"Excellent work today, Rui, my dear."
Rui stretched in her chair as she leaned back from her desk, having just finished her paperwork and homework for the day. "Thanks, Recovery Girl. I really do appreciate you taking me on for a work study."
"Why don't you head on home now?"
"Are you sure? There's still a few more things to do."
Recovery Girl, aka Chiyo Shuzenji, nodded and shooed her out of her desk. "Go have some fun with your friends." She smiled as Rui gathered her things and hung her uniform- a simple medical overcoat. "I'll see you tomorrow. Stay safe on your way home."
Rui returned her smile and waved before hurrying out the door, knowing full well by this point that Chiyo would just shoo her out through the door as well. She hummed to herself as she made her way down the halls and towards the entrance of the main building.
"Hey, Rui!"
Rui looked up as the students started filing out of the building, their classes done for the day, and found the group of girls from Class 1-A waving her over.
"Wanna hang out?" Mina Ashido asked, beaming at her.
"We're going shopping!" Toru Hagakure added.
Rui chuckled, knowing that Toru was grinning from cheek to cheek- even if she couldn't see it. "I'd love to. What time were you guys thinking?" As Mina and the others discussed the details, she noticed Katsuki and a few of his male classmates walking towards them. When she met his gaze, she found herself blushing a bit and offered him a nervous smile and a sheepish wave- unsure if he would accept it.
Down the hall, Katsuki walked with Eijiro, Denki, Minoru Mineta, and a few other of his fellow male classmates as they headed towards the entrance of the main building. While the others were talking, Katsuki noticed Rui standing with Mina, Toru, Momo Yaoyorozu, and Ochaco Uraraka. His eyes narrowed and he quickly looked away when Rui offered him a smile and a wave- trying to ignore how cute she looked doing that.
"Yo, Bakugo, you alright man? You've been really grumpy lately. Like more than normal."
"I'm fine."
"It's that Rui Imari girl, right?" Minoru chided, nudging Katsuki with his elbow. "Don't know why you're so mad around her, I mean look at her! She's such a babe! She might not have massive boobs like Yaoyorozu, but she has plenty of curves in all the right places. Maybe during the next training session I'll 'twist' my ankle or something and take a trip to the infirmary. I'd let her heal me any day."
That comment touched a nerve and Katsuki dropped his book bag onto the top of Minoru's head.
"Ow!"
While Minoru whimpered about his punishment, Katsuki stormed off and headed straight towards Rui.
"So meet up at the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall in an hour?" Ochaco asked.
"That'd be perfect."
"Hey."
Rui looked up at Katsuki as he joined them. "What's up?"
"I'm walking you home. Let's go."
"O-Oh, sure." Rui looked at the girls, who shrugged. "Let's exchange numbers real quick so we can let each other know if anything changes."
Katsuki waited patiently for her while keeping an eye on where Minoru was. 'That damn dirty pervert... He really needs to keep comments like that to himself, especially about Rui.'
"Katsuki?"
He looked down at Rui. "You ready?"
Rui nodded, still confused why he would want to walk her home all of a sudden.
"Then let's go."
Rui waved to Mina and the others before hurrying after Katsuki and falling into step next to him.
They walked in silence for a while before Rui worked up the courage to speak first and ask why he decided to walk her home.
"Hey, Katsuki?"
"Hmm?"
"Not that I mind or anything, but why did you want to walk me home all of a sudden?" Rui shifted her gaze from him to the road ahead. "You've been pretty angry with me since I got here, so it was a little surprising."
Katsuki was a bit taken aback by her question, but he couldn't blame her for asking. He sighed and avoided her gaze as she glanced back at him. "Just felt like it." He tried to hide his blushing when the actual reason popped into his head. He was not about to tell her it was because Minoru made a few too many comments on her level of attractiveness and how he didn't like other guys talking about her like that.
"Well, in any case, I appreciate the company."
The awkward silence returned for a few minutes and they turned down the street that led to Rui's apartment.
"So..."
Rui looked up at Katsuki when he broke the silence. "Yes?"
"You're going to the mall, too?"
"Are you coming?"
Katsuki was surprised by her excitement and nodded. "Yeah. I need to get a few things anyway, so might as well."
Rui smiled at him. "Well, we're almost there." She pointed towards her apartment building.
"This is where you live?" Katsuki looked up at the building. 'It's so similar to Deku's place.'
"Well, temporarily at least. Mom rented out an apartment for me while I'm in town for the work study." She tilted her head to the side a bit and asked, "Where do you live, Katsuki?"
Katsuki turned and pointed to the house directly across from her building. "Right there."
"What? No way! That's awesome!" Rui beamed. "Now that I know that, I can walk to and from school with you!"
"I haven't seen you on my way there."
"I had to get up super early the last couple of days, but I don't have to again any time soon."
Katsuki tried to ignore how adorable Rui looked pushing her finger tips together hesitantly as she asked if it'd be alright to walk with him in the mornings and afternoons. "Sure, whatever. Doesn't mean we're going to talk the whole way, though."
"Katsuki? Is that you, sweetie?"
Katsuki groaned, hearing his mother's voice calling out to him. "Yeah, Mom, it's me."
His mother, Mitsuki, came out of their front yard. "Who's your friend?" She stopped dead in her tracks, recognizing Rui. "Well, I'll be, it's little Rui all grown up!"
Rui offered her a smile and bow. "It's wonderful to see you again, Mrs. Bakugo."
"Oh, please, dear, you can just call me 'Mitsuki'." Mitsuki hugged Rui and smiled. "It's been far too long, Rui, but it's good to see you."
"It's good to be back."
"So, what are you back in town for?"
"She's doing a work study with Recovery Girl."
"Oh, that's great! How do you like it?"
Katsuki groaned and watched as Mitsuki started steering Rui towards their house, inviting her in for tea while they got caught up. As he trailed behind them, though, he couldn't help but smile.
After nearly a half hour, Rui had to excuse herself to run home and change before they left to meet up with the others. While waiting for her, Katsuki helped clear away the dishes.
"So, Rui's back."
"Mhmm."
"How do you feel about it?"
Katsuki sighed as he washed the cups. "It's fine, I guess."
Mitsuki listened as her son explained that he had mixed feelings about her coming back to Musutafu. "You should give her a chance, Katsuki. You and Rui used to be close and it seems like she really wants to rekindle that friendship with you."
"Whatever."
Mitsuki watched him a moment. "You should go get ready, I'll finish up here."
Katsuki set down the sponge and headed upstairs to change- and to cool off. He hopped in the shower, letting the cold water rush over his burning skin, then changed into a simple pair of jeans and a tee. As he dried his hair and looked in the mirror, he sighed.
'Damn it... Why does she have to go acting like nothing happened? And where does Mineta get off making comments like that?'
Tossing the towel off to the side, he headed back downstairs and slipped on his shoes before his mother waved him off and he went out to the street.
"Hey, you ready?"
Katsuki looked over as Rui joined him, dressed in a soft pastel pink blouse with a teal skirt and flats- her long, braided hair resting over her shoulder as she readjusted her purse strap. He was not expecting her to look so good in such a simple outfit.
"Let's go."
Rui followed after him as he took the lead, falling in step with him and noticing that he seemed to be a bit flushed. "You alright, Katsuki? Your face is a bit red."
"I'm fine."
"If you say so."
Katsuki just kept his focus on the path ahead of them, trying to force the blush in his cheeks away. 'Damn it, damn it, damn it..!'