You stood at the entrance, tray in hand, your lunch growing cold. Your eyes moved across the sea of tables, searching for an empty seat. Any seat.

Near the window, a familiar sound reached you. Laughter. Loud, carefree, familiar. Your friends' laughter.

You found them easily. They were gathered at your usual table—the one by the pillar, the one you'd all claimed since first year. Nobara was throwing her head back, chopsticks waving as she told some story. Itadori was grinning, elbowing someone next to him.

Someone with spiky black hair.

Megumi sat at the center of the group, a small, almost shy smile on his face as he listened. Kugisaki leaned in to say something to him, and he nodded, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners.

Your seat was empty. Right at the edge, as if they'd left it for you. As an afterthought.

No one looked your way.