R E G A R D S

A N D

C O N C L U S I O N S

Kaya was right where she wanted to be.

Yoake was flourishing. Pogako was slowly adjusting to the fact that Amira will most likely not come back again. Katou was finally given a chance for one of the few things that ever made him happy. Amira... Kaya knew not where she is, nor does she think she'll ever soon, but she hoped that she was in a good place. Amira's soul was far too good, too pure to be so easily tainted and if it ever would reach such a state then it would be devastating. For anyone that knew her — it would be sickening. (Poor, innocent Amira that couldn't even swear.) Kaya even felt bile rise up her throat for a moment, trapped in that particular thought.

Nonetheless, everything was mostly fine. Katsuki was, still, for some unknown reason working in a very limited part-time for Yoake. Weeks had passed, and as the hypocrite Kaya was, she reprimanded Katsuki lightly for always just eating instant ramen when visiting Yoake. Katsuki didn't visit everyday; but it was damn near always — and continuous intake of noodles would be detrimental to his health, so Kaya took it upon herself to give him other spicy (she made sure the flavor was a tad more hot than the usual spicy flavor, of course), products. So far, it was alright. Katsuki didn't like the abrupt change in his diet, but one reminder of Kaya's that he would not be in top shape for being the number one hero or that he'll have very slim chances in getting the title if he impaired his health for some noodles had him stopping. That made him reconsider, much to Kaya's amusement and pleasure.

Today would be Kaya's sixteenth birthday. It wasn't anything special, she usually sets up some promo for Yoake during the whole week, and maybe she was compensating for the fact that she never let the employees or her other considered friends (mainly regulars), to throw her a celebration with this. As always, she expected her birthday to just come and go, as the only thing that happened during the duration of that particular day would be warm greetings, a few presents from those who bothered enough and had some budget on them, then midnight would come and it's another day again.

And really — like she had of course presumed — the day was going normally. Regulars coming and dropping off a nice 'happy birthday' with jabs that she's still two years shy of legal age and should drop the smoking, but Kaya had closed ears on that specific topic, so it never really mattered, no matter how seriously one said it.

Kaya's wish for the year?

Ah, she'd really rather not.

"Kaya-chan!" Kaya rolled her eyes at the stupidly annoying voice, with a bland cheer to it that it was almost insulting, but it was one of the voices she had grew to love hearing.

"Too early for your bull, Katou-san."

Katou cocked an eyebrow to that, "I honestly don't know what you mean by that, I would say it's almost insulting, but why ever?"

"Oh come off it, Tou-san. Where's my gift? Come on, gimme."

"Aw, Kaya-chan. You thought I bought you a gift?"

"The past six years of you giving me a gift begs to differ, you know."

Katou sighed, "That line doesn't work now that you're all old,"

"Yuck, Katou-san. If anyone's old here it's you."

The blue-haired server masterfully dodged the insult, "Ah, right, because little Kaya-chan is still a brat after all."

Kaya was about ready to spell 'bullshit' when Katou cut her off with placing a neatly-wrapped box on the counter, almost sporting a genuine smile for a guy like him, dropping off a — "Happiest birthday, Kaya-chan. Take care." — before heading out the door, gone as fast as he came.

Always so elusive, Kaya muttered to herself as she tucked the green tinted wrapped gift below the counter, a satisfied simper surfacing on her face.

Kaya didn't want to take note of the unsaid 'goodbye' between his words.

- - -

Pogako had also visited her that day, dropping off a simple gift. Shizuka, the lady from across, stopped by with her troublesome kids that littered sloppy toddler kisses over Kaya's face, saying it was their 'gift', Jinks and Yoru gave a joint present, not as neatly wrapped as Katou's and the others had been, and the only explanation for it was that Jinks let Yoru actually wrap the gift.

When the chime rang once again, Kaya expected it to be just another regular. Because it certainly wasn't the person she had thought was dead, buried six feed under not too long ago, carrying the same shade of lilac Kaya had. Not — not her.. (could Kaya even call Missa her Mother anymore?)

"Tsumei," no, no, don't talk— "You're doing... good, I hear."

And Kaya couldn't help the bitter statement escape her mouth, "No thanks to you."

Missa flinched.

"Meik— no, your.. your sister.. told me she saw someone like me near these parts, and I... I just knew it had to be you, that you already knew that—" that I was alive, that I left you, "and I was too scared to come before you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. You didn't... you didn't deserve what I did to you. Not you, not.. not Hiroto."

A hollow, short laugh erupted from Kaya, shaking her head with tears almost prickling at th corner of her eyes but no — she would not dare show tears in front of this woman.

"I am not her sister," Kaya hissed, "and do not speak of his name again. Please. Not in front of me. Not from you. You, of all people."

"I know that."

Kaya saw the hardening of her.. relative's eyes while stating that. She had always been stern, from what Kaya recalled of her. The lack of grief in her posture, in her expression — it was almost mocking.

"I'm not going to be back in your life. I don't want to — you're not my only... daughter now. I have other responsibilities. We both know this. We both want this. We both accept this. Let's move on."

A sigh escaped Missa's lips as she headed for the door.

"Thank you for taking care of Yoake... Mei. I'll leave the rest of her to you."

And then, she too, was gone.

Again.

"You didn't need to ask," Kaya whispered faintly — to who now, she didn't know.

At least, in this way, they can both let go of loose ends.

And as time passed, Kaya took note of the unsaid 'happy birthday' Missa had intentionally left her.

- - -

The lilac-haired teen store owner brushed her knuckles unconsciously as she puffed a smoke.

There — there it was again. The feeling, the rush the smoke brings. Not quite of ecstasy, not of pure bliss; it was more of a relief. Of the feeling of letting go and getting washed away, hoisted from where she lays as the wind takes her from place to place, the mist uncovering all that was ever hidden.

Kaya looked down at the cigarette between her fingers, smiling (and perhaps it was a little bit sad), because, one day, she knew she'll miss the rush it brings. Once it's gone.

But... not today.

"You look at that fucking stick like it's your lifeline."

Judging by the 'fucking stick', Kaya already had a guess on who this was.

"Ah, Katsuki-chan! Brought a gift for me?"

The blond scoffed, "Haaah? You wish."

"You wound me!"

"Stop being so dramatic, woman."

"Oh? Me? Never."

Kaya saw Katsuki rolling his eyes, heading for the staff room — but not before tossing a black square box at her direction.

"Huh. Congratulations on being fucking born, I guess."

Kaya blinked.

Well.

It wasn't like she was expecting a speech.

Kaya looked down at the black box at her hands, murmuring softly with a smile that felt so real it scared her, "Thank you, Katsuki-chan."

Yes; Just right here. This was where she wanted to be.

———

a / n ; the timeline following bnha's after this chapter... will most likely be disregarded. but certain points of katsuki's life not concerning yoake in anyway will still be highlighted. the next few chapters i have planned doesn't really butcher the timeline, no. just a matter of delaying — how does time even work there. and, it's been some days too after i updated, so here's.. something. idk what exactly took place in this chapter. don'tmurderme is the characterization alright

Tora3 : thank you for saying that! i have several reasons to believe katsuki's on ooc area, but that makes things somehow better, haha.

Guest : the prompt is very entertaining — i may separate an omake for it, maybe jabbing both kaya and katsuki near all those, but are you sure the review section is where you should put free for adoption prompts? but still, thanks!

Guest/LOL : thank??? you??? so??? mUCH??? aa, im glad you find it different from other genres in bnha ff, bec im just rly soft for things like this. it makes me giddy you liked katsuki's character here (because idk if i butchered him), todoroki's brief sneak, and kaya. kaya, most of all. and no no, i didn't take offense. i think i understand her character most of the time? i haven't really had time to breakdown certain points (: