The nice thing about the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall was that you could pretty much find anything you needed all in one place- clothes, accessories, books, school supplies, the works.
"It's been a while since we've been here together, hasn't it?" Mina mused with a smile.
"Yeah, it has," Ochaco added. "So, Rui, what's first on your list?"
Katsuki watched as Rui explained what she still needed for the apartment, wondering how she was going to get everything home even with all of them carrying things. When Eijiro voiced that same question, Rui answered that she could transport some of the stuff on her water board if needed while Ochaco offered to help carry what she could using her quirk.
"The rest I can have delivered," Rui finished.
"Alright, sounds like a plan. Lead the way then!"
Katsuki followed after Rui and the others as they made their way from store to store- Rui's list of items consisting of dinnerware and cookware, linens, and a few kitchen appliances.
'That's not a whole lot of stuff. I wonder what else she would need?' he thought.
"Rui, look at these! They're so pretty!"
Katsuki watched as Rui and Ochaco ogling a traditional style tea set adorned with a peach blossom pattern over pastel blue ceramic. It had been years since he had seen Rui's eyes light up like that and it was nice seeing her like that again. He just wished he could be the one to do that for her instead of some silly trinkets.
"Are you going to get them?"
Rui looked to the shop owner. "Excuse me, is this tea set still available?"
"I am sorry, young miss, but I just sold it this morning. The new owner of this tea set is due to pick it up at any moment."
"I see. Will you be getting in any more?"
The shop owner shook his head. "Unfortunately, the craftsman who made this set has been ill and I am not sure when he will recover enough to make more."
"That's a shame." Rui sighed, but she offered the elderly man a smile. "Thank you."
"Of course. If there is anything else I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask."
Katsuki watched as Rui and Ochaco went on to browse the other items before they all left the shop and thanked the shop owner on the way out, seeing the disappointment in her eyes even as she tried to hide it behind her smile as she usually did.
As they walked towards the next shop, Eijiro noticed that Katsuki wasn't with them and asked if anyone had seen him, but Rui, Mina, and Ochaco shook their heads. They started backtracking towards the shop they had just been in, nearly bumping into Katsuki as he sauntered out.
"Hey, man, thought we lost you for a second there," Eijiro said.
"Sorry, I had a question for the old man is all," Katsuki replied. "Where to next?"
Leaving things at that, they continued to the next few shops- Rui getting dragged off into a clothing store with Mina and Ochaco and leaving Eijiro and Katsuki to wait outside for them.
Katsuki sat with Eijiro while they waited for the ladies 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- reminded of the last time he had been to the mall with Rui. A half-hour or so had passed and Katsuki sighed.
'Sheesh... why did I even agree to go? I could've gotten what I needed anywhere else.' he wondered. 'This is so lame.'
"Katsuki? You alright?"
Katsuki was pulled from his thoughts and glanced over at Eijiro. "I'm fine."
"It's not often you get lost in your thoughts," Eijiro commented, chuckling a bit.
"Shut up." Katsuki groaned and stood as Rui and the others rejoined them. "Are we done here?"
"Yeah, just about. I just need to pick up groceries, then I should be all set until the rest of the stuff gets delivered." Rui said, nodding.
"Good, let's get going."
Rui could sense the tension in the air around Katsuki as he walked off, leaving her and the others to play catch up.
"Rui, you OK?" Mina asked, leaning in and keeping her voice low.
"I guess... I'm just wondering if it was a good idea having him tag along..."
"I'm surprised he hasn't blown up at anyone yet," Ochaco added in a hushed tone.
Rui watched Katsuki as he walked ahead of them with Eijiro. "Yeah, me too..."
It didn't take them long to return to Rui's apartment, catching the next bus back and walking the rest of the way to her building. Mina, Ochaco, and Eijiro offered to start unpacking and sent Katsuki and Rui off to the market for the groceries she needed- much to their dissatisfaction.
They walked in silence to the nearest marketplace and Rui grabbed a cart before going inside- Katsuki begrudgingly tailing her through the store. She went aisle by aisle, grabbing everything she needed from toiletries to produce and dairy. When they reached the meat aisle, Katsuki stood just behind her as she browsed the meat.
'Why would they send us off together like that? What's their game?' he wondered.
Katsuki noticed that Rui was trying to reach something just out of her reach and he made to grab it for her, but before he could she lifted herself up using water from one of the bracelets at her wrists. He withdrew his hand, stepping back as Rui set herself down and deposited the item into the cart.
"Need anything else?"
Rui looked through her list, then shook her head and glanced at him. "No, that's everything." She watched as he gave her a curt nod before he started heading for the door, going outside to wait for her to checkout. 'I shouldn't expect anything more than that, I suppose...'
While Rui checked out, Katsuki waited outside and looked up at the sky. It wasn't quite the evening hours yet, but the temperature was dropping a bit and the cool air helped calm his nerves. He wasn't sure why he was feeling nervous, or why it was mixed with anger; he just hoped that he could keep it under control so that he didn't make things worse between him and Rui. He looked over when the doors dinged and Rui stepped outside, her hands ladened with grocery bags. Without hesitating, he reached forward and took the heavier bags, then started walking back towards their buildings- leaving Rui to hurry to catch up and fall in step beside him.
They walked in silence once more, the awkward tension between them growing. Rui wanted to say something, anything, but she feared that she would just make things worse. She was pretty much already in the "dog house" so to speak with Katsuki and she was grateful that they reached her apartment quickly.
She opened the door and kicked off her heels, looking in awe at how much Mina and the others had already done. "Wow, you guys have been busy! Thank you so much!"
"Of course! We just need to get the rest of the kitchen stuff unpacked and put away, then we'll be done!" Mina said, beaming at her best friend.
Eijiro sidled up to Katsuki as he set the bags he was carrying on the counter and started unloading them. "So, you guys get a chance to talk?" he asked.
"There was nothing to say."
"Oh, come on, man. There must be something you guys could have talked about."
"Eijiro, leave it alone, alright?"
Eijiro looked at Katsuki, his brow furrowed with concern. "What's going on, Katsuki? I don't think I've ever seen you this conflicted before."
Katsuki paused and sighed, trying to keep his annoyance from bubbling up into anger. "Did you know she's been back for two years?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Seems like I'm the last to know... again..."
Eijiro was beginning to understand what was eating at him. "Oh... I'm sorry, man, I thought you knew; that's why I didn't say anything. And I know things between you didn't end that well, so I didn't want to drudge it back up."
Katsuki went back to unloading the bags. "Whatever, it's fine... not the first time it's happened... I'm sure it won't be the last..."
Eijiro watched him a moment and sighed. "Well, you know if you ever need to talk about it that you can come to me."
"I know." Katsuki looked up at him. "Thanks."
"Any time!"
"Hey, Eijiro, Bakugo! What do you guys feel like for dinner?" Mina called.
"Whatever is good with me!" Eijiro replied, looking to Katsuki. "What about you?"
"I need to get going soon, so I'll grab something on my own."
"Aww, you aren't staying?" Mina asked, sounding rather disappointed.
Katsuki glanced at Rui for a brief moment then returned his attention to Mina. "I've got plans for tonight, Pinky."
"Well, alright."
Rui came to the kitchen and started putting things away while Eijiro hurried over to help Mina and Ochaco with one of the more heavy boxes. She took the items as Katsuki passed them to her, wondering what she could say that wouldn't set him off.
"Um, thanks, Katsuki, for helping me out today. You didn't have to, and I know you probably didn't want to in the slightest, but I appreciate it nonetheless."
Katsuki looked at her, a bit surprised. "Sure, whatever. It's not like I had anything better to do today."
Rui sighed, a bit hurt by his tone but not surprised.
"Anyway, I need to get going." Katsuki put all the grocery bags together- stuffing them into the biggest bag- then made his way over to the front door to pull on his shoes.
Rui walked him to the door, watching him slip into his shoes. "Be safe." She offered, unsure of how he would respond.
Katsuki looked up at her when she said that, seeing her hesitation and the uncertainty in her eyes. He smirked and replied, "It's not me you have to worry about," before heading out the door and closing it behind him.
Eijiro popped his head around the corner when he heard the door. "Did Katsuki just leave?"
Rui nodded, turning towards him. "Yeah."
Eijiro noticed she looked a bit sullen. "You OK?"
Rui offered him a smile and nodded. "Of course. Now, have we decided on what's for dinner?"