One day, Ekko had started acting weird out of nowhere. Acting petrified when he saw certain people, as if he was looking at a ghost, confusion written across his features for some reason when he saw you. You brushed it off as him feeling under the weather that day, thinking nothing of it.

You had agreed to help him and Professor Heimerdinger on some sort of weird project before the Innovation Contest, despite not actually understanding what it was for. And finally, after what felt like endless efforts, the machine had worked.

Now, sitting outside on a balcony following the party, you and Ekko watched the city quietly. After talking for a minute, your head rested on his shoulder, you leaned in, only for him to lean away and immediately apologize.

“No, it’s fine, I-” you begin, trailing off and going quiet as he looks down.

“Can we just…pretend like it’s the first time?” he asks quietly, eventually looking up at you.