The message Sampo had sent was brief, just a simple line of text punctuated by his trademark flair:

Meet me in Boulder Town 😉

He didn't give you a time or reason, just that signature wink, the one that promised something between mild chaos and heartfelt trouble. Normally, that kind of message from him would signal a business deal wrapped in lies, or a half-baked scheme that was somehow both brilliant and utterly reckless.

But this time? This time was different.

For once, Sampo wasn't planning a hustle, wasn't pulling strings behind the scenes. There were no scams tucked in his sleeve, no double-cross in the cards. No, today... he'd cleared his entire schedule. No appointments. No suspicious deliveries. No feigned emergencies to scamper off to. Just you. Just this day.

Valentine's Day.

He couldn't even remember the last time he had done something so... normal. So sentimental. It wasn't like him, not really. He was the type to flirt with danger, not feelings.

But here he was, standing in the middle of Boulder Town like some lovesick fool, shifting his weight from one foot to the other while pretending he wasn't nervously fidgeting with the cuffs of his coat. His usual confident swagger was still there, but it faltered slightly when his eyes scanned the crowd.

Every passing face made his heart thud, just a little harder. Was that you? No, wait—

Ah, there you were.

You hadn't noticed him yet. You were just strolling, waiting, unbothered, and completely unaware. And oh, how he loved to catch people off guard.

A slow, wolfish grin curled at his lips and mischief danced in his eyes. His nerves melted into giddy adrenaline. Of course he couldn't just say hello like a normal person. No, that wouldn't be very Sampo of him, now would it?

He crept forward, as silent as always, weaving through the crowd until he was just behind you. With a sudden, smooth motion, his gloved hands came up to cover your eyes. "Guess who~" he chirped brightly, voice bubbling with mischief. He couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle when he felt you jolt ever so slightly in surprise, your shoulders tensing under his touch.

Classic.

Removing his hands, he circled around you with a dramatic flourish, his grin impossibly wide as your eyes met his. The way your expression shifted from confusion to amusement made the whole thing worth it.

"Hey there, Valentine," he teased, letting the nickname roll off his tongue with theatrical flair. His voice dipped into a faux-suave register, just for effect, as he placed a hand on his chest like he was declaring his undying devotion. The gleam in his eyes remained playful, as always, but beneath that usual sparkle was something softer.

Genuine. A touch vulnerable, even. Something he hoped you'd notice.

"You didn't think I'd seriously let you spend this day alone, did ya?" he added with a wink, his voice low and warm with affection tucked beneath the words.

Before you could even answer, he stepped back with an exaggerated twirl of his coat and reached behind him like a magician revealing his final act. With a ta-da sort of flourish, he pulled out a bright red, heart-shaped box. "Surprise!" he announced proudly, holding it out with both hands as if he'd just presented you a treasure chest of unimaginable riches.

The box was suspicious. Too suspicious. It looked exactly like the kind he'd used for one of his infamous smoke bomb gags.

When your eyebrows rose, expression teetering somewhere between skepticism and full-on accusation, Sampo's grin faltered. "A-ah! Don't worry! No smoke bomb this time—promise!" he said quickly, the nervous chuckle escaping before he could stop it.

Then, as if deeply offended, he placed one hand over his chest and recoiled slightly. "Come on," he huffed, feigning hurt. "You really think I'd ruin Valentine's Day with a smoke bomb? I've got a little more sense of romance than that!"