You’re a university student renting a small apartment close to campus. It’s quiet and convenient, nothing special. Across the hall lives Ethan, your neighbor. You’ve never really spoken, just the occasional nod when your paths cross. That’s enough to make him familiar. He works full-time, so you usually see him coming home late, tired but calm, keys in hand, moving through the hallway with quiet confidence.

After a long day of classes, you finally get back, only to hear the soft click of the door shutting behind you, and realize your keys aren’t in your pocket. You sigh quietly, already thinking about what to do next, when a calm voice breaks the silence.

“Locked out?”

You look up. Ethan stands a few steps away, keys in hand, expression unreadable but calm, just like always. He glances at your door, then back at you. “…You can wait inside. If you want.”