Building Strength and Connections

Nezu tapped a finger thoughtfully, eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Before we conclude, Mr. Sugimoto, might you give me a demonstration of what your quirk can do? I'm especially curious about the 'Tinkering' aspect of the fruit you consumed."

Kai grinned, feeling the slight buzz of energy build in his hands as he channeled his quirk. "Of course. I'll need just a minute."

Reaching into his bag, Kai pulled out a few random items—an old, half-disassembled phone, some loose wires, and a pocket flashlight. Focusing his energy, he got to work, his hands stood still but within seconds the flashlight and phone parts began transforming, pieces coming together with surprising precision. The result: a small device with amplified light capacity, its beam now powerful enough to shine through the thickest fog.

Nezu's eyes gleamed with appreciation. "That's very impressive. I can see why you're aiming for Support."

Then, with a satisfied nod, Nezu's gaze shifted to the Kanga Kanga no Mi on the table. "And as for this fruit… I trust you wouldn't mind if I kept it here. I believe we have a staff member who could benefit from a touch of 'kangaroo' agility."

Kai smiled; more certain than ever he was in the right place. "It's all yours, sir."

As Kai left Nezu's office, his mind buzzed. He hadn't expected that he would run into Nezu before he'd even been accepted at U.A. University. Holding back felt like threading a needle; every answer he'd given felt slightly off-center.

So this is UA, Kai thought, taking in the pristine campus. A sense of purpose bubbled up alongside a hint of nervous energy. If this was just the start, he couldn't imagine what the real first day might be like.

Back in his apartment, Fenn shimmered into view as he shut the door behind him. "Well, look who's back from their big debut with the principal. How'd it go?"

Kai let out a breath as he dropped onto the bed, setting his bag beside him. "Better than I expected," he admitted, "but Nezu's sharper than I thought. I showed him a quick invention and left one of the Devil Fruits with him, so… yeah, he's definitely curious now."

"Impressive move, but you know this'll keep him watching," Fenn warned, his tiny arms crossed. "He's no lightweight."

Kai chuckled. "Yeah, I got that impression." Then he leaned back, folding his arms behind his head. "But that just makes it more exciting, right? He already believes the Quirk Awakening story, so the hard part's over."

Fenn nodded, a sparkle in his eye. "And soon you'll have plenty of chances to 'test' the system and learn more about this place. The actual term won't start until April, so you've got time to train, explore UA's offerings, and fine-tune those Devil Fruit abilities."

Kai's eyes lit up. This downtime could be the perfect chance to iron out any issues before classes started. "So what's the plan?"

Fenn raised his arms as if addressing an audience. "We'll get your system perfected, starting with some advanced training quests. But remember, subtlety first—UA's sharpest minds will be watching."

Kai smirked. "Bring it on."

Over the next several weeks, Kai threw himself into training. Mornings saw him at the gym, running through strength exercises while absorbing every drop of energy around him, his frame growing subtly more powerful with each session. Afternoons were for UA's workshops, where he tinkered with materials and refined his inventions, using the Tinker Tinker Fruit's abilities to give his devices extra edge while keeping his powers under wraps. On weekends he would explore everywhere he could think of, searching for new types of energy to use for empowered fruits.

It was on one of these outings walking around downtown Mustafu that he ran into Izuku Midoriya again.

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Kai was on high alert, his senses unconsciously tuned to pick up any traces of energy he could use. Mustafu's downtown area pulsed with life—quirks sparked here and there as heroes and civilians mingled, and for Kai, it was a target-rich environment for unique energies he could potentially harness.

He was deep in thought, mulling over ideas for his next fruit experiment, when he caught sight of a familiar green mop of hair a few steps ahead. Midoriya? Kai blinked, taking a moment to confirm it was him. The last time he'd seen Izuku was before the entrance exam, a quiet but impressively focused kid who'd left a strong impression in both of Kai's lives. Izuku was standing outside a bookstore, a couple of notebooks tucked under his arm, mumbling animatedly to himself as he scribbled something in a notebook.

Kai cleared his throat, grinning as he approached. "Hey, Midoriya! Still hard at work, I see?"

Izuku looked up, eyes widening as he recognized Kai. "Oh! Sugimoto, right?" His face broke into a nervous but genuine smile. "I didn't think I'd see anyone I knew today. How's… how's it going?"

Kai shrugged, giving a casual nod. "Can't stay idle, you know? I have been working on a few things myself. You?"

"I'm doing great. Thank you for the gift you gave me last time, I don't think I would've passed without it." Midoriya said, a blinding grin taking form.

Kai chuckled, feeling warmth at the compliment. "I'm glad it helped! I mean, you clearly put in the effort, too. You're the one who aced that practical part."

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks tinged with pink. "Well, I'm just trying to get better. Every day is a chance to learn something new." He glanced down at his notebooks, then back up, excitement glimmering in his eyes. "Speaking of which, I've been studying different quirks and their mechanics. There's so much to explore!"

"That sounds awesome," Kai replied, genuinely intrigued. "What have you found out?"

Izuku launched into an explanation, his voice animated. "There are so many quirks that blend well together, like how some heroes enhance each other's abilities in teamwork. It's fascinating! And the way different quirks can be combined for new techniques…" His words spilled out in a rush; the enthusiasm contagious.

Kai nodded, absorbing the energy. "That's a great way to think about it. The more you understand, the better you can adapt in battle or support situations. It's all about synergy, right?"

"Exactly!" Izuku beamed. "And I want to learn as much as I can so I can help others when it matters most." His gaze turned serious for a moment. "Like in the entrance exam, when we had to fight against those robots."

Kai smiled at his determination. "You've got the right mindset. Keep pushing yourself, and you'll go far." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "And if you ever need any help with tech or support gear, I'm your guy."

Izuku's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That would be amazing! I could use some tips on how to integrate gadgets into my fighting style."

"Anytime," Kai replied, feeling a spark of camaraderie. "Let's make sure to stay in touch. I think we could help each other out a lot."

"Definitely!" Izuku grinned, looking genuinely excited. "I'll see you around UA then!"

As they waved goodbye, Kai felt invigorated. Meeting Izuku reminded him of the community he was stepping into, a place where they could all grow together. The future was looking bright, and he thought he was ready for whatever challenges awaited him.

He had no idea how wrong he was.