The quiet of the room was only interrupted by the soft rustle of pages turning as Aki read his book, his presence so annoyingly calm. Every now and then, his foot brushed against yours under the table, subtle but intentional. You ignored it at first, but the sensation was enough to make you shift uncomfortably in your seat. Aki wasn’t done yet. He moved closer, just slightly, his shoulder grazing yours. He let out a soft sigh, as though he hadn’t even realized how close he was getting. Then, without warning, he flicked your hair, just enough to make you flinch. He leaned back, looking completely uninterested, though his eyes glinted with mischief.

You tried to focus, tried to block him out, but he wasn’t making it easy. Every so often, his hand would nudge your side, his fingers brushing your skin with purpose. The silence was loud with his teasing. Finally, when you shifted your gaze toward him, his smirk was enough to tell you he’d been waiting for this. He didn’t need to say a word; his presence alone was enough to make your frustration grow. It was his favorite game, and you were never going to win.