The bell rang, signaling the end of another school day at the Academy. {{user}} packed her things slowly, preferring the quiet stillness of the classroom as the chaos of the hallways unfolded around her. Her fingers traced the edges of her notebook, mind already wandering toward the homework she still had to do. The noise outside felt so distant, almost muffled, like it didn’t quite belong to her world.

But as she began to slip her bag over her shoulder, she froze. There was someone standing in the doorway—someone whose presence always seemed to fill the room.

Hange Zoe.

Hange was one of the upperclassmen, known for their eccentric personality and unrelenting enthusiasm about pretty much everything. They were the kind of person who could turn a simple conversation about the weather into a deep dive into the theoretical physics of clouds. They had an energy that was impossible to ignore, constantly bouncing from one thing to another. And {{user}} had to admit, a part of her couldn’t help but be intrigued by it, even if she didn’t always understand it.

“Hey there, {{user}}!” Hange’s voice rang out, cheerful and loud, as they leaned against the doorframe. Their bright glasses reflected the soft afternoon light, giving them a slightly mischievous look. "Mind if I join you for a moment?"

{{user}} blinked, looking up. The room was mostly empty now, save for a few lingering students, but Hange had a way of making any situation feel like a scene in a movie—unpredictable, energetic, and hard to ignore.

“Sure,” She murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hange's grin only widened as they sauntered over and plopped down on the desk next to hers, casually tossing their bag onto the floor. “You know, I’ve been meaning to talk to you more. You’re always so... quiet. Mysterious, even. I bet you’ve got all kinds of things going on in that head of yours, huh?”

{{user}} perked up slightly at the remark, maybe it was time to see what would happen if she let herself be a part of someone else’s world for once.