Katsuki and Rui sat side by side on the bus, watching the city scenery fly by. Katsuki watched Rui's face fill with excitement as she reminisced about her childhood in Musutafu.

"You really missed this place."

Rui looked at him and blushed, nodding. "Where we moved to after Dad died never really felt like home. Musutafu held so much for me, even as a child. I've always wanted to come back."

Katsuki watched her for a moment, wondering what else was going on in her head. But before he could say anything more, they had reached their stop and disembarked the bus. As he stepped off the last step behind Rui, the rest of his class was already waiting and greeted them with enthusiasm.

"You ready?"

"Meet back at the fountain in one hour?"

"Sounds good."

"Let's get shopping!"

Mina grabbed Rui's hand and pulled her along as she and the other girls went off together, leaving Katsuki to tag along with some of the other guys- Eijiro, Denki, and Hanta Sero being among them.

"So, Rui."

"Hmm?" Rui peeked out over the top of the changing stall door at Mina as she leaned against hers.

"What's up with you and Bakugo?"

"What do you mean?"

Rui and the girls had gone into a clothing store and were trying on new outfits.

"You guys knew each other right? Before coming to U.A.?"

"Yeah, we knew each other as kids. We used to play together, with Izuku, too."

"You seem... sad." Ochaco noted. "Did something happen?"

Rui sighed. "When we moved away, Mom wouldn't let me call or write to Izuku or to Katsuki. She wanted to keep the hero business as far away from us as possible after Dad died. As much as I wanted to disobey her and at least tell them I was OK, I couldn't bring myself to do it. She was just so sad and lost when Dad died."

"Aww, you're such a good daughter."

"I try my best." Rui offered a smile, but there was a sadness lingering behind it.

"So, if your mom was so against the hero business, why did she agree to let you do a work study at a hero school?" Tsuyu Asui asked.

"I have Uncle Shota to thank for that." Rui chuckled. "Mom had to relent once he promised that he would make sure I was safe at U.A. where he could keep an eye on me."

"You're so lucky to have Mr. Aizawa in your family." Momo said.

Rui smiled at that. "You're lucky to have him for a teacher. I know he can be a bit of a hard ass at times, but he really does mean well." Her smile faded and she looked in the mirror hanging on the side of the stall. "As far as Katsuki goes, though, I don't know. I understand that he's still upset with how things happened back then, but I want to try and rebuild what we had. Even if it's a little bit."

The girls all looked at each other, a smirk growing on each of their faces. Rui noticed this and looked at them, confused.

"What?"

"You like him, don't you?"

Rui's cheeks began to burn and she looked away. "N-No..?"

"You do!"

"Maybe..? I don't know. I used to have a crush on him when I was a kid, but it was just a simple playground crush." She stepped out of the stall and looked down at the outfit she had chosen to try on- a watermelon pink dress with white lacy accents and short bell sleeves. "How does this look?"

"Wow, that looks super cute!"

Rui blushed. "Thanks."

"Are you worried that he might not like you back?" Mina wondered.

"Honestly, I'm more worried that we can't ever be friends again. I can't imagine what he must have been feeling when I left."

"Oo, Rui, try the purple one next!"

Katsuki sat with Eijiro and the others while they waited for the girls to rejoin them. He lounged against the back of the bench and stared up at the sky, drowning out the hustle and bustle of the crowded mall.

'Sheesh... why did I even agree to go? I could've gotten what I needed anywhere else.' he wondered, unaware that Rui and the other girls had rejoined them. 'This is so lame.'

"Katsuki? You alright?"

Katsuki was pulled from his thoughts and found Rui standing in front of him. "I'm fine."

"It's not often you get lost in your thoughts." Eijiro commented, chuckling a bit.

"Shut up." Katsuki groaned and stood. "Are we done here?"

"Anybody hungry?"

"Yeah, let's get something to eat!"

"Sure, I'm up for it! Rui?"

Katsuki looked at Rui as she agreed before turning to him and asking if he wanted to stay for a bite as well. "Fine." he answered, finding himself unable to say no when she had such a hopeful look in her eyes. He sighed, but seeing her smile like that made putting up with his classmates a little bit longer worth it.

"So, what are we feeling like?"

Having chosen to go to a local diner and have a fairly simple meal, Rui and Class 1-A- or at least those of Class 1-A that stayed- enjoyed the rest of their night together before going their separate ways and heading back home.

Rui and Katsuki took the bus back, then walked the rest of the way home. Katsuki walked Rui to her building, bidding her a good night before heading across the street to his house.

"Mom, I'm home." Katsuki announced as he slipped off his shoes.

"Did you have fun?" Mitsuki called from the living room.

"It was fine."

From her seat on the couch, Mitsuki rolled her eyes but smiled- the tone in Katsuki's voice giving him away. "Have you eaten yet? I can make something if you're hungry."

"I ate earlier." Katsuki started up the stairs. "I'm going to my room."

"OK, well don't forget to do your homework, alright?"

"Yeah, I got it."

Katsuki lay back on his bed, the closed door of his room providing him the privacy and quiet that he needed at the moment. He sighed as he stared up at his ceiling, thinking back on the events of the day.

The more time he spent with Rui, the less angry at her he was feeling. He could see that she really wanted to make amends and try to be friends again- and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted that, too. But he wondered if his feelings about her would get in the way of that.

'Damn it...'

Across the street, Rui was changing into a nightgown and getting settled into her nightly routine when her phone rang.

"Hi, Uncle Shota, what's up?"

"Just wanted to check in and make sure you got home alright. I heard you went to the mall with my class today after school."

"I was surprised that they invited me at first, but I was happy to accept. It was really fun and we even got dinner afterwards."

"I'm glad to see you're making friends. Hopefully this time, you'll be able to stay in touch with them."

Rui sighed. "I hope so, too. Especially with Izuku and Katsuki. I don't want to rebuild our friendships only to have it taken away again."

"You really care about them, don't you?"

"They were the only friends I had before Mom moved us away. She never let me talk to anyone else."

"I wish things would have been different after your father died, but I'm relieved to see Isane taking steps to let you live your own life and not be so protective."

"Yeah, me, too. She's even been smiling more often."

"That's good to hear. Anyway, I have some papers to grade and I'm sure you have homework to finish, so I'll let you go."

"Sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow, Uncle Shota. Good night."

"Good night, Rui. See you tomorrow."

Rui ended the call and smiled, reminded of what Momo said. 'I really am lucky to have an uncle like him.'