"Huh? Igarashi, Uraraka, are you here too?"
Iida froze in surprise when he saw Igarashi Masata and Chacha standing inside the Development Studio.
He hadn't even noticed when they had left the training ground.
Although he was happy to meet his classmates here, he couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Why was Masata looking at him with such a strange expression?
Iida suddenly felt a bad premonition.
From past experience, whenever Masata stared at someone like that, something bad usually happened next.
"Yo, Iida," Masata said with a bright smile as he walked over. "So, what kind of upgrade are you planning for your battle suit?"
His tone was far too enthusiastic.
Iida felt even more nervous.
"Well… in my case," Iida replied honestly, "I want to reduce the negative effects caused by engine overheating. So I'm hoping the teacher can strengthen my cooling system."
He adjusted his glasses seriously.
"I believe that will improve my overall performance."
Before Iida could say anything else, Masata suddenly disappeared from in front of him.
"Huh?"
Iida turned his head in confusion.
He saw Masata had already run over to a pink-haired girl and was whispering something excitedly.
"…Isn't that Hatsume Mei?" Iida muttered.
As the only Support Course student who had made it far in previous competitions, Hatsume Mei had left a strong impression on him.
He recognized her immediately.
At that moment, Masata leaned close to her and said something quietly.
Hatsume Mei's eyes suddenly lit up.
They sparkled like she had just discovered a priceless treasure.
She stared straight at Iida.
Completely locked on.
Iida's heart skipped a beat.
"…Why do I feel like I'm being targeted?" he thought nervously.
A strange sense of danger washed over him.
"Um… Super Excavator Teacher?"
Iida tried calling out to the teacher, who was deeply absorbed in reading manuals.
No response.
The teacher was completely immersed in thought.
"I'll help you!"
Suddenly, Hatsume Mei rushed forward excitedly.
"I just happen to have a baby that's perfect for you!"
Before Iida could react, she had already taken out a strange device from her toolbox.
Then—
Click!
She directly strapped it onto his arm.
"W-Wait! What are you doing?!"
Iida panicked.
"This is my thirty-sixth baby!" Hatsume Mei announced proudly. "A super-cooled electron accelerator! It boosts cooling efficiency to the maximum! Isn't it cute?!"
She looked extremely satisfied.
"No, no, no!" Iida waved his hands desperately. "That's not what I meant! And why did you put it on my arm?!"
Unfortunately, Hatsume Mei completely ignored him.
"The acceleration function is activated!"
She casually pulled out a small remote and pressed a button.
Beep.
VROOOOM!!!
The device suddenly roared to life.
A massive burst of compressed gas exploded outward.
"AHHHHH—!"
Iida didn't even have time to scream properly.
He was blasted straight into the air.
Boom!!!
His body slammed into the ceiling, leaving a huge dent in the metal surface.
Dust scattered everywhere.
"…Oh."
Hatsume Mei blinked.
"It seems the output is a bit too strong. Needs adjustment."
She immediately pulled out her notebook and began scribbling enthusiastically.
"Reverse thrust data… impact force… structural stress…"
Meanwhile, Iida slowly slid down from the ceiling.
Thud.
He collapsed onto the floor weakly.
"My… my engines… are in my legs…"
Only now did everyone hear what he had been trying to say earlier.
Hatsume Mei tilted her head.
"Of course I know."
Then she smiled innocently.
"But don't you think it's cool if you can run with your hands too?"
"…Run with my hands?"
Iida froze.
His brain stopped functioning.
Masata clenched his teeth hard to keep from laughing.
If Iida really ran on all fours, wouldn't he look like a mouse?
No wonder this chapter was called "Mouse Iida."
Hatsume Mei was terrifying.
Finally, the noise woke up the Super Excavator Teacher.
He turned around and saw the chaos.
"…Hatsume."
His veins bulged.
Bang!
He knocked her lightly on the head.
"How many times have I told you not to test dangerous prototypes on students?!"
"I'm sorry~!" Hatsume Mei replied lazily.
But she didn't look repentant at all.
She had already started disassembling the device.
The teacher sighed helplessly.
"I really should forbid you from entering the lab someday…"
Hearing this, Hatsume Mei finally looked slightly worried.
Being banned from experiments was her worst nightmare.
Turning around, the teacher apologized to everyone.
"I'm very sorry. This child is… a little too obsessed with inventions."
"A little?" Masata thought silently.
Then the teacher continued seriously:
"But if you want to become professional heroes, you'll eventually work with people like her."
He pointed toward a huge pile of discarded machines in the corner.
"That mountain of scrap is all backup equipment she developed since enrolling."
"Even during vacations, she stays here experimenting."
"I've taught Support Course for many years. Hatsume Mei is… a special case."
Masata looked at the massive pile.
It took up nearly a third of the laboratory.
"…She's an invention maniac," he muttered.
His view of Hatsume Mei changed completely.
He had thought she was just a playful troublemaker.
Now he realized—
She was someone who lived entirely for invention.
People like her might offend others sometimes.
But they would definitely succeed in their field.
Meanwhile, the Super Excavator Teacher had already taken Chacha aside.
"Student Uraraka, let's take a look at your battle suit design."
"Yes, sir!"
They began discussing modifications seriously.
Masata had nothing to do for now, so he wandered back toward Hatsume Mei.
She was reading a thick stack of materials.
"What are you reading?" Masata asked.
Without looking up, Hatsume Mei replied casually:
"Special combat uniform manufacturing techniques."
That caught Masata's attention.
He leaned closer.
The title on the document read:
"Production Methods for Quirk-Adaptive Combat Uniforms."
His eyes widened.
Because of his magma quirk, Masata's clothes were always getting destroyed.
He practically didn't have a proper battle suit.
After every fight, he needed new clothes.
It was extremely troublesome.
"A combat uniform that can adapt to quirks…"
His heart beat slightly faster.
That was exactly what he needed.
"I say…"
Masata hesitated for a moment, then spoke seriously.
He began explaining his own problems with equipment and durability to Hatsume Mei.