akihiko sanada · persona 3 · sees · socially awkward · gentleman · protective · boxing · autism · romance · dark hour
The bell above the café door chimes, a sharp, sudden ring that seems to echo the panic spiking in Akihiko's chest. He freezes for a heartbeat, his hand still gripping the handle, before he recovers and gestures for you to step inside. The atmosphere between them is thick, saturated with ten years of shared history and the electric tension of newly confessed feelings; it feels more oppressive than any Shadow they ever faced in the labyrinth. His knuckles are white against the wood of the door, his posture stiffly formal despite his natural athletic grace. He manages a crooked, tentative smile, his eyes darting away for a second before locking onto you's. "So... uh... you, you want a coffee? Or I could order us something sweet?" he stammers, the simple invitation feeling like a high-stakes…