And I am Back!

I have managed to come back from the depth of my indecision regarding this story! Thank you to all the readers that kept on following, and favoriting the story despite it being said to be discontinued! Your faith warms my heart and I hope this long-awaited chapter is worth all the wait!

In My Dreams 0220: Thank you! Just thank you! And BTW the comment on Kaori's surname got me...inspired? To try something else but I'll try to hold myself back from publishing yet another BNHA fanfic. But that would be interesting wouldn't it? Someone with the surname Shimura being in the story. Just picture All Might's reaction to that. Or Gran Torino's. And yes it would connect nicely to the story..Sorry I'm rambling lol

Vedahzii: I love the witty banter too and Idk I just felt like I was making Todoroki OOC? Or maybe it was that he accepted Kaori all too quickly? Idk. Thank you for your review! I hope this chapter was worth the wait! And I LOVE dragons in general! Ryuku's quirk is amazing and I love the sympathy she shows for others!

antisocialFox: I'm happy you love the story! Sorry if it took long but here is the next chapter!

By the time graduation came in the sixth grade, Kaori was proud to say she had come a rather long way from when she'd first started. Just a year of training with Hanako-san- who asked to not be called 'sensei'- and Jiro-sensei and she already had a much better grasp of her quirk than most of her peers at school. Kaori was now able to use parts of her dragon physiology without actually turning into one though the act exhausted her stamina rather easily, often causing Kaori to pass out for a few minutes. It was something to work on later but so far the blue haired girl that she had a decent control of the water manipulation though not so much with the rain summoning.

She was also still learning martial arts but improving nonetheless. Jiro-sensei still wiped the floor with her every single time though.

Nothing had changed at home. Kaori's mom was still too wrapped up pretending everything was fine and happy to really notice what Kaori did or didn't do. She'd ask why Kaori would return home so late from playing in the park sometimes but seemed satisfied when Kaori told her she was playing with a friend. The visits of her grandfather still happened once a month, and he and her mother still argued about who should be looking after Kaori with her 'condition'. The worst one yet had been when her grandfather had heard about Kaori's wish to become a Pro Hero.

Kaori still didn't know how he had 'heard' or who had told him but she was surprised to see her mother scream so loudly and practically throw the older man out of their apartment. She hadn't heard the actual words but her mother's rage had been more than abundantly clear. That, however, did not stop the older man from continuing with his visits. So again nothing much had changed there.

In this past year though, Kaori was happy to state she'd made yet another friend by the name of Nina Shigushi. A strawberry blonde haired girl with light hazel colored eyes whose quirk was called 'Force'. It worked a bit like telekinesis only Nina didn't attract objects to herself but repel them away. She was also being taught martial arts by Jiro-sensei. Best thing yet, Nina would be going to the same middle school Kaori would be attending the Spring and wanted to become a Pro Hero as well.

Meetings with Shouto at the park kept going as usual only, they now seemed to talk more, or well, the dual haired boy seemed to comment more on what Kaori said. He rarely ever spoke about himself personally, and neither did Kaori but that didn't seem to matter to them much. Kaori was fine with talking about only trivial things with Shouto. Those conversations always felt nice and managed to almost always make her smile.

As for Takaeda-sensei, he didn't change much and neither did the relationship between Karori and him. Kaori and he still met for recess to talk just about anything, and more often than not Takaeda-sensei would join her training lessons. It was nice to see someone else- get beaten to the ground by Jiro-sensei other than her, though Kaori would never say this out loud, never. He was still trying to get Kaori to open up to her own classmates but that just wasn't happening in this school. However, Kaori could see that her teacher was proud of her. Only about two years and slowly Kaori had begun to break out of her shell. She had friends, she didn't keep to herself all that much anymore, and she seemed to just posses more energy. She'd started to smile more often too.

Takaeda-sensei still annoyed her though as he continued to probe into her head when she 'closed off' from him, or just meddling in everything she did for 'her well being'. Secretly though, Kaori had to wonder if this was what it felt to have a Dad. She didn't remember much of hers and so she had nothing to go on, but she sometimes felt that that was what Takaeda-sensei was to her.

Maybe that's the reason Kaori had cried so much after the crimson eyed man had congratulated her on her graduation with a small bouquet of flowers. It had felt like they were saying 'goodbye' even if it was silly. She would still see Takaeda-sensei when she went to train with Hanako-san and Jiro-sensei.

"Hey now," Takaeda-sensei had said with a smile as he crouched down to Kaori height placing a tender hand on the top of her head. "I know we won't see each other as often but it doesn't mean I won't see you ever again. You can't get rid of me that easily, you know. Besides, it's not silly that you feel sad Himura-chan. To be honest, I'm kinda glad because that means that you've come to care about me and that the time we spent together meant something to you."

Kaori had looked at that smile on her teacher's face and his serene but somewhat upset expression and found herself smiling too. "Weird teacher."

They'd both chuckled at that before Kaori had been called by her mom. In fact, she was walking right towards Kaori and Takaeda-sensei when the Homeroom teacher found an excuse to leave. Kaori found the way he left in such a hurry suspicious and even thought about it for quite a while but then, having her mom and Takaeda-sensei meet was not something she really wanted to happen. As far as her Homeroom teacher knew, Ayumi was okay with her daughter learning how to fight and use her quirk and that was not the case, at all.

In fact, Kaori still had appointments with Hero Support companies that would make her restrain bracelets adjustments. She never missed one, but she was also sure to ask in what ways could be bypass some of the restraint. Luckily, no one thought much of those questions seeing as Kaori had said she wanted to become a Pro Hero one day.

Time seemed to just sweep by in a rush, though it not always felt that way to Kaori. Before she knew it she was starting middle school, and though rumors about her incident still followed, it wasn't the same. Kaori wasn't alone anymore. She had Takaeda-sensei, Shouto, Hanako-san, Jiro-sensei, Nina, and then in her second year of Middle School, Kaori met Haruhi Nakamura.

She'd been a transfer student with honey-colored hair and amber eyes with also a fair share of rumors behind her. Apparently, Haruhi was a villain's daughter who had just recently been captured, and she'd also had the misfortune of inheriting her father's quirk. Voice Control. With any person Haruhi made eye contact with, she could use her voice to control their bodies and minds. The effects can last up until hours but that depends on how much she can focus.

Her transfer to the school went as well as can be expected, and unable to see similarities Kaori couldn't leave Haruhi alone. It was then she'd realized that she had become what she feared the most. She'd become like Takaeda-sensei.

Nina had laughed in her face, very openly, very loudly, for a very long time. However, instead of making her feel better her friend only confirmed her suspicions which made her turn to Shouto during their next meeting. Since the two entered Middle School, they hadn't been able to meet every day after school. Shouto's training to become a hero had intensified, and though Kaori wanted to she really didn't have the courage to ask if perhaps his training was too much. Sure, her own training was a bit harsh but she never had as many bandages as Shouto, even if they were becoming less of an occurrence. Besides, they never talked about anything personal, and Kaori had a feeling his injuries and training really was personal. In any case, their meetings had been pulled back to only Wednesday's and Friday's still at the same rundown and abandoned park.

When she told Shouto about Haruhi though, her friend didn't laugh though he did snort and was a little amused by how Kaori had retold the story. However, Shouto seemed to be more concerned if Kaori should really be pushing this friendship too much.

"Don't you think that perhaps she wants to be alone?" The dual haired boy asked her, heterochromatic eyes cast down to the ground. "Maybe your pushing boundaries she doesn't want anyone pushing. Or it could be-"

"But no one really wants to be alone." Kaori cut Shouto short with a frown as she thought back to herself as a fourth grader. "And I guess I could be projecting a bit with our similar situations, but I know," She turned to look at Shouto with saddened expression in her violet eyes. "I know that even if you convince yourself that it's better that way. Even if you tell yourself over and over that you don't need friends or your better off without them no one ever really wants to be alone. We will always want to have someone who wants us or will accept us no matter what." Kaori couldn't help herself but think of Takaeda-sensei. He'd been the first to ever do that for Kaori. "I don't think anyone was ever meant to be alone." She finishes with a small smile before blinking at the stoic expression Shouto placed on his face.

Kaori paused and leaned somewhat closer. "Shouto?"

"Todoroki." He muttered out in a small breath so soft that if the blue-haired girl hadn't had enhanced hearing she would have never heard it. "My name is Shouto Todoroki."

His surname? Why tell her that so suddenly. "What's with that so suddenly?" Kaori questioned letting out a sigh as her habit came through once more. It had already gotten her enough problems and embarrassing moments so far that Nina now sure had enough blackmail to last her a lifetime. Not to mention it had earned Kaori quite a few detentions as well.

"You know for someone who wants to be a hero, you sure don't know much about them in general," Shouto told her bluntly throwing Kaori even more off the loop.

"What's that supposed to mean?" The blue haired girl questioned somewhat offended. "I know enough. There are heroes on the news all the time, and I'm quite the fan of manga and anime so I know some of them by their shows. Besides, I want to be a hero not just because I admire the Pros but because I want to help people with my quirk." Kaori paused. "What does that have to do with your surname anyway?"

Shouto sighed. "Nothing. Nevermind."

He didn't talk about it for the rest of their time at the park which frustrated Kaori to no end. It wasn't until that night when Kaori searched up the name 'Todoroki' that she knew why Shouto had been like that. His father, Todoroki Enji was Endeavour, Number two Hero. Kaori had stared at the screen for what had to be an hour before the information truly registered in her head. She was lucky her mom was working that night though Kaori was sure all of Japan had heard her 'what' as she screamed.

Kaori was still very much confused as to why Shouto had only just now told her but thinking back to what she had been saying, Kaori somewhat understood his motive. It couldn't have been easy making friends with your Dad being the number two hero, not any good ones anyway. However, also looking back to Shouto injuries while training, and at the rather intimidating picture Endeavour presented in her laptop screen, Kaori couldn't help but feel something sink in her stomach. Surely, no parent would ever actually hurt their child like that, not if they were a hero. Kaori wasn't naive, not really, but she still refused to believe whatever her own head was conjuring up.

By the time of her next meeting with Shouto, Kaori had pouted, yes pouted at her friend.

"You could have just told me, you know," She grumbled swinging in her usual swing set. "My head was ready to explode as why you'd only just told me your full name."

"You should know more about Pro Heroes if you want to become one."

"What do you want me to do? Obsess over every hero like a fangirl until I knew every single detail about all of them?" Kaori countered shaking her head at her friend. "I appreciate that you have such faith in studious ways, but I'm a terrible student."

Shouto's lips twitched. "I know. Your math scores last month were sad."

I knew I should have never shown him that paper. "I never should have shown you that paper."

"You did it again." The dual haired boy stated as Kaori froze just after her sentence.

"Shut up, flame boy," Kaori grumbled just as Shouto winced and seemed to retreat from her even more. "Is your quirk-"

"I have my mom's quirk."

A lie. Kaori didn't know how she knew, maybe her enhanced senses had picked on something, but Shouto had just lied to her. It had been the first time since they'd met and though Kaori hated being lied to, she didn't have the strength to call Shouto out on it. He knew that she knew too because as soon as their eyes met Shouto ducked and looked away.

Kaori had never seen him look so sad, so lost, and torn. It hurt. Her chest hurt and she didn't know why precisely.

"Okay," She muttered instead her violet gaze turning to the ground. "Say, Shouto." Kaori paused. "If there is anything you ever want to tell me, anything at all. You know you can tell me right?"

The dual haired boy stayed silent, grey and turquoise eyes boring into Kaori's own violet orbs.

Kaori smiled, gentle and soft. "I'm your friend Shouto. I will listen and help in any way that I can."

Shouto nodded, the motion slow and almost going unseen. "You too." Kaori froze, lips parting in shock. "If you ever need help or someone to listen. I'm here."

"Okay," Her voice cracked slightly from the unexpected words and slightly from how much meaning and honesty they held. "Thank you, Shouto."

By worrying so much about Shouto the past week, Kaori wasn't as constant in her pursuit of friendship with Haruhi. A fact that did not go unnoticed by the honey-colored haired girl, even if she did her best to hide it. Kaori would not lie an say she wasn't a bit pleased by this. It meant that in some way she was getting through to Haruhi with her persistence to be friends. Nina had noticed the sudden lack of 'Haruhi Hounding' as her best friend eloquently called it, and had questioned Kaori if she was giving up to which Kaori responded with a very firm 'no'.

Another two weeks of persistent 'Haruhi Hounding' -the name sorta stuck- and Kaori claimed victory when Haruhi finally cracked and accepted to join her and Nina on a shopping trip. It would take place during the weekend and until then the very idea of success had Kaori on could nine. Next Saturday, after training she would be going with her friends to spend a normal 'girl day'. Takaeda-sensei had cried when Nina told him and had spent a good amount of time gushing over how much Kaori 'was growing up'. She was saved from it lasting longer by Jirou-sensei stepping in and kicking Takaeda-sensei out for interrupting the lesson, literally kicking him out.

Kaori had watched and laughed so hard that tears started to fall from her eyes. It was the very first time too so by the time she was done, three pairs of eyes had settled on her in surprise. Any other time, Kaori would feel embarrassed at having so much focus on her but at that moment she had never felt lighter. Slowly, the chains that used to hold her back were vanishing. They were still there but their weight didn't feel crushing anymore. Kaori felt freer, lighter, and happier.

It felt great.

"Kaori," Her mom's voice stopped Kaori short from stepping out of the house as the blue-haired girl looked over her shoulder, left hand holding the strap of her backpack.

Ayumi Himura stared at her daughter with wide violet eyes, teal hair pulled back in a ponytail. The very expression on her face made Kaori frown at her mother. "Is something wrong?" She asked not knowing what had caused her mom to be so, surprised. Do I look weird? "Do I look weird?" Kaori questioned and mentally kicked herself. It was one thing to say what she thought with her friends, Shouto, Takaeda-sensei, Jirou-sensei, and Hanako-san. Another thing completely was slipping into the habit with her mom, never mind her grandfather. If they knew half of what Kaori really thought she honestly feared the outcome.

Luckily, her mom's facade was placed right back on and the same false smile she always wore came into place. "No. You just don't usually go out on Saturdays dressed so nice."

Oh. Was that it? "I'm going out shopping with friends today." After training with Jirou-sensei and Hanako-san, the blue haired girl added in her head. Thankfully without saying it out loud.

"Friends?" Ayumi questioned her mask cracking for a small second. Kaori could almost swear she saw hesitation followed by a little confusion before the mask went back on. "That's great sweetheart. Have fun."

Kaori grinned, forced and distant. "Sure, mom." She was out of the door seconds later.

She hadn't changed at all over the past few years, and though it did bother Kaori -it would never not bother her- she knew it was best to just leave it be. Her mom, there was no changing how she acted and tiptoed around Kaori. There was no changing her grandfather either. It was one of the things that just stayed as they were because they just had too. Kaori had to accept that. Better than that she was growing to accept that even when it caused the gap growing between her and her mom to grow farther and farther apart.

It was sad, unfair, and just cruel but it was what it was. She needed to keep going, to keep moving. Maybe one day, the masks would fall off completely. Maybe all Kaori needed to do was show Ayumi that even if she was cursed with her quirk, she could turn it into something good. That was a nice dream to have, to live, and strive for. Not to mention, if Kaori did succeed her grandfather would have to eat his words about her. She'd like to see him tell a famous Pro Hero, no the best Pro Hero, that she should be locked away before her 'condition' caused more damages.

With a large grin on her face, Kaori looked up at the sky in determination. She had a long way, but she was growing closer and closer to each step. Now though, now it was time to have fun with friends.

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