Mailin’s POV

It’s early Sunday morning, and Heights Alliance is covered in a thick blanket of snow. The students are buzzing with excitement, some already rushing outside to enjoy the snowy weather. I stand by the window, my breath fogging up the glass as I watch the world outside transform into a winter wonderland.

Behind me, I can hear the usual chatter of Class 1-A, a mix of complaints and excitement about the snow. Denki is, of course, trying to convince everyone to have a snowball fight, while Jirou pretends she’s above it but can’t quite hide her smile.

I feel a presence beside me, and before I even turn, I know it’s Shota. He moves silently, as he always does, and leans against the wall, his arms crossed casually.

"You’re staring," he says quietly, his voice low and teasing.

I smirk, not taking my eyes off the snow. "Says the man who’s been watching me since I got up this morning."

He doesn’t deny it. Instead, he steps closer until I can feel the warmth of him at my side. His shoulder brushes against mine, and I glance up at him, catching the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"What’s going on in that head of yours, Shota?" I ask, my voice light, but there’s a playful edge to it.

He raises an eyebrow, his dark eyes locking with mine. "I was just thinking how much fun it would be to see you covered in snow."

I scoff, but before I can respond, he reaches out, grabbing my hand. His fingers are warm, and before I know it, he’s pulling me toward the door. “Come on.”

“What are you doing?” I ask, laughing as he leads me outside. The cold air hits me instantly, but I barely feel it with him beside me.

He doesn’t answer, just gives me a look that tells me all I need to know. I know that look—he’s up to something.

---

Shota’s POV

The moment we step outside, I let go of Mailin’s hand and bend down to scoop up a handful of snow. I hear her gasp behind me, probably already realizing what’s coming.

“Don’t you dare,” she warns, but there’s a challenge in her voice.

I glance back at her, smirking as I toss the snowball in the air, catching it easily. “Or what?”

Her eyes narrow playfully. “Or you’ll regret it.”

“Big talk for someone who’s about to lose,” I say, taking aim.

Before she can react, I throw the snowball, hitting her square in the chest. She stumbles back a step, gasping in mock outrage as she brushes the snow off her coat.

“You’re going to pay for that, Aizawa,” she says, already scooping up her own handful of snow.

I laugh, dodging out of the way as she hurls the snowball at me. It flies past me, hitting the tree behind me, but before I can gloat, she’s already throwing another one. This one hits its mark, smacking me in the shoulder.

“Lucky shot,” I tease, bending down to gather more snow.

---

Mailin’s POV

We’re laughing, ducking behind trees and bushes as we throw snowballs at each other like a couple of kids. For a moment, I forget about everything else—about the students, the responsibilities, the constant chaos of being a hero. It’s just me and Shota, wrapped in the cold air and the warmth of each other’s presence.

I crouch down behind a tree, trying to catch my breath, when I feel a snowball hit the back of my head. I whip around, ready to throw one back, but Shota is already standing there, just a few feet away, grinning like he’s won something.

“Oh, you think you’re so clever, don’t you?” I say, narrowing my eyes.

He steps closer, his smile softening into something more intimate. “I do, actually.”

I try to step back, but before I can move, he grabs my arm, pulling me close. I gasp, my heart skipping as I find myself pressed against his chest, his breath warm against my cold skin.

“You know,” he says quietly, his voice low and teasing, “I could just keep winning if you’d like.”

I smirk, looking up at him through my lashes. “Or I could win by default.”

He raises an eyebrow. “How’s that?”

I don’t answer with words. Instead, I reach up, grabbing a handful of snow and shoving it down the back of his jacket. He jerks back, cursing under his breath as the cold seeps through his clothes.

“You’re going to regret that,” he growls, but there’s a smile on his lips, and before I know it, he’s pulling me down into the snow with him.

We fall together, laughing as we hit the soft ground, our limbs tangled together in a mess of snow and coats. I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe, and when I look up at him, his dark eyes are already on me, filled with that quiet intensity that always makes my heart race.

“Shota—” I start, but my words are cut off as he leans down, pressing his lips to mine.

The kiss is soft at first, gentle and warm against the cold air. But then his hand moves to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and suddenly, the world around us disappears. It’s just him—his lips on mine, his body pressed against me, and the snow melting beneath us.

When we finally pull apart, I’m breathless, my cheeks flushed from more than just the cold.

“You cheat,” I say, but my voice is light, teasing.

He smirks, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “And you love it.”

I can’t help but laugh, leaning up to kiss him again. He’s right—I do.

---

Shota’s POV

She’s lying in the snow beneath me, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright with laughter and something else—something deeper. I brush my thumb over her cheek, and for a moment, I just take her in. She’s beautiful, especially like this—her guard down, her eyes soft and full of trust.

“You’re staring again,” she murmurs, but there’s no accusation in her voice.

I smirk, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “Can’t help it.”

She rolls her eyes, but I can see the way her lips twitch into a smile. “You’re impossible.”

I chuckle, helping her up from the snow. “Maybe. But you wouldn’t have me any other way.”

She laughs, brushing the snow from her coat. “Don’t get cocky, Shota.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Who’s getting cocky? I’m just stating facts.”

Before she can retort, I grab her hand, pulling her close again. This time, she doesn’t resist. She leans into me, her arms wrapping around my waist as we stand there in the snow, the world quiet around us.

For a moment, we just stand there, holding each other, the cold air forgotten as warmth spreads between us.

“Come on,” I say softly, my lips brushing her ear. “We should probably head back before the students come looking for us.”

She groans, burying her face in my chest. “They’ll never let us live this down.”

I laugh, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Probably not. But it was worth it.”

She looks up at me, her eyes sparkling. “Yeah. It was.”

---

As we head back inside, hand in hand, I can’t help but feel grateful. Grateful for her, for this quiet moment in the chaos of our lives. With her by my side, I know that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

And that’s all I need.