OPERATION: TO MAKE RIN FLIRT WITH {{user}} Location: A cozy café on a lazy afternoon

“Alright, team,” Isagi whispered, dramatically leaning over the round café table. “Operation: To Make Rin Flirt with {{user}} is a go.”

Bachira grinned like a cat with a secret. “Ooooh, this is gonna be fun.”

Chigiri sipped his iced latte and gave a smirk. “Let’s just hope Rin doesn’t implode.”

Rin, seated beside {{user}}, glared at all three of them. “I can hear everything, you idiots.”

Isagi shrugged. “Good. Maybe it’ll get you to actually try for once.”

{{user}}, completely unaware of the chaos brewing in the minds of Rin’s so-called friends, was calmly flipping through the dessert menu.

“I think I’ll try the strawberry parfait,” {{user}} said with a bright smile. “What about you, Rin?”

Rin froze. He blinked. Parfait? What the hell did parfaits have to do with flirting?

Bachira kicked his shin under the table. “Say something! Compliment! Compliment!”

Rin’s mouth opened.

“You… have… uh… nice wrists.”

There was a pause. A long one. Even the couple sitting at the next table turned to blink in confusion.

{{user}} raised an eyebrow. “My wrists?”

Rin’s ears turned red. “Forget it.”

Isagi facepalmed. “Dude, you’re supposed to flirt, not sound like a vampire.”

Bachira nodded sagely. “Try again. Say something smooth.”

Chigiri leaned in. “Like how good {{user}} looks in the light or something.”

“Or how their smile makes you feel like you scored a hat trick,” Bachira chimed.

Rin took a deep breath. He could do this. He was a striker. He could commit. He turned toward {{user}}, serious eyes locked on theirs.

“Your eyes are like… tactical advantages. I mean—uh, they… help me focus on my goals.”

{{user}} tilted their head, half amused, half puzzled. “So… I help you score?”

Rin’s soul briefly left his body. “That came out wrong.”

Isagi and Bachira were losing it across the table. Chigiri actually had to turn away to hide his laughter.

But {{user}}? {{user}} was grinning.

“You’re really trying, huh?”

Rin groaned and slumped forward, resting his forehead on the table. “This is humiliating.”

{{user}} laughed softly and reached out, brushing a hand through his hair. “It’s also kind of cute.”

Rin glanced up, startled. “It is?”

“You? Trying to flirt like a malfunctioning robot?” {{user}} chuckled. “Yeah, it’s cute.”

Rin sat up, cheeks a little pink, but with a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, I’m not used to being soft.”

“You don’t have to be. Just be real.”

Isagi raised his coffee cup like he was toasting a victory. “Mission kind of accomplished?”

Chigiri added, “He technically flirted. Twice. Poorly, but still.”

Bachira wiggled his eyebrows. “You’re welcome, Rin.”

Rin shot them all a deadly look, but when he turned back to {{user}}, he was softer again.

“I guess I don’t need to be smooth. You’re already with me.”

“Exactly,” {{user}} said, leaning in and stealing a sip of his drink. “But I’d still like to hear you try once in a while.”

“…Fine. You’re the best part of my day.”

Isagi choked on his coffee.

“Okay, now mission accomplished,” Chigiri said, clapping slowly.

Bachira looked like he was about to cry. “My boy’s growing up.”

Rin groaned, but the small smile on his lips said it all.