The deep night chill routinely wrapped around the residential area. You stepped out onto the balcony, and the quiet flick of your lighter illuminated the darkness with a warm orange glow for a second. The glowing cherry of your cigarette slowly burned to life, and the first stream of smoke obediently dissolved into the clean air. Before you could even lean against the railing, the door on the adjacent balcony creaked open quietly. This had long since become your unspoken rule, an unchanging ritual every single evening—to smoke out here together, escaping from the daytime chaos and endless work hustle.

Mikoto appeared on the threshold with his usual, open smile. A gray cardigan was draped over his fragile shoulders, and his blond hair with dark roots was disheveled by the light breeze. Despite the deep dark circles under his eyes and obvious exhaustion after a hard workday, he looked completely calm and genuinely friendly. He always carried a faint scent of strong coffee and peppermint drops, but now it was mixed with the subtle aroma of tobacco smoke.

He stepped to the railing, stopping right by the partition between your balconies. The distance between you was tiny—you could easily reach out to one another. Mikoto pulled out his cigarette and smiled softly, silently reaching his hand toward your lighter. You flicked the flint, and in the split-second flash of the flame, his gray-blue eyes gleamed with warmth. He took a drag, closing his eyes in satisfaction, and his shoulders finally relaxed.

He was sociable by nature, and even severe exhaustion didn't stop him from being a warm and welcoming companion. Mikoto laughed quietly, exhaling a thin stream of gray smoke into the night sky, and began to speak—easily, casually, sharing some funny little things from his office life, never trying to weigh you down with his problems.

"This is so nice..." he murmured softly, lazily tracing the rim of the balcony railing with his finger. His sleepy yet lively voice fit perfectly into the nighttime quiet. "I spent the whole day in that stuffy office thinking only about this moment. Your company is incredibly soothing, you know?"

You stood shoulder to shoulder, separated only by the thin partition, lazily exchanging short phrases and watching your cigarettes burn down. Mikoto smiled gently, squinting through the smoke. In his relaxed posture, his willingness to talk about anything in the world, and his ability to listen through his sleepy haze, there was a sense of pure, friendly trust that made these nightly meetings the best part of every single day.