Chapter 81: Two Heroes Arc (5)
~Ren Y. POV~
[Sunset, I-Island, I-City, I-Island Academy]
After spending some time with the gang, we eventually departed, promising to meet up again at 6:30 PM for today's party. Fortunately, Melissa managed to give Shinso and Denki tickets to enter for their hard work, much to their joy.
Departing from the class left Melissa and me some alone time to discuss other things together. Judging from our conversation, she seems to admire me for how different our situations are.
The only difference is that while she gave up becoming a Pro Hero and decided to meddle with technologies for support items, I never gave up on my dream and worked hard to earn it. At least from her perspective.
Soon, she decided to show me her I-Island Academy and workshop as she showed me around in an excited tone, "This is the I-Academy campus, where I spend most of my time. Come inside I'll show you my own personal research laboratory."
Curtly nodding my head, I followed her inside the campus as we took a left in one of the corridors to reveal her laboratory. Everything looks to be completely fine although a bit messing with a bookcase and trophies.
Leading the way, she spoke in an embarrassed tone about her room, stating, "I'm sorry it's such a mess."
Gazing at the room, everything looks so professional. I was a bit envious as I spoke in an impressed tone, "Amazing. I can't believe you get to study in a place like this. You even have so many trophies; I suppose that is to be expected from you, Melissa. Both Shields are just plain geniuses."
However, she soon confessed that she was getting terrible grades in shyly addressing to be a hero in her way with the power of science. I laughed, clarifying in a proud tone, "Haha. You remind me of a friend of mine back at UA in the support course. I know he is a Quirkless friend who went through Quirk Discrimination like I have before I had a Quirk. He didn't seem like much since no one supported his dreams. But when he asked me if he could be a hero with a Quirk, you wanna know what I said?"
Melissa bobs her head, interested in my response as I cooly say, looking directly at her aqua eyes in a determined tone, "Even without a quirk, you can still be a hero. You just must work harder than anyone else to achieve your goal. Since when did Heroism require anything other than courage? With human ingenuity, nothing is impossible. Being a quirkless hero is the least of it!"
She looked a bit stunned by my words as she asked in a surprised tone, "That's what you said to him…? But why that phrase exactly, if you don't mind me asking? It's just I never heard of that idea before."
I nodded my head as I began to explain, taking a seat on the couch in her research laboratory in a serious tone, "Sure. Tell me, Melissa Shield, before the age of Quirks, when did Humanity as a whole start to rely on Quirks in the past? Quirks didn't invent modern architecture, weapons, or medicine. No… Humans did, even without any superpower!"
Gesturing as I pointed my index finger at my head, I clarified in a determined tone, stunning her of humanity's greatest strength, "The strength of humanity lies in our convictions and innovations! That's why we stand above every other creature on this planet. Humans had many weaknesses in the past, and yet we made sure to come out on top with our brains, creating new technology or tools to guide us further. Throughout humanity's history, we have bent nature to our will, and we didn't do it with a Quirk…"
Raising my hand, I turned into a fist in the air, expressing my point across her, I smirked as I finished off in a determined tone, "We had our own hands and through our hard work and innovation. Today, with technology, we have forced many things in history to work for us. With human ingenuity, nothing is impossible. Being a quirkless hero is the least of it! It's why I say Quirks don't make a hero that brains. Because I believe in the limitless potential that humans can accomplish with or without a superpower."
However, it seemed my words made her freeze in place, almost stunned. I blinked, heading towards her as I waved my hands to her face, asking in a concerned tone, "Whoa… Melissa, are you there?"
She seemed to have gotten out of her stupor, taking a step back and explaining in a stunned tone, looking at me differently, "Whoa… you certainly have a way with words and inspirational quotes. But… it does make me glad that there is someone who does believe in me that way."
Searching around her lab she soon presented something out of the box revealing her pride and joy in a happy tone, "Since I'm gonna help you out I have this support item I made a while ago after observing Uncle Might using his power."
She soon handed and wrapped around my wrist taking the form of a red wristband. There is a button in the center of the item that she suggests I activate.
Heeding her request, I activated the wristband as it activated the glove and shapeshifted it to form a fit around my forearm. Melissa soon informs me of the item in a happy tone, "As far as names go, I was thinking Full Gauntlet. When I saw you participate in the Villain Attack Attraction, I noticed your body glow with blue sparks of electricity. Uncle Might mentioned that's a telltale sign of using his Quirk, right? But you were limiting its power because his Quirk, even copied, is too strong, and therefore, your body can't handle its full power. I made the gauntlet strong so that it could withstand Uncle Might's punches 3 times. So, I think it'd be a perfect fit for you, too. You should be able to use your full power if you have it on."
I lifted the Full Gauntlet, gazing intently using my [Observe] skill on it. I nodded, appreciating the effects and craftsmanship in a genuine thankful tone, "For real? Then thank you very much, Melissa… it's quite ironic I don't have anything in return to thank you for this gift, Melissa."
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Item: Full Gauntlet
Rarity Item: B
Type: Support Gauntlet
Description: The Full Gauntlet is a support item invented by Melissa Shield and given to Ren Yuki. Inspired by All Might's brute strength, Melissa Shield invented a support item that could withstand his incredible power. In its sealed form, Full Gauntlet takes the form of a red wristband. There is a button in the center of the item that activates the glove and shapeshifts it to form a fit around the user's forearm using the shapeshifter theory and light conversion.
Full Gauntlet grants the user the ability to use three fully-powered [One For All] smashes without injuring the user. The gauntlet can also stabilize the user if he uses a smash lower than 100%, allowing him to utilize a lot more power than normal while donning [Full Cowl].
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She simply giggled at my response as she responded in a happy tone, leaning closer to me in the process, "Hahaha. I wouldn't be too sure of that, Ren Yuki. You've given me Quirk-like abilities I think that's more than enough to help me. Besides, I promised Uncle Might to assist you in anything you can, just like my father did for him."
Rubbing the back of my head, listening to that, I genuinely said in a nervous tone following me, "You know you don't have to. It's just All Might Sensei is obsessed with legacy and will. You don't have to follow his words if you don't want to, ya know?"
Seeing my confusion, she softly giggled as she dropped a bomb of information on me, listening intently in an excited tone, "I'm not that worried, mister. Plus, I owe you a lot now than I can ever do, granting me some inspiring words, and maybe my dreams of becoming a hero aren't in vain. What was it you said? Quirks don't make the hero only brains and courage do?"
I ultimately surrendered, allowing Melissa to follow me in a defeated tone of optimism, being encouraged by my words, "Sigh… welp me and my big mouth. But since you're following me then I'll show your faith in me isn't misplaced by the big man. Because I'm here and everything is going to be alright!"
She simply laughed at my bad impersonation of All Might, laughing at my cringe-worthy antics in a humorous tone, "Hahaha!!! Even meeting you, I can tell that was cringe what you did, Ren! I think Uncle Might does it better how about a different catchphrase for yourself?"
*Beep*
*Beep*
Soon I got a phone call from the phone opening to saw Ida's name on it my face flinched seeing the time. Shit I'm late, aren't I?
Sighing out loud, I clicked on my phone, answering in a nervous tone, and said, "Oh-h… hey Ida, how's it hanging – "
No sooner the four eyes scolded my sorry ass as he spoke in an offended tone, "What are you doing, Yuki?! It's way past when you were supposed to be here!"
Hearing from the other end explaining that they would be there shortly. Ending my call, I spoke up in a shameful tone, "Well… I guess time flies by when we're having fun, I guess. Do you need me to make you a dress with my Quirk?"
Melissa simply shook her head as she explained, going into her nearby drawer in her lab in a confident tone, she responded, "No need. A good scientist is always prepared, and a good lady must always have a presentation at the ready. See."
*Thud*
Showing in one of her closets to be safety lab coats and clothing, I got her point curtly, nodding in a nonchalant tone, "Okay, fair point. Guess it won't be hard for me to create one for my size."
*Shiii*
Using [Create], it was easy enough to create a suit for myself. The suit itself was simply a two-piece black suit with the sleeves normally rolled up, complete with black leather shoes and a white tie and handkerchief in the breast pocket along with black pants to compliment the outfit.
But soon Melissa asked me where I would put my Morphing Band in a curious tone, "Are you bringing your hero costume to the party?"
I shook my head as I explained it would be too disrespectful to join a party with my Hero Costume so I decided to try and – huh?
[Ding!]
[The use of the skill [Sub-Space] is unusable while within I-Island due to their natural spatial generators that prevent Space Quirk users from entering or exiting this land!]
I blinked, somewhat surprised, as I asked Melissa in a stunned tone, "Well… I didn't expect this place to have spatial generators that stop me from using my space-based skills. That's a first?"
Hearing my question explained to Melissa, I tried to use my [Sub-Space] to store my Morphing Band her eyes widened in realization. She quickly explained in a neutral tone, sounding sorry, "Oh! Right, I forgot to mention this: while Quirk usage is allowed, the only ones that aren't are Space Quirks. It would be very bad for I-Island if it were attacked by a villain with a Quirk leading the charge, hence the spatial generators disrupting any Space Quirks interfering with them. I apologize for not notifying you in advance about this."
Ah… that makes sense. Sort of…
But I suppose that leaves me down [Wormhole], my teleporting Quirk out of the game while I'm in I-Island. Fuck… this is gonna suck when the movie Two Heroes throw down with the villains.
Welp. I might as well keep my hero costume on me just to be prepared for what's to come.