Waiting outside of Shirayuki's house, he frowned and checked the time. Shinsou had been standing there for at least twenty minutes. Given, he had arrived a bit earlier than usual, it was still strange that she was taking so long. She usually came outside shortly after he arrived.

Casting his gaze toward the front door, the boy released a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. Should I ring for them or…? He tilted his head as the curtains opened in the kitchen. Seeing her grandmother peer out at him, he gave a small wave and saw her smile.

The old woman disappeared from sight and soon the front door was opening. "Come in, come in! I'm so glad to see you, Shinsou-kun!" she called, moving to open the gate as well.

He raised an eyebrow and glanced over his shoulder toward the street. Are we still going to school? What's going on? Shinsou approached the gate with apprehension. "Is she okay?"

"Well, you know that her mother got to town yesterday," she started.

"Right…" Entering the house, he saw that Shirayuki's door was closed. A sinking feeling in his stomach told him that something was definitely wrong.

"Do you want some tea? I don't have any sweets, but-"

"No, that's okay. Thank you. Is Shirayuki…?"

The woman's smile dropped. "I'm afraid that Ume isn't doing so well today. Her mother may have said some harsh things to her yesterday, but she refuses to talk about it. She came home crying and locked herself in her room without saying a word. She hasn't come out yet. Not even for food. I just don't know what to do."

Shinsou felt a tightening in his chest as he heard this. Looking toward her door again, he could imagine her sitting on her bed and crying. He had found her that way before. It was not something that he wanted to see again.

"Could you try talking to her? I'm sure that if she'll talk to anyone, it's you." Her voice was soft, her words threaded with despair. It was only now that Shinsou noticed that the woman's eyes looked red from crying and she was clutching a handkerchief tightly with both hands.

"Can you…call the school for me, please? And tell them you're my grandmother and I'm too sick to go today?"

"Of course." She managed a small smile and nodded. "Yes, I'll do that. I'm so sorry, Shinsou-kun."

He waited until she was in the kitchen before he set his bag near the door. Staring at Shirayuki's room, he felt an anxious twisting in his stomach. It was almost as if he was afraid to open the door and see the state that she was in. At the same time, he knew that he had to do something. She was in pain. He just hoped that he could help her.

Shift P.O.V

She heard her grandmother talking to someone and she recognized Shinsou's voice immediately. Sinking deeper beneath her blanket, Shirayuki hugged her dragon plush tightly and closed her eyes. I don't want him to see! I don't want anyone to see me like this! My mother…that woman…she's terrible!

Her face burned as she remembered the humiliating incident at dinner the previous night. It brought fresh tears to her eyes and she lifted a hand to rub at her cheek. Biting back any mournful sounds that might escape, the girl buried her face in the soft fabric of her plush toy.

A quiet knock at the bedroom door made her jump. She lifted the blanket enough to peer out at the door and she chewed at her lower lip. No! I can't see anyone right now! Yanking the blanket over her head again, she turned her back. "G-go away!" She hoped that her yell would be enough to drive away the potential visitor.

"It's me." Shinsou's voice penetrated the door and made her tears multiply. "Shirayuki, let me in."

"…I can't…let anyone see me…please…just go to school without me…"

There was a soft thud as he leaned against the door, followed by a sigh. "Your grandma called me in sick; I have all day to wait for you. Make this easier for both of us and just let me in."

Is he…? Does he sound…angry? She curled up in a ball, every muscle tensing as she began to worry that he was mad at her. I can't let him see. I don't want anyone to see this.

"Shirayuki. What happened last night?"

"…I-I said…" Shirayuki abruptly found herself opening the door for him and her knees grew weak. Trembling with fear, she bowed her head before he could look at her and hid the left side of her face behind her dark violet hair. I should have put on a mask as soon as I got home! I don't want him to see this! And he…he used his quirk! He had to make me open the door!

He saw her shaking and leaned down to try to meet her gaze. The girl turned her head to the side, sobbing quietly as tears rolled down the right side of her face. "What happened last night?" he repeated.

"…I don't…I don't w-want to…talk about it…please…Sh-Shinsou, I…shouldn't have gone…I shouldn't have t-trusted her, but she's…she's my mother and I…"

Shinsou moved to push her hair behind her ear and saw her violently jolt away from him. The girl backed up several steps, watching him with her visible right eye and shaking her head. "Shirayuki…"

"…I don't…want anyone to see…what she did to me…"

He saw her dart beneath the blankets on her bed and frowned. The girl was now hidden, but visibly trembling as the blankets shook. He could still hear her sobbing and it made his heart feel like it was being squeezed in a vice. It made his blood feel cold in his veins. He felt helpless in that moment and gazed back toward the door with a frown.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Shinsou closed the bedroom door and looked to the bed once more. Whatever had happened to her, she clearly wanted to avoid talking about it. It would only make her feel worse and the last thing he wanted to do was prolong her pain. He needed a way to make her feel better without bringing it up.

The boy crossed the room and gripped the edge of her blanket. "Hey. Move over a little bit."

"…wh-what…?" Her voice was a whisper as she stirred beneath the covers.

"Just…a little," he persisted, using a gentle tone. Thankfully, she obeyed. Shinsou settled beneath the blanket and curled up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. Her back pressed against his chest and he knew that she was probably blushing bright red, but at least he was distracting her from her trauma.

Shirayuki was still trembling, however she had stopped sobbing. The tears still slid down her cheeks and they were soaking into her pillow. I'm crying this much in front of him. He probably thinks that I'm so weak…

"I don't know what happened, but…I won't make you talk about it, okay? We can just lay here all day if that's what you want. I'm not leaving, though. It's too late anyway; your grandmother really did call me in sick."

She nodded once, clutching her dragon again. "…I-I'm sorry…that I'm acting like this…I can't stop crying and…I yelled at you…I shouldn't…be so weak…if I want to be a hero, but I just…c-can't stop crying…"

"You don't have to apologize." The arm around her waist tightened and he leaned down, burying his face in her dark hair. "I'm here all day," he reminded her. "I'm really tired though. Is it okay if I nap here?"

"…it's…it's fine…" The girl closed her eyes and nuzzled into her pillow, still blushing. His chest felt warm against her back, the hold around her waist making her feel safe and comfortable. Her heart was racing in her chest, but she still enjoyed being held by him.

We've hugged before, but this is different. He's so close to me and he…smells really nice. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she tried to relax. This feels so nice.

Shift P.O.V

Is she asleep? Shinsou remained silent, holding her against him and enjoying the quiet rhythm of her breathing. They had been close before, but this was different. His own heart was racing at the realization that he was lying in Shirayuki's bed, with her, holding her in his arms. A warmth spread through his body and he lifted his face from her hair.

The girl was very much asleep now. Her eyes were closed, lips parted slightly. What drew and held his attention, however, was the deep purple-black mark on her pale left cheek. There were a few strands of hair partially obscuring his view of it so he gently pushed them aside. His eyes narrowed as it became more visible.

Shirayuki had a large bruise covering her left cheek, in the shape of a hand. The sight of it filled him with rage and he gritted his teeth, glaring at the mark. He had known that she was hiding something, but he had no idea that it was this bad.

Her mother did this to her. It's the only explanation. Shinsou had to tear his gaze away from the bruise before he could do something rash. He wanted now more than ever to know what had happened at her dinner with her mother. What could she possibly have done to deserve something like this?

He ran his fingertips gently over the mark unable to stop himself. She remained asleep, but moved slightly in response to being touched. The boy frowned and settled behind her again, wrapping his arms around her tighter this time. Leaning his forehead against the back of her shoulder, Shinsou tried to calm himself enough to sleep.

It was proving difficult. He wanted to do something to make her feel better. Anything that could help her to forget about the pain her mother had inflicted upon her. His mind started to race with ideas as he tried to think of something that he could do for Shirayuki.

The girl moved in her sleep, turning onto her other side so she faced him. Now he had a better view of her sleeping face. The gentle expression she wore, the way her cheeks seemed to subconsciously flush in response to being so close to him. A smile pulled at his mouth and he closed his eyes.

"…love you…Shinsou…" she mumbled sleepily.

His eyes snapped open and saw that she was still asleep. It was still startling nonetheless. Heat was rising to his face and the blush was an alarming thing for him. She…loves me?