⤷ happy birthday, @moonlit-xio !!
When shinso heard that you had never interacted with a cat before, he made it his goal to find a way for you to interact with them.
(Of course, he could just invite you to his house to finally meet his cats, but the last thing he wanted was for his mother to pry into his love life - which she already does in spades.)
So when he finally caught wind of a cat cafe that had opened nearby, he knew he wanted to take you. Thankfully, you agreed to the date.
Shinso would probably insist on paying for the date - it was the least he could do, especially since the cats managed to finish your drink for you.
The cats loved Shinso - pawing at his hair and licking his face, he didn’t even get to eat anything.
(He didn’t really mind - you looked so happy watching the cats, after all, so it was well worth it.)
—date plan b; ice skating
Shinso knows how to skateboard. he’s not the best, but he understands the basics. He thought ice skating would be easy enough, so when the weather finally chilled and when snowflakes danced from heavy grey clouds, he met up with you at an ice skating rink.
He didn’t anticipate to fall as many times as he did.
Over and over he falls, tumbling over his own feet and sliding across the ice. His pants are cold to the touch.
You laugh, still holding onto the wall behind you.
“That’s not fair,” he grumbles, skating (scooting?) just behind you. “You haven’t even tried.”
“I’m having enough fun just watching you try.” You reply, taking a few shaky steps forward.
A single misstep is all it takes for you to stumble backwards, right into Shinso. He, as always, tries to catch you.
Unfortunately, he still can’t skate.
After you both shuffle off the ice, you buy hot chocolate, agreeing to never talk about this day again.
—date plan c; technically not a date
Shinso could tell you were stressed. You had so many things on your plate - volleyball, school, training, studying - all of it had to catch up to you somehow.
And it did - dark, heavy bags hide behind your glasses and you start to mod off during class and lunch. If only he was in 1-A with you, he thought. Then he’d be able to help you more.
The train ride home was the same as always. The machine lurches and jumps, the gentle hum of the engine filling the suffocating silence. The two of you had managed to grab a seat.
Silently, he offers you an earbud, turning on the playlist the two of you had made. You rub your eyes, and Shinso wishes his words weren’t so heavy. He had so many things to say to you - none of which would he would speak.
As the train marches on, Shinso keeps his gaze out the window, watching the sun slowly sink beyond the horizon.
Then he feels a weight on his shoulder. When he looks, it’s you.
You’d fallen asleep, it seems, and your head had fallen onto his shoulder. For the first time in weeks, you look relaxed.
At first, he doesn’t move. His hands get clammy, his breaths stutter. What is he supposed to do? Where are his hands supposed to go?
In your slumber, you inch ever so slightly closer to him. The music in his earbud has been drowned out by the drum that is his own heart.
He grabs one of your hands - that isn’t creepy, right? - and looks at everything but you.
Eventually, his heart stops pounding as fast and he can finally think clearly. And, as the train grows closer and closer to your stop, Shinso wishes the two of you could stay like this.
(He takes a picture of the two of you, knowing full well you’d find out. For now, this is his new favorite picture.)