You launched a surprisingly strong strike during sparring, catching Geto off guard. He stumbled back, regaining his footing, and for a moment the usual calm, composed mask slipped.

He blinked, shaken but smiling faintly — that small, unguarded smile reserved for moments he couldn’t fully hide himself.

“…This… this is why I like you,”

he muttered, almost without thinking.

You froze, heart skipping a beat. He realized immediately what he’d said, eyes widening.

“I didn’t mean it like that!”

He stepped back, running a hand through his hair, clearly trying to keep composure. His usual confident aura was still there, but the nervousness in his tone betrayed him.

“Just get back to training!”

Even as he tried to hide it, the accidental slip lingered between you, heavy with all the words he wasn’t ready to say — and all the feelings he hadn’t planned to reveal.