Kahoko got home and was welcomed by Natsume.
"Kaho-nee!" He hugged her tightly. He pulled away to see that his sister was rather pale and had red rings around her eyes. "You've been crying." He stated. "What happened?"
She stood straight. "Nothing. I'm fine."
He folded his arms. "You forget that I can sense your emotions. Something has upset you."
She put her bag down. "I rode the train with Shoto Todoroki today."
He frowned. "And? I thought you two made up."
"We did… it's not about him. More about his dad. I saw him at the station. He came to collect Todoroki. I dunno what came over me, I just felt my insides twist into knots."
Natsume took her hand and squeezed it. "Everything is going to be okay, Kaho-nee."
She nodded. "Yeah. Just you and me this weekend." She ruffled his white hair.
Later that night, Kahoko's phone rang.
She frowned at the number, not recognising it. She answered it. "Hello?"
"Finally, she answers!"
"Bakugo?!"
"Yeah, disappointed or something?"
"No… just how did you get my number?"
"I got it from Yaoyorozu, Deku got a worried phone call from Todoroki. So, I asked her for your number, so I can check in."
Kahoko's jaw dropped a little. "You went through all that trouble?"
"Yeah, because when Deku worries about something, he gets unbearable. So, are you alright?" He added.
Kahoko sat down on her bed. "I'm perfectly alright."
"Don't lie."
"But…"
"Todoroki told Deku that you saw his old man."
"Yeah… but I'm fine now."
"So, why does it sound like you're about to break?" His voice softened.
Kahoko felt a tear trail down her cheek. She sniffed.
"I understand that if I were Hitoshi, you'd trust me more. But right now, I'm the one who's here." Katsuki was sat in his dorm room with his back against the wall, staring up at the night sky through his window. "I thought your feelings towards Endeavour weren't of hate or resentment anymore."
"They aren't… but seeing him brought back so many painful memories. I feel so bad… after Todoroki was so understanding and kind to me… I hope I didn't hurt him."
"Todoroki? Nah, he'll be fine. He's more concerned about you." He sighed. More to the point… why do I care?! He heard her sniff at the other end of the phone. "Sano…"
"Hmm?"
"Look outside."
Kahoko got up off her bed.
"Look at the sky."
She looked up to see the moon, full and bright. "Pretty…" She breathed.
Katsuki smirked. "Right? Don't you just feel all of your worries leave you when you look?"
"Yeah. Thank you." She whispered through the phone.
"I'm glad I could help."
"You know… I'm really glad we met… Kacchan." She added, before feeling her face burn. Why did I say that?! Stupid Kaho!
Katsuki felt his face combust. Did…she just call me…? Why did it sound so damn cute?!
Kahoko panicked when she didn't get a response. "Can't I call you that? I'm sorry…" She prepared to hang up.
Katsuki was grinning like an idiot, putting his head in his hand. "It's fine… if it's you. You call me whatever you want…"
Kahoko swallowed. "Right… I really should head for bed."
"Yeah… me too." He sighed.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight… Kaho." He said before he lost his nerve again, he quickly hung up.
Kahoko stared at her phone. "Kaho?" She smiled softly before getting changed and ready for bed.
Katsuki lay back in bed. Kacchan… He laughed. She called me Kacchan! He shoved his face into his pillow.
The next day, Kahoko sat and had breakfast with Natsume.
"You seem brighter today, Kaho-nee." He remarked.
She smiled. "Yeah, all I needed was a good sleep in my own bed."
"I heard you on the phone. Whoever it was calmed your emotions right down." He recalled.
"Oh… yeah. Bakugo called me to check on me. Apparently, I worried Todoroki, who told Deku, who then told him." She added.
"It's nice that they all care."
"I feel strange, but in a good way. But I don't know why they're being so kind. I've barely known them a week."
"You have a way with people, Kaho-nee. Once you've let people in, they can't help but love you." Natsume smiled at her. "That's what Tama-nii always said. Kahoko is a light in a dark room. She draws people towards her with a single smile."
"He said that?"
Natsume nodded. "Hitoshi-nii agrees."
Kahoko's phone began to ring. She looked at the caller ID. "Momo?" She answered it. "Hey, what's up?"
"Kahoko! Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Great, Todoroki scared us last night."
"It was nothing to worry about. I just had a moment."
"Bakugo called you?"
"Yeah, he just asked if I was alright, which I am."
"Alright, that's good. Hey, you don't live far from the mall, do you?"
Kahoko frowned. "No, just a couple train stops away. Why?"
"Me and the girls wanna hit the stores. Do you wanna join us?"
"Well, I need to look after Natsu."
"Can you find someone? A neighbour or something?"
Kahoko looked to Natsume. "Um… Do you mind if I take you to Hitoshi's for the day? The girls want me to go with them to the mall."
Natsume's eyes lit up. "I don't mind at all."
Kahoko turned her attention back to Momo. "I guess I can ask Hitoshi to watch him for a couple hours. He doesn't live far. I'll call him and ask."
"Well if you can come, give me a text and we'll meet at the monument in about an hour?"
"Yeah, will do." She hung up and looked at Natsume. "What just happened?"
"You have girl friends!" Natsume cheered. "Finally hanging out with people who don't climb trees or get into fist fights."
Kahoko laughed. "I wouldn't say that." She went to get changed.
The girls waited at the monument as they planned.
"Where's Kahoko?" Ochaco asked.
Momo frowned. "She said that Hitoshi was babysitting Natsume, and that she'd meet us."
"Maybe she chickened out? She is still new to being around a lot of people." Kyoka piped up.
Momo shook her head. "She must've gotten held up. I did ask her very last minute."
"Sorry!"
They all turned to see Kahoko running up to them.
"I got held up…" She panted. "Hitoshi interrogated me for ages."
"It's fine! Breathe, Kahoko." Ochaco laughed.
"Wow! If that's what you wear to go out shopping, I'd love to see you go out on a date." Momo gestured to her new friend's attire.
Kahoko looked down. "Is this too much?"
"No! You just look so cute!" Kyoka assured her.
Kahoko ran her hand through her hair nervously. She was wearing a white slouching, slightly oversized t-shirt, and some dark grey denim shorts, paired with white baseball shoes. She had a white beret sat lopsided on her head and her scarf hung around her neck, she pulled it down to talk to the girls. "I've never really been out with female friends, so I thought I'd put in a bit of effort."
"Well, are we going shopping or what?" Ochaco piped up.
"Yeah, let's get going!" Momo cheered, linking her arm up with Kahoko's.
Kahoko's phone beeped with a message. She looked at it and her eyes widened a little.
Hope you are feeling better today, have fun with the girls. - Bakugo.
Kahoko let a soft smile grace her lips.
Momo frowned at her. "What?"
Kahoko blushed and shoved her phone into her pocket. "Nothing. Let's go."
Momo smirked but didn't say anything else.