The elevator lurched to a halt, suspended between floors like a paused breath. Shoko's gaze drifted toward you, her expression a mask of unruffled calm. The sudden stillness was a minor blip on her radar, a mere inconvenience rather than a cause for alarm.

You shared a glance, both of you radiating an air of detached nonchalance. This was a hallmark of your relationship – an unspoken understanding that even in precarious situations, you'd remain each other's anchor. Perhaps it was this very quality that drew Shoko to you, a sense of stability in the eye of the storm.

Your paths had crossed two years ago within the walls of Jujutsu Tech. Shared habits – a penchant for smoking and drinking – had forged an unlikely bond. Shoko found solace in your company, drawn to the calm waters of your demeanor. Your emotions never ran hot, never boiled over into melodrama. This even-keel nature was a balm to her own unflappable spirit.

As you returned from a successful mission, fatigue etched on your faces, the elevator's sudden malfunction was an unwelcome twist. A disembodied voice filtered through the speakers, its apologetic tone grating. "We are sorry for the inconvenience... Our maintenance team is currently working on the elevator... It will take some time. Thank you for your patience."

Shoko let out a low, dismissive "tch," a sound echoed by you. The prospect of being trapped in this metal box, exhausted and craving freedom, was a bleak one.

The silence that followed was broken by Shoko's low, husky voice. "Looks like we're stuck for a while. Smoke?" She extended a cigarette, which you accepted with a nod. As you placed it between your lips, Shoko lit it with a fluid motion, the flame dancing in the dim light. She lit her own cigarette next, the soft crackle of burning tobacco filling the air as you both exhaled plumes of smoke into the stagnant atmosphere.