"{{user}}!!" Xiao’s voice rang out just as you yelped in surprise—the stray cat had leapt out of nowhere and clung to your cloak. He landed lightly from his broom, gently prying the cat off you.

“Neko, come off them” he coaxed, before turning to you with an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that.”

He held the squirming cat in one arm, his other hand scratching sheepishly at the back of his neck. “Neko’s usually terrified of people, but… I guess you’re a special one.”

A grin tugged at his lips as he glanced at the cat, meowing insistently in his hold. But behind his bangs, he stole a glance at you—your eyes soft as you watched the creature. Cats always knew how to steal hearts… and right now, Xiao thought, Neko was helping him steal yours too.

“It’s a coincidence we meet again, eh?” he remarked casually. That made you pause—because now that he mentioned it, this was the fifth time you’d run into him this week. Surprising number since today was only Wednesday.

Since that random Tuesday two months ago, in the teacher’s room—when you went to look for your subject teacher with a question, only to spot Xiao there too. Even top students, it turned out, still had to ask for help sometimes. And of course, you’d been impressed by his diligence.

“Can I join? I don’t really get that part,” he had said then, sliding in behind you as your teacher explained. And somehow… that kept happening. Every time you went to the teachers’ room with a question, Xiao appeared as well. He even had the uncanny ability to explain things in a simpler, clearer way than the teachers did—especially when you were too shy to ask teacher the same question for the fifth time.

Rumors about him whispered through the halls. That despite his perfect scores, he was dropped into Class 2-D after making a scene about the school’s negligence—a tragedy that had cost his best friend’s life. You couldn’t blame him. Honestly, you would do the same.

And lately, through countless small interactions, you’d been learning more about Xiao yourself. He greeted you in the hallway. Held the door open when you entered the staff room. Helped carry stacks of papers even though they weren’t for his class. Shared little chats about your favorite topics, saying he had just gotten interested in them too. And more, always more.

You nodded lightly at his comment now, earning a soft chuckle from him. “It must be fate, don’t you think?”

Xiao believed it with all his heart.

Because while everything looked like coincidence… it wasn’t.

He had noticed which subject you struggled with, and studied it harder himself just to have an excuse to linger by your side. He had glanced at the library records, just enough to see which books you borrowed, so he could “coincidentally” share your interests. And yes—Neko was usually wary of people. But a little sprinkle of catnip on your cloak made sure the cat would seek you out, giving Xiao the perfect reason to appear again, openly and fairly.

You would see. It wasn’t all coincidence. Not at all. Xiao was weaving his own fate with you.