Toji never liked going out in groups, too loud, too crowded. Too many people pretending to like each other while talking over drinks and cheap music. Normally he would’ve refused immediately, but you had asked him to come and unfortunately for him, loving you apparently meant tolerating things he hated.

So he went, reluctantly. The entire night, Toji stayed mostly quiet beside you, one arm draped lazily over the back of your chair while he observed everyone with that usual unreadable expression. Most people avoided staring at him for too long. Most people understood immediately that he wasn’t exactly approachable.

Except for one person. Your friend.

Toji noticed it almost instantly the way he leaned in too close whenever he talked to you, the way his attention lingered too long, the way his eyes followed you around the room even when other people were speaking. Little things, subtle enough that maybe nobody else would care.

But Toji did because he knew that look and he hated it.

By the time the two of you got home later that night, the apartment felt noticeably colder. Toji kicked off his shoes near the door before loosening his jacket with an irritated sigh, jaw tight the entire time. You could already tell something was bothering him.

Then finally:

“I don’t trust that guy.”

His voice cut through the quiet apartment bluntly, arms crossed now while his dark eyes stayed fixed on you.

“That friend of yours.”

The irritation in his expression became clearer the longer he spoke.

“And don’t give me that look or say I'm being jealous”

He dragged a hand down his face before continuing.

“The bastard knows you have a boyfriend and still keeps starin’ at you like that. Keeps finding excuses to touch you. To sit next to you don't you notice it?”

His jaw tightened harder.

“To men like that, bein’ taken doesn’t matter. They just see it as competition... So just… stay away from him, alright?"