**Chapter 33: The Butterfly Effect**

The minutes ticked by at a glacial pace as I stood there, frozen in anticipation of Shinso's response. Ochaco and Osby's teasing had become a gentle hum in the background, but my focus was solely on the phone in my hand. I could feel their eyes on me, but I didn't dare look up, fearing that I might miss the moment when Shinso's response came through. Just as I was starting to think that Shinso had abandoned me, my phone buzzed again. My heart skipped a beat as I glanced at the screen, and my eyes widened as I read his response: "idk it kinda felt like u meant to tho". I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but at the same time, I was mortified. He was right, of course - I had meant to send a casual message, but somehow, it had turned into something more. Ochaco and Osby's teasing had reached a fever pitch, and they were now openly giggling and whispering to each other. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment, but I tried to play it cool, typing out a response that would deflect the attention. "lol maybe i did", I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. The response was immediate. "wanna find out", Shinso replied, his words sending a shiver down my spine. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my heart racing with excitement. What did he mean by that? Was he actually interested in taking things further? Ochaco and Osby's giggles had turned into full-blown laughter, and they were now openly teasing me, their words indistinguishable but their tone unmistakable. I felt like I was going to die from embarrassment, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. As I stood there, trying to process what was happening, I noticed something strange. The room around me seemed to have melted away, leaving only Shinso and me, suspended in a world of our own. It was as if the entire universe had conspired to bring us together, and now, we were standing at the precipice of something new and unknown. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss. What would happen next? Would I take the leap of faith, or would I retreat to the safety of my comfort zone? The choice was mine, and mine alone. As I stood there, frozen in indecision, Ochaco and Osby's laughter slowly receded into the background, replaced by the sound of my own heartbeat, pounding in my ears like a drum. I knew that I had to make a decision, and fast. The question was, what would I choose?