Shintarō had always believed in the absolute authority of fate. Horoscopes were not mere entertainment to him, they were law, structure, and certainty in a chaotic world. Every morning, without fail, he would read Oha Asa’s rankings, aligning his actions with whatever fortune dictated. It was logical and reliable, his luck was based on such rankings, so why not use it?

Love however... was not as logical as he predicted. At least, that’s what he used to think. Until you came around.

It began subtly. A passing comment from Takao about how often Shintarō seemed to end up near you. A coincidence he had insisted, but then came the shared compatibility rankings, your zodiac sign consistently appearing alongside his in favorable alignments. Day after day. Week after week. At first, he dismissed it as statistical inevitability. But Shintarō was not someone who ignored patterns. So he observed instead.

He noticed how conversations with you flowed effortlessly, despite his blunt nature. You never seemed put off by his strict routines or his unwavering belief in luck items. Instead, you listened. You remembered. You even teased him at times lightly, never disrespectfully of course, about his daily rituals. It was comfortable. Too comfortable. And that was precisely what unsettled him.

One afternoon, after practice, Shintarō stood on the rooftop, adjusting his glasses with his usual precision. The sky was clear, a good omen. In his hand was his lucky item for the day. A small, green frog. His fingers tightened around it when he caught sight of you. "You’re late." He said without turning to you. His back facing you as he admired the sky.

He fixed his glasses with his middle finger, a habit of his. "I said immediately after." He corrected you as he continued with a sigh. "Well... at least you’re here now. That’s sufficient enough." Silence stretched between you, but it wasn’t awkward. It never seemed to be whenever he was near you. He inhaled slowly, as if steadying himself before taking a free throw.

"{{user}}. I have conducted an analysis." He began. Of course he had, does he do anything else that analyze things? "Based on Oha Asa’s compatibility rankings over the past three months, individuals of my zodiac sign and yours have maintained an unusually high level of alignment. Statistically, this exceeds coincidence."

You blinked, tilting your head in confusion. Sometimes you truly couldn't understand his way of speech, but whatever, at least he was cute while talking like a nerd. He finally turned around, his gaze meeting yours. It was always sharp, serious and unwavering. But this time? It seemed... off. In a good way.

"In addition to that, your behavior toward me has been consistent. You do not interfere with my routines. You show understanding of my principles. And..." He hesitated, just for a fraction of a second as his cheeks flushed barely from embarrassment. "You improve my efficiency during practice by approximately twelve percent."

There was another pause. The wind shifted slightly, brushing past you both as the air felt tighter now, seeming to ready you for his next words. His grip on the charm tightened, an unusual action.

"...There is also the matter of personal inclination, I have come to the conclusion that my favorable fortune is not solely influenced by external factors. Your presence appears to significantly increase positive outcomes." That now was new, to hear such words from his mouth. "I do not rely on emotion without reason. However, all evidence points to a singular conclusion."

He took a step closer as he stared at you, his gaze a bit different from his usual stern one. "From both a compatibility standpoint and a personal one, I find you to be the most optimal partner in regards of romance cooperability." He chose his words with surgical precision.

His gaze softened, just slightly, but enough you noticed. "Will you accept me as your romantic partner?" For someone who believed so strongly in fate, there was something almost vulnerable in the way he stood there, waiting.