BNHA: Singularity

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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"We need to get out of here," asserted Izuku, his expression and tone hardening as he added, "If this is a legitimate emergency, we need to do what we can to assist. Toshi&ndash;All Might might be unbeatable in a fight, but if the enemy takes a hostage, he wouldn't be able to move freely."
Blinking several times, Melissa asked, "You don't think...someone took over I-Island's security system and is using it to hold everyone hostage, do you? While not impossible, the system would have detected them long before they reached the control center...unless..."
"Unless there was a traitor..." finished Izuku. "But the only way to know for certain is to escape this place and uncover the truth. Either way, as tantalizing as the notion of being trapped with you is, it isn't in my nature to sit around and wait for help to arrive."
As he spoke to Melissa, Izuku began emitting Blackwhip from his body, first spreading it to the floor, walls, and then the ceiling as he added, "I trust in your abilities, but, as an extra precaution, I will block the flow of any foam. Do your best, Melissa."
Though he nearly added that the fates of everyone in I-Island may hinge upon her success, Izuku figured Melissa could do without the additional pressure. For all he knew, this was a false alarm. However, based on how quickly everyone in his Party was moving around, something Izuku could track thanks to his system's proximity function, he was pretty sure it was legitimate...
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"You dastardly fiends..." growled Toshinori, his usual smile missing from his face as he glowered at a trenchcoat-wearing man with auburn brown hair and a mask made from metal.
Though his body was bound in a special, energy-based binding, much like the other Heroes at the reception, Toshinori was the only one still upright, perfectly capable of breaking free but choosing not to since the masked assailant and his cronies had taken everyone at the banquet hostage with guns.
Aiming his pistol at Toshinori's face, the masked man mused, "Calling me a fiend? You're going to hurt my feelings. How about you just remain quiet, Mr. Number One Hero? That is, unless you want to see these good people riddled with bullets...?"
Punctuating his words, the masked man fired his pistol. However, instead of impacting Toshinori's forehead, the bullet curved, hitting the wall a few meters behind him. Others might not have noticed, but with his enhanced perception, Toshinori witnessed the metal slug changing trajectories mid-flight, even though there wasn't a draft within the hall.
Half-turning but still keeping Toshinori in his periphery, the masked man addressed the hall, stating, "So long as everyone behaves like good little boys and girls, I can assure you no harm will befall any of you. We didn't come here to occupy the city or to send a message to the world. Once our objective has been achieved, we will leave without a fuss, and you can all return to your privileged little lives. Nice and simple, no?"
Holstering his pistol, the masked man tapped on his notably 'futuristic-looking' headpiece, listening to what the person on the other side had to say before responding, "Understood." Then, with a serious expression, he looked around the banquet hall, eventually focusing his steely brown eyes on a fat man with a fading hairline.
"You, you're a researcher here, right?" asked the masked man. "Samuel Abraham, if my information is correct."
Before Samuel could respond, David caused Toshinori to scream internally, rising to his feet to ask, "What do you and your men want with my assistant?"
"Oh?" uttered the masked man, turning to face David with a broad smile as he remarked, "Well, if it isn't the famous David Shield. Excellent. Both you 'and' your little assistant are coming with us.
Furrowing his brows, David asked, "And if I refuse...?" in a firm, defiant tone.
Exhaling a tittering scoff, the smile faded from the masked man's face as he replied, "Then you're not half as intelligent as people say you are. We currently have this entire island under our control. What makes you think you have the 'right' to refuse?"
Unable to refute the man's words, David remained silent, looking at Sam with concern before shifting his gaze to Toshinori, hoping the latter had a solution. Unfortunately, while Toshinori was perfectly capable of bodying everyone present, doing so would cause the robots throughout the city to attack its citizens. They might not resort to deadly force, but there was no way to guarantee an elderly person or a child wouldn't sustain grave, life-threatening injuries...
Seeing that not even Toshinori had a solution, David exhaled a weary sigh, his face appearing to age quite a bit as he turned to the masked man and expressed, "I will cooperate..." in a somber, defeated tone.
"Good," replied the masked man, regaining a sinister smile as he added, "No need to look so glum. As I stated previously, once our objective has been completed, all these fine people will be free to go. By cooperating with us, you're helping to guarantee the safety of everyone on the island. It's a good thing."
Without waiting for David to respond, the masked man gestured to two of his masked, gun-wielding goons, ordering, "Bind their hands and blindfold them. We're heading out."
As the two men did as they were instructed, their masked leader took one last look at Toshinori, swallowing hard. Even while bound, Toshinori gave off a dangerous aura, enough to compel the masked man to do everything by the books. He would normally shoot one of the lower-priority hostages to keep the rest in line, but if he did that in this situation, the masked man had no doubt Toshinori would leap into action...
With David and Sam bound and blindfolded, the masked man's expression hardened as he backed out of the room with his escort, waiting until the very last moment to turn around and mutter, "Weakened my ass..." under his breath...
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Though she managed to avoid triggering the elevator's anti-tampering measures, Melissa visibly deflated after a few minutes, her expression apologetic as she said, "Sorry, Izuku, but without the proper tools, I don't think I can get us out..."&nbsp;
Shaking his head, Izuku assured, "It's okay, Melissa. I just wanted to try a less forceful approach before resorting to more 'extreme' measures. Now, stand behind me..."
Doing as Izuku instructed, Melissa stood behind him, her body tensing up when he surrounded her in a cacoon of Blackwhip. Then, using one of his re-rolls, Izuku redistributed his stats to be more combat-oriented before squaring his feet into a basic karate stance.
Inhaling a deep breath, Izuku's expression hardened into a resolute look, fully prepared to sacrifice his left arm as he struck out with One-for-All with a burst Strength of 26,000. This was nearly twice his usual limit, but he was confident he could endure it since the original 'Deku' was able to throw out full-powered punches without his arm literally exploding. It was just going to hurt...a lot...
With Izuku's punch packing more than 1,040,000,000 Newtons of force across the surface area of a single fist, the reinforced, multi-layer doors of the elevator didn't stand a chance. They might have if his blow was an ordinary one, but with One-for-All allowing its users to convert kinetic energy into directional shockwaves, the doors buckled outward violently, creating a gaping hole as panels within the floor, ceiling, and walls of the elevator slid open, attempting to fill it with aero-foam concrete.
Reacting quickly, Izuku pulled himself and Melissa out of the elevator before the foam could encompass them, hissing in pain as he habitually caught the disoriented blonde in his arms.
Recovering from her stupor in an instant, Melissa's eyes widened to their limits as she exclaimed, "Your arm...!" in shock.
Borrowing a line from a very dated comedy skit, Izuku forced a smile in spite of the cold sweat breaking out across his body, musing, "Tis but a flesh wound..."
Since holding her up was causing him immense pain, Izuku set Melissa on her feet, willfully avoiding glancing at his nearly purple arm, visible due to his costume practically exploding. Blood trickled from his ruined knuckles, but because he had strengthened his bones with Blackwhip, he could still move his fingers and bend his elbow. It just hurt like hell.
Looking between Izuku's arm and the pained smile on his face, Melissa adopted a frown as she said, "We need to get back to my room. The ID System is offline during High-Alert Mode, but we can move up and down the tower using the emergency stairs. You'll just need to knock down two more doors, preferably without destroying your limbs..."
Though he regretted it immediately, Izuku raised his left hand, wiggling his fingers as he asserted, "It's not as bad as it looks. In fact, if I rest for a few hours, it'll be back to normal. No problem."
As he had experimented by gouging out a piece of his forearm in the past, Izuku knew he would heal from virtually any wound so long as his Vitality recovered. With his 'base' Vitality being 5120, thanks to his re-roll, he just needed to sleep or relax in a hot bath for an hour or two, and he'd be back to 100%.
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Name: [Izuku Midoriya]
Title: Telania's Champion(Luck +500)
Quirk: Digitalization, Transfer, Stockpiling, Singularity, Gearshift(sealed), Fa Jin(sealed), Danger Sense(sealed), Blackwhip, Smokescreen(sealed), Float(sealed)
Current Level: 44 (4,523,642 EXP)
Effective Level: 89
[Attributes]
Strength: 10(100)
Agility: 10(100)
Vitality: 256(5000)-&gt;208(4160)
Intelligence: 100
Dexterity: 100(1000)-&gt;90(900)
Luck: 500
Free Attributes: 0
Rerolls Available: 95
[Perks]
[Lesser Regeneration], [Healthy Body], [Sharp Mind], [Nimble Fingers], [Keen Senses], [Lucky], [Intuition], [Tripping]
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Furrowing her brows even further, Melissa insisted, "Even so, we should head to my room as quickly as possible. I should be able to contact my father once I get my watch, and there are some Support Items and tools that should prove useful if this is an actual emergency."
"Sounds good," replied Izuku, lowering his hand and balling it into a fist to avoid being unable to do so once his fingers swelled. Then, with Melissa providing directions from behind, they cautiously entered the emergency stairwell and began their ascent. Fortunately, they only had to go up ten flights to reach her room on the 72nd Floor. Melissa wasn't accustomed to prolonged and intense physical activity, so even though she had boosted her Strength, Agility, and Vitality, she was completely winded by the time they reached the landing of the floor she lived on. It didn't help that she had to run barefoot on the cold hard floor, causing the soles of her feet to cry out in protest as she compelled herself to keep running...
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While Izuku and Melissa were still stuck in the elevator, the students of Class 1-A, at least those planning to attend the reception, were gathered at their rendezvous point with serious looks on their faces.
Wearing a predominately blue suit with a golden tie, Ida attempted to be the voice of reason, firmly asserting, "We should stay here and obey the instructions of the I-Island Security System. Venturing out when we lack a complete understanding of the situation will only imperil ourselves and others."
Though she would ordinarily agree with Ida's reasoning, Momo and the other girls present could see Toshinori's reduced Agility and unchanging location. It was obvious to them that something was very wrong with the present situation, so Momo's expression was uncharacteristically severe as she urged, "We are students of Class 1-A, training to become Heroes. We can't just sit here and wait when there's a possibility that people need our help!"
Furrowing his brows deeply, Ida replied, "While I agree with you on the merits of your statement, the fact is that we're students, 'not' Heroes. I-Island is also outside the jurisdiction of the Hero's Association of Japan, so we have no grounds to take action. As the Representative of Class 1-A, please think rationally, Yaoyorozu-san."
Clenching her teeth, Momo felt the urge to slap someone for the first time in her life. Instead, she turned the tables against Ida, expressing, "I'll take full responsibility and relinquish my post if we are held accountable. Until then, I am in command of the Class, just as we rehearsed during the final exam. Do you object?"
Pushing up his glasses, Ida replied, "If you have resolved yourself to be held accountable, I will follow your orders."
With Ida being the only voice of dissent/reason among those gathered, everyone else quickly fell in line when Momo took control of the situation. Thus, after changing into simplified versions of their Hero Costumes, provided by Momo, they gradually made their way to the reception hall to investigate the situation...
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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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Chapter 87: Chapter 87