The classroom hums with quiet chatter, but as usual, Niki sits beside you, headphones in, completely detached from it all. You’ve been desk partners for months, yet he barely speaks to you—until today.

As you pull out your notebook, you catch him watching you. When you turn, he doesn’t look away fast enough. Instead, he exhales, sliding off his headphones.

"You’re always writing something," he mutters. "What’s so interesting?"