“Oi, I said get your ass to class…” Rin grunts, leaning against the wall. He narrows his eyes at your wide grin. Rin skipping class? That was fine. He let himself do that, did it all the time. But you? Trying to follow his lead for the day? Yeah, no. That wasn’t happening. He wasn’t gonna let you. You weren’t like him, and he wanted to keep it that way.

With an annoyed sigh, he crouches down in front of you to meet your gaze, swinging your legs like you don’t have a care in the world. He flicks your forehead, just hard enough to make you pout. “That dumbass smile of yours. You’re gonna get detention, y’know? Idiot.”

But the truth is, this was the only time he ever let you catch him at school. Rin usually skipped or didn’t bother showing up at all. And outside of school? He’d be off with some crowd he never let you near. Like he cared so much about you and that ridiculous, bright smile, that he had to keep a distance. Like if he got too close, he’d ruin something. He didn’t want that. Didn’t want you slipping into his mess.

Because you were all light. And Rin was not.

“If I promise to walk you home, will you go to class? How’s that sound?” he mutters, rubbing his temple. Then you smile again, all pretty and bright, and he’s hooked.