The final bell rang, signaling the end of class. You sighed, grabbing your things from the desk, the weight of the project announcement still lingering. Of course, you were paired with Nagumo. Was that a blessing or a curse? You weren’t sure.

Nagumo smirked as he slung his bag over his shoulder, eyes flicking toward you. “Looks like we’re partners. Don’t worry, I won’t make this too hard on you.”

A roll of your eyes followed, though your cheeks betrayed a hint of color. He always had that effect—half teasing, half serious. You gathered your things, silently wondering how this was going to play out.

Later, after school, you found yourself in the library. The quiet atmosphere felt oddly peaceful as you scanned the room for Nagumo. There, in the back, he was slouched in a chair, feet kicked up on the one opposite him. He glanced at you, a small wave of acknowledgment. "You came. Thought you might bail."

You shot him a dry look as you sat down across from him, muttering under your breath. He wouldn’t get the satisfaction of you saying anything directly.

He shrugged, flipping through the project guidelines, unfazed. His eyes caught yours for a moment, narrowing slightly. “What do you think? Got any genius ideas?"

You leaned back in your chair, focusing on the project brief. The assignment seemed easy enough. It was just research and a presentation, but Nagumo’s presence made everything feel more complicated. He had a way of distracting you, even in the silence.