The next day at lunch, Rui stood in line with Izuku and his friends- grateful to have a break from working and her homework.

"So how is your work study going?"

"Recovery Girl has been keeping me busy, plus Mom still gave me homework for while I'm here so that I don't fall behind on my studies, but other than that? It's been great so far." Rui replied, then raised her hand to wave at Katsuki as he passed by.

Izuku watched her face fall as Katsuki rolled his eyes and turned away from her, his heart sinking a bit. "Rui..."

Rui knew Katsuki was still upset and she couldn't blame him. They had always butted heads as children, Rui playing the protector role whenever Katsuki acted like a bully, but they had been close once and she hadn't really been able to say goodbye. Her moving away had been so sudden and not being able to call or write didn't do their friendship any favors.

"It's fine, Izuku..." Rui sighed and offered him a smile as they moved forward in line. "It's been ten years. I can't expect things to be the same after all this time."

Izuku looked over towards where Katsuki had sat down with Eijiro and Denki. "That may be true, but he doesn't have to be such a jerk about it." Izuku returned his attention back to Rui. "You guys butted heads a lot when we were kids, but you were pretty close. That has to count for something."

"I would hope so, but you know Katsuki. Always the stubborn one." Rui chanced a glance at Katsuki as they waited to grab their trays. 'I do hope he won't be mad at me like this forever, though...'

Across the cafeteria, Katsuki sat with Eijiro and Denki as usual- brooding as he watched Rui and Izuku talking.

'How can they just act like nothing ever happened? And why does it make me so angry?'

Eijiro and Denki exchanged glances before hesitantly asking Katsuki about Rui again.

"So, Bakugo, what is it with you and that Rui chick?"

"None of your damn business."

"Come on, man, I've never seen that look before she came around. What happened between you two?"

"I said it's none of your damn business!"

Eijiro and Denki flinched a bit at his tone, but backed off with their questions.

"Sheesh, alright!"

Katsuki scooted back in his chair and stormed off, similarly to the day before.

"Guess we touched a nerve."

Izuku noticed Katsuki leaving in a hurry and told Rui and the others he'd be right back before following after him. He made his way to the courtyard and called out to Katsuki.

"What do you want, you damn nerd?"

"Is... everything alright? You're not acting like yourself."

"What the hell would you know about it?"

Izuku flinched at his tone, but it was nothing new to him. "Is it because of Rui? Why are you so mad at her?"

"It's none of your damn business, so just shut the hell up!"

Izuku's fists clenched, but he stood his ground for a moment longer. "I know it's been a long time since we last saw her, but you can't be mad at her for what happened. Sure, she could have called or at least written to us, but I understand why she couldn't."

Katsuki glared at him for a few seconds. "Tch, whatever." He started walking away from him.

"Kacchan, Rui wants to be friends again. With both of us. But she can't do that if you won't let her."

Katsuki ignored him and went off to find somewhere quiet where he could think- alone. He found a tree with some nice shade and lay beneath the thick branches, his arm behind his head. Watching the clouds mosey along as thin wisps in the sky, Katsuki thought back on what Izuku said.

'Of course she wants to be friends again, that's just how she is.'

As he lay there, he started thinking back on the first time they had met as children.

"Kacchan, wait up!"

"You're such a slowpoke, Deku!"

Izuku chased after Katsuki, just as he always did, but as he tried to catch up to Katsuki and the other kids, he tripped and landed in the rocky dirt- skinning his knee.

"Ow...!"

Katsuki and the other kids laughed at him.

"You're a real klutz, you know that?" Katsuki pointed at him. "Deku the Quirkless Wonder can't even walk or run without tripping over himsefl! What a loser!"

"Ya, what a loser!"

Izuku tried to push himself to his feet, but Katsuki just pushed him back. "Kacchan, why are you being so mean?"

"Stupid Deku going to cry?"

"Leave him alone!"

Katsuki looked over to find a young girl about their age with blue hair pulled back in pigtails glaring at him. "What are you going to do about it? You're just a stupid girl!"

"Don't call me stupid!"

"Or what? You going to go crying to mommy and tell on me like a stupid little crybaby?" Katsuki's eyes widened as water started to surround the girl. "What the-"

The girl shot her water at him, knocking him back into the soft grass and drenching him to the skin. "I said don't call me stupid!"

Katsuki sputtered and sat up, wiping the water from his eyes. He glared at the girl as she sat in front of Izuku and pulled off her backpack. He watched as she took out what looked like a first aid kit and started cleaning his knee. He heard her introduce herself as Rui and listened as she talked with Izuku for a few minutes before helping him to his feet. He stood and squeezed out the water in his shirt as best as he could before Rui stormed over with Izuku's hand in hers.

"Apologize."

Katsuki glared at her. "For what?"

Rui glared right back and stood just inches from him, staring up at him with a very determined look in those sky blue eyes. "For pushing him."

Katsuki found himself blushing and stammered an apology to Izuku.

"Good, now apologize for calling me stupid."

"S-Sorry..."

Rui stepped back and offered him a smile. "Good, now we can be friends!"

Lunch period was at an end and Rui was heading back to the infirmary when she spotted Katsuki laying in the shade of a large tree.

'Is he sleeping?'

Rui made her way towards him, sighing with a soft smile when she found that he was in fact sleeping in the shade. She knelt down and gently touched his hand where it rested on his stomach. "Katsuki? You need to wake up."

"Mmm?" Katsuki stirred and found Rui kneeling beside him. "What do you want?"

"Lunch period is over, you need to hurry to your next class or you're going to be late."

Katsuki sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Damn it, I must have passed out."

"You must have needed the sleep." Rui commented, then looked up at the sky. "But, I can see why you felt so relaxed. It's a beautiful and calm view."

Katsuki glanced at her. "You should get going before you're late."

Rui looked back at him as he stood, surprised when he offered her his hand. "Oh, thank you." She took his hand and let him pull her up. A gentle breeze made its way through the trees, a parade of leaves dancing along with it.

Katsuki reached up to pull a leaf out of Rui's hair, not even thinking twice about it. When he looked down and met her gaze, he noticed her cheeks were a bit flushed. "S-Sorry."

Rui ignored the warmth at her cheeks and smiled. "It's alright, I don't mind."

The final warning bell sounded and they looked back towards the school.

"We should hurry."

They walked back towards the school, parting ways in the hallway.

"I'll see you later, Katsuki." Rui said, heading towards the infirmary.

Katsuki grabbed her hand and stopped her for a moment. "Wait."

Rui's cheeks flushed again when she saw a new look in his eyes. "W-What is it?"

"Thanks for waking me up."

Rui offered him a smile and squeezed his hand gently. "Of course."

As a nearby teacher cleared their throats and sent them on their way, Katsuki glanced back to find Rui waving at him with a smile before she disappeared down the hall towards the infirmary.

He sighed and shook his head before hurrying to reach the classroom before the bell rang.

'You haven't changed, Rui.'