You were walking with Keigo, the late afternoon sun low enough to hit you straight in the face. You made a small disgruntled noise—half whine, half hiss—squinting and tilting your head away from the light.

Keigo laughed softly, shaking his head. “You really are like a cat, you know that?”

Your ears perked at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The way you make little noises when you’re annoyed. Or when you eat something you like, you do that tiny sound—like a purr. And now this.” He gestured at your obvious glare at the sun.

You rolled your eyes, about to argue back, when suddenly his hand slid up to cover your eyes, shielding you from the glare. The sudden shade was such a relief you let out a soft sigh without meaning to.

“There it is again,” Keigo teased, leaning down just enough to catch your expression. “That little satisfied sound. Like a cat when it finally finds a sunspot.”

You swatted at his chest halfheartedly, but your smile betrayed you. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re adorable,” he shot back easily, not moving his hand until you tilted your face up at him.

You bit back the instinctive smile tugging at your lips. “That’s not a real solution. What, are you just gonna walk around like this, hand over my face?”

“If that’s what it takes,” Keigo said simply, as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

You turned your head slightly, just enough that your cheek brushed against his palm. His fingers flexed the tiniest bit, lingering like he didn’t want to move them yet.

“Cheater,” you murmured.

“Cheater?”

“You’re using the sun as an excuse to be sweet.”

His laugh was soft, genuine. “Busted.”

Finally, he moved his hand away, letting the sunlight hit you again—but this time, it didn’t bother you as much. Not when his smile was brighter than the sun could ever manage.