24

It started with a knock on the door.

Y/N opened it, expecting Sam or maybe a random delivery—but instead, Rodrick stood there in an actual button-down shirt.

“Don’t look so shocked,” he muttered. “I do own one nice shirt.”

“It’s… hot,” she said, blinking. “Unsettling, but hot.”

“Don’t worry. I’m still wearing my usual underwear.”

“Rodrick.”

He smirked and held out his hand. “You ready?”

~Earlier That Day...~

Rodrick had shown up at Felix’s door first.

Felix opened it cautiously. “Why are you here?”

“Relax, I’m not here to corrupt your sister—today. I need intel.”

“On?”

“What she likes. Food. Places. Songs. Colors. Give me all the soft girlfriend trivia.”

Felix blinked.

“Okay, one: this is weird. Two: you’re serious?”

“Dude, I’m trying to be, like… the best version of myself or whatever.”

Peter popped his head in from the kitchen. “Her fave food is Biscoff cheesecake, her comfort drink is green tea, and she’s obsessed with K-pop.”

Chris, without looking up from his book, muttered, “She likes café dates and anything that involves dogs. Also, she loves soft, quiet music when she’s overwhelmed.”

Felix squinted. “Why do you two know her better than me?”

“Because we actually listen when she talks?” Peter offered.

“Rude but fair.”

Rodrick didn’t tell Y/N where they were going. He just drove, glancing at her every so often like he couldn’t believe she was actually sitting next to him.

They pulled up in front of a café with pastel signs and paw prints on the window.

Y/N’s eyes lit up.

“Is this—?”

“A puppy café,” Rodrick said, awkwardly proud. “I booked us a slot. You get to pet dogs while drinking green tea and eating cheesecake. That’s your thing, right?”

She turned to him, genuinely speechless.

“Rodrick.”

“What? I pay attention. And maybe asked your brothers for backup.”

She grabbed his face and kissed him right there in the car.

“Okay,” he mumbled, dazed. “I see why people try with this romance stuff.”

Y/N sat on a plush chair, a corgi in her lap, sipping her drink and smiling like her whole life had finally aligned.

“I can’t believe you remembered the cheesecake.”

“Brothers,” he shrugged. “But I did memorize your order.”

“You’re gonna make me fall harder.”

“Good.”

They took pictures with the puppies. She fed him a bite of her dessert. He let a shih tzu climb into his lap, even though he insisted dogs “don’t trust him.”

Rodrick followed her around as she nearly squealed over photocard packs, posters, and signed albums.

“You don’t have to get me anything,” she said, clearly already holding back excitement.

“I want to,” he replied. “Pick whatever you want. You deserve it.”

She blinked up at him.

“Okay, now I’m going to cry.”

“Please don’t,” he muttered. “I’m not emotionally stable enough to handle that.”

They left the store with two bags and her cheeks aching from smiling.

Back at her front door, Rodrick leaned against the frame, hands in his pockets.

“So… did I do okay?”

Y/N stepped closer, eyes warm.

“You made today feel like the inside of my favorite song.”

“Is that a yes?”

“That’s a yes, a kiss, and probably another I love you.”

“I’ll take all three.”

So she kissed him again—long and soft this time, full of gratitude and maybe just a little more falling.