*beep beep beep*

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*beep beep beep*

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*beep beep beep*

"Mmm... shut up already... I'm up... I'm up..!"

Rui tapped the button on her alarm clock and sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She stretched and yawned, wanting desperately to go back to sleep only to have her phone ring.

"Hello..?"

"Morning, sleepy head!"

"Hi, Mina, what's up?"

"You up for going to the pool today? All of Class 1-A is coming."

"Sure, what time?"

"Around noonish."

"Sounds good. Is it indoor or outdoor?"

"Oh, it's indoors, so don't worry about sunscreen or anything."

"Alright, I'll see you guys at noonish."

"Great, see you then! Bye!"

Rui smiled. "Bye." She set her phone on the table as she made her way into the kitchen to make some coffee and breakfast. As she started the coffee machine, though, a knock came at her door. "Who could possibly be bothering me first thing in the morning?" She opened the door and found Izuku waiting on the other side. "Oh, morning, Izuku."

Izuku offered a sheepish smile when he saw her bed head and her pajamas still. "Morning, Rui. Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, no, you're fine. I'm just about to make some coffee and breakfast. Would you like some?"

"Sure, that'd be great."

"Come on in, then, and make yourself at home."

Izuku stepped inside and slid off his shoes as Rui headed back to the kitchen.

"So, what brings you by this morning?"

"I wanted to see how you were holding up. We haven't talked much lately, between your work study and my extra training."

"Aww, that's sweet of you. I'm doing alright, considering how busy things have been." Rui looked back at Izuku as he sat down at the table. "Do you want coffee? Tea? I've also got grapefruit juice, milk, or water."

"Um, milk is fine, thanks."

Rui poured him a glass of milk, then went about making breakfast. "How's your training going?"

"It's been pretty intense, but it'll all be worth it when we pass the final exams."

"I don't know what your final exams will look like, but I can tell it won't be that easy based on the injuries I've been seeing coming into the infirmary lately. I hope you're not overworking yourself?"

"No, I promise." Izuku traced the design on the glass for a moment. "How are things with Kacchan?" he asked hesitantly.

"They were off to a rocky start, but yesterday he said that he wanted us to be friends again, so things are looking promising." Rui explained as she cooked a few eggs.

"That's a relief. I was really hoping that he wouldn't stay mad at you."

"You and me both."

Izuku sensed there was something more. "What is it?"

Rui sighed, moving from the eggs to the coffee. "Things are finally starting to go back to how they were and I'm just afraid that it's all going to vanish again..."

"Why would it?"

"My work study ends when your final exams do..."

"You're not staying... are you?"

Rui shook her head. "The work study is only two weeks and I have to go back home afterwards."

"And you haven't told Kacchan, yet, have you?"

"No... because I know he'll be upset..."

"Will you be able to stay in touch this time, though?"

"I hope so." Rui added some cream and sugar to her coffee, then threw some bread in the toaster. "I think by this point, or I would hope so at least, that I've proven myself enough to Mom to where she'll let me stay in touch with everyone. Especially you and Katsuki."

"Well, you've been working really hard for your work study, and maybe Mr. Aizawa can help convince your mom to let you stay in touch." Izuku said, going into his usual analytic muttering state.

Rui smiled as Izuku thought over everything, finishing their breakfast and bringing it over while he was still deep in thought.

"Sorry, I did it again, didn't I?" Izuku laughed nervously, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.

"I take it this happens a lot?" Rui mused as she sipped her coffee.

"Kind of."

They sat there eating breakfast silently for a while before Izuku spoke next.

"I think you should tell Kacchan, even if he does get upset. At least this time, we'll have time to say a proper goodbye."

Rui sighed. "True..."

"Do you... want to stay?"

"I do, but I don't see a way that I can. Not while I still have school to finish. I was planning on coming back to Musutafu once I was out of school and becoming a permanent resident here again, but that's still a couple years away."

"Have you talked to Mr. Aizawa about it? Or Principal Nezu, even? Maybe they can offer you a more permanent position."

"Maybe. I don't know. There's a lot to consider."

"True."

A minute or two of silence ensued, then Rui asked, "You're going to the pool, too, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Mina set it up so we could all go as a class."

"She seems to be the big party planner out of everyone in your class."

"She definitely has the energy for it."

Rui smiled. "That she does. She's one of the biggest reason I've felt so welcome at U.A. aside from you and Katsuki."

"She has that effect on people, that's for sure." Izuku finished the last of his milk. "Well, thanks for breakfast, Rui."

"Any time, Izuku. I take it you need to head out?"

"Yeah, there's a few things I need to take care of before everybody meets up this afternoon."

Rui set her mug down and walked him to the door. "Thanks, Izuku, for checking up on me."

"Of course. What are friends for, right?"

Rui's smile grew and she hugged Izuku. "I'm so glad we have had the chance to reconnect after all these years."

"Me too." Izuku stepped back. "See you there?"

"See you there." Rui waved as Izuku made his way down her hallway to the stairwell, then shut the door and went back to the kitchen to clean things up.

'I really am lucky to have people like Izuku and the others in my life.'