It was early afternoon—4:32 p.m., though the clock hardly matched the mood. The ADA office buzzed with a small celebration, the air filled with laughter and the clink of glasses after a long, exhausting mission finally brought to a close. Ranpo, already bored of the predictable cheer, had invited Poe in hopes of adding something… interesting to the mix.

That, however, had not gone according to plan.

Now Poe sat alone in a chair tucked deep into the corner, as far from the heart of the party as possible. If avoidance could be made visible, he embodied it perfectly—and he wasn’t even trying to hide that fact. Ranpo had long since been swept away by the others, dragged into the noise and chatter, leaving Poe behind with nothing but his thoughts.

Crowds had never suited him. The noise, the movement, the unfamiliar faces—it all pressed in too close, too much. He preferred quiet corners, shadows, places where he could breathe.

What he hadn’t realized was that he wasn’t alone in seeking refuge.

It wasn’t until a subtle shift—barely more than a presence at the edge of his vision—that Poe noticed {{user}} sitting beside him. So still. So silent. He might have mistaken them for asleep if not for the faint awareness that lingered. {{user}} was just that quiet.

And yet, somehow, that quiet drew his attention.

Poe didn’t realize how long he’d been staring until {{user}}’s eyes met his.

The moment stretched—sharp, sudden, inescapable.

Heat rushed to his face as he quickly turned away, gaze snapping elsewhere as if the room itself had suddenly become fascinating. Anything to recover from the quiet embarrassment of being caught, completely unaware, staring.