Frostbite - Bakugo Katsuki x OC

Practice

The next day neither Sora or Deku could concentrate in their classes. Sora got bored of it at the middle of the day as she was headed to the direction of the Department of Support.

The corridors of U.A. High School's Support Department is a cacophony of noise - whirring machines, the clatter of tools, and the occasional burst of steam. Sora, her expression calm and unreadable, walks through the chaos with a quiet purpose. She has a specific request in mind. Sora's footsteps are nearly silent as she approaches Mei's workshop. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of oil and metal. Mei, with her wild pink hair and goggles perched atop her head, is hunched over a workbench, muttering excitedly to herself as she tinkers with a half-finished gadget.

Sora stands in the doorway for a moment, observing Mei's frenetic energy with a detached curiosity.

- Hatsume. - Finally, she speaks, her voice cool and even. Mei's head snaps up, her eyes wide with surprise and interest.

- Oh! Todoroki, right? Shoto's sister? - Mei's voice is bright, overflowing with enthusiasm. She hops up from her seat, nearly knocking over a pile of tools. - What can I do for you? Need something flashy? Something with a bang?

Sora meets Mei's gaze with a steady, icy stare, her tone devoid of emotion.

- I need glasses. Something that allows me to zoom in on distant objects. No unnecessary features. Just that.

Mei blinks, momentarily thrown off by Sora's bluntness, but quickly regains her composure.

- Zoom-in glasses? Simple enough! I've got just the thing - well, I can make it, anyway! I'll use a lightweight polymer, maybe add a microprocessor to sync with your neural signals, so you can control the zoom with a thought.

Sora listens without interrupting, her face impassive. She has no interest in the technical details, only the results matter. After a brief pause, she simply nods.

- Good.

Mei's excitement doesn't falter, though she can tell Sora isn't one for small talk. She picks up a tablet and starts sketching out designs at lightning speed.

- Okay, so just zoom-in, no HUD, no infrared. Got it! You'll be able to adjust the zoom with just a thought. And it'll integrate seamlessly with your hero suit. Anything else?

Sora shakes her head, her expression unchanged.

- No. Just make sure it's ready soon.

Mei grins, undeterred by Sora's curt manner.

- You got it! Give me a day or two, and I'll have a prototype ready. You can test it out and let me know if it needs any tweaks.

Sora turns to leave, satisfied that her request is understood. She pauses for a moment at the door, her back to Mei.

- Thank you.

Her words are flat, almost perfunctory, but Mei catches the subtlety - a quiet acknowledgment, even if it's delivered without warmth. Mei gives a thumbs-up, her grin wide.

- No problem, Todoroki! This is gonna be awesome!

Without another word, Sora exits the workshop, her steps as silent as when she arrived. She doesn't look back, her mind already focused on the next challenge ahead. To her, this was just another task, another step in honing her abilities. But she knows that with Mei's expertise, she'll soon have the tool she needs to sharpen her edge in battle.

Later that day

The moon hangs high in the sky, casting a pale, ghostly light over U.A. High School's training grounds. The night is quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the cool breeze. Most of the students are asleep, the dormitories dark and still. But Sora is far from her bed, standing alone in the middle of the vast training field.