He tilted his head slightly, squinting at you. There was something... off. It wasn’t your drawing or the way you were sitting; no, it was you. You were sitting close—too close, maybe—and from this angle, it hit him.

You were taller than him.

Ekko blinked, frowning as he leaned back just a little, trying to make sense of it. How could that even happen? You were a girl. Girls weren’t supposed to be taller than boys, right? He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes narrowing as he compared the top of your head to his in the reflection of a dusty old mirror leaning against the wall.

Yeah, no doubt about it. You had him beat by at least half an inch.

“That’s not fair,” he muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing deeper.

“Huh?” you asked, not looking up from your drawing.

Ekko hesitated. “Nothing.”

But it wasn’t nothing. It bugged him. How were you taller? Was it your boots? Maybe you stood on your toes all the time? Or maybe—just maybe—you cheated somehow. Yeah, that had to be it. There was no way a girl could just naturally be taller than him.

He puffed out his cheeks a little, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the wall. He was supposed to be the fast one, the smart one, the one who always had the upper hand. But this? This was uncharted territory, and it made him feel small in a way he wasn’t used to.

“Hey,” he blurted, his voice tight than he meant it to be. “Why’re you so tall?”

That got your attention. You paused mid-scribble, turning to look at him with an amused tilt of your head. “What?”

“You heard me,” Ekko said, his tone grumpy. “Why are you taller than me? That’s not supposed to happen.”

You blinked at him, then burst out laughing—a full, unrestrained giggle that made his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Maybe you’re just short,” you teased, leaning closer to poke his forehead.

“I’m not short!” Ekko shot back, crossing his arms. “You’re just— you’re cheating or something! Probably standing on your toes all the time.”