Devil Fruit System in MHA

Nezu stared at Kai, his jaw dropping. "You want to be my personal student? You do realize it's only the second day of class, right? Do you have any idea what that entails?"

"Not entirely," Kai admitted. "I just know it opens doors that I can't cross without it." He leaned back in his chair and pulled the NEXUS from his pocket. "Besides, I believe I've already begun proving my worth to you, and that's only going to grow as our relationship develops."

Nezu eyed the device in Kai's hand, a faint gleam of curiosity in his eyes. "You're quite bold, Kai. But tell me, what do you expect from this mentorship?"

Kai grinned, his gaze unwavering. "Freedom. Insight. Access to knowledge and resources that even UA students don't get. I've always wanted to push boundaries—and you're the one who can help me do that."

Nezu leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "Interesting. However, mentorship with me means constant scrutiny. You'll face challenges that go beyond what's expected in the Support Course. And there's a level of discretion—absolute secrecy. Can you handle that?"

Kai met Nezu's gaze, unwavering. "I wouldn't have asked if I couldn't."

A long silence settled between them as Nezu assessed him, seemingly weighing his decision. Finally, he gave a slight nod, his expression one of amused approval. "Very well, Kai. You have my attention—I accept your proposal."

Tension flooded out of Kai's form as he leaned back into the couch. "That's good. I was about ninety-five percent sure you'd agree, but I wasn't entirely certain."

"Oh? What made you so confident? Are you saying you've seen through everything up to this point?" Nezu asked, intrigued.

"I wouldn't say I 'saw through' it, more like I planned for it. I noticed the camera in the classroom and figured you'd be watching for something 'intriguing', so I made sure to provide that. As for my proposal? My potential is extremely high, and you have no reason to refuse."

Nezu chuckled softly, a hint of admiration gleaming in his eyes. "Clever. I must admit, it's rare for a student to anticipate my interest so deliberately—and act on it. But remember, high potential alone doesn't guarantee success. This will require constant adaptation and a keen willingness to learn."

"Of course, sir. I'm aware I've gone from the frying pan to the fire," Kai said confidently. "But I believe the benefits far outweigh the risks." He then set the NEXUS on the coffee table in front of him. "Now that you've agreed to the initial proposition, what do you think is a fair price for my device?"

Nezu picked up the NEXUS, his eyes gleaming. "Honestly, pricing something like this is nearly impossible. The only way to achieve what the NEXUS offers is through quirks, so there's no real market value to compare it with. Fortunately for you, I happen to be one of the richest people in the world, and I'm generous with my 'students.'"

He chuckled, setting the NEXUS back on the table. "Indeed. To start, let's say a stipend and access to some... unique resources. Consider it an investment in your development and future contributions to UA. But tell me, Kai—what do you value the NEXUS at, given its potential?"

Kai leaned back thoughtfully. "Enough to fund whatever projects I take on here—and then some. I'm looking for creative freedom, the ability to refine my inventions without worrying about costs. That's worth more to me than a mere number."

Nezu nodded approvingly. "Then we're in agreement. I'll establish a small fund as a down payment for the NEXUS and as an incentive to see how far your ambitions can go."

A triumphant grin spread across Kai's face as the familiar notification popped up in his vision:

Quest: 'Becoming an Engineering Tycoon' has updated.

 Secure a deal for said invention (1/1)

 Make money on your invention (1/1)

 Make Nezu acknowledge your abilities (98%/100%)

Nezu watched him, a faint smile on his face. "Judging by your expression, I assume you're pleased with our arrangement?"

"Absolutely, 'Sensei'. Now that we've become much closer, I'd like to ask you a favor." Kai reached into his backpack behind him and pretended to grab a fruit, but instead pulled it out of his inventory. "This is another devil fruit I created. It's based on the concept of 'walking.'"

It has a round, slightly oblong shape, about the size of a grapefruit. Its skin is a deep midnight blue, adorned with faint, lighter blue swirls that spiral across its surface, reminiscent of winding paths or trails. The texture is smooth, but subtle raised lines trace the swirling patterns, giving it a tactile, almost map-like quality.

Around the stem, there's a curious reddish hue, resembling a trailhead marker, making it stand out as if to indicate "start here."

"Oh? This is interesting. What exactly does it do?"

"Well, as far as I'm aware, it allows the user to walk on anything—walls, ceilings, water, air—anything. On top of that, it enables the wielder to create illusory paths that others can walk on and provides instant, efficient pathfinding to anywhere they're either aware of or can see."

Nezu's eyes gleamed with fascination as he examined the Walk Fruit, carefully turning it in his paw. "An impressive concept, Kai. The versatility of this fruit could prove invaluable for reconnaissance, evasion, and even support work. I can see why you've dubbed it the 'Walk Fruit.'"

Kai nodded, his eyes shining with pride. "Exactly. It's simple in concept but offers tremendous potential for tactical creativity. In the right hands, it could be a game-changer."

Nezu looked up, intrigued. "And what is this favor you wanted to ask?"

Kai hesitated, gathering his thoughts. "I want you to give this fruit to someone who could truly make the most of it—someone who'd see beyond just a flashy trick. I don't need immediate power, but I believe this could benefit UA in ways we haven't even considered yet. I was thinking of Snipe. I hear he's on UA's staff, and this fruit would synergize wonderfully with his quirk."

Nezu's ears perked up, a glimmer of approval in his gaze. "Snipe, you say? An interesting choice. His quirk, Homing, could indeed be greatly enhanced by this. The ability to walk on any surface, create temporary paths, and navigate flawlessly would allow him to reach vantage points with ease and assist others in complex terrains."

Kai nodded, encouraged by Nezu's reaction. "Exactly. He could position himself perfectly and support his teammates with paths or escape routes they wouldn't normally have. This fruit wasn't going to be the most useful for me directly, but someone like Snipe could turn it into a significant advantage for UA."

Nezu smiled thoughtfully. "I'll speak with Snipe about this. If he's interested, we'll explore the synergy he can achieve with it. You've made a wise choice, Kai. This act of generosity may yield benefits far beyond what's immediately visible."

Kai's expression softened, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Thank you, Nezu. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the hours passed, Kai felt a mixture of anticipation and relief. He attended classes, engaged in discussions, and participated in hands-on projects, all the while glancing at the clock. Every second felt like a weight on his shoulders, but Nezu's promise lingered in his mind, providing a glimmer of hope.

Lunch came and went, and still, no alarm blared. During his afternoon session in the workshop, Kai found himself distracted, stealing glances at the door, half-expecting it to burst open with some urgent news. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was going wrong, but that might just be his meta-knowledge tricking him. The press hadn't broken in, and the gate was standing strong.

Finally, as the day wound down, Kai found himself back in his dorm room, staring at the NEXUS. "Maybe I'm just worrying too much," he muttered to himself. "Maybe Hibiki did something so that I don't have to worry about the USJ."

Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification. With a quick swipe, he opened it, his heart racing as he read the message from Nezu:

Nezu: Good news! Snipe is intrigued by the Walk Fruit. We'll discuss it further tomorrow. Keep your head up!

Kai exhaled, the tension releasing from his shoulders. "Okay, that's a start," he said to the empty room. He leaned back in his chair, a small smile creeping across his face. Tomorrow would bring new possibilities, and he was ready for whatever came next.