SALUTATIONS EVERYONE!
Another year comes to an end, and it has been wild for me. NOt what I expected but what ever is. There are so many new projects, from a new business, to new stories, and a newsletter I've started which I'll be sharing soon. It'll all be on my Tublr Page for updates and voting.
As I wrap up this year, I'm already prepping for next year 2026, where I hope I can create more delights of works for you all.
Enjoy the Chapter!
CHAPTER 91: Rooftop Confession
"Heard you got in trouble. Was it really you who caused the school shutdown?" Hitoshi watched a puff of mist escape Sakura's lips as she exhaled her frustrations in the cold air. The top of the school's building was high enough that the wind would bite into your skin even in the spring, but it provided what the two were looking for: solitude and quiet. Trying to recapture the times when it really felt like it was just the two of them, though neither would have voiced it in that manner.
Sakura had filled in all the empty spaces of her day, with training, school, and Eri. The design of an occupied high school student wasn't what she envisioned for herself a few months ago but now it was the only thing she had to cling to. The only thing that seemed to be holding her together at times.
Hitoshi's days were also busy, training with Shouta at every free moment class A's homeroom teacher had. As a pro hero, there were fewer gaps in his schedule. However, it was effective, as Shouta refused to waste time. Even so, Hitoshi would eventually get some bits and pieces of his day, and one of them in particular included his friend, who nearly caused UA to go into lockdown.
"It wasn't my fault, it was Katsuki's doing," Sakura argued, biting into her lunch heatedly and in what Hitoshi voiced as unladylike.
"That's not how I heard it."
Sakura shrugged, picking up some rice with her chopsticks, dunking it into some soup. "As usual, you can count on everyone here to overreact."
"Right….an overreaction to nearly burning down one of the training grounds." The explosion had been so large that it could be seen from all of the dorms. He remembered how some of his classmates speculated about a villain attack and nearly broke out into a panic.
"I made him aim upwards; he wasn't going to burn anything in the sky!" Hitoshi flinched when some grains hit his face.
"What about pigeons?"
"You!" Sakura whacked him on the chest while he wiped his face.
"I heard the school assumed it to be an attempted attack by villains and called the police."
Shrinking into her shoulders, Sakura glowered, "Did you just invite me up here to laugh at me?"
"I'm not laughing,"
"I can see it in your eyes, you are."
Just then, the wind picked up without warning, carrying the winter chill that broke through their fabrics and hit their skin. Sakura absentmindedly freed a hand to scratch at her chest, feeling the ridges of the jagged scar beneath her shirt. This didn't go unnoticed by Hitoshi.
"It bothering you?" he asked, his voice as dry as ever, though there was a flicker of concern in his tired eyes.
Sakura dropped her hand instantly. "Just the cold."
Hitoshi hummed, unconvinced, but didn't push. "Maybe we shouldn't have picked the roof today. Aizawa mentioned this was his old spot, but I doubt he ever came up here in the winter."
"I'm sure he would punish us if he ever found out we came here now," Sakura leaned back against.
Hitoshi didn't deny it. Instead, he leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him. "So. Bakugou, huh?"
"Yeah, what about him?" Sakura asked.
"You're going to be spending more time with him now?"
"Why are you saying it like that?"
"Like what?"
"You know what," Sakura said, heaving a sigh. "It's just training."
"Alright."
Silence settled between them again, comfortable this time. Sakura's gaze drifted to Hitoshi's hands, specifically, the faint scars along his knuckles. Familiar to Sakura, who knew what relentless training looked like, and there was usually more to accompany. Without warning, she slipped a cold hand down the back of Hitoshi's shirt, her fingers grazing until she found the rigged tension she was looking for.
"Ah! What was that for?!" He winced, barely able to turn his neck without feeling that pain due to the pressure Sakura was putting on his bruise.
"I noticed you were favoring your left side," She said, abruptly pulling away, "You're hurt,"
Hitoshi stiffened. "It's nothing."
"Yeah, right," Sakura reached out, poking his ribs. Hitoshi hissed, jerking away.
"Okay, fine. Aizawa's training has been more intense, and I haven't gotten used to it yet."
"Then how did this happen exactly?" Sakura asked, gesturing to his ribs as if warning that she would press on it again if he didn't answer.
"Tried to copy one of his moves while sparring and ended up hurting myself. Happy?"
"Very, and you know why? Because it's nothing to be ashamed ." It was an honest confession. She knew how much Hitoshi wanted to join the hero course, and he was motivated to push himself.
"Then why do you have that look on your face?"
She punched his arm, "Because you didn't come to me to heal you up."
"I already went to Recovery Girl. I was supposed to go back today."
Sakura sighed. "Just don't kill yourself before you actually get out into the field,"
Her hands were already wandering over the wounds. Hitoshi felt the soothing coolness of her chakra energy and the way his body felt relieved as the pain subsided. Her playfulness would all but vanish when it came to treating someone, so intense it would grab hold of whoever saw it. Although Sakura herself didn't seem aware of that lure, she threw as her focus was only on her patient's well-being.
So Hitoshi decided to just turn his head and find something interesting in the clouds occupying his mind still with thoughts of Sakura.
..
..
This wasn't going to be their typical training session. Hitoshi realized this when he didn't get the same greeting or receive the same instruction to meet in the fields behind the school. Training usually involved a lot of physical drills and lessons on maneuvering his scarf without getting strung up like a puppet in the process. There was also strength training that at first had been a burning torture, but the results that flashed a reminder every time he passed a reflective surface reminded Hitoshi why this was worth it. He was on the path of achieving his dreams, and even if he had to walk on glass uphill to get there, he would do it.
However, today, Shouta sent a message for him to come immediately after class to the teacher's lounge instead.
Hitoshi was welcomed into a silent and vacant room, where a projector was set, the lights were drawn, and Shouta stood without wasting time for explanation.
Hitoshi frowned. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Just watch." He pressed play on the remote, and the screen changed. Showing camera footage of Class A gathered together in the forest. This was one of Class A's training, Hitoshi realized but what he didn't know was that it was off curriculum and organized by Sakura.
HItoshi attempted ot ask questions, but Shouta reminded him that they didn't have a lot of time, so they shouldn't waste it and just watch. And soon he realized why.
What he saw was Sakura taking on her entire class within the span of a few hours. He saw how they attempted to swarm her like a hive and fail, trying to fight her individually and fail again. Fall into endless traps she set as if she knew the paths they would walk. How she stayed in control of the battle regardless of the numbers. Even overcoming them when they coordinated together.
Shouta had the tape edited so that it would play the most crucial parts of that day and remove any unnecessary scenes that he didn't deem worth noting for this particular lesson. So it took less than 3 hours for Hitoshi to get through what was a day's worth of activity. At the end, everyone had some kind of bruise to nurse except for the only target.
Shouta clicked off the screen and stood in front of Hitoshi, who was still holding a bit of a dazed expression. "What did you notice?"
"Why did you show me this?"
"What did you notice?" Shouta asked again, and Hitoshi knew he wouldn't get the response handed to him, but it snapped something bitter inside.
"That's, she's clearly the best fighter in the entire class? That's she's the strongest? That she has talent? I know all of that already."
Hitoshi was closer to Sakura than most of her classmates, and he knew it. She shared many things with him, and he knew she was strong, but even now, he was still in awe of her ability. She seemed to have a level of strength no one could reach, and it wasn't just her physical abilities. She was a light that drew everyone upwards.
"Haruno sets the bar for everyone in class," Shouta started, "And if you want to be able to stand beside them, you're going to have to set it there as well."
Why not just ask him to move a mountain? But Hitoshi bit his tongue on the comment, knowing he'd be wrapped up in Shouta's scarf if he spoke out of turn.
"That doesn't seem possible," Hitoshi looked at his hands, thinking about what Sakura had told him, "She said, it doesn't matter what powers you have, but what you do with it. Although right now I don't now how much I can compare to someone like her."
"That's not the point," Shouta moved to meet Hitoshi's eyes, "You just saw what everyone in class A is capable of, how extraordinary they are, and how easily one person could knock them down. I want you to train with the intent of becoming that person, because that is what will push you beyond your limits."
..
..
..
He looked at the hand Sakura held, her palm so small in his own, and yet he knew he couldn't envelop it. She noticed his attention was drawn.
"Hitoshi? Is something wrong?"
His throat tightened but the words squezed through, "I… still want to become a hero."
Sakura didn't hesitate. "Of course you will. As long as you never give up."
Hitoshi's lips twisted. "You really think it's that easy? To achieve something just because you want it?"
"No." She said just as easily. Though for him, it was like a blade had pierced his skin, and he was feeling the wound ache from the wind. Her answer brought his eyes up with surprise, but she just stood up, the light hitting her back as if it had become a part of her, shifting with her movement. She started strolling like she was on a stage delivering a performance, her eyes looking at the sky as if she was speaking to it.
"It's probably going to be really hard and there will be days you just want to stop and everything seems hopeless, but you know…" She curled her hand over her arm, staring out at the horizon but Hitoshi caught a glint in her eyes, longing. "Even a knucklehead with no talent or ability can achieve their dreams. They just have to close their ears to everyone and never give up. That's that simple truth."
..
..
..
Field Gamma was like a maze made of metal, a stage with an industrial theme, and today's stage for the joint training of the two hero course classes.
Class-A had all but rushed out of the lockers after pulling on their costumes, and were the first to arrive on the scene. They took that free time to admire each other's new costume designs that had been adjusted for the change in season. Thicker fabrics, extended sleeves, reinforced insulation, and a few more tweaks for improvement, they couldn't wait to show off with their progress. All Sakura had done to her costume was adjust the sleeves, leggings, and boots so she wouldn't be freezing in the snowy season that was approaching them.
"Toru, aren't you freezing like that?" Sakura asked the pair of boots jumping about in the winter air.
"Super freezing!" But her tone was as zestful as her dance.
Izuku came up to Sakura, "You didn't do much with your costume did you, Sakura?"
Sakura shook her head, flexing her fingers inside her gloves. "Not really. I didn't need much." She glanced at his own upgraded costume with reinforced bracers, thicker padding around the joints. "You've improved yours a lot, though."
He was holding up his gloved hands as he explained, "I wanted something that could help my body handle my Quirk better. These are designed to absorb some of the backlash."
Sakura took one of his hands, examining the material. "Smart. I wear gloves for the same reason. When I first started, I kept splitting my knuckles open."
Before Izuku could respond, Katsuki stomped over, flanked by Eijiro and Denki. His costume now featured extended sleeves, his best combatant for winter, and keeping his volatile impression.
"What are you two babbling about on your own?"
Sakura tilted her head. "What, afraid we're leaving you out of a club meeting?"
Katsuki's eye twitched. "Don't call us that," he growled, looking disgusted.
"Kachaan!" Izuku looked over his costume with little regard for his safety in the moment. "Yours is different too."
"Huh!? If you've got something to say, then say it!"
And Izuku decided to take him up on the offer, forgoing the sarcasm behind the threat. "That suit, does it come with a heat generator that protects against the cold?" Since your sweat glands are your weapons, it's a change that makes sense-
"Don't praise it!"
"You all seem really relaxed. Are you underestimating us?"
Class A turned into the distance, taking note of the silhouettes emerging, all with familiar faces. Class B had officially arrived and taking charge of the introduction was unfortunately none other than Neito Monoma.
He spread his arms wide, leaning back with a flamboyant display, "Come on, Class A! Let's settle this once and for all today!"
Sakura just reminded herself that she needed to be present when Eri eventually came into contact with this person for her quirk examination. Monoma had a strange disposition; he didn't stand out as audacious or wild, yet when it came to confronting class A, regardless of the nature, it was like showing red to a bull.
Monoma launched into a dramatic recounting of a survey he'd conducted ranking the Cultural Festival activities. With little official standing, "Class A's concert versus Class B's play, we won by two votes!" He exclaimed wildly. Though many were ignoring him. "And now, Class A vs. Class B, our first joint combat training! We'll-"
Shouta'a's scarf lashed out, wrapping around Monoma's neck and yanking him backward mid-sentence.
"Enough," Aizawa deadpanned, looking like he wanted to strangle more than just Monoma's words. Beside him, class B's homeroom teacher, Vlad King, Sekijiro.
"Today, there will be a special participant," Vlad announced, crossing his arms.
"Please try not to embarrass yourselves." Though Shouta's dry stare suggested he didn't have much faith in them. But the announcement drew their attention and curiosity.
Murmurs rippled through both classes. "A special participant?"
Katsuki cracked his knuckles. "I'll crush 'em."
"Let's do our best together!"
"He wants to transfer into the Hero Course."
Even Sakura's face turned up in surprise when she saw Hitoshi step in front of the class. His expression was as tired as ever, but his gaze was sharp as he walked up to them, dressed in his gym uniform with a familiar scarf wrapping his shoulder's and they knew it wasn't meant to fight the cold weather. Then he gave an introduction that was very fitting for him.
"I'm Hitoshi Shinso," he said, voice flat. "I already fought against some of you during the Sports Festival. But saying we're friends just because we fought before…I'm not into good sportsmanship like that." His eyes narrowed. "I'm dozens of steps behind you all. But I'm desperate for this. I want to become a proper hero and use my Quirk to help others. All of you are walls I must overcome. I'm not planning on being friends. Thanks for having me."
A round of applause followed after a moment of silence, both classes clapping, intrigued and in awe of Hitoshi's revelation and resolve. Now looking forward to this training even more.
"It's time for combat training!"
Even though he held his composure like a feather in his palm, Hitoshi could feel the weight of Sakura's stare.
Vlad King's voice boomed as he explained the nature of the day's training. "Each class will form teams of four and compete one at a time. Heroes will surround and capture a villain group. Think of the opposing team as villains; you win by capturing all four members. Each team's base has a prison cell for containment."
Tenya seemed to be having a hard time grasping a solid conclusion on their position they would be playing. Even if it was pretend, he took his roles seriously, whether playing the hero or the villain. But now he couldn't quite juggle the script. "We're heroes but we're villains to the opposing team?"
Sakura crossed her arms. "That's more realistic. Two opposing sides usually believe they're the ones in the right. This is how wars start."
Katsuki scoffed. "What do you know about war?"
Sakura didn't flinch. "More than you."
Vlad then gestured to Hitoshi. "Since Shinso's presence makes our numbers uneven, he'll participate twice, once with Class A, once with Class B."
The exercise was basically putting an even team of four against four, aside from the five-person teams that would have Hitoshi in two rounds. But the rule to capture all 4 participants to win wouldn't be changed, there was also going to be a set timer of 20 minutes for them to accomplish this, so that numbers would matter in this game.
"So you're telling us to fight with a piece of luggage, huh?" Katsuki asked.
"So you're saying you can't handle more than your own weight?" Sakura jeered playfully with a smile she knew got under Katsuki's skin.
They were called to draw lots for their teams, with everything left to chance. First class A and class B created their teams of four, and then Hitoshi was called to draw one lot for each class.
While Sakura wanted to talk to Hitoshi, he ended up pulling for the first matches and was pulled off by his teammates which were with class A. He was teamed up with Eijiro, Tsuyu, Shouji, and Denki, who gave him a warm greeting. Class B was also welcoming to him, but both were monopolizing him. He was also going to get a rematch against Izuku in the last match.
Sakura looked at the lettered lot in her hand. She was going to be in the third match, her teammates were Mashirao, Tenya, and Shoto.
Who were also eager to talk to her.
After drawing up their lots, both classes were brought up to a podium in front of a massive screen. It was a perfect platform where they could watch the entire battle going on from different angles and cameras. While the first teams already went out to the field, entering at different points.
Toshinori and Midnight also came up the stairs wanting to watch the matches.
Sakura stood at a distance, watching the screen flick on, the camera drones zoomed in, capturing the first team as they took their positions.
With a microphone in hand, Sekijiro called to attention, "First match start!"
THAT'S ALL MY LOVELIES! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and remember to stay strong and keep reading!
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EARLY CHAPTERS FOR MEMBERS NOW: BUYMEACOFFEE
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (92, 93, 94, 95)
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter ( 41, 42,43)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter 32, 33, 34, 34
-Through the Looking Glass chapter 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45
- (Bleach crossover) Kunoichi amongst Reapers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia (PART 1 & 2)
- Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi