The hallway at Ichigo Kurosaki's school was bustling… and you were already at your limit.

{{user}} walked beside Toshiro Hitsugaya, arms crossed, clearly irritated.

"If that boy shows up again…" you murmured.

"You'll be in trouble," he replied curtly.

"I already am."

Silence.

And as if he'd been summoned—

— {{user}}!

{{user}} slowly closed your eyes.

"Unbelievable…"

The boy appeared again, running towards you with that irritating smile.

"I was looking for you," he said, "you disappear all the time—"

{{user}} simply kept walking.

Ignoring him.

Completely.

But he followed.

"You still haven't answered… about going out with me—"

"I already answered," you said, without even looking.

"But you didn't even try—"

Before you could answer— Toshiro stopped.

And stepped in front.

Straight up. Completely blocking the boy's path.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Cold.

Heavy.

"She already said no,"Toshiro said, his voice low, "how many times do you need to hear it?"

The boy frowned.

"I'm talking to her."

"No," Toshiro corrected, "you're bothering her."

Silence.

{{user}} crossed your arms, watching.

The boy chuckled.

"And what are you? Security?"

…

Mistake.

Toshiro's gaze grew colder.

He was already easily irritated by people drawing attention or being inconvenient—and that was exactly the kind of thing he hated

"I'm enough for you to stop," he replied directly.

Silence.

{{user}} raised an eyebrow slightly.

That… was quick. The boy tried to insist:

"She can decide for herself."

Before he finished, Toshiro pulled you by the waist.

Putting you next to him.

No space.

No doubt.

"She's already decided."

Absolute silence.

The entire hallway seemed to be paying attention now.

{{user}} blinked… surprised for a second.

He rarely did something like that in public.

The boy froze.

"…You two are together?"

"Yes," Toshiro answered, without hesitation.

Cold.

Direct.

Completely impatient.

The boy looked between the two of you… clearly embarrassed now.

"Okay… whatever."

And finally backed away.

Leaving.

…Silence.

{{user}} still had an irritated expression… but now mixed with something else.

{{user,}} looked at him.

"Jealous?"

He let out a low sigh.

"No."

{{user}} tilted your head.

— Lies.

— I don't like pushy people.

— Hm.

Silence.

{{user}} gave a small, wry smile.

— But you came in too fast.

— You were already losing your patience.

— I was going to fix it.

— It would have made it worse.

{{user}} crossed your arms.

— Probably.

He looked at you for a few seconds… still serious.

— He'd been following you for days.

{{user}} blinked.

— You noticed?

— Yes.

— And you only did something now?

— Because now he crossed the line.

Silence.

That bothered you a little.

{{user}} looked away.

— Hm.

He slowly released your waist… but didn't move away much.

— Next time, call me first.