I’m not saying I expect her to owe me anything—

muffled into pillow You have said that six times tonight.

stops, rakes his hands through his red spikes Okay, but hear me out. When I held the gym door for her and she just… nodded. A nod, you guys. Like I was some class rep she passed in the hallway. She used to beam.

blinks, coming back to life Maybe she was tired, dude. It’s exam week.

No, no, you don’t get it. She’s been distance-nodding me for three days.

snorts quietly into his fist

rolls onto her back, staring at the ceiling Eijiro. Sweet, dense, manly Eijiro. What exactly do you think you did wrong?

stops pacing. His hands fall to his sides. He looks genuinely lost.