Early the next morning, Katsuki looked outside of his window after getting out of the shower.
Under the light of the sunrise, he caught a glimpse of very distinctive silver-blue hair. "Kaho?" He breathed.
Kahoko ran at a comfortable pace, small but heavy dumbbells in each hand. She had her headphones on, the music turned all the way up, tuning every other sound.
She stopped to take a small break and have a drink of water.
She felt someone's hand tapping her shoulder.
She turned and squirted the water from her bottle at the said person. She blinked. "Kacchan?" She pulled her headphones off.
He gave a laugh. "I've already showered, thank you very much." He reached out and took the towel around her neck to wipe the water from his face.
"Sorry, you just startled me." She gestured to her headphones.
He nodded. "Yeah, sorry about that." He took in her face. "Have you even slept?"
She shrugged. "A little." She sighed. She looked at her watch. "I should really go back and get a shower."
"What's bothering you?"
She frowned.
"Like I said, I'm here if you need an ear."
She smiled a little. "I guess... yesterday got me thinking about a lot of things." I guess he really is sweet under the rough exterior and harsh words.
"Yesterday?"
"Yeah, training with Deku. It woke something within me, which I think has been asleep since Tama-chan's death." She blushed a little.
"What do you mean?"
She met his curious gaze. "I mean that... I realised what I've missed most... I remembered the thrill of fighting, I felt the buzz that I used to feel when sparring with Tama-chan and Hitoshi. Yes, I train with Hitoshi, but he seems to hold back. Deku gave it his all without using much of his power. I got excited and wanted to beat him."
He took a moment, taking in the sunrise reflecting against her expressive eyes. "That's why Shinso was so happy... you became the you before that incident... the real Kahoko Sano." Man, she's beautiful…
She pushed her hair away from her face. "I guess so... it's also sparked something else... the need within me to become a hero. At first, I was just going with the flow. But now I think I want to try harder, to do this for both me and my brother. I want to honour him and do what he couldn't do with me."
Katsuki reached out and ruffled her hair. "Well... you now have me and most of Class A supporting you, fight hard and you'll become a mighty hero, I can feel it."
She gave him one of her brightest smiles.
He swallowed and leaned forward, placing his lips lightly on the top of her head. "You're one interesting girl." He smiled and headed back inside before he made a fool of himself.
Kahoko stood frozen on the spot. Why did he do that? She sighed, I'll never understand boys. She headed back inside too.
Kahoko sat and ate breakfast with Hitoshi.
"Kaho, you're quiet." Hitoshi remarked. "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head. "Nothing just..."
"Morning, Kaho!" Momo sat beside her.
Kahoko smiled at her. "Morning, Momo."
Hitoshi frowned. What's up with her? She was so high-spirited last night.
"Hitoshi."
He blinked. "Kaho?"
"I've decided I'm going to work really hard to move up to the Hero course... but I don't want to without you so please do your best too." She said in a rush.
"You bet." He grinned. "Did Deku hit you on the head or something?"
She laughed. "Something must have."
"Have you spoken with Todoroki since last night." Momo asked in a quiet voice.
Kahoko shook her head.
"What happened?" Hitoshi leaned closer.
"I dunno, he kinda left randomly last night after she and Deku trained, He didn't even say goodnight to Kaho... she's been worried."
Kahoko rolled her eyes. "I'm not that worried." She drank her smoothie.
"Speak of the devil." Momo breathed.
Shoto sat beside Hitoshi, opposite Kahoko and Momo. "Morning." He looked up to see Kahoko's eyes on him.
"Morning." She smiled. "Are you feeling better?"
He frowned. Oh! "Uh, yeah. I just needed to sleep it off. I think I just had a busy day and it caught up with me."
"Well, I'm glad you're okay. Now you know how I feel after every time I hang out with class A." She gave a giggle.
"We're not that noisy." Momo huffed.
"Maybe to yourselves but imagine having ears like a dog..." Kahoko reminded her.
"Fair enough. Oh, Todoroki, did you hear from Kaho? She's planning on moving up the ranks to become a hero student!" Momo grinned.
Shoto raised an eyebrow and looked to said girl, who's cheeks were turning rosy.
She didn't meet his gaze as she felt his eyes bore into her. She cleared her throat. "I'm gonna try at least."
"I'm sure you can do it, Kaho. You have everything you need to become a hero. You just need more self-confidence." Momo put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. "We're supporting you, and Shinso of course."
Kahoko looked up at her and smiled. "Thank you."
"Ah! You're so cute!" Momo hugged her tighter.
A tray was placed on Kahoko's other side.
"Morning, Bakugo!" Momo greeted.
He gave one his usual snorts in return. "Why are you so happy at this time in the morning?"
"No reason in particular. How's your provisional training going? Come up with an ultimate move yet?"
He shrugged. "Sorta but I need to refine it. You?"
Momo sighed. "I have something in mind that I wanna do, but I can't quite grasp it yet."
"I'm sure it'll come to you when you least expect." Kahoko assured her. "I hope my parents let me come and watch the test. They'll probably make me take Natsu too."
"I hope you are able to come. It'll be good if you want to work up to hero class to see what to expect." Momo added.
"I thought that too. Well, I'm going to make my way to class. Hitoshi are you coming?" She stood up and turned around.
Someone bumped into her.
She felt scalding liquid hit her front. "Ahh!" She squeaked.
"Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry Sano!" A girl from the support course exclaimed. She was holding a half-emptied cup of coffee.
"It's fine, don't worry." Kahoko waved it off.
The girl bowed but went away.
"Shit!" Kahoko hissed.
The class A guys stared at her. It was the first time they'd heard her curse. Not to mention the front of her white shirt was now soaked through with a big brown coffee stain.
"Here..." Hitoshi had taken off his blazer and was holding it out to her. "Get cleaned up, I'll cover for you." He added with a smirk. "Seriously, you are such a clutz."
She slipped on his blazer to cover her now see through shirt. "Thanks, see you guys later." She picked up her bag and ran off out of the canteen.
"You act like her boyfriend." Momo remarked. She glanced towards Katsuki then to Shoto.
Both had faces of stone.
Her lips quirked up. Maybe Midoriya was right...
"Well... someone needs to be there for her." Hitoshi replied. "She hates being embarrassed in front of people she likes, so I think that must've upset her." He stood up. "I'm going to head to class and explain to Mr Shiki. See you guys." He headed out.
"I hope she's okay, that coffee was really hot, I got a little splashed, but it was nothing compared to the lot that went onto her."
Shoto stood up. "See you in class." And he went out too.
Momo suppressed a smirk. Don't worry Kaho, he's coming to see you.
Katsuki huffed a little. "There he goes, playing the hero."
"Aren't you worried? I mean... he's going to see her."
Katsuki shrugged. "I met her first." He stated. "I'm the reason that he even gets to speak to her. If it weren't for me, she'd still avoid him like the plague."
"So... you're saying you've already won? Or are you letting him win?"
"I'm saying she's not a trophy. Whoever she likes is up to her. I plan to make her see me, but whether she likes what she sees is up to her."
Momo's jaw dropped a little. "Bakugo... that's the most unselfish thing I think I've ever heard you say." So, he does like her! But he's not gonna force her to like him back. "She really has put some spell on you."
He chuckled. "Or a curse." He stood up and headed out.
Momo sat there staring into space. Who knew that Bakugo had a heart?