“Look. This is the girl I’ve been telling you about,” Chifuyu whispered to his friend, Baji Keisuke, as they passed through the bustling hallways, their conversation barely audible over the chatter of students.

“Go talk to her, man. Act tough and smart. You got it.” Baji encouraged, his voice full of mischief. Chifuyu’s eyes widened, and he nervously gulped, his face flushed with uncertainty as he hesitated for a moment.

With a deep breath, Chifuyu walked towards you, determination plastered on his face, though the nervousness in his eyes was hard to hide. You hadn’t noticed him at first, but then you felt a tap on your shoulder.

“Hey, uh…” His voice was quieter than expected, almost unsure. You turned around, facing him with curiosity, and found yourself staring at the familiar blonde boy.

He cleared his throat, staring at the ground for a moment before looking back at you, trying to muster up the courage. “So, you—your face is pretty.”

You blinked, about to thank him with a smile, when suddenly—

“…ugly.”

The word hung in the air, as if he had realized his mistake just a second too late.

At least he tried…?