Chapter 96 - INTERLUDE 16: MELISSA SHIELD

(AN: So this chapter should have been chapter 78. But since it was entirely about Melissa, I decided to simply put it as an interlude. Don't skip. This chapter have some important info. I wonder how many will connect the dote. Many, I hope.)

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11 years ago, 

A little blonde girl could be seen running in a park. Her rosy cheek and rough breath showed how strained and tired she was. Despite that, even though she simply wished to lay down and rest, she didn't stop. 

Going through the park, she finally reached a place that contrasted a little with the beauty of the park. 

Trash thrown around, wet clothes on a thread. Weird odor emanating from all around and in the center of all that… A dilapidated camping car. 

This without a doubt was not a place for such a little girl. Her beautiful white robe and the odor waffling out of her, practically screamed "rich and sheltered girl" in fact, despite how young she was, she knew perfectly well that she shouldn't be here. But she couldn't help it. She had to do it. 

(I hope father was wrong.) 

She couldn't help but feel anxiety as she neared the door of the camping car. 

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

After reaching she knocked lightly before stepping back and clutching her robe in nervousness. 

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

Her heartbeat so hard she felt like it would explode. Finally, after a wait that felt like it lasted for hours, though in reality only a few seconds. Steps could be heard from inside the camping car. 

A gruff voice sounded before the door even opened, 

"Who the f.u.c.k knock at this hour of the morning?" 

The girl blanched. She couldn't help but want to flee. But still, she held on. She had to be courageous. 

(Everything will be alright. Father must be wrong.)

Finally, the door was opened by a tall and fat man, wearing a white tee shirt dirtied with yellow stain of unknown origins and lose sweat-short

"Ah!?? Who the f.u.c.k is this little bitch?" 

she had to take a step back as this hulking frame appeared. Despite how young she was, she understood that bitch wasn't a good word. 

(I am not a bitch.) 

She could only think that and didn't dare to say it. Tears already threatened to fall. But she still held on because she had something to do. She gathered her courage and said 

"Hello, mister. My name is Melissa Shield. I wanted to know if James was free right now."

The expression of the man, who was previously nonchalant stiffened up before going back to normal as he said,

"Little girl, I don't care who the f.u.c.k you are. Go aways. There's no James here."

After saying this, and without waiting for her answer, *Bang*The door was shut. Letting a bewildered little girl.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Mister!!"

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Please open the door. James promised me that we would meet each other."

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Please *Sniff* Please, open the door."

The little girl knocked and knocked frantically, her little dainty hand becoming red from the âin, but no matter what, no one answered.

*Sob* *Sob* 

Finally, not being able to take it, the little girl crouched down and began to sob. James was her friend. Her sole friend. But, a few days ago, he stopped coming to their meeting spot. At first, she thought that he simply was busy. But as times passed, she began to worry. Finally, she asked her father to help and he informed her that it seemed like James' parents sent him, gave up on their rights over him and gave him to a couple that should be able to raise him better.

Melissa had always been very smart. No, calling her a genius wouldn't be an exaggeration. The only blemish on her life was the fact that she was quirkless. At six years old, all hope of her awakening a quirk was now dead. Her dreams of becoming a hero also died with it. When she learned that, she decided to become a genius scientist and support heroes from the best of her ability. But, James changed what should have been her future. He had asked her a simple question,

"Why are quirkless unable to be heroes?"

Melissa, with her intellect, could have come with tens of logical answers to this question. But she couldn't help but ask herself. Why? After all, not all heroes had a powerful quirk. Some had quirk rather weak but still worked as one. What about machines? Would it be possible to create a weapon that would allow her to face a strong quirk?

Since then the two have become friends. James quirk, despite being very close to four years old didn't awaken, but she didn't care. That day they made two promises. One to each other, and one from her to him.

"We will become heroes, even without quirks, with the power of science."

"If you get a powerful quirk, I will become your personal assistant and create the best equipment for you."

Sadly, it seemed like those promises would never be realized

----

7 years ago,

A ten years old girl could be seen, tinkering with a scrap of metal in an atelier. The place was absolutely without order. The whole place was so disorderly that one would never think that it was a girl's place. On her wall, a large photo of a younger version of her standing close to a young boy could be seen. Though, it seemed like the photograph was extremely untalented since the photo was a little blurred, making it impossible to clearly distinguish her and the boy's features.

On her table, held by two mechanical hands, what looked like a bracelet could be seen, being manipulated and analyzed. Next to her, a mini pc could be seen working as rows and rows of information were analyzed. Those pieces of information were all related to All Might specs. Speed, strength, resistance, special techniques, etc. Her first goal was to create a metal able to take on All Might full power without breaking.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Melissa, come out. It has been two days since you didn't eat."

A male voice sounded after the knocking. Melissa continued her work without paying attention. Right now, it wouldn't be a mistake to say that she was in the zone. She wasn't on a crucial breakthrough, but everything should be carefully analyzed,

"Melissa, I had information about James! But since you don't seem to care, then so be it."

*Crash* "Ouch"

She cradled her head in pain for a few seconds as she fell from her chair before bolting as fast as possible toward the door. She opened it to a grinning, but somber David, her father.

Melissa's heart skipped a beat. She didn't like this face.

"Melissa, please, sit and listen to me"

Melissa didn't listen and looked at her father with a serious face. David let out a sigh at how stubborn she was. Still, he knew that what he was about to say would be a heavy blow.

"I did some research since you liked that boy much. Recently, I received the result. Firstly, his parents were abusive and never treated him as they should have. When you met him, he had been sent to beg for money and couldn't come back without reaching a certain quota."

Melissa felt a little nauseous, but, at the memory of how James' father looked, she didn't doubt it.

"*Inhale*, Please Papa, continue."

David paused. He wondered if he should really tell this to a 10 years old child. Then, he remembered that with her intelligence, now that she knew something was wrong she could easily find the rest. If she learned that he lied, this would create a crack in their relationship,

"I have learned that they never simply gave up on their right. It would be more accurate to say that they sold him to a rather shady organization of unknown origin. Right now, you could say, that it's impossible to ever find your friend."

David was ready for many things, but, he didn't expect to see her stay so calm and focused,

"What about his biological parents. Will they be arrested?"

"No… Not because I don't want to send them to prison, but because they are already dead. Most likely murdered."

"...I see…"

"Melissa…?"

"Papa...Please, could you leave me alone for a little while."

David hesitated before finally settling his mind. He generally gave a very large amount of autonomy to his daughter. But, if he couldn't even console his daughter when she was grieving, how could he call himself a father?

He kneeled down and hugged her tightly in his arm as he murmured in her ears,

"It's okay to cry. Papa is sorry, I couldn't help your friend. So, please don't close your heart to me, ok? Whatever you wish to do. Please always tell me."

That day, Melissa cried so much she felt like all the water in her body dried. Finally, she fell asleep in the arms of her father.

----

4 years ago,

A feminine frame entered through the roof of the house as she fell rather clumsily in the middle of an empty space. All around her, scraps of metal, broken mechanical arms, and different kinds of sketch could be seen.

The woman encased in the armor managed to stand up before taking out her mask. The armor she wore was a little bulky and had no particular color.

"*Sigh* The armor still needs more testing before reaching the final phase. As I am now, even though the defense of this armor is incredibly powerful, the rest left much to be desired. Even taking down C-ranked villains would be a stretch. I can only deal with D-ranked ones."

"Fufufu, to think that the vigilantes Ferrum Femina who is slowly becoming popular would be a quirkless little girl. How interesting. I haven't found something that interesting in a long time."

Melissa twirled in surprise as a woman, no, a girl? slowly emerged from the shadow. 

(How is it possible? I had already done a full scan before entering. No life sign was detected.)

She began to step back as she eyed the newcomer cautiously. It was a girl no older than her. She had long blonde hair and wore a white toge making her look like a priest or more precisely a nun.

"Who are you? And What are you doing here?"

Melissa could see a glint of amus.e.m.e.nt flash through the eyes of the girl before she answered, with a elegant smile,

"Hello, little Melissa. I still remembered how cute you were as a baby. To think you will grow so fast."

(What is this girl talking about? She shouldn't be that much older than me. Perhaps she saw a photo of me as a baby?)

"Anyway, little Melissa. Your father will soon come and explain the situation to you. You simply have to know this. My name is Milienia. People call me the Millenium witch. I am here to help you reach your goal. I hope you'll be a source of amus.e.m.e.nt. Fufufu."

Melissa felt a shiver go down her spine. Those eyes. That girl was looking at her as an amus.e.m.e.nt. It was more like how a child would look at a new toy. Who was she really?