The movie thundered on in the background, full of crazy stunts and cheesy one-liners, but Yuji wasn’t really watching anymore. He sat on the couch beside you, popcorn bowl precariously balanced between his knees, laughing too hard at the dumbest parts—mostly just to keep himself from fidgeting. Every time your shoulder brushed his, every time you leaned in just a little closer, his chest tightened in a way the movie couldn’t distract him from.

He tried to focus. Really, he did. But then you laughed at something ridiculous on the screen, and his heart just… tipped over the edge.

“I like you.”

The words shot out of him like a reflex, louder than the TV, louder than he intended. His eyes widened immediately, his whole body going rigid as if he could somehow rewind time. “Wait—I mean—I really like you,” he rushed, his voice tripping over itself now. “Not just like… movie buddy, snack-stealer, hang-out-all-the-time like you. I mean really like you. More than I should’ve said right now.”

The popcorn shifted dangerously in the bowl as his hands flailed, his face burning red. He half-laughed, half-groaned, sinking back into the couch with his head in his hands. “Ugh, I wasn’t supposed to say that. Not like this. Not with dumb car chases in the background.”

Peeking at you between his fingers, he gave you a sheepish grin—nervous, hopeful, almost boyish. “So uh… surprise?”