The silence in the laboratory was absolute.
From her position against the wall, Yu watched the scene with an expression that shifted between incredulity and resignation. She had seen many strange things since Izuku entered her life, but this... this was a new level of scientific absurdity.
Melissa Shield, the brilliant engineer who had been helping them understand the evolution of Yu's Quirk, now stood before Izuku with cheeks the color of a ripe tomato. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides as she processed the question she had just heard.
"What... what did you say?" Melissa asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Izuku kept his hand extended in the air, completely serious.
"It is a scientifically relevant question," he repeated with the same professional calm as before. "Based on the data we gathered with Yu, areas with a higher concentration of nerves and adipose tissue respond better to my Quirk. And your anatomy suggests that..."
"I get it!" Melissa interrupted, burying her face in her hands. "You don't need to explain the... the logic behind it."
There was a moment of awkward silence. Yu cleared her throat from her corner.
"Melissa, nobody is forcing you into anything," she said in a surprisingly kind tone. "If you don't want to, we can find another way to..."
"No." Melissa's response was firm, though her face was still burning. She lowered her hands and looked directly at Izuku. "If we want to fully understand your Quirk, we need data. And if this is what's required to obtain it, then... it's fine."
Izuku blinked, genuinely surprised by her determination.
"Are you sure?"
"Completely." Melissa took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "But let's do it quickly, okay? Before I lose my nerve."
Yu let out a short laugh.
"That's the spirit. Though I have to admit, it's weird being on the other side watching this and not being the one getting felt up."
Izuku nodded, adopting his most professional expression. He approached Melissa slowly, giving her time to change her mind if she wished. But she stood her ground, even though her breathing had become a bit faster.
"I'm going to begin," Izuku announced, raising both hands.
"Go ahead," Melissa whispered, closing her eyes tightly.
Izuku's hands made contact.
And Melissa let out a small squeak.
"I'm sorry!" Izuku withdrew his hands immediately. "Did I hurt you?"
"No, no," Melissa denied quickly, opening her eyes. "It's just that... your hands are cold."
"Oh." Izuku rubbed his palms together to warm them up. "Better?"
"Yes, it's fine. Continue."
This time, when Izuku placed his hands on Melissa's breasts, she didn't scream. Instead, she let out a soft sigh as her face turned an even deeper shade of red, if that were possible.
For Izuku, the experience was completely different from what he had felt with Yu. Melissa was... well-endowed, but incredibly firm. He could feel the accelerated beat of her heart beneath his palms and the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her lab coat.
"Interesting," he murmured, starting to move his hands in gentle circular motions, as if kneading dough. "This is highly enlightening."
Melissa pressed her lips together, trying not to make any embarrassing sounds. Yu, from her corner, simply watched with amusement.
Izuku continued his analysis, kneading and molding gently while trying to detect any change in the flow of his Quirk. The scientific thoughts in his mind gradually began to mix with much less professional observations.
They are softer than I expected, he thought, completely absorbed in the task. The shape is perfect, really. Almost as if they were ergonomically designed to...
The sharp ring of his cell phone cut through his thoughts.
The three of them froze.
"Are you going to answer that?" Yu asked with a dry tone.
Izuku looked over to where he had left his phone on the workbench. He could see the name on the screen: Ibara Shiozaki.
"It's Ibara," he said, without moving his hands from their current position.
"Your student," Yu confirmed. "Then you should answer."
"But I'm in the middle of..."
"Answer the phone, Midoriya," Yu ordered firmly.
Melissa, whose face had reached a new level of crimson, nodded weakly.
"It's... it's okay. Just... don't mention what you're doing."
Izuku sighed and, keeping one hand in place, reached out with the other to grab the phone. He pressed the speakerphone button.
"Hello, Shiozaki-san?"
"Midoriya-sensei!" Ibara's cheerful and serene voice filled the lab. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
Izuku looked at Melissa, who was glaring at him while he had unconsciously continued kneading with his free hand.
"No, not at all," he lied shamelessly. "What's up?"
"I wanted to see how you were," Ibara explained. "We haven't had a chance to train together lately. I've been practicing some new moves I'd like to show you. I was wondering if you'd have time this week to help me perfect them."
While Ibara spoke, Izuku had started using both hands again without thinking; his attention was split between the conversation and the task in front of him. Melissa bit her lower lip, desperately trying to maintain her composure.
"New moves," Izuku repeated, his hands continuing their work. "What kind of moves?"
"I've been experimenting with creating more complex structures with my vines," Ibara explained enthusiastically, "like mobile cages and elevated platforms. But I'm still lacking refinement. Your guidance would be invaluable, Sensei."
"That sounds promising," Izuku said, now fully absorbed in his multitasking. One part of his brain processed the conversation with Ibara, while another meticulously cataloged every detail of his experiment with Melissa. "Have you tried varying the density of the plant fibers? You could create lighter structures that are just as strong."
"That's an excellent idea!" Ibara sounded genuinely excited. "I hadn't thought of that. How do you think I should start?"
As Izuku explained training techniques, his hands continued moving with a steady rhythm. Melissa had closed her eyes again; her breathing was more controlled now, though her face remained flushed.
Yu watched the whole scene with an unreadable expression. Seeing Izuku touch another woman like that while holding a perfectly casual conversation with his student was... surreal. And perhaps a bit annoying, though she wasn't ready to admit it.
"Control," Izuku continued, his fingers pressing gently on different spots, "isn't just about brute force. It's about precision and timing."
Ironic, Yu thought, he isn't even using his Quirk anymore.
"I understand," Ibara replied. "So, when could I visit? Maybe tomorrow after classes?"
Izuku paused, processing both the question and an interesting observation about Melissa's response to his current technique. His hands had stopped in a particular position that seemed to generate a stronger reaction.
"Tomorrow should work," he confirmed. "At four in the afternoon in the training gym?"
"Perfect. Thank you very much, Midoriya-sensei. Have an excellent rest of your day."
"You too, Shiozaki-san."
The call ended, and the lab fell back into silence.
Slowly, Izuku realized his hands were still in place and that Melissa was looking at him with a mix of embarrassment and something else he couldn't quite identify.
"Did you detect anything?" Melissa asked, her voice slightly raspy.
Izuku blinked, returning to the present moment. He withdrew his hands and took a step back, adopting his analytical expression while partially hiding that he had forgotten the initial reason for the contact.
"Nothing conclusive yet," he admitted. "Your Quirk didn't show signs of immediate evolution like Yu's. It might require more contact time or specific stress conditions. We'll need more tests."
"More tests," Melissa repeated with a sigh. "Of course."
Yu stepped closer, crossing her arms.
"Well? Did you learn anything useful, or did you just enjoy the experiment?"
Izuku looked at her with genuine confusion.
"The two are not mutually exclusive."
The brutal honesty of his response left Yu speechless for a moment. As Melissa adjusted her clothes and tried to regain some professional composure, Izuku found himself thinking about something else. The contact with Melissa had been... comforting. Soft yet firm, warm, and incredibly pleasant to the touch.
I wonder, he thought while putting his phone away, if it would actually be that comfortable to use something like that as a pillow. It could improve sleep quality. There are studies on the importance of a good surface for spinal health...
His mind drifted toward Yu. Technically, she wasn't exactly his girlfriend; they hadn't put an official label on what they had. But they had shared an incredible night, and she clearly felt something for him. She probably wouldn't object to such a simple request, right?
After all, he reasoned internally, it's for science. And health. Sleeping well is crucial for optimal performance.
"Midoriya." Yu's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Are you still with us?"
"Yes, sorry," he apologized. "I was thinking about..."
"I don't want to know," Yu interrupted him quickly. "Whatever you're thinking, keep it to yourself. Melissa needs to rest, and I need a very large coffee. This day has been too strange even by my standards."
Melissa nodded in agreement, still trying to process what had just happened.
The next day, the U.A. cafeteria was in its usual state of controlled chaos during lunch. The Class 1-A students occupied their usual table. Kaminari was trying to impress Jiro with static electricity tricks, Mineta was being Mineta until Tsuyu smacked him with her tongue, and Bakugo was screaming about something trivial.
Momo Yaoyorozu sat next to Ibara Shiozaki, both enjoying a relatively quiet meal amidst the background noise.
"Are you alright, Yaoyorozu-san?" Ibara asked in her characteristic gentle tone. "You've been pushing your food around without really eating it."
Momo sighed, setting her chopsticks aside.
"I'm sorry, Shiozaki-san. It's just that I've been thinking about my Quirk lately."
"Your Quirk?" Ibara tilted her head curiously. "Is there a problem?"
"Not exactly a problem," Momo chose her words carefully. "More like a... limitation that's frustrating me. My Creation requires lipids to function. The more complex the object, the more resources it consumes. During the last training exercise, I felt completely drained."
She took a sip of her tea before continuing.
"I've been trying to increase my caloric intake to compensate, but there's a physical limit to how much I can eat. In a real battle, I won't have time to stop for a snack. It's a significant tactical weakness."
Ibara listened intently, her green eyes reflecting genuine empathy.
"That sounds like a valid concern. Have you consulted with any of the teachers?"
"Recovery Girl gave me some nutritional advice," Momo confirmed, "but the truth is, this is an inherent limitation. There's no easy fix. Sometimes I wonder if..."
She stopped, shaking her head.
"If what?" Ibara encouraged her softly.
"If I'm actually using my Quirk in the most efficient way possible," Momo confessed. "I feel like there should be a way to optimize lipid consumption, to do more with less. But I don't know how."
Ibara remained silent for a moment, considering her classmate's words. Then, a small smile appeared on her face.
"You know, Yaoyorozu-san, I think I know someone who could help you with that. Midoriya-sensei."
Momo looked at her with interest.
"Really?"
"He is incredibly skilled at analyzing Quirks and finding ways to improve their use," Ibara said with a glint of admiration. "He helped me train before the entrance exam, and thanks to his guidance, I took first place."
"Midoriya-sensei," Momo murmured. "I've noticed he pays a lot of attention to everyone during training."
"He's very perceptive," Ibara confirmed. "And very dedicated. In fact, I have a training session scheduled with him this afternoon at four. If you want, you could come with me. I'm sure he'd be willing to listen to your concerns."
Momo considered the offer. It was true she had noticed how Midoriya constantly analyzed the students, always taking notes and offering advice. If he had helped Shiozaki reach first place, he clearly knew what he was doing.
"Wouldn't it be a bother?" she asked cautiously. "I don't want to interrupt your training."
"Not at all," Ibara shook her head. "Midoriya-sensei is always happy to help students. It's part of his nature. Besides, the more perspectives we have, the better the training will be for everyone."
"In that case," Momo felt a spark of hope, "I'd love to join you. Thank you, Shiozaki-san."
"It's a pleasure, Momo. And please, call me Ibara. If we're going to train together, we should be less formal."
Just then, a minor explosion rocked the cafeteria. Both turned to see Bakugo standing on his table, screaming at Midoriya about "useless techniques" and "real power."
Izuku, to his credit, simply continued eating his lunch with an expression of total boredom.
Bakugo is probably planning my death again, Izuku thought casually as he bit into his sandwich.
Four o'clock arrived faster than Momo had anticipated.
She found herself standing in front of the training gym with Ibara, both dressed in their U.A. gym uniforms.
"Nervous?" Ibara asked with a kind smile.
"A little," Momo admitted. "I'm not used to asking for help with my Quirk. I've always tried to solve things on my own."
"Asking for help isn't a weakness, Momo," Ibara reminded her. "It's a form of strength. Recognizing our limitations is the first step to overcoming them."
The gym doors opened. Izuku was there, dressed in simple athletic gear, his tablet in one hand and a towel over his shoulder.
"Shiozaki-san, punctual as always," he greeted with a smile. Then he noticed Momo. "Yaoyorozu-san, what a surprise. Are you here to observe?"
"Actually," Ibara intervened, "Momo has some concerns about her Quirk. I thought you might be able to offer some advice."
Izuku immediately adopted his analytical expression, his green eyes focusing on Momo with an intensity she found slightly intimidating.
"Problems with your Creation Quirk?" he asked directly. "Let me guess: excessive lipid consumption during prolonged combat and rapid metabolic fatigue, right?"
Momo blinked, stunned.
"How did you...?"
"I've been watching you during training," Izuku explained naturally. "Your Quirk is incredibly versatile, but it has a high metabolic cost. It's an obvious limitation. The question is how to help you with that."
He stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.
"Well, since you're here, we could make this a joint training session. Ibara can work on her new techniques while we discuss strategies for your Quirk, Yaoyorozu-san. How does that sound?"
Momo looked at Ibara, who nodded encouragingly, then back at Izuku.
"That sounds good," she said finally, feeling a sense of anticipation.
"Perfect." Izuku smiled, and for a moment, Momo could have sworn she saw a flash of something almost predatory in those green eyes. "This is going to be interesting."
*****
Author's Note: I might not look it, but I pulled an all-nighter to get this chapter out. I know I'm running behind. I finished posting about 30,000 words for the Immortal CEO rewrite two days ago, and that really slowed me down. I'm going to get some sleep, then I'll get back to work on the remaining Naruto chapters
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