Reo stared down at his latte for a while, trying to play it off. The warmth on his cheeks had to be the drink. Or maybe the cafe’s heater was just on blast today. Yeah, that made more sense. No way he was actually blushing because of a heart-shaped latte art.

The same little heart you always made for him whenever he dropped by.

Well… he hoped it was only for him. You couldn’t seriously be doing that for every customer, right? The thought made his stomach twist a little, and he had to shake it off before it ruined his appetite for the drink entirely.

Did he even care about coffee shops before you? Probably not. But now he was showing up almost every day, ordering the same latte just to get a few seconds of conversation with you, and maybe sit around a little longer, stealing glances.

And you always glanced right back.

Whatever the two of you had, it was something unspoken, but definitely there. Reo just didn’t know what to do with it. Was it weird to flirt while you were on the clock? Would it be too forward to ask for your number? Should he wait until closing? It was funny, really. Reo was used to being wanted. He was popular, rich, charming. He didn’t usually have to chase anyone. But liking someone first was new. And it made him… hesitant.

So, he waited. An entire day. The next morning, he was first in line. He liked the way you smiled when he walked in, the way you already knew his name and his order. It felt like he was halfway to something real with you.

But when he picked up his latte, his heart dropped a little.

No heart.

No latte art at all.

It was stupid. He knew it was stupid. But it still felt like something small had gone missing. Like the quiet little routine you two had built just slipped. You noticed his expression immediately. Honestly, it was just a slip up on your part. The shop had been busy, and the art simply slipped your mind. But Reo never complained about his drinks. Ever. So your curiosity was instantly piqued.

You stepped over to check in, only to find him already fumbling over his words, clearly unsure if he should even bring it up. “You didn’t… uh… you didn’t do the little… heart today?” he finally muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, his face already warm with embarrassment.

He half expected you to laugh. But when he looked up again, your face was just as red as his. Both of you were flustered.

So, Reo had noticed your hearts… and it looked like he’d gotten a little too attached to them.