-Shouta's POV-

I watched the heroine in front of me begin to break down, and I found myself at a loss as to what to say. Something was weighing Shinobu down, and I found myself just wanting to help her lift whatever it was that was burdening her so much. Frustrated with my inability to know what to say to help her, I acted instinctively, which in this case was completely irrational. Reaching out to Shinobu, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in a tight embrace and pulled her head to my chest.

"I'm no good at this sort of thing, but I'm here if you need to talk to someone. I… I want to listen," I admitted, trying not to revert to my bored tone that I kept for most people. Shinobu trembled in my arms before finally speaking, her lyrical soft voice strained and full of tension.

"How much has Nii-san told you about me?" she asked timidly, her voice full of pain. I thought for a moment.

"He told me about what happened with your parents," I admitted as I felt her freeze for a moment before her trembling got even worse, "That was not your fault, Shinobu."

"Yes, it was!" Shinobu yelled, her voice still quieter than most when she yelled, her voice full of anguish, "They're in a mental hospital, and I'm not allowed to see them because the medical professionals have deemed me the cause. Even Yamada-ojii-san blames me for it." I held her tighter, almost like I was trying to hold the woman in my arms together, but it was too late. She had shattered.

"Shinobu-" I started trying to calm her down but she interrupted me.

"Wanna know what's wrong with me, Shouta? I cause trouble. For everyone I come into contact with. I was an inconvenience to Nightshade. I destroyed my parents' sanity. I'm burdening Hizashi-nii-san because now he worries about me too much to even have me live on my own. Nezu-san offered me a job that literally did nothing but burden you and the other teachers more. You offered me this sidekick position, and I find myself mentally complaining about the crazy hours which is ridiculous. I have two quirks that I control well enough to not be a potential hazard to others around me even though I'm a pro hero. And despite all of this, I still find myself having feelings for you that I have no right to have-" at that last sentence I felt my eyes widen at her confession as she slapped her hand over her mouth and let out a panicked sob. I activated my quirk before she could cancel both of our senses in her panic and spoke softly to her.

-Shinobu's POV-

Great job, Shinobu! You fucked up again! You finally had someone to talk to and had done all these nice things for you and you have a mental breakdown and tell him your feelings for him. You know you don't deserve to feel like this towards anyone! You've hurt everyone you've cared about! What is wrong with you?

As I berated myself for my stupid slip up, I found myself shaking like a leaf and tried to push Shouta away. I didn't want to face his rejection or deal with the fact that I had just majorly messed up the opportunities that he had put his neck out to help me obtain. Zashi-nii had told me that everything with Nezu had been suggested by Shouta, and now I just screwed up.

"Shinobu," Shouta called gently, tightening his arms around me, not allowing me to escape, "Why do you think you don't deserve to have feelings for me?" What? Out of all of that, that's what his concern is… Did he not hear how messed up I am? I took a deep breath to try and calm my shaking voice.

"I don't deserve to have feelings for anyone," I corrected which was the truth. I felt like I didn't have the right to have romantic feelings towards anyone, not just him. It just so happens that he was the first person that I had ever felt strong enough to actually say it aloud, even if it was an accident.

"Why?" he pushed. I paused before I stopped trying to get away from him, realizing that this man had way more muscle than I had from years of being a pro and focusing on his physical fitness.

"I cause problems for anyone who gets close to me. After what I did to my parents, destroying their lives, inconveniencing Nii-san's parents, taking away Oji-san's brother from him, I don't deserve to have feelings for someone," I admitted, my voice slowly losing its anger and fading to a tone of solemn acceptance, "Besides, anyone I had feelings for that knew about my past would run for the hills. As they should. No one wants to be with a freak with a villain's quirk."

That last statement was verbatim what I had heard time and time again from people in schools growing up. While everyone else was talking about crushes, someone would always find a chance to throw that comment in when I walked within earshot, and it had stuck with me. After all, it's the truth. My thoughts were interrupted as Shouta grasped my chin gently and tilted my face to meet his onyx gaze. Gone was his typical bored and tired expression. In its place was a gentle expression with a concerned frown.

"I'm not running for the hills," Shouta said softly, the corners of his mouth twitching up into a sad smile, "It's irrational that you think so little of yourself." I scoffed at this, a laugh without humor.

"It's practical and the truth," I countered. Shouta shook his head and let out a small sigh.

"You really don't see it do you?"

"See what?"

"Your good qualities." I scoffed again and quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Shinobu, your strength is admirable," Shouta started bluntly, continuing despite my adamant shaking of my head, "You've blamed yourself for what happened to your parents for all these years, but have still managed to become a hero even while having two quirks that are hard to control. You struggle with crippling anxiety, but still push yourself to do things that should have you hiding in terror. You've dealt with self-harm and guilt and the feeling of being a burden and wanting to do everything by yourself, and you're still here. You haven't given up despite all of that." I shook my head again, tears in my eyes.

"Please stop," I begged. I didn't want to hear anymore. I didn't want to hear good things about myself because if I did maybe I would start to believe them. And I had no right to do that, to feel good about myself.

"You have a silent strength. One that is not found in most people today, even heroes," Shouta continued despite my protests, putting a finger to my lips when I opened my mouth to interrupt him again, "You care deeply for others, at the expense of yourself. You're considerate, patient, and beautiful as well. And the most amazing part of it all is that you have no clue that you are all of these things." The tears fell from my eyes and my face flushed red. He called me beautiful.

"Shouta, you don't have to say these things just because I'm Hizashi's cousin and because you feel bad for me," I tried to convince him, not wanting to let myself believe that maybe just maybe, the raven-haired hero in front of me was telling the truth.

"Do I seem like the kind of man that pays lip service?" Shouta asked irritatedly, his eyebrow quirked as he refused to let me run off. I shook my head, but I was so confused.

"But… Why would you say all those nice things about me unless you felt bad for me?" I pondered nervously out loud earning a sigh from Shouta.

"You really don't get it, do you?" he chuckled slightly causing me to blush and feel even more confused.

"What's so funny?" I demanded, my head spinning in confusion at all the emotions going through my head. Shouta grasped my chin once again and leaned down till our noses were almost touching, causing my breath to hitch in my throat.

"If you don't want me to do this, tell me," he whispered, his voice low and sincere as he inched our faces closer together, and I finally realized what he was doing. My stomach did flips as I tried to figure out what I should do. I knew what I wanted, but I didn't know if it was okay. What if something goes wrong? What if I ruin everything? What if he is doing this just out of sympathy?

Suddenly, Nightshade's words of advice rang through my head.

"Shinobu, when you return to Musutafu, I want you to let yourself feel again. Put yourself out there. Care for others. Break hearts. Get your heart broken. Make friends! Lose friends! Fall in love! Make out with a stranger! Do things based on instinct and feelings instead of stopping yourself from experiencing life because of guilt. For fucks sake girl, go get laid and kick asses in bar fights! I'll come bail ya outta jail myself! Just enjoy your life for once, goddammit!" Nightshade had given me her version of a motivational speech. It had made me uncomfortable at the time, but now, that memory was exactly what I needed to stay perfectly still and go with what I wanted.

When Shouta's lips met mine, I felt warmth flood my entire body. It wasn't fireworks like I had always read and seen in sappy movies that I'd watched with Nii-san (at his insistence I might add). It was a comforting warmth that spread all the way down to my toes, and I found myself melting into that warmth, shyly wrapping my arms around Shouta's neck and returning his kiss. All too soon, Shouta pulled away to give me a small smirk, which I know was oftentimes the closest he got to a smile.

"Do you get it now?" he teased, causing my face to go red as I removed my hands from around his neck so I could sign while speaking.

"I get that Hizashi-nii-san is not going to be happy about… whatever this is…" I pointed out nervously, signing as I did so. Shouta sighed and removed his arms from around my waist, and I found myself already missing the warmth from his embrace.

"Whatever this is, there's no rush. Let's see where things go from here before we talk to Hizashi," Shouta suggested, "I don't want there to be pressure on you while we figure this out." I nodded in agreement.

"Sorry, Shouta… I just… never imagined myself to be in a situation like this," I admitted nervously signing quicker than I was speaking. Shouta grabbed one of my shaking hands and gave it a gentle and reassuring squeeze.

"There's no rush, Shinobu. For now, let's just start with something easy," he suggested. I looked up at him in curiosity.

"Like what?"

"Coffee after work?" Shouta asked with a huge grin that reminded me of the Cheshire Cat and caused me to let out a giggle.

"I dunno… Every time someone asks me to coffee, my boss schedules a patrol," I teased back, a slightly accusatory tone in my voice. Shouta just shrugged.

"He sounds like a real ass. I think I can handle him," he responded back before looking at me and asking again, "Coffee tomorrow after work?" I giggled and gave him a small smile.

"It's a date."

Song: I Can't Carry This Anymore by Anson Seabra