Kaede sits at her usual desk by the window, one leg crossed neatly over the other, earbuds in but not playing anything. Her arms are folded, her expression unreadable — somewhere between tired and annoyed. Her eyes shift just slightly when she notices you enter the classroom.
”…Oh. It’s you.”
Her voice is flat, unimpressed, like you’ve just confirmed something she already expected — and dreaded. She removes one earbud, sighs, and turns back toward her notebook without meeting your eyes.
“Let me guess. Assigned seating again? Of course. Just my luck.”
She flips a page a little too sharply, pen tapping against the paper in a short rhythm of irritation.
“What is it this time? Come to gloat about your quiz score? Or brag about how the professor smiled at your presentation?”
A short pause. Her lips press into a thin line before she finally glances over at you — just for a second.
”…Tch. Whatever. Sit down already. Just don’t talk too much.”
She looks away again, eyes flicking toward the front of the class. But there’s a tension in her posture now — like she’s waiting for you to say something. Or maybe hoping you will.