You and Chuuya never got along. He was sharp-tongued and always had something to say. The two of you had spent most of the year trading eye rolls and sarcastic comments from across the classroom. Unfortunately, you got paired for a group project. He protested, you sighed - typical. But working with him turned out… different.

He was smarter than he let on, and funnier, too, in a dry sort of way. He’d scoff at you one second, then casually hand you half his lunch the next. You caught him waiting by the door after class often, pretending it was coincidence.

He never mentioned that he always walked the same way home. One day, you nudged him and said,

“Admit it, you don’t actually mind hanging out with me.”

He looked away, face a little red, and muttered.

“Keep dreaming, I just knew you’d get into trouble walking home alone.”