lucid dreams ༄ bnha various

VII

❝ you can't change the past but you can change the future. ❞

The rest of the class was boring. I had returned to the rest of the class watching the next couple of fights begin. I didn't pay attention and sat on the ground in the corner. I just wanted to go home. I debated on texting Dad to pick me up early but I knew leaving school early would be frowned upon so I stayed. A part of me wanted everyone to pass which was stupid. Utterly stupid. Why should I care about people I hardly know? I held onto Mother's wedding ring for comfort. I let out a deep breath, thankful I had passed the practical exam.

Today finally ended. I walked out of the school building. I had left late since I had to do a practice round with Togata before I went home. He went easy on me since he heard about how difficult today's practical exam was. Someone stopped me in my tracks. "[L/N]." I turned around, hands in pockets, ready to gas a bitch. I blinked in surprise, seeing my mother's partner on the battlefield before my eyes.

"A-All Might?" I stuttered in utter shock.

"You're...[L/N] [Y/N]."

"No shit." I spat.

"You're..Izana's daughter." He said quietly.

I stepped backwards, losing my footing. I managed to stop my fall. I breathed, "I am."

"...I'm sorry for your loss."

"It's been five years." I said. I glanced at the number one pro-hero.

"I'm sorry." All Might said, "for not saving your Mother."

"...she sacrificed herself to protect the citizens." I said, staring up at the sky. It was also slowly turning into golden hour. "She did it because she had no other choice." I twisted the ring on my finger, clutching it painfully. "What she did was honorable."

"It was indeed," All Might said.

"I'm not mad at you or anything," I said, glancing at the trees by the entrance of the school. "I know she did it with her own free will. I know she would want me to not be angry and bitter because of her death."

"I'm sorry, [L/N]. Your mother should have lived."

"Excuse me?"

"I could have saved her. But I didn't reach Dreameater in time."

"..."

"She told me this," All Might said, clearing his throat, "protect the people first, not the hero. I might die here today but at least it wasn't in vain."

"That sounds just like her," I said with a laugh.

"When I saw you today," All Might sucked in a bit of air, "you reminded me a lot of Dreameater."

"That's what Midnight said."

"Your battle style..." He began, "is like her too. Everything about you just screams Izana."

"..."

"I just want to congratulate you on your victory today, [L/N]."

"Thank you, All Might." I dipped my head with a smile. Coming from the earnest pro-hero with such humility and kindness was something I never expected. I turned around, fiddling with Mom's wedding ring. I began to walk away.

"Izana wanted me to tell you this when you enrolled into U.A," All Might said. I froze in my spot, wondering what words would come out of his mouth. "This is what she said, 'Tell my daughter that I love her. I want her to know just I'll support whatever path she takes. [Y/N], when you go to U.A, keep an open mind. Do your best to protect who you keep close. I know being a hero is your dream, and I want you to never let go of that. You'll be amazing. Tell her that to keep looking on the bright side. Focus on your journey rather than your success. Focus on the present, not the past...' [L/N]...I'm..." He didn't get to finish his words.

I forced tears away from my eyes, sucking in air. I forced a smile on my face, holding back tears with the best of my ability. I didn't dare look at All Might. "Thank you..." I said, clenching my fists. "Thank you, All Might." I could feel his fatherly gaze upon me. I began walking home with a different view. Mother was always an optimistic person. She believed that whatever path you took is right because you believed it enough to go down that path. She always told me to look on the bright side of things. After her death, all her advice ran into my head and out my ears without any processing. I didn't follow what she said even though I've believed it all this time.

Mother was always my inspiration. She was my drive, the person I looked up to, my mother. My views on heroes will never change, my views on society will never change.

I didn't know that's what she said, and I didn't know that she was waiting for me in U.A. As a child, I wanted to go to U.A and become the number one hero in Japan, but it doesn't seem like that's happening any time soon. I rode the bullet train home, listening to some of Mother's favorites. My stop arrived and I stepped out, walking out onto the platform. I sucked in a deep breath and pursed my lips together with teary eyes. I held my school bag in one hand and wore Mother's wedding ring on the other with a bit of pride.

Those words couldn't leave my head as much as I wanted to leave them. I sat in silence as Dad set down today's dinner on the table, "what's up Champ?"

"Nothing..." I said with a sigh.

"Did anything interesting happen at school?"

"We took the practical exam today," I said, which seemed to perk his interest.

"What happened?" He asked, glancing up from his plate of tempura.

"We has a teammate and we had to either capture a pro-hero or escape over the finish line in time." I said, mid-chew.

"[Y/N], swallow before you talk."

"Sorry." I mumbled, shoving rice into my mouth.

"Continue, please."

"Okay, okay..."