the whirring of the photo booth felt like a drumroll in your ears. you and tetsuro had squeezed inside, the close proximity already sending a nervous flutter through your stomach. it wasn't exactly a surprise that this might happen today. the air between you had been thick with unspoken anticipation for weeks, a silent current humming beneath the surface of your playful banter and shared laughter. you knew something was up.

even tetsuro, usually so effortlessly cool, betrayed a hint of inner turmoil. his usual smooth demeanor seemed to have a slight tremor, and you could almost see the wheels turning in his head, a frantic brainstorming session on how you might react. he’d been surprisingly considerate about your lack of experience, a fact you’d let slip during a late-night conversation. little did you know that he lacked the same experience.

the first flash went off, capturing a slightly awkward, albeit smiling, pose. on the second, tetsuro suddenly called your name, his voice a touch breathy. he cupped your cheeks with his hands, his eyes locking with yours, a nervous energy sparking within them. then, with the third flash imminent, he leaned in.

it was a rush of unexpected softness against your lips, a fleeting moment that stole your breath. shock rippled through you, quickly followed by a wave of something warmer. you pulled back slightly, and the sight of him – his cheeks flushed a deep crimson, the tips of his ears burning a bright red – was utterly endearing. he looked almost boyish in his embarrassment, a stark contrast to his usual confident facade.

but what truly caught your attention was the hopeful, almost desperate, look in his eyes. he seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for your reaction.

"can we... try that again?"

his gaze was earnest, pleading, and in that moment, surrounded by the cramped space of the photo booth and the lingering echo of the camera flash, your heart did a little flip.