Chapter 60: First session

Greetings fantastical readers!  I am delighted to be handing you another chapter for this month and open the doors to our great escape from reality. Thank you all so much for the support, every time I'm told my stories are enjoyed I gush with strength and motivation. 

Hope you enjoy this chapter! 

Sakura stepped into the wide office, that seemed too large for its occupant. Principal Nezu. She found him staring out of the window overlooking the school grounds. He turned back to her, smiling.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, have a seat Haruno,"

Now in front of his desk, principal Nezu continued to explain why he had called her in. This was the first time meeting since she had returned to U.A. and Shouta had told her to expect word from him sometime.

"First, welcome back. We're delighted to have you joining us once again,"

Sakura wanted to ask if that's really how the school felt. Considering what she had put them through. And all the backlash they had received when she vanished. Publicity wasn't looking too good with these dorm systems when one of the students who was kidnapped by the League didn't return.

"Thank you, sir,"

Nezu inquired about how Sakura and Eri were adjusting to life in the dorms. Sakura assured him that everything was going smoothly so far, though Eri was understandably cautious around her classmates given her past but she was coming around.

"I'm grateful, that you've allowed her to come here,"

"She's been through a lot," Nezu said, with an empathetic tone.  "I'm aware that her quirk can get out of control at times. I'm hoping we can discuss a plan to manage that."

Sakura was intrigued but also hesitant. She had considered the possibility of teaching Eri to control her quirk, but there was so much trauma she had tied to her own power.   

"Is that why you called me in?"

Nezu cleared his throat, rummaging through his desk for a stack of papers, "Actually, it does have to do with that. Before we go further though, I wanted to discuss the next steps for both of you."

"Both?" Sakura looked at the papers, and they were forms for

"Therapy? You want us to attend therapy?"

Nezu, sensing that there was going to be some pushback, quickly intervened, "I know this isn't ideal for you. But it could be beneficial,"

While she could acknowledge that Eri needed some counseling after being isolated from the world since she was conscious of her existence, Sakura was not too keen on the idea of having her sessions. The root causes of her problems stemmed from secrets she just couldn't risk revealing to anyone. And it wasn't as if she couldn't handle her mentality.

"It's not just for you two," Nezu continued, "It's been an uphill battle with the Commission, and having these on file, would help us move forward in your case. U.A needs to cooperate with the Hero Safety Commission,"

The Commission had started posing a question of whether Sakura was even fit to be considered a hero after her actions, and questioning if the school could even manage her. Nezu didn't know why they were suddenly pushing for her to be removed, and although they hadn't mentioned persecution yet, he didn't know how long that would've held out with her going missing. It seemed as if they had their own agenda for the girl. He just didn't want to inform Sakura of his suspicions on the matter without proof.

Although they were silent for now, he was also certain that they would be keeping track of her progress.

"This would be good to have on the record for us,"

Sakura clenched her jaw, "I don't need a therapist,"

"Then would you at least prove it in the sessions? Aside from that, Eri might feel more comfortable going if you would attend as well,"

It was a thinly veiled attempt to fool her, but either way, Sakura decided to relent on this because it was true. She wanted to be there for Eri at least.

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"Hello there, Sakura Haruno and Eri. I'm Noriko Tsuruta, it's a pleasure to meet you,"

 A woman in her late forties with a short bob cut, introduced herself to Sakura and Eri as they entered the office room designated for their therapy session. Because of the dorm system, leaving school premises without special permission was crucial to ensuring the safety of the students and faculty.

Therefore the therapist had to come to the school and a room was cleared for them near the teacher's offices.

"H-Hello," Eri reciprocated.

"Please have a seat you two,"

As they settled into the little chairs facing the therapist, Sakura noticed Eri's skittishness around the new person. It was challenging for Sakura to explain to Eri that they were going to therapy, but she believed it was necessary for Eri's well-being to confront and remove any lingering trauma so that she could move forward with her life.

Sakura had her own experience with mental health training, having been tasked with evaluating shinobi as they prepared for war under Tsunade's guidance. Of course, she never imagined she would be on the other end of the table.

Noriko's unique eyes caught Sakura's attention—like two large, dull stars, it was her most intriguing feature.

"Alright, let's start with you Eri?" said the girl, jumping a little when Noriko looked at her, but Sakura soothed her. Saying that she would be here for the first session. Sakura also wanted to make sure that this therapist was someone she could trust with Eri's wellbeing.

Noriko began the session by asking Eri typical first-time therapy questions, trying to get to know her better. She inquired about Eri's feelings, thoughts, and experiences, aiming to create a safe space for her to open up. Some of the questions included:

"How are you feeling today, Eri?" To which she gave a small, 'good' as an answer.

"Can you tell me a little about yourself?" Eri was already stumped there, she was only six, and in the time she could retain memories, all she could recall was her life imprisoned. But Noriko saw that she was struggling and decided to clarify, by asking what's some of her favorite things to do.

Eri told her about her drawing, her learning to read and write, and seeing the animals Sakura introduced her to in the mountains.

As Noriko patiently listened to Eri's responses, Sakura observed the interaction, hoping that this would be a positive step forward.

There were a few times Eri would look to Sakura for encouragement to speak out, and Sakura always assured her that it was fine and that the therapy session was able to progress.  Eri was slowly warming up to Noriko. None of the inquiries delved deeply into any issues; rather, Noriko seemed focused on helping Eri become accustomed to her presence. They discussed Eri's experiences at the school so far, her lessons, and recent interactions. Eri's responses were a bit reserved at times, especially when she started spluttering, but Sakura reassured her that it was okay and there was no need to rush for an answer.

Now what Sakura found interesting was that the moment Eri's session began and Noriko asked her questions, the women's eyes had literally begun to shine, and the two-star pupils were like glowing liquid.

As the session concluded, Shouta entered the room to pick up Eri.

"Is Sakura not coming?"

"I've got to stay a little longer, okay?" Sakura replied.

Eri nodded, understandingly, before waving to Sakura as the door closed behind her. Sakura turned back to the therapist.

Noriko was seemingly finishing up her notes, and spoke, "This was a productive session for Eri, but in the future, I believe it would be beneficial for us to talk on one,"

"Can you tell me in what ways?" Sakura countered.

Noriko's response was gentle but firm. "Right now, Eri seeks comfort and protection from you. But if she relies too heavily on you, it may prevent her from developing the skills to face the world on her own."

Folding her arms, Sakura leaned back in her chair, "Well I don't disagree with that,"

"I know you were just making sure that I wouldn't be invasive. I assure you, Haruno, I will only work at a pace Eri is comfortable with,"

Noriko settled back into her seat, her gaze steady as she flipped through her notebook, landing on a fresh page. "Now then, miss Haruno shall we-

But before she could delve into her inquiries, Sakura posed a question of her own, "What's your quirk?"

The woman seemed a bit caught, "Why do you want to know that?"

"Because you were doing something in your session with Eri. I noticed your eyes. I'm assuming you were using your quirk on her somehow, and I want an explanation or this session will not progress,"

"Alright," the therapist conceded, "My quirk is known as Empath, it allows me to sense the emotions of a person when I look at them."

"I see," Sakura realized the advantage this conferred to Noriko in her profession—she couldn't deceive her therapist if her true feelings were laid bare to her eyes. At least she wasn't a mind reader.

"The point of therapy is to release your emotions and work through them. That can't happen if you're lying about it,"

Sakura knew she couldn't hide behind a façade. Despite her initial intentions to remain guarded, Sakura knew she would have to confront her emotions head-on. It was no wonder Nezu brought her in for her session. 

"Okay, let's get this over with," Sakura responded tersely, steeling herself for the forthcoming discussion.

Undeterred by Sakura's clipped tone, Noriko clicked her pen, poised to guide Sakura through the session. She began with probing questions, seeking insight into Sakura's inner thoughts and feelings. Each question was met with Sakura's guarded responses, her walls firmly in place.

Finally, Noriko broached the topic of Sakura's reintegration into school life, "And how has it been for you returning to UA? What has this week been like for you?"

"Why's that important?"

"You initially ran away after being told of the new dorm system in place, and you were living on your own before then, so it begs to question if you've had any trouble adjusting to the space you were trying to avoid?"

Sakura sighed, "Well let's see, as far as being back in class goes…."

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As Sakura stepped back into the familiar halls of UA, she couldn't shake the feeling of displacement that was stronger than usual. Though her time in seclusion wasn't as long as she intended, it was still an effort of adjustment for Sakura to be returning to the school setting. At this point in her life, she preferred self-studying and training.

Amidst the sea of students, Sakura's eyes caught sight of a familiar figure walking alongside Shouta. Hitoshi.

'Looks like he's still training with him,' Sakura noted that Hitoshi seemed to have gotten sturdier, showing off the results of his training.

As he passed, they locked eyes. Sakura waved, gauging his reaction, he seemed taken aback by her appearance but quickly averted his eyes and continued with Shouta.

A pang of disappointment prickled Sakura's chest at the lukewarm reception. Perhaps Hitoshi was still harboring resentment over her sudden departure. Lost in her thoughts, she was startled by the sound of her name being called.

"Hey, Sakura!"

Turning to the sound of familiar voices, Sakura was greeted by the sight of Izuku and Ochaco approaching her.

"What's up?"

"Do you want to come have lunch with us?" Ochoco asked.

Sakura thought about the invitation,  "Sure,"

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It was a surprisingly calm lunch for Sakura, with a comfortable discussion about school and their lessons. Tenya and Shouto had also joined the table. They asked Sakura how she was coping with the new terms work, and if she was managing to catch up on her lessons. Tenya even offered Sakura his meticulous notes for the classes she had missed. Sakura didn't care much for those, although appreciated the gesture.

Under the surface, she could see they were hoping to ask Sakura about her endeavors during her absence but refrained from doing so. Perhaps out of concern. All in all, it was a pleasant lunch.

When the bell went, it was time to resume hero classes.

As the class donned their hero costumes in preparation for their training session, Sakura smoothed out the familiar fabric of her outfit. Surprised by how calming it was to wear this suit again. Her classmates had all made modifications to their outfits as well as their gear. According to Izuku, they had done this in preparation for their provisional licensing exams.

Their lesson was to take place in the expansive gymnasium, its once barren interior transformed into a rugged field of stone hills and pillars for students to use their training ground.

Ectoplasm wasted no time in outlining the day's agenda, "Today's lesson is simple. You'll be training to refine your ultimate moves."

Tenya immediately raised his hand, "Excuse me, sir, can you be more specific about refining?"

"You'll be working to find the weaknesses in your attacks, and reviewing ways you could make up for them. Also, you've only recently learned your ultimate moves, practice is key to strengthening them. Observe, review, and find room for improvement,"

"Ultimate moves?" Sakura inquired.

Momo offered a brief explanation, "We learned that most pro heroes have a move that will assist them in overcoming nearly any situation. It was our assignment to create our own for the provisional licensing exams. Midnight-sensei described them as something of bringing out the full potential of our quirks."

"Trump cards," Sakura nodded understanding.

Well, she and her friends back in Konoha also had their special techniques that were unique to them. Whether it was a bloodline trait or something they had developed on their own. They all had something to offer on the battlefield.

Tohru's sighed as she reminisced about the grueling preparation for the licensing exam. "Training was so tough,"

"But it paid off didn't it?" Sakura pointed out, that she remembered that everyone in her class aside from Shouto and Katsuki had passed the exams. Of course, the surprise was spent on the two who failed, considering they were ahead in terms of strength of combat ability. But that wasn't enough to get them through.

"Alright class, let's begin," Ectoplasm's instruction interrupted their musings as he conjured clones, assigning one to each student. "Haruno, seeing as you were absent for this, I think you would find it beneficial if you observed some of your classmate's new moves before we resume training,"

"I wouldn't mind seeing them," Sakura responded calmly.

With eager volunteers vying for the opportunity to showcase their skills, Ectoplasm selected Tsuyu—a testament to her versatility as she demonstrated her ability to turn invisible with her frog quirk. As the demonstration commenced, Sakura watched with a keen eye.

Eijiro who was also eager to show off, was waving his hands erratically for Ectoplasm and he was called on to also demonstrate. He used his hardening to turn his skin into solid rock, but then his edges became more jagged and more layers grew.

"What do you think? This is my Unbreakable!"

"Looks tough," Sakura said. "Can I try to punch you?"

"Yes!"

"NO!" Ectoplasm exclaimed. "Alright, Haruno now that you have an idea of what constitutes an ultimate move, I'd like to know if you've progressed far enough to know what you would like to do for this training,"

"So it doesn't have to be an attack?"

"No, your ultimate move should give you the ability to overcome almost anything you face."

Ectoplasm knew that Sakura wasn't exactly lacking in terms of power, and although her quirk wasn't consistent, she seemed to have a tight grip on how to handle it.

"Well, I suppose I do already have an ultimate move then," Sakura said shrugging. Her classmates were quick to chide in, asking her to reveal it.

When prompted by Ectoplasm to demonstrate her ultimate move, Sakura hesitated, because trump cards weren't something that she was taught to reveal without reason. But she was also aware that currently, she was not in the same environment.

This could also be her chance to give a little tester out to some of her theories she wasn't able to confirm on her own. For a while Sakura had been theorizing, the compatibility and effects that chakra may have on quirks. It was from her growing research to finding a way back to her world.

"I can give you a demonstration,"  

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"Hold on,"  Noriko interrupted, "So you showed off your ultimate move to your peers?"

Sakura nodded, "That's right, what's the problem?"

Sitting back, the woman pushed up her glasses, "From what I've read on file; you have a habit of being tight-lipped about your quirk. No one knew you could clone yourself until the USJ incident. From then on it was just a string of events where you revealed one ability after the other, leading up to your fight in Kamino,"

Sakura didn't flinch at the mention of that battle, as Noriko expected. That type of event should have brought about some kind of trauma wound, however slight, but Sakura didn't even appear grazed by it. She seemed incredibly calm, her emotions were cool, even when she recalled the events. For Sakura, it had become another form of circumstance for her that she just couldn't have foreseen but had to accept.

Looking into her lap, Sakura answered, "I was taught that you shouldn't be quick to show off all your cards when the situation doesn't warrant it,"

"Interesting. Who taught you that?"

Sakura just stared at Noriko, "Do you want me to tell you what happened next during hero classes?"

Noriko held out her hand, letting Sakura know that the floor was her's once more.

SNEAK PEEK: CHAPTER 61

"Izuku, can you come here?" she called out, her voice carrying across the gymnasium. The green-haired boy startled at the mention of his name, his eyes widening in surprise as all eyes turned towards him. Despite his initial surprise that she would call him, he scurried over to Sakura, his curiosity piqued by her request.

"What is it?" Izuku inquired.

Sakura met his gaze with a reassuring smile. "I want to try something with your quirk, is that okay with you?"

Izuku was eager to find out more about Sakura's powers, but he was concerned that she wanted to use his quirk. One for All was still something handed down to him like a gift rather than an inheritance and it was a power Izuku couldn't fully control. And based on what he saw from Sakura's quirk, it would be like he was handing the reigns to her now.

"Um….Sakura are you sure?"

"Don't worry, I won't let you break anything. Though we're gonna have to go outside for this," 

That's all for now lovelies but don't worry more will be on the way soon. 

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-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi

-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter 61, 62, 63

-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams

-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter 24, 25, 26, 27

-Crossroads of Fate chapter  17, 18, 19

-Through the Looking Glass chapter 21, 22, 23, 24

-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6

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