Happy New Year!

Estelle was having breakfast when she overheard the class discussing their plans for the afternoon. It was the first time she had joined them for breakfast for a few days, unable to sleep more than a few more hours when spirits entered as fast as the snow reached the ground. She was expanding the base as much as she could, but it was a constant pain in her backside to continue asking the Commission for permission to spread the barrier.

She had amped up the training by miles when she decided to take part in scoping the enemy's bases directly, and it hit her that Nyx still had the lead despite her growing numbers. He had direct access to all the darklings from his world, and even though he was careful about the numbers coming through, Estelle was not as lucky to grow her numbers at the drop of a hat.

Raising her eyes from her plate, Estelle ignored Katsuki's stare as she finally tuned into their words. They were eating quickly as if they had somewhere to be, and she couldn't recall there being any reason as to why they would be in such a rush. Her questions were answered when Iida chimed, "I am spending the day with my family!"

"That's great! I'm going to go see my mum!" Izuku included, with a cute beam on his face, that various class members returned.

"I'm visiting my mum, and then I'll probably be with my sister for the rest of the day. I doubt my old man would make an appearance," Shoto muttered, his eyes seemingly having no thoughts behind them as he blankly stared ahead.

The conversation caused a chain reaction, with everyone informing each other about their plans for the day. Estelle's body tensed when she noticed that they were practically going down a line and that, eventually, their eyes would fall on her. Hastily picking her spoon back up, Estelle pretended she didn't notice their stare as she took another bite.

She had hoped they would have gotten the message, but maybe she had been too vague on it, considering their globes were still expecting a response from her. Absentmindedly taking another bite, she grunted, "What is it?"

"Are you visiting Nona tonight?" Kirishima asked, a joyful grin on his face as he leaned forward.

Furrowing her brows, Estelle slowly chewed before she swallowed and shrugged. "What for?"

Widening their eyes, the class practically slammed their heads on the table when they realised this was the second time this scenario had happened. They should have told Estelle about new years day! Honestly, what had they been thinking?! She had already informed them that she had never celebrated a day before Christmas; it was practically cruel of them to shove it in her face once again.

She must have felt so excluded. Again.

"It's another holiday! We celebrate the year ending!" Sero cheered, his smile wide as he raised his fist.

Estelle felt perplexed, tilting her head as she voiced her curiosity. "But Christmas was six days ago; why do we need another day to spend time with people?"

Sweatdropping, the class didn't know how to answer that. Regardless, they were glad that Kaminari stepped up to try and explain. "Well, you can never have too many holidays! Plus, it's not just about spending time with each other; we reminisce on the last year and set goals for the new one!"

Finding the reasoning sound, Estelle wondered if Nona was even available today, especially on such short notice. She didn't voice her trepidation, unable to damper the mood since they were enthusiastic about spending the day at home. She yielded from her thoughts with a soft smile, stating, "I'll ask if she's free."

"Great!"

Nona was not free.

Estelle had called her, unsure, as she asked if she could return for the night to spend some time together. Their meetings had become less frequent with so much happening around her, and Estelle found herself missing the older woman more than she thought she would. The female couldn't deny that her anxiety about Nyx finding Nona through their connection also weighed on her mind. She didn't want to put the woman in that position, no matter how much she wanted to stop by and drink tea like they used to.

Her heart fell slightly when Nona explained that she would be going to the cemetery for the New Year. The older woman used to visit every day before she realised it had become unhealthy, and she eventually dialled it down to specific dates, and today was one of them. Estelle immediately understood her reasoning, her heart turning fluffy as she spoke about her husband and son.

Estelle empathised. She had never wanted others to see her in those times, to witness how she truly felt deep inside her soul. So, if Nona wanted time alone with her family, Estelle would never intrude on that deep love. When beings you hold dear fade away, privacy becomes your solace in those dark moments.

After assuring Nona that she would be okay and enjoy her time with her family, Estelle headed to the living room to find that some students had already left. Half the class was still lingering on the couches, overnight bags at their feet as they waited for their ride home.

The quiet murmur between the students put the female at ease, and her feet padded against the ground to reach the couch. Silently staring ahead, the dip of the cushion beneath her let her know that she was no longer alone.

Peering up to find Katsuki staring at her, Estelle hesitated when she noted his expression resembling that of a silent question. She didn't know what he was trying to ask, so Estelle leaned back on the couch when he said nothing.

She heard the air of annoyance leave him, and he only continued to get more agitated the more prolonged the silence droned on. Eventually, he finally spoke, his tone verging on a seriousness that instantly made her eyes dart to him. "Where is your stuff?"

Estelle visibly tautened before forcing her body to relax. Her mind pondered on the urge to admit that she wasn't leaving, but a more significant part of her wanted to withhold that information. Ever since he had given her the ruby necklace and she had kissed him, Estelle had thrown herself into her work just a little more than before.

She didn't know what it meant, and she didn't want to know. Estelle had no time to figure it out, and her chaotic mind never came to a damn conclusion anyway, so she found the whole endeavour pointless. But his words echoed in her mind regardless, no matter what she was doing, his admission that she held so much of him stuck to her like glue she couldn't peel off.

It scared her shitless. She had already intruded on Katsuki's life, and he always went out of his way to include her. The plethora of excellence within Katsuki made her feel unworthy, and some deep, twisted part of her recognised it as truth. She had killed people, not just spirits or darklings - people. Yet the way they all looked at her was enough to forget that her hands were stained red. She was not worthy.

Katsuki deserved to spend the day with his family without Estelle hovering over him like a charity case. Estelle had no right to bother him on this holiday, and she knew if she admitted it, he would drag her there kicking and screaming. She understood the male would spend too much time being concerned over her to enjoy his time with his parents fully.

He deserved better than that.

Smiling in assurance, Estelle waved her hand dismissively as she answered, "Ah, everything I need is already with Nona."

Estelle didn't like to lie, especially not to Katsuki, who was the one person Estelle was the most truthful to. But, she just wanted him to enjoy the day, with minimal thinking around her god dammit. It wasn't much, but it was all Estelle could give him.

Narrowing his eyes, Katsuki opened his mouth to respond, only to find Mr Aizawa opening the front door. The teacher turned to stand at the front entrance, his eyes tired as he flickered his gaze over the remaining students. Now that Estelle wasn't so focused on the blonde, she noticed that most of the class was gone at this point - most likely other heroes taking them out of the room whilst she was engrossed in conversation.

"Come on; there's only three of you left. Get in the car."

"But there's four of us." Katsuki shifted his head to eye Izuku and Shoto, standing in the corner of the room. They tried to stand as far away from them as possible, as if they were trying to give the two privacy without leaving the room.

Mr Aizawa sighed, staring at his student for a moment before scanning the rest of the teens. The two boys standing at the edge of the room looked around as if the trio were invisible, and his exasperation grew when his gaze finally met Estelle.

The otherworldly female discreetly shook her head, somehow escaping the aggressive blonde's notice as she tried to explain through her eyes. It was all he needed to understand what Estelle was trying to do, and the teacher instantly felt the disapproval growing in his bones. As much as he wanted to talk sense to the girl, he couldn't argue against it. Estelle chose what she wanted to do on her day off. He had no business taking that away from her.

Even if that meant she was spending the night alone.

"She can get there herself. Come on, we're wasting daylight," The teacher answered, not bothering to wait for a response before he headed out of the room.

Shoto was the first to follow, his head turning to the duo for a few beats. Estelle couldn't help but wince at the look in his eyes, immediately catching the knowing look hidden underneath. Her eyes hardened under the stare, and it wasn't long before he had rotated back around to leave the front doors.

Thankful he hadn't vocalised his concerns or the fact he had picked up on the silent conversation that had happened earlier, Estelle eased in relief. She was satisfied she wouldn't have to deal with an angry male who would spend the day stressing about the fact she would be alone. That was the whole point of omitting the truth that she wasn't going anywhere.

Since he spent the night at his parent's and returned to find an exhausted Estelle, the training hero had refused to sleep anywhere else besides at her side. He had stated that if he couldn't trust her to call him when she needed to, he would have to make sure she was okay by himself. As much as Katsuki's presence soothed the nightmares, Estelle didn't like that he looked out for her wellbeing so profoundly. It was too homey and lovely, and Estelle merited none of it. Katsuki deserved better.

Maybe spending the night alone would be a good thing. It would allow Estelle to remind herself how temporary his comfort was because, eventually, he would no longer be there.

"Call me if you need me. And, actually do it this time."

Giving a slow nod, the blonde seemed uneasy as he followed Izuku, who had scurried out of the exit at some point during their conversation. Estelle watched him as he left, her shoulder slumping in slight consolation before she fell back onto the couch, her brain taking the stillness as too loud as she simmered in it.

It was strange. There was usually a lot of noise in the living room. Without the class, it seemed almost lifeless. When did that happen?

Estelle had no qualms about being alone; she had gotten used to it throughout the moons. But the last time it had been this quiet was when they left for summer training on the Island. That event was months ago, so why was she feeling so agitated? Had she gotten used to their presence that quickly? So much so that when she was finally alone again, it felt cold.

Tapping her fingers against the couch's armrest, Estelle tried to think of something, anything, to do. She had never done nothing before; Estelle was always moving, training, fighting or doing something. Is this what ordinary people feel daily? Did they simmer in nothing until they went crazy, or did they find hobbies like Katsuki had spoken about before?

Estelle didn't like how it felt when there was nothing to do. Was this what was coming for her when she retired in the woods? Maybe she could find a hobby there to take up her time, like gardening or something.

Frustrated, Estelle threw herself upwards from the couch, her feet taking her to her bedroom as she rushed into her change of clothes. Satisfied, the female picked up her katana, tucked away in her strap-on Saya, keeping it looped around her arm as she headed down to the exit.

Her body eased now that she had something to do, and she figured now was as good of a time as any to work on some more strategies. Though as her mind pondered away, her feet taking her to the exit, Estelle heard the sound of the door slamming open before she saw it.

Estelle instantly reacted, knowing that nobody was due to be in the dorms. Moving as fast as her body could take her, Estelle pushed the intruder to the wall, pinning them with the katana at their throat. The female growled, ready to unleash on whatever it was that decided to make an entrance as soon as the coast was clear.

"The fuck do you think you're doing?!"

Estelle blinked.

As her eyes focused on the face staring down at her, she suddenly felt the boiling anger shutting down so quickly that it made her feel dizzy.

It was Katsuki.

Although he was being pushed against the wall, seemingly unbothered by the metal held against his neck, Katsuki stared down at her with trembling anger that made her feel cold. Those ruby eyes, which typically made her experience all types of emotions she wasn't familiar with, had struck into one that Estelle was used to. Disappointment.

Unable to respond to his taughtened body language, Estelle remained silent as she took a step back, her hand lowering the katana into her Saya as she avoided his gaze. She was unsure what to do with his unexpected return, and the bubbling hot rage flooding out of his only furthered the notion that he was furious.

"I said.." He growled, taking a step forward to grab onto her chin tightly. "What the hell are you doing?!"

Estelle tried to look away from his fierce stare, but Katsuki was having none of it. The hand holding her face jerked as he forced her to look up at him, making sure to shake her a little whenever she tried to avert her eyes. Katsuki refused Estelle from looking anywhere other than him because she wouldn't escape his wrath. He would make sure of it.

The female could see that Katsuki wouldn't accept any answer apart from the truth, so she did the only thing she could. "I should be asking you that. Why have you returned?"

Letting out an audible snarl like a beast who had just had his cage rattled, Katsuki leaned down, his eyes glowing with such intensity that they could have blown up a building. His posture leered over her, dominating the space between them with such fervour that Estelle wondered if he even needed his quirk for strength. Not when his entire body exuded it within this moment.

"Because I found out you lied to me."

Taken aback by utter chaos within his tone, Estelle widened her eyes, her words coming out choked as she answered, "W-what?! How did you-"

Trailing his hand from her chin and down onto her neck, Katsuki's eyes burned into her like molten lava. It was as if she had gotten too close to the sun and was experiencing the burn's beginning effects. The light grip on her throat made the air around her quicken, her lips turning dry as if dehydration had begun. Pulling her forward, his hand remained on her throat as he gritted out, "Do you seriously think Half-and-Half and Deku could keep their mouths shut?! They saw your little look to Mr Aizawa, and I can't lie, I'm a little pissed I was the last to know."

She was fully aware of how enraged he was, but Estelle couldn't help the amount of focus and attention that was plastered onto the hand wrapped around her throat. The action should have come across as threatening as it had done many times before. It should have set off alarm bells in her brain, yet here she was, standing still and doing nothing to fight against it. It was insanity; how Katsuki could do such an action, and she held no negativity towards it. In fact, her stomach churned to the feeling of white-hot heat emanating from where their skin touched.

Her back hit the wall, and Estelle gasped at realising that they had been moving backwards without noticing. Feeling vulnerable under his pinned gaze, Estelle couldn't look anywhere else as he gnashed his teeth, waiting for an explanation for the actions she had committed. The blistering rage which busted out of him ignited her need to explain, to calm the beast she had inadvertently caused to attack, and her mouth moved instantly. "Katsuki, I didn't want to interfere-"

"The hell is that supposed to mean, hah? Is that enough reason to lie to me? Look where we ended up because of it; I think you interfered enough!" Katsuki spat, his body beginning to tremble as the fury started to decline, and the feeling of hurt began to rise.

He felt a little betrayed; it was as if everything he had ever done for her was meaningless. How was she so bright yet refused to understand the depths of his affections? How could she turn around and lie to his face so readily that he had to find out from his other damn classmates that she hadn't told him the truth?

Estelle gritted her teeth, feeling annoyance zing through her body as she stared at the emotional male. He was too riled up to hear her answers, unable to pass the barrier of her lie to understand her reasonings. "Will you just listen-"

The female froze as Katsuki snapped his eyes up to hers, the rage from before reaching new heights that the floor could have shattered beneath them. It captured her attention, the plethora of emotions swirling inside him enough to keep her in place as he roared.

"Listen?! I tried that, and then you lied to me! How would I know if you're even telling me the truth? Did you just not want me to bother you or something, hah? Because if that was the case, you could have told me! Don't think I didn't notice how you took a step back when you kissed me! What?! Did you regret it?! Want to take it back?! Too embarrassed to look at me after that?! What the fuck is it?!"

Snarling, Estelle felt her shoulder straighten the longer he spoke, not wanting to listen to such words. She wasn't angry at him as she was at herself for causing this to happen, and before she knew it, her hands were flying upwards to hold onto his shoulders even more tightly than he did her throat. Katsuki wasn't someone who doubted, and the fact he doubted everything because of her actions made Estelle wish to dive into battle just to rip something to shreds.

Yanking him to the side as her body twisted, Estelle pushed his body back against the wall as she finally had her back to the room. Her manoeuvre was impeccable, catching him off guard in his frenzy so she could swap places and finally get the chance to make things right. Using the fact he was stunned to her advantage, Estelle barked, "No, you idiot! I didn't want to bother you!"

"Hah?!"

Estelle closed her eyes for a second to gather her bearings, but as the spitting ire continued to shine from her globes, it was clear she had failed. Leaning forward, she babbled, the words tumbling so fast that they nearly merged. She disregarded his wide eyes as she continued, knowing that if she stopped, her sanity would click back into place, and her mouth would stop moving.

"You're always looking out for me, dammit! You spend way more time on me than you should, and the last thing you deserved was to spend a day celebrating, thinking about me! You deserved that! I wanted you to enjoy time with your family without me intruding on it simply because you're too stubborn to let me sleep alone! That was why I lied! It was the whole reason I did it in the first place! You were supposed to be having a good time with your parents!"

Katsuki's mouth was agape, watching Estelle with profound bewilderment and disbelief as the words registered in his mind. He hadn't expected her reasonings to be so...idiotic.

Selfless, selfish and idiotic.

It was filled with shades of grey, and the more she spoke, the more he understood how complex Estelle was. Her reasoning wasn't black and white; it was filled with so much grey that he found it reflected Estelle perfectly. Selfless; She wanted him to have a good time without thinking about her. Selfish, she lied to do it and inadvertently created a distance that she always tried so hard to maintain, despite the fact it was beginning to crumble at the seams.

Didn't she realise that no matter what, Katsuki always had her in his mind? That whatever happened, he would never stop worrying for her. It didn't matter if she was at the dorms, at Nona's, in battle, or at his side. Katsuki wanted to care for her, and he liked to do it. But from the sounds of it, Estelle thought of herself as a burden when she was anything but. She was an idiot.

"So, stop bothering about me, and mmpft-!"

The kiss was short, and Estelle found that her thinking had been cut short at his lips' heated press. Feeling the hand tangling in her hair, the male wasted no time pulling her forward, unaware she was still gripping his shoulders tightly. Feeling her toes curl, Estelle pulled back, only to be gifted by another peck from soft lips, and was finally given enough distance to see his face.

The blonde stared for a moment before he finally spoke, his voice deep as he gruffed harshly. "You precious little thing. But you're a moron. Go grab your things."

Estelle froze, looking at Kastuki like he had grown another head. The ruby-eyed male made no comment, but the victorious smirk on his face had said everything he needed to. Katsuki absolutely did not care how she would react. It was even more evident when he pulled her back for another peck, effectively pushing her away when he was done. "Go."

The car ride to Katsuki's place was a little uncomfortable. Estelle sat in the back with the blonde, who seemed to have lost all his irritation now that she was with him, and Mr Aizawa at the front, tapping his steering wheel impatiently. The teacher had dropped Shoto and Izuku at their homes before making his return, and it was apparent he disapproved of the fact he had to make a second trip. Still, he made no comment, telling them to get into the car after a huge sigh.

If it were any of his other students, he would have raised a brow that they were heading to the same place. But Mr Aizawa knew of the duo's kinship, and Katsuki wouldn't allow Estelle to stew alone if he could help it. Though he did wonder how that would pan out when he left for his internship tomorrow and shrugged the thought away. He was at least glad the young girl wasn't going to be alone on new years day, but he wasn't going to show it after these troublesome kids made him drive a second time.

Estelle bit back her questioning, internally wondering how his parents would react to her sudden arrival. She hoped he notified them when she was packing her bags; otherwise, this whole endeavour would be painstakingly awkward. Especially since today was about spending time with the ones you love, it didn't make much sense for her to be there. Estelle liked them, sure, but she didn't know them enough to hold a deep affection, and the same could be said for them.

Getting out of the car once they arrived, Estelle made it a point to thank her teacher, catching Katsuki's attention as he forced out the exact words through clenched teeth. Biting back her smile from the effort, she silently appreciated his willingness to try regardless of how pitiful his attempt was.

Following him to his front door, Estelle noted the decorations lining the porch with interest. She registered how they differed from the Christmas decorations she had seen a few days ago, this one holding bamboo stalks and ribbons instead of bright tinsel. "They are called Kadomatsu," Katsuki interjected, his hand on the door as he answered her question without even looking at her.

Flushing slightly at the fact he was guessing what she stopped for, Estelle muttered, "They're pretty," as she followed him through the entrance. It was seconds later that the sound of footsteps interrupted them, getting noisier as they got closer. Estelle hunched her shoulders as she awaited a noise of confusion from his parents.

Instead, Estelle was taken aback when she was greeted by a grinning Mitsuki, waving around a large metal spoon in the air as she cheered. "Estelle! It's so good to see you! Katsuki mentioned you might be coming!"

Taking a step back, Estelle tried to filter her emotions so she wouldn't offend the older woman with her surprise. Snapping her head to the right, she found Katsuki glowering at his mother, his lips curled up in a snarl, showing that the news was never intended to come to light.

"Shut up, woman!"

Mitsuki's bright expression darkened like a sudden sandstorm, her features mirroring her son's as she strutted forward like she was on the warpath. Estelle turned slightly to ignore the combat before her, her mind spinning whilst she tried to process what the female had just confessed.

Katsuki had told his parents beforehand.

Understanding gripped her why he had been so furious at her lie. Katsuki must have known she would likely be alone during the holidays and prepared in advance, just in case. He had never intended for her to spend the night alone. The knowledge befuddled her, and she wondered if it was because nobody had ever done that before.

Katsuki never ceased to surprise her in the most turbulent of ways. How could he continue to show the depths of what he was prepared to do for her without getting utterly fed up? It was like he held this bottomless pit of goodness, which he hid underneath his remarks, and it blew Estelle away every time she was reminded how thoughtful he was.

Gazing at the mother and son pair, Estelle felt her face soften at the image of them tangled in a physical dispute. Despite being a strange picture compared to the average family, it loosened the hardness within her core. This family was so odd, but weirdly enough, Estelle felt like she slotted into place.

Flickering her sights to the left, Estelle wasn't surprised to find Masaru right next to her. The father looked over his family in exasperation yet made no movement to separate the two from their fight. Glimpsing towards her, the man smiled as he spoke, "It's nice to have you back here. At least I'll have a partner to watch their battles with."

Estelle didn't respond, her head turning back to the fighting family members as a deep pang in her heart noted his terminology. Their brawl could defiantly be called a battle somewhat, but it wasn't the type she was used to. As she stood there with Katsuki's father, Estelle felt a smile budding as she bobbed in agreement.

If she was stuck with these battles for the rest of her life, Estelle found that she wouldn't mind it so much.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Estelle chimed a laugh that seemed to distract the brawling duo. Giving the male a cheeky grin, she snarked, "It seems like we're the ones tasked with keeping them in line."

Masaru laughed, his head leaning back as his hand rested against her shoulder with a soft pat. "We're the perfect people for the job."

Not realising the two blondes were observing the scene, Estelle and Masaru missed the looks they gave each other, a mutual agreement they didn't tend to have in full view. It held a dash of annoyance, a bucketload of affection, and humour as they shifted their eyes back to their partners. Or, in Katsuki's case, friend.

Mitsuki was the first to jump into action, her hand yanking her sleeve up to her elbow as she trudged to her husband. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Katsuki, not used to partnering with his mother, followed as he pointed to Estelle with a scream, "You think you can come here and be best buddies with my dad like that?!"

Unsure she was signing a death warrant due to their matching faces of outrage, Estelle smirked, her voice light as she jibed, "Absolutely. He needs one sane person today, at least."

Masaru's glasses glinted in the light as he faced his wife and child with a smugness that irked the two of them. His eyes trailed down to his son as he added, "Try forever."

Katsuki's eye twitched from the answer, a low growl amping in his throat as he moved to attack. It felt like the scene was in slow motion, as before he got close, a fist went right into his skull. Estelle bit back her chortle as the teen nearly lost his footing, his narrowed eyes swiftly turning to his mother as he screeched the walls down.

Shaking her head at the fact they had fallen into another argument, Estelle turned to Masaru with a cheeky smile, continuing from his previous comment, "Think he would go insane if that were the case."

"I beg to differ," The man responded instantly, his knowing eyes shifting between the teenagers for a moment before he turned to the exit. Estelle stared at his back as he walked, a strange anomaly in her soul as she tried to examine his words further.

The attempt didn't last long, the blondes finally breaking apart at Mitsuki's words, "Alright, kids, go on upstairs. I'm starting dinner now, so I'll call when it's ready."

"Tch, come on Estelle."

Estelle felt unsure of what to do while standing in Katsuki's room. Usually, the male entered her space, so it was easier to do whatever she wanted. But, it was his area. Were there unwritten rules she didn't know about? Gosh, it was all so much more straightforward in her dorm room.

Katsuki didn't seem to notice that Estelle was shuffling cluelessly, too focused on dumping his things by his bed to catch it. Though, when he turned around to seize her bag from her shoulder, it didn't take long to glimpse that she was trying to hide her uneasiness. Placing her things next to his, he muttered, "Chill out, do what you want. I don't care."

Relaxing at the reassurance, Estelle turned to his bookshelf in intrigue, her eyes scanning over the bindings as she noted the titles of all his books. Opening her mouth to comment, her attention was taken by the hands unpacking her stuff. "Shouldn't I keep my things in the bag?"

"Why the hell would you?"

"Well, I'm assuming I'm taking the couch?" Estelle muttered with a curious tilt of her head.

"Tch, why would you do that when you can sleep here?"

Perplexed by his nonchalance, Estelle raised a brow as she questioned, "But, what about your parents? It's not exactly proper."

Katsuki snorted, his teeth showing as he snarked, "You just watched me and the old hag beat this crap out of each other; we aren't proper people. Besides, you'll end up there anyways. What's the point? They'll be fine with it."

Estelle shrugged, unable to argue since his facts were valid. Her eyes trailed back to the books, a chuckle leaving her lips as she asked, "Are all these...love stories?"

Katsuki paused from unpacking, a light groan leaving his lips as he slumped. Swinging his head over his shoulder, the pink was evident in his ears as he avoided her stare. "Yes, shut up."

Estelle coughed to shield her laughter, but the expression on Katsuki's face made it apparent that he was aware of what she was trying to do. Scowling at her, the blonde mumbled, "Whatever, I'm not reading these to you. I already have one picked out for you."

Stunned at the revelation, Estelle practically jumped in withheld excitement as she prodded, "Oh? What is it?!"

"Harry Potter."

"What's that?"

Katsuki breathed, taking a moment to remind himself that Estelle had never read a damn story in her life. He couldn't expect her to know a story that had reached every corner of this world, but it was the reason why he picked it.

Katsuki had spent days mulling over what a perfect book choice would be. He eventually landed on the first Harry Potter, knowing that the story wasn't too long and that it would hold her intrigue long enough to finish. Though he wondered if anything in it could trigger her, he figured that it would be okay as long as they weren't the last few in the series.

Giving her a brief synopsis was enough for her to bounce on her heels, her body reaching his side instantly. Katsuki nearly chuckled from the action, picturing a puppy next to her and finding the image identical. A light laugh managed to leave his lips, his hand reaching into his bag to pull out the book for her to see.

"Do you want me to read it now?"

Estelle bobbed her head quickly, knowing that they still had time before dinner was ready. Katsuki grinned, his hand beckoning her to the bed as he sat, his fingers opening the book up to the first page. Allowing her a minute to get comfortable, Katsuki warmed as she huddled into him for comfort.

"Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much..."

The sound of Mitsuki broke the duo from their reading, their bodies moving from the bed to head downstairs at the sound of dinner. Katsuki smirked at how Estelle pouted in disappointment and patted her head lightly as he assured her they would continue later.

The smell of hot food wafted through the air as they headed to the dining room, and by the time they reached the door, the food was already placed on the table. Mitsuki had made bento boxes and warm Soba to go with them.

"It looks wonderful, thank you for the meal," Estelle murmured, taking her seat.

Giving a bright smile, Mitsuki grinned, "You are so polite! You'll be such a good influence on him."

Katsuki snorted, already beginning to shuffle food into his mouth as he murmured, "You're talking to a war veteran who can beat my ass. She's an awful influence."

"Oh, hush! It's good that someone can knock you down a peg!" His mother exclaimed before softening her voice when she turned back to the young female, "Go on, Estelle, eat up."

Idle chat filled the air between them, most of their questions directed at their son as Estelle listened in. Considering the ruby-eyed male hadn't seen them in a while, it was no wonder they wanted to be filled in on everything happening at UA.

"So, what would you like to do tonight? I heard there will be fireworks at the park nearby, or we could go the traditional route and watch the Kane bells?"

"Fireworks? That's a little odd at this time of year," Masaru commented.

Raising a brow, Estelle interjected, "I don't know what either of those things are, so I'm happy to do anything."

Leaning back in surprise, Mitsuki and Masaru gazed at each other with bewilderment as Katsuki scowled at the revelation. At this point, he didn't think anything could shake him anymore, considering the amount of stuff she had never experienced. But, still, it always bugged him at the reminder of how much she never got to have.

Ignoring the look directed at him by his parents, Katsuki mumbled, "We'll watch the Kane bells."

Inquisitive, Mitsuki asked, "Really? Wouldn't the fireworks be more exciting for Estelle since she's never encountered them?"

"No."

The adults stared at their son, their eyes narrowing as they scrutinised his tone. It sounded an awful more serious than they expected, his expression emphasising there was no room for argument. It was a little odd considering the topic, and they couldn't help but look at their partner in question, wondering what the hell was going on in his brain.

Not questioning it further, the parents changed the topic, their voices bright as they informed Estelle of the Kane bells and what they stood for on new years day. The female listened in intrigue, finding that her eyes were illuming the more they discussed the atmosphere once the final bell chimed at midnight.

After dinner, Estelle paused at the sink when Katsuki said, "Go up and get ready. I'll be up in ten."

Nodding, Estelle was swift to wash up her dish before heading upstairs.

Watching her leave, Katsuki paused when he found the old hag and his father staring at him like they weren't sure he was even their son. Growling, Katsuki was brisk to snarl, "What is it?"

"Why didn't you want to watch the fireworks?" Mitsuki questioned, her mind still unable to fathom his choice. Katsuki loved fireworks, especially since they resembled his quirk somewhat. He used to yell that he was a firework himself, and his parents would simply laugh at the analogy before returning their gaze back to the bright colours.

"I don't have headphones."

"Huh?" Masaru interjected, utterly confused by his child's response.

"Tch, fireworks are too loud. She's a war veteran with PTSD."

Dumbfounded and noiseless, the two parents stared at their son with broad expressions of disbelief. They weren't even aware the girl suffered from PTSD, and their son was looking out for her wellbeing like a man who cared for his partner. They couldn't fathom their child being that considerate of someone else to the point he decided he wouldn't take the girl anywhere without solid ground that she wouldn't have a flashback.

Katsuki waited patiently for his mothers to yell, already awaiting the aftermath of his words as his feet tapped on the ground rapidly. To his amazement, the woman only stood up, her voice deathly calm as she spoke. "I see. Masaru, our son, seems to be a normal human being, not the cretin I always assumed he was."

"I...am amazed also."

"Grrr! You make me sound like I'm an asshole!"

"You are!"

"I get it from someone, old hag!"

"Excuse me for being shocked that you're actually decent to someone!"

"I am always decent!"

Bashing his head against his mother's, Katsuki let out a rabid growl as he prepared for another showdown. The old hag seemed to have accepted, her expression showing mutual aggressiveness as brute force was added to the headbutt.

A cough stopped them from entering an all-out brawl, their gaze falling to the brown-haired male as he sat in front of them. "Well, moving on from that, we should get her bed ready."

Mitsuki leaned back, her hand giving a thump to the boy as she added, "Yeah, go and get an extra duvet."

"Estelle's sleeping with me."

Mitsuki and Masaru froze, their eyes widening as they took in the new information. Placing her hands on his shoulders, Mitsuki shook him back and forth as she yelled, "Is it official?! Did you bring a girlfriend here without telling us?!"

Yelping from the sudden shaking, Katsuki bit back his bile before roaring, "Calm down, you old crone! She get's nightmares when she sleeps, that's all!"

"You don't just sleep with anyone, young man!"

"I know that!" Katsuki barked, utterly annoyed that this conversation was even happening in the first place.

"Spill it! What's going on with you two?!"

Katsuki yelped, aggressively trying to push her away as she grabbed onto his hair for dear life. "Nothing yet, dammit!"

"Yet?!"

Snarling at his own words and discomfited that they refused to leave the topic alone, Katsuki howled, "Arughh! We have a date soon!"

Mitsuki screeched, her voice high and squealy as she yanked his hair, so he was at eye level with her. "I knew it! You're dating! Why else would you bring her here twice!"

"You annoying woman! We aren't dating yet! She hasn't accepted my proposal!"

Everything screeched to a halt, time stopping between the Bakugo family as the words registered in their minds.

Mitsuki was holding Katsuki in a chokehold by the time the words left his lips, and she was currently staring down at him with enough shock that the boys wondered if she would faint. Katsuki openly gaped at his parents, his eyes wide as if he had just admitted to killing a pigeon and was on his way to becoming the number one serial killer. Masaru, who had managed to brew a cup of tea in the chaos, turned into a statue before he could take his first sip.

The Bakugo family were still for a few more beats, and eventually, Mitsuki let go of her son, hesitant as she asked, "Proposal?"

Heat flooded Katsuki's cheeks as he sputtered, his body turning away from his parents as he marinated in his mortification. Honestly, this was so embarrassing. He would instead stick needles in his eyes than have this god-forsaken conversation. The young teen knew he had no choice but to tell them, the silence becoming too much for him as he vocalised his explanation. "She's from a different world. It's not the same here; it's old-fashioned. I had to formally invite her to enter a courtship."

Mitsuki and Masaru turned their heads to each other to ensure they hadn't lost their sanity. Was their son really saying this out loud? Verbally communicating that he was interested in something besides being the best hero the world had ever seen? Hell, they hadn't seen his blush for years, and here he was, doing it over a girl. Mitsuki and Masaru were about to lose it, albeit in different ways.

Still, Katsuki's mother tried to remain calm as she leaned forward in intrigue. "And, did she say yes?"

Thankful his parents couldn't see the red on his face, Katsuki muttered, "She hasn't answered it."

The two parents knew their son and understood he was hiding from them, so they couldn't see the vulnerability underneath from revealing that information to his parents. It was at that moment that they wondered why the hell the woman hadn't said yes yet.

"Why the hell not!?" Mitsuki cried, yanking her sleeve up to her elbow as if she was about to scramble upstairs to fight Estelle at any moment.

Katsuki slumped slightly at the question, a sigh of exasperation leaving him before he answered, "Because she is still determined to go home. She's been brainwashed to think she doesn't deserve shit, so she tries to keep her distance. Doesn't work, though."

Mitsuki calmed at the answer slightly, her fist raising high as she yelled, "Of course it doesn't! Bakugo's don't give up!"

Masaru nodded in agreement, "Just ask your mum; she's the one who asked me on a date multiple times before I agreed."

Katsuki groaned, utterly unwilling to have another conversation about how the two fell in love. Before he could make any further comment, he stilled as the room dampened, his mother's voice coming out unsure as she expressed her hesitancy. "I have to ask, though. Are you really that determined to make her stay? Is it truly a responsible thing to do by making her remain here just for a relationship? What happens if you break up?"

Katsuki scoffed, wondering if Estelle questioned the same things his mother was. The thought annoyed him, a resoluteness filling him as he turned around and stated, "Tch, it's not just that. She should stay regardless of if we're together or not. Her world is just that shitty. Besides, a courtship is for life."

Masaru spoke up, his expression mirroring his wife as he viewed their son. "That's a serious commitment for a kid. We don't want you diving into something you're not sure about. It's not fair to either of you."

"I am serious."

"Are...you sure?"

Understanding that they were just being cautious for him, Katsuki nodded again, his eyes hardening under their gaze as he straightened his back. He was sure of his answer; he had decided long ago what he wanted. "More than being number one."

That seemed enough for the two of them, their shoulders relaxing as they registered his confidence in his answer. Mitsuki lurched forward, yanking Katsuki's shirt so she could rub the top of his head. "Well then, just keep doing what you're doing! You'll charm the socks off her, you aggressive furball!"

"I know I will, you hag!"

"Just be safe!"

Katsuki sputtered on his own spit, nearly dying when his dad nodded in agreement.

"That's not what's happening here!"

The surrounding area was crowded with people, avidly awaiting the chiming bells as they scattered around the different stalls. Katsuki had to hold Estelle's hand so she wouldn't get lost in the sea of individuals. Estelle's neck was probably hurting from how much she was trying to capture with her eyes, yet her tight grip on his was silent reassurance that she wasn't completely lost in her childlike awe.

A plethora of lights covered the area, and Katsuki and Estelle quickly separated from the parents for a while as they surveyed the stalls for themselves. It was only when they reached a shrine that they paused, Estelle looking at him in silent question.

"They're called Ema. You write a wish and then pin it to the wall as an offering to the gods."

Nodding in understanding, Estelle observed the detailed pictures on the other side of the wooden Ema's, noting how the writing was probably on the other side of it, which was shielded from view. Feeling his hand pull her, Estelle opened her mouth to advise him to slow down when she realised they were at the stall.

"Two, please."

Taking the pieces of wood connected to a ribbon, Estelle thanked the stall owner for the pen before writing down her wish. Katsuki followed suit, Estelle's eyes automatically glancing at his writing before looking away. Scolding herself for being so nosy, Estelle made it a point to keep her eyes averted whilst he finished.

When he was done, they pinned it up on the wall side by side, low smiles on their faces as they scanned how their wishes melded into all the others.

Feeling Katsuki's impatient tug, Estelle simply followed as they headed for the bells. "What did you wish for?" Katsuki questioned with his gaze on the man getting ready to hit the bell.

"Peace of mind. You?"

"You."

Flushing pink from the blunt honesty, Estelle failed to come up with a response. Thankfully from the expression on Katsuki's face, he wasn't expecting one.

"Come on, it's about to start."

The first chime rang as soon as he finished, and Estelle turned to the large bells in amazement as the sound radiated throughout the area. The onlookers spoke amongst themselves, talking over one another as they observed the bells getting hit in consecutive motions.

Feeling an arm wrap around her shoulder, Estelle leaned into his embrace with a smile as she noted the atmosphere in her vicinity. It felt almost freeing, and she could understand why these people turned up every year. It felt like every bell was a goodbye for the previous year, signalling renewal for the next, and Estelle couldn't help but wonder what was in store for her.

The crowd began to chant as the final bells signalled a countdown before they finally hit midnight. Smiling as the screams continued to get louder, Estelle laughed at the crowd cheering at the sound of the final bell.

Gazing up at Katsuki, Estelle beamed at his expression, lit like a blazing flame; Katsuki grinned as the sounds roared to life around them. His gaze quickly met hers, and their smiles of joy didn't take long to turn giddy from the matching expressions.

Feeling a light peck against her forehead, Estelle leaned up, kissing the underside of his neck as she lifted herself to her tiptoes. Ignoring the flush on her cheeks, the smile stayed on her face as the crowd began to calm, greeting each other for the new year, as they continued to stare at each other like idiots.

It was all they needed; the moment was perfect as it was.

Though, they did miss two pairs of eyes watching over them, matching grins of their own as the scene played out in front of them.

"What do they call it nowadays? Rizz?"

"Our son has plenty of it. She's a fine pick, though."

"Bakugo's never go wrong."