BNHA: Singularity

While her father helped Toshinori get situated in a futuristic-looking diagnostic capsule, Melissa decided to make idle conversation with Izuku, asking, "So, Izuku, Uncle Might told me you graduated at the top of your class in middle school and even received a scholarship invitation to attend I-Island's Academy? You must really want to become a Hero if you chose to attend UA instead."
Nodding in affirmation, the corners of Izuku's smile curled upward as he mused, "You could argue it's the reason I was brought into this world. My only criticism is that half my day is spent taking classes that don't interest me, but that should change fairly soon."
Deciding to steer the conversation away from himself, Izuku met Melissa's gaze, startling her a bit as he said, "Let's not talk about me. Tell me about your research, Melissa. I've analyzed some of the patents you've filed. It's like glimpsing into the future."
Adopting a closed-eye smile, Melissa replied, "That's sweet of you to say, Izuku, but my inventions are nowhere near as advanced as my father's. In fact, a lot of what I've accomplished is thanks to his guidance."
Exhaling a faintly exasperated sigh, David elected to join in the discussion from across the room, stating, "My daughter is very humble. If I had even a fraction of her talent as a child, I'd be doing most of my research from a laboratory on Mars right about now. Instead...no, forget about it..."
Noticing the frustration in his old friend's eyes, Toshinori remarked, "This isn't like you, Dave. Don't tell me middle age has mellowed out that flame of passion that used to burn so brightly in our youths?"
Adopting a somewhat wistful smile, David replied, "It's as you said, Toshi. No man can live eternally. I haven't given up on my dreams, but the older I get, the more I realize it will be my daughter's generation, perhaps even the one after that, that realizes them."
Since he was presumably the only person that didn't know, Izuku asked, "What's your dream, Professor?"
Turning to meet Izuku's gaze, David's expression softened as he replied, "My goal&ndash;no, my duty as a father and a scientist is to ensure the survival and propagation of humanity into perpetuity. Most of my peers have given up on space colonization due to Quirk Factors breaking down after exiting Earth's magnetic field for long periods, but I'm convinced there's a way to strengthen and preserve them. It's just that..."
Deflating visibly, David revealed, "The Board of Directors has recently pulled funding and support for my research due to the 'danger' it poses to an already unstable society. With the recent events in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, I honestly can't blame them..."
Raising his brows, Toshinori asked, "What's happening in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East? I haven't heard anything of note. Well, beyond the usual turf wars and civil uprisings."
"That doesn't surprise me," replied David. "Those at the highest level of stateship are working hard to keep things under wraps to avoid causing a panic. But it's only a matter of time before they start calling Heroes to the frontlines to try and keep things under control."
Shaking his head in exasperation, David's expression became serious as he revealed, "A phenomenon we've dubbed 'Meta World Transversal' has been occurring near locations of great historical value. Beings that once only appeared in myths and legends from antiquity have begun to emerge from breaches in space-time that seemingly link to other worlds. The first breach occurred in the lands that were once Mesopotamia, but more and more have been appearing over time, presumably following the spread of human civilization."
Hearing David's revelation, Izuku's body tensed, his expression freezing into an unblinking smile. The notion of beings crossing over from other worlds wasn't anything new to him. After all, he had transmigrated into the world of Boku no Hero Academia after dying in his original. However, even if he lowered his Intelligence to the single digits, Izuku would be able to understand that this 'Meta World Transversal' phenomenon must be related to the 'Convergence' mentioned by Kruagnosis...
All but confirming Izuku's suspicion that he was dealing with a 'Gate Break' scenario, David added, "Fortunately, we quickly discovered that eliminating all the creatures within a breach would cause it to collapse a few hours later, expelling anyone who remained inside. This curious thing is what happened to the people who entered the breaches and fought the creatures directly. Once they emerged, each of them could see something called a 'Status Window,' indicating their Level and personal attributes like the Heads-Up Display of a Virtual Reality game."
Similar to Izuku, Toshinori's expression and smile promptly froze when he heard David's casual addendum. Then, as if the two were in sync with one another, Izuku's and Toshinori's gazes met, an awkward silence pervading the lab, prompting David to confusedly ask, "What's wrong? As outlandish as it might sound, I'm speaking the truth. If you don't believe me, you will once breaches begin appearing in China, Korea, and Japan. We still don't know who or what is causing them, so it's forecasted to become a global phenomenon within the next two years."
Since he doubted David was lying to them, Izuku bit the bullet to reveal, "It's because of my Quirk, Digitalization. It grants me access to a Status Window that is remarkably similar to what you've just disclosed. That, and other things..."
Opening his eyes in surprise, it was David's turn to express disbelief as he asked, "Is that the truth? You possess a Quirk that allows you to see your Status? And you've had it since you were a child...?"
"..."
"..."
Removing the burden from Izuku, Toshinori exhaled an awkward laugh and said, "Allow me to explain, my friend..." before recounting everything that had transpired over the past three months, sans the parts related to One-for-All...
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..
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After listening to Toshinori's explanation, David couldn't help muttering, "Fascinating..." with an intrigued look on his face. "However, I don't think there is a direct correlation between the awakening of our friend's Quirk and the breaches that have begun to appear. At the very least, no more than any other Quirk."
Before anyone could ask, David went on to explain, "The leading theory we have, at least for the time being, is that 'all' Quirks originate from the worlds these breaches connect to. Many Quirks defy our understanding of the Laws of Physics. This is especially true among Emitters, who, more often than not, produce far more energy than their bodies should be able to contain. Matter and energy cannot simply be created from nothing, so it stands to reason that it must come from 'somewhere.'"
Cupping his chin with his index and thumb, David added, "There is also the theory that we are living within a simulated reality. However, as a man of science and someone who strives to ensure the survival of humanity, I cannot in good conscience accept such a possibility. Such a reality would be a dead end, as it would imply we are little more than programs or, even worse, individuals that have placed ourselves within this setting to escape reality. I cannot accept such a premise as it would undermine everything I have ever done or experienced..."
Having experienced more than his fair share of tragedies, including the loss of his parents and wife, David refused to believe in the possibility a version of himself had 'chosen' his current life. If he woke up one day and learned that his parents, wife, and daughter were strangers who had been playing roles assigned to them, even unwittingly, he would break...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, David regained a somewhat forced smile and said, "We've digressed quite a bit from the reason we've come here. For the time being, please get inside the diagnostic capsule, Toshi. We can discuss the topic of the breaches and our young friend's possible association with them later."
Nodding his head, Toshinori replied, "Sounds good." before lying in the capsule and securing his breathing mask while David made his way over to his computer, initializing the deep-body diagnostic process. As he did so, the capsule began filling with a viscous liquid before Toshinori's vital information and various data streams appeared on its surface...
While her father was busy analyzing Toshinori's data with a growing smile on his face, Melissa shuffled closer to Izuku, leaning toward him with her hands behind her back as she asked, "Hey, Izuku, are you perhaps able to invite me to your Party...?" in a hushed tone.
Nodding in affirmation, Izuku, standing with his arms crossed and observing the date on David's monitor, replied, "It's possible..." in an equally faint tone.
Adopting a bright smile, Melissa caught Izuku a little off guard as she said, "Hey, Papa, I'm going to show Izuku around for a bit. Want me to bring you back some coffee?"
Without tearing his eyes from his monitor, David gave a curt nod as he replied, "Sure thing, honey. Just make sure to return within the next half hour, okay?"
"Okay~" replied Melissa. Then, pulling Izuku's hand, she dragged him out of the lab and into the connecting hallway before adopting an apologetic smile and explaining, "Sorry about that. My Papa doesn't like me hanging around boys, so he might get a little upset if he saw us acting too friendly. I'm already seventeen, and I've never even been on a date before."
Extending her hand as if she were asking for a handshake, Melissa added, "Anyways, can you invite me to your Party? You don't have to if you don't want, but I promised Uncle Might I would help and support you. I assume being in the same Party will help with that."
"You're not wrong," replied Izuku, accepting Melissa's hand before asking, "Melissa Shield, would you like to join my Party?"
Narrowing her eyes into a breathtaking smile, Melissa replied, "Of course!" in a bubbly tone. As she did, her Status promptly appeared in front of her face, causing her blue eyes to sparkle as she softly exclaimed, "Wow, this really is like wearing a VR headset! The only things that're missing are the Health, Stamina, and MP bars!"
While inspecting her Status, Melissa's curiosity and excitement continued to increase until she noticed her Title and its effects. Izuku saw it as well, but as he wasn't the one to assign Titles, he could only smile wryly as the excitement on Melissa's face became somewhat awkward...
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Name: [Melissa Shield]
Title: Pleasantly Plump Pioneer(Vitality, Intelligence, Dexterity +20)
Quirk: N/A
Bond Level: 88
Current Level: 13
Effective Level: 53
[Attributes]
Strength: 13
Agility: 10
Vitality: 61
Intelligence: 258
Dexterity: 58
Luck: 199
Free Attributes: 65
[Perks]
Party Invitation Required
------------------------
"Is this what you think of me, Izuku?" asked Melissa, combing back her fringe bangs with a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Closing his eyes and exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Izuku replied, "I would be lying if I said it wasn't. However, based on what I've been able to gather, the Titles assigned to people are a combination of how I view them and how they see themselves. I don't get to decide what they are, nor the effects they provide..."
"I...I see..." replied Melissa, feeling even more awkward at the insinuation she believed herself to be 'pleasantly plump.' If anything, she was a little self-conscious about her weight, often going on a diet after measuring her bust, waist, and hips, finding them much larger than she would have liked...
("Well, at least the bonuses are pretty good...") thought Melissa, consoling herself with the notion her Vitality and Dexterity had effectively increased by 50%. The boost to her Intelligence was also quite remarkable, but until she sat down and tried to build or design something, she wouldn't know how effective the increases were. As such, she inadvertently left Izuku at a complete and utter loss for words by asking, "Hey, you want to go to my room?"
...
..
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After showing Izuku to her room, an embarrassed smile developed across Melissa's face as she said, "Pardon the mess...". Her room wasn't actually disorganized, but as she had left some of her tools out and a half-finished invention on her desk, it wasn't as clean as it could have been.
Raising his brows, Izuku remarked, "It looks neat and tidy, though? You're a very organized woman..."
As Melissa used an insulated foam organization pad, keeping all her tools in tiny cutouts that perfectly conformed to their profile, there was nothing messy about her room. Her bed was made to a standard that would make a Drill Sergeant swell with pride, and all the projects she was working on or had finished were stored in neatly organized and labeled lock boxes...
"Thanks for the compliment," replied Melissa, smiling even though she believed Izuku was simply being nice. Then, after calling up her Status Window and giving it a quick once-over, she asked, "So, you're able to distribute a person's Free Attribute Points to help them get stronger and assign them Quirk-like 'Perks,' right? I'm starting to get excited..."
Adopting a somewhat sad smile, Melissa looked to Izuku as she revealed, "You probably already noticed it, but I'm part of the twenty percent of the population born without a Quirk. I've always dreamed of having one, even something as simple as my father's Squirmy Fingers, so thank you, Izuku. Thank you for allowing me to join your Party...even if it came with a pretty embarrassing Title..."
Shaking his head, Izuku adopted a faint smile as he replied, "I wouldn't have been able to invite you to my Party if you didn't trust me. Your Level and the amount of Free Attributes you possess are also the direct results of your training and effort. I'm just helping you to tap into your potential..."
"You really are humble," mused Melissa, exhaling a soft giggle before moving over to Izuku, standing closer than necessary as he helped her allocate her AP and select her Perks...
------------------------
Name: [Melissa Shield]
Title: Pleasantly Plump Pioneer(Vitality, Intelligence, Dexterity +20)
Quirk: N/A
Bond Level: 95
Current Level: 13
Effective Level: 53
[Attributes]
Strength: 13-&gt;20
Agility: 10-&gt;20
Vitality: 61-&gt;100
Intelligence: 258
Dexterity: 58-&gt;67
Luck: 199
Free Attributes: 0
[Perks]
[Healthy Body], [Breakthrough], [Prodigy]
&nbsp;
 [Healthy Body]: The user always feels mentally and physically refreshed. Drastically increases the functions of the immune system.
&nbsp;
 [Breakthrough]: Eureka! Focuses mental energies to make even the most difficult of problems a cinch.
&nbsp;
 [Prodigy]: Doubles Experience gains. Half as effective when in Experience Sharing range.
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"Oh, wow..." muttered Melissa, her face turning a little red as she hugged her body and embarrassedly remarked, "I didn't anticipate that having my attributes increased would feel so...pleasant..."
"That's normal when basically double your physical attributes," explained Izuku. "Healthy Body also ensures you feel refreshed, kind of like being on a Runner's High twenty-four/seven. It's not perfect, though, so don't overwork yourself. The effects diminish considerably when your Vitality dips below 50% of its base value."
"I'll keep that in mind..." replied Melissa, rubbing her cheeks to try and ease some of the tension and heat building within them. She really did feel amazing, so much so that she felt the urge to run around and scream at the top of her lungs, almost like someone who had just won the lottery.
After calming herself down, Melissa smiled from ear to ear as she said, "Well then, let's see just how effective the increase in my Strength and Agility are..."
Moving over to her workbench, Melissa picked up the heaviest wrench present, her eyes sparkling with excitement as it felt much, much lighter than normal. At the same time, Izuku explained, "Though it varies a little from person to person, largely depending on how much Vitality they have, each point of Strength approximates 5kgs of flat lifting power. You can lift around 20-30% more if you really push yourself, but the greater the strain, the faster your Vitality will decrease."
"So I can lift between 100 and 130kgs?" asked Melissa, her eyes widening at the notion she could lift more than twice her body weight.
Nodding in affirmation, Izuku answered, "Yeah, but try not to invest too many points into your physical attributes in the future. I know you wanted to test it out, but it's possible to acquire around 50 points in Strength and 40 points in Agility with physical conditioning. Most of the girls in my class went from 10-15 Strength to 30+ in just three months, so you should have no trouble doing the same."
Smiling awkwardly, Melissa wryly remarked, "I could stand to lose a bit of weight..."
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "Training might help you slim down, but it will cause you to gain weight in the form of muscles. But that's beside the point. No one with a functioning brain would consider you fat, so try not to be too critical of yourself. There's a reason your father wants to keep guys away from you...quite a few, in fact..."
"Really...?" asked Melissa, combing back the hair on the right side of her face as she added, "Like what...?"
Holding up his hands like a child counting, Izuku used his fingers as he listed off, "You're beautiful, bespectacled, smart, fairly tall, incredibly busty, have a big butt, remarkably plump thighs, a good sense of style, limitless prospects, strong connections, and functionally endless wealth. You're essentially a holy grail in human form."
Not expecting such heavy praise, Melissa's mind momentarily drew a blank as she stared back at Izuku with a practiced smile. She expected him to simply say she was cute, maybe a little thick around the bottom, not list off all the things that made her a prize for whoever managed to 'obtain' her. It was gratifying, in a way, but incredibly awkward...
As Izuku had mentioned her glasses, Melissa pretended to ignore the rest of what he had said, asking, "Do you like girls who wear glasses, Izuku...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Izuku replied, "I do, but I'd rather not get into the reasons why. Instead, why don't you show me some of the support items you've been concocting here in your room? I'd also like to know how your pogo stick transforms into a watch. I've never seen anything like it."
"Oh, this?" asked Melissa, holding up the watch on her left wrist, smiling radiantly as she explained, "It's not just a pogo stick. It can transform into a variety of different support items, depending on the need of the user. As for how it works, how knowledgeable are you on Quantum State Memory, Photokinetic Conversion, and Atomic Shrinking technologies?"
"Never even heard of them," admitted Izuku, a wry smile marring his face as he imagined how different things might have been if he had become a student at I-Island Academy...
Adopting a far more earnest, unabashedly keen expression, Izuku added, "But I'd really like to. Can you teach me?"
Though she felt a little awkward when she heard Izuku's initial response, believing she might have embarrassed him inadvertently, Melissa beamed when he asked her to teach him. She didn't know much outside her fields of expertise, so she worried that things would become awkward once she and Izuku ran out of things to discuss. Fortunately, Izuku seemed to have a genuine interest in her work and the development of support items, two subjects she could prattle about endlessly...
...
..
.
As Izuku and Melissa were nearly an hour late in returning, David had a conflicted, slightly disproving look as he asked, "Where have the two of you been? Toshi and I have been waiting for some time..."
Leaping to his young protege's aid, Toshinori exhaled a barrel-chested laugh, smacking David's back as he exclaimed, "Come now, Dave! You know better than anyone how easy it is to lose track of time! Let's not be too hard on the young ones!"
Though he furrowed his brows and cast a scrutinizing look Izuku's way, David decided not to press the issue. He and Toshinori had just spent the last hour discussing the possibility of Melissa relocating to Musutafu and becoming a Teacher's Assistant in the Support Department. Melissa had more than enough credits to graduate, and David knew she would have much more freedom conducting research within UA than if she stayed on I-Island. After all, even he, the so-called 'Greatest Inventor in the World,' was heavily restricted by the Board of Directors.
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, David forced a smile as he replied, "You're right, Toshi. As much as I wish it weren't the case, Melissa isn't a child anymore. I should trust her more..."
"Now there's the Dave I remember!" exclaimed Toshinori, giving his friend another firm pat on the back. The David he remembered was an incredibly free-spirited, borderline romantic optimist. The loss of his wife and joining I-Island's community of scientists had done a number on him, turning him from an idealist without fear of rebuke to a pragmatist bound by structure and bureaucracy. From Toshinori's viewpoint, it was heartbreaking to see the man his best friend had become...even more so since he hadn't been present to prevent it...
Not allowing himself to brood, Toshinori added, "Anyways, now that we're all together again, how about we grab a bite to eat? I'm feeling famished after our seven-and-a-half-hour flight, and I've been dying to try I-Island cuisine. I've heard it's among the best in the entire world!"
Nodding in affirmation, David replied, "You've heard correctly. Thanks to several advancements in the study of food-related Quirks and molecular gastronomy, there are restaurants on the island that can serve just about anything you can imagine. Quite literally, in some cases."
"Then what are we waiting for!?" shouted Toshinori before ushering the entire group out of the lab. A few minutes later, he wasn't the only one surprised when David showed them to a restaurant that had you attach brain-scanning electrodes to your head to determine precisely what you were most craving. Then, using a machine comparable to the 'Replicator' from Star Trek, it produced dishes that perfectly suited your preferences. For Toshinori, this was a family-sized bucket of fried chicken, while Izuku, somewhat amusingly, received a perfectly marbled pork butt. Fortunately, while it had 'butt' in the name, the cut came from a pig's shoulder, not its ass...
...
..
.
With David and Toshinori having a lot of catching up to do, Melissa took it upon herself to give Izuku a tour of I-Island and its futuristic facilities. At least, that's what she planned until they entered the Academy's Exhibition Hall, encountering a group of girls in their Hero Costumes. Melissa initially didn't pay them any mind, but that quickly changed when one of the girls, &nbsp;wearing a pink and dark-blue costume with oversized boots and peculiar pink attachments on her wrists, perked up, waving her arm as she called out, "There you are, Izuku! Over here...!"
Blinking in surprise, Melissa asked, "Do you know these girls? Are they your classmates...?"
"They're more than that," replied Izuku, a wry smile developing across his face as he subsequently revealed, "They're my girlfriends..."
Opening her eyes wide, Melissa parroted, "They...?" before asking, "As in, all six of them...?"
Nodding his head, Izuku, while leading the way over to the girls, replied, "It's complicated, but yes, all six of them. And they aren't the only ones..."
Though Rumi had never acknowledged being his girlfriend, Izuku chose to believe they shared an unbreakable bond. Mei had also made it clear she intended to stay with him indefinitely, so while it was still a 'secret' from his male classmates, Izuku felt obligated to share the truth with Melissa. He got the impression she was beginning to crush on him pretty hard, so before things could get out of hand, he intended to make it very clear he wasn't the best boyfriend material for someone who wanted a traditional relationship. If she continued to crush on him after that, well...the girls did permit her as an 'exception'...
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..
.

[July 20th, 2149]
With the closing ceremony wrapping up and Summer Break officially beginning, Izuku found himself on a private jet with All Might, watching a movie as they made their way to I-Island.
Though it was called an island, I-Island was actually a floating, fortress-like city that constantly moved around to make it difficult for villains and foreign nations who desired their advanced technology to invade. Access to the island was heavily controlled, so much so that if you didn't have an invitation, attempting to get near it could be seen as a violation of several international treaties.
Upon reaching the island, Izuku and Toshinori were required to pass numerous security checkpoints. Even someone as famous as 'All Might,' who was personal friends with one of I-Island's most influential figures, needed to have his body scanned, biometric data recorded, and even his blood drawn before they were given temporary passes to enter the city.&nbsp;
Fortunately, Toshinori's status wasn't without its benefits, allowing him and Izuku to pass through the various security checkpoints much faster than ordinary guests. They were even issued Level 5 identification cards, permitting access to even the most restricted areas within the city so long as they had an escort.
Unfortunately, while they were able to pass through security a lot faster than normal, one of I-Island's concierges immediately recognized 'All Might,' her reaction drawing a large crowd that delayed them for nearly a full hour before they managed to free themselves...
...
..
.
Striking a pose with lipstick covering his face and various parts of his body, Toshinori gave a barrel-chested laugh before saying, "Sorry about that, Izuku, my boy! I didn't anticipate such an enthusiastic welcome from the island's staff! Things were a bit more 'serious' when I came here a few years back!"
Adopting a wry smile, Izuku pointed out, "Well, you are one of the most famous Heroes in the world. But I have to ask...is your Crises Awareness not triggering? My Intuition has been going off ever since we started our approach..."
"Hmmm..."
Though he maintained his smile, Toshinori's expression and tone became serious as he crossed his arms and asked, "Didn't you previously mention that your Intuition triggers in anticipation of both good and bad events? Are you sure you aren't just nervous about our forthcoming meeting with Dave and his daughter, Melissa?"
Feeling more at ease, Izuku's smile relaxed as he replied, "You're probably right. Just don't go overboard trying to set up Melissa and me, okay? Even if the girls are strangely okay with it, I 'am' engaged..."
Though he exhaled another barrel-chested, hands-on-his-hips laugh, a bead of sweat ran down the left side of Toshinori's face. Melissa was the one to invite him to the I-Island Expo, so he had been in correspondence with her for the past month and a half. During that time, he had talked up Izuku quite a bit...perhaps a little too much...
*boing* *boing* *boing*
Hearing the almost cartoonish sound of spring being compressed and released, Izuku and Toshinori shifted their gazes to the top of a nearby set of stairs. What they saw was a beautiful, bespectacled girl with long blonde hair making her way toward them, her sizeable breasts bouncing up and down as she approached them on what appeared to be a pogo stick...
"There you are, Uncle! It's so good to see you~!" exclaimed the girl, beaming from ear to ear as she executed one final bounce, covering nearly twenty meters as she leaped at Toshinori. The latter caught her without issue, spinning around several times as he returned the notably 'thiccc' girl's embrace.
Though he couldn't help taking notice of Melissa's body, the thing that caught Izuku's eye was her pogo stick. The moment she leaped through the air, the crimson apparatus turned into light particles, transforming into a bracelet around the girl's wrist in the blink of an eye.
("How the hell does that even work...?") wondered Izuku, unable to keep a look of intrigue from his face. It was said that the technology of I-Island was at least fifty, possibly even a hundred years more advanced than the rest of the world, but he couldn't wrap his head around a mechanism that could turn what appeared to be a 5-10kg pogo stick into a wrist that could be worn on a fairly ordinary girl's wrist...
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Name: [Melissa Shield]
Title: Party Invitation Required
Quirk: Squirmy Fingers
Bond Level: 88
Current Level: 13
Effective Level: 53
[Attributes]
Strength: 13
Agility: 10
Vitality: 41
Intelligence: 238
Dexterity: 38
Luck: 199
Free Attributes: 65
[Perks]
Party Invitation Required
------------------------
Seeing Melissa's status, Izuku couldn't help thinking ("Jesus Christ...talk about min-maxing. And that Bond Level...just what did Broshinori tell her about me...?")
When Toshinori eventually set her down, Melissa finally acknowledged Izuku's presence, a hint of intrigue visible within her pure blue eyes as she said, "You must be Izuku Midoriya. Though, seeing how you're in your Her Costume, I suppose I should call you Paragon? Uncle Might has told me all about you."
Returning a smile of his own, Izuku retorted, "Hopefully not 'everything' while directing a sidelong glance at Toshinori..."
While Toshinori covered his mouth to stifle a cough, Melissa exhaled a soft chuckle before extending her hand to say, "Mostly good things, that much I can assure you. Either way, it's really nice to meet you, Midoriya-kun. I'm Melissa Shield."
Reciprocating Melissa's handshake, Izuku replied, "Likewise. I've been following your father's research since middle school, so it's an honor to meet his daughter. From what I hear, you're even more talented than he was at the same age."
Adopting a slightly awkward smile, Melissa replied, "Well, I did have the benefit of having David Shield as my father. I've worked hard to attain my current status as the top student in I-Island Academy, but I still have a ways to go before I can distinguish myself as more than just my father's daughter."
"Nonsense," said Toshinori. "You've already become a fine young lady, Melissa. I'm sure&ndash;no, I know your father is proud of you. It doesn't matter what others think. So long as you continue pushing forward and following your dreams, you are already walking your own path."
"Thanks, Uncle Might," replied Melissa, beaming radiantly as she combed a few stray hairs behind her ear. Then, as she was essentially their liaison, she began providing them a tour-guide-like overview of I-Island's various features while leading the way to her father's lab...
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..
.
As neither his daughter nor Toshinori had informed him of the latter's impending visit, David Shield, a bespectacled, middle-aged man with an average build, notable wrinkles on his forehead, messy brown hair, a short goatee, deep tear troughs, and distinct nose, had a look of disbelief on his face as he muttered, "Toshi...?"
------------------------
Name: [David Alexander Shield]
Title: Party Invitation Required
Quirk: N/A
Bond Level: 49
Current Level: 20
Effective Level: 62
[Attributes]
Strength: 17
Agility: 14
Vitality: 58
Intelligence: 313
Dexterity: 82
Luck: 143
Free Attributes: 100
[Perks]
Party Invitation Required
------------------------
Spreading his arms wide, Toshinori responded by striking one of his more iconic poses and shouting, "Yes, it is I, trembling with emotion due to our heartfelt reunion!"
"No way..." muttered David, his glasses nearly slipping from his face as a fat, balding man behind him began to sweat nervously.
"Yes, way!" shouted Toshinori, rushing forward to pick up and spin David just as he had Melissa. "I came all this way to see you, old friend! Tell me, how have you been these past few years!?"
With Toshinori setting him on the ground, David continued to stare at him with a look of disbelief, barely managing to utter, "I'm good..." in a wistful, notably dazed tone.
"Is that so?" asked Toshinori, hands on his hips as he teased, "You look like you've aged twenty years in the past ten. Have you not been eating well and exercising properly?"
Regaining a bit of his faculties, David adopted a wry smile, extending his hand so that Toshinori could help him rise as he replied, "You know how it is, Toshi. I get so caught up in my research that I forget everything else. If I didn't have Melissa and Sam here to look after me, I would spend half my time in the hospital from overworking."
Dabbing the sweat from his forehead, the aforementioned Sam nervously appended, "You exaggerate, Professor...also, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, All Might. Professor Shield is constantly going on about how amazing you were in your glory days..."
Holding up and waggling the index finger of his right hand, Toshinori's smile broadened as he replied, "I think you'll find I'm no less capable now than I was in my prime. In fact, I can almost guarantee it."
As Toshinori looked directly at him as he spoke, realization hit David like a gentle downpour after a protracted drought. His previous, somewhat forced smile became a lot more sincere, nearly rivaling the vibrancy of his daughter's as he exclaimed, "Could it be...!?" without making known what 'it' was.
Though he nodded in affirmation, Toshinori's verbal response was, "Can we speak in private?"
Without hesitation, David replied, "Yes, yes, of course!" before turning to his assistant, adding, "Sam, why don't you take the rest of the day off? I'll see you this afternoon at the Expo."
While continuously dabbing the sweat from his face and forehead, Sam replied, "Of course, Professor..." before politely excusing himself. As he did so, David turned to Melissa and the as-of-yet-to-be-introduced Izuku, intending to ask them to leave the room before Toshinori held up his hand and said, "The kids can stay. This concerns them as well."
Though he was a little confused by Toshinori's words, David trusted the former implicitly, regaining a smile as he replied, "Okay, then. Let's head to my private lab. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to scan your body before we talk."
Nodding in affirmation, Toshinori replied, "That's one of the reasons I came here." Then, half-turning to Izuku, he gestured for the latter to step forward, adding, "Before that, allow me to introduce you to my successor, Izuku Midoriya."
Hearing Toshinori refer to Izuku as his successor, David's eyes widened, a hint of panic appearing in his gaze as he questioned, "But...didn't you just say...?"
Nodding a third time, Toshinori clarified, "Worry not. I'm still as strong as ever, but no man lives eternally. I've decided to use my second chance to cultivate the future generation of Heroes. I'm sure you feel the same way about your daughter, Melissa, no?"
Regaining his smile, David replied, "You're right..." before shifting his gaze to Izuku and Melissa, focusing on the former as he asked, "So, you're the boy Toshi has chosen to succeed him as the Symbol of Peace? You must be quite the extraordinary young man."
Returning a slightly awkward smile, Izuku replied, "Your words honor me, Sir. I still have quite a ways to go before I can confidently refer to myself as extraordinary."
Smacking Izuku's back, Toshinori said, "Ever the humble one, aren't you? If you aren't extraordinary, I dare say there isn't a single special person in this world!"
Feeling a sudden and intense desire to remove himself from the situation, Izuku suggested, "I believe we should relocate before we continue this conversation any further..."
"Right you are," replied Toshinori, looking to David before adding, "Please, lead the way, my friend! I'm curious to see how your lab has transformed since my last visit!"
Though he had many questions about the situation, specifically intrigued to learn what made Izuku so 'special,' David suppressed his curiosity long enough to lead the way to his laboratory. His top priority was confirming Toshinori's condition, but as that process required placing him in a special capsule and analyzing his body to the very structure of its DNA, he would have ample time and opportunity to question Izuku directly...
...
..
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Chapter 84: Chapter 84