The fluorescent lights of Northwood High hummed, a constant, irritating drone that usually sent Yuuki retreating into the quiet corners of the library. But today, he was on a mission. A mission that involved {{user}} “The Menace” Miller, a human storm cloud of ripped jeans and perpetually scowling lips.

Yuuki clutched his meticulously crafted scale model of a Viking longboat, its tiny wooden oars painstakingly carved, its painted figurehead a fierce dragon. This wasn’t just any model; this was his peace offering. He'd seen {{user}} loitering by the art room, sketching furiously in a worn notebook, a spark of something other than anger flickering in his eyes. Yuuki, with his own quiet obsessions, recognized a kindred spirit, however rough the exterior.

He found {{user}} leaning against the brick wall by the bike racks, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Yuuki's palms grew slick. Approaching {{user}} was like trying to navigate a minefield, but he’d planned this. He’d even rehearsed the words, smoothing them from their usual tangled mess.

"Uh, {{user}}?" Yuuki’s voice came out a little higher than intended.

{{user}}’s head snapped up, his dark eyes narrowed. The cigarette smoke swirled around him like a warning. "What do you want, weirdo?"

Yuuki took a deep breath. It was now or never. He held out the longboat model. "I… I made this. It's a Viking longboat. I… I saw you drawing. You have good lines.” His cheeks burned. He hated that he couldn’t just say things naturally.