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The first time Reiko had spoken to Katsuki Bakugou was in a storage closet — the one that had slowly turned into a refuge for overwhelmed senses over the years. It was her safe haven, somewhere she could slip away whenever the world got too loud, and even the gentle touch of her own uniform against her skin felt like sandpaper. An escape when everything became unbearable.
But then that explosive-tempered 1A student barged in. The storage closet became more than just a safe place, but her happy place. Escaping to not only the soundless comfort but the steady presence of him next to her too.
And somehow, miraculously, despite fumbling through stunted conversations and doubting herself every moment she could, Katsuki ended up asking her on a date. Just like that, her world changed in its entirety.
A relationship had never been in Reiko's plans, let alone during her high school years, and definitely not with someone like him. Yet Katsuki proved to be nothing like the harsh exterior everyone else saw. She quickly realised most people formed opinions about him based on his cover — not that his prickly demeanour helped.
Their first date was nothing short of surprising. Katsuki showed a side of himself so gentle and considerate, it melted something in her chest. The way he held doors and actually listened when she spoke — so, so quietly — caught her completely off guard.
It was beyond perfect.
Until he suggested taking things beyond their private hideaway. The idea of holding hands in crowded corridors and him walking her to class, she didn’t hate it — but it did make her horribly anxious.
Being public had never been Reiko’s strong suit — for her entire life she’d faded into the background, existing without being seen. The idea of suddenly having everyone’s eyes on her, on them, triggered that same familiar painful sensation in her chest that usually forced her to retreat to that storage closet.
So she compromised with baby steps, easing into visibility for his sake. To say Reiko was nervous was an understatement.
When Katsuki had agreed to start small, she never imagined his idea of "small" meant introducing her to his parents. Yet somehow, it made a weird kind of sense. After all, what better stepping stone between hidden closet conversations and the bustling hallways of UA?
Still, her hands shook as they stood on the steps to his house. Katsuki must’ve noticed immediately, his expression softening in that way that still caught her off-guard even after all these weeks.
"We don't have to do this today," he offered quietly. "No pressure."
But she shook her head, gathering what little courage she did have. "No, I want to," she whispered, grateful when his hand found hers, squeezing gently before he pushed open the door.
The distinct smell of nitroglycerin hit her nostrils the moment they stepped inside, quickly overpowered by an aggressive coat of lavender. Reiko's nose scrunched up involuntarily, both scents so intense she was already on the verge of a headache. Beside her, Katsuki let out a frustrated grumble.
“I told them to air the place out before we came over.”
She willed herself to breathe through her mouth, already feeling the sensory overload creeping in at the edges of her mind. This was Katsuki's home. She needed to hold it together, at least long enough to meet the people who’d raised him.
"Katsuki, is that you?" A woman's voice called from further into the house, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Reiko instinctively took a small step back, her shoulder brushing against Katsuki's arm where she clutched his hand. He shifted slightly, positioning himself just an inch in front of her — not enough to be noticeable, but enough to make her feel shielded.
"Oh! This must be the girl you've been talking about non-stop!" Katsuki's mom suddenly came into view, her face lit up with a smile that reached from ear to ear. She was nothing like her son in temperament then, though they could've been twins with those striking features. "I'm Mitsuki! You're Miss Yanagi, right?"
Reiko nodded slowly, attempting a shy smile. "Yes. You can call me Reiko, though. If you want."
Mitsuki's eyes brightened at that. "Oh! Reiko it is! Come in, come in! Masaru’s in the kitchen, he's been cooking all morning." She waved them further inside. "He's making katsudon, Katsuki mentioned it's your favourite."
Warmth flooded her cheeks as she peered at Katsuki, catching him avoiding her gaze with that adorable pout he always made when he got caught being thoughtful. "It is. Thank you."
As they stepped into the dining room, the rich scent of fried pork cutlet and savoury broth washed over Reiko, instantly covering the other smells that had overwhelmed her a moment ago. The smell of fresh katsudon hung in the air, making her stomach growl with anticipation. This was going to put every other bowl she'd ever tasted to shame.
"Sounds like someone's eager to eat," Mitsuki teased her with a lighthearted grin, and Reiko ducked her head, cheeks flaring with that familiar warmth again.
It felt strange being surrounded by such warm and lively energy. The Bakugou household was filled with life, a stark contrast to her own home where silence was a permanent solution. Even if the quietness usually soothed her sensitive nerves, it left a sort of cold, emptiness behind — as if she were a ghost passing through rather than truly living there.
But this was different in ways she wasn’t used to. Even as her senses fought against her, she found herself drawn to the warmth here. This beautiful mess of a home felt more real than the hollow quiet she'd grown up with.
As Reiko settled at the dinner table with Katsuki beside her, offering a shy wave to Masaru while meeting Mitsuki's warm gaze opposite her, the trembling in her body from earlier began to quiet.
Beneath the table, Katsuki's fingers intertwined with hers. For the first time in a long while, Reiko's smile reached her eyes. In this loud, colourful house with these welcoming people, she'd found something she never really expected — a sense of belonging.