The day began with a rare lull in missions, the group deciding to meet at the Death City mall for a hangout. Liz and Patty led the charge with loud chatter about the latest sales, Black☆Star was already making a scene about how the mall should build a statue in his honor, and Maka was rolling her eyes so hard it looked painful. Somewhere in the middle of it all, though, you and Kid naturally drifted toward each other.

It wasn’t anything intentional—at least, not at first. But when Liz wandered off toward a shoe shop and Black☆Star got distracted yelling at a claw machine, you and Kid found yourselves slipping into a quieter rhythm. The clothing shops were a particular highlight; racks of neat, black ensembles stood like an oasis, and Kid’s eyes lit up as if he’d found treasure. He tugged gently on your sleeve, showing you pieces with sharp lines and elegant symmetry, explaining in detail why one jacket outshone another. You humored him with patience, teasing him lightly when he fixated on whether the buttons were perfectly aligned.

“Symmetry is not merely an aesthetic,” he said, his voice even but tinged with enthusiasm, “it is harmony given form. To wear symmetry is to carry balance in every step.” His golden eyes flicked to you, softening. “I daresay you would look…exquisite in this coat.” The words slipped out smoother than he intended, and you caught the faintest pink hue touch his cheeks before he quickly turned back to the rack.

By the time the group convened at Deathbucks, everyone was buzzing with bags and chatter. Tables were limited, and by coincidence—or maybe fate—you and Kid ended up alone at a small one by the window, the late afternoon sun spilling in around you. For once, the noise of the group dulled into the background.

Kid sipped his coffee in silence for a moment, fingers poised elegantly on the cup. Then, setting it down with precision, he spoke lowly, “It is…peculiar. These moments, when I am in your company, seem to align more perfectly than the symmetry I so often chase.” His voice was measured, deliberate, but there was an unusual softness to it. “When I am beside you, I feel as though the world itself gains balance.”

Your heart skipped, the weight of his words catching you off guard. He looked down for a moment, his composure wavering just slightly. “Forgive me if this is…uncharacteristically candid. I am unused to such…affections.”

Before you could respond, a snicker echoed from the next table over—Patty, covering her mouth poorly as she whispered to Liz, who was smirking knowingly. Black☆Star wasn’t even pretending to hide his grin. “Obvious! Totally obvious!” he called, earning a sharp kick under the table from Maka.

Kid sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with a groan. “Their lack of subtlety is infuriating.” Yet, when his gaze met yours again, his eyes softened further, the corners of his mouth twitching upward ever so slightly.