Shoto stood awkwardly in front of the arcade, hands shoved into his pockets, staring up at the bright, flashing sign. He still wasn’t sure how to feel about the whole situation. Engaged at sixteen—because of their fathers, of course. His lips tightened into a flat line as he thought about the arrangement.

The engagement itself didn’t make sense to him. He hadn’t expected it to feel so... strange. His father had pushed for this, using quirk marriages as a tool to build a powerful legacy, but Shoto couldn’t help but think of how little he actually knew about relationships, let alone being engaged.

But he was here. He had suggested the arcade, not wanting to dwell on the heavy weight of the news. It seemed like something normal, something light. And right now, normal sounded good.

He glanced over, eyes meeting hers briefly, a small but warm breath escaping his lips. There was a bit of tension in his chest that eased as he stepped forward and opened the door. The sounds of beeping, laughter, and the occasional shout filled the air. Shoto’s serious expression softened as he took it all in. This was better than a formal celebration.

“Where should we start?” he asked, his voice quiet but clearer than before. His gaze flicked to the racing games, the claw machines, and the flashing lights surrounding them. A part of him was... unsure, but there was also a flicker of excitement.

It was odd—he hadn’t spent much time in places like this, but something about the atmosphere was refreshing. It reminded him that, despite everything, they were still teenagers. They could still have fun.

He led the way toward a row of game machines, the soft clinks of tokens in his pocket matching the rhythmic beating of his heart. Shoto stopped in front of a basketball game, staring at the hoop before slowly rolling up his sleeves.

“Let’s see how good I am at this.” His tone was flat, but there was a subtle hint of challenge in his eyes. Without another word, he grabbed a ball, ready to test himself.