Chapter Fifteen: The Echo of the Forge
The next morning, Izuku woke with a sense of urgency buzzing in his chest. The forge's hum was quieter now, but its presence lingered like an echo, as if it were waiting for him to take the next step. He wasn't sure what that step was yet, but he knew he couldn't delay any longer. Whatever was coming, it was closing in fast.
After grabbing a quick breakfast, he made his way to the workshop to meet Mei and Momo. The lab was already alive with energy when he arrived—Mei was tinkering with a new gadget, her hands moving with practiced precision, while Momo stood nearby, reviewing a set of schematics on her tablet.
"Morning, Midoriya!" Mei called out without looking up, her goggles firmly in place. "You're just in time! I've been working on something *amazing*—you're gonna love it!"
Izuku managed a small smile as he approached. "Good morning, Hatsume-san. Yaoyorozu-san."
"Good morning, Midoriya-san," Momo said, glancing up from her tablet. Her expression softened as she noticed the tension in his posture. "You look… determined. Did something happen?"
Izuku hesitated, glancing between them. He hadn't told them everything about the forge yet, but he could feel the weight of the truth pressing down on him. If he wanted their help—if he wanted to protect them—he couldn't keep holding back.
"I think… we need to talk," he said finally, his voice quiet but steady. "About the forge. About what's been happening."
Mei paused her work, pushing her goggles up onto her forehead. "Ooh, this sounds serious. Spill it, Midoriya!"
Momo set her tablet down, her gaze focused and attentive. "We're listening."
Izuku took a deep breath, his hands clenching at his sides as he tried to organize his thoughts. "The forge… it's not just a power source. It's more than that. It feels… alive. Like it's connected to something bigger. And lately, it's been reacting to things—like during the simulation yesterday. I think… I think it's trying to warn me about something."
Mei tilted her head, her curiosity evident. "Wait, so it's like… a sentient energy thing? That's *so* cool! But also kinda creepy. What's it warning you about?"
"I don't know," Izuku admitted, his voice heavy with frustration. "But I can feel it. There's something out there, something dangerous. And it's getting closer."
Momo frowned, her expression thoughtful. "If that's true, then we need to be prepared. We can't afford to take any chances."
"That's why I need your help," Izuku said, his gaze earnest as he looked at both of them. "The Harmony Suit—what we're building—it might be the key to understanding the forge's power. But we have to make sure it's ready for anything."
Mei's grin returned, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You've got it, Midoriya! We'll make this suit so strong, it'll blow whoever's messing with you right out of the water! Or, uh, the shadows, or wherever they're hiding."
Momo nodded, her calm resolve a stark contrast to Mei's exuberance. "We'll do whatever it takes. You're not alone in this, Midoriya-san."
Izuku's chest tightened with gratitude, their unwavering support giving him the strength to keep moving forward. "Thank you. Both of you."
---
They spent the rest of the day working tirelessly, fine-tuning the Harmony Suit and running test after test to ensure its systems were stable. Mei's boundless creativity and Momo's meticulous attention to detail made for an unstoppable team, and Izuku found himself marveling at how seamlessly they worked together.
By late afternoon, they had made significant progress. The stabilizer module was now more efficient than ever, and the suit's energy output had been optimized to handle higher stress levels. But Izuku couldn't shake the feeling that they were still missing something—some critical piece of the puzzle.
As they wrapped up for the day, Mei suddenly clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with an idea. "Hey, what if we added an adaptive feedback system? Like, something that lets the suit adjust in real-time to the user's quirk! That way, it could handle anything you throw at it!"
Momo's eyes lit up, her mind already racing with possibilities. "That's an excellent idea, Hatsume-san. If we integrate a dynamic quirk interface, it could significantly enhance the suit's versatility."
Izuku nodded, his excitement growing. "Let's do it. If we can pull this off, it could be a game-changer."
Mei grinned, already reaching for her tools. "Alright, team—let's make some magic happen!"
---
That evening, as the three of them packed up their things and left the workshop, the air felt lighter somehow. Despite the lingering tension of the forge's warnings, Izuku couldn't help but feel hopeful. With Mei and Momo by his side, he knew they were on the right path.
But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the campus, Izuku felt a familiar chill run down his spine. The whisper returned, faint but unmistakable, echoing in the back of his mind.
The forge was stirring again. And this time, it wasn't just a warning—it was a call to action.
---
To be continued.