NeonHorizon: Hey. If you ever want to geek out about the anime or manga...feel free to PM me. I don't really have friends that are into this fandom. Also! If anyone can recommend a good webcomic to read (not manga) please let me know! Thanks, everyone!

She's getting popular. Shinsou waited patiently near the exit, watching Shirayuki finish up at her locker. Three of her classmates were with her, apparently discussing something. He saw the redhead grin and rub the back of his neck as he spoke to her, making him raise an eyebrow. A faint, pinkish hue rose to Shirayuki's face as she seemed to be replying to him.

Lowering his gaze, he thought back to lunch time. After he had asked her if she liked anyone, she was immediately interrupted by her blond friend. He had sat with them at their table, completely throwing off the conversation. It was a little frustrating. They were finally friends, finally getting close, but she had other friends that were kind of demanding.

When he looked toward her again, he saw that she seemed to be done. She bowed, politely saying farewell to her friends, and split from their group. Her eyes met his and she seemed to smile behind her mask, lifting a hand in greeting. He gave her a nod just before his eyes fell upon a boy that was walking behind her. Wow. He looks mad. What's his problem?

As he watched, the boy suddenly came up beside Shirayuki and grabbed her hand. The girl jumped, startled by the action, and tried to pull her hand free. The boy started to say something to her and Shinsou's eyes narrowed. He took swift, deliberate steps toward them and soon had an arm wrapped around Shirayuki's shoulders from behind, pulling her back. "Did you need her for something?"

The boy scowled and released her hand. "Whatever! I don't even care!"

Shinsou kept his hold on her until the boy was out of sight and then slowly loosened his arm from around her. "Are you okay?"

She turned toward him, her crimson eyes shining with panicked tears. "…I…made him mad…I-I don't even know…"

"Is he in your class?" He saw her nod. "If he gives you trouble again, tell me. I'll take care of it."

"…ngh…" Shirayuki wiped at her eyes with her sleeve, blushing with embarrassment. All around them, students were staring. "…I-I'm sorry…"

He knew what he had to do. She was becoming nervous and was picking at the skin around her nails. "Let's go home. Here." Shinsou held out his hand and felt his pulse speed up a little when she took it. What would have happened if I wasn't watching? Is she getting bullied again?

Shift P.O.V

"…th-thank you…for walking me home, Shinsou-kun…" She bowed, hoping to wordlessly express her gratitude for everything else. Bakugou-kun was so angry. He usually makes me nervous, but that thing after school…was actually scary.

Shinsou nodded. "Are you going to be okay at school tomorrow?"

"…I…I should be fine…" Shirayuki attempted a smile behind her mask, but she knew that it was weak. She prepared to open the door and jumped when it was opened by her grandmother. "…ah…Grandma…um…"

"Oh! Oh my! Did Shinsou-kun walk you home as well?" The old woman beamed and reached out to ruffle Shirayuki's long, dark violet hair. "I see! Well, do you have dinner plans, Shinsou-kun? I'd like to thank you for taking such good care of Ume. You know how shy she can be."

"…Grandma…please…" To her surprise, he gave a short nod. "…it's…it's okay if you don't want to…I'm sure you…probably want to go home…"

"I can stay for dinner. As long as I'm not imposing," he stated.

"Of course not! You know, I don't think that Ume has ever had a friend over for dinner before! I wish I'd bought some cake for dessert now. Ume, would you want to run to the store after dinner and pick some up?"

"…a-alright…" Shirayuki led him into the house and gave him an apologetic look. He simply shrugged in response. While she went to change clothes, she hesitated to set her mask aside. He isn't freaked out by my mouth though. And…didn't Grandma say that we must be close since I wasn't wearing it in front of him last time? Shinsou-kun said that he…doesn't think I look bad.

Going to the kitchen with a blush on her cheeks, she found him setting the table. "…ah…y-you don't have to do that…!"

"It's fine. I don't mind helping." Shinsou looked down at the mint green checkered dress she was wearing and half-smiled. Turning away, he quietly said, "That's a nice color."

Her blush intensified and she covered her face with her hands. "…m-my Grandma bought it…um…it's…kind of embarrassing…I haven't worn it in front of anyone outside so…I-I can change though…"

"Ume, can you help me bring out the food?" her grandmother called. When the girl walked over, the old woman smiled sweetly. "He's a good boy, isn't he?"

Dinner was eaten mostly in peace, with her grandmother asking Shinsou a few questions about the general studies department. Shirayuki was listening, but her mind was wandering back to what he had said before, about knowing you liked someone. A fluttery feeling? Like what I get sometimes…

"…I'm sorry about my grandmother…she's…excited that I'm making friends…" She had secured a matching mint green mask over the lower half of her face for the walk to the store and hoped that he could hear her apology through the fabric.

"She's nice." He rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. "Shirayuki. You're really not afraid of my quirk?"

"…are you afraid of mine…?"

Shinsou shook his head. "You wouldn't use a calorie blast on me."

"…and…you wouldn't use mind control on me…unless you thought it was for the best…" Her voice was very quiet as she said this, her head bowed. She still remembered suddenly finding herself eating with him that one night as well as finding his phone number suddenly in her phone. That one was…strange…

"Sorry."

"…n-no…it's…not a problem, really…" she muttered. Shirayuki lifted her head, making herself meet his gaze. Warmth rushed to her cheeks and she felt a fluttery sensation in her chest. Putting a hand over her heart, she frowned in puzzlement. "…fluttery…?"

He looked away, trying to hide the faint hint of pink rising to his face. "What's fluttery?"

"…my chest…my heart…?" The girl bit her lower lip as she tried to sort through what exactly this feeling was. She felt self-conscious suddenly and bowed her head again, letting her hair fall around her face. "…sorry…um…wh-what kind of cake do you like, Shinsou-kun…?"

They picked out three slices of cake; strawberry shortcake, chocolate layer cake, and a fluffy angel food slice with a peach-flavored sauce. On their way back, Shirayuki briefly caught sight of a particular classmate leaving the convenience store and moved closer to Shinsou. "…s-sorry…"

He saw the boy as well and raised an eyebrow. "Him again?"

"…he gets angry when I talk to Kirishima-kun…and he sits behind me in class…and he always wants to partner with me…when we have to pair up…"

"It kind of sounds like he likes you."

"…wh-what…?!"

"Here." Shinsou took her hand and started walking, not even bothering to glance again in Bakugou's direction. "Your grandmother's waiting. We should hurry back."

"…r-right…" She felt her pulse speeding up the second that his hand made contact with hers. His palm felt warm against hers, but pleasantly so. Drawing closer to him, she kept her eyes focused on the street ahead of them. I can't be afraid of Bakugou-kun! We're in the same class! If I'm afraid of someone like him, how can I ever hope to call myself a hero?!

The next morning, Shirayuki got ready for school with a feeling of nervousness. The thought of facing Bakugou again, after he had gotten so angry with her after school, was anxiety-inducing. She knew that she had no choice though. She had to face it head on. Opening her bedroom door, she found her grandmother waiting with a small bundle. "…Grandma…?"

"Shinsou-kun is waiting for you by the gate. I packed some goodies for you both to eat on the way to school so be sure to share. Do you have training today, Ume?" She saw her granddaughter give a small nod. "Alright. Be sure to eat plenty at lunch! Do you have snacks in your bag?" Another nod. "Tell Shinsou-kun that I said "hello"!"

Shirayuki walked outside and approached her friend. The indigo-haired boy was standing patiently near the gate, as her grandmother had said, checking something on his phone. When he heard her approaching footsteps, he looked up and nodded. She reached to her mask with a trembling hand and tugged it down enough to offer a smile. "…good morning…"

"Hey." A half-smile formed on his face and he watched her replace her mask. "Butterflies today?" She nodded and held up the wrapped bundle. "What's that?"

"…Grandma…made some breakfast…" She pushed a lock of dark hair behind her ear, looking away. "…I-I guess she…worried that you hadn't eaten…"

They shared the treats that she had packed, walking side by side down the street. When they boarded the train to get to school, Shinsou reached in his bag and drew out a wrapped sweet bun. "You probably have training today, right?"

"…th-thank you…" She accepted it and frowned. Shirayuki knew that he had wanted to be in the hero course. From what she heard about the entrance exam, it would have been really difficult for him to showcase his quirk and get a high score. It made her feel guilty about talking about her training.

He was silent for the rest of the train ride and only spoke again when they were close to the school. "Shirayuki. I'm going to get into the hero course."

"…Shinsou-kun…?"

"The sports festival isn't far away. I'm going to do whatever I can to try to get transferred into your class."

Again, she felt that odd fluttery sensation in her chest. "…y-you would…be in my class…?" She saw him nod. "…I…I'd like that…I'd like that a lot…" Her lips curled into a smile and she bowed her head to try to hide her excitement.

He was about to say something else when he was interrupted by Kaminari calling her nickname and waving. Shooting the blond a brief glance, Shinsou seemed to decide against what he planned to say. He turned his attention back to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "If anyone bullies you, tell me and I'll take care of them. Remember that."

"…a-alright…" Shirayuki watched him walk away and frowned to herself. Shinsou-kun…in my class. I hope he can do it. No. That's not right. I know he can!