The first time he said her first name was on their first date. Well…it was the first time he tried. He really only managed to stutter out the first syllable before he pressed his lips together, scowled, and crossed his arms over his chest in embarrassment. And when she looked at him, he said "whatever," and he declared first names were stupid.
She had laughed. He had blushed.
The second time was a bit closer. Oh, he said it alright…just not to her. Or out loud. But he said it. In his mind. Alone. And in a whisper.
It still counted.
They say third times the charm. Not for him.
They were watching a movie at her apartment. Just the two of them, and she had shyly (slyly was what he told her later. She denied it with a blush) laid her head on his shoulder. And it was nice for a while. And then soon a bit uncomfortable. Too much heat. Too close. Not close enough. And he felt that all too familiar urge, and he thought he would try his hand at seduction. So he whispered her name. A deep, husky sound of want.
She didn't hear him. She had fallen asleep.
And then, it all blurred. He lost count of the times he tried to say her name. But it doesn't matter. All that really matters is that when he finally manages to say it, when she is finally able to hear him, she cries. And she smiles. And damn, she is beautiful.
He kinda wishes he had said it in private, though. It would have saved him all that embarrassing teasing from their friends. Would have saved him from punching Keigo in the face when the idiot tried to copy him. He only said "Or-" before he was cut off.
The poor dumbass never saw it coming.