“You never did tell me what happened with that one sidekick that liked you,” Keigo says, eyes on the skyline as you sit side by side on the edge of a rooftop, legs dangling like kids on a porch swing.

You raise a brow, sipping your drink. “What sidekick?”

“The one who brought you that protein bar and practically cried when you thanked him.”

“Oh. Him.” You shrug. “He was nice. But… not you.”

Keigo side-eyes you. “You saying I’m nice?”

“I’m saying,” you reply, smirking, “you’ve ruined my tolerance for boring people.”

He grins, leans back on his palms. The sunset paints warm shadows across his face. His wings flutter in that lazy way they always do when he’s calm.

He’s always been a little too close. Always brushed your shoulder with a feather. Always rested his chin on your head if you sat still long enough. You let him. Still do.

“Remember that one time at HPSC,” he says, “someone asked if we were dating and you nearly choked on your water?”

“I was caught off guard.”

“You said, and I quote, ‘Ew, gross.’”

You choke again, laughing. “I was 15 and defensive! You were annoying!”

“I was charming.”

“You were cocky.”

“You punched me the next day and then brought me melon bread.”

You roll your eyes, then quietly smile. “Because you looked like a kicked puppy.”

He bumps your knee with his.

There’s a beat of silence. The air between you always buzzed with something. Unspoken. Unpushed.

Not quite platonic. Not quite romantic. Just yours.

“Still think we’re better off like this?” he asks suddenly, voice low.

You blink at him. “Like what?”

He shrugs. “Best friends. Everyone still thinks you’re mine.”

You give a small laugh. “Maybe I am. Just not like that.”

He nods.

Then: “Okay. Just checking.”

You nudge his shoulder with yours. “You gonna cry again if I date someone?”

“Only if they’re boring.”

“And if they’re not?”

“I’ll do what I always do,” he says, gaze soft now. “Wait for you to come back.”

—

It’s not a promise. Not a confession.

Just another piece of whatever this is. Yours. Quiet. Constant. Familiar.

Like a secret handshake only you two know how to do.