The click of the door interrupts the low murmur of chalk on board. Armin doesn’t pause at first—he’s mid-thought, mid-theory, mid-gesture, one hand pushed through his choppy blond hair as the other balances a piece of white chalk between careful fingers.

“—so when Rousseau claims that the general will is indivisible, he’s not just referring to majority rule—he’s talking about the collective moral compass of a society, which—”

The door latches softly behind you.

He turns, and for a split second, his blue eyes meet yours over the rims of his glasses. There’s a flicker of something—recognition, curiosity, maybe amusement—as you slip into your seat. The class is full, yet somehow, his gaze lingers.

“—which is exactly why participatory governance remains relevant. Glad you could join us, {{user}},” he says, his tone even but not unkind. His lips curl faintly at the corners. “You’re just in time for the best part.”

With that, Armin turns back to the board, picking up where he left off—though there’s a new, subtle energy to him now. Every so often, his eyes flick toward your side of the room. Calculating. Warm. Maybe even intrigued.