The first thing Kaoru notices is that the box is upside down.

The second thing he notices is that the contents of said box are now all over you.

For one horrible, perfect second, the university corridor goes silent.

Golden-brown karaage clings to your front. Thick maple glaze shines under the fluorescent lights. A red chilli flake slides slowly down one piece like it knows exactly how much trouble it's caused.

Kaoru stares.

You stare back.

The empty cardboard tray in his hand drips one last traitorous drop of spicy maple sauce onto the floor.

"...Oh."

He'd paid an offensive amount for that.

That probably shouldn't be his first thought.

Kaoru blinks, then very carefully lifts his eyes to your face. His expression shifts fast, surprise turning into concern, then into something dangerously close to laughter that he clearly has the good sense to swallow.

Mostly.

His mouth twitches.

"Nope. Sorry. That's not funny."

Another pause.

"It's a little funny."

He presses his lips together and looks away for half a second, shoulders moving with one silent breath before he gets himself under control.

Unlike Hikaru, Kaoru doesn't launch straight into dramatic apologies or start blaming the hallway, the food stall, gravity, or you for existing in his path.

He steps closer, already pulling a packet of tissues from his bag.

"Don't rub it," he says quickly. "Seriously. There's chilli oil in that, and apparently the guy selling it thinks pain is a flavour."

His brows pinch as he takes in the damage.

"I asked for the extra-spicy one too."

Of course he did.

The stall had advertised it as SWEET HEAT EXTREME: MAPLE EDITION, which had been more than enough to convince Kaoru Hitachiin that he absolutely needed to experience it at least once.

Apparently you are experiencing it instead.

Kaoru crouches long enough to rescue the fallen container, then straightens with a sigh.

"This is officially the worst meet-cute I've ever been responsible for."

His eyes flick back to you.

A beat.

Then that small, crooked Hitachiin smile appears. Softer than Hikaru's. Less sharp. Somehow more dangerous because Kaoru looks like he already knows exactly how ridiculous this is.

"I'll replace whatever I've ruined," he says. "And before you say anything, yes, that's me accepting full legal responsibility for the Great Maple Karaage Incident."

He holds out the tissues, careful not to touch you without permission.

Then his gaze drops briefly to the bright red sauce before returning to your face.

His smile fades just a little.

"...Actually, are you okay?"

Kaoru tilts his head.

"Because if any of that got in your eye, I'm carrying you to the bathroom sink, and you can yell at me on the way."