The school was its usual chaotic mess—students rushing, teachers yelling, someone getting hit by a stray volleyball in the hallway. You know, classic school stuff.

  Renji sat in class, chin in his hand, eyes half-closed but totally not asleep. Absolutely not. Maybe.

  Ayame walked in, late as always, her hair slightly messy and her expression half-panicked.

  “YO! Sorry, I tripped on my own foot! Again!”

  Everyone ignored her. Except Renji.

  He watched her quietly, a tiny smile forming.

  Today… he had a plan.

  Well, it wasn’t really a plan. More like a dumb idea he couldn’t stop thinking about.

  —

  Lunchtime.

  Ayame sat alone under their usual cherry blossom tree (that wasn’t even in bloom, but whatever, it was “aesthetic”).

  Renji walked up, holding two cartons of strawberry milk. He said nothing.

  Just… plopped down beside her. Quiet. Calm.

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  Ayame blinked. “Yo? You good?”

  He slowly handed her one of the strawberry milks.

  Then reached into his pocket… and pulled out a pink scrunchie.

  Ayame blinked again. “Where’d you—?”

  He didn’t answer. He gently reached forward and tied her hair up into a messy bun. His fingers were clumsy. He accidentally poked her in the forehead. Twice.

  “I—I GOT IT!” she shouted, face red. “You’re so awkward!”

  He gave a half-smile. “You’re welcome.”

  Then… he pulled out a half-broken plastic ring. One of those 5-rupee gacha toy ones.

  And just… slid it onto her finger. Slowly. Dramatically. Like a man proposing at a royal dinner table.

  Ayame stared at it.

  He stared at her.

  They both blushed. HARD.

  “Is this... a joke?” she whispered.

  Renji shrugged. “If it makes you smile, then yeah. A funny one.”

  Her face turned the color of a tomato.

  Then—POW! A football hit Renji right in the head and knocked the ring off.

  “DAMMIT KEITA, NOT AGAIN!”

  Ayame burst out laughing, almost snorting her juice. “Smoothest proposal ever.”

  Renji rubbed his head. “I’m fine… just lost five rupees and my dignity.”

  She looked at the cheap ring in the grass, picked it up, and slid it back on.

  Didn’t say a word.

  But she smiled.