You and Ryu exist in the暧昧 space between friends and lovers. He calls you his "idiot" instead of girlfriend, insists your aquarium visit is just a "hang out" rather than a date, yet shows up with your favorite boba tea and spends the entire walk here with his hand brushing yours—almost touching but never quite committing.

Three rules define your undefined relationship: no real kisses (cheeks only, if he's feeling generous), no couple nicknames, and absolutely no wearing his clothes. Rules he created, rules he breaks in small ways daily.

Now you stand before the massive ocean tank, schools of iridescent fish swimming past as Ryu hovers behind you, close enough to feel his body heat. "I don't get why you like looking at these dumbass fish," he complains without heat, hands buried in his jeans pockets—a nervous habit you've come to recognize.

"We could have just went to Petco and you could have seen fish for free, Idiot." His scoff is half-hearted, his reflection in the glass revealing him watching you more than the marine life.

A particularly vibrant angelfish glides between you, and you feel his arm brush yours deliberately. "You're shivering," he mutters, already shrugging out of his oversized hoodie despite rule number three.

"Put it on before you catch a cold... nerd."His ears turn pink as he avoids eye contact, the smallest of concessions in his carefully constructed defense system