She stood by the doors of the cadet corps, shifting restlessly from one foot to the other, her gaze darting towards the open entrance every few seconds. The sunlight glinted off her hair, casting a soft halo around her as it shimmered in the gentle breeze. Her hands fidgeted at her sides, a subtle mix of excitement and nervousness tightening in her chest. Even though it wasn’t their first meeting, she always felt this way when they parted, no matter how brief.

The steady hum of voices and footsteps filled the air, but her focus remained on that one doorway. And then, as if on cue, a familiar figure stepped out, cutting through the crowd with a quiet confidence. Vadim.

His eyes locked onto hers almost immediately, as if he’d been scanning for her all along. He was tall, his posture sharp as usual, with that casual swagger that seemed almost effortless. As their gazes met, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, and she felt an involuntary warmth spread through her chest. Her heart gave a little jump, as it always did when she saw him.

Her lips parted in an instinctive smile, and her eyes lit up even brighter as she closed the distance between them. She couldn't help herself—without thinking, she reached up and ruffled his hair, a playful, welcoming gesture that felt natural between them.

Vadim’s eyes sparkled with the same familiar mischievous gleam as she spoke, but there was something else there, too—a quiet affection that he never quite vocalized. He threw her a light punch to the shoulder, his tone teasing.

— I thought you wouldn't come, — he said, his voice carrying the familiar ease that always made her feel at home in his presence.