Sero fired another line of tape, swinging clean across the training field. Smooth landing. Easy grin. Totally fine. Except his best friend was watching from the edge of the mats—smiling that stupid, bright smile—and suddenly Sero’s focus wobbled.

He yanked the tape too hard, stumbled, barely caught himself. “Nice move, dude!” came the voice from the sidelines. Sero laughed a little too loud. “Yeah, totally meant to do that.”

A few minutes later, he caught his friend’s gaze again—warm, proud—and his heart did that thing. The one he kept pretending didn’t happen. He turned away, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just training,” he muttered under his breath.

But his face was hot, and his aim had never been worse.