NeonHorizon: I know that some people got worried after the last chapter and...I really wanted to write this chapter because it's sweet. Not to mention, I'm really enjoying writing about character's dealing with getting crushes. Hope you like it.

"I'm sorry, Shinsou-kun. Ume is staying home sick today."

Sick? He frowned a little and nodded. "Is it serious?"

The old woman glanced over her shoulder and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. "Since you're so close with her, I think I can trust you. To be honest, I think that something might've happened yesterday at school. Ume came home last night with a bruise on her face and she locked herself in her room. She's hardly spoken since then…"

Shinsou looked down, concerned. "I see."

"Did she say anything to you?"

"Not really. I knew about the bruise, but she seemed okay." He lifted his gaze, looking to the door behind her. Something upset her after we talked yesterday. She said that she had to go somewhere so she couldn't walk home with me. Whatever it was, it must have been bad.

The old woman sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry to bother you like this. I was just hoping…well, it's alright. I'm sure she'll get to feeling better soon."

The boy met her gaze and saw that she was very worried. "Shirayuki-san, can you call the school and pretend to be my grandmother? I need you to call me in sick, too."

Once she had agreed, he set off back for home. He changed out of his uniform and then went to collect some supplies. He picked up a few movies from a rental place, some snacks and drinks from a convenience store, and finally a few cake slices from a bakery.

When he returned to the Shirayuki house, her grandmother greeted him with a big smile. "I'm just glad that Ume has such a nice friend. I really just don't know what to do. It's been a while since she's closed herself off like this."

"She's done this before?" He set his bags down on the table in the kitchen and lingered nearby as she poured some tea.

Her brow furrowed and she nodded once. "When she came to live with me, she hardly spoke. Ume was afraid to do anything. I think that her mother might have something to do with it. My son died when Ume was seven and until then, she had been a little more polite than most kids, but she was still cheerful. Something happened during those two years before she moved here. I just know that…I'm glad her mother works overseas."

That explains a few things. He went to her door and gave it a quiet knock. No answer came. "Shirayuki. It's me."

"…Shinsou-kun…I'm not…going to school today…s-so just…go without me…"

He heard a certain crack in her voice and he knew that she was trying not to cry. "I'm not going, either."

Shift P.O.V

"…I'm…not coming out of my room…I-I'm sorry…" Shirayuki burrowed beneath her blanket again, holding back tears. I couldn't go to school today and I can't face Shinsou-kun. Not after what happened yesterday. It…was so embarrassing. My first kiss. I don't know how to feel. I'm…scared. A first kiss shouldn't make you feel scared. She closed her eyes, hugging her pillow.

There was a sliding sound and then a thud, indicating that he was now sitting in front of her door in the hallway. "Well, I'm not leaving. I'm going to be waiting for you."

Why? Why are you…so nice to me? Why does my chest feel fluttery? She chewed at her lower lip, curling herself into a tight ball beneath the blanket. Thinking about him skipping school, just because she was staying home, made her stomach start to twist with guilt. At the same time, it made her blush faintly.

Shirayuki finally emerged from her blanket and got dressed. Pulling her dark, messy hair into a loose ponytail, she glanced at her reflection. The whites of her eyes looked red from crying. The girl wiped away the remnants of tears and looked to her door. "…Shinsou-kun…?"

She did not receive an answer. When she opened the door, she saw that he had gone. Her shoulders drooping slightly, she decided to leave her room. She had gone through the trouble of getting dressed and she knew that her grandmother was probably worried. As she stepped into the kitchen, she had to pause and blinked in surprise.

"Oh! Ume, you've left your room! Do you want some tea? I made some nice green tea earlier for Shinsou-kun, but I can make some more!" Her grandmother was currently sitting at the table across from the boy and greeted her with a smile. "Are you feeling a little better?"

The girl rubbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater and nodded once. "…I-I'm sorry…if I worried anyone…"

"Do you want to talk about it?" the old woman asked, her tone kind.

"…I'm…not ready yet…I'm sorry…" More tears formed as her grandmother stood to hug her. I feel bad, but I can't tell her. She'll be disappointed in me. I should be stronger than this. What kind of hero would be this upset over a kiss? But I feel…bad. I feel confused. I don't know…how to react.

"It's alright! Ume, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to!" She hugged tighter for a moment and then pulled away, still wearing that warm smile. "Shinsou-kun has a surprise for you in the other room. Why don't you both go there? I'll make some more tea."

Shirayuki glanced to Shinsou and saw him half-smile in response. "…a…surprise…?" She walked to the living room and her eyes widened. The television was set up to play a movie and there was a variety of snacks and drinks set out on the coffee table. The girl looked to him again, her heart beating fast. "…you…did this for me…?"

He averted his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck, clearly a little embarrassed. "I wanted to cheer you up. I don't know what happened and I'm not going to make you tell me, but I didn't want you to be upset." The boy was startled by her suddenly hugging him and gradually put his arms around her to reciprocate. "Do you like your surprise?"

She nodded against his chest, her lips drawing into a wide smile. "…th-thank you…so much…Shinsou-kun…I really appreciate you doing this…" The fluttery sensation from before was now increasing and she felt heat rushing to her cheeks. No one has ever done something like this for me. And this fluttery feeling…She drew out of the hug and quickly looked away to hide her blush. Do I like Shinsou-kun…?

Sitting together on the couch, he started the movie for them. There was a faint hint of a pinkish tint to his cheeks as he glanced over at her, as if to see if she liked the movie choice. "I didn't know what kind of movies you like so I tried to guess," he admitted.

"…ah…I-I like most genres…I'm not picky…" she assured him. A few minutes into the movie, she glanced over at him again. Shirayuki had only ever seen him in a school uniform before. It was a little strange to see him in casual clothes. She had to admit that he looked good though.

As the movie progressed, he moved a little bit closer to her on the couch. He was cautious, knowing how nervous she could get. She seemed to be okay with it so he lifted his arm and gently put it around her. "Is that comfortable?"

"…y-yes…" Shirayuki moved a little closer so he would not have to stretch his arm and blood rushed to her face. The girl's pulse was still rapid, her stomach doing nervous flips as she became self-conscious. I should have dressed nicer.

"Here we are! I'm sorry that took so long!" Her grandmother appeared in the doorway and the two teenagers quickly separated. "Oh? I'm sorry."

"…n-no…it's alright, Grandma…thank you for the tea…" She took the mug from her grandmother and sipped nervously.

Shinsou thanked the old woman as well and looked at Shirayuki as he accepted his mug of tea. He raised an eyebrow and saw her flush red. When her grandmother left the room again, he frowned. "Are you okay?"

"…I-I'm just…on edge…" The girl slouched a little and sipped some more tea. Shinsou-kun is trying so hard to make me feel happy. He even skipped school to try to cheer me up. He's…a good friend. And I feel…that fluttery feeling…when I'm around him. I think…I really might like him. She set down her mug and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself enough to speak again.

"Shirayuki? Are you sure you're okay?"

"...yesterday…m-my first k-kiss…got taken…and I…I couldn't face him today…and I just…w-wanted to hide from everyone…but you…didn't want me to be sad and you…went through this much trouble…to cheer me up…"

"Your first kiss?" He saw her nod, her face a bright shade of red. "It was forced?" Again, she nodded. Tears sparkled in the corners of her eyes. "Who was it? Was it that boy in your class that keeps bothering you?"

She swallowed the lump that had been forming in her throat and lowered her gaze to her lap. "Shinsou-kun, I don't want you to trouble yourself."

Taken aback by her speaking so directly, so firmly, his eyes widened. The boy frowned deeply and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. That's…a bad experience. Your first kiss shouldn't be like that."

"…he…said that he likes me…and said he knew that I like him, but…I don't know…how I really feel about him…" The girl bit her lip, hard. These next words would take a lot of courage. Lifting her crimson gaze, she knew she was still blushing. "…Shinsou…" she began, dropping the honorific. "…I…feel butterflies…in my stomach…when I'm with you…and I'm sure…that I like you…"

The faint pink hue in his face grew now and he smiled, looking away. "I'm actually glad to hear that," he admitted. The boy rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. "I like you, Shirayuki."

These words filled her with an unbelievable warmth that seemed to radiate through her entire being. The fluttering sensation made her feel almost giddy and she smiled, bowing her head. "…you…like me…?"

"I like you," he repeated. Leaning over and down a little, he looked up at her through the loose strands of dark hair that fell over her face. Spotting her smile, he seemed satisfied. A hand reached up, gently cupping the girl's injured right cheek. "I'm not going to make you do anything that you don't want to do. So…let's give it some time, okay? We can hang out more and you can decide if you want to be more than friends."

Heart pounding, she nodded. "…a-alright…"