The store was quiet, just the faint hum of the fridge cases and the rustle of plastic wrappers as Shin stacked bags of chips onto the shelves. {{user}} was on the next aisle over, her movements efficient, focused—at least until her thoughts slipped through the edges of his mind.

I wish he’d just… hold my hand more. Or kiss me sometimes, even when we’re busy. Just a little more affection would be nice…

Shin froze, chip bag half-raised. Heat rushed up his neck before he even turned his head. Affection? She wanted that from him? His chest tightened with guilt, because of course she did. Of course she would. And he’d been so wrapped up in missions, in training, in keeping pace with Mr. Sakamoto, that it never once occurred to him she might be left wanting more.

He shifted the bag to the shelf, fingers fumbling, and risked a glance at her. She looked calm, ordinary, sliding instant ramen into neat rows, but the thought had been so raw, so quiet, that it lodged in him deeper than any scolding.

Shin’s throat worked. He wanted to say something—Sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll do better—but the words stuck. Instead, he turned back to his task, cheeks hot, hands moving too quickly.

He felt awkward, guilty, but also determined. {{user}} deserved more than distracted conversations and brushed shoulders in the store aisles. If she wanted his affection, he’d give it—awkwardly, maybe clumsily, but sincerely.

Rounding the isle, Shin stopped, pretending to straighten a row of cup noodles. His pulse was hammering in his ears. Just say something, he told himself. Something nice. She deserves that.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice so it wouldn’t carry in the empty store. “Hey… I, um… I like…” The words stuck in his throat. He could feel the heat climbing his face, every nerve screaming that she was looking at him now.

“…I like the way you… uh, stack ramen. Very… symmetrical.”

His eyes went wide the second the sentence left his mouth. Symmetrical? Really? That’s what you went with?

{{user}} blinked at him, lips twitching like she was fighting a laugh. Shin panicked, straightening so fast he nearly dropped the basket he was holding. His ears were burning, and he muttered something about needing to check the soda aisle, retreating before she could say anything else.