Chapter 2

She had been fooling herself, hard work and determination could only get you so far in a society that placed more value on someone's quirk rather than the effort they exerted to achieve their dreams. Shoving the depressing thoughts out of her mind she let her dark blue eyes drift from the stage and those on it to gaze up at the bright blue sky.

After this she would never have to step foot in the hell hole that was her high school. No she would leave this place and every single bastard who had made the last three years of her life hell behind. She would move on to medical school, a feat made possible only due to the various scholarships for those who were born quirkless. Since there was no way her parents would contribute to the cost of college.

The government program had been started in order to show the world that even though people like her were born useless, they could still find a way to be a productive member of society. It was either go to college or be assigned a mundane job by the government. It would be a shitty low paying job, more than likely being a public servant. At least this way she could still help people and feel like she had a choice in the matter.

So as she sat there, in the blaring sun dressed in her deep red graduation gown, she could help to but wish they would get a move on. Why bother drawing the graduation ceremony out any longer when she knew for a fact that almost everyone there wanted to be anywhere else but there. If it was up to her, she would have just left after getting her diploma but no, they had been warned that should they do so they would be fined an extra twenty-five dollars on top of the cost of the gown rental.

"Now, we have one final speaker who we are so very privileged to welcome to the stage..." Blinking Kagome turned her attention to the stage once one, her eyes widening a bit as All Might took the stage, his teeth glinting in the light as he gave his signature smile.

Damn, if only her family could be bothered to show up to her high school graduation, then Souta would have been able to see All Might in the flesh. But of course, they weren't there, they hadn't even bothered to open the envelope with the tickets for the event in it. No, her mother had merely left it on the entryway table...

"As I stare out at all you youthful young students, I am filled with hope. Hope for the next generation of heroes. You've all worked hard to get here, yet the work isn't done just yet. Some of you will go on to become heroes, others will find different ways to contribute to society. Whatever path you choose you must never falter if you wish to achieve your goals. You can't get through life with just passion and hope. It takes hard work, dedication, and a plan."

He paused to let his words sink in.

"You have to give not only your all but beyond that, you have to go plus ultra!" He struck a pose as he finished his speech, handing back the mic to the principal before making a quick exit off the stage.

Kagome scoffed as the rest of the students around her stood up and began to clap and cheer, tossing their caps into the air. Hard work, dedication and a plan huh? Well, she had all of those and yet the door to being a hero had been slammed in her face again and again simply due to the fact she was quirkless.

Sure, she was going to medical school but it really wouldn't mean much. There were people out there with healing quirks, they could cure just about any aliment in a matter of minutes when all she could do was write prescriptions and make follow up appointments.

Mood, sour she got to her own feet and turned to leave; people were gathering into groups chatting happily as they exchanged hugs and goodbyes. Pulling the gown off she approached the return area, leaving the gown and cap on the table to be checked in. Task done she shoved her diploma into the small black canvas bag she carried on her shoulder.

Without so much as a second glance behind her she began her trek to the bus stop. She would go home and get a jump start on the paperwork she needed in order to start her online classes the following spring. After which she would fill out more applications, her mother had been very clear about her requirements in order for her to continue to live at home.

She would have to get a job and pay rent or work on the shrine and have her salary withheld in order to pay her way. She would much rather work elsewhere instead of being stuck at home. She hated being there but she also needed a roof over her head at least until she could save up enough to get her own place.

Then she would leave and never go back, it wasn't like they would miss her.

So deep in her thoughts she was barely paying attention to her surroundings. So as something ran into her, she could only yelp as she stumbled back, barley able to keep her footing. Whatever had run into wasn't so lucky, so it was with baited breath that she turned her gaze down to look at what had run into her. Blinking as her dark blue eyes met a pair of teary red eyes that were gazing up at her in fear.

Said eyes belonged to a small pale child, her hair was long wavy and white, on her forehead was a small white horn. It looked like an over growth of bone, yet it was no doubt related to the child's quirk. On her thin frail looking arms were crisp white bandages, she wore a slightly oversized white dress and her feet were bare.

Arching an eyebrow at the near trembling child she plastered a smile on her face as she knelt before the small child. Her smile wavered a bit as the child flinched back as if expecting to be hit, it was a red flag and it made her grit her teeth in anger. She made sure that none of her anger showed, lest she upset the child even more.

"Hey, are you okay?" Her voice was light as she crouched before the child, making herself eye level so she would feel more at ease. The girl only blinked as she quickly scrambled to her feet and glanced around as if nervous and afraid. Rising to her full height Kagome could only smile as the child stopped looking around and gazed up at her looking as if she wanted to say something but was afraid to do so.

"Do you need help, sweety? Are you lost?" The small child nodded her head eagerly, opening her mouth to speak yet before she could even utter one word a deep male voice rang out from the alleyway the child had come from.

"Eri." It was just one word and as soon as she heard it the small child whimpered and moved to stand behind her, gripping tightly to her hand. It was clear to see this child was terrified of whomever was exiting the alleyway trailing after her. Narrowing her dark blue eyes into a glare, she shifted her stance as she pulled her shoulders back ready to face whoever came out of the dark alleyway.

She wasn't a hero, she held no quirk, but she would be damned if she let anyone or anything hurt the small child standing behind her.