When he first made his request, he only provided the necessary requirements, leaving the design, technology, and all other details entirely up to her. In all honesty, he probably never even expected her to make it in the first place, considering how absurd his specifications were. Just getting the necessary permissions to construct these two had been a gruelling task. If it weren’t for the powerful family backing, she had, she wouldn’t have even been allowed to attempt something of this calibre. That alone was proof of how dangerous these weapons were.

  Most likely, Shin had only given her such a challenge to push her toward growth. As the saying goes, if one aims for the sun, even if they fail, they’ll at least reach the stars. In a similar manner, he probably wanted her to strive toward an impossible goal so that even if she fell short, she would still achieve something remarkable. And for that, Momo was truly grateful. If not for his challenge, she wouldn’t have pushed herself this hard during her internship on I-Island.

  She thought back to when she first arrived at I-Island. It was hard to believe nearly a month had already passed. Back then, she had been filled with excitement, eager to expand her knowledge, gain exposure to groundbreaking technology, and contribute her own ideas. But that enthusiasm had been crushed almost immediately. Instead of getting the chance to work on an exciting new project with renowned inventors, she had been assigned to repair work.

  The monotony of the task frustrated her immensely. She had no freedom to innovate, no opportunity to add improvements—she simply had to follow given instructions. But rather than waste time sulking, she took a different approach. She started recreating every damaged part herself and replacing them. The process was exhausting, as the workload was immense. What she didn’t realize at the time, however, was that her supervisor had recognized the incredible potential of her Quirk and had deliberately set this task to teach her some invaluable lessons—albeit in a roundabout way.

  The first lesson was learning to use her Quirk efficiently. She discovered that instead of creating everything from scratch, it was best to only generate complex structures or components made from rare materials. Everything else could easily be sourced, reducing both effort and time. Secondly, through handling repairs, she unintentionally gained an in-depth understanding of the intricate structures of various key technological components—an invaluable asset since her Quirk required her to have a detailed grasp of whatever she wanted to create. Lastly, the repetitive work refined her ability to precisely assemble small parts, allowing her to construct things even without knowing their function or internal structure—something her Quirk alone couldn’t achieve.

  And all of this happened within just four days. After that, she was finally given the opportunity to contribute to a proper project: designing a hero costume for a pro hero based in China.

  This hero had a mutant-type Quirk that functioned like a living volcano. His dark brown, tectonic plate-like skin was lined with cracks, through which flames constantly flickered. His hands, feet, and even his head were perpetually engulfed in fire, making him a truly fearsome figure. He was widely known by the name ‘HeatBlast’.

  He needed a hero costume because, ever since awakening his Quirk, his body had begun naturally generating extreme levels of heat, making it impossible for him to live among ordinary civilians. Momo was able to make significant contributions to the project, drawing from past experience—specifically, the time she had helped Mei from the Support Course develop a specialized suit for Toru Hagakure, her own classmate.

  That had taken place roughly a week before the internships started. Mei had been completely stumped on how to create a suit that would turn invisible along with Toru’s body. By sheer coincidence, Momo happened to visit the Support Course lab during that time and came across Mei struggling with the issue. Offering her vision, Momo suggested a specific method that could be used in the suit’s construction. That one suggestion sparked a collaboration between the two, and they worked closely together to develop the final design. The process gave both of them precious insights.

  Through this collaboration, Momo learned a lot about Mei. She was an absolute genius when it came to inventing, her mind constantly roiling around with innovative solutions to existing problems. However, she lacked full knowledge of already-existing technology—likely because she came from a middle-class background without access to elite education. Momo, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. She had received top-tier instruction from the best mentors, making her highly knowledgeable, but she lacked the raw creative instinct that Mei possessed. Working together, they helped fill each other’s gaps.

  During that time, Momo also got to know Toru better. Since Momo was responsible for the suit’s design, she needed to communicate with Toru frequently to understand her preferences and dislikes to ensure the design suited Toru perfectly. And this had led to a rabbit hole where Toru started sharing her budding feelings about Shin with Momo.

  And she really had chosen the worst possible person to confide in. After all, Shin was Momo’s boyfriend. Well, Toru couldn’t be blamed since neither Shin nor Momo had made their relationship public. Although some of their teachers probably had an inkling. Thankfully, Momo graciously listened to everything Toru wanted to disclose and even advised her on what to do going forward.

  After all, Momo never thought she would monopolize Shin’s attention and love. In the first place, her family was a polygamous one—it was just that her father had gone against the norm and remained only with her mother. From an early age, she had looked up to her grandfather, who had many wives, and it was kind of naturally ingrained in her that one day, she would be married off to someone who would have multiple wives.

  She was truly grateful to have met Shin and sincerely hoped to marry him. And she wouldn’t have minded at all if he went on to find more women. Especially after dating him, she understood his preferences and somewhat knew that for him, being monogamous was not a real possibility—at least, not if she wanted him to be happy. And making him happy was a must for her.

  For that reason, she chose to advise Toru on how to proceed. Well, beyond that, she couldn’t do much—after all, it would ultimately be Shin’s decision whether he wanted to be with Toru or not. And no matter what he chose, Momo would be happy either way.

  Anyway, coming back to the topic—after completing the first project involving the hero suit for that Chinese hero, she was given the freedom to choose which projects she wanted to participate in and contribute to. This was due to her significant contribution to her first official project. The scientists deemed her worthy of not just being an intern but being recognized as a fellow inventor.

  From that day on, she barely had any free time as she juggled various projects, learning a great deal from each one. For the second-to-last week of the internship, she was granted the opportunity to work on her own projects and could even request assistance from the experts she had collaborated with throughout her time there.

  The first project she tackled was creating a hero costume—or rather, a suit—for herself. She had wanted to change her costume ever since Shin had teased her about copying Midnight. Not that she particularly liked her current outfit, considering how much skin it exposed. At the time, she believed it was a necessity due to how her Quirk functioned. But now that she had gained more knowledge, she was determined to create a more conservative design.

  She initially considered making a retractable suit, something Shin had suggested before. However, she quickly scrapped that idea. She didn’t want to create something so simple—what would be the point of all her knowledge and growth if she didn’t push for something more advanced? With that in mind, she consulted several other innovators specializing in hero costumes and suit technology before beginning her design.

  Stolen story; please report.

  The concept behind her new suit was complex. She wanted to implement a feature that would allow certain parts of the suit to become intangible whenever she desired. This way, her hands could simply pass through the fabric to touch her skin, allowing her to create objects and bring them out without obstruction. However, no existing technology could achieve this intangible effect—or at least, none that she was aware of. So, she sought to replicate the effect in an entirely different way.

  Momo utilized nanotechnology to construct the suit, incorporating a feature that allowed it to seamlessly merge with the wearer’s skin. In essence, this would trick her Quirk into perceiving the suit as an extension of her body rather than a separate object. As a result, she would be able to use her Quirk even while touching the suit, rather than needing direct skin contact. This was the same concept she had suggested to Mei when designing Toru’s hero costume, as well as in other projects on I-Island that focused on custom suits for specific individuals. However, in Toru’s case, they had only used a rough adaptation of the method due to its high cost.

  Next, she integrated a storage function that allowed excess fat to be extracted and stored when her body had a surplus. Conversely, when her body fat was low, the suit could reinject the stored fat back into her system. Additionally, she incorporated a feature that enabled the suit to absorb fat from food simply by touch, purify it, and then store or transfer it into her body as needed.

  Finally, she added a transformation ability, allowing the suit to shift into any pre-programmed design based on the wearer’s preferences.

  Momo completed her custom suit within two days—without a single moment of sleep or rest. The speed at which she worked was nothing short of phenomenal, and the inventors on I-Island praised her for it. It was a testament to the tremendous growth she had achieved during her internship.

  After finalizing her costume, she turned her focus to Shin’s request. Throughout the internship, she had been constantly brainstorming ways to design it. By the time she officially started building, she had already mapped out nearly 90% of the concept. The remaining details? She improvised as she went. And after five days of relentless effort—alongside the assistance of top scientists who had taken an interest in working with her on the project—she finally completed the two works of art and technology that now lay before her.

  As she continued basking in joy and happiness, her phone—tucked inside the side pocket of her jeans—started vibrating. She grabbed it and saw that it was a call from her supervisor. Without hesitation, she picked up and said, “Hello? Miss Aya, what’s up?”

  “Really glad you picked up! I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday, but it seems you were too focused on finishing up that state-of-the-art weapon,” Miss Aya said before pausing for a moment. Then, with an excited tone, she asked, “Have you finally completed it?”

  “Yes, Miss Aya. I’ve finished it,” Momo responded joyfully. Then, she continued, “I’m sorry I didn’t pick up your call yesterday. But why did you call even though you knew I’d be focused on creating them? Is it something urgent?”

  “You don’t have to apologize for that,” Miss Aya replied quickly before resuming, “Well, I called to inform you about what you’ll be doing for the last week of your internship.”

  “Hmm... I thought I had the last two weeks for my own projects?” Momo asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

  “No... well, yes, that was the original plan. However, it’s been changed due to the excellence you’ve shown. Another reason for this change is the fact that, during your interview with me, you mentioned that you wished to be a hero and not just a pure inventor.” Miss Aya patiently explained, “So, I’ve decided that for the last week, you will be shadowing some Pro Heroes. Your task will be to understand their needs and wants while trying to create something useful for them. This will serve as a foundation for what you could do as a future battlefield supporter.”

  “What? I’ll be doing that?” Momo asked in surprise. “Then which Pro Hero will I be following?”

  “Well, you’ll get to choose from the options we provide,” Miss Aya clarified. “By the way, keep in mind that none of these heroes have actually requested anything to be created for them. In fact, we’re the ones asking them to take you in as a normal intern. So, it’s your responsibility to observe, analyze, and create something that will make them want to buy it from you—while also simultaneously learning from them.”

  “Oh? Is that how it works? I don’t mind. In fact, I love that challenge.” Momo replied confidently. “So, what are the options?”

  “I like that confidence of yours,” Miss Aya said with a chuckle. “There are three options. First, Endeavor and Best Jeanist, though you’ll primarily be under Best Jeanist. Second, Mirko, Mt. Lady, and Kamui Woods, with Mirko as your main mentor. Finally, the Wild Wild Pussycats and their four-member team. The heroes in each group will be working together for various reasons, which means you’ll get more exposure by being with them.”

  Momo carefully weighed the pros and cons of each option. The last option was immediately ruled out. While it had the highest number of heroes, none of them could compare to the ones in the first two options in terms of influence and skill. Then, she eliminated Endeavor because it would be extremely difficult to convince him to choose her creations over the numerous options already available to him.

  That left the second option as the best choice. It had the advantage of providing three mentors, plus it would be easier to convince Mt. Lady and Kamui Woods to accept her creations since they didn’t have massive funds to afford high-end gear. However, Mirko would be a challenge—getting her to approve anything would be tough. Still, Momo ultimately chose this option. Not only would she get to learn physical combat techniques from Mirko, who specialized in it, but she also knew that some of her classmates were interning under Mt. Lady and Kamui Woods. This meant she’d have the chance to meet them as well.

  After informing Miss Aya of her decision, she ended the call. She then took the two handguns and stored them inside the storage bracelet she had received after contributing to her first official project. This bracelet was a symbol of acceptance among the innovators on I-Island—everyone here had one. Outside of this place, however, finding something like it was nearly impossible.

  With that done, Momo walked toward the bathroom. Once inside, she made a strange hand gesture, and the clothes she was wearing dissolved into shimmering dust particles, which were then absorbed into her body. This made it clear that the outfit she had been wearing all along was actually the suit she had designed for herself.

  As she stood in the shower, completely bare, she clapped her hands. Instantly, water poured from the ceiling like rainfall. Letting out a small sigh, she loosened her ponytail, allowing her hair to fall freely down her back. Then, she sank into a long, relaxing bath—easing the fatigue that had built up from days of stressful, non-stop work.

  …

  A day later,

  Momo knocked on the door of a small abode that she had arrived at after a lot of searching. The house was deep within a small forest full of bamboo trees. It had been difficult to find, as even her supervisor didn’t know its exact location, only that it was somewhere in this area.

  The door opened, and the sight that greeted her made her eyebrows twitch. Standing in front of her was the famous heroine, Mirko, dressed in her trousers. However, what irritated Momo wasn’t Mirko’s appearance, but rather the state of the room behind her. It was an absolute mess, with everything in disarray. Clothes were strewn everywhere, and utensils were tossed about haphazardly.

  It seemed to Momo that Mirko didn’t care about cleanliness at all. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of indignation at the thought of the cleaning she would have to do to make this place liveable. After all, she would be staying here for a week.

  As Momo was contemplating this, Mirko finally recognized the young woman standing in front of her. She was wearing a sleek, form-fitting bodysuit, primarily white with black and red accents, creating a striking contrast. The suit had long sleeves and a high collar, giving it a structured, uniform-like appearance. The material looked smooth and shiny, resembling a glossy synthetic fabric.

  Mirko’s bunny ears perked up slightly as she nonchalantly voiced, “You’re quite early. I was just about to get ready to start my day.” She turned around and entered the house but not before turning back and saying, “Nice costume, by the way. It looks good on you.”

  Momo’s eyebrows rose at the unexpected compliment. “Thanks… Though I can’t say the same about the house I’ll be staying in for this week.”

  “Oh! Are you one of those clean types? Those who like everything in order?” Mirko responded, clearly unfazed. “Unfortunately for you, I don’t like to put effort into cleaning when I could be doing something more productive, like training or hero work.” She paused, then turned around with a grin. “Though if you want, you can clean it up. I don’t mind. Oh, by the way, my house only has this room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, so you’ll have to adjust. That includes the bed, too, since I only have one. You should be grateful it’s big enough for two, or else you’d be sleeping on the floor.”