Interlude: The Path Less Traveled
The morning of U.A.'s entrance exam dawned crisp and clear. Izuku stood before the massive gates, the pendant warm against his chest, reminding him of Aelios's words from the night before: "Remember, young forgemaster, true strength lies not in destruction, but in creation."
Unlike the other applicants heading toward the main battle center, Izuku made his way to a different facility—the Support Course examination area. The space was filled with workbenches, tools, and raw materials of all kinds. Other examinees were already there, some fidgeting with gadgets, others reviewing technical drawings.
Power Loader stood at the front of the room, his distinctive helmet gleaming under the fluorescent lights. "Welcome, future support specialists. Your task today is simple but challenging: create a solution to save civilians from a collapsed building scenario. You have three hours, access to our workshop, and a budget for materials. Show us not just what you can make, but how you think."
Izuku's hands trembled slightly as he approached his assigned workstation. This was different from his usual creations with the forge—he needed to demonstrate conventional engineering skills without revealing his secret abilities. The pendant pulsed gently, as if encouraging him to find balance.
He began sketching rapidly in his notebook, years of analyzing hero equipment flowing through his pencil. Around him, other examinees rushed to gather materials, but Izuku remained focused on his design. He knew from experience—both with the forge and without—that careful planning prevented costly mistakes.
His concept was ambitious but grounded: a modular rescue system combining a reinforced framework with expandable supports. It would allow heroes to create safe passages through debris while stabilizing surrounding structures. The design incorporated principles he'd learned from studying All Might's rescue techniques, but approached the problem from a support perspective.
As he worked, Izuku allowed just the smallest touch of the forge's influence—not enough to create anything supernatural, but just sufficient to guide his hands with unusual precision. Each component came together with careful consideration, each connection tested thoroughly.
"Interesting approach," Power Loader commented, passing by his station. "Most applicants go for more flashy solutions."
Izuku looked up from his work, wiping sweat from his brow. "The best support equipment shouldn't draw attention to itself, sir. It should just help heroes do their job effectively."
Power Loader's expression was unreadable behind his helmet, but there was approval in his voice. "Well said."
In the final hour, while others rushed to complete their projects, Izuku methodically tested his creation. The system deployed smoothly, each section locking into place with satisfying clicks. It wasn't the most spectacular device in the room—that honor belonged to an examinee who'd built a laser-guided cutting tool—but it was practical, reliable, and most importantly, safe.
When time was called, the judges moved through the room, evaluating each creation. They spent a long time at Izuku's station, testing the various components and reviewing his detailed documentation. One judge, a veteran rescue hero, seemed particularly impressed by the system's adaptability.
"You've considered multiple scenarios," she noted, examining his design notes. "And included safety redundancies. What inspired this approach?"
Izuku thought of all the times he'd watched heroes work, of the countless rescue operations he'd analyzed in his notebooks. "I wanted to create something that would help heroes save everyone," he replied simply. "Sometimes the most important innovations are the ones that prevent things from getting worse while other solutions are implemented."
Later that evening, as he walked home under a painted sunset sky, Izuku felt at peace with his choice. The hero course might have been his childhood dream, but the support course was where he truly belonged. Here, he could merge his natural analytical abilities with both engineering knowledge and the forge's gifts, creating tools that would help heroes save lives.
The pendant hummed in agreement, and Izuku smiled. Sometimes the most heroic path isn't the most obvious one—sometimes it's the path that allows you to lift others up, even if you remain in the background. And for Izuku Midoriya, that was more than enough.