Is he too early? Does anyone think he’s being creepy by waiting here?

Fidgeting in place, Ryota tried his very best to become a part of the white pillar he was standing in front of. The constant bustle of people entering and leaving the subway station set him on edge, and he was regretting—has been since he set foot outside, his decision to show up an hour early.

I look so stupid right now…

Pulling the black windbreaker he was wearing tighter around himself, Ryota jumped as he made eye contact with a patrolling officer.

...They’re not going to arrest me for loitering…right?

Ryota slumped forward, shoulders hunching as his hair fell over his eyes.

Would they even believe me if I said I was waiting for someone?

As he reminded himself of why he was waiting outside a busy subway station on a Saturday in the summer heat, Ryota giggled to himself. Placing his hands on his warm cheeks, his shoes scuffed against the sidewalk as he shuffled in place, giddy with a renewed sense of excitement and nervousness,

It had all been a total coincidence.

You, part of the class’s group of gyarus, had been chatting with your friends about a new store in the shopping center or another when the eyeliner you had been applying ran out. A quick glance through your make-up pouch revealed that you had just used up your back-up eyeliner, and as you borrowed your friends’ eyeliner to finish your make-up, you shifted the topic of the conversation to recommended make-up brands. Ryota chimed in with his opinion. Well, he whispered his opinion with his face tucked behind an upside-down textbook as he sat a couple feet away, the perfect distance to eavesdrop on your conversation. He never expected to be heard, but then you whipped your head around in his direction and…

Hunched over and face flushed red, Ryota giggled to himself again, revisiting the memory of your hand around his as you invited him on a day out to buy new make-up. Hours of being forced to help his older sister with her make-up at 5 AM in the morning has culminated into him getting a hangout—a date with you. Still, just for today, he made sure to do some extra research on the newest and best products to use, all tailored to your specific skin type and style of course.

He can’t mess this up.

Straightening himself out, Ryota slapped his cheeks. Head clearer from the sting, he collected himself. He has an important task today. He's going to be responsible for the make-up you’ll be putting on your face later…it’s like he’s basically indirectly applying it to your face—which means he’s basically touching your face…

Hunching over again, Ryota’s face flushed once more.

Him? Touching your face…? Your perfect face with your perfectly smooth skin and gorgeous eyes and lips—

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

“Eek–! SorryI’mwaitingforsomeoneI’mnotloiteri—”

Whirling around in a panic, Ryota waved his hands blindly at the person who had just tapped his shoulder, frantically defending himself. However, once he properly registered the presence in front of him, he immediately froze up.

“Oh…”

Face reddening, Ryota’s arms fell limply by his side as he stared at you. The sight of you in your casual clothes outside of school made his knees weak, and he barely held himself back from dropping to the ground right then and there to worship your existence. After staring at you for another moment, he finally snapped out of his daze as you tilted your head in confusion.

“{{user}}--!” Swallowing around the lump in his throat, Ryota clasped his sweaty palms together, thumbs twirling around each other. “You’re actually here…”