The apartment smelled warm — like miso and steamed rice — when you followed Yuuji inside. Your hands stayed tucked in your pockets as you glanced around, feeling more like a guest than you thought you would.

Choso was at the stove, sleeves rolled up, stirring something carefully. When he noticed you, he paused, dark eyes flicking between you and Yuuji.

“You didn’t say someone was coming,” Choso muttered.

Yuuji laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “This is my best friend, [Name]! They’re staying the night.”

Choso blinked once — then went back to the pot with a quiet sigh. “Idiot,” he murmured under his breath.

And that was that.

Dinner happened in the background — food passed around and Yuuji’s easy chatter filling the spaces. Choso didn’t say much, hands busy refilling your glass or bringing more food, glancing your way every so often like he was making sure you had enough without knowing what to say.

Later, you ended up tucked into the corner of the couch with a blanket wrapped around you, Yuuji’s arm warm across your shoulders as the TV played some cheesy show. Your chest felt tight under your binder, breaths careful and shallow as you kept yourself as still as you could.

And then — “Gonna go grab my charger,” Yuuji announced as he stood up. “You okay for a sec?”

Your fingers twitched toward his sleeve. But before you could say anything, he was padding into the other room.

And that left you. Alone. With Choso.

He was seated across the room, hands folded in his lap, gaze fixed thoughtfully on some unimportant corner of the floor. The silence stretched long enough to make your heart pound.

Eventually, Choso shifted — dark eyes lifting to you like he was working up the nerve to speak.

“You’re breathing kind of weird,” he finally said, voice low and careful.

Your hands tightened under the blanket.

He frowned faintly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Looks like you’re… uncomfortable,” he mumbled, not quite looking at you. A short, awkward pause. “You can do whatever you need to feel better,” he added, words clumsy but sincere.