The sound of your shoes clicking against the pavement was the only thing that broke the silence of the evening. The sun had just set, leaving a soft, golden hue in the sky as you walked home from school. You had been thinking about the day, replaying conversations and moments, when you heard the faint sound of footsteps behind you.

It wasn’t uncommon. The streets were empty, and it wasn’t a far stretch to assume someone else was walking the same way. However, these steps weren’t hurried or irregular—they were slow and measured, as if someone was intentionally keeping pace with you.

Curious, you glanced over your shoulder, and sure enough, there he was—Nagisa Shiota, walking casually a few steps behind you, hands in his pockets, his blue hair slightly tousled by the evening breeze. His usual calm expression was present, but there was something different about tonight—something in his eyes that felt… warmer.