Tamaki stood quietly in the midst of his friends, hood pulled down low enough to hide his anxious gaze. He barely registered the conversation around him, his thoughts already consumed by the task Aizawa had given him—meeting the new student. Why him? Someone else—someone more confident—should’ve been chosen.

His stomach twisted. What if you didn’t like him? What if he messed this up?

Movement caught his attention. He glanced up nervously, spotting you approaching across the courtyard. You walked with a sense of certainty, clearly new but seeming comfortable, like you belonged here already.

He swallowed hard, heart rate accelerating. You looked nice. Friendly. He felt his anxiety spike.

Oh no. This is worse. Why did it have to be someone so—so…

He pulled his sleeves down over his palms, clutching the fabric tightly.

Please just…go easy on me.

His breath caught sharply as you stopped just in front of the group, eyes turning to him.

Tamaki froze, dread and excitement warring in his chest. Now he had to speak, and he wasn’t sure he could even remember his own name.