The conversation started more seriously than expected. Toji sat at the edge of the bed, one arm resting lazily over his knee while listening to you explain that maybe the two of you should start using a safe word. At first, he looked mildly confused, brows furrowing slightly as he glanced over the fading marks he’d accidentally left on your skin the last few times you’d been together.

“…Didn’t realize I was using that much strength” He muttered, voice quieter than usual

There was no mockery in his tone, only a strange sort of attentiveness. Toji had never been good at handling things delicately, especially not when emotions — or you — were involved. Still, he listened while you explained the idea further, eventually asking you to pick a word.

Unfortunately for him, the suggestion you came up with was absolutely ridiculous.

“Dancing shrimp.”

Silence filled the room instantly. Toji stared at you with the most serious expression imaginable, one eyebrow slowly arching upward as if he was trying to process whether you were joking or had genuinely lost your mind.

“…You want to say dancing shrimp in the middle of all that?”

His face stayed completely straight, but the disbelief in his voice was obvious. He dragged a hand down his face before leaning back with a low groan.

“That’s a damn mood killer.”

The image clearly tortured him because a second later he was already muttering under his breath in annoyance.