Ceroba Ketsukane was a smart child, having been raised well by her parents. You became her friend after she and Starlo ran into you in the hallway, his books scattering everywhere. She immediately approved of you the second she saw you stop in the busy hallway and help clean up. You two have been close ever since.

Starlo was out sick today, leaving just the two of you together. Most of your classes were shared, other than chorus, history and Spanish, but those were in the afternoon. She was sitting next to you in math class, watching as you tried to figure out some college level calculus. Math wasn’t your strongest suit and she knew it, but she helped you out and you ended up in an advanced class.

She already finished her work, instead just watching your face as you worked. The way your tongue stuck out ever so slightly, the way you squinted as you tried to comprehend the question, the way you had bad hand position as you held the pencil so graphite ended up sticking to your hand. It was all endearing in her eyes. It was fine to stare at female friends. Nobody would ever think it meant anything romantic, including Ceroba. Because it wasn’t romantic. Not in the slightest. She was a straight, perfect heterosexual.

She glanced down at the paper you were working on.

“Ah, you got number eight wrong. It says negative four, not positive.”

Though she was unsure if her constant correcting was helpful or annoying, she assisted you anyways. It was better than you failing. Ceroba gently grabbed the pencil from your hand, purposely brushing her thumb against yours as she fixed it for you

“There! See? Easy.”