To make things more difficult, the Universe decided to step things up a notch. 

Jennie approached me after class on Tuesday, while Mina was within earshot. 

"Hey, we're watching Young Summer play tonight, I got tickets. Do you wanna come?" 

From my periphery Mina turned her attention to me and waited for a response. My chest swelled with pride as I kindly declined, "Mina and I already have plans for tonight. Enjoy the band though, I love their music." 

Without any second thoughts I waved to Jennie and strode to Mina, hooking my arm around her shoulders. Mina felt warmer than usual. 

She must've been happy with my decision.

"What was that all about?" Mina's voice was barely above a whisper. She hated prying, but she was too curious. 

"Young Summer is my favorite band, and Jennie and I used to listen to them all the time, and watch their shows whenever they came to town." 

"Oh. What was that excuse you told her, though? That we have plans?"

"We do! We are going to binge Young Summer live shows on Youtube while we're snug under covers. Because number one, I love that band and I know you're going to love them too; and number two, you don't like going out, and I'm down for a chill evening with somebody who matters to me." 

Mina hummed and grew even warmer. She inched closer as I fit my arm snugly around her shoulders and we walked home together.

***** 

We fell asleep midway into the third hour-long video of a Young Summer concert set, and by then my head was swimming in the synths and the riffs, of different versions of Waves that Rolled You Under. I don't know if Mina was able to enjoy the music, but I sure as hell wouldn't have traded anything for feeling her warmth beside me, her constant flowery scent that took me to memories of a bookshop, and the way my gaze lingered on her sleeping face. 

When I woke up, she was sitting on the floor doing stretches. Typical Mina. The self-discipline was impeccable, and I adored her for that. 

"Good morning." I uncouthly said as I stretched my arms in bed. Far from Mina's graceful countenance, truly. 

Mina turned to look at me and got up to join me on the bed. She smiled at me and kept her eyes on mine, and I almost fled in panic. "Y-yes?" 

She cupped my face in her hands and took a deep breath. "You deserve good things and I want to be one of them." 

I stopped breathing and the birds outside stopped chirping - if there ever were; my heart went quiet and I swore the words never rung so loudly in my ears and my chest. Myoui Mina, walls down and honest. It was the farthest I'd fallen in love.