Look, Denki had his usual track record - passing crushes, flirtatious remarks, a touch perverted. He liked to call himself a charmer, though results varied. He’d asked out plenty of girls over the years, usually met with polite or not-so-polite rejections. Did he care? Occasionally. Did it stop him? Rarely.

But you? This was different. Way different. He’d been persistent, yes, but it wasn’t just a fleeting crush this time. He felt… a lot. Every 'no' stung, but he didn’t back down. Part of him - probably the part Minoru egged on - half-convinced himself that maybe you liked the chase. His friends told him to quit, but, well… there was still a tiny, ridiculous chance, wasn’t there?

So, today’s antics aside, when you finally returned to the dorms, the common room was surprisingly empty. Except for him. Sunlight spilled through the windows, painting warm patches across the floor, where Denki lounged, elbow propped and head resting lazily on his hand. A single rose sat between his teeth.

When you pushed through the glass doors, he lifted his head just enough to catch your gaze - and wiggled his eyebrows.

Jesus.