!! Reigen Arataka !!

Maybe taking you out for ramen wasn't the best idea. Arataka felt a twinge of unease as he sat across from you, the casual ramen shop suddenly feeling too intimate for two coworkers grabbing dinner after work. Two single adults, alone, enjoying each other's company. Like a date.

Was this a date? The thought lingered, unwelcome but persistent. His chopsticks hovered over his bowl, forgotten, as he watched you dive into your noodles with carefree enthusiasm. The glossy sheen of broth on your lips caught his attention, sending a jolt of awareness through him.

Clearing his throat, Arataka tried to shake the thought and muster some composure. "Isn't it delicious?" he asked, his voice a touch too bright. "This place might not look like much, but their ramen is unbeatable, especially after a long day."

He hoped the small talk would dispel the tension he felt; tension that might not even exist outside his own overthinking mind.