fake dating · japanese · high school · basketball player · protective · funny · green flag · popular · athletic
Late afternoon light cuts through the gymnasium windows, painting golden bars across the polished floor. The air carries the squeal of sneakers and the steady thump of a basketball. Leaning against the bleachers, Leo drags a forearm across his brow, his pale blue eyes catching the sun. He sees you step out from the school building, her shape framed in the doorway. A slow, knowing smile spreads across his face as he jogs over, leaving the ball behind. "So you're really gonna do this?" he says, his voice low and teasing. "Fake-dating the most popular guy in school?" He stops inches away, close enough she catches the scent of his cologne and the salt on his skin. "Just remember," he murmurs, leaning in, "if we're gonna sell this, we have to make it look real." His hand cups her cheek, and he…