Chapter 23 – Curiosity Can Be Dangerous
Izuku's gaze became sharp and attentive as he heard Yagi's question. The fact that he also used the first name Izuku, earned by serving in the Adeptus Custodes, may indicate that this is something very important and cannot be taken lightly. It might mean that he is not asking him as a person, but as a member of the Ten-Thousand.
«What exactly do you need, Toshinori Yagi-dono?» Izuku asked more formally
«I'd like your help in training, Melissa.»
Izuku raised his right eyebrow, his attention piqued, but aware that there was much more to it, as Yagi had made a similar request.
«Train her?» he asked firmly «What aren't you telling me?»
«...What I'm about to tell you must stay between us. Nobody needs to know.»
After nodding, Yagi began to speak. Apparently, All-Might’s Quirk is hereditary in a different sense than genetic. One For All, his Quirk, can be passed from one person to another simply by ingesting an element containing the current user's DNA, such as blood, saliva, sweat, or hair. Obviously, this "legacy" must be desired by the latter and accepted by the recipient because if it were enough to ingest even a single drop of blood or sweat from the current vessel, everyone could become an All-Might.
However, this Quirk can grant the owner enormous amounts of raw energy, capable of exponentially enhancing strength, speed, agility, and resilience.
«Uncle All-Might once generated enough compressed air to alter the climate.» Melissa interjected proudly.
Although the statement made Yagi cough up blood from the sudden and proud intrusion, he continued the explanation. Apparently, Melissa is still unable to fully utilise the Quirk because her body isn't robust enough to withstand the raw energy, which often results in broken limbs. If another USJ were to occur, Melissa wouldn't last long.
«I understand your concern and logic.» Izuku said once the explanation was finished «But it seems to me that it's not just to give her more autonomy, that you asked me to help you train her.»
«...My time as the Symbol of Peace is waning.» Yagi continued «Now that Melissa has inherited One For All, I'm weakening quickly and therefore won't be able to fill the same role I had before.»
«……...The UA Sports Festival.» Izuku stated, reaching a sudden understanding «You subtly want to announce to Japan that Melissa is your replacement.»
«Exactly. People need to understand that I am not eternal.»
«I think that's stupid.» Izuku sighed, making Yagi cough up more blood
«W-what would you like to say with this?!» Yagi snapped as Melissa tried to wipe the blood from his mouth
«Let me be clear, I didn't say this with the intention of offending someone.» Izuku began, sighing again and raising his index finger «But to try to make you understand my point: the Sports Festival is a huge tactical mistake. Simply put: it's as if future Heroes are selling their next adversaries information about their strengths and weaknesses.»
«Ugh.»
«Furthermore, although strategically, the festival has value in ensuring a certain stability and security for the population; we don't know the true objectives of that Shigaraki guy.» he resumed, raising the middle finger «We don't know if the real reason to kill you was just to deprive Japan of its Hero Number One. I don't know the details, and I'm in the dark about pretty much everything, but I think there's more to it, and now that you've told me about One For All, the Quirk might be the keystone to the whole reason for that reconnaissance in force.»
Izuku's two arguments were valid. Of course, he has no intention of interfering with the programs that the school and All-Might have already drafted, but since the latter formally asked him for help, he felt it necessary to make him aware of the possible dangers. What he didn't say, since he has no evidence and it's just theories, is that he fears someone might be pulling the strings, that Shigaraki is not the real leader of that group of freaks.
«Anyway...» Izuku resumed, lowering his hand «I accept your request for help and will make the most of the two weeks available before the Festival begins.»
«Thank you so much!» Yagi exclaimed, bending over at 90°
*****
So, now I have to prepare a training course for Melissa Shield, huh? Izuku thought, heading to the Development Studio, where his desk and chair should have been finished. Furthermore, it is the place where his armour, the Paragon Spear and the Misericordia are momentarily kept. Nezu ensured classroom safety, but Izuku still trusts him to a certain extent. So, in the little time left for his lunch break, he wanted to check how they were "being kept safe."
In front of the classroom door, composed of two thick steel doors, he was about to knock
«H-Hatsume! Don't touch it!!!» a male voice exclaimed worriedly from the other side of the door.
«Come on, Power Loader-sensei, aren't you curious to know what this little guy is hiding?»
«...I admit I'm curious, but its owner specifically said-»
«Its owner is not here, so eye does not see, heart does not ache, no?»
I have a terrible feeling. Izuku thought by listening to the conversation because of his keen hearing.
Without hesitation, he knocked on the door, but due to the sudden bad feeling, he hit too hard, and one of the steel doors was broken off towards the inside. The room is filled with various tools, materials, and machinery, likely used to develop costumes for Heroes and young aspiring Heroes. But other than that, what he saw immediately sent shivers running down his spine.
A rather short girl of mature build, with salmon pink hair, shoulder-length and styled in thick rastas, had brought work tools with her near Izuku's armour. The girl's wide eyes turned on him; her green-yellow irises, with a cross in the centre, sparkled with curiosity, very dangerous to his armour. She wears a simple black tank top, a workshop suit tied casually around her waist, and protective glasses.
He didn't know why, but Izuku thought he saw drops of sweat falling from the auramite of his armour, perfectly placed on a dummy. But above all, in self-defence, he noticed how the Machine Spirit had awakened to the immediate danger and activated its powerful refracting fields.
Is that girl… a machine pervert?!
«Don't touch Aegis of Fortitude, little girl.» Izuku stated with icy authority
«A-ah, Midoriya-san» Power Loader spoke, seeing him «I was waiting for you. You're here for the desk-»
«Before you continue, Power Loader-Sensei, immediately remove that girl from my companions. I can hear the Machine Spirit of my armour screaming for help and mercy all the way here.»
«Machine Spirit?» Power Loader whispered incredulously, then, shaking his head «Come on, Hatsume, the owner is here and clearly doesn't want his armour touched.» he stated firmly, then grabbed her and dragged her away, while Hatsume looked bored, probably because she had been denied her entertainment.
With quick steps, Izuku stood in front of his armour, his faithful companion, to make sure that no harm had been done to it. Seeing that he had arrived in time, Izuku breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time he was troubled as the helmet's lenses lit up, a sign that, as he had seen, the Machine Spirit had awakened to respond to a danger. He gently touched the breastplate of the armour, feeling the repulsive energy of the refracting field.
«Machina Spiritus, filius Omnissiah, nata in Aegis Fortitudinis, vocem meam audi et in ea consolationem invenies. Quod tibi minatur rejectum est. Quietem tuam conturbasti damnatus est. Seda iram tuam et sollicitudinem tuam, adiuva salutem metalli tui.» (Machine Spirit, son of the Omnissiah, born in Aegis of Fortitude, hear my voice and find comfort in it. What threatens you has been repelled. What disturbed your rest has been condemned. Calm your anger and worry, find refreshment in the safety of your metal.) spoke in High Gothic
Slowly, the refracting field deactivated, and the Machine Spirit of his armour went back into standby, waiting to be awakened when it was time to return to support and defend his protégé. Izuku turned to the girl, his gaze irritated and condemnable, sending a shiver running down the young woman's back.
«Aegis of Fortitude is not a toy, girl.»
«I wasn't doing anything wrong.» she said with the same bored expression «I just wanted to study it to improve my children.»
«Children?» Izuku began by raising an eyebrow «Are you referring to that half-destroyed pile of machinery?» he asked, pointing to a stack of gadgets placed in a corner of the room
«Some need revisions, but if I analysed that armour-»
«Its name is Aegis of Fortitude» Izuku said, sighing. «It saved my life more times than you can imagine, and most importantly, it was built with ancient technologies and techniques that could harm society as a whole. Do you understand what I'm saying, girl?»
«My name is Mei Hatsume.» the girl said «And I don't understand what would be so harmful about understanding how that armour works.»
«...» I feel sorry for her "children" «Do they have a name?»
«Huh?»
«Does one of your 'children' have a name?»
«Why should I give it a name? They are tools that help Heroes. Why name them if they can end up destroyed?»
Izuku turned his gaze to Power Loader. A short, thin man with spiky red hair that reaches just over his shoulders. His hands appear to be the largest part of his body, disproportionate to his petite build, and because of his Quirk, they have an orange L-shaped part at the end of each finger. He wears a large yellow helmet shaped like a rectangular excavator claw, resembling a T-Rex's head. The bare torso wears a pair of large, fingerless grey gloves with metal guards that extend down his arms, along with simple cyan pants.
Sensing Izuku’s gaze at him, Power Loader shivered slightly. It wasn't a shiver of fear, but of embarrassment, as he understands what Izuku wants to communicate, but at the same time, he can't fully understand why giving "names" to the support tools. Not that Izuku blames him for this, since even in the 41st millennium, names are given to revered, ancient weapons and armour, built with the full dedication of Techpriests or centuries-old craftsmen, and with an extremely powerful Machine Spirit whose character has been tempered on the most varied battlefields.
«Until you understand why I asked you if they have a name, you are not even worthy of looking at Aegis of Fortitude.» he stated gravely, "Power Loader-sensei, please me and create a self-propelled armour safe that will not allow anyone except me to access it. I intend to take home Aegis of Fortitude, Mercy and the Misericordia. The sooner the better."
«Yes, I understand Midoriya-san.»
«If you need me for the construction details, let me know; in the meantime, I'll take the desk and chair I came for.»
With a nod, Power Loader grabbed Mei by the arm and carried her away, even though she couldn't understand the reason for the reaction.
Just before Power Loader left, Izuku had noticed those micro-changes in the professional Hero's posture and aura. Despite hiding his face, Izuku cannot fail to notice the displeasure of a craftsman who finds inspiration in the art of others. His armour, “Aegis of Fortitude”, the Paragon Lance “Mercy”, and the Misericordia, in all likelihood, are among them because they are both superb works of art and extremely functional instruments. The perfect balance between beauty and practicality.
In all likelihood, it was by pure chance that Hatsume discovered the armour. Izuku looked at his old companion, sighing I'm sorry for Power Loader, but if one of his students is so dedicated to putting the cart before the horse, then this place is not as safe as Nezu assured me. Curiosity isn't a bad thing, but it can be as dangerous as it is lethal. He thought, looking with concern at “Aegis of Fortitude”.