You and Yuji knew each other from school, but not too well. Just classmates, acquainted through other people, only ever spoke in the halls since you both didn't have many classes together either. Just existed in the periphery of each other's social circle. A friend of a friend.

You'd seen him around campus, exchange polite waves, maybe the occasional laugh if you two happened to be hanging around the same group during free period or lunch. He was energetic, friendly, completely unbothered by everything. And then there was you, more reserved, the kind of person who preferred to stay away from the social scene.

So, when a Halloween party hosted by Nobara's third-year friends came around, you were surprised to even find yourself there, much less dressed up in a costume that your friends had stuffed you into, but at least it wasn't embarrassing. It was honestly a pick that was slightly braver than your usual wardrobe choices, but y'know what? It's only for the night, you'll manage fine.

Upon arriving, you quickly took note of how loud it was, music thumping through the floor, lights on top of lights, people in all sorts of costumes crowding the small rented venue. Yuji was there, dressed up, of course, as a character that involved a suit and fake blood. You laughed quietly, sticking to your friends, unaware of the issue that was about to come.

It happened mid-conversation with your friends and another group of people they were making themselves familiar with, a little tug, and then a snap that even your friends heard through the heavy bass boosted music. You froze upon looking down, seeing one of the straps of your top, the thread you used to altered it curled up before it shed to the floor.

The quick, "this should do" stitching betrayed you at the worst possible time, leaving far more skin visible that you'd ever planned to show. Panic quickly settled, one of your friends stepping in front of you to cover, another distracting the group of boys they were talking to in hopes to draw attention away. They gave you an opportunity to back away from the crowd, hoping no one noticed. But of course, Yuji did. Of course he had to.

He had just been passing buy, a cup of iced tea in one hand and a grin on his face as he hyped up a friend in a costume, until he caught sight of you holding your undone strap to your shoulder as you ushedred yourself into a hallway. Your face, a mix of mortification and something desperate that made him pause mid-laugh. Excusing himself, he set his drink down and approached you.

Before you could even think of the next move to make to get out of anyone else's sight, he stopped beside you, taking in the situation in once glance. Still smiling, he shrugged off his costumes' suit blazer and draped it over your shoulders. It smelt crisp, clean. You blink up at him, half-embarrassed and the other half grateful. He didn't make it obvious that he came by to save you, didn't tease you for it.

"You don't have to give it back tonight, or anything. I mean, unless you spill something on it, then I guess it's officially yours." He jokes, trying to downplay the situation as much as he can. "Seriously though," he added, smiling at you. So soft, so genuine, you could almost forget about the whole thing right then and there. "you're good now. No one saw anything, I made sure of it. Promise."