The following morning, Rui woke to find herself in her room at Shota's house. Confused, she sat up and slowly swung her legs out of bed- noticing the small bouquet of flowers placed on her bedside table.

'Hydrangea and violets?'

She picked up the card that had fallen from its place on the stems and opened it, finding a simple note accompanied by a piece of cherry candy- the candy telling her immediately who left the flowers for her.

"Katsuki..." She then understood the meaning behind the floral selection: hydrangeas for apology and violets for sincerity.

A knock came at the door and she looked up to see her uncle stick his head inside as he opened the door.

"You're up. How are you feeling?"

Rui stretched. "Alright, I suppose. How long was I asleep? How did I even get back here?"

Shota leaned against the doorframe. "It's nearly noon, so you slept for nearly sixteen hours. As far as how you got back home goes, Bakugo found you passed out in the cemetery and carried you back."

Rui looked down at the candy in her hand. "He did..?"

"He's a good kid, even if he doesn't always act like it." Shota sighed. "Are you hungry at all?"

"A bit, but right now I could really use a shower."

"There are fresh towels ready for you. I'll go start on some lunch. Take your time, alright?"

"Thanks, Uncle Shota."

"Any time, kiddo."

Rui stood and stretched as her uncle closed the door, going over to her bag to grab out a fresh set of clothes. She looked in the mirror briefly, seeing how sunken her eyes looked and how thin she was already starting to get. She sighed and went into the bathroom down the hall, letting the water warm up as she changed out of her mourning clothes.

Stepping into the hot water, Rui let it wash over her and cover her with its warmth- feeling her muscles relaxing. As she cleaned up, she thought over everything that had happened recently and wondered what to do next. Shota was her only living family, aside from the distant relatives she'd never spoken to or seen, so by default he would become her guardian. But he had enough to worry about with being a teacher at U.A. and the villain presence growing in the city.

'I'm close enough to finishing my studies... maybe I could find a job... get my own place in the city...'

She sighed, knowing things wouldn't be as simple as she'd like.

'What am I going to do...?'

Downstairs in the kitchen, Shota was wondering the same thing. He knew he'd end up becoming her guardian with no other family to turn to, but he worried that he couldn't give her a life she deserved to have.

'Shit...'

"Uncle Shota?"

He turned to see Rui standing in the doorway to the kitchen, a towel around her neck as she dried her hair. "Feel better?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's not much, but lunch is ready."

Rui saw that he had just made a simple ramen meal. "It smells great."

They took a seat at the table and began their meal in silence, both thinking over what to do next. After a while, though, Shota looked at Rui and said, "We need to talk, kiddo."

"I know..." Rui sighed, setting aside her chopsticks.

"What do you want to do, Rui? Aside from our distant relatives, we don't have anyone else. You're welcome to stay with me, finish your studies, and I could help you get an internship or find work."

"You have your work as a teacher to worry about, though, not to mention the increase of villain presence in the city. I couldn't burden you like that."

"Kiddo, it wouldn't be a burden," Shota said. "I just worry about giving you a life you deserve..."

"What should I do, then..?" Rui groaned. "I still need to clear out the house Mom and I rented before the lease is up, I still have my studies... and you're leaving for the training camp this summer..."

"For now, you're welcome to stay here with me until you get things figured out."

"Thanks, Uncle Shota."

"Of course."

Later that night, Rui lay in bed staring up at the ceiling- unable to sleep. She turned on her side, looking at photos she had saved on her phone. She flipped through the ones of her mother, a sad smile present with each one until she reached the section of photos that were all of her and her friends.

'What do I do...?'

*ding*

'A text from Mina?' Rui read through the text, seeing that it was just Mina checking in with her.

'Doing alright, it's just still a lot to take in.'

'It's never easy when you lose your loved ones. Especially when it's your parent. I'm here if you ever need to talk, girl, about anything. We all are.'

'I know... I just feel bad for not saying anything before I left...'

'Don't, we totally get it. You did what you had to do. Besides, it's not like we aren't ever going to see you again.'

Rui paused a moment.

'Right..? We will see you again... won't we?'

Rui sighed. 'I'd like that, I mean you guys are my friends. I just... need some time.'

'If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know.'

Rui thought a moment. 'Actually, could I get your opinion on something?'

'Of course.'

'Uncle Shota is the only family I have left, but I don't want to be a burden on him. He has his job as a teacher, plus you guys are leaving for the training camp soon, and the villain presence has been growing.'

'Well... have you thought about living on your own again just like you did with your work-study?'.'

'Do you think that's what I should do?'

'You're worried about being a burden, right? And I'm sure Mr. Aizawa is worried about you, too, for his own reasons. It isn't ideal, but it would solve your problems. At least in part.'

'I guess.'

'Is there something else you're worried about?'

'If I do that, I'll have to get a job, too, not to mention my studies.'

'You do homeschooling right?'

'Yeah?'

'OK, well if you got a job it could be part-time until you finish your studies. I think there are some heroes that will even sign off on that sort of thing if you interned with them. It wouldn't be like your work-study with Recovery Girl, though.'

'That's true. I guess I'll have to look into it a bit more. Thanks, Mina, you've been a big help.'

'Any time, Rui :) Always happy to help when I can.'

Rui smiled at that. 'You know, I think out of all of my friends, you're the one I've grown closest to.'

'Aww, that's so sweet! I'm glad to hear it! You know, when you're feeling better and we all have the time, we should go out for karaoke or something fun like that. Maybe just have a girls' night out.'

'Sure, I'd like that.'

'Perfect :D I'm sure I won't be the only one looking forward to it.'

'By the way, how is... everything between you and Bakugo? Everything alright?'

'Honestly? I don't know...'

'You never told him, did you?'

'No... I was going to after the practical exam, but...'

'You had to leave to be with your mom... I'm sorry, that must be really hard.'

'It's probably for the best... I don't think I could've taken the rejection on top of losing him as a friend...'

'I wouldn't worry about that. I've seen how he looks at you when he thinks no one else is paying attention. He's head over heels for you.'

Rui thought back to the night he tried to kiss her, then how he carried her to Shota's place from the cemetery, how her left flowers for her to apologize, the little cherry flavored candy.

'Rui? You good?'

Rui smiled- her first truly genuine smile in a long time. 'Yeah, I think so.'

'Well, good, you had me worried there for a second :) Anyway, I need to be up early in the morning so I'll catch you later?'

'Sounds good, thanks again Mina.'

'Any time, girl. Night.'

'Night.'

By daybreak the following morning, Rui had barely gotten any sleep after staying up nearly all night doing research. When the sun peeked through the curtains and shone on her face, Rui woke to find herself hunched over at the desk.

Groaning, she sat back and stretched, looking at the sunlight starting to illuminate the curtains.

*knock knock*

"Yes?"

"Morning, Rui. I need to stop by the school for a bit, but I'll be back later. Will you be alright 'til then?"

Rui nodded. "I'll be fine, Uncle Shota. When... you get back, could we talk?"

"What is it?"

"It can wait until later."

"It sounds important. I can stop by the school later." Shota came over to sit on her bed. "What's going on?"

Rui sighed. "Honestly, I'm not sure if this is what would be best- given the situation and all- but I was wondering if I could just do what I did before. Live on my own during my work-study."

"You could if that's what you wanted."

"I know we need to look at Mom's will if she has one, but since you're the only family I really have left, I don't have anyone else to turn to. I don't want to be a burden to you, Uncle Shota; not after everything you've already done for me." Rui saw the look her uncle had and put up her hand. "Before you say anything, I know you wouldn't see me as a burden, but I don't want to add to your worry with everything else going on. I'd get a part-time job while I finish my studies or apply for a paid internship. I'll save up to get my own place. It'll be a lot like my work-study."

Shota sighed and glanced up at her. "You've really thought this out, huh kiddo?"

"I spent most of the night looking into it," Rui admitted, rubbing her neck nervously. "I just want to make things as easy as possible, for everyone."

"Is this what you really want?"

"I don't know, but..." Rui fiddled with her hair. "I've always been independent, even when Mom was still around. I had to be... I had to be so that I could try to make things easier for her."

"Rui, this is a big change for everyone and I promised Isane I would look after you." Shota rubbed his eyes for a moment, then looked back to her. "Regardless of the outcome, I will do what I can to keep that promise. Whether it's helping you find work or co-signing on a place of your own. I will support you, whatever you decide. But think about it a bit more? Really be sure that this is what you want."

"OK."

"Was there something else?"

"It's just a lot to process, you know?"

Shota stood and came over, leaning down to hug her. "I know."

Rui hugged him in return. "How long will you be gone?"

"A couple of hours, tops."

"I'll see you when you get back, then."