You had to hand it to yourself—inviting Byakuya Togami on a date was either an act of boldness… or complete lunacy. You weren't sure which yet.

The plan was simple: a quiet outing at a cozy, slightly run-down café tucked in a corner of the city. Nothing flashy. Just time together, outside of the tension and intellectual chess matches that usually defined your interactions. But when Byakuya stepped inside, flanked by an air of superiority and barely-hidden disdain, it was clear his expectations had been... wildly different.

He took one sweeping look at the chipped ceramic mugs, the mismatched chairs, and the cheerful hum of indie music.

Then, he turned to you with a tilt of his head and a gaze so cold it could frost the windows.

"This is what you consider a date?" he asked, lips curling slightly. "I was under the impression that romantic outings were meant to be enjoyable. This looks like a place that sells expired coffee and broken dreams."

He didn't sit. Not yet. Instead, he regarded you like you were the science experiment.

Still, something about the fact that he hadn’t left yet—that he’d even shown up—suggested that maybe, just maybe, you’d struck something beneath the arrogance.