From Distant Lands - A BNHA Fanfiction

Chapter Forty-Two

By the time I'm finally able to train again, it feels like years have passed, but Endeavor is hardly one to pull any punches. From the moment I arrive to the freshly rebuilt Endeavor Agency, he's started drilling me. It feels good to sweat again, heart racing and muscles working. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face when I land another move, hands coming together as energy pulses out of them like shock waves, shoving him backwards. He braces himself against it, flames whipping in the chaos.

"I haven't lost a beat!" I gloat, grinning at him over the attack. I earn a stone cold eyebrow and an instant responding blast that knocks me on my ass. Still, I sit up laughing, relief pouring through me. This... this finally feels normal.

"You're not focused" Endeavor scolds, eyeing me suspiciously. His heart doesn't seem in it though and I'm wondering if it's because of everything that's happened. I shrug, standing up again and starting back for him, allowing my energy to flow through my entire body, filling me with unnatural strength.

"I'm happy..." I argue, whipping around and landing a kick against his blocking arm. We spar, hand to hand for a bit. My increased strength making it almost easy to keep up with him.

"To be back!" I add, throwing a few punches in quick succession. Endeavor blocks them all, but he regards me with a look I've never seen on his face before.

"You're not hesitating as much" he notes, catching another hit. I smirk, feeling the power well up inside me. No... I'm not. I shove off the floor, energy bursting out of the soles of my feet and propelling me up over his head. The energy in my hands increases tenfold, the speed of my heart giving me enough power to wrap both of them around Endeavor's enormous forearm and yank him along with me. I hear him exclaim in surprise only moments before I slam his enormous body into the ground. His eyes widen and I huff with the effort, struggling not to laugh. I've been waiting to do that! He looks up at me, completely frozen for a moment.

"Did you...?" I can't help it. I start laughing hysterically, grabbing my stomach as I try to catch my breath.

"You should see your face!" I howl. Endeavor sits up immediately, scowling at me in irritation.

"This isn't a joke! Can't you ever take your training seriously?!" he bellows, a little vein on his forehead bulging. It only makes me laugh harder.

"You're so mad!" I snicker, unable to control myself. He gapes at me incredulously, not sure how to respond and apparently pretty shocked by my outburst. The door opens in the midst of our shouting and Shoto enters, a fond smile on his face.

"Looks like it's going well in here" he muses and I grin at him. When I returned home, I got all kinds of tearful greetings and apologies. Shoto was even one of them... but since I've started healing, he's become a consistent friend, the two of us reaching a place where we're both finally comfortable with the way we feel about each other.

"You're just in time. I'm definitely kicking your dad's ass" I tell him, earning a furious growl from behind me.

"Kaida..." Endeavor steams, but I can't help the warmth that fills my chest. Shoto chuckles, that sweet smile on his face that I missed so much.

"Glad to see you back on your game. Want to change it up a bit?" he wonders and my smile grows. I haven't sparred with Shoto for what feels like forever and I practically jump at the chance, abandoning the angry old man behind us.

"Bring it" I grin, taking a stance already. A look of determination comes into Shoto's eyes and excitement fills me to the brim. This is what I missed... what you came back for. The sudden thought makes me pause for only a moment, wondering where it came from. Some part of my memory tugs at me, reminding me of a single moment and a single voice that can't possibly be real.