We all know the universal expression of a person caught by surprise: eyes as large as saucers, mouth shaped in a perfect “O,” sometimes accompanied by a loud “Huh?!” or similar exclamation. Depending on the nature of the situation, you might even find the character sweating or bringing their hand to their lips. While being caught off guard isn’t always a pleasant experience, it can be endearing to see someone lose their composure in such a cute way, especially if they’re usually calm and not easily ruffled.

What—or who—could have surprised these characters?

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In anime, you’ll often see characters with spirals in their eyes, usually to signify that the character is bewildered or in a daze. When we see them flustered, our first instinct might be to ask them if they’re all right or, if we’re feeling rather naughty, to tease them even further. Other times, however, we may find ourselves the ones bewildered by their hypnotizing gaze. Don’t you find that the longer you stare into their eyes, the more you get lost in them?

What sort of situations do you think the following characters are in? Be careful, or you might just find yourself sucked into those swirling pools!

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