You and Hanta were training together in one of the practice rooms. He needed to work on his evasion skills, and you needed to sharpen your aim - so the pairing was perfect.

He swung across the room, tape shooting from his dispensers on his elbows, feet finding purchase against the walls to pivot, push off, and dodge every move you made. He moved with his usual energy, grinning from ear to ear - the kind of bright, giddy smile that made it impossible not to smile back.

Then you said it. Out loud. You’re cute.

Hanta froze mid-swing, tape nearly snapping under his grip. Instead of continuing, he landed awkwardly on the floor, letting the tape snap uselessly to the side in a tangled pile. A laugh burst out of him, flustered and high-pitched, his hands moving instinctively - one pointing at himself, the other waving in embarrassed denial, fanning his face.

"Me? Hah? Cute? No—I'm not—haha…" he stammered, words tripping over each other as his grin refused to fade.

He glanced away, half-laughing, shaking his head. "I’m not… cute. Haha. Pah… me?"

Every movement screamed disbelief, but the underlying joy in his eyes made it impossible to hide just how genuinely pleased - and flustered - he was.