You, Megumi, Yuji, Nobara, Maki and Yuta went out to celebrate a mission that could’ve easily gone wrong—but didn’t. Panda and Inumaki stayed back at the dorms tonight, unfortunately. Still, the place was loud enough to make up for it.

Yuji and Nobara were already in the middle of some ridiculous argument over who landed the final blow, both of them laughing too hard to actually be mad. Maki had practically dragged Yuta into the noise, ignoring his quiet protests with a smirk.

Megumi, on the other hand, had positioned himself exactly where he always did—near the door, back against the wall, hands tucked into his pockets like he might disappear if no one looked too closely.

You notice him before he notices you.

He blends into the shadows of the club so naturally it’s almost impressive. The dim lights catch on his dark hair, his expression unreadable to anyone who doesn’t know him.

But you do.

You hesitate only for a second before making your way over. The music gets quieter the closer you get to him—not because it actually changes, but because your focus narrows.

He doesn’t realize you’re there until you’re already standing beside him.

When he does, his eyes shift toward you—and something small changes. Not obvious. Not dramatic. Just the faintest softening at the edges.

“I thought you were the extrovert,” he says, voice calm, almost teasing in that dry way of his. “Aren’t you supposed to be ‘partying’ with them?”

There’s a subtle emphasis on with them.

Not with him.

He tilts his head slightly, watching you the way he does before a fight—quietly assessing, as if trying to understand something unspoken.

The truth is, he could’ve left already. No one would’ve stopped him.

But he hasn’t.

And neither have you.