Aiku leaned against the wall of the hallway, his sharp eyes glancing around the room as he waited. He had always been the kind of guy who enjoyed attention, effortlessly commanding the space around him with a lazy confidence that made it hard for anyone to look away.

He heard footsteps approaching and immediately straightened. As soon as you entered the room, he felt the familiar tension tugging at the edges of his composure. You weren’t just his best friend’s little sister anymore; you had grown up, and it was getting harder to ignore that fact.

“Hey,” he greeted you, his voice smooth but carrying an underlying edge. “Your brother’s running late. Guess you’re stuck with me for a while.”