~Enji's POV~

I finished my cold shower while berating myself. What the hell was I thinking? I'd almost kissed her. My mind was a mess. Shiori had me completely stirred up. I couldn't believe I'd nearly kissed her; she was weak right now, that wouldn't have been fair...and I was still married to Rei...even if it was a loveless marriage.

After my cold shower, I changed quickly and returned to Shiori's room. A part of me told myself I was just checking in on her to make sure she was alright since she was still recovering. There was another part of me that felt this desperate need to see her and be near her and I had a feeling it was that selfish part of me that was winning out. I slowly pushed open the door to her room. She was sound asleep, resting peacefully.

I went to take up my seat at her bedside to watch over her as I had the night before and every spare moment I'd had throughout her stay with me. Her skin was still paler than usual and there were dark circles beneath her eyes. She shifted in her sleep, rolling onto her side causing the blankets to slip off her delicate shoulder and expose her to the cold night air. I reached forward and swept the blanket over her and felt my heart skip a beat as a small smile spread across her lips and she snuggled into the blankets.

I watched her for a long moment, studying her sleeping face before settling back into the recliner at her side. It wasn't long after I'd drifted to sleep that I was being woken by the sound of the door being pushed open. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and I spotted a small figure step into the room. The two toned hair gave him away, it was Shoto. What was he doing here?

He crept into the room with an irritating All Might plushie tucked under one arm. He seemed to be half asleep as he struggled for a moment to climb into the tall bed. I pretended to be asleep as he glanced in my direction. When I chanced a glance again I saw he'd wormed his way into Shiori's arms and was already sound asleep. Most impressive of all was that Shiori had managed to sleep through the whole thing as he hadn't been quiet or graceful. That just proved how exhausted and desperately in need of rest she was.

Shoto seemed at peace snuggled in her arms. He missed his mother, even after what she'd done. All of my children had taken quite the liking to Shiori, for which I was glad. They needed some kind of maternal figure in their life and Shiori was a natural. As that thought crossed my mind, I mentally kicked myself, what was I thinking?

When I woke again, just before my alarm was due to go off, I was surprised to find Natsuo sound asleep across the foot of Shiori's bed and Fuyumi laying next to her on the side opposite of Shoto. It had been a long time since I'd seen my children this at peace in my presence. I sat up and my breath caught in my throat as Shiori's hypnotic eyes, the color of molten caramel, fluttered open.

I opened my mouth to tell her to go back to sleep but paused as she held a finger to her lips upon noticing the sleeping children. A small smile tugged at my lips. Unable to speak, I offered her an awkward wave as I got to my feet and headed for the door. She smiled back at me somewhat bashfully before waving back, though it seemed like it took quite a bit of effort.

'Rest' I mouthed to her before taking my leave.

I retreated to my bedroom to get ready for my day. It took me a little longer to get ready as my mind was all muddled with thoughts of Shiori. After getting ready I poked my head into the room Shiori was staying in and smiled as I saw that she'd fallen back asleep. The throw blanket draped over Natsuo had started to slip. I quietly crept into the room and adjusted it so he was covered before taking my leave.

"How is Miss Shiori doing?" My driver asked as he opened the door for me, he'd seemed wary of her at first but it appeared she was growing on him.

"Still recovering but she seems to be doing better." I replied.

"That's good to hear." He smiled politely.

Halfway to the agency, my phone started to ring. I glanced at it, it was Hiro. I picked it up and before I could get a word in, he was off.

"Who's the best lawyer in all of Japan?" He asked with swagger.

"I hope it's you, otherwise your rates are ridiculous." I grumbled.

"It is in fact me, the one and only Hiro." Hiro began making fake applause sounds to mimic the sound of a crowd cheering.

"Get to the point or I'm hanging up." I sighed.

Hiro chuckled, "I was able to file a restraining order for Shiori against the creep, thanks to some testimonials from the hospital staff who have all agreed to testify at the hearing... and do you know what that means for the custody case?"

"What?" I asked hopefully.

"It's pretty much in the bag. We have a hearing in three days." Hiro sounded so proud of himself.

Shiori should be recovered enough by then to attend. "That's great news, glad I'm not paying such ridiculous rates for shit results."

"Why do all of your compliments sound like insults?" Hiro grumbled. "You have mastered the art of complisults."

I rolled my eyes.

"Since Shiori is resting up at your place, Nina offered to pick her out some suitable court attire." Hiro noted, "speaking of your magical little siren, how is she doing?"

"Quit." I grumbled.

"Quit what?" Hiro mused.

"You're insinuating things you shouldn't be insinuating." I growled.

"Good Sir, I insulate nothing, any insinuations you picked up were of your own volition." Hiro snickered, "what on earth is it you thought I might be insinuating?"

"Enough." I snapped, tired of his games, "she's fine."

"Fine?" Hiro tried to get another rise out of me.

"Why the hell do I keep you on retainer?"

"I'm the closest thing you have to a friend." Hiro surmised with a chuckle.

I hung up with a sigh.

My day was mostly uneventful, which was probably for the best as I kept thinking about how I'd almost kissed Shiori the night before and was having trouble staying focused. I managed to return home in time for dinner for the first time in a while. No one greeted me when I returned home, which wasn't unusual. The housekeeper was already gone for the day.

To my surprise the dining room was empty though it was the time the children usually had dinner. I made my way to Shiori's room. The sound of laughter spilled into the hall, giving me pause. It sounded like Shiori and the kids were having fun. My presence would only sour the mood. I waited in the hall smiling softly at the sound of all their giggling.

Curious at what they were all giggling at, I subtly peeked into the room and spotted them all sitting on the bed with a tub of ice cream between them. All four of them were currently balancing spoons on their noses and trying to keep them in place while laughing. I stifled a laugh and ducked back into the hall. The floor creaked a little as I stepped back to conceal myself and the laughter suddenly fell to a hush.

"Endeavor?" Shiori called out to me.

For a moment, I contemplated keeping quiet but that would be even stranger. "Yes?"

"You planning on joining us or staying out in the hall?" Shiori pondered.

I reluctantly stepped into the room. Shoto and Natsuo scowled at me. Fuyumi smiled meekly. Shiori offered me a warm smile and pat the bed beside her. Shoto scooted to the opposite side of the bed, away from me, as I awkwardly took a seat.

"Ice cream for dinner?" I asked, my tone didn't come out right, it sounded harsher than I had intended.

Natsuo, Shoto and Fuyumi tensed.

"Apparently Opposite Day is a thing." Shiori shrugged.

"Opposite Day?" I frowned.

"Mhm, and on Opposite Day, you have dessert for dinner." Shiori smiled.

"That sounds like a terrible holiday." I grumbled and mentally kicked myself as my children flinched as if they thought I were going to yell at them, "...good thing it's only once a year." I attempted to make amends.

They stared at me in disbelief.

Shiori looked thoughtful, "but there is National Ice Cream Day too, and I think you're supposed to have ice cream for dinner on that day..."

"Alright...two days out of the year isn't so bad." I pointed.

"Then National Dessert Day..." Shiori grinned.

Fuyumi giggled quietly. Natsuo and Shoto watched me warily, moving closer to Shiori as if they thought I'd snap at her.

"How many more dessert based holidays are there?" I groaned.

"So many." Shiori beamed.

Natsuo and Shoto relaxed as they realized they weren't in trouble and I wasn't going to snap at Shiori.

"Then may I join you in this backwards dinner?" I asked, not wanting to ruin their fun.

"On one condition." Shiori smiled.

"What is it?"

"In order to enjoy the Opposite Day Dinner, you have to balance a spoon on your nose." She giggled as she handed me a spoon.

"That's ridiculous." I huffed.

"It's actually an art form and harder than it looks." Shiori retorted.

"I very much doubt that." I grumbled and attempted to balance the spoon on my nose to appease her. It slipped right off.

Fuyumi giggled, Natsuo and Shoto started to laugh but stopped themselves.

"There's a secret technique." Shiori pointed.

"What is it?" I growled, I felt foolish.

Shiori looked to the kids with a smile. They nodded and all four of them proceeded to breathe on their spoons before placing them on their noses. They all looked to me expectantly. This was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever done. Begrudgingly I followed suit and the spoon stuck to my nose sending all four of them into hysterics.

Embarrassed, I snatched the spoon off my nose and got up to leave. A sudden gasp of pain from Shiori, stopped me in my tracks. I turned to look at her and saw her wince in pain and press a hand to one of the extraction sites from the bone marrow donation. Hurriedly, I moved to make her more comfortable. After helping her into a more comfortable position and rearranging the pillows around her, her pain seemed to subside.

"Are you alright?" I asked, worried.

"Y-yeah. Whoever said laughter was the best medicine probably should have added some kind of disclaimer that it's not for everything." She grimaced.

"Perhaps that's enough excitement for the day, you should be resting." I frowned.

The kids tensed once more. They didn't want to leave just yet.

"After dinner." I added in hopes it would help. They all seemed to relax again.

"What about dessert?" Shiori pondered.

"I thought dessert was for dinner?" I grumbled trying to follow the ridiculous logic of Opposite Day.

"It is, but then dinner becomes dessert." Shiori said seriously.

The kids laughed.

"So, what's for dessert?" I sighed.

"Udon." Shiori replied as if it were obvious.

I shook my head, "fine, after dessert."

After our very confusing Opposite Day meal, the kids reluctantly left Shiori's room so she could rest. I stayed behind to clear everything up and looked to Shiori as she struggled to find a comfortable sleeping position.

"I talked to Hiro today..." I began softly.

She turned her warm caramel eyes to me, "about Hikaru?"

I nodded, "seems he was able to file for a restraining order on your behalf against Hikaru's father. Some of the hospital staff agreed to testify against him.... he believes that means your custody hearing should go well."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Really?"

I nodded again and looked away. "The hearing is in three days, Nina offered to take care of finding you something to wear."

Shiori was quiet.

I chanced a glance in her direction.

She smiled a teary smile, "thank you."

"Get some rest." I replied somewhat awkwardly before cowardly making my exit.