**Chapter Six: The Ripple Effect**
The aftermath of the Support Course exhibition was a whirlwind. As the crowd roared in approval and the pro heroes exchanged murmured assessments, Izuku couldn't shake the lingering weight of the shadow he'd felt during the demonstration. The pendant against his chest had cooled, but its earlier warning burned fresh in his mind.
Back in the Support Course preparation room, Mei was already combing through the Harmony Suit's data, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Did you see how it handled Mirio-senpai's quirk? And then how it adapted to Hadou's energy output? It's like—like it was alive!" She spun toward Izuku, her goggles askew. "Midoriya, we made history today!"
Izuku smiled faintly, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Something about the way the training robots malfunctioned didn't sit right with him. It wasn't just a technical glitch—he was sure of it. The surge of malevolent energy had been unmistakable. He reached up to touch the pendant instinctively, its cool surface grounding him.
"Yeah," he replied distractedly, "but we should double-check the logs from the control systems. Just in case."
"Aw, you worry too much!" Mei waved him off. "Everything worked out perfectly. Did you see how the crowd loved it? And the pros? We're gonna get so many collaborations after this!"
Izuku nodded absently, but his unease deepened. The forge's strange power had been put on full display today, and though it had saved lives, he couldn't ignore the potential dangers it carried. He glanced at the monitors still displaying footage from the event. Mirio's broad grin filled one of the screens, and Izuku felt a pang of guilt. The Harmony Suit had worked flawlessly, yes, but at what cost? If the forge's influence grew stronger, how much longer could he control it?
Before he could spiral further into his thoughts, the door to the preparation room slid open. A familiar figure stood in the doorway, his presence commanding as ever despite his unassuming civilian form.
"All Might!" Izuku straightened instinctively, his heart racing.
The former Number One Hero smiled his trademark reassuring smile, though there was a shadow of concern in his eyes. "Young Midoriya, do you have a moment?"
Mei barely glanced up from her workstation. "Take him! I've got adjustments to make anyway." She waved a wrench in their general direction, already lost in her own world.
Izuku followed All Might into the hallway, his nerves taut. The older man's steps were measured, his usual exuberance replaced with a contemplative air. Once they were out of earshot, All Might stopped and turned to face him.
"You did exceptionally well today," he began, his tone warm but firm. "Not just in executing your design, but in thinking on your feet when things went wrong. That's the mark of a true hero."
"Thank you, All Might," Izuku said, bowing his head slightly. "But… the robots—something wasn't right. I think—"
"So you noticed it too." All Might's expression darkened. "There was an outside influence at play, I'm certain of it. The question is: who, and why?"
Izuku's breath caught. All Might's instincts were rarely wrong. If he'd sensed the same disturbance, then the situation was even more serious than Izuku had feared.
"Do you think it's connected to… them?" Izuku ventured, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn't need to say the name out loud. The League of Villains had been quiet lately, too quiet, and their history with U.A. was enough to put anyone on edge.
All Might's gaze sharpened. "It's possible. But we can't jump to conclusions just yet. For now, remain vigilant. And, Young Midoriya…" He hesitated, his piercing blue eyes softening. "Be careful with whatever it is you're working on. That suit of yours—it's remarkable, but there's something about it that feels… different."
Izuku stiffened, his hand brushing against the pendant again. "I'll be careful," he promised, though the weight of his words felt heavier than he'd intended.
All Might nodded, seemingly satisfied, and placed a reassuring hand on Izuku's shoulder. "You've come so far, my boy. Don't let the shadows dim your light."
As All Might walked away, Izuku stood rooted to the spot, his mind racing. The forge's power wasn't just a tool—it was becoming something more, something alive. The way it had resonated with Mirio, then adapted to the quirks of others… What if the forge wasn't just reacting to him but to everyone around it? What if it was drawing its strength from more than just his will?
---
Back in the preparation room, Mei had set up a holographic projection of the Harmony Suit's performance data. "Midoriya!" she called, waving him over. "You're not gonna believe this!"
Izuku forced his worries aside and joined her. The hologram displayed a series of intricate graphs and readouts, each one highlighting the suit's adaptability during the exhibition. But one section in particular caught his eye—a spike in energy output during the robot attack.
"That's…" He frowned, leaning closer. "That's not normal."
"Exactly!" Mei grinned, clearly unfazed. "The suit's systems were operating at 120% efficiency during that sequence! It's like the forge boosted everything in real-time."
Izuku's stomach churned. He'd suspected as much, but seeing the data confirmed it. The forge wasn't just enhancing his creations—it was amplifying them beyond their intended limits. And if he wasn't careful, that kind of power could become dangerous.
Before he could voice his concerns, the door burst open again, this time revealing Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire. The third-year trio radiated enthusiasm, their energy filling the room.
"Midoriya!" Mirio called, his smile as bright as ever. "That suit of yours is incredible! We were just talking about how it could revolutionize hero work."
"Yeah," Nejire chimed in, her voice lilting with curiosity. "The way it worked with all our quirks—it's like it was made for teamwork!"
Tamaki, quieter than his friends, nodded in agreement. "It felt… natural. Like it understood what we needed."
Izuku felt a swell of pride at their praise, but it was quickly tempered by his lingering unease. The Harmony Suit had performed beyond expectations, yes, but the forge's influence was growing. If it continued to evolve, what would it become?
"Thanks, everyone," he said, managing a small smile. "But there's still a lot of work to do. I need to make sure everything's stable before we move forward."
Mei snorted. "Midoriya, you're such a perfectionist. Lighten up! We're on the verge of something amazing here."
Amazing, Izuku thought, or dangerous.
---
That night, as the Sports Festival drew to a close, Izuku sat alone in his dorm room, the pendant resting in his palm. Its surface pulsed faintly, almost as if it were alive. He couldn't shake the feeling that today's events were just the beginning—that the forge's power was drawing attention from forces he couldn't yet comprehend.
The shadows were watching, waiting. But so was the light.
And Izuku Midoriya was determined to be ready when the time came.
---
End of Chapter Six.