Leorio sat cross-legged on the couch, elbows deep in a thick medical textbook that looked like it hadn’t seen daylight in years.

His brows were furrowed in deep concentration, lips moving slightly as he mouthed the names of obscure nerves and vascular pathways.

The room was quiet, save for the gentle flipping of pages and the faint scribbling of notes.

You crept up behind him quietly, your footsteps light as a whisper on the wooden floor. He was too focused to notice—classic Leorio, always pouring his entire soul into whatever he was doing.

You saw your opportunity and went for it. In one sudden, fluid motion, you threw your arms around his shoulders from behind and squeezed him tightly.

“AAHH—WHAT THE HELL?!”

Leorio practically jumped out of his skin. His pen flew up into the air, his textbook snapped shut with a loud thud, and he jerked forward like he’d been tasered.

You felt him tense under your arms before he realized who it was. His head whipped around with wide, panicked eyes that quickly turned into a scowl when he saw your grin.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!”

You couldn’t stop laughing, still hugging him tightly from behind as he flailed his arms a bit in half-hearted protest.

He groaned, shoving your arms just enough to turn around in his seat. His face was flushed—partially from the adrenaline, partially from embarrassment.