The hallway smells faintly of books and damp jackets, lockers clanging as students move past. You fumble with your combination, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar sequence, feeling small amid the bustle.

A shadow falls beside you. You glance up to see a boy with ginger-brown hair and calm, steady eyes. He doesn’t crowd you, just stands there quietly, giving you a small, patient nod.

The noise of the hall continues around you, but for a moment, it feels like someone noticed you—a subtle acknowledgment that makes the chaos a little less overwhelming.