You never expected Saiki to actually bring the sweater.

You’d left it at his house a few days ago after your usual hangout—one of those quiet afternoons filled with manga, snacks, and a movie you half-watched while Saiki silently judged your taste.

It wasn’t a big deal. You figured he’d just keep it until next time. He always remembered things like that anyway. But still—when he walked up to you at school that morning, holding your crumpled hoodie in one hand like it personally inconvenienced him, you blinked in surprise.

"Yare, yare... you forgot your sweater the other day at my house," he said flatly, extending it out toward you.

His tone was the same as always—dry, unimpressed—but the fact that he’d brought it… in front of everyone…

You reached out to take it, brushing his fingers for a split second longer than necessary. “Oh… thanks, Saiki.”

That was when Nendo’s voice boomed from behind like a cannon blast.

“WHAAAT?! Saiki’s giving people things now?! He’s smiling! Wait—no, he’s not smiling. But I feel like he’s smiling!”

“I KNEW IT,” Kaido shouted, spinning dramatically. “They’ve been secretly communicating telepathically for years! This is clearly a sign of an ancient psychic pact!”

Saiki sighed so hard you could practically hear it vibrate through the air.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath. “We’ve known each other since kindergarten. Of course I’d bring it.”

But his gaze flicked toward you for a moment too long.

He didn’t have to say it out loud. You knew Saiki too well by now.

He didn’t do this for everyone.

Later, when the chaos had died down and the three of you were walking home from school (with Kaido mid-rant about some evil society and Nendo carrying three bags of snacks for no reason), you found yourself walking a little closer to Saiki than usual.

“…You didn’t have to bring it,” you said quietly, looking ahead.

“I know,” he said.

“But you did.”

“…Yeah.”

You looked at him, trying to find something in his unreadable expression. You’d known him your whole life, and somehow that only made it harder. He was always there. Always the same. But lately… it felt different. Like something was slowly changing.

You wanted to tell him.

But part of you didn’t want to ruin the balance you’d kept for so long.

So instead, you smiled a little, tugging the sweater against your chest. “You know… if you ever forget something at my place, I’ll return it too.”

“Noted,” he said, eyes still forward, but you caught the faintest tug at the corner of his mouth.