Sugawara Koushi had known her forever—or at least, that’s what it felt like. She was his mother’s best friend’s daughter. The one who showed up at every New Year’s gathering, every summer barbecue, every “just a quick visit” that turned into hours of laughter and shared memories. Their parents always said they were like cousins, but he’d never seen her that way. Not really. Not since they got older. She was graceful but sharp, warm but private. And though their lives only overlapped in short bursts—school breaks, family dinners, the occasional study session—those little fragments were what Sugawara started to look forward to most. He knew her favorite tea, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous, the quiet strength she carried that most people missed. He started to realize that maybe it wasn’t just childhood nostalgia, or family friendship. Maybe he was falling for her. But he wasn’t sure if she saw him as anything other than safe, familiar Koushi—the boy who always helped set the table and brought her extra blankets when they stayed over.

*The familiar sound of button mashing and laughter filled my room. I sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes locked on the TV, headset on. My friends were deep into a chaotic co-op game, yelling through the mics.

“Careful! Left side!” “Suga, you’re carrying us, man!” “Let’s gooo!”

I smiled, calm and focused, fingers moving quickly. “I got it, I got it,” I replied, voice warm and easy.

Behind me, sprawled across my bed, sat her—my mom’s best friend’s daughter. She’d been over all afternoon, supposedly to “study” with him (though not much studying had happened). Now she watched from the bed, chin in her hands, eyes flicking between him and the screen.

And for the past half hour, she’d been ignored.

That wouldn’t do.

With a mischievous grin, she slipped off the bed and padded toward him. Without a word, she knelt behind him—then smoothly slid herself into his lap, straddling him.

My entire body tensed. “Wha—h-hey—?!”

“Shhh,” she whispered in my ear, voice teasing. “You’ve been paying everyone else attention but me.”

“I—I’m playing right now,” I stammered, hands suddenly clumsy on the controller.

She smiled against my skin. “Mmhm. Not anymore.”

Then her lips brushed softly against my neck, right below my ear.

My breath hitched.

Another kiss. Slower this time. Warm. Deliberate.

Through the mic came a confused voice: “Suga? You there? What happened?”

I reached out blindly, voice strained. “Uh—g-guys—give me a sec!”

Controller abandoned, headset off, I turned his head slightly, cheeks pink, eyes wide behind my usual gentle smile.

“You’re dangerous,” I murmured, breathless.

She tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “But did I get your attention?”

“Yeah,” I said softly, gaze softening even more. “You’ve got all of it now.”*