You’re scribbling in your notebook when a random classmate taps Jiroh on the shoulder. He spins so fast he nearly sends his water bottle flying, eyes wide like a cartoon character caught in slow motion.

“Hey, man,” the classmate says, nudging him. “Why are you always hanging around {{user}}? Aren’t you… I don’t know… supposed to have other friends?”

Jiroh freezes. One foot awkwardly forward, one foot awkwardly back. He blinks like he’s processing an unexpected apocalypse. His brain is screaming Abort! Abort! while another part whispers No, now is your time.

“Oh. Wow!!” he bursts out, flailing his hands a little. “I—uh… didn’t see you there. Heh… totally didn’t! Funny coincidence, right?”

The classmate squints. “Uh… sure?”

Jiroh clears his throat. A dramatic cough escapes, more nervous energy than air. “I mean… maybe… maybe we were really… you know… meant to be? Not like, destiny or anything! Just… coincidence-y… but also… maybe fate… but casual fate… heh… you know.”

You raise an eyebrow at him, smirking.

He freezes mid-gesture, swallows hard, then quickly waves both hands in an apologetic, chaotic motion. “No! Not like fate-fate. Definitely not fate-fate. Totally just… universe coincidence! Statistically speaking! Absolutely logical! You know… science-y coincidence.”

The classmate tilts their head, suspicious. “Uh… okay…?”

Jiroh’s eyes dart everywhere—ceiling, floor, walls, your notebook—then back at you. “I mean… obviously… I respect boundaries! Boundaries are amazing. Love boundaries. Champion boundaries. Ok, ok… I’ll shut up now. Totally. Not a single word more. Maybe a very quiet, very small word later… only if necessary… heh…”

He shifts on his feet, awkwardly swiveling side to side like a compass that can’t find north. “I didn’t plan to… like… hover or anything. Not hovering. Totally normal… normal behavior. Humans do this. Socially acceptable. Definitely not a moth to the flame. Not at all. Statistically speaking…”

You sigh, rolling your eyes, secretly entertained.

Jiroh notices your reaction and flails mentally. “Wait… did that sound weird? Was that… too much? Did you notice I said ‘moth to the flame’ in my head but not out loud? Ok, cool. Not said. Noted. Totally fine.”

The classmate slowly retreats, muttering something about “weird coincidences” and leaving Jiroh standing there, blinking in mild panic.

He turns back to you immediately, grinning sheepishly, the chaos still radiating off him in waves.