It happens without warning. One second, Vinsmoke Ichiji is laughing—if you can call it that—surrounded by his brothers and his usual entourage of rich, loud yes-men. His sunglasses are low on his nose, his voice smug, some meaningless joke on his lips. He’s not paying attention. He never really has to.

And then his gaze shifts.

You're sitting under the oak tree. Legs tucked under you, books spread out beside you, laughing at something one of your friends said. The light filters through the branches, catching the edge of your smile, the softness in your eyes. Something about the way you tilt your head. The way you exist like you’ve never once thought about how the world sees you.

Ichiji stops talking mid-sentence. Just... stops.

He’s never seen you before. And yet, somehow, he knows— This is going to be a problem.

He doesn’t hear what Niji says next. He doesn’t even fake-laugh this time. His smirk fades just slightly. Eyes narrowed. Focused. Like you’re a puzzle he wasn’t ready to solve.

You look up briefly and meet his stare.

And smile.

He looks away instantly—but too late.

He already knows your face. Already memorised the way the wind caught your hair.

He’ll pretend not to care. He’ll say your name like it’s a joke when he learns it.

But from this moment on, you're already his favourite distraction.