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How in the world did I get in this situation? Leon's body was positioned over top of me, the confines of the small box pressing us both closer. Our noses almost touched, and I could feel the soft warmth of his slow breaths on my face as the silence stretched into a bubble around us, leaving the wordless, uncomfortable atmosphere to envelop us entirely.

Leon's brilliant golden eyes shimmered up close, and the way I could get lost in them within a moment's notice was ridiculous. I tried to hold my breath, worried about how my face must be twisting into the most peculiar expression.

To say that my face was flushed was definitely an understatement. Why is my face heating up and my ears turning red? There wasn't any light to be seen, so perhaps that hid my reddening face. The thrilling emotion of cold anticipation poured down my gut, and the feeling was almost too much to bear.

And yet, not a word was exchanged between us.

There was no room to move even an inch, so I only froze like a deer in headlights, Leon's arms were planted on either side of where I slouched, pushed against the box's firm walls.

Frankly, I was never claustrophobic before this, but in all honesty, the containment and zero space I had to myself was a little frightening.

Leon appeared calm, if anything. That may be because I was overreacting in contrast.

Shoving me into a box with Leon wasn't Sonia's brightest idea. Maybe the famed Champion didn't think much of the odd circumstance, but I sure did. No dare should be this miserable and embarrassing, though that is the purpose of it, isn't it? At least in Sonia's scheming mind.

There couldn't be a more awkward place to be in the world. Attempting to strike up a conversation, I resort to teasing him, "You seem to like this."

Leon chuckles. "Is that what you think? Do you not like it?"

"What? Um, that's a little random, don't you think?" I mumble, not knowing how to reply to such a question.

"To me, it appears that you really despise this, huh, (Y/N)? Do you not like me?" He asks, more straightforward than I could ever manage to be in this position, with a hopeful grin on his face.

"N-not that I... don't like it or anything... I can't not love you. It's just not in me... Ack! Shoot, did I just say that?!" I slap my hand over my mouth and squeeze my eyes shut, not muttering another word. Maybe I can't be straightforward, but I can slip up and say the wrong thing.

"(Y/N). Please... say something." I don't open my eyes to his pleas.

I let out a swift breath and reluctantly met his gaze, words gushing out of me as fast as a waterfall. "I am so, so, so sorry. Oh my Arceus, Leon. Can you ever forgive me? I really don't know what I was thinking and-"

"(Y/N),"

"I'm just so-!"

Before I can finish, Leon presses his lips against mine.

Shades of red seeping on my cheeks, I murmur quietly, "That was sudden..." Trailing off, I bring my fingers to my lips, stunned.

"Yeah, well... how should I say this..." Leon reaches down to run his hands through my (h/c) hair that fans out around my face like an angel's halo. "Are you really so oblivious?"

My eyes stretch wide and I don't respond. No, I wasn't oblivious... I was sure I was more than aware of my feelings for Leon, but was he referring to something else?

"Although I admit, this is a weird place to say this... (Y/N), I like you."

Left speechless, I become slightly dizzy as thoughts race in circles around me. Leon felt the same way. What were the chances?

I lift my hand to tuck a strand of purple hair that fell into his face behind his ear, a smile slipping onto my face. "Leon, are you sure you'd be alright with me?" I ask timidly, a shy feeling washing over me, recalling his countless fans who idolize the undefeatable Champion.

"There's no doubt in my mind," he chuckles again.

"Then... wanna do it again?"

"Kiss?"

"Um, only if you, like, want to. I mean, you don't have to, it was just a suggestion..." I swiftly averted my gaze, panicking if that sounded way too weird.

Leon leans closer but pauses a hairbreadth away, and I tilt my chin forward, securing the sweet kiss.

It was my very first kiss, and being inexperienced in romance clearly showed. Nevertheless, while the kiss was short, it left us at least slightly more flustered than before.

I was about to say something to break the breathtaking silence when the box's cover slid open, and Sonia peered in, "Hey, it was just a dare you know!"

"You're the one who told me 'a dare is a dare' and forced me into this thing!" I argue over Leon's shoulder. "And what were you doing this whole time?"

"Eh heh heh... Well, after it got too mushy for me out here, I went downstairs and raided your fridge." She admits, twirling her peach-colored hair nervously. "That cake was good though, did you make it?"

"Hey!"

I scrambled out of the box and began to complain about the hefty price of the eaten pastry -- trying to take my mind off of what had just transpired moments ago -- when Leon butted in, calling out my name, "(Y/N)?"

"Um, yeah?" My bewildered voice turns squeaky as I glance over at Leon who also had exited the small box as soon as possible, escaping that trap of embarrassment.

"Are we, like, going to talk about it?"

Sonia spins around, chirping, "Don't mind me, I'll be going now! Tell me the details later, (Y/N)~!" And with that, she slams the door behind her.

-Time Skip-

"Sooooo...? What'd you two talk about after I left?" Sonia leans over the cafe table, playing with her food, eagerly anticipating my answer.

Sitting directly across from her, I couldn't hide my nervous fidgeting. "Well, we decided, um..."

"Spit it out, girl!" She pops a strawberry into her mouth, chewing on it, eyes still trained on me.

"We're dating now," I whisper, burying my head in my hands as the words send me into a flustered state just saying it to someone. But this time I wasn't only embarrassed, I was actually very optimistic, and Leon seemed pleased as well.

"When's your first date?"

"He's taking me to a park or something, but you know he can't read or even use a map for the life of him, so we'll most likely end up somewhere in the middle of nowhere. It's this Saturday," I giggle.

"Aw! Send me photos!" Sonia insists.

"Do I have to?"

"If you don't want me to follow you in secret and record you love birds!"

"Sonia!" I cry.

She smirks, aqua eyes glinting with delight. "Hey, I won't interfere. Just don't get too heated to the point where I have to up and leave again."

"That's not true! It was only a couple of kisses." I reply, finally digging into the crepe I had ordered earlier.

Sonia shook her head, ponytail bobbing side to side, not believing a sentence that came out of my mouth. "Okay, okay. Enjoy your date -- and good luck with him."

"Sonia!" I repeat, only to gain a laugh from her.

I loved Leon with all my heart, and I wasn't planning on ever giving him up so easily, no, I'd known that I'd loved Leon the moment I set eyes on him. The idea of finally dating him after waiting to confess all this time was pretty exhilarating.

To say the very least, I was looking forward to my first date!

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Author's Note:

This was requested by Aneko_Kenna

Today's question is: Do you have a favored Galar character? I've always been fond of Bea, Marnie, and Bede!

Thanks so much for reading, see you soon,
Lillian

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Word count: 1354 words