Devil Fruit System in MHA

Kai blinked, the exam room snapping into focus around him. Rows of students sat quietly, waiting for the proctors to start the first section: the written exam. He flexed his fingers, the faint hum of absorbed energies still thrumming beneath his skin, but he pushed it aside for now. This wasn't a physical challenge yet—this was all about what was in his head.

"Engineering, quirk science, and situational logic," he mentally recapped, scanning the papers laid before him. He could handle this. His rushed studies in quirk science would have to do, luckily his experience in the field of engineering as Kael gives him a much-needed edge. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that today was about more than just acing the written exam.

A sharp tap on the desk signaled the start. Kai exhaled, picking up his pen. The exam began, and the questions were relentless. Schematics to analyze, quirk mechanics to apply, and hypothetical scenarios to navigate. He breezed through the engineering problems, his mind slipping into the familiar flow of blueprints and problem-solving. It felt like second nature—a remnant of his past life as Kael, or maybe just the effects of his devil fruit.

But the quirk science portion slowed him down. Concepts like quirk singularity and biological enhancements weren't his strong suit. He scribbled down his best guesses, his knowledge gaps glaring at him in the middle of the test.

Focus. He shook off the frustration and pushed on, improvising where needed. Situational logic was the final hurdle—abstract scenarios requiring quick thinking, some of which felt more like puzzles than science. By the time he finished, Kai was satisfied he'd at least done enough to stand out.

"Pens down," the proctor announced, and the room filled with the collective sound of students setting down their writing tools. Kai leaned back, letting out a quiet sigh. One part down, two more to go.

Now came the real test—the part where thinking on his feet mattered just as much as his skills.

Kai stood as the proctors announced the second phase of the exam: cooperative problem-solving. He was grouped with three others, and as they gathered around the table of materials—metal scraps, wires, and fabric—he quickly noted their quirks: a gravity manipulator, a barrier creator, and someone with telekinesis.

The challenge? Build a structure to protect a civilian from a simulated disaster scenario. Quirks could only be used in the testing phase.

Kai scanned the materials and immediately started sketching a rough plan on the back of his paper. "We'll build a dome—it's the strongest shape for distributing impact. We can layer the materials to make it light and flexible."

His teammates exchanged glances but nodded, trusting his lead. Kai picked up a few lightweight rods and began shaping them into triangles for the base, using his engineering know-how to guide the design.

"Triangles give us stability," he explained, bending the metal pieces into place. "And if we make the top flexible, it can absorb the shock."

The others followed his instructions, working quickly. The telekinetic quirk user floated some of the materials into place with precision, while Kai focused on securing the connections. His mind raced through different potential disasters—falling debris, strong winds—and adjusted the design accordingly.

Once the framework was in place, he turned to the gravity manipulator. "Lighten the frame so it can handle more pressure without collapsing." She nodded and waved her hand over the structure, reducing its weight.

He then looked to the barrier user. "Reinforce the joints with your barriers. Only the critical points, though—we don't need it everywhere."

The boy smirked, raising his hand to create shimmering fields of energy around the structure's weakest areas. "Easy enough."

As the team worked, Kai found himself slipping into the familiar flow of project management. He hadn't even needed to think too much about how to approach it—the engineering skills from his past life as Kael kicked in, guiding his decisions. The others may have had quirks, but he had something else: experience.

With the structure completed, they added a layer of padding to absorb any remaining shock. As they finished their final touches, the proctor called out, "Time's up!"

Kai stood back with his team, inspecting their creation. The dome wasn't pretty, but it was sturdy. Other groups had come up with their own solutions—some flashier, others more rushed—but Kai was confident in their design.

The testing began, and one by one, each group's project faced simulated disasters: quakes, falling debris, bursts of wind. When it was their turn, Kai held his breath. The first impact shook the dome, but the frame held. Debris bounced off, cushioned by the padding and reinforced by the gravity adjustment. The barriers at the joints absorbed the final blow, keeping the structure intact.

Kai exhaled as the proctor nodded approvingly. "Good teamwork. Creative use of quirks."

Kai allowed himself a small smile. They had done it—balanced their quirks with engineering and logic. As the other groups dispersed, Kai exchanged a brief glance with his teammates before stepping away, his thoughts already shifting to the final challenge.

"All applicants, prepare for interviews," a voice called out. Kai joined a group of students waiting in a quieter hallway, tension palpable as each person was escorted to their interview. When his name was called, Kai straightened, walking into the interview office. The office was cluttered, but in a deliberate way, as though each object served a purpose only the owner understood. Sitting behind the desk was a small figure, but his presence filled the room. Sharp eyes gleamed with an intelligence far beyond his unassuming appearance. His smile was polite, but there was a subtle sharpness to it, as though he already knew the answers to the questions he hadn't yet asked.

Kai stood before him, feeling the weight of scrutiny from someone who saw through everything.

"Am I a dog, a mouse, or a bear? It doesn't matter! I'm your test proctor!" Nezu exclaimed with a slightly feral grin. "Hello Mr. Sugimoto. How has the exam treated you so far? Would you like some tea?"

"I would love some," Kai replied with a bright smile. "The exam has been good to me. I should have studied quirk science a bit more, but I guess that's what college is for." He settled onto the couch, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness in the presence of the country's smartest being. "May I know why I'm being interviewed by the principal himself?"

"Oh, no big reason. I always make a point of conducting interviews for the most intriguing applicants myself," Nezu said, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "And I must say you are very interesting. It says on your application form that your quirk, "Empowered Fruits" can give someone quirk-like abilities for a short duration? How does that work exactly?"

"The quirk is both simple and quite complex. I absorb ambient energies into my body and expel them as fruits that grant the wielder abilities related to the specific energy used. The challenge is that I can't dictate exactly what those abilities are; I can only choose the type of energy. However, I do gain some understanding of the fruit's effects after it's created."

"That's very interesting, Mr. Sugimoto. Can you provide an example? Do you have enough stored energy for something noticeable?"

"I do," Kai replied, taking a sip of his freshly brewed tea. "I've been saving for about a day, preparing in case I encountered any challenges. Right now, I can create an Empowered Fruit using mental energy from a library, ocean energy from Dagobah Beach, or electric energy from my wall socket. Do you have a preference?"

Nezu's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "An intriguing variety indeed. I'd love to see the effects of one of those. How about the ocean energy? I've always believed there's a certain depth to abilities derived from nature."

"Great choice," Kai replied, setting down his cup. He focused, feeling the ambient energy swirling within him. With a deep breath, he concentrated on the ocean energy he had absorbed, allowing it to flow through him as he conjured the fruit.

A shimmering, blue fruit appeared in his hair, taking the form of a small green-blue fig. "This is the Empowered Fruit created from ocean energy," he explained, plucking it off for Nezu to inspect. "It should enhance agility and provide a temporary boost in reflexes for whoever consumes it, lasting up to five minutes."

"Fascinating, Mr. Sugimoto. Just that alone would be enough to guarantee you a place in the Support Course. However, I noticed in your application that you recently experienced a Quirk Awakening?"

Kai grimaced, his gaze dropping to the floor. But as he spoke, a spark ignited in his eyes, revealing the determination behind his words. "About a month ago, my parents died in a tragic accident. For weeks afterward, I felt broken and isolated from the world. But then, a week ago, I had an epiphany. I realized that if I could become stronger and help others become stronger, then my parents would still be with me in some way. That moment motivated me to do everything I could to empower Kai's expression shifted once more, a hint of gloom creeping back in. "The problem is that I don't get to decide what fruits I receive; they just appear at random. On top of that, they're cursed. Anyone who eats one is banned from touching seawater forever, as if the ocean itself harbors a deep resentment for the wielder. So far, I've only acquired two of them. The first embodies the concept of 'Tinkering,' which I've consumed myself, and this one…"

With that, Kai pulled a fruit from the depths of his hoodie pocket, carefully placing it on the table. The fruit resembled a small, rounded peach, with smooth, greenish-yellow skin speckled with subtle brown spots, giving it an earthy, natural appearance. Its glossy surface caught the light, and a small tuft of leaf-like green protrusions crowned the top.

"This is the Kanga Kanga no Mi, Model: Kangaroo. It grants the wielder the ability to transform into a kangaroo, as well as a hybrid form that combines human and kangaroo traits."