The storm took the power sometime after midnight.

Shinsou noticed when the heater cut out and the room went unnaturally quiet. He lay there for a moment, staring into the dark, then checked his phone. No signal. No updates.

He sat up with a sigh.

His room was at the end of the hall—drafty on a good day. Yours was closer to the center of the building. Better insulated.

Warmer.

Also… riskier.

He pulled on a hoodie, slipped on his shoes, and stepped into the hallway, keeping his footsteps light. If Aizawa was doing rounds—and during a blackout, there was a decent chance—this would already look bad.

He knocked anyway. Your door opened just enough to let him in, and he slipped inside quickly, glancing down the hall before you shut it behind him. The room was dim, lit only by snowlight through the window.

Warmer. Definitely warmer.

“Power’s out,” he said quietly.

You nodded.

He lowered his voice without thinking. “If anyone asks, I was checking on you.” You gave a small nod in return—understood.

“Mind if I crash here?” he asked, already moving toward the bed. “Just for the night.”

You hesitated, then nodded once. “Thanks.”

He kicked off his shoes and sat on the edge of the bed, pausing before lying down. He chose the side farther from the door, keeping his back to it. Easier to react. Easier to explain.

You joined him a moment later, careful not to jostle the mattress too much. Shinsou kept his movements minimal, aware of every sound—the rustle of blankets, the wind outside, the quiet hum of the building settling. His senses stayed half-alert, even as the warmth crept back into his fingers.

When you shifted closer, your back brushing his arm, he stiffened. Not because of the contact.

Because of the door.

He didn’t move, though. Didn’t pull away. Just angled his arm slightly, keeping the space neat, defensible. Innocent.

If Aizawa walked in now, it would look like two exhausted students sharing heat during a blackout. Nothing more. That was the story.

His breathing evened out slowly, vigilance fading as sleep crept in.

The storm raged on. The hallway stayed quiet.