For the next week, I waited anxiously for a letter from U.A. Either my acceptance letter, or my rejection.

I paced the living room, waiting for the mailman. "Sakura, you're going to wear a hole in the rug." My mothers sharp yet calming voice spoke, immediately making me stop. I glanced over at her.

Her ruby red eyes are unwavering as always. Like me, she has pale pink hair, almost blonde even. But hers reaches her mid back but she usually wears it in a tight bun unless she's in Hero gear. She wore a black pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse.

I always found it interesting. Mom likes neat, modern clothes and styles while dad like traditional types. They use to fight about the house all the time. Dad wants sliding doors and tatami mats and mom wants fancy sounding rugs and couches. Dad wants lowered table, mom wants mahogany. Their styles are way too different.

They still argue about things when we need new furnishes, but they compromised.

Because both are big leagues in their area of profession, we have quite a bit of money. The main house, where we stay in, is very modern. While the other part of the house that's connected to the dojo outback, is traditional.

And depending on which parent is home, we eat and spend time in either. Although Ume-Nee prefers moms style, I prefer dads.

"Sorry. I'm just . . . anxious." I contemplated my words. Mom glanced at me briefly before sighing. "I understand. But you're still recovering from your illness. Don't overdo it." I frowned a bit at that.

"It's been over a week. I'm completely fine."

"Lies~.!" Ume-Nee said in a sing song voice before yawning. Her white hair is sticking all over and she's still wearing pajama shorts and a tank top. I shot her a look.

I recovered. They're making a big deal out of nothing.

"Ume, it's already noon. Get dressed. Don't you have work today?" Mom scolded. Ume winced a bit at that. "Yeah, yeah. But it's not until two." She whined pathetically.

Moms disapproving gaze didn't falter. "You've slept the day away."

Ume-Nee groaned loudly, muttering a insincere apology, before trudging into the kitchen. Mom shook her head and grabbed her purse. "I'm going into the office to do some paperwork. I'll be back late. Sakura, watch Ume." She patted my head.

"HEY! I'm the oldest!" She cried from the kitchen. Mom glanced over at me with a smirk and winked before leaving.

Mom can be a little much. Very intimidating, sometimes cold, but she can be very playful. She likes to tease those she cares for. But she doesn't have many she does care about. When she's not in Hero mode she kind of just scares people away.

Ume-Nee soon exited the kitchen with a bowl of some colorful cereal. It was then I noticed she wore her rainbow slippers.

For a girl who wears more gothic apparel when she's working with mom, the girl sure owns a lot of colorful clothes

"It's weird seeing you here in the afternoon rather then back in the dojo." She noted, plopping on the leather couch and putting her feet on mom's glass coffee table.

I winced. "If mom saw you . . ." I shook my head. Ume-Nee shuddered, picturing it as well. "But she isn't. And she won't ever know." She narrowed her eyes and pointed the spoon at me. I rolled my eyes at my sisters attempt of a threat.

Ume-Nee isn't a very intimidating person. Unless she's using her Quirk and working with mom. Then she's very frightening, almost as much as mom when Ume-Nee spilled blueberry preserves on our old white couch.

That was a disastrous day for the Igarashi's. Even dad couldn't do anything.

I glanced at the clock spotting that it's now 12:43. The exact time our mailman comes by. I immediately bolted for the door. Sure enough, up ahead by the front gate, is the mailman.

The middle aged man spotted me and gave me a warm smile, holding up an envelope. "You're results are back Sakura-Chan." Tachibana-San has always been a friendly mailman. Always interacting with the neighborhood when he stops on by.

When I was younger I was left home alone more often than I am now. And Tachibana-San left snacks for me on the porch. He's even brought me a casserole his wife made.

Funny enough, I'm closer to the Tachibana's and the guys at the dojo then kids my own age.

Cherry blossom petals wrapped around me and I zoomed over, snatching the mail and clutching the odd feeling letter in my hand. I stared at the envelope long and hard, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Tachibana-San smiled kindly and patted my head. "I know you did amazing. Good work Sakura-Chan." I offered a thankful smile and nodded sharply before dashing inside in a flurry of petals.

Going through the living room, I zoomed past my sister and went upstairs to my room. "Sakura!" Ume-Nee complained.

While most cherry blossom petals return to me, some don't and there's lots to clean up. It's usually not a problem so long as I only use it outside, very rarely do I use my Quirk inside.

But I wanted privacy and I wanted to open it up as soon as I could.

Slamming the door to my room closed, I shakily walked over to my desk. I sat down and felt the envelope a bit.

There's something round and bulky inside. Kind of in a disc shape. It's now or never. I don't expect to enter the Hero Course after that shameful performance during the second test. At least General Department.

At least General Department.

Now or never. I carefully ripped one side open and dumped the strange disc out. It made a noise before showing a projection above.

"I am here as a projection!"

I blinked, eyes wide. All . . . Might?! What's the Number One Hero doing in a letter from U.A.?! "You might be surprised, but I came to this town to work at U.A." The projection said.

Him? Working at U.A.? "You passed the written exam with flying colors, placing in the top three. However your practical exam was fairly low. I'm afraid it's not enough to place you in the Hero Course."

My chest tightened painfully. I knew. I knew it wouldn't. But I'm still disappointed.

"But you do meet the requirements for the General Department. And while watching you in the practical, I have no doubt that you'll make it into the Hero Course. You, Young Igarashi, have the makings of a Hero. Putting others above yourself regardless of the consequences to yourself proves that to me. You risked yourself to save a rival in the exam. Even with a fever and the looming time of the test, you did not hesitate to save him. You can become a Hero. Come. And move your way into the Hero Course."

With that, the projection ended. I blinked.

I . . . made it into General Department. But All Might. He told me I could make it into Hero Course. Me, with a Quirk that doesn't have destructive power.

I didn't do anything special in the exam. That boy was outnumbered and in trouble. Anyone would have saved him. Right?

A small smile made its way onto my face.

My door slammed open and Ume-Nee threw dry colorful cereal over me. "Congratulations Sakura!" She cheered loudly. I blinked at her as she continued to grin at me.

"You were eavesdropping." She didn't falter. Her grin remained. "You got into U.A.! And the All Might said he has no doubt you'll be able to make it into Hero Course later on! Congrats!" I couldn't help but let the corner of my lip tilt up in a small smile.

"Thank's Ume-Nee." My sisters grin widened.

Ever since she graduated, she's become surprisingly supportive of me. Making up for our parents who are always busy. I think it's because she feels guilty. But it doesn't matter.

I appreciate it.

"This calls for celebration!" She continued on. She's awfully happy.

Time to ruin it.

"Don't you have to get ready for work?" I asked. She blinked once, twice, three times. "AHG!"

~

"Um, Igarashi-Chan?" I moved, my wooden sword going in a wide arc, touching the chin of Yoshino-San. He immediately froze. Although this isn't my actual sword, it is still considered a weapon in the hands of a trained person.

I moved the wooden sword and stared at Yoshino-San a bit. He's one of Gang Orca's sidekicks. He comes here regularly to train in his free time and he only uses dad's masterpieces for his Hero duties. "Sorry Yoshino-San. Can I help you?" I asked.

Although I do help with classes here, today only a few have come in to get some extra practice. So long as someone is watching the dojo, the regulars are free to enter and use it as needed.

"I was wondering if you'd spar with me. With your sword of course. And your Quirk if you want." I shook my head.

"I'll spar with you, but here in the dojo we must train with our bodies before our Quirk. As relying on them is a way to quickly lose a battle." He nodded, a smile on his face.

He, and everyone here, has heard that phrase many times. My father has drilled it into our heads. And I agree.

Relying on your Quirk shows arrogance. One cannot become the best if their body can't inflict as much damage as your Quirk.

I walked over to the side where our equipment is neatly aligned. I grabbed another wooden sword and handed it to him before the two of us got in stance.

In our minds, we counted to three before lunging. The sound of the wood clashing against each other filled the dojo and those who were here today stopped to watch.

It was safe to say Yoshino-San was struggling. I had been training with a sword ever since I could walk. Everyday for as long as I could even remember. Morning, afternoon, and even night. It's my passion. And while I may be smaller than my opponents, and maybe even weaker, I've learned how to make up for my disadvantages and strengthen them.

Yoshino-San has been coming to our dojo for three years now, and he's gotten quite good.

However . . . "Hya!" I went down to one knee and swung up, knocking his sword from his hand. Before he had time to retaliate I moved my sword to eye level and lunged off my back foot and struck the weak spot on his chest.

"Wha!" He fell at the sudden strike. I lowered my sword, my body relaxing.

I adjusted the sleeve of my kimono before looking back at him. "Yoshino-San, your stance needs to be adjusted. Stand." He did so, picking up his wooden sword.

I went over and moved his hips a bit and adjusted his shoulders. "Your back foot is too far back." I simply told him. He immediately moved it to the correct spot and I nodded in approval. "Good. Again."

I went back in front of him and we started again. I kept my mind clear and watched his moves, easily blocking his strikes. With a small shout, I moved around and struck him again, knocking him off his feet yet again.

Laughter drew our attention to the side. "Shinji, you'll never beat Sakura-Chan at this rate." Nakahara-San laughed.

Nakahara-San is a close friend of dad's and he comes here a few times a week. He's been coming here for years. He's tall and very muscular with short brown hair and matching eyes.

Nakahara-San helped me out a lot actually. When dad was busy at work he trained me here. He and dad went to school together after all. And he used to be a Pro-Hero. But due to an injury he was forced to resign. But he didn't let him get him down. He's always smiling and happy.

For an intimidating man, he sure acts like a teddy bear.

It's the adults who are constantly in my life that I'm really close to. Nakahara-San, Tachibana-San, even some of the men and women from the dojo. We hardly get young people. And since I spend all my time here, it's no wonder that I'm only close to the adults.

Ume-Nee often gets on my case about it. While she does have a point, it never really bothered me.

"Oh, Sakura-Chan. Ume-Chan tells me you got into U.A." I blinked. Ume-Nee came here?

Willingly?

That's strange. "Eh?! Really?!" Yoshino-San exclaimed as some of the others got riled up. I merely nodded, a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, but I only managed to get into the General Department." I answered softly.

It's not something to get excited over. "Eh? But you managed to do that when you had pneumonia! Atsushi was really impressed but also worried. So give yourself credit! Besides, once they see what you can do you'll go to Hero Course in no time."

I blushed a bit at his claim. It's not that big of a deal. I merely did what anyone else would. And I wasn't that sick . . .

"C'mon. Let's go Sakura-Chan! A celebratory match! Shinji, give me that sword." Nakahara stood in front of me, ready.

Excitement buzzed within me. Even I have a tough time sparring against Nakahara-San. He was once the Hero known as Nobunagun.

I smiled ever so lightly and readied my sword. Yes. If I can fight on grounds with him then I can definitely show my potential in U.A.

I will become a Hero!