-Shouta's POV-

I could practically see the gears moving behind Shinobu's chartreuse eyes as she tried to process what the hell had just happened. Since hearing about the dinner, she had obviously been on edge, trying to prepare herself for any possible outcome tonight, but it was clear by how wide her eyes were that she had never considered anything close to this being a remote possibility.

Not wanting to set the young heroine over the edge, I set the and recording device down in the empty seat to my left and held my arms open a bit as an invitation. With little hesitation, Shinobu scooted herself into my arms where I pulled her into my lap, hoping that the physical contact would help ground her at least a little bit. After several minutes, with Hizashi on the phone with the police officers who were coming to take his parents into custody, Shinobu looked up at me with questioning eyes and removed herself from my lap, I can only guess out of respect for her cousin. However, she didn't move far as she took my hand and gave it the lightest squeeze and looking up at me, her brows furrowing as her face held a questioning expression.

"The day that you had to be Hizashi's TA for the second half of the day, I went to the hospital and visited your parents," I began to explain, earning a silent gasp from the woman in front of me and while she looked a bit unsettled for a moment by this information, she nodded with a blank expression, allowing me to continue, "Your parents showed me the letters they had received from your aunt when I was confused by them informing me that you hated them. The handwriting didn't match yours. Shinobu, your parents have been hiding their medications and secretly not taking them for years. They miss you and want to see you. Your dad helped me plan this whole thing with the wire and everything for tonight."

At that last statement, tears flowed from Shinobu's eyes as she immediately released my hand and buried her face in her own, her form wracked by barely audible sobs. It shocked me really, and I wasn't quite sure how to handle this. So I reverted back to my normal method: blunt honesty.

"Do you want to see them?" I questioned, trying to soften my voice a bit. I knew Shinobu was anything but frail, but tonight had already been a lot for anyone to handle. I didn't want her to break again… At my words, Shinobu's face shot up out of her hands and I was surprised to feel her soft pink lips against my own as I held her waist to steady her shaking frame.

"Yes, please… Yes… I want to see them," the silver haired heroine whispered against my lips, causing me to fight back a smile as I cupped her cheek and pressed my lips affectionately against hers before gently pulling back, meeting her gaze with a soft smile. Her freckled nose and cheeks were flushed from her crying and the excitement of the night and a hopeful glint in her eyes matched the small smile on her pink lips. Goddammit what is this woman doing to me?

"I thought I told you guys no making out in my back seat?!" Hizashi's ever loud voice called from the door beside me as he grabbed the recording device I had used and passed it to one of the officers that must have arrived during mine and Shinobu's talk. This night is even fraying on my senses. I wasn't even aware that the cops had showed up. After giving the recording device to the officer, Hizashi jumped into the front seat and started the car, turning to look at me.

"Alright so where are we headed now?" he asked. I looked at Shinobu, who had finally began to calm down as she continued to process everything. Grabbing her hand in support, I looked to Hizashi and answered.

"Nakameguro General Hospital."

-Shinobu's POV-

The ride to the hospital was a blur for me. In order to process everything as well as try and keep myself grounded, I kept all of my senses canceled except for my sense of touch. I could be strong on my own, but I was so thankful for the warmth of Shouta's hand in the midst of the darkness I surrounded myself with. I needed this, this silence, in order to handle meeting my parents, if the hospital even allowed me in. That was another possibility I had to prepare myself for.

Then there was the matter of my aunt and uncle. Would they go to jail? I was pretty sure the statute of limitations was up for the abuse I dealt with as a child, and even if it wasn't, we have no proof. Besides, I wasn't sure if I wanted them to go to jail. I understood the hate they both had for me, especially my uncle. I mean he was forced to take in the person that caused his brother to lose his mind, so it made sense that seeing me would be a reminder that I basically caused him to lose his brother.

As I was going through that, I felt Shouta give a slight squeeze to my hand, getting my attention. I'm sure he was well aware that I had canceled most of my senses and had done so for a reason. I appreciated him trying to get my attention instead of straight up canceling my quirk. Sometimes, my quirk was my safe space, and whether he knew that thought of mine or not, Shouta had respected me yet again by letting me stop my quirk on my own. It only added to the secure feeling I had with him.

When my vision returned, I was met with with a small nod from my boyfriend as I followed his moving gaze to the window. We had arrived. It was time whether I was ready or not.

"Nobu… I know Shouta said that they wanted to see you, but if you need more time, we can come back tomorrow. You've already had a rough night," Hizashi-nii voiced his concern as he turned around in his seat, concern in his eyes, "And I know you've had a rougher time controlling your quirk since you've been off your suppressants. Are you sure you can handle this?" His words stung, but I knew he was trying to look out for me. Zashi-nii wasn't exactly known for his tact anyways. Without hesitation, despite the sting in my chest at his words, I nodded vigorously with a determined expression across my face and opening the door to the car as if to make my point. This earned a chuckle from Zashi-nii as he shook his head.

As I stood in front of the hospital, staring up at lit up red sign above the entrance, I steeled myself for what was to come next. The memories of this place didn't matter. I wasn't the same quiet, broken girl that nearly broke her parents forever. Sure, I still had social anxiety and trouble controlling my quirk as well as I probably should, and yes I was still quiet. But that didn't make me weak. A hand grasped my shoulder in support, and I looked over to see Shouta, his typical expression on his face as his onyx eyes met mine.

"You already know you're strong, Shinobu. Things that are broken and rebuilt often end up stronger than before. You're an example of that. Let's go," he stated bluntly though I could tell he said it from a good place, and the words themselves encouraged me. There was no hidden meaning behind them. He was always so straight forward, and I was incredibly thankful for that.

With a determined nod, I followed him past the front desk where I was informed by staff that the police and Shouta had made sure all the paperwork and legal stuff was completed ahead of time in order for me to be able to visit my parents. That surprised me, but it did nothing to take away the growing pit of anxiety in my stomach. The front desk was not the obstacle I was most afraid of facing tonight. As we reached a room, I saw the names on a sign that made me want to run, whether out of the hospital or through the door next to the sign, I honestly wasn't sure at this point.

Shouta gave my hand one final encouraging squeeze before knocking on the door, entering only when the muted sound of my dad's low voice saying "Come in." was heard. The scruffy underground hero walked through the door, and he was talking in a low voice that I couldn't quite make out what was being said. So despite my nerves, I cautiously approached the door, and as soon as I saw them with an awareness in their eyes that should not have been present if they were on the anti-psychotics that were on their medical records. The only reason I even knew that list was because my uncle used to constantly throw them in my face as a way to make me feel guilty for existing.

"Mom? Dad?" a voice that sounded way too loud and vulnerable to be Shouta or Hizashi spoke up, and it took me a second to realize that I had spoken in shock. My parents' heads both snapped in my direction, looks of shock and recognition lighting up their faces, and before I knew it, I had been pulled into a tight hug by four arms.

"I-I'm so sorry, M-mom, Dad," I sobbed into my father's broad chest as I felt my mom's small, delicate hands rubbing gentle circles on my back, "I-I never meant t-to hurt you b-both!" A chuckle rumbled in my father's chest and a rough, calloused finger gently tilted my chin up so I would look at my parents. My mother was a sniffling mess with a smile shown under her tears, while my father was the opposite. He had a huge grin on his face as small streams of tears ran down his face.

"How many times do I have to tell you to keep your head up, Princess? Your crown will fall if you keep looking at your feet all the time," my dad scolded gently, using the same phrase he used to tell me as a kid in between my episodes with my quirk. He had even learned how to sign it after I had lost control of my quirk.

"Besides, we should be the ones apologizing," he continued with a sad smile before turning to Zashi-nii and Shouta, "Now, come and sit. You too, Shouta, Hizashi. Quit being strangers during this oh so touching family reunion!" At that comment, Shouta looked at him, eyebrows raised ever so slightly while Zashi-nii nervously rubbed the back of his neck. My dad sighed in annoyance, and I moved to sent down on the bed beside my mother and enjoy this surreal scene that was unfolding in front of me.

"Shouta, you're dating my princess and you literally risked your career for this. You're family too!" my dad's announcement shocked me and I looked at Shouta with a raised eyebrow to which he shrugged awkwardly as he took the empty chair across from me and my dad continued by targeting Zashi-nii, "And when have you ever been this quiet, Hizashi? Get your ass over here and give your favorite aunt and uncle a hug!" At that, Hizashi finally broke into a sincere grin and pulled my dad into a tight hug.

My heart felt so full as I watched the scene unfurl around me. Shouta spoke politely with my mom while my dad and Hizashi-nii caught up. The whole time, my parents stayed within arms reach and would randomly reach over and hug me or kiss my head or just tell me they loved me, and while I know to most 26 year old women, this would be the epitome of embarrassment, I was the happiest I had ever been in my life as I watched in silence as the people I loved most in this world were all brought together by a man who was willing to risk his career after so little time of dating so that I could have this.

Shouta Aizawa was many things, most of which were straight forward and some of which weren't perfect, but there was one thing I knew: He had a heart big enough to hear through my silence.

Song: Keep Your Head Up Princess by Anson Seabra