"Surprise?" Her smile held a hint of uncertainty.
The world narrowed to the space between us. My feet moved without conscious thought.
"Your timing needs work." My voice came out rougher than intended.
"Really?" She tilted her head, ears pivoting. "I thought it was pretty dramatic. Even had smoke effects and everything."
"That was Mei and Grace."
"Happy coincidence." Her tail curled around her ankle. "Though I may have timed my arrival accordingly."
Katsumi snorted. "Of course you did."
"What?" Kaori's eyes sparkled with familiar mischief. "Good entrance scenes are important. Todo taught me that."
"INDEED!" Todo's voice boomed from behind me. "Though your form could use refinement! A true dramatic entrance requires-"
"Proper posture, controlled movements, and at least three pose variations." Kaori recited, sliding off the table. "I remember the lessons."
Todo clapped his hands together, delight radiating. "You were an excellent student! Unlike some." He shot a pointed look at Kaminari, who was still picking grass out of his hair.
"Hey, I pose great!"
"Flailing is not posing," Todo said.
Kirishima laughed. "He's got you there, bro."
Kaori's attention returned to me, her expression softening. "You're quiet."
"Processing." I studied the changes since I'd last seen her in person. New scars on her hands. A barely noticeable favor to her left leg. But her eyes held the same light, the same spark of barely contained chaos.
"Good processing or bad?"
"You're wearing my sweater."
Her ears flicked back, then forward. "It's comfortable."
"It was my favorite."
"I know." She tugged at the sleeve. "That's why I took it."
Momo cleared her throat delicately. "Perhaps we should give them a moment?"
"Nope." Katsumi planted herself on the couch. "This is prime entertainment."
"Katsumi." Momo's tone carried volumes of reproach.
"What? Like you're not curious?"
"Curiosity doesn't require an audience."
Kaori's tail swished, betraying her amusement. "I don't mind. Besides, I owe everyone an explanation for disappearing."
"Family emergency, right?" Ashido leaned forward, pink skin practically glowing with interest.
"Something like that." Kaori's eyes met mine briefly. "It's complicated."
"When isn't it with you?" I kept my tone light, but she caught the underlying question.
Her ears drooped slightly. "Fair point. But I'm back now. For good this time."
"Promise?"
The word hung between us, heavy with meaning. Her tail stilled.
"Promise." She stepped closer, close enough that I could see the faint freckles across her nose. "No more running."
Katsumi made a gagging sound. "Get a room."
"We have time, actually." Kaori's grin turned wicked. "Todo made a very detailed schedule."
Todo brightened. "Ah yes! We'll need to revise the rotation to accommodate your return-"
"Later," Momo interrupted smoothly. "For now, perhaps Kaori would like to rest? It's been a long journey."
"Always the voice of reason." Kaori's tail curled around my wrist. "Though I wouldn't mind catching up first. If someone's willing to share their dinner tonight?"
The last part was directed at me, her eyes glinting with challenge.
"Bold of you to assume I'm sharing."
"Please." She tugged my wrist. "I've been living on convenience store food for weeks."
"Tragic." But I was already moving toward the kitchen, her tail still wrapped around my wrist like an anchor.
"Very tragic. My taste buds are crying out for real food."
"Drama queen."
"You like it."
Behind us, I heard Kaminari whisper, "So are we still getting dinner or...?"
"OF COURSE!" Todo declared. "A proper welcome requires sustenance! And I must update my schedules! Kirishima, your input on color selection would be invaluable!"
"Uh, sure bro. Whatever you need."
Their voices faded as I led Kaori up the stairs, her tail maintaining its gentle grip on my wrist. Fifth floor, second door on the right - my room hadn't moved, but somehow her presence made the familiar path feel different.
"You redecorated." She paused at my doorway, nose twitching. "Essential oils?"
"Momo's influence." I gestured at the diffuser on my desk. "Says it helps with quirk control."
Her eyes swept the room, cataloging changes. The extra clothes hanging in my closet - some distinctly feminine. The three different study planners on my desk. The collection of half-empty tea cups that definitely weren't mine.
"Cozy." Her tail unwound from my wrist as she stepped inside. "Very... domestic."
"That's one word for it."
"I like it." She picked up one of Katsumi's hoodies from my chair. "Though I'm surprised there aren't more explosion marks."
"She's been practicing restraint."
"Katsumi Bakugo? Restraint?" Her ears twitched in amusement. "Now I know you're lying."
"Only small explosions. Mostly."
She set the hoodie down, movements precise. Her ears stayed forward, alert, but her tail had started that slow curl that meant she was thinking hard about something.
"So." She traced the edge of my desk. "You and Katsumi?"
"And Momo."
"Bold." She turned, leaning against the desk. "Happy?"
"Yes."
"Good." The word came out soft, almost lost in the hum of the diffuser. Then her expression shifted, mischief replacing contemplation. "Though I notice my shelf is still empty."
She nodded toward the small bookshelf by the window. The top shelf had remained conspicuously vacant since she'd left.
"Seemed wrong to fill it."
"Sentimental." But her tail curled, pleased.
"Practical. Where else would you put your ridiculous manga collection?"
"My manga is not ridiculous." She pushed off from the desk, closing the distance between us. "It's carefully curated."
"You own every volume of 'My Little Monster Can't Be This Cute'."
"It's a masterpiece of the genre."
"It's about a demon lord who marries and opens a cat cafe with a human wife."
She laughed. "Exactly. Masterpiece."
Her laughter filled my room as she launched herself at me. The impact knocked us both onto my bed, her tail wrapping around my waist as we fell.
"Careful," I grunted. "Still have bruises from training."
"Poor baby." She nuzzled into my neck, her whiskers tickling my skin. "Want me to kiss them better?"
"That's not-" My words caught as her lips brushed a particularly sensitive spot. "Kaori."
"Yes?" Her ears twitched innocently, but her tail gave her away - curling in that particular way that meant she was up to something.
"What are you plotting?"
She propped herself up on my chest, eyes sparkling. "Can't I just be happy to see my boyfriend?"
"You're never just anything."
"True." She traced patterns on my chest. "I do have news."
"Oh?"
Her tail tightened slightly. "I'm pregnant."
The world stopped.
Her words echoed in my head as a thousand thoughts crashed together. A child. Our child. A tiny person with her mischievous smile and my-
"Pfft~"
"You should see your face." She collapsed into giggles.
"What?"
"I'm joking." She poked my nose. "But wow, that was quite a reaction."
Heat crept up my neck. "That's not funny."
"It's a little funny." She settled more comfortably on my chest. "You looked ready to start planning college funds."
"I was thinking about telling my mom, actually."
"Ooh, dark thoughts." Her ears flattened. "She'd probably hunt me down with a tactical strike team."
"After she killed me."
"Such a devoted son." She ran her fingers through my hair. "Though you seemed... happy. For a moment there."
I caught her hand, studying her face. "Were you testing me?"
"Maybe." Her tail curled tighter. "Is that bad?"
"Depends. Did I pass?"
She kissed me softly. "With flying colors."
"Good to know." I traced the edge of her ear, earning a small shiver. "For future reference."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Future..."
"Eventually." I kept my voice casual, even as my heart raced. "When we're ready."
She stared at me for a long moment, something unreadable in her expression. Then she buried her face in my neck again.
"You can't just say things like that," she mumbled.
"Why not?"
"Because." Her voice came out muffled. "It makes it harder."
"Makes what harder?"
"Everything."
I waited, but she didn't elaborate. Instead, she shifted to lay beside me, head on my shoulder, tail still firmly around my waist. The position felt achingly familiar - like that night in the hospital, right before...
"Hey." I nudged her gently. "Where'd you go?"
"Nowhere." She pressed closer. "I'm right here."
"Kaori."
"Hmm?"
"Look at me."
She hesitated, then lifted her head. The setting sun painted her fur in shades of gold, making her eyes seem even more luminous than usual.
"No more running, remember?" I touched her cheek. "That was the deal."
"I remember." She leaned into my touch. "I meant it."
"But?"
"But nothing." She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm exactly where I want to be."
I studied her face, trying to read the emotions flickering behind her careful expression. "Then why do you look scared?"
"Because I am." She caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "But not of you. Never of you."
"What then?"
She was quiet for so long I thought she wouldn't answer. Then: "The future."
"That's pretty vague."
"I know." She traced the lines on my palm. "But it's true. The future... it's complicated. Messy. Full of choices that..." She stopped.
"That what?"
"That hurt." She met my gaze. "No matter what you choose, someone gets hurt."
"Is this is about Katsumi and Momo."
"Partly." Her tail twitched. "They make you happy."
"So do you."
"I know." She smiled, and this time it reached her eyes. "That's part of the problem."
"How is that a problem?"
"Because." She poked my chest. "You have a very annoying habit of collecting complicated women with strong personalities. It's like you enjoy chaos."
"Says the girl who just fake-announced a pregnancy."
"Point." She laughed, propping herself up on one elbow to my face. "You'd be a good dad, you know."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Her expression softened. "You've got that whole protective thing down already. Plus infinite patience."
"Had to develop that dealing with you."
She swatted my chest. "Rude."
"Accurate."
"Maybe." She settled back against me. "Still rude."
We lay there in comfortable silence, watching the sun paint patterns on my ceiling. Her tail maintained its grip on my waist, but looser now, more relaxed.
"I missed this," she said quietly.
"What, insulting me?"
"No." She poked my side. "Well, yes. But I meant... this. Just being here. With you."
"Could have had it sooner."
"I know." She sighed. "I'm sorry. For disappearing like that. For not explaining."
"Going to explain now?"
"I..." She tensed slightly. "Not yet. Soon."
"But you're staying?"
"Yes." Her tail squeezed gently. "Though we might need to revise Todo's schedule. Three girlfriends seems a bit ambitious, even for you."
"Two girlfriends and one chaos agent."
"I prefer 'agent of delightful mayhem,' thank you."
"Pretty sure that's worse."
She lifted her head to glare at me, but her ears gave her away - perked forward, whiskers twitching with amusement.
"You're lucky you're cute," she said.
"That's not what you said earlier."
"No?" Her expression turned innocent. "What did I say?"
"Something about masterpieces and cat cafes."
"Ah yes." She nodded sagely. "My superior taste in literature."
"If you can call it that."
"Better than your textbook collection."
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help smiling. Some things never changed - like her ability to turn my world upside down with a few words, or the way she fit perfectly against my side, as if she'd been designed to exist in this exact space.
"Hey." She poked my cheek. "You're thinking too loud."
"Just appreciating the moment."
"Sap." But she smiled, soft and real. "Though I suppose that's why I love you."
The words hung between us, weightier than before. This time, there was no hospital bed, no impending departure. Just us, the setting sun, and a promise of 'no more running.'
"Yeah?" I touched her face. "That's the only reason?"
"Well." Her tail curled playfully. "The face you made about the baby news definitely helped."
"I'm never living that down, am I?"
"Nope." She popped the 'p' sound. "I'm telling our actual future children about it."
"Our what now?"
"Got you again." She grinned. "Too easy."
But there was something in her eyes - a softness, a vulnerability - that made me wonder if she was entirely joking.
"Kaori?"
"Mm?"
"I love you too."
She stilled, then pressed her face into my neck. "I know."
"Good." I stroked her back. "Because I plan on reminding you. Every day. Until you stop looking scared when you talk about the future."
Her tail tightened almost painfully. "That might take a while."
"I've got time."
She laughed, but it sounded wet. "Yeah. I guess we do."