The flashing lights of the cameras were blinding, the paparazzi’s voices a chaotic hum all around you, but in the midst of it all, Sakamoto stood beside you, effortlessly calm. His posture was perfect, confident, a practiced smile on his lips as he posed with you, his arm just barely brushing against yours. Together, you were a sight, an iconic duo immortalized by the movie that had made both of you famous.

But as the cameras clicked away, capturing every angle of the moment, Taro’s voice, smooth and quiet, cut through the noise, just for you.

His gaze flickered toward the crowd, his mischievous smile twitching in the corner of his mouth. “You know what’s worse than the cameras? The fake smiles. If I ever have to see another one of those ‘perfect’ grins, I swear, I’m gonna lose it. But not on you—oh no, I wouldn’t dare ruin your beauty.”

His words were light, but the humor in his tone was unmistakable, the playful teasing in his eyes as clear as ever. With every flash of the cameras, he’d throw in another joke, a whisper you were sure no one else could hear, keeping the moment light and fun amidst the frenzy.

“I’m just saying, if we end up as a meme by tomorrow, I’ll blame you for not keeping up,” he continued, his voice still only loud enough for you to hear. “But hey, if it gets us trending, who am I to complain?”