!") in his mind. Fortunately, Hagakure wasn't discouraged by the very unexpected mishap. Instead, she surprised him by grasping his hand with her own and saying, "Here, I'll guide you..." in a nearly inaudible tone.
Overwhelmed by the surrealness of the situation, Izuku became stock still as Hagakure guided his hand along the contours of her face. As she did, a vague impression of her features appeared in Izuku's mind, aided by his Intelligence. However, this vague impression was more than enough to confirm what Izuku had heard in his previous life. Hagakure truly was an extraordinarily stunning young woman...she was also very warm, almost hot to the touch...
Finished with her face, Hagakure hesitated for a moment before guiding Izuku's hand down her throat, stopping just above her collarbone as she nervously inquired, "Well...what do you think?"
Voicing his honest thought aloud, Izuku unhesitantly affirmed, "You're beautiful..." in a sincere tone.
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Perhaps because they didn't face off against the Villains directly, the event where the members of Class 1-B appeared to confront Class 1-A never happened. A few people came by during lunch to ask about what happened, but they departed fairly quickly after learning Class 1-A had evacuated before the fighting started.
In the wake of their uneventful lunch, Yaoyorozu asked everyone to fill out the schedules and request forms Aizawa had provided before heading off for their training. After that, true to the school's doctrine of 'freedom,' they basically had an entire month of afternoon classes to utilize as they pleased.
As he was still waiting for the 'assistant' Nezu had prepared for him, Izuku did the opposite of nearly every other student in Class 1-A by partaking in the optional Foundational Heroics course. Midnight was scheduled to give a presentation on Positive Public Relations, so Izuku figured he could earn some brownie points with the hottest teacher in the school by attending.
Unfortunately, not that Izuku was too surprised, Midnight's lecture was an open class, so nearly a hundred, predominately male students showed up. As a result, he was just another face in the crowd while the buxom beauty went on about the importance of networking, team-ups, and public image. This was especially true for aspiring male Heroes, as they made up nearly 85% of active Heroes. In other words, they had a lot of competition if they wanted to stand out...
Following the hour-and-a-half lecture, Midnight invited everyone for an impromptu meet and greet, allowing attendees to either shake her hand or have something signed by her. Izuku had no interest in being a part of the 'rabble,' however, so he was among the first to depart the auditorium.
With nothing better to do, Izuku made his way back to Class 1-A to see if anyone was loitering around. Odds were that they were preparing for the Sports Festival, but it didn't hurt to take a look. What he never, not in a million years, expected was to walk in on Mineta in the midst of sniffing Yaoyorozu's seat in the dark...
Not expecting anyone to walk in when the lights were dimmed, Mineta stared back at Izuku like a deer caught in the headlights. He had done his best to restrain himself after his expulsion, but the sudden appearance of Villains at USJ had reminded him that life was full of surprises. You never knew when the grim reaper would come to collect his dues, so he decided to remain true to himself, even if others couldn't understand him.
Catching Mineta by surprise, Izuku shook his head, exhaling a tired sigh as he said, "Whatever, man. Just wipe it down when you're finished, and don't let me catch you harassing our classmates directly."
Without waiting for Mineta's response, Izuku closed the door and walked away with his hands in his pockets. He would be lying if he said he wasn't appalled by Mineta's behavior, but he had once witnessed a fellow Soldier using the corpse of an insurgent as a tire stop. People did some crazy shit when they reached their limits and felt extreme pressure, so he wouldn't say anything unless Mineta attempted some of the antics he pulled in the anime.
Stopping Izuku before he could get too far, Mineta emerged from the classroom with an indignant expression and watery eyes as he exclaimed, "You don't have the right to judge me! You don't know what it's like being half the height of everyone else and treated as a pervert!"
Furrowing his brows, Izuku looked over his shoulder and replied, "I don't know what you experienced in your past, but the reason people treat you as a pervert is because you 'are' one. Also, I'm not judging you. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and hoping you'll correct yourself before you do something stupid. You wouldn't be here if the Principal and staff didn't believe you had what it takes to become a Hero. Remember that the next time you feel compelled to do something so...shameless..."
Finished with what he had to say, Izuku turned around, raising his hand in farewell as he walked off. Mineta had a number of reeding moments in the anime, so he wouldn't go out of his way to get the diminutive grape-head expelled. At least until he crossed a line he shouldn't...
Staring at Izuku's back, Mineta wanted to tear the sticky, grape-like balls from his head and teach the former a lesson. Instead, his anger gradually gave way to an oppressive feeling of shame. It wasn't enough to prevent him from returning to the classroom, but he at least had second thoughts and made sure to give Yaoyorozu's seat a thorough cleaning...
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With Nezu's arrangements taking longer than anticipated, Izuku elected to spend Saturday afternoon at the school's state-of-the-art gym. There, alongside an assortment of standard training equipment, they had free weights up to 10,000kgs, a specialized hydraulic press that could measure lifting forces ten times that amount, and a treadmill that simulated pulling up to six train cars.
Though his initial plan was to train alongside Shoji, Ojiro, and Sato, Izuku changed his mind when he noticed a familiar figure hanging from one of the horizontal bars. It was more accurate to say he noticed their clothes, but that was semantics.
Disregarding the unwritten rules about not approaching women keeping to themselves at the gym, Izuku made his way over to the dangling figure, asking, "Hey, Hagakure-san. Trying to get some gains in before the Sports Festival...?"
Hearing Izuku's voice, Hagakure exhaled a started, "Eep!' as she abruptly let go of the bar. She had specifically gone to a part of the gym where no one else was, so she didn't expect someone to sneak up behind her while she was focused on her dead hang.
Resisting the urge to try and catch Hagakure as she fell, Izuku waited for her to plop on the thick blue mat beneath her before offering his hand, an apologetic smile on his face as he said, "Sorry if I startled you. I noticed you were training by yourself, so I thought I'd come over to see how you were doing."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Hagakure accepted Izuku's help, rising to her feet before asserting, "You could have called out to me..." in an audibly pouty tone. She was usually the one to startle people, so she was a little annoyed Izuku had gotten the drop on her.
In response to Izuku's previous question, Hagakure took a moment to fix her gym clothes as she begrudgingly explained, "I placed 19th in the last Quirk Apprehension Test, just above Mineta-kun. I don't want to remain at the bottom of the Class, so I decided to work on my strength and stamina in preparation for the Sports Festival."
"Ah, I see..." replied Izuku. Then, with a genuinely curious look, he asked, "Have you ever trained like this before?"
Rubbing the back of her invisible head and smiling awkwardly, Hagakure replied, "Not really. I was a part of the Cheer Squad in Middle School, but this is my first time hitting the gym seriously. Why, was I doing something wrong?"
Shaking his head, Izuku answered, "Nah, I was just curious. And, once again, sorry for before. I didn't mean to startle you."
Finished with what he had to say, Izuku motioned as if he was about to leave. Before he could, Hagakure called out to him, asking, "Hey, where are you going? Didn't you come over here because you wanted to train together or offer me advice?"
Looking back at the invisible girl, Izuku regained his smile as he replied, "As I said, I was just curious. Seeing a girl's gym uniform hovering in the air was pretty conspicuous, so I came over to confirm it was you. Now that I know, I'll leave you to your business. Just let me know if you need anything."
Raising his hand, Izuku turned as if to leave but was once again stopped by Hagakure, this time grabbing his sleeve as she muttered, "You have a slim and athletic body, so you must know a few training methods. Teach me some of them..."
Turning to face the presumably blushing girl, Izuku's smile broadened as he teased, "If you're the one who's asking, I don't mind disclosing all of my secrets. Just tell me what you want to improve upon, and I'll suggest a suitable exercise. Fair warning, though, I take my training pretty seriously. If you want my help, I expect you to make an effort."
Stamping her foot and balling her invisible hands into fists, Hagakure half-exclaimed, "I'm in the Hero Department too, you know!? I won't give up or slack off just because things are a little tough...!"
Nodding his head, Izuku replied, "Then I'd be glad to teach you. Though, considering we're rivals in the upcoming Sports Festival, I won't be here to watch over you every day. I have my own special training prepared, so this is just a temporary arrangement until then."
Prompted by the words 'special training,' Hagakure brought her right index finger to her chin, head tilted slightly to the side as she parroted, "Special training? Is it related to your Quirk...?"
Nodding a second time, Izuku explained, "It's supposed to be a secret, but I recently experienced a breakthrough that allows me to drastically enhance my physical capabilities for a short period. If I'm to have any hope of defeating Todoroki, I'll need to stabilize my power before then."
Blinking her invisible eyes in surprise, a faint smile developed across Hagakure's face as she linked her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly, asking, "It's a secret, huh? Does that mean you haven't told Ashido and the other girls~?"
Pretending he didn't know what Hagakure was getting at, Izuku shook his head, confirming, "Other than the Principal and a handful of our teachers, you're the only one who knows about it. Why?"
Shaking her head, though it was difficult to tell since Izuku could only see her clothes, Hagakure answered, "Oh, no reason. I was just curious. And don't worry, I won't reveal your secret to anyone. In exchange, you can't tell anyone you're helping me train. Okay?"
Raising his brows, Izuku pointed out, "I don't mind, but we're far from the only people using the gym. Anyone who looks over here, especially from our Class, will realize I'm lending you a hand."
"..."
With Hagakure remaining silent for several seconds, Izuku's expression became marginally concerned as he asked, "Hagakure-san...?"
Coming to her sense, Hagakure shook her head a second time, stating, "Forget it. Let's just focus on our training, and if anyone asks what we're up to, we'll feign ignorance. Sound good?"
Though he was certain there was something else Hagakure had wanted to say, Izuku didn't hesitate to respond, "Sounds good." Then, for the rest of the afternoon, he acquainted Hagakure with the very basics of strength and endurance training. What he didn't know, or at least pretended not to, was that, for a very brief moment, Hagakure had considered removing her clothes so that no one could see them training together...
...
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After what felt like an excessively long period of time, Izuku's first week at UA finally came to a close. However, while everyone else in Class 1-A was enjoying their single day off, he was half-awake, dragging his feet to campus in order to make use of the Support facilities.
Since his original ensemble had been met with mixed reception, the first project Izuku was planning to work on was a new Hero costume. He had yet to settle on a design, but he was considering something like Captain America's outfit from Avengers: End Game. Or, if he wanted something to compliment his hair and eyes, a variation of a Green Lantern's outfit...
With such thoughts in his mind, Izuku entered the Support Department's Development Studio, expecting to find it empty or occupied by one of the on-duty teachers. Instead, he encountered a girl with prominent, salmon-pink dreadlocks and unusual golden eyes reminiscent of crosshairs. More importantly, she was staring back at him in a black tube top and a black boilersuit whose upper half was half-tied around her waist...
Speaking before Izuku could regain his senses, the pink-haired girl said, "You're not supposed to be in here." in a flat, matter-of-fact tone of voice. However, when she noticed the briefcase-like tool case he was carrying, one of the most expensive on the market, her reticle-like eyes appeared to focus an excited grin blossomed across her face...
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Chapter 24: Chapter 24