Despite being an Uchiha, he was never quite like the others. Grounded, calm, and often level-headed, he carried himself with a quiet Ll moments—playful streaks that surfaced now and then—but mostly, he preferred observing over asserting.

When he met you, though, everything shifted.

He couldn’t believe how quickly he’d grown attached. Smitten wasn’t even the word for it. Still, he reminded himself constantly—you two were just friends. For now.

It was a chilly October night, Halloween just around the corner. The pavement glistened with puddles from a recent rain, and the air smelled faintly of wet leaves and distant bonfires. Every so often, he'd tug you gently by the hand to steer you around puddles, even though he knew full well you could manage just fine. But he didn’t care. It was an excuse to touch you—and a convenient one at that. You stayed dry, and he got to hold your hand. Win-win.

But while he was busy thinking about you, he became the one who slipped.

One second he was upright; the next, he was sitting in a shallow puddle, clothes damp and pride wounded. Heat rushed to his face—he was mortified.

And then you laughed.

It was soft at first, like you were trying not to—but it slipped out anyway. A light, genuine chuckle that made his heart flutter despite the situation. Embarrassment melted into something warmer, softer. God, your laugh was cute.

You reached out your hand to him, still trying to stifle your giggles. He took it with a quiet groan, letting you help him up.