Future

"I still don't understand why you wanted to drag me to this restaurant," Tarot said, her eyes scanning the crowds outside the glass. Partly she was looking for her family, but another part of her was soaking in the presence of other people. It had been almost two weeks since she took up hiding in Shinso's bedroom.

"It's an apology."

Tarot lifted an eyebrow at him. "For what?"

"This." Shinso dug into the bag he had been carrying and handed her a notebook.

Tarot took it with a blink. "You're apologizing for a notebook?"

"It's yours. I accidentally grabbed it instead of mine the other day."

Tarot frowned. "You read what was inside, didn't you?"
"Yeah." Shinso rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't intend to. I thought it was mind but when I read it I realized it wasn't. The story is so good I couldn't keep from reading the rest."

"You had no right." Tarot hugged the notebook to her chest. Writing stories was a secret. Not even her brother or dad knew about it.

"I also showed it to one of my teachers. She thinks you have an amazing talent for writing."

"I'm not talented in anything. This is nothing but a hobby."

"Oh?" Shinso cocked his head. "You've never thought about becoming a author?"

Tarot snored. "Who ever heard of a villain writer?"

Shinso glanced around to see if anyone heard her. No one did. They were all too busy with their own food. "You're no longer a villain. You've left that life behind. Surely you can go live with other family. Then you can do whatever you want."

Tarot exhaled. "It's not that easy."

"Well, you've got to do something. You know I don't care about you staying in my room." Shinso paused when a waitress past by with a couple people. "But you know you can't stay with me forever. My parents will eventually figure out what's going on. What will you tell them then?"

Tarot tilted her head back. She had no idea what she would do. She had been thinking about it constantly. Nothing came to mind. And Shinso was right. She had to do something. Her eyes fell to the notebook. She had always loved to write. Maybe becoming an author was something she could do.

"Then again..." Shinso propped his elbow on the table and rest his chin in his palm. "We could just get married and continue living together."

"Jerk!" Heat rushed to Tarot's cheeks. She kicked him in the shin. "Why would you even say such a thing?"

Shinso's grin widened. "You're into me. I can tell."

Tarot snorted. "Don't be stupid. I am not."

"So you say. Yet you didn't complain one bit when I asked you to wear my clothes out here."

Tarot let her eyes drop to the clothes she was wearing. It was true. She didn't complain about having to wear his clothes. The only piece that fit her well was his hat. Other than that the clothing hung baggy on her. "It doesn't matter. I'm in disguise."

Her words didn't remove his smile.

"Besides a girl wearing a guy's clothes doesn't mean she likes him."

"Keep telling yourself that." Shinso pulled out his wallet. "There are other signs."

"What other signs?" Tarot did a quick inventory of her actions around this boy. She couldn't recall doing a single thing that would suggest she liked him. Not that she did in the first place.

After Shinso paid the bill, Tarot stood and followed him out of the restaurant. Walking side by side Tarot's eyes kept wanting to wander to the young man beside her. Her heart beat sped up a bit. No matter how much she wanted to she couldn't deny her attraction to him. But how deep did her feelings go? He was a great guy. He was keeping her secret. Was that why she liked him? No. She felt something for him when she first saw him online. So where was her feelings going?

Never before had she thought about guys in a romantic sense. Now she couldn't help but wonder. What ever she chose to do, would Shinso be in her future?

Suddenly her feet stalled. A familiar glow shone up at them. Tarot's heart skipped a beat.

"Hey, what's going on?" Shinso asked just before she started sinking into the glow.

"Crap! No! Not now!" Tarot cursed.

"Tarot, what's going on?" Shinso grabbed her arm and tried to pull her back to him.

"It's Rune." Tarot grabbed onto Shinso but knew it was pointless.

"You have to do something! Use your quirk!" Shinso said.

"That won't work. Rune's hold is too strong." Tarot gritted her teeth. If Shinso didn't let go he was going to be pulled in with her. She released her hold and slid farther into the rune.

"What are you doing?! Don't let go!" Shinso's eyes filled with panic.

"I'm sorry." Tarot's fingers slipped through Shinso's. She vanished into the void then came up in front of Rune and Raven.