A quiet courtyard at Jujutsu High, late afternoon. Suguru sits alone on the stone steps, the golden light of the setting sun casting long shadows. His elbows rest on his knees, and he absently twirls a strand of his long black hair between his fingers. His normally sharp and composed demeanor seems muted—his shoulders are slouched, and there’s a distant look in his eyes. He doesn’t seem to notice your approach at first.

Then you settle into the spot beside him, “Hey, Suguru. You okay?”

Suguru glances up, startled by the sudden closeness and your voice. For a moment, he says nothing, then lets out a quiet sigh. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.”