Classes just ended for the day. Bag over his shoulder, Katsuki stood up at his desk and discreetly looked back at Ochako. She made eye contact with him. He subtly jerked his head and headed for the door to leave.

Sure enough, she trailed behind him with the girls. A certain distance was kept between them, though. Ochako was physically present with her friends, but her mind was elsewhere. Were they going to talk? Did he even want to talk? Maybe she misinterpreted his nod.

Katsuki veered right down an intersecting hallway and stole a peek at Ochako as he did. She wasn't sure what to do. Did she follow after him or stay with her friends?

She received her answer as she and the girls passed the hallway. Katsuki, back against a wall, reached out with his left hand and grabbed her right bicep. She didn't utter a peep as he pulled her over to him. He lowered his grip to now hold her wrist and gently pulled her along.

"That wasn't what I had in mind when I wanted you to follow me," he told her.

"How was I supposed to know?" she countered.

"Get in touch with our soul mate telepathy or something."

She gaped. "Was that a joke?"

He shrugged.

"Why didn't you just ask me to walk with you in the classroom?" she found herself asking.

"And have those extras stare? Pass."

"Would that bother you?"

"Fuck no," he snorted but thought about her. He was trying to be considerate. Her friends might hound her with questions if she was seen with the likes of him in a casual setting.

"So why'd you kidnap me?"

He playfully rolled his eyes. "I didn't kidnap you. Just needed to get you away from your friends."

"Why?"

"Go and change. Meet me in the fountain courtyard."

"What for?"

"We're ditching the extras here."


This courtyard was popular during warmer times. Now that it was fall, it seemed to be abandon. Stone fountains lined the main pathway. They all had three tiers that spilled into a large basin at the bottom. They only shut off during the winter.

Katsuki was alone. Rather than being out and open in the middle, he was tucked away on the side. He leaned against the wall with arms crossed. Even though he got cold easily, he didn't think to grab a scarf.

Ten or so minutes after he arrived, Ochako showed up. Her clothes contrasted with the dark colors he wore.

He continued to wrap his head around the idea that they were soul mates. How was it possible for him to have one? He had been told he wasn't meant ever to have a soul mate. Why did that good-for-nothing geezer lie to him when he was ten?

"Were you waiting long?" Ochako asked as she approached.

"I just got here," he told her.

Her brown eyes glanced around. "So why meet here?"

"We're going into town."

"Wait, really?"

Did he have to spell everything out for her? "Yeah, really. C'mon."

Thanks to magic, teleportation made traveling a breeze. The two were in town before they knew it, mindlessly walking around. Other people walked about the shops, and the delicious scent of food filled the air.

"What are we going to do?" Ochako asked.

Katsuki shrugged. "Walk around or whatever. We won't have any damn extras breathing down our necks here."

"Do our classmates bother you that much?"

"They're a giant pain in my ass," he huffed.

She giggled at his response. "Oh, I'm sure they are." She sobered up after a moment. "Can I ask you something, Bakugo?"

"Hm?"

"Why were you so surprised I was your soul mate?"

It wasn't specifically her, per se. "I was told I'd never have a soul mate," he bluntly said.

Brown eyes grew wide with surprise. "What? Why?"

He merely shrugged to brush it off. "You're told things as a kid."

"I wasn't told that."

"Lucky you."

"Do you remember who told you?"

"Some geezer in this town's street. Was babbling about whatever when he looked right at me. He said what he said, and I didn't care about soul mates since I was ten. On the other hand, the old hag just about kicked his ass."

Her brow knitted together in confusion. "Old hag…?"

He made a face like he ate something sour. "My mom."

She gasped. "You can't call her that! She's your mom!"

"Tch, she calls me a brat. I can call her whatever I want."

He clearly had a different relationship with his mother than she did with hers. A thought crossed her mind. What was the rest of his family like? How much of them did he take after?

Katsuki caught her staring. "What?"

Her head swiveled to look directly in front of her. "N–nothing."

"Whatever," he mumbled.

Walking turned into browsing. Browsing led to a small item. It made Ochako protest.

"Too late, Cheeks," Katsuki said as he headed for the register.

"But, Bakugo, I said—"

"I can't hear you, you're too far away," he casually interrupted.

She puffed out her cheeks in dismay. "I'll get you back!" She supposed she didn't have much say since she had left her wallet behind. If she had been aware of the plan before leaving UA, she would have brought it along.

He dismissed the thought with the wave of his left hand. In his other hand, he carried a charming little bracelet. The gold chain had round pink stones. When she originally picked it up, the look on her face didn't get past him. Much to his surprise, she had put it back and was about to move on before he grabbed it. It was a small purchase, anyway. It wasn't a big deal.

Small bag in hand, Katsuki walked back over to Ochako. "Where to next?"


By now, Ochako was ready for bed. There was a skip in her step. She practically walked about in graceful moves around her dormitory as she prepared for sleep. Twirling, she held out her left hand. She looked at her bracelet and smiled. Humming to herself, she continued what she was in the middle of by laying out her uniform for tomorrow.

Light off, she got into bed and slipped on the mittens she used for sleeping. Sometimes her magic activated in her sleep, and it never was fun waking up against the ceiling. She nestled under her covers and looked up at the ceiling. She focused on the memories she made with Katsuki. She enjoyed their outing and believed he did as well. They had browsed a few more stores before they stopped for a snack.

Whatever was happening between them, it felt natural. It felt…dare she say…romantic?

The moment her eyelids fluttered shut, they flew open. Had she been on a date with Katsuki Bakugo?


A/N: Time to the Kacchako ball rolling!