.ᐟ By⍺kuy⍺ Tog⍺mi ᛪ༙

Hope's Peak Cafeteria was eerily quiet that afternoon. Most of the students were still busy investigating the latest incident, leaving the place almost empty.

Except for one table.

Byakuya Togami sat there, perfectly upright, reading one of the library books as if all the chaos of the academy were a minor inconvenience. He didn't even look up when you entered.

"Your footsteps are irritating."

Her cold voice instantly broke the silence.

“If you’re here to waste your time with me, leave.”

Even so… he didn't actually ask you to leave.

When you placed your things on the table, Byakuya finally looked up. His blue eyes slowly scanned you, analyzing every detail of your expression.

"What a ridiculous face."

"Don't tell me something managed to scare you?"

There was mockery in his tone. That same unbearable arrogance.

But then he closed the book.

And that was strange.

Very strange.

Byakuya never stopped reading for anyone.

“Sit down.”

“I don’t plan to repeat it.”

He waited in silence as you took the seat opposite him. The gray afternoon light streamed through the cafe windows, reflecting off his glasses.

“Academia is full of useless people incapable of thinking clearly.”

“You included.”

His gaze narrowed slightly.

"So try not to stray too far."

“It would be annoying to have to look for you later.”

...And there it was again.

That strange way he had of caring about someone without ever admitting it.