BNHA: Singularity

While the girls chatted and got to know each other over tea and fraps, Izuku sat alone, silently observing the residents of I-Island and the many Heroes who had traveled from afar to attend the I-Expo.
Though David had stated that the 'Meta World Transveral' phenomenon wouldn't reach global proportions for another two years, Japan and the other countries within the Southeast Asian circle had long histories rich with mythos and tradition. If Izuku had to guess, 'breaches' had already started appearing in China, but the government had kept it under wraps. There was no CCP in the world of Boku no Hero Academia, but as one of the countries that had tried to conquer the world following the emergence of Quirks, citing that the 'Golden Child' was the Mandate of Heaven, it had effectively become an isolationist nation in the wake of the Quirk Wars.
Assuming his guess was correct, Izuku suspected that breaches would appear in Japan within the next three to six months. After that, the Hero's Association of Japan might as well rename itself the Department of Gate Management or the Hunters Association, as there would be no way to prevent opportunistic individuals from accessing the randomly manifested gates.&nbsp;
As could be seen with existences like the 'Meta Liberation Army,' many people were desperate for the opportunity to use their Quirks without a license. If they learned there was a method to increase their power and earn a fortune by eradicating 'monsters' with their Quirks, such individuals would jump at the opportunity. And why shouldn't they? If breaches were occurring across the globe, potentially threatening the whole of humanity, closing them or slaughtering the monsters that came out was 'patriotism.'
Since it was impossible to prevent people from using the breaches to cultivate wealth and power, the Hero Association would need to take the initiative to send people inside to close them as quickly as possible. Izuku needed to ensure he was a part of this response force, so he would either need to get his Provisional Hero License as soon as possible or convince Nezu to let the students of the Hero Department actively assist in closing breaches.
Fortunately, as if everything had been planned, Izuku's first chance at receiving his Provisional Hero License was just around the corner, set to take place just before the start of the second term. First Years usually weren't allowed to apply, but Izuku doubted Nezu would refuse to let him participate. Thus, so long as he could complete his CBEs before the start of Work Studies, Izuku would be a student in name only. He would have absolutely no obligation to attend class, including in the afternoon, so he could invest all his time and energy into rescuing Eri and preparing for the breaches...
Breaking Izuku from his serious contemplation, Ochaco asked, "Izuku? Is everything okay...?" in a concerned tone. The former had what could best be described as a grim expression on his face as he stared into space, so the girls had cut their conversation short to check on him.
Regaining his usual smile, Izuku answered, "Of course. I was just thinking about the future a bit. Remember how I plan to take the Credit-by-Exams for the Second and Third Years once the second term starts? I'm thinking about how best to prepare for them."
"If that's the case, we could study together," proposed Momo. She had also been preparing for the CBEs after learning Izuku was taking them, but, unlike him, she planned to keep attending classes when she wasn't partaking in a Work Study. After all, she 'was' the Class Representative.
"I'd like that," replied Izuku. "But I'm planning to spend the second half of Summer Break at Ōkunoshima, remember?"
Nodding in affirmation, Momo replied, "I remember well." before adopting a playful smile and adding, "That's why all of us will also be spending the second half of Summer Break at Ōkunoshima. Usagiyama-san contacted me to make the arrangements herself. She mentioned she got my number from your phone."
"She messaged me as well," said Toru. "Something about wanting us to get to know each other since we're in the same boat."
With everyone but Melissa responding similarly, the smile on Izuku's face cramped before he promptly gave up and laughed it off. He was the one to suggest that Rumi meet the other girls, but instead of going to Momo's house, it seemed his favorite rabbit had taken matters into her own hands, ensuring she would be at an absolute advantage by inviting everyone to her home...
Surprising only Izuku, Melissa asked, "If everyone's going together, mind if I come along? Summer Break for the Academy extends into the second week of September, so I have plenty of free time."
Responding on everyone else's behalf, Momo narrowed her eyes into a radiant smile as she answered, "We would need to get permission from Usagiyama-san, but I don't think she would mind. She seemed intent on gathering all the girls who 'closely associate' with Izuku-kun."
Adopting a somewhat awkward smile, Melissa actively avoided Izuku's gaze as she appended, "I'll also need to get permission from my Papa, but I'm confident he'll agree. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, and with Uncle Might nearby, even a meteor wouldn't be able to harm me."
Emulating one of Toshinori's bicep flexing poses, Melissa continued to avoid Izuku's gaze as she and the other girls began to make idle chatter, this time while seated around him. Izuku interpreted this as their way of demonstrating that Melissa was now a part of them, but until he heard the words from the pleasantly plump pioneer herself, he was going to pretend he hadn't noticed...it seemed to work for other harem protagonists...
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While Izuku was busy living a very enviable existence, as least to some, Toshinori and David were drinking whisky from the latter's private stock. Toshinori usually abstained from alcohol, especially after his injury, but now that he had recovered and couldn't get drunk, he enjoyed the social aspect of sharing a drink with friends.
Lacking the same tolerance/immunity as Toshinori, David's face was a little red as he asked, "Do you and Nezu really trust that kid, Toshi? He seems...different from other people. I don't know how to describe it, but it's like he's not really 'here' with the rest of us. He seems like a good kid, but I get the impression he has no real attachment to life. It's almost like he's just going through the motions...or maybe he's looking for a place to die?"
Though he adopted a serious, almost offended look, Toshinori didn't try to refute David's words immediately. He got a similar impression from Izuku but viewed it as the young man's spirit of self-sacrifice, one of the most important traits of a Hero, especially one who shoulders the responsibility of One-for-All...
Downing his remaining whiskey, Toshinori set his glass on its coaster as he firmly asserted, "I would entrust that boy with my life and the lives of everyone around me. You might view him as looking for a place to die, but I see him as a brave young man willing to give his all to protect everyone and everything within his grasp..."
While Izuku had yet to prove himself in the truest sense of the word, Toshinori had no doubt his protege would 'answer the call' the moment it came. If not for his other obligations, like being a student and maintaining his relationships, Toshinori believed Izuku would be out fighting crime and thwarting villains ten, fifteen, maybe even twenty hours a day. Instead, he was 'forced' to bide his time and make preparations.
Regaining a broad smile, Toshinori added, "If I had to guess, that boy is probably thinking about how to address the issue of these 'breaches' you mentioned even as he tours the island with your daughter. That's the type of young man Izuku Midoriya is. When he's unable to act directly, he does his best to prepare for when he can. And not just himself, either. He offers advice to just about everyone in his Class, constantly encouraging them so that they might improve just a little faster."
Narrowing his eyes, David gave Toshinori a sidelong look as he asked, "And you believe he can help Melissa 'improve' as well? From what you've told me, he's even more of a playboy than Captain Celebrity..."
Adopting an even broader smile, Toshinori teased, "That's pretty amusing coming from you, Dave. Before you met Catherine and settled down, you were quite the playboy. Would you really condemn others for enjoying the springtime of their youth?"
Furrowing his brows, David asserted, "It's because of my past that I know how harmful such behavior can be. Even now, I sometimes wish I could go back and apologize to all the mothers and fathers whose daughters I treated like playthings..."
"Well, you can rest assured," said Toshinori. "Contrary to what you might think, Izuku is a very responsible boy. Each of the girls he's involved with are remarkably close to one another. Instead of 'playing around,' it's more accurate to say our young friend is at their mercy! Hahahahaha~!"
Imagining the scenario of Izuku being 'bullied' by his female classmates, a faintly amused smile developed across David's face. He still didn't feel like entrusting his daughter to a brat he had just met, but if it was true the girls around Izuku had formed a 'sisterhood,' it wouldn't be the end of the world if Melissa became a part of it. Rather, with the world on the verge of a literal end or, at the very least, catastrophic change, it was probably best if his daughter was working alongside the people with the power to save or maintain it...
Turning to meet Toshinori's gaze, David's expression became serious as he expressed, "Things are about to get really bad, Toshi. I don't want my daughter to be here when the global community begins pressuring us for an immediate solution that will likely take years, potentially even decades, to arrive..."
Shaking his head, David's expression hardened even further as he added, "Melissa's dream is to be a Hero, not someone who is confined to a lab all day, a slave to the whims and unrealistic expectations of bureaucrats. As my daughter, the pressure on her will be even more immense. That's why, even though I have many concerns, I want you to take my daughter away from here. Japan is one of the most secure countries in the world and should have a much easier time dealing with the breach crisis due to its small size and centralized population. They also have you to protect them, so please, Toshi...protect my Melissa..."
Placing his fist over his chest, Toshinori swore, "You have my word, Dave. So long as I draw breath, I will not allow any harm to befall your daughter. Even if the very gods of Japanese mythology start to appear, I will strike them down with one mighty blow...!"
Though his words might sound a little braggadocious, Toshinori knew he and Izuku were two of the only people that could realistically stand up to such entities. The latter had yet to grasp the full power of One-for-All, but that would change once he boosted his Level. To that end, Toshinori was seriously contemplating inviting his young protege for a brief trip to Egypt. He was curious about the 'worlds' on the other side of the breaches, but more than that, he wanted to prepare a bit before they started appearing in Japan. The Hero's Association would doubtlessly call upon him to help calm the public once the breaches began to appear. Hence, the more he knew about the phenomenon in advance, the easier it would be for him to assure the public that everything was under control...
("Let's just hope no actual gods appear...") thought Toshinori, unaware of the existence of flags...
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With the Sun beginning to set over the horizon, Momo drew everyone's attention by clapping her hands and stating, "Okay, everyone, it's about time we change into our evening outfits and prepare for the reception."
Turning her gaze to Izuku, Momo asked, "Would you like to accompany us, Izuku? Or do you have to meet with All Might?"
Though he would have agreed if Momo was asking him to watch them change, Izuku knew he would probably be stuck waiting outside since they were staying in the same hotel as the majority of Class 1-A. Momo had felt guilty about leaving people out, so while not everyone would be at the reception, only Aoyama had elected to stay in Japan.
"Melissa and I should probably head back," replied Izuku. "Her father didn't seem particularly enthused the last time we arrived late, so we'll see you girls at the reception."
Nodding in affirmation, Momo narrowed her eyes and mused, "Then we'll reconvene at the reception. Until then, be sure to escort Melissa properly, okay?"
Urged by Momo, everyone offered a few parting words before departing for their hotel. In their wake, a tense silence lingered between Izuku and Melissa before the latter remarked, "They seem like a lot of fun. And that Momo girl...I was surprised to learn the two of you were engaged. Should I congratulate you?"
Shaking his head, Izuku's expression relaxed into a smile as he joked, "You're free to do so, but I know better than anyone how lucky I am..."
Turning to meet Melissa's gaze, Izuku caught her by surprise as he asked, "Why did you ask to come with us to Ōkunoshima? I'm not complaining, not in the slightest, but it should have been obvious we're not going there to simply train and study..."
Breaking eye contact with Izuku, a ruddy hue spread through Melissa's cheeks as she considered her response. The truth was that shortly after she and Toshinori began exchanging emails, the latter had sent her a few photos of Izuku and some unedited footage of his matches during the UA Sports Festival. When Toshinori later suggested that they would make an unstoppable duo once Izuku became a Hero, she may have taped Izuku's photo to the inside of her locker...
As there was no way she could admit something so embarrassing, Melissa decided to shift the burden to Izuku, staring at him from the corner of her eye as she pointedly remarked, "The way some of your girlfriends reacted to me suggests they knew about me in advance...tell me, Izuku...were you thinking the two of us might become a couple even before we met?"
Instead of denying it, Izuku flatly replied, "Blame your Uncle Might...that man is obsessed with the concept of inherited wills and legacies. He has a way of seeding ideas into peoples' minds, so I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it...quite a bit, in fact..."
"I see..." replied Melissa, kicking her feet a bit as she walked away with her hands behind her back. She had also started thinking that she and Izuku might become a couple after her exchanges with Toshinori, but the difference between them was that she was single. The notion of 'sharing' had never crossed her mind before meeting Momo, Tsuyu, Toru, Ochaco, Mina, and Kyouka. Now...she honestly wasn't sure what to think. All she knew for certain was that Izuku was the first boy she had ever taken an interest in. He also seemed to have a genuine interest in her work, so she didn't want to 'give up' without a fight...
Stopping after a few steps, Melissa turned back to meet Izuku's gaze, smiling radiantly as she admitted, "I've also thought about it quite a bit, but, at least for now, I'd like to observe and see how you get along with the other girls in your life. I don't think I could ever be a part of a harem, but I can still provide technical and emotional support to ensure you all become great Heroes."
Punctuating her words, Melissa closed her eyes and offered a smile that could rival the Sun's brilliance. Like a creature of the night, Izuku felt her smile had dealt a critical blow to his heart, but instead of exhibiting pain or suffering, he returned a smile and answered, "Even if we never become anything more, my life would be bettered having you as a friend, Melissa. Thank you..."
Covering her mouth to stifle a giggle, Melissa's blue eyes narrowed as she said, "Don't thank me yet. If you intend to make those 'Air Trecks' of yours a reality, you'll need to put your body on the line to help me test them. I'm not going to hold anything back, so you better prepare yourself~!"
Since he believed Melissa could pull off creating something functionally similar to the 'Sky Regalia,' which would greatly benefit him once he awakened Float, the corners of Izuku's smile curled upward as he replied, "I'm looking forward to it," in a sincere tone that matched his expression. He doubted the feasibility of producing the other Regalia, but so long as he could do more than simply levitate to leap vast distances, Izuku would be more than satisfied...&nbsp;
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("I still ended up having to wait in a hallway...") thought Izuku, leaning against a wall and texting as he waited nearly half an hour for Melissa to get ready.
Fortunately, while Japan was nearly six hours ahead of I-Island's Time Zone, Nezu was wide awake, allowing Izuku to ask if he was aware of the 'incidents' occurring in Europe, Africa, and West Asia.
Unsurprisingly, Nezu was fully aware of the Meta World Transversal phenomenon, citing it as one of the reasons he had petitioned Pixie Bob to assist with Izuku's training. Many of the beasts she emulated with her Earth Flow were monsters one might confront in or around the breaches, so he was planning to use her power to familiarize the students with their attack patterns. As for why he didn't inform Toshinori, the answer was fairly straightforward. He didn't want Toshinori running off to try and save the rest of the world, leaving Japan and UA vulnerable when there was a high possibility of a certain 'someone' lurking in the shadows.
Though All-for-One had yet to show himself, there was a mountain of evidence to suggest he was both alive and in Japan. 'Someone' had been amassing villains in secret, and the only person with that degree of clout, especially in a country policed by All Might, was AFO. Nezu suspected the infamous villain was preparing to make his comeback and would likely use the Meta World Transversal phenomenon to herald his return...
Bringing an abrupt end to his conversation with Nezu, the electric door to Melissa's room hissed open, followed by the person in question appearing in a strapless, predominately blue, white, and purple cocktail dress with a sweetheart neckline, heavily emphasizing her rather ample bosom. She also had her hair tied up in a high ponytail and had removed her glasses, nearly making her look like a completely different person, especially with a healthy coat of makeup.
Seeing the 'stupefied' look on Izuku's face, Melissa smiled broadly and did a quick pirouette, asking, "How do I look? I was a bit worried about the waistline and how much of my back and shoulders it exposed, but I wanted to try something a bit 'bolder' since this is my first time attending the reception directly. I'm not really good with formal events, so I usually just watch it from my room."
Adopting a teasing smile, Izuku replied, "It does expose quite a bit, but I doubt any of the guys at the reception will complain. I can't say the same for their girlfriends, wives, or dates..."
Covering her chest, Melissa's smile became somewhat awkward as she muttered, "When you put it like that...being bold might not be the wisest decision. I don't want people staring at me all night..."
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "Unless you choose not to attend, I'm afraid there's not much you can do about that. So long as they can see your face, you'll be captivating just about every man in the hall. And that was 'before' you put on makeup..."
Feeling timid, Melissa reached up to cup her cheeks but stopped short. It had taken nearly a full half-hour to get her makeup just right, so she didn't want to smudge it. Instead, she retracted her shoulders and brought the tips of her fingers together, channeling her inner Ochaco as she muttered, "I know I'm the one who asked for your opinion, but you don't have to be so...thorough when providing it..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Izuku replied, "Then I'll keep things simple and say you look amazing." Then, as Momo had advised him to escort Melissa 'properly,' Izuku extended his left elbow and asked, "Shall we head to the reception?" with a relaxed smile.
Understanding what Izuku had in mind, a faint red hue appeared at the tip of Melissa's ears. A similar shade appeared on her face, dying her cheeks, but it was indistinguishable due to her makeup. As a result, she appeared fairly calm and poised as she linked her arm through Izuku's, beaming like the Sun as she teased, "If my father sees us like this, he might bully you a bit..."
Maintaining his relaxed smile, Izuku quickly and shamelessly replied, "It would be worth it..." before escorting Melissa to the nearest elevator. The reception would be taking place on the ground floor, for security reasons, so they needed to go down nearly seventy levels to reach it. Fortunately, the elevators in the building were remarkably quick, at least under normal circumstances...
Shortly after boarding the elevator, the smiles on Izuku's and Melissa's faces cramped when it abruptly terminated its descent, followed by the emergency lights turning on. At the same time, an automated voice came over the broadcast speakers, stating, "This is an announcement from the I-Island Security System. We have received a report that an explosive device was discovered somewhere on the I-Expo grounds. I-Island will now be in High Alert Mode. Your safety is our top priority. Residents and Tourists should-"
While the automated message was still broadcasting, Melissa's brows furrowed as she said, "This doesn't make any sense. The High Alert Mode is typically reserved for large-scale attacks by external forces. Even if a bomb were discovered, the proper protocol would be to notify those in the immediate area and evacuate them, not broadcast the emergency to the entire island and cause a panic..."
Shaking her head, Melissa reasserted, "This makes absolutely no sense. Because of the High Alert Mode, we're effectively trapped in the elevator until the lockdown ends. If there truly were a bomb, we'd be sitting ducks until it explodes!"
Understanding what Melissa was trying to convey, Izuku postulated, "Then there are two possibilities. First, the system has malfunctioned in some way. Second, someone had tampered with it directly, causing the malfunction. Either way, we need to get out of here."
Raising his head, Izuku searched for the maintenance hatch typically found in elevators. Instead, he found a completely flat surface with no hints of a removable panel.
Following Izuku's gaze, a wry smile developed across Melissa's face as she pointed out, "Maintenance is typically performed by robots that live within the elevator shaft. People might try to access the upper floors by climbing onto the roof and ascending the shaft directly, so there are no maintenance hatches in any of our elevators..."
"..."
Though it made sense, Izuku couldn't help deadpanning when he heard Melissa's words. The doors to the elevator, not to mention the elevator itself, were thicker than the average prison. They were also comprised of literal futuristic materials, so even with Blackwhip, he might not be able to carve his way out. Not without utilizing the power of One-for-All to a fairly high degree...
Pulling out his cell phone, Izuku was going to try and message Toshinori but found he had no service. When Melissa saw this, her smile became even more awkward as she explained, "During High Alert Mode, radio and satellite frequencies below a certain level are completely jammed. I could have contacted someone, but I left my watch and phone in my room since my dress didn't have any pockets..."
"So..." muttered Izuku, turning to meet Melissa's gaze as he added, "What you're trying to say is...we're stuck..."
"Pretty much," admitted Melissa. "I could try reconfiguring the doors to open, but doing so could trigger the elevator's lockdown protocol. If that happens, we'd be spending the rest of our time trapped in aero-foam until someone came to cut us out..."
Opening his mouth, Izuku was tempted to ask if they were in a prison but stopped himself. I-Island was famous for having a security system on par with Tartarus, the most secure prison in the world, so this level of security was to be expected. After all, some of the most advanced technologies in the world were kept on the highest floor of the tower they were presently in. If people could access it easily by simply ascending the elevator shaft, they would have done so long ago...
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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...
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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]
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 [Healthy Body]: The user always feels mentally and physically refreshed. Drastically increases the functions of the immune system.
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 [Breakthrough]: Eureka! Focuses mental energies to make even the most difficult of problems a cinch.
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 [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...
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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...
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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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Chapter 86: Chapter 86