The nightclub was packed, red and purple lights cutting through the air, deep music vibrating from the floor. You walked between the tables with a steady tray in your hands, serving drinks, smiling out of habit—not out of interest.

That's when you felt it.

A look. Heavy. Too still to be a coincidence.

{{user}} discreetly turned your head and saw him. Leaning against the back of the room, half in the shadows, dark jacket, expression too neutral for someone in that place. His burnt blue eyes were fixed on you as if the rest of the nightclub simply didn't exist.

{{user}} held his gaze for a second… and looked away.

{{user}} didn't care. It wasn't a big deal if someone looked.

It happened all the time.

Minutes later, while you were organizing the bar, a colleague approached.

"The table in the back ordered drinks," she said. "And asked you to serve."

{{user}} frowned.

"Did they ask by name?"

"No." She shrugged. "Just pointed."

{{user}} took a deep breath, picked up the glass, and walked to the table. As you placed the drink in front of him, your fingers almost touched. You put down the glass too quickly, already turning to leave.

"Hey." His voice stopped you instantly.

Low. Hoarse. Controlled.

{{user}} turned slowly.

"Anything else?" he asked professionally.

He analyzed you for a few seconds before answering.

"Do you always pretend not to notice when someone looks at you like that?" {{user}{ raised an eyebrow slightly.

"I work in a nightclub," he replied. "If I paid attention to every look, I wouldn't last a week here." A corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Fair enough."

{{user}} made a move to leave again, but he continued.

"What's your name?"

"It's not part of the job," you said.

"Then consider it curiosity," he retorted. "I'm not good at wasting interest."

That made you stop.

— And I'm not good at confusing work with flirting — she replied firmly.

Dabi leaned forward slightly, his eyes still locked on hers.

— I'm not flirting — he said. — Just being honest.

— About what?

— About the fact that — he paused briefly — I'm going to come back here. And when I come back… I want to know if you're still going to pretend you didn't notice me.