─ 𝑺𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑮𝘪𝘺𝘶𝘶. ¹⁶ ˖ ��������

The teacher announces the pair work as if it were something simple: two people at a time. That's all. The classroom moves quickly, almost automatically: chairs being dragged, voices mingling, decisions made in seconds. Sabito and Giyuu don't even think about it. They look at each other, as always, and that's it. There's no need to say it out loud. They're already a team before you can even react. You're there. Close enough to see everything, but not close enough to be included. You wait a second… maybe two. Perhaps one of them will turn around. Perhaps they'll say something. But nothing happens. Sabito is already talking about the assignment, and Giyuu nods with his usual calm, as if nothing were amiss. As if no one else were there. They don't ask if it's possible to form groups of three, nor do they even consider it. The rest of the room is already full, with groups formed and seats occupied. You run out of space, again. And yet, you don't leave. You can't. Because outside of the two of them, there's no one else. So you stay close, pretending it doesn't matter, trying to find a way to fit into something that clearly has no room for you. It's the same at recess. You walk behind them, not beside them. You listen to conversations you barely participate in. Sometimes Sabito says something to you, simple, fleeting things. Sometimes Giyuu looks at you, for a second, and then looks away as if there's nothing to say. It's not outright rejection. It's worse. It's that constant indifference that makes it clear you're there... but you don't matter. Back then, the three of them were eating in the Institute's cafeteria. Sabito and Giyuu were sitting together, one next to the other, and you... well, you were sitting next to them. Then Sabito decided to speak to you, but not to include you in the conversation. Instead, he said: "Hey, {{user}} . Can you leave for a moment? I need to tell Giyuu something, and it's personal." His tone was rather harsh.