This was his chance to talk to her. To make a good impression on her. While he had waited for Giran to prepare his message, Jin had thought about what he would do when he saw Kuroiwa. He wanted to know more about her so he considered different things he could ask her. He tried to imagine casually talking to her and, in his head, it turned out rather smooth.

This was far from smooth and he knew it. Sitting across the coffee table from her, Jin tried to think of a casual way to start a conversation. He was feeling anxious though. She probably doesn't want to talk, he thought as he glanced toward her. She's busy. She's…trying to help me. I bet she's sick of the quiet!

Kuroiwa's cat was sitting at his feet, staring up at him intensely with large amber eyes. It tilted its head, its pale tail curling at the end in curiosity. A paw lifted and tapped at his knee, attempting to get his attention. Unfortunately, his attention was completely on the cat's owner.

She was working diligently to try to translate Giran's message for him. Holding his cellphone in her pale, delicate hand. Lips moving silently as she mouthed English words that he did not understand. Her free hand lifted to push hair away from her face, violet eyes narrowing slightly upon a particular phrase.

Seeing her work like this made his heart beat a little faster, warmth rising to his face. Jin knew that he was falling in love and it was happening fast, but he had no regrets falling for someone like her. Someone so delicate and soft, so gentle and sweet. Kuroiwa really did seem like his soulmate; like his absolute perfect match.

"If you want…Bubaigawara-san…you can always forward this message to my phone. I wouldn't blame you if you would rather do something else while I work. I could…translate the message…and send it back to you."

Jin looked directly at her, brow furrowing and making his scar look deeper. "No; I don't mind. Really. I don't have anything else going on. Stop wasting my time! An online translator would be way faster!" He covered his mouth with one hand, the other squeezing his own knee as he turned his head to the side.

Kuroiwa tilted her head, vaguely resembling her cat for a moment. She bit her lower lip and glanced to the side, setting down her pen. The woman's right hand reached forward across the coffee table, her fingertips resting on top of the hand on his knee. "…Bubaigawara-san…?"

The warmth of her skin against his instantly drew his attention away from the terrible contradictory thoughts. His head was filled with only the bliss that this simple touch brought him. When he looked toward her, the woman's violet eyes were full of gentle concern and something else. Something that made his pulse skip a beat. A strange sort of affection, mixed with admiration. They blended with her worry and he knew in that moment that she was not afraid of him; she was genuinely concerned about his wellbeing.

Her hand's so soft…Jin wanted to say something to reassure her that he was fine. He wanted to show that he was as strong and brave as she thought he was because he wanted her to know that she could rely on him. As he tried to summon forth the words, he could feel his heart pounding erratically.

"I'm sorry," he finally murmured, tearing his gaze away from her.

"Ah…it's…I can assure you that it's fine. Honestly, my biggest concern is that I may be causing you stress by taking so long."

"No, I-! I want to be here! I mean…" His hand moved from covering his mouth to holding the side of his head. Fingers threaded into his hair, tugging slightly, as he tried to hold himself together in front of her. I don't want you to hate me! Why is this so difficult?! I just want to talk to you! I just want to protect you and hold you and-!

Jin tensed as he felt her fingertips gently caress the top of his hand. It had a calming, grounding sort of effect. His thoughts started to clear; all of the contradictions beginning to fade and bringing him back to focus on what he wanted. "That night in the alley…" he started, his eyes returning to her face. "Why didn't you scream or yell? If you had, a hero probably would've reached you faster than me and you wouldn't have that cut on your face."

Shift P.O.V

Neneko's lips drew into a frown. She slowly drew her hand back from his, the heat of his skin lingering on her fingertips. The translator lowered her gaze to the tea set on the coffee table and she lifted a hand to hide her mouth. A terrible, sinking feeling set in as she considered his question.

Of course, there was only one answer. However, to explain might be complicated. Worse yet, it might drive him away. There was a reason why she spoke so softly, why she had been picked on in school, why she deliberately avoided people.

"You'll have to forgive me, Bubaigawara-san…my reason for not crying out for help…involves my quirk." Her hand lowered to her throat and her frown deepened as she slouched forward. "My quirk…is a vocal-based one that…has proven more than troublesome in the past. If I speak above a particular volume…my voice carries a note that…has melancholic effects on everyone within earshot."

He seemed confused. It came as no surprise. After all, that made it sound so simple; just avoid making people sad with yelling. It was much worse than making someone a little sad. Neneko contemplated fully explaining herself, but feared that he might leave if he knew the truth.

At the same time, she had a sliver of hope that he might understand. He was a wanted criminal, but he performed such a heroic deed by saving her. He was clearly trying to make amends for past misdeeds. That was probably what his meeting was about. The meeting that she was currently translating the details for.

"My voice…when I speak above a normal volume…hits a pitch that causes everyone that hears it to feel hopelessness and despair…they lose all ambition…they begin to wish they could…disappear or…" Her voice started to quiver and she closed her eyes against the tears that formed. Memories of a certain horrible accident began to resurface and it made her chest tighten.

Neneko was accustomed to people not believing her when she told them why she was unable to raise her voice. Most people assumed that it was due to shyness or some sort of embarrassing throat injury. Some people even challenged her to raise her voice so they would believe her. She braced herself for a reaction like that, mentally preparing herself for rejection.

He's going to leave. He's going to decide that I'm not worth the trouble of working with or even considering as an ally. I've had it happen so many times in the past. He's going to leave and…I'll be alone again. Though I can't say that I would blame him for leaving.

Neneko had lost relationships due to her quirk. In middle school, her friends often wanted to go to karaoke and she was unable to participate. They became fed up with her refusal to speak up or sing with them so they left. She had lost boyfriends, as well. Due to her silence or soft volume, they decided that she must not really like them or that she was conceited.

"Your voice is…really nice, though. I like it just the way it is."

She lifted her gaze from the tea set, blinking in puzzlement at the man across from her. Did he…perhaps…could he be teasing me? That expression on his face…so serious…but his eyes…so warm and kind…Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him rub the back of his neck, a half-smile tugging at his lips.

"I really like your voice the way it is," Bubaigawara continued. "It's calming. It makes me feel…better…" He looked slightly embarrassed by saying this, but at the same time somehow relieved.

"…thank you…you're very kind for saying that…" she murmured, feeling a warmth rush to her face. Looking at him, listening to him, she would never imagine that he was a wanted criminal. It just seemed impossible for someone as kind as him to commit any sort of crime. Though, at the same time, she knew from experience that people can change drastically. For good or for bad.

Neneko continued to work on the translation, diligently attempting to puzzle through what Bubaigawara's contact had sent him. Skimming through it, she saw a multitude of grammar, spelling, and word choice issues that led her to believe that whoever had written the message was actually really terrible at English.

This part here…appears to be dialogue from that American film Pulp Fiction. Why is that in a message about a meeting? This LOV keeps coming up and I'm not entirely sure what it is. Some sort of organization? I wish I could ask him what this is for, but I have no desire to upset him now. He…looks so content.

While she was working, at some point, her cat had leapt up onto the couch. It was now standing on his lap on its hind legs, the front paws braced against his chest while its face rubbed against his cheek. The man had tensed at first, probably in alarm, but now he was petting the cat and seemed to be rather calm. Quite the contrast to earlier when he had almost seemed pained by his outburst.

The more that she translated from the message, the more she began to uncover. He was meeting with someone by the name of Shigaraki. Neneko chewed at the end of her pen as she stared intently at that name. It was a weird name, to be sure. It almost sounded made up.

Shigaraki. Is it…the characters for "death", "grip", and "tree"? But what sort of name is that? It's just…terrible. Neneko heard a quiet "thud", but continued skimming through what she had translated so far. Meeting with this Shigaraki person…when? The address. Mah-jongg bar? Why…but this is so peculiar…meeting with someone…at a place like that…the time…?

She finally completed her work and sat back, feeling rather accomplished and pleased that she finished the task for Bubaigawara. Her gaze settled on the couch across from hers and felt warmth blooming in her cheeks like cherry blossoms.

He had apparently dozed off while she was working. Now he was slumped onto his side on the sofa with her cat curled up beside him. Neneko felt a tightness forming in her chest at the peaceful expression he wore as he slept. She bit her lip and turned her head to the side, silently debating if she should wake him.

I suppose I should. After all, he probably has someone waiting for him. A family…or a girlfriend…I should wake him and give him the translations. Neneko half-rose from her seat, but then sat again. She took pictures of the notes using her cellphone, determining to research this "Shigaraki" person.

There was so little that she could offer Bubaigawara as repayment for his kindness, but if she could save him from a potentially dangerous situation then she would do all that she could. The message set her on edge. It was vague in details regarding the actual meeting; instead containing a lot of insignificant bits of information and dialogue from the movie Pulp Fiction. It was just too vague to be trustworthy. As if someone was trying to mislead her valiant new acquaintance.

Neneko stood and approached the couch on the other side of the coffee table. She reached out, preparing to tap his shoulder to wake him. Her hand stopped within a few inches of making contact. Leaning down, she studied his face closely and found herself blushing warmly. It…certainly would be alright…if I just let him sleep a while longer…?

She stepped away, still looking down at him. The translator walked to a cupboard and drew out a quilt. It was very carefully settled over her new acquaintance. Surely I'm being selfish by not waking him, but he…looks so comfortable…and I…Neneko chewed at her thumbnail as she went to the doorway. I think that, perhaps, he might understand me…

Shift P.O.V

Jin was unaware of the fact that he had dozed off. He found himself waking up on the couch with a quilt draped over him. It had a faint lavender scent that made him want to go back to sleep, but he was afraid of imposing on her.

Sitting upright, he ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the coffee table. The tea set had been taken away and there was a stack of handwritten notes that appeared to be the translation of Giran's message. Jin examined the delicate, feminine handwriting and he frowned.

It started to sink in quickly and his hands began to shake. Kuroiwa had known he fell asleep. She let him sleep and had even put a blanket over him so he would be comfortable. Her kindness was almost too much for him to handle.

He checked the time on his phone as he got out from beneath the quilt. It was late evening. If he slipped out of the apartment quietly enough, he could leave without bothering her any further. Jin shoved the notes into his pocket and quickly crossed the room for the door.

The second it opened, he was greeted by the smell of something delicious cooking. The doorway across the hallway was open, revealing Neneko standing at a sink with her back to him. She seemed to have heard the tea room door open because she looked over her shoulder and her face turned pink.

"Ah…I apologize, Bubaigawara-san…I should have woken you. I'm sure that you have someone waiting for you. It was…selfish of me to keep you for so long…"

"It's…okay. You know, I wouldn't mind if you kept me forever!" He gritted his teeth, quickly feeling like he was unraveling. Sweat rolled down the side of his face as he held his head and turned away from Kuroiwa. "I can't…stay here! I'm sorry!"

As much as he hated to leave her, he had to. He had to put on his mask and pull himself together. However he promised himself that he would see her again.