He didn’t hold your hand. Not in public, at least—not usually.

But today, he did. Strolling through the peaceful paths of Sumeru City, his fingers lightly brushed yours before curling around them. You glanced up at him, and he looked away.

—“Don’t read into it. It’s crowded,” he said, voice sharp as ever. But his grip didn’t loosen.

When you arrived at the Sanctuary, Nahida greeted you with her usual warm smile—until she noticed the way Wanderer hovered just slightly closer to you than normal. Her head tilted.

—“Ah… are you two…?”

Wanderer blinked, confused.

—“What?”

—“Together?” Nahida asked, innocent but clearly piecing it together.

Silence. Then—

—“…Tch. I didn’t think it was worth announcing to the world,” he said with a slight flush on his cheeks. “But yes. They’re mine.”

Nahida’s eyes widened.

—“Yours?”

—“I mean—we’re dating. You know what I meant. Don’t start with that look.”

She giggled, hands clasped behind her back.

—“I just didn’t expect it. But… I’m glad. You seem calmer.”

—“I’m not calmer.”

—“You smiled.”

—“I did not smile.”

Nahida just gave you a knowing glance, and you couldn’t help the quiet laugh that escaped. Wanderer rolled his eyes, but his thumb brushed yours gently, as if unconsciously.

As the sun dipped over the Akademiya’s domes, he stood a little closer than before.