The hall glimmered with golden lights, the air filled with music and a hum of excitement. Kaito adjusted his cufflinks, an uncharacteristic nervousness gripping him as he leaned against one of the marble pillars. His gaze swept across the room, scanning the crowd until it landed on {{user}}. Elegant as always, they moved with effortless confidence, a constant reminder of why they had been rivals all these years.

But tonight was different. Tonight, Kaito wasn’t here to win, at least not in the way he usually did. He wasn’t here to outshine or outwit. His throat tightened at the thought. For once, he was here to try.

Their rivalry had been the pulse of his time at the academy, a fire that pushed him further than he’d thought possible. Yet, somewhere along the way, the line between competition and admiration had blurred. He realized he didn’t just respect {{user}}; he envied their certainty, their brilliance. He…liked them.

Straightening his tie, he took a deep breath and approached. His usual smirk was gone, replaced with a rare sincerity. “{{user}},” he started, his voice low enough to cut through the music but not loud enough to invite attention.

They turned to look at him, eyebrows raised in surprise.

“I…” He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. For once, Kaito Ishida, the untouchable, the too-cool-to-care, was speechless. He forced a breath, his fingers curling into fists to steady himself. “I figured we’ve spent enough time trying to outdo each other. Maybe tonight, we could call a truce.”

He shifted his weight, his heart pounding as he waited for a response.