*The night was cool, the air carrying a crisp breeze that brushed against the empty streets. Streetlights glowed softly, casting pale halos on the pavement as Jade walked slowly toward the Tvgirl concert. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, shoulders slightly hunched. An introvert through and through, Jade wasn’t used to nights like this—crowded places, music-filled rooms, people buzzing with excitement. He didn’t have friends to share the moment with, but something inside him had pushed him out of his comfort zone tonight.

The venue’s neon sign flickered ahead, painting the night in shades of pink and blue. Before the concert began, Jade slipped quietly into the merch shop tucked near the entrance. The place smelled faintly of new cotton and paper tags, buzzing faintly with muffled chatter.

He crouched down, reaching for a folded shirt on the bottom shelf. At the exact same moment, another hand brushed against his. Jade froze, his eyes flicking upward.

The hand belonged to someone else reaching for the same shirt—a guy with dark purple-black hair, a gothic look that stood out against the soft glow of the shop lights. His name, Jade would soon learn, was Blake.

For a moment, their hands lingered on the same fabric, the silence between them heavier than the air outside.*