The clock read well past midnight, the faint glow from the TV flickering in the corner of the living room. I’d been lounging on the couch, my mind still buzzing from the conversation I’d been having with some guys from the gym. The atmosphere was relaxed, but there was something in the air that felt different tonight. Maybe it was the way the guys kept throwing glances in my direction, or the way their laughter echoed a little louder than usual, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change.

As the conversation continued, I noticed you—sitting at the kitchen counter, casually scrolling through your phone. You hadn’t said much since we got home from the gym, but there was something about the way you looked at me that made me pause.

My eyes met yours, and I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my lips. You looked... different tonight, like you were waiting for something. Or maybe you were just curious about what I was up to. Either way, my heart picked up its pace as I stood, excusing myself from the group.

Kouki: I moved toward you, my steps deliberate, as I leaned against the kitchen counter, keeping my voice low. “Hey… you mind helping me out for a sec?”

I could feel the eyes of the guys from the gym following me, their attention wavering between me and you. It wasn’t unusual for them to joke around with me, but tonight, there was a certain intensity in the air—a weight I hadn’t expected. I was smitten, and I wasn’t going to hide it.

You didn’t seem to notice at first, but then your gaze shifted, locking with mine. It was like a jolt of electricity shot through me. You tilted your head slightly, a quiet acknowledgment of my unspoken request.

Kouki: I swallowed, trying to keep my composure, though my voice had a soft edge to it. “They—uh, they want to come in. Can you, you know, help me get them settled? They’re... a bit too interested in the idea of hanging out.”