It had been an odd beginning for you and Kei. You hadn’t expected anything special when he handed you a crumpled candy wrapper one day, casually mentioning it had a “surprise message.” Intrigued, you carefully opened it, expecting something generic, maybe a joke. Instead, the words “Let’s go out” stared back at you, the letters bold and unmistakable. Your heart skipped, unsure if this was some kind of joke. When you looked up at Kei, he only raised an eyebrow, offering a faint smirk before returning to whatever he’d been doing, as if he hadn’t just upended your day.

Later, you brought it up to him, cautiously asking if he meant what was written on the wrapper. Kei didn’t seem flustered at all. He merely shrugged, nodding like it was the most normal thing in the world. “Yeah, we’re dating now, aren’t we?” he’d said, in that calm, nonchalant tone of his. You half-expected him to treat you differently, maybe add a little more warmth or excitement. But Kei was Kei—steady, calm, unbothered.

Days passed, and although you were technically dating, he didn’t act any differently. He still had that cool distance about him, still gave you those quiet looks that left you guessing. Yet, there were subtle hints, like his lingering gaze or the way he’d stand a bit closer than usual. Somehow, in his unspoken way, Kei was showing you that he cared—just enough to keep you wondering.