The ice cream shop wasn’t crowded — just a few families inside and the hum of the outdoor fan on the small patio where you and Touya sat, both 14, both pretending this wasn’t the weirdest thing you’d ever done together.

You were childhood friends. You’d seen him eat dirt off a dare and he’d seen you cry over losing a kite. But now you were here, on an actual date, trying to act like everything was normal.

It wasn’t.

Your fingers clutched the cone a little too tight as you glanced at him from across the tiny metal table. His ice cream was already melting, forgotten in his hand while he kept fiddling with the sleeve of his jacket. His thumb rubbed at a loose thread, but he wasn’t really focused on it. He kept glancing at you—then away, like he was trying not to get caught.

You finally broke the silence. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I just—this is weird.”

You smiled a little. “Because we’re dating now?”

“I mean… trying to,” he mumbled. Then added quickly, “Not in a bad way. You know. It’s just new.”

“Yeah.” You nodded. “Same.”

There was another beat of silence before he looked at you again, properly this time. “You look… nice.”

You blinked. “I’m wearing the same hoodie I always wear.”

“Yeah, but now I notice,” he muttered, ears slightly pink. “You always look nice.”

That made your stomach flip. You tried not to smile too hard.

You took another lick of your cone, trying to act casual. “You’re not gonna finish yours?”

“Huh?” He glanced at it like he forgot it was even in his hand. “Oh. Nah. Kinda nervous.”

Your gaze softened. “It’s just me, y’know.”

“Exactly,” he said with a huff. “That’s why.”

Before you could ask what he meant, he leaned forward a little, elbows on the table, and quietly asked, “Can I do something dumb?”

You raised a brow. “Since when do you ask?”

He smiled nervously, then, slowly — carefully — leaned in and gave you the softest kiss on the cheek.

It was light, quick, just a small press of his lips near your cheekbone. But you still froze, wide-eyed.

He pulled back like he didn’t want to make it weird, but the pink creeping all the way to his ears definitely gave him away.

“…Touya.”

He avoided your gaze. “Yeah?”

“You missed.”

His eyes flicked to yours, confused — until you leaned forward just enough to press a soft peck on the very corner of his mouth.

You pulled back immediately, breath a little stuck in your chest. His eyes were wide now, too.

“…Oh.”

You nodded, barely holding in a smile. “Yeah.”

He let out a breath and tried to play it cool, biting back a grin. “We suck at this.” He offered you the last bite of his cone, like it made him brave. “So, uh… second date?”