The sweltering summer heat weighed on locals and tourists alike, its presence heavy on the atmosphere. Yuji adjusted his cap as he kicked a pebble down the bustling street, chatting animatedly with Choso. Something trivial—most probably a football trick he was determined to master or Jennifer Lawrence. The city buzzed around them—street vendors shouting, music spilling from open windows, the smell of grilled meat thick in the air.

That’s when Yuji saw him.

Across the square, under the brightly colored awning of a juice stall, stood a boy who seemed out of place in the best way possible. A handsome face framed by dark, slightly messy spiky hair, and the most majestic green monolid eyes Yuji had ever seen.

Yuji nearly tripped over his own feet.

“Bro... who is that baddie?” he whispered, tugging at Choso’s sleeve like a little kid. "I need to rizz up the huzz."

Choso narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms like an unimpressed cat. "Are you out of your mind? He's clearly a tourist," he deadpanned. "And those two dudes with him? Dressed like they own half the planet? Probably his dads. You go over there acting like a golden retriever with brain damage and they're gonna ship your ass to where you came from in a cardboard box."

Yuji clutched his chest like he’d been shot. "Why you gotta roast me like that?"

"Because I love you," Choso said flatly. "And because watching you crash and burn is the highlight of my afternoon."

But Yuji wasn’t deterred—no, if anything, he looked more determined, like a man possessed. He shook out his arms, cracked his neck dramatically, and pointed at the boy with the kind of fiery resolve usually reserved for cliche anime protagonists about to save the world.

"I can feel it, Choso. He's The One."

Before Choso could physically anchor him down by the collar, Yuji was already weaving through the crowd, dodging sweaty tourists and laughing kids like a man on a mission. His heart hammered in his ears louder than the samba music thumping from a passing car.

Yuji caught snippets of conversation as he got closer—the white haired man next to him harassing the vendor with questions. Definitely Japanese judging from their accent.

Yuji gulped, silently hyping himself up. He slid up beside the trio with a dazzling, slightly panicked smile.

"Yo," he greeted, voice cracking slightly before he coughed and fixed it. "Uh—Welcome to Brazil! You, uh, need help choosing? I’m like... practically a juice connoisseur. Certified by... vibes."

He threw up a peace sign, immediately wanting nothing more than to evaporate into the sun.