A/N: I'm posting this chapter a day early, since I'll be traveling tomorrow and I don't know if I'll have internet.

Drawing the screenshots for this chapter was a pain in my side because I had to draw backgrounds, and that fact alone was what caused me to take more than 3 weeks to finish it. [9/7/2021 EDIT]: Funny how the redraw only took 2 or 3 days max compared to how long the old one took me XD The new art has a MUCH better background in my opinion ^-^

By the way, I also decided to include a screenshot of Hitomi's brothers just for funsies, even though they don't actually appear in any scenes this chapter. I included it since it's been 38 chapters and I never actually described their appearances, so there's that. :P

Art -

[Complete Gallery] Add /21axlkt3bolc to the DeviantArt Stash URL.

[Ch. 38] Add /019j47jyszn6 to the DeviantArt Stash URL.

Hitomi received a harsh scolding from both of her parents when she finally returned home the next day, but it wasn't as harsh as she would've expected.

Her parents were both concerned when they suddenly received a message yesterday afternoon that their daughter wouldn't be home right away, and even more so when she didn't return until the day after.

To her surprise, though, she wasn't grounded, especially after what everyone witnessed on the news.

"Hitomi?!"

Her parents nearly tackled her when she stepped through the front door. Her mom grabbed her face, making her meet her mother's silver eyes.

"Hitomi Kanetsukabe," her father said slowly as her mother observed her for any scratches or bruises. He held a pained look in his eyes, barely restrained. "What on earth were you thinking?!"

Hitomi couldn't find the words in her to speak, still reeling from the fight she'd watched between All Might and All for One.

"I…"

"You need to think twice before you just decide to run off!" Her father ran his hand through his dark blue hair frantically, messing up his normally neat hairstyle. Her mom looked back at him.

"Ethen, please…"

"No, Calida." He pinched the bridge of his nose, his glasses getting pushed up slightly from his fingers. "She needs to hear this."

Hitomi met her father's pained gaze. "Do you even understand the heart attack you gave us?! When we got that text?! When you didn't come home? Do you know the worry you caused us? Your brothers? Your mom? Me?"

Hitomi's mom bit her lip as she turned back to her. "Your father… isn't wrong. Hitomi… we were worried sick. And with that villain…" Her thin eyebrows furrowed. "What if you'd gotten hurt…? You know some of the things I see as a nurse— and when you didn't come back, all I could think was…"

"Mom… Dad…" Hitomi's eyes burned and she covered her face in her hands, choking back a sob. "I'm sorry…! I'm- I'm so sorry!"

Everything she felt within the past 24 hours was finally crashing down all at once. She was crying for the second time that day and her parents both flinched back, their eyes wide.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry…!" Hitomi cried, rubbing her eyes frantically. More tears only streamed down her cheeks as she sniffled. "I understand if you're mad. I'm- I'm sorry I made you worry about me."

She wiped her eyes again. All that crying after All Might's fight and she still had so many tears left. "But… I couldn't just do nothing! Not after everything- I wanted- needed to help Bakugou! I couldn't live with myself if I just stood by, not again… I- I didn't want to be a useless person…!"

At those words the tension left both her parents' bodies almost immediately. They shared a look and Hitomi's dad felt his breath hitch, covering his own eyes with his hand. One of the things he hated most was seeing his daughter cry.

"I'm sorry…" Hitomi continued to cry softly, taking deep breaths. "I didn't mean to scare you…"

With a sniffle of his own her father stepped forward and her mom looked at her with glossy eyes, the two wrapping their arms around her.

"No… We should've considered your own feelings, too. I'm sorry. You don't have to cry," her dad choked out, cradling the back of her head. "All that matters… is that you're safe."

"You're safe," her mother repeated.

Once her parents had finally finished their lecture and she properly apologized, the bluenette slumped to her room, crashing onto her bed to finally take a breather.

A few days later…

Hitomi fidgeted in her place between her parents as both All Might and her homeroom teacher proposed the UA dorms system to the three of them, asking for her parents' permission to let their daughter live at UA.

When the notice had arrived in the mail, Hitomi had told her parents she was okay with it, giving them her opinion on the matter. However, they never gave her theirs.

She suspected they spent a lot of time discussing it in private, meaning she wouldn't know their decision until they finally told the teachers.

Which meant right now.

Hitomi's mother crossed her arms as she stared down All Might and Aizawa, the room falling tense as they awaited her answer.

"I haven't been happy with all the attacks UA has experienced lately."

Hitomi felt herself deflate. After everything… she really couldn't blame her mother. Especially when considering how distraught Hitomi had been upon returning from camp, and how delicately they'd treated her. She bit her lip as her mother continued.

"... but after watching the sports festival, after everything, I've realized you've trained my daughter well enough to handle herself."

Hitomi's head snapped up to see the glare on her mother's face disappear, changing into one of a small smile. "It seems that even though UA's received a lot of attacks lately, you've been training your students well enough to take care of themselves during crises, right honey?" she said, turning to her husband.

Hitomi's father made a noise of affirmation as Hitomi looked between the two of them in surprise. She saw her mom wearing a somber smile, her eyebrows furrowed.

"We've always been a bit overprotective of Hitomi," her mom said slowly. "Especially after what happened with her best friend a few years ago. When she told us she wanted to be a hero, we were surprised, to say the least, since she never really had any interest in it before. So when she was admitted to your school, and that USJ attack happened, we were seriously considering pulling her out of the hero course."

Hitomi's mouth opened slightly in surprise at her mother's words. This was the first she'd heard of this.

"But then we saw her on TV, during the sports festival," her mom continued, "and we realized how serious she was about becoming a hero, danger and all. Especially after Camino. Though…" Her mom's smile still held a bit of melancholy. "I've had a feeling this was the path she wanted since a long time ago."

"We weren't so sure about it at first," her dad added on slowly, "but we realized that if Hitomi's going to be a hero, we're going to have to deal with this turmoil whether we like it or not. As long as you continue to train her well, you have our permission to let her live in the dorms. That is…" Her father's green eyes met her silver ones, Hitomi noting the slight furrow in his brows. "…if she truly still wants to."

Hitomi's own brows furrowed. Of course her parents would feel wary about the life of danger in her future. She was their child, and it was natural they would worry so much. Especially when considering what she'd already gone through, and the emotional turmoil they'd witnessed her experience.

But…

Hitomi's fingers tightened, wrinkling the fabric of her pants.

She wouldn't be a useless person that stood by and did nothing.

Not now. Not ever again.

Hitomi stared forward, meeting her teacher's eyes with a determined expression. "This is what I still want."

Her parents' eyes met before they looked to Aizawa as well.

"Then… we'll entrust her to you," her dad said.

Her mom hummed quietly. "Raise her into a strong hero for us."

Aizawa bent forward in a slight bow. "I promise."

Hitomi shouldered on her school backpack, tapping the toes of her shoes to make sure they were secure. All of her belongings had been packed into boxes and sent to the school ahead of time. Once she was satisfied, she let out a deep exhale, turning back to face the inside of her family's home. This was the last time she'd set foot in here for a while.

Her family stood behind her, ready to send her off.

Hitomi hesitated.

Her eyes met her parents and she felt her eyebrows furrow. "Mom… Dad… is this… really okay with you?" Even after what she'd heard them tell Aizawa, she still felt the need to ask them. One last time.

They shared a look and her mom stepped forward, brushing back the blue hair by Hitomi's ear. "We are. Because we know it's what you want."

Her dad stepped forward as well, placing his hand on the top of her head. "No matter how much we'll worry… it would hurt you more if you couldn't do it, right?" His eyes had a sad look as he smiled gently at her. "We want you to be safe… but we don't want you to grow up with regrets, either."

Hitomi bit her lip, fighting back tears as she wrapped her arms around them in a hug. "Thank you," she said softly. "I'll try not to make you worry. I'll do my best."

She let them go and then turned to her brothers, finding her older brother rubbing the back of his neck while her younger brother fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "Bye Kinkata, Toku."

Her older brother eventually sighed, reaching toward her. "Good grief," Kinkata chuckled before placing his hand on top of her head, just as their father had done. He suddenly ruffled her hair, messing up her bangs. "It's not as if you'll be gone forever. Keep in touch, Hitomi. We're only one train stop away."

Hitomi batted his hand away, trying to fix her bangs. "I know, but…" She suddenly engulfed him in a hug as well, making him cough out an "oof!"

"I'll try not to make you worry either, kuya."

Kinkata looked away, patting her back. He struggled to maintain the nonchalant look on his face. "Yeah yeah…"

With one last squeeze Hitomi let him go, finally turning to the last member of her family.

Toku.

He still picked at the hem of his shirt awkwardly, his eyes darting back and forth between her face and the floor.

"I guess this means you won't get to train with me anymore, huh…" he mumbled softly, wearing a troubled look.

Hitomi sighed, her eyes softening. Her younger sibling was always interested in her hero studies, begging her to show him what she'd learned so he could have a "head start." He wanted to join the hero course just like her once he graduated middle school. With a small smile, Hitomi poked him in the forehead, finally making their eyes meet.

"That just means you need to get to UA as soon as you can. Don't slack on your studies, okay? Kinkata can help you, and you can always call me... When you get there in two years, I'll be a third-year and show you everything I know."

Toku's hands clenched into fists and he held them up determinedly. "O-Of course! Just you wait…! You'll see me there, it's a promise!"

Hitomi chuckled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and giving him a brief hug that he returned with a tight squeeze. With that, she stepped off the genkan step, grabbing the handle of her home's front door. As she pushed it open, she glanced over her shoulder, taking one last, long look at her family. They all waved.

"Take care, Hitomi."

She waved back with a smile before finally stepping out, taking the first step in this new chapter of her life.

Hitomi's eyes widened in awe as she took in what would be her new home.

A large building stood before the class, "1-A" painted on the front wall with a sign holding the word "Alliance" propped above the two main doors.

Heights Alliance… UA's new dorm system!

Aizawa stood in front of the building, calling for the class's attention to give a few announcements.

"This is important," Aizawa said. "Listen up.

Kirishima. Yaoyorozu. Todoroki, Midoriya, Iida. And Kanetsukabe.

These six went to go save Bakugou that night."

The entire class flinched, a few of those around Hitomi turning to look at her. She wanted to disappear under their gazes as Aizawa continued.

"Your reactions tell me that you were all at least aware of it. I'm going to set aside a number of issues and say this:

If it weren't for All Might's retirement, I would've expelled everyone except Bakugou, Jirou, and Hagakure.

Of course the six that went, but also the twelve who knew but didn't stop them betrayed our trust, no matter the reason. I would be grateful if you could follow the proper procedures and act properly in order to regain our trust.

That's all. We're going inside. Let's have some energy."

Hitomi was silent as she watched her teacher approach the entrance, her eyes falling to the ground in shame.

Bakugou clicking his tongue behind her caught her attention, leading her to turn around only to find the ash blonde dragging Kaminari behind a bush.

Electricity came out before Kaminari emerged, in his "wheeey" state after overusing his quirk. Jirou burst out laughing as Bakugou approached Kirishima, who Hitomi was standing next to as she pointed at Bakugou, confused.

"Eh? But how did he…?"

"Kirishima!" Bakugou held out five ten-thousand yen notes, surprising the two of them.

"Wait, you're scaring me!" Kirishima yelled. "Did you shake someone down for money?!"

"No!" Bakugou denied, flailing the bills at the redhead. "I withdrew this money. You used up all your allowance right?"

"Yeah… but how did you hear about me buying the night-vision goggles-?" Bakugou shoved the money into Kirishima's chest before he stalked towards the building.

"If you keep having to scrimp and save, then it'll make me feel bad," Bakugou said. "Show your dumb side, as usual."

"Sorry, Kirishima," Hitomi said, a sheepish smile on her face. "I might've let it slip while you weren't paying attention on our way to the police station that night…"

"Kanetsukabe!"

Hitomi and Kirishima looked to see Bakugou glancing over his shoulder at the bluenette while the rest of the class was laughing at Kaminari.

"Um, yes…?"

"Don't think you can always hold on to me whenever you want," the ash blonde muttered. "I let it go last time because we were busy watching All Might fight, but don't believe for a second I'm letting you do it again!"

He turned back to finally enter the dorms as Hitomi flailed.

"I'm sorry!" she apologized, her face turning red. "I didn't realize I was doing it until afterwards…"

Bakugou ignored her as he went inside.

Next to her, Kirishima snorted.

"The first floor has food, baths, and laundry," Aizawa said as Hitomi took in the common area.

Wow… how spacey…!

"Rooms start on the second floor," Aizawa continued as the class stepped out of the elevators. "There are four rooms per gender on each floor with five floors total. Everyone gets their own room." He opened the door to one of the rooms, revealing the inside.

"They're luxurious spaces equipped with their own AC, toilets, fridges, and closets."

Hitomi looked to the back of the room to see there was even a balcony outside, reminding her for the first time in a while how wealthy UA actually was.

How fancy… even personal fridges!

As the class finally piled out of the room, Aizawa held up a chart.

"These are your room assignments. The belongings you sent ahead have already been placed in your rooms, so unpack and get settled in today. We'll talk more about what'll happen from now on tomorrow. That's all. Dismissed!"

…

Hitomi, fully changed in some comfortable clothing rather than her school uniform, stared at the stack of boxes before her.

She cracked her knuckles before she finally opened a box up.

"Time to get to work!"

A/N: [2/16/2023 EDIT] - Added some additional dialogue and scenes with Hitomi's parents and family as a whole. Since this is the last time she'd be around them I figured it'd be better to give them meaningful interactions and one last goodbye. They weren't very developed back in 2019 but after a few years I feel they've really evolved from their initial concepts ^-^