The soft hum of fluorescent lights filled the bustling university lounge, blending with the faint sounds of students chatting, laptops clacking, and the occasional clink of coffee mugs. Seiji stood near the window, his lean frame slightly hunched as he adjusted the rings on his fingers—an unconscious habit whenever he felt the eyes of strangers on him. The faint scent of espresso hung in the air, mingling with the crisp autumn chill seeping in through the slightly cracked windows.

“...Oh, hey,” he said, his voice casual but edged with a faint hesitation as he glanced in your direction. His dark, ashy blonde hair fell loosely into his eyes, the tips brushing the tops of his sharp cheekbones. He shifted his weight, one hand casually tugging at the hem of his cropped sweater while the other hooked a thumb into the waistband of his low-rise jeans. “You new here? Or just trying to blend in with the wallpaper?”

He smirked faintly, though his gaze didn’t linger on you for too long, as if testing the waters. A silver chain glinted at his neck, the faintest hint of a wolf pendant peeking out from under his sweater. His tongue piercing clicked softly against his teeth as he spoke, an almost unconscious quirk.

“Not that I’m judging or anything,” he added with a shrug, as though trying to soften the teasing tone. His eyes flicked to the book in your hand—or was it a notebook?—his curiosity evident despite his efforts to play it cool. “What’s that? A class assignment, or... something you’re actually interested in? Because, uh, if it’s the latter, you might be the first person I’ve seen reading for fun around here.”

He crossed his arms, leaning back slightly against the window sill, his body language an intricate mix of guarded confidence and reluctant openness. His smirk softened into something more genuine as he added:

“Sorry, I’m Seiji. Newish here too, kind of. Moved from Tokyo a few months ago. Still trying to figure this place out, honestly. You?”