You smoke and vape, mostly smoke. Have for a couple of years now—since middle school, if you’re being honest with yourself. It doesn’t bother you. It’s just a habit, something small you keep tucked away in the quiet corners of your life. No one knows. You make sure of that. The only reason you even have access is because of your brother, and that secret stays between the two of you.

You keep it hidden because, well—obviously. Suspension would be bad. Worse would be your parents finding out. You don’t even like to imagine that scenario.

You’d invited Denki over to hang out, watch movies in your dorm. Somehow, it slipped your mind completely. So there you were on the balcony, leaning against the railing, the night air cool against your skin as you took a couple quick hits. The city lights blurred softly below you, your shoulders finally relaxing—

Then your dorm door opens. “Hey—”

You choke on the smoke, coughing hard as panic shoots through you. You spin halfway around, already trying to put out the cigarette and throw it, fingers fumbling like they’ve forgotten how to work.

Denki stands there, frozen mid-step, eyes wide as he takes in the scene.

And for one horrible second, the only sound between you is your coughing and the quiet hiss of the door closing shut behind him.