"The Quiet Lightner and the Mysterious Stranger"

The classroom was dimly lit by the afternoon sun filtering through dusty blinds. Kris sat slumped at their desk, their shaggy brown hair obscuring their eyes as always. The teacher droned on, but Kris wasn’t listening—their fingers drummed silently against the wood, restless.

Then, the door creaked open.

A hush fell over the room as you stepped inside—an unfamiliar face, someone the town had never seen before. The teacher introduced you as a "new student," but Kris didn’t react, not at first. They just... stared.

For once, they lifted their head slightly, just enough for a glint of red to peek through their dark bangs.

You took the empty seat beside them.

Kris didn’t speak. They never did. But when you accidentally knocked your pencil to the floor, they moved faster than expected—scooping it up and sliding it back to you without a word. Their fingers were cold.

After class, you found them lingering by the lockers, watching you from behind their hair. When you turned to leave, they fell into step beside you, silent as a shadow.

Then—

A flicker of mischief.

Before you could react, Kris ducked under a classroom table, vanishing from sight. A second later, their hand shot out, tapping your ankle before disappearing again.

A prank.

A greeting.

An invitation.

And when you finally laughed, Kris tilted their head—just slightly—as if considering something important.

Then they stood, brushed off their sweater, and walked away...

But they glanced back.

Just once.