While Gunhead took Katsuki on a tour of the agency headquarters, Rui went off to the meditation room and sat down on one of the cushions. She tried to calm her nerves and her mind, pushing out the turmoil bubbling inside of her. As she did, she thought over the match and analyzed what she had learned sparring against Katsuki.

'He is a good sparring partner...' she begrudgingly admitted to herself. 'I didn't think we'd ever spar or train together. I hope I won't regret this...'

After about a half-hour of meditation, Rui felt much better and went to check in with Gunhead before heading home.

"Is there anything else you need before I clock out?"

Gunhead looked up from his desk and shook his head. "No, thanks to you the paperwork is all caught up. I have the newbies cleaning the dojo and the training equipment, so you're free to go."

"Alright, see you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow. And good job today, I'm impressed with how much your combative skills have progressed. Your parents would be proud of you, especially Hiro."

Rui smiled at that. "Thanks."

"Go on now and stay safe going home, alright?"

"I will."

Gunhead watched Rui leave his office and smiled beneath his mask. 'She's grown so much, Hiro, I really do think you would be proud of her.'

Katsuki had stayed late at the agency headquarters to fill out some paperwork to make things official and put his earbuds in as he started the trek home. The night air was cool and welcome against his skin, helping to calm his nerves a bit more. As he walked, he thought over what Gunhead had told him just before leaving.

"I'm glad that you accepted my offer. I truly believe that working here will be beneficial to you, Bakugo. You may even learn a thing or two while working here that you might not as a solo hero."

"I'm just here to get stronger."

"There's more to strength than the physical aspect, remember that." Gunhead stood and came to stand in front of him. "Look at Sirona. She hasn't exactly had an easy life up to this point, yet she's pushed herself to do better and to be better regardless of the obstacles she faces."

"What's your point?"

"My point is that Sirona has achieved a different kind of strength that makes her the hero that she is. She works hard every day, going above and beyond the call of duty, worrying about others before herself. She's a prime example of what we strive to accomplish as heroes and what I try to teach those who come through my agency. She's one of my best students, one of the best heroes I've worked with. She's loved by her coworkers, she's loved by the city, and she's always there when you need her even if you don't realize that you needed her to begin with." Gunhead could tell that Katsuki already knew this, but he felt that reminding him would help him with whatever was on his mind. "Which is why I want you two to be partners from now on, for as long as you both work here. It'll be good for both you."

Katsuki sighed, knowing that Gunhead was right about everything. 'That's just how Rui is... that's how she's always been...'

It didn't take him long to reach home, finding that he was only a twenty-minute walk away from the agency headquarters. He scaled the stairs to his level and took out his keys, unlocking his door and stepping inside. He kicked off his shoes, set his bag off to the side, and headed straight for the bathroom to take a long shower.

'Damn it... what am I going to do about working with her? Things are awkward enough as it is between us.'

Katsuki recalled their sparring match. 'And what was up with her during our sparring match? I've never seen that look in her eyes before... what was it? And what was that feeling I had?'

He sighed and turned off the water, grabbing the towel and drying off before going to his wardrobe to change into his usual sleep attire- a pair of shorts and a tank top. As he dried his hair, he opened the curtain and went out onto his balcony- stopping when he saw Rui's balcony.

'Someone's been busy.'

Rui's balcony had gone from barren with just a simple side table and chair to a green and lush oasis with plants and flowers. He could smell that a lot of the plants were herbs, but most of her plants he couldn't identify.

'When did she have time to do all this?' he wondered, remembering that her balcony was barren that morning. 'She must have gone to the store after work.'

Katsuki watched Rui come back onto her balcony, stepping up onto a stool to hang some faery string lights overhead. He had to smirk a bit seeing her struggle, being a bit on the shorter side even with as much as she had grown over the last four years.

'So Gunhead wants us to be partners, huh?'

Katsuki wasn't sure if Rui would like that idea any more than he did and he honestly thought Gunhead was joking at first. He noticed that Rui had spotted him out on his own balcony and he rolled his eyes when she stuck out her tongue like a child before going back inside and slamming the door closed.

'This is going to be such a pain in the ass...'

Across the way as Katsuki went back inside to make something to eat, Rui was grumpily making herself some peach jasmine tea. She tapped the counter in annoyance, wondering what Katsuki's problem was.

'Why is he being such an ass? And what was up with him during training today? I've seen a lot of looks from him before, but that one... that one is new. What was it? And why do I still feel like this? It was just another sparring match... wasn't it?'

Rui sighed, straining the water from the teabag and adding in the sugar before going over to her couch to put on a movie in hopes of taking her mind off of things.