Chapter Seven: Stirring Shadows
The days following the Sports Festival were a blur of activity. The Harmony Suit's performance had sparked an overwhelming response from heroes and industry representatives alike. U.A.'s Support Course was flooded with offers for collaboration, interviews, and inquiries about the suit's capabilities. Mei practically squealed with delight every time another email notification popped up, while Izuku found himself juggling excitement and apprehension.
Though the exhibition had been a success, Izuku's unease about the forge lingered. The pendant—its strange, humming presence—felt heavier now, as if the power within it was awake and… observing. He couldn't shake the sensation of being watched, even in the quietest moments.
"Midoriya!" Mei's voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. They were back in the workshop, surrounded by blueprints, schematics, and a scattered mess of tools. "We've got another meeting with Power Loader this afternoon. He wants to talk about integrating the Harmony Suit into other hero support systems! This could be HUGE!" She pointed dramatically at their prototype, her wide grin framed by her ever-present goggles.
Izuku forced a smile. "That's great news, Hatsume." His tone was distracted, though, and Mei immediately narrowed her eyes at him.
"Okay, spill it. What's eating you?" she demanded, crossing her arms. "You've been acting weird ever since the festival."
Izuku hesitated. Mei was brilliant, her passion for creating unmatched, but she didn't know about the forge or the pendant's strange power. How could he possibly explain something so… otherworldly? "It's nothing," he lied, waving a hand dismissively. "Just tired, I guess."
Mei's skeptical look lingered, but she didn't press further. "Well, whatever it is, snap out of it! We're on the verge of breaking into the big leagues here. No time for brooding!" She grabbed a wrench and dove back into her tinkering, muttering something about "adjusting the electromagnetic response."
Izuku sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Mei's enthusiasm was contagious, but it couldn't quiet the nagging voice in his mind. The forge wasn't just a tool anymore—it was something alive, and its presence was growing harder to ignore.
---
Later that evening, Izuku found himself wandering the U.A. campus. The late spring air was cool and crisp, the stars scattered like glitter across the dark sky. He needed time to think, to clear his head. His feet carried him to the training grounds, where faint lights still glowed from the nearby gym.
He wasn't alone.
"Midoriya-kun!" Ochaco's cheerful voice rang out, and he turned to see her jogging toward him, a warm smile on her face. Behind her, Iida followed, his posture as straight and proper as ever.
"What are you doing out so late?" Iida asked, adjusting his glasses. "Shouldn't you be resting after all the excitement of the festival?"
Izuku scratched his head sheepishly. "I just… needed some fresh air. It's been a lot to process."
Ochaco tilted her head, her expression softening. "You've been working so hard lately. That suit you made for Mirio-senpai was amazing! Everyone's been talking about it."
"Thank you," Izuku replied, his heart warming at her kind words. "But there's still so much to improve. It's not perfect yet."
"You always say that," Ochaco teased lightly. "But you're doing great, Midoriya-kun. Don't forget that, okay?"
Iida nodded in agreement, his voice firm. "Indeed! Your dedication to your craft is admirable, but do not let it consume you. Even support heroes need proper rest and balance."
Izuku smiled faintly, appreciating their support more than they probably realized. "Thanks, you two. I'll try."
As they chatted, a faint rustling sound caught Izuku's attention. He froze, his instincts flaring. His hand instinctively brushed against the pendant beneath his shirt, the cool metal seeming to hum in response.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, scanning the shadows at the edge of the training grounds.
Ochaco frowned, glancing around. "Hear what?"
Before Izuku could answer, the rustling grew louder, and a dark shape emerged from the treeline. At first, it looked like a stray training robot—its metallic frame glinting faintly under the moonlight. But as it stepped closer, Izuku's stomach churned. This wasn't one of U.A.'s standard machines.
Its movements were jerky, unnatural, and its eyes glowed with an eerie red light. Something about it felt… wrong. The same malevolent energy from the Sports Festival prickled at the edge of Izuku's senses.
"Midoriya-kun," Ochaco whispered, her voice tense. "What is that?"
"I don't know," he admitted, stepping in front of her and Iida instinctively. "But stay back. I'll handle it."
The pendant flared against his chest, its warmth spreading through him like a pulse. He didn't have the Harmony Suit with him, but the forge's power stirred, urging him forward.
The robot lunged without warning, its speed unnatural for its bulky frame. Izuku barely had time to react, dodging to the side as its claws slashed through the air where he'd stood moments before.
"Ochaco! Iida! Get help!" he shouted, his voice firm. "This isn't normal!"
"But—" Ochaco began to protest, worry etched across her face.
"Go!" Izuku insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Reluctantly, Ochaco and Iida turned and ran toward the main building, leaving Izuku alone with the rogue machine. He didn't know what he was dealing with, but he couldn't let it reach the campus or the dorms.
The robot attacked again, its movements erratic but devastatingly precise. Izuku dodged and weaved, his mind racing. Without any support gear or backup, he'd have to rely on his wits—and the forge. His fingers curled around the pendant, its warmth now almost searing.
"Okay," he muttered, taking a deep breath. "Let's see what you can do."
The forge's power surged through him, not overwhelming but steady, like a guiding hand. His vision sharpened, his instincts heightened. He moved with precision, avoiding the robot's strikes and searching for a weak point in its design.
And then he saw it—a faint crack in the machine's chest plating, just above its power core. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
Gathering his courage, Izuku launched himself forward, dodging the robot's clawed swipe and landing a solid punch directly on the crack. The forge's energy flowed through him, amplifying his strength. The impact sent a shockwave through the machine, and it staggered backward, sparks flying.
Before it could recover, Izuku struck again, this time delivering a focused burst of energy directly into its core. The robot shuddered, its red eyes flickering, before collapsing in a heap of broken metal.
Panting, Izuku stepped back, his heart racing. The forge's power retreated, leaving him feeling drained but victorious.
Moments later, Ochaco and Iida returned, accompanied by Aizawa-sensei and several other staff members. Aizawa's sharp eyes took in the scene immediately, his scarf coiling around him like a predator ready to strike.
"Midoriya," he said, his voice low but commanding. "Explain."
Izuku swallowed hard, his mind scrambling for the right words. But as he opened his mouth to speak, his gaze fell on the shattered remains of the robot—and the faint, glowing symbol etched into its frame.
A symbol he recognized.
The shadows were moving, and whoever was behind this attack was sending a message.
---
To be continued.