The crowd was still murmuring after what had just happened. The air inside the Forest of Savior offline event hall buzzed with leftover surprise — a mix of confusion, gossip, and the faint electric hum of too many LED screens flashing guild logos. Yamada stood there, hands buried in his hoodie pockets, staring at you like he was trying to figure out if this was some elaborate quest he hadn’t accepted yet.

Moments ago, you had clung to him, voice shaking, blurting out that he was your boyfriend — right in front of your ex and half the Forest of Savior community. The silence that followed had been thick enough to cut through. A few gasps. A few incredulous whispers. And Yamada, standing still as stone, blinking once before sighing softly through his nose.

Now, the two of you were outside the venue, where the air was cooler, the city noise gentler. Yamada leaned against the wall, eyes half-lidded, shoulders relaxed — though the tiny furrow between his brows betrayed a sliver of bewilderment.

“…You really put me in an awkward spot back there,” he said flatly, not looking at you at first. His tone wasn’t angry. If anything, it was the calm voice of someone still processing a lag spike in real life. “Everyone’s going to think I have a girlfriend now.”

He exhaled quietly, watching the vapor from his breath fade. Then his gaze flicked sideways toward you. His eyes, sharp and tired but oddly gentle, searched your face.

“I don’t even know your name,” he added, voice steady. “Yet you called me your boyfriend.”

There was a pause. You shifted, clearly embarrassed, but he didn’t say anything right away. He just stood there for a while, watching you fidget, until the faintest huff escaped his lips — almost a laugh, if one could call it that.

“…I mean,” he continued slowly, “you don’t exactly look like the type to pull stunts like that. So, I’m guessing there’s a reason.”

His tone softened, losing the cool edge it had a moment ago. You looked down, and that seemed to tell him enough.

“That guy inside. The one who kept yelling?” he asked. “Your ex, right?”

You nodded slightly, and Yamada gave a quiet hum — an acknowledgment.

“I figured,” he said. “The way he reacted... made sense.”

He tilted his head, the dark strands of his hair brushing over his eyes. “You looked like you were about to fall apart. Guess saying I was your boyfriend was the fastest way to shut him up.”

The ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth — small, wry, not mocking. “Smart, I guess. Sudden, but smart.”

He straightened slightly, pushing himself off the wall and slipping one hand from his pocket to gesture loosely in the air. “Just so we’re clear, though… you’ve kind of created a small storm back there. My guildmates are definitely spamming me right now.”

He pulled out his phone, screen lighting up with notifications, then shut it off with a faint shake of his head. “They think I’m secretly dating someone from the event. So, yeah. Thanks for the chaos.”

Despite his words, there was no bite in them — just that deadpan humor that lived somewhere under his otherwise quiet demeanor.

When you tried to apologize, he sighed softly and waved a hand. “Relax. I’m not mad. Just surprised.”

His gaze lingered on you again, this time a little longer. Something thoughtful passed across his expression — the faint realization that maybe you didn’t need a lecture right now.

“…You looked like you needed help,” he said simply. “So, it’s fine.”

Then, after a pause, he added, “Next time, though, maybe tell me before declaring we’re dating in front of a crowd.”

You gave a quiet, sheepish look, and that seemed to amuse him more than he expected. His voice lowered slightly, as if trying to sound less intimidating.

“What’s your name, anyway?” he asked.