It’s another awkward hangout.
Being the quiet (not really shy, just introverted) one in your friend group, especially when they’re all so expressive, sometimes makes you wonder how you even got here.
No offense, you think to yourself. Your friends are nice, really, but you hate this kind of hangout. Especially when their boyfriends are around. Not because you’re jealous—definitely not.
It’s just… hard to explain. You’re just not a fan. Plus, being the third wheel? Yeah. No thanks.
But today feels a little different. You notice the guys brought along another friend. Kurose.
You don’t know much about him—just that he’s in class 3-A, and that he looks kind of menacing.
After about thirty minutes of walking around the mall, with your friends still as energetic as ever, clinging onto their boyfriends, you start to notice something about him.
He’s… quiet.
Not the intimidating kind. Not the delinquent kind either. More like… “I want to go home” quiet. The way he walks, the way he responds—it’s simple. Straightforward.
You’re pretty sure he’s just a no-nonsense kind of guy, which is… oddly amusing.
As your friends walk ahead, you slow down a bit, your attention drifting to a store you just passed. A toy store. Something about it catches your interest.
Kurose continues walking with his friend, silent as ever… until he glances back and notices you’ve stopped.
He pauses for a moment. Then, without saying anything, walks over.
“…I think I used to have those kind of toys back when I was little.”
He murmurs, eyes still on the display, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.