Chapter 3 The Pink haired genius
Izuku froze as the pink-haired girl moved closer, the makeshift gun still pointed directly at his chest. Her wild grin and glowing eyes made his heart race—not with fear, but with a mix of panic and sheer bewilderment.
"Hey, I'm not here to steal anything!" he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just… lost! I needed some space, okay? That's it!" His voice cracked slightly, but he managed to hold her gaze.
Her grin widened as she cocked the gun, a low click echoing ominously. "Uh-huh," she said sweetly, though her tone dripped with suspicion. "Stay still, or this baby's gonna make fireworks you'll never forget."
Izuku gulped. "That's… not exactly reassuring."
"Good," she said, stepping closer. The barrel of the gun was now inches from his face, close enough for him to notice the patchwork of wires and duct tape holding it together. "Now don't move. Mama's gotta make sure you didn't swipe anything."
"Swipe anything?! I just got here!" Izuku protested, but the girl ignored him, her free hand patting his chest.
Her searching became more invasive as she patted down his stomach, sides, and eventually his pockets. Izuku turned bright red, flinching slightly when her hand brushed against his side. "C-can you not—"
"Shut up, broccoli boy," she interrupted, yanking her hand back. "Let Mama do her work."
He was too stunned to respond as she finished her inspection, standing back with a satisfied nod. "Hmm. Nothing stolen. Good. But you…" She walked behind him, shoving him forward with the gun's barrel. "You're gonna be perfect. Now get in there, boy. We're gonna make Mama real happy today."
Izuku stumbled forward, confusion written all over his face. "Excuse me? Perfect for what?! I really think there's been some kind of mistake!"
The girl didn't respond, instead gesturing toward the shack's doorway. Izuku sighed, resigning himself to whatever madness awaited him. "This is not how I planned to spend my day…" he muttered under his breath as he stepped inside.
The inside of the shack was even worse than Izuku had imagined. Wires, gears, and half-finished gadgets littered every available surface. Sparks crackled from a corner where something was clearly short-circuiting, and a distinct smell of burning metal filled the air.
On the main table was a gauntlet that could only be described as… "steampunk disaster chic." Wires sprouted from it at odd angles, some sparking faintly. It looked like it had been held together with tape, gum, and sheer willpower.
"Grab the glove, broccoli boy," the girl ordered, standing by the door with her gun still pointed at him.
Izuku hesitated. "Do I have to?"
She raised an eyebrow, cocking the gun again. "Do you want to find out what this baby does up close?"
"Alright, alright!" Izuku said, throwing up his hands. He reached for the gauntlet and picked it up gingerly. A system notification appeared in his vision: "Shock Gauntlet: 30 Damage, 30 Shock Damage."
He blinked in surprise. "Even these things have stats? Huh."
"Quit mumbling to yourself and put it on!" she snapped, her grin returning. "Now press the button on the side and throw a punch. Do it, boy!"
Izuku sighed and slipped the gauntlet on. It felt heavier than it looked, and the wires seemed to wriggle against his arm. "Alright, here goes nothing…" He pressed the button and threw a punch toward the air.
The gauntlet roared to life, electricity crackling around it. But instead of firing outward, the shock surged backward, coursing through Izuku's body. His muscles seized, and he collapsed to his knees with a loud yelp.
"Ow! What the heck?!" he shouted, his body still tingling as his HP bar flashed. "-30 HP."
The girl rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, that happens sometimes. Guess the grounding's off. Whatever. Next baby!"
"Next what?!" Izuku yelled, scrambling to his feet. "You just electrocuted me!"
She pointed to a corner of the shack where more makeshift contraptions sat in a pile, each looking more dangerous than the last. "See that stack? Those are my babies. You're gonna help me test 'em."
Izuku stared at the pile in horror, then looked back at her. "Yeah, that's a no from me. And I know you're not actually gonna shoot me."
Her grin turned feral. "Oh, really?" Without a word, she pulled the trigger.
A loud BOOM echoed through the shack as a rocket shot from the barrel, bouncing wildly off the walls. "What the hell?!" Izuku shouted, diving to the ground as the rocket ricocheted, finally slamming into a propane tank in the corner. The explosion sent a wave of heat and debris through the shack as flames erupted.
Thinking fast, Izuku grabbed the girl and bolted out the door, using Nimble Body to leap clear of the shack. He rolled across the dirt, covering her with his body as debris rained down around them.
"You shot me! You legit shot at me!" Izuku yelled, his voice breaking with disbelief.
The girl wiggled out from under him, brushing soot off her sleeves. "And you dodged. Quit complaining." She turned to look at the shack, her eyes widening. "My babies! Oh no, my second lab!"
Izuku groaned as he sat up, his muscles aching. "Your second lab?!
Before she could answer, a booming voice echoed from the other side of the junkyard. "Pink-haired banshee! You're back again, aren't you?!"
Izuku turned and saw a burly man striding toward them, his face red with fury. His massive hands clenched a cell phone as he raised it to his ear.
"Oh great," Izuku muttered, standing up. "Now there's an adult involved."
The girl kicked him in the shin. "No time for commentary, broccoli boy! You owe me for saving my life! Let's go!"
Izuku gawked at her. "I saved your life! You nearly got me killed!"
"Details!" she said, grabbing his sleeve. "Move it!"
With a sigh, Izuku scooped her up bridal-style. "You are literally the worst," he said as he leapt onto the nearest pile of scrap.
She smirked. "And yet you're still carrying me. Now turn left—no, right! Wait, no, LEFT!"
"Will you make up your mind?!" Izuku shouted, dodging between heaps of junk as the burly man yelled behind them.
"Fine, fine, GPS it is!" she said, pulling a clunky device from her belt. "Keep running while I load it, broccoli boy."
Izuku gritted his teeth, leaping over a wall with ease. "This day just keeps getting better…"
Izuku followed the pink-haired inventor as she guided him around the back of her house, the moonlight casting faint shadows on the junk-strewn yard. She carefully opened the door to a second shack, this one noticeably more well-constructed than the chaotic lab he had just saved her from.
Stepping inside, Izuku was surprised to see how clean and organized it was. A bean bag chair sat in the corner, surrounded by shelves stacked with what looked like far more polished inventions. The walls were reinforced with sturdy beams, and the faint smell of soldered metal hung in the air.
"This is a lab?" Izuku asked, glancing around the room.
"Yup, this is Lab One," she said, proudly gesturing to the space. "This is where I do my main work. Lab Two's for testing. You know, so I don't, like, burn down my house or blow myself up. Gotta keep the insurance people happy."
Izuku blinked. "You don't see a problem with having your second lab constantly exploding?"
She waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, please, every great inventor has a little collateral damage. That's just science, broccoli boy."
Izuku groaned, feeling the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with him. Without a word, he slumped onto the bean bag chair, sinking into its soft embrace. "I just need a minute," he muttered, closing his eyes to take a deep breath.
When he opened them, there was a familiar makeshift gun barrel inches from his face.
"What now?!" he yelped, flinching slightly as the pink-haired girl grinned down at him.
"Okay, lab rat," she said, cocking the gun dramatically. "Let's test some of my experimental babies from Lab One. The good stuff!"
Izuku frowned, crossing his arms. "Do you point that thing at everyone?"
"Only lab rats," she replied cheerfully. "Come on, Lab Rat Number Seven, it's time for science!"
Izuku sat up, his eyebrow twitching. "Lab Rat Number Seven? What happened to the others?"
She tilted her head, tapping her chin as if genuinely considering the question. "Oh, they didn't make it."
"What?!"
"Relax," she said, rolling her eyes. "I meant my earlier attempts at guinea pigs. Like the time I tried training pigeons to help me with delivery drones. Turns out pigeons hate jetpacks. Anyway…" She pressed the barrel of the gun lightly to his forehead. "Can you dodge at point-blank range?"
Izuku stared at her, his face deadpan. "No."
She smiled triumphantly. "See? Now you're cooperating! Let's go!"
Izuku sighed, suddenly twisting his body. With a swift motion, he disarmed her, pulling the gun away and cracking it open. His eyes widened slightly as he noticed there wasn't a single firework round inside.
She smirked. "You really think I'd blow up my labs twice in one day? Please. That was a bluff."
"It wasn't a bluff the first time," Izuku shot back, holding the gun aloft like it was evidence in court.
"Yeah, well, the first time I meant it," she said, shrugging. "Look, the only way it's a good threat is if I'm willing to follow through. But whatever, let's go test some babies!"
Izuku crossed his arms, glaring at her. "No. Absolutely not."
She pouted, her eyes wide and pleading. "Come on, just a little bit? I promise this one won't electrocute you… probably."
"What about this—uh, what do boys like? Oh! Girls!" she said, snapping her fingers. "I'll show you—"
"NOPE!" Izuku shouted, cutting her off, his face bright red. "Nope, nope, nope! I'm leaving before you finish that sentence."
"I was gonna say 'home-baked cookies,' but okay, pervert," she said, smirking.
Izuku groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I wasn't thinking that! I thought you were going to show me another one of your crazy inventions."
"Whatever you say, broccoli boy," she teased, poking his cheek.
"Stop calling me that," he muttered.
She ignored him, grabbing his sleeve. "Come on, you're my best friend now."
Izuku blinked, startled. "Wait, what? I'm not your best friend. I don't even think we're friends. You shot at me!"
"Yeah, and you survived!" she said, grinning. "So you're my best friend now. That's how it works. Besides, you didn't run away. You could've just left me there, but you didn't. You're a real hero, you know that?"
Izuku paused, her words catching him off guard. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "A hero, huh?" he murmured, a faint warmth blooming in his chest.
Before he could say anything, a system notification appeared in his vision: "System Alert: Why are you falling for this? She's clearly a dangerous psychopath inventor lady. RUN AWAY."
Izuku glared at the message, muttering under his breath. "I can't run away. I don't want to go home right now. I just… need some space."
The girl tilted her head, watching him. "Uh… you talking to yourself? 'Cause if so, that's cool. I do that all the time."
Izuku's face turned red again. "Fine! Fine, we'll test some inventions," he said, sighing. "But I'm staying here for the night, okay?"
She beamed, pulling out her phone. "Deal! What's your number?"
Izuku hesitated, then gave it to her reluctantly. "Why do you need my number?"
"So I can keep track of you, duh!" She showed him her contact list, which consisted of just two entries: Mom and Dad. She typed in his number with a wicked grin. "Welcome to the family, Lab Rat Daddy."
Izuku groaned. "You can't call me that."
"I already did," she replied, shrugging. "Now, let's go test this!" She pulled a grappling hook out of a nearby chest, tossing it at him.
Izuku caught it, staring at the clunky device. "This thing better not electrocute me again."
"Nope!We need to find a new testing area." she said cheerfully.
"Great," Izuku muttered, hoisting the grappling hook over his shoulder. "I know a beach nearby we can use."
"Perfect! Mush, Lab Rat Daddy!" she shouted, jumping onto his back and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Izuku sighed. "This is my life now, isn't it?"
"Yup!" she said, grinning as he carried her toward the beach. "Now hurry up. Science waits for no one!"
Izuku sighed as they reached the beach, gently setting the pink-haired menace down on the sand. The piles of trash stretched out in every direction, the faint smell of saltwater and rust filling the air. He held up the grappling hook she had given him earlier, examining it with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
"Alright," he muttered, aiming the hook at a fridge perched precariously atop a mound of junk. "Let's see what this thing can do."
"Good! Now press the button!" the girl—Mei—shouted, her voice brimming with excitement as she stood to the side, tools clinking in her pockets.
Izuku steadied his aim and fired. The grappling hook shot forward with an impressive burst of speed, latching onto the fridge with a metallic clang. He grinned slightly. "Hey, this is actually—"
"Now press the other button!" Mei interrupted, practically bouncing with glee.
Izuku hesitated. "The other button? What does it do?"
"Science, broccoli boy! Just press it!"
Against his better judgment, Izuku complied. The grappling hook's cable began to spin wildly, yanking him toward the fridge at breakneck speed. "Whoa! Whoa! Too fast!" he shouted, trying to let go. But the hook's mechanism didn't release fast enough, and the fridge came hurtling toward him instead.
The fridge slammed into the ground with a loud crash, narrowly missing Izuku as he tumbled through the air. Instinctively using his Nimble Body skill, he twisted midair and landed in a crouch, breathing heavily.
"Well," he panted, glaring at the invention, "that was notideal."
Mei ran over, examining the grappling hook and the now-dented fridge. "Hmm…" she muttered, her fingers tapping against her chin. "Oh yeah, I forgot! I calibrated this for a few grown adults to use. So less weight means way faster speeds. Whoops."
"Whoops?!" Izuku shouted, throwing his hands up. "I could've been flattened by a fridge!"
"Relax," Mei said, waving him off. "You're fine. Besides, this is why I needed a lab rat! Now I know I need a dial to regulate the speed! Ooh, I could add a digital display too! And maybe some italicized markings for the aesthetic…"
Izuku groaned, brushing the dirt off his pants. "I'm not sure I signed up for this level of danger," he muttered.
Mei ignored him, hoisting the grappling hook like a prized trophy. "Okay, Lab Rat! Night shift's over. Let's head back home."
Before Izuku could protest, she jumped into his arms without warning. "Carry me, broccoli boy!" she demanded, already pulling a screwdriver from her pocket and tinkering with the grappling hook mid-ride.
Izuku let out a long sigh, adjusting his hold to carry her princess-style. "You do realize I'm not a taxi, right?"
"Shh, taxis don't talk," she replied, grinning as she focused on her work.
When they finally returned to the shack, Izuku was utterly drained. His legs ached from all the running and jumping, his hands were sore from catching himself mid-tumbles, and his brain felt fried from Mei's constant chaos.
Without a word, he collapsed onto the bean bag chair in the corner, sinking into its comforting embrace. "I'm done," he muttered, closing his eyes. "I'm just… done. Wake me up when the madness is over."
Mei looked up from her tinkering, raising an eyebrow. "You can't quit now, Lab Rat! We've only tested, like, two babies!"
Izuku didn't respond, already drifting off to sleep. Mei rolled her eyes but grabbed a blanket from a nearby shelf. "Fine, fine," she muttered, tossing it over him. "Lazy broccoli."
The next morning, Izuku stirred as sunlight streamed through the cracks in the shack's walls. He blinked groggily, feeling an unfamiliar warmth pressed against his chest. As his vision cleared, he realized Mei was snuggled up against him, her pink hair tickling his chin.
Izuku froze, his face turning beet red. "What the—?!"
Worse, his hand had somehow ended up resting somewhere it definitely shouldn't have been. He yanked it back quickly, sitting up with a panicked expression. "This is not what it looks like!" he stammered to himself.
Mei yawned, stretching as she sat up beside him. "Morning, Lab Rat!" she said cheerfully. "Ready to get back to work?"
Izuku blinked at her in disbelief. "You're not even gonna acknowledge… this?"
Mei tilted her head. "Acknowledge what? You're warm. Bean bag chairs don't have heating, so I improvised." She hopped off the chair, brushing herself off. "By the way, I like cuddling with you. We should do it more often."
Izuku sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I… I can't with you."
"Great! Two hours of power nap, and we're ready to roll!" Mei announced, already digging through her pile of gadgets. "Time to fix my grappling hook and maybe throw together some new babies!"
Izuku groaned, standing and grabbing his bag. "I think I've had enough chaos for one day. I should get home."
Mei looked over her shoulder, pouting. "What? You're leaving already? You're welcome here anytime, you know. As long as you help me test stuff."
"Sure," Izuku muttered, heading toward the door. "I'll keep that in mind… Lab Rat Daddy."
Mei's laughter followed him out, her voice echoing cheerfully. "Don't forget to bring snacks next time, Broccoli Boy!"
Izuku stepped into the apartment, the weight of the day bearing down on his shoulders. The air felt heavy, the dim light in the living room casting long shadows across the walls. His mother, Inko, sat at the dinner table, her face streaked with tears. She looked up as he walked in, her eyes red and swollen, a weak smile trembling on her lips.
"Izuku," she whispered, standing up shakily. "You're home…"
"I'm sorry," he said immediately, his voice breaking. "I'm sorry I ran off like that. I just… I couldn't…" His words caught in his throat, and he looked down at the floor, unable to meet her eyes.
Inko rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He stiffened at first, but then melted into the embrace, the familiar comfort of her presence soothing him, if only slightly. "It's okay," she murmured, stroking his hair. "It's all going to be okay. You're not going to be expelled. It's not going on your record."
Izuku let out a deep breath, relief mixing with confusion. "What? Really? How? I—"
"But…" she interrupted, pulling back to look him in the eyes. Her expression was soft, but her voice wavered. "In exchange… I'm pulling you out of the school."
His heart sank. "You're… pulling me out?"
She nodded, her hands trembling as she gripped his shoulders. "I had to. They wanted to expel you, Izuku. They said your behavior was too dangerous, and… and I couldn't let that happen. I had to agree to withdraw you instead."
Izuku's fists clenched at his sides. "Fine," he said quietly. "If that's what it takes, fine. I… I'm sorry. I'm sorry I snapped. I just—" His voice broke, and he took a shaky breath. "I don't know what else to say."
Inko smiled weakly, brushing a tear from his cheek. "It's okay, sweetheart. I just want you to be safe. That's why… I also told the police where you were earlier. And I've scheduled some therapy sessions. I think… I think it'll help you with these dangerous thoughts."
Izuku's eyes widened, anger bubbling up in his chest. "Dangerous thoughts? What are you talking about?!" he demanded, but she cut him off gently.
"Please, Izuku," she said, her voice pleading. "Just… try it, for me. I'm scared for you. You're my baby, and I love you more than anything. I can't lose you."
He bit his tongue, swallowing his retort. There was no point in arguing. He felt too tired, too defeated to fight. "Fine," he muttered, turning away. "I'm going to my room."
As he opened the door to his room, something immediately felt wrong. The familiar sight of his meticulously organized shelves, filled with his hero merchandise, was gone. His eyes darted around the room, panic rising in his chest. Every All Might figure, every poster, every piece of memorabilia… gone.
"No…" he whispered, dropping his bag with a thud. His breathing quickened as he turned to his desk. The spot where his hero journals—years of research and detailed notes—had always been was now empty. His heart felt like it had been ripped out of his chest.
He stormed back into the living room, his face pale and his eyes filled with hurt. "What did you do?" he demanded, his voice trembling.
Inko flinched, her hands wringing nervously. "I… I had to, Izuku. I'm sorry, but I can't let you obsess over Quirks and heroes anymore. It's not healthy."
"Not healthy?!" Izuku's voice cracked, a mix of anger and desperation. "You threw away everything! My notes, my journals—everything I've worked on for years!"
"Izuku, please—"
"Don't 'please' me!" he shouted, his fists shaking. "You took the only thing I had left! Why would you do this?!"
Tears welled in her eyes again. "Because… because you wanted to kill your best friend," she said softly. "That's not you, Izuku. You've become so… consumed by this dream of being a hero. I'm scared it's going to destroy you."
Izuku stared at her, stunned. "That's not true," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't write those things. I didn't say them. I'd never…"
Inko reached out to him, but he stepped back. "You need to let this go," she said gently. "You can't be a hero, Izuku. But that's not the end of the world. There are so many other jobs you can do. You could be a doctor, a police officer, a firefighter. Just because you don't have a Quirk doesn't mean you can't help people."
Izuku's chest tightened, his nails digging into his palms. "Do you think I don't know that?" he said bitterly. "Do you think I don't know I'm Quirkless? Do you think I haven't heard it a thousand times? From Kacchan, from my teachers, from everyone?"
Inko's face fell, but Izuku pressed on. "You want me to let this go? Fine. But don't act like you care about me now. Don't act like you're protecting me when you've done nothing to protect me before."
"Izuku…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
"How many times have you seen my uniform torn apart by explosions? How many times have you bandaged my bruises or treated my burns? How many times has Kacchan hurt me, and you did nothing? You just told me to 'be patient,' to 'ignore him.' And now you want to take away the only thing I have left?!"
Inko sobbed, shaking her head. "I… I didn't know what to do, Izuku. I thought—"
"Don't," he snapped, his voice filled with venom. "Don't make excuses. You didn't care then, and now you've destroyed the only thing that made me happy."
He turned away, storming back to his room and slamming the door behind him. His chest heaved as he leaned against the door, tears streaming down his face. The empty shelves stared back at him, a painful reminder of what he had lost.
For the first time in his life, Izuku felt completely and utterly alone.
The late morning sun cast a faint glow on the city as Izuku climbed out of his bedroom window, a dull ache in his chest. He couldn't face his mother again, not after what had happened. The emptiness in his room—the absence of everything he'd worked for—was too much. His legs carried him instinctively toward the only place he could think of: Mei Hatsume's shack.
When he arrived, he hesitated at the door, his hand hovering over the handle. His eyes burned, tears threatening to spill again, but he pushed the door open. Mei was inside, hunched over her workbench, goggles strapped tightly to her face as she tinkered with something that sparked violently every few seconds.
She glanced up as he walked in, her usual grin spreading across her face. "Hey, broccoli boy!" she chirped, completely ignoring the tears streaming down his cheeks. "What's up? Did you come to help Mama test more babies?"
Izuku glared at her, his face a mix of frustration and sadness. "No! I'm not here for your insane experiments! My life is falling apart, and you're acting like it's a joke!"
Mei tilted her head, removing her goggles and stepping closer. "What happened?" she asked, her tone a little softer but still tinged with her usual energy.
Izuku took a deep breath, his voice cracking as he explained. "I got kicked out of school. My mom doesn't believe in me anymore. She threw away all my hero stuff—everything I've worked for. It's gone. I have nothing left…"
Mei's reaction wasn't what he expected. Her grin returned, even wider than before. "That's great!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands.
Izuku blinked, stunned. "Great?! Did you not hear a word I just said?! I got kicked out of school! I lost everything!"
Mei waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I heard you. But think about it—this is the perfect opportunity! Since you're not stuck in that boring old school anymore, you can join my school! Work on babies all day, test them out, blow things up—it'll be amazing!"
Izuku stared at her, his frustration mounting. "This isn't funny, Hatsume! I—"
"Answer me this, broccoli boy," she interrupted, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Did you have any friends at your old school?"
Her question caught him off guard. He hesitated, his cheeks flushing slightly. "No…"
"Were you being bullied there?" she pressed.
"…Yes," he admitted quietly, his fists clenching.
Mei smiled triumphantly. "Then I don't see the problem! You're better off leaving that place. My school's different. People stay away from me—too scared of my babies, I guess—so you won't have to worry about bullies. Plus…" She tapped his chest playfully. "You'll at least have one friend. Me."
Izuku blinked, his irritation faltering. "You… consider me a friend?"
"Obviously!" Mei said, rolling her eyes as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You saved me from my burning shack, didn't you? And you didn't run away screaming when I pointed a gun at you. That's best friend material right there."
A small smile tugged at Izuku's lips despite himself. "I guess… that's all right."
"But what about my dream?" he said after a pause, his voice quieter. "Becoming a hero? I can't do that if my mom won't support me…"
Mei grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Easy solution! Join the support course at U.A.! You've got the pink-haired mommy inventor right next to you. We'll create the coolest inventions together, and when the Sports Festival comes around, you'll blow everyone away with your genius!" She threw her arms out dramatically. "Just imagine: Izuku Midoriya, the brains behind the tech that puts heroes on the map!"
Izuku was stunned by her enthusiasm. He hadn't even considered the possibility of the support course. "You… really think I could do that?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt.
"Trust me, broccoli boy," she said confidently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I've had plenty of failures—babies that exploded, babies that fell apart, babies that didn't even turn on. But every time I failed, I learned something and made the next one better. You can do the same! You're smart, you've got guts, and now you've got me. What could go wrong?"
For the first time in what felt like forever, Izuku felt a spark of hope. He smiled at her, his chest feeling a little lighter. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "It… it feels good to have someone in my corner."
"Duh," Mei replied, pulling out a screwdriver and twirling it in her fingers. "Now, if you want to get into U.A., you've got to start studying. Engineering basics aren't gonna learn themselves!"
Izuku nodded, determination hardening in his gaze. He opened his system interface, scrolling to the skills section. After a moment's hesitation, he purchased the Invent skill, watching as a notification confirmed the new ability.
"Alright," he said, standing a little straighter. "Let's get to work."
"That's the spirit!" Mei said, pulling a pile of blueprints onto the table. "Welcome to the world of inventors, Lab Rat Daddy. Let's make some magic!"
Morning Mishaps
"Alright, broccoli boy, this is Lesson One!" Mei declared, slapping a blueprint onto the workbench with enough force to send a nearby wrench clattering to the floor. "We're making a propulsion device."
Izuku blinked, tilting his head. "Propulsion? Like… rockets?"
"Exactly!" Mei said, grinning as she grabbed a pile of mismatched parts. "But, uh, smaller. More pocket-sized. I tried this once with a car engine, but the garage ceiling didn't survive."
Izuku's face paled. "Wait, are you saying—"
"Grab that beaker!" she interrupted, pointing to a small glass container filled with an ominous green liquid. "This is the key ingredient."
Izuku held it up cautiously. "What is it?"
"No idea!" Mei said cheerfully, pouring it into a half-finished contraption.
"What?! You can't just—" Izuku started, but his protest was cut short as the device began to hiss ominously. The hissing turned into a high-pitched whine, and before Izuku could even blink, the prototype exploded in a spectacular puff of smoke and sparks.
"Note to self," Mei said, scribbling furiously into a notebook as soot covered her face. "Green goo is a no-go."
Izuku coughed, waving the smoke away. "You think?!"
Midday Madness
By lunchtime, the pair had moved on to a grappling hook redesign. Izuku carefully adjusted a spring mechanism while Mei scavenged for parts in a nearby pile.
"This isn't so bad," Izuku admitted, concentrating as he tightened a bolt. "It's almost… peaceful."
Mei popped up from behind the pile, her goggles lopsided. "Peaceful? What's peaceful about inventing?! It's supposed to be exciting! Like this!" She held up two wires, one red and one blue, and grinned mischievously. "Wanna see what happens when I cross these?"
"No! Don't—" Izuku yelled, but it was too late. Mei touched the wires together, and the resulting spark sent them both tumbling backward as the grappling hook launcher shot across the room, embedding itself into the wall.
Izuku groaned, sitting up and brushing dust off his shirt. "Why do I feel like I'm going to lose a limb by the end of this?"
Mei beamed at him, completely unfazed. "Because that's what makes it fun! Now grab that screwdriver—my baby's calling!"
Afternoon Antics
The next project involved some suspiciously labeled chemicals. Izuku stared at the bottles, his instincts screaming at him to back away. "Are you sure we should be mixing these?"
"Absolutely!" Mei said, dumping a handful of powder into a beaker. "Probably. Maybe."
"Probably?!" Izuku exclaimed, watching in horror as the mixture began to bubble and fizz. "What does it even do?"
Mei shrugged. "No idea! But we're about to find out!" She grinned and gave the beaker a good shake, causing the liquid to foam over like a science fair volcano gone horribly wrong.
A loud POP echoed through the shack as the beaker shattered, covering them both in bright pink goo.
Izuku wiped the sticky substance from his face, glaring at Mei. "This is not how you're supposed to learn chemistry!"
Mei blinked, inspecting the goo on her arm. "Huh. Kind of smells like strawberries. Wanna taste it?"
"Absolutely not!" Izuku shouted, throwing his hands up.
Evening Exhaustion
By the time the sun began to set, the shack looked like a battlefield. Tools were scattered everywhere, scorch marks decorated the walls, and a few of Mei's "babies" were sparking ominously in the corner.
Izuku flopped onto the beanbag chair, groaning. "I think I've inhaled more smoke today than in my entire life."
Mei plopped down beside him, her hair somehow more disheveled than usual. "Quit complaining, Lab Rat. You survived, didn't you?"
"Barely," Izuku muttered, closing his eyes.
Mei leaned back, stretching. "You gotta admit, though, it was fun."
Izuku opened one eye, thinking back on the chaos. Despite everything—the explosions, the goo, the constant fear for his life—he found himself smiling. "Yeah," he admitted softly. "It kind of was."
Mei grinned, grabbing a nearby blanket and tossing it over them. "Two-hour power nap, and we're back at it."
"Two hours?" Izuku groaned, but she was already snuggling into the blanket.
"Shh, broccoli boy," she mumbled, her voice muffled by the beanbag. "Science never sleeps. But sometimes, inventors do."
Izuku sighed, his exhaustion winning out. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Yup," she replied cheerfully, already drifting off.
He couldn't help but smile as he closed his eyes. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt like he had someone in his corner.
Izuku stretched, shaking off the last remnants of his two-hour power nap. The beanbag chair beneath him was so comfortable that he almost didn't want to move. Mei, sprawled nearby with her signature goggles on her forehead, waved lazily as she tinkered with a small gadget.
"I need to head home," he said, standing and adjusting his bag.
Mei immediately pouted, crossing her arms. "Aww, come on, broccoli boy! You can't leave me hanging like this. We're just getting started!"
Izuku gave her an exasperated look but smiled. "I'll be back. Don't worry."
She blinked up at him as he placed a hand gently on her head. "Promise?"
He chuckled softly. "Yeah. I promise."
Her pout melted into a grin. "Good. Because I've got a million ideas for tomorrow! You better be ready to blow stuff up again. Maybe literally this time."
"I'll… look forward to it," he said, shaking his head. "By the way, what school do you go to?"
"Oh, it's this boring middle school nearby," Mei said with a shrug, waving a wrench in the air. "Not much happens there. Why?"
Izuku hesitated, then explained everything—how he got kicked out, the events leading up to it, and how he felt like his whole world had fallen apart. Mei listened intently, her grin never faltering.
When he finished, she slapped him on the back, nearly knocking him forward. "Well, they're idiots," she said confidently. "Who needs 'em? You're gonna be the best inventor ever with me around!"
Izuku smiled faintly. "Thanks, Hatsume. That means a lot."
"Good!" Mei said, leaping up and heading toward her pile of inventions. "Now go! Get some rest. We've got work to do tomorrow."
As Izuku walked to the door, she rummaged through her stash of gadgets, pulling out a small spider-like robot with a camera for an eye. It was no bigger than her palm and had an eerie, mechanical grace as it skittered across the table. She grabbed a pair of glasses and a video game controller, smirking ominously.
"You're gonna help Mama get revenge for Daddy," she murmured to the robot, adjusting her goggles. "Because nobody makes Daddy cry." Her grin turned downright devilish as the spiderbot came to life, its camera whirring.
…
Izuku climbed back through his bedroom window, the familiar quiet of his home greeting him. As he stepped inside, he noticed a small plate of food left on his desk. His favorite dish, still warm, sat waiting for him.
He paused, staring at it for a moment before stepping over it and walking toward his mother's room. Gently, he knocked on the door.
"Inko?" he called softly. The door creaked open, and his mother appeared, her face etched with worry.
"Mom," he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I… I'm sorry. For what I said earlier. I know things have been hard for you. I was just… angry. But I've been feeling a lot better lately."
Inko's eyes softened, and she stepped closer. "Izuku…"
"I've found someone who supports me," he continued, his voice growing steadier. "Someone who gave me an idea I didn't think about before." He pulled a printed flyer from his bag and handed it to her. "There's a school nearby. Middle School. I want to start fresh. They have a support equipment program… and I think I'd like to try it."
Inko stared at the flyer, her eyes glistening as she read it. She looked up at Izuku, her lips trembling before breaking into a smile. "That… that sounds like a great idea," she said, pulling him into a hug. "I'm so proud of you, Izuku. I love you."
He nodded against her shoulder. "I know, Mom. I love you too."
As she pulled away, he returned to his room. The sight of his now-empty shelves stung, but he pushed the thought aside. Sitting on his bed, he opened his system interface. His determination to start anew outweighed the lingering ache of his losses.
The screen appeared before him, and he navigated to his skills. He selected Mystic Style, and a new set of options appeared:
Shadow Magic
Light Magic
Nature Magic
Psychic Magic
Blood Magic
He stared at the choices, his mind racing. After a long pause, he pressed a button.
…
A week later, Izuku stood outside the gates of his new school, the crisp uniform feeling strange but not unwelcome. His stomach churned with nerves as he stepped into the building, clutching his bag tightly. He made his way to the front of the class, where the teacher greeted him and gestured for him to introduce himself.
"Uh… hi," Izuku said, his voice shaky. "I'm Izuku Midoriya. I just transferred here. I… I'm Quirkless."
The room erupted into whispers almost immediately. A few students cast him curious glances, while others smirked or rolled their eyes.
Near the back, a girl with sheep-like hair nudged the person next to her: a blonde girl with sharp, mischievous eyes. "Hey, Toga," the sheep-haired girl whispered. "He's Quirkless… just like you."
The blonde girl, Toga, tilted her head, her lips curving into a sly smile as her golden eyes fixed on Izuku. "Interesting," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the classroom chatter.
Author's Note:
Hey, everyone! Thanks for sticking with the story so far. I just wanted to take a moment to say: don't worry, we will go back and fill in the week leading up to Izuku's transfer to his new school. I know you're curious about what went down during that time, but I wanted to give you all a little teaser with Toga because, well, why not? Gotta keep things interesting, right?
Now, let's talk about the magic system! I'm really excited to see what you all think about Izuku's potential main magic type. Here's a quick rundown of the options again, so you can really think about how they'll affect his fighting style and abilities:
Shadow Magic: Think stealth and utility,engulfing enemies in darkness, teleporting between shadows, creating ranged attacks from the dark. Perfect for a more rogue-like approach to combat.
Light Magic: Ideal for a defensive/supportive style. He can make light constructs, create protective shields, and fire projectiles of pure energy. A bright and hopeful fighting style, literally!
Nature Magic: Absorbing animal traits, hardening his skin, and even partial transformations. This is the most primal and close-combat-focused of the options.
Psychic Magic: Think Psylocke from X-Men—energy blasts, enhanced strikes, and mind-over-matter attacks. It's a versatile mix of ranged and melee combat.
Blood Magic: Probably the darkest option. Blood manipulation allows him to create weapons, shields, and even walls from his own blood—or the blood of others. Bonus points for the ability to heal himself using harvested blood.
Oh, and just so you know, Izuku will also have access to general magic (like D -style cantrips) that gives him a base level of utility. But his main choice will define his identity as a fighter and how he approaches the challenges ahead. I'm really excited to see where this goes!
Also, for those worried about the bullies getting what they deserve,don't stress. I have plans for that, and it's going to be satisfying, I promise. For now, I wanted to get Izuku, Toga, and the rest of the cast in the same school so we can start building those dynamics.
And one last thing, let's address the potential harem situation! I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I might lean into that trope a little bit (if y'all are down for it). If it happens, I'll keep it balanced, probably no more than three girls because anything more would just be too chaotic (even for this story).
Let me know what you think about the magic choice and the direction the story's heading! Can't wait to see your input.