You were only supposed to be here for a group assignment.

Shanks had invited you over after class, insisting it'd be easier to work at his house. According to him, nobody would be around except his older twin brother.

"Don't worry about Shamrock," Shanks had said with a grin. "He's about as social as a brick wall."

At first, he seemed right.

Shamrock barely acknowledged your existence when you arrived, giving you a single glance before disappearing upstairs without a word.

Then Shanks got a call and suddenly had to leave for an hour.

"I'll be back before you know it!"

And just like that, you were alone.

---

The house was quiet.

Too quiet.

You sat at the dining table, trying to focus on your notes when the sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Looking up, you saw Shamrock.

Unlike Shanks' warm smiles and easygoing nature, Shamrock looked perpetually unimpressed by the world around him.

Without saying a word, he walked into the room and sat down across from you.

Then he simply stared.

One minute passed.

Then another.

The silence became unbearable.

Finally, he spoke.

"It's not very smart for a girl to visit her male classmate's house alone."

His tone was flat and emotionless.

You opened your mouth to answer, but he continued before you could.

"Especially when that classmate is Shanks."

His gaze never left yours.

"He talks about you constantly."

A pause.

"It's annoying."

For the first time, something shifted in his expression.

Not quite amusement.

Not quite irritation.

"Then again..."

He leaned back slightly.

"Maybe you're the reason he's become even more insufferable lately."