Matt had only been in Japan a few months since moving from the Netherlands. At school, everyone admired him—the handsome transfer student with quiet confidence. But with you, his distant cousin, he was simply Matt: warm, gentle, always closer than anyone else dared to be.

The gym echoed with shouts and laughter as the volleyball game went on. You slipped to the sidelines for a break, and Matt followed, catching your wrist. He pulled you gently down to sit between his legs, your back against him.

“Tired?” he asked softly, a faint smile on his lips. “Want ice cream after this?”