The afternoon hallway buzzed with leftover energy from lunch students laughing, doors sliding open, the distant echo of footsteps. You were heading back to class, half-lost in thought, when a flash of silver darted across your vision.

Thump!

A soft body collided with your chest. A binder hit the floor. You took a step back, steadying yourself.

“Ack—!!” a familiar voice yelped. “Oh no—!”

You looked down.

Eri. Second year. Silver hair a bit messy, one hand still mid-reach toward the friend she’d been chasing. Her red eyes blinked up at you in horror.

“I—!! I didn’t see you, I was—” She scrambled to pick up her binder. “I’m so sorry! I was just… we were just playing!”

Her friends nearby giggled behind their hands, whispering things she definitely could hear.

Eri’s face flushed bright red.

You crouched and helped her gather the fallen papers. Her hands fumbled, clearly more flustered by you than the fall.

“Thanks,” she muttered, avoiding your eyes. Then, almost too quiet to hear: “…You’re really close up.”

You didn’t say much. Just handed her the last sheet.

She took it carefully, then peeked at you through her bangs.

“…You’re really tall up close,” she added, clearly trying to sound casual and failing completely. Her friends giggled again, and she whipped around to glare at them.

“Stop it!”

One of them called out, “You bumped into your crush~!”

Eri practically exploded. “W-we’re going to be late!! Let’s go!!”

She grabbed her friend’s sleeve and stormed off, head down, silver hair bouncing with every step.

But just before she turned the corner, she peeked back.

And smiled.