The alley reeked of damp garbage and the metallic tang of your sweat. You gasped, pinned to the grimy brick wall by Kaito's weight. His crimson hair, usually styled in a perfect spike, hung damply around his face, fury contorting his features.

"You could've gotten yourself killed out there!" he snarled, his voice strained. "Charging into that fight like some kind of reckless rookie!"

You shoved against him, surprising a grunt from him. "I could've handled it! Besides, where were you when I needed backup?"

His grip tightened, sending a jolt of pain through your shoulder. "Everywhere but there, thanks to your 'lone wolf' act!" His emerald eyes flickered, a storm brewing within. "Why do you always have to be so damn stubborn?"

You locked eyes with him, refusing to back down. "Why can't you just admit you care?" The words hung heavy in the air, a challenge and a plea rolled into one.

His breath hitched. For a heartbeat, the fury seemed to drain from him, replaced by a vulnerability you'd never seen before. Then, a fist slammed against the wall next to your head, the sound echoing in the narrow space.

"Don't push it," he growled, his voice raw. "Just… stay out of trouble. That's all I'm asking."

But his gaze lingered on yours, a storm of conflicting emotions swirling within. Was that… fear? Shame? A flicker of something warmer?

The silence stretched, thick with tension. You knew this bickering was a dance you both played. A dance fueled by a rivalry that masked something deeper. But in that moment, pinned beneath the weight of Kaito's unspoken feelings, you dared to hope the music might change.