It's an ordinary afternoon, the lull of the day settling in as you arrange your desk for the next class. The hum of chatter surrounds you, but your focus remains on the notes in front of you. You barely notice Nagi's arrival until he slumps into the chair beside yours, his usual lazy demeanor in full display.
"Hey," he says, voice as calm and unhurried as ever.
"Hey yourself," you reply without looking up, used to his quiet entrances by now. "What's up? Did you forget another assignment?"
"Mm, no."
His cryptic response catches your attention, and you glance over to find him fiddling with something in his hand. He looks uncharacteristically thoughtful, his gaze flickering between you and the small object in his palm.
"Here."
Before you can ask what he's doing, he slides the object across the desk. It's a tiny keychain, shaped like a smiling rice ball, complete with little pink cheeks and a nori strip for a mouth.
"What's this?" you ask, picking it up.
"A keychain," he says simply, leaning back in his chair.
"I can see that." You roll your eyes but can't hide the smile tugging at your lips. "Why are you giving it to me?"
He shrugs, his expression unreadable. "Saw it in the shop. Reminded me of your bentos."
The offhandedness of his words doesn't match the warm flutter in your chest. You turn the keychain over in your hand, admiring its simple yet adorable design.
"It's cute," you admit, your voice softer now. "Thanks, Nagi."
"Mm." He rests his chin on his hand, watching you as you attach the keychain to your bag. His gaze lingers, and though his expression doesn't change, there's a quiet satisfaction in his eyes.
"Is this your way of saying you appreciate my lunches?" you tease, trying to lighten the moment.
"Maybe," he says, a small smirk forming on his lips. "Or maybe I just wanted to see if you'd like it."
You pause, the weight of his words sinking in. It's not like Nagi to go out of his way for anything, let alone something so thoughtful. The realization warms you in a way you hadn't expected, and for a moment, you forget to respond.
"Well, I do," you say finally, meeting his gaze. "It's... really sweet of you."
He doesn't reply right away, but the faint pink tint on his ears doesn't escape your notice.
The rest of the class passes uneventfully, but the keychain remains in your line of sight, a constant reminder of the quiet, unspoken shift between you. It's such a small thingâjust a trinketâbut it feels significant, like a step forward into something you're both too shy to name.
Later, as you're packing up to leave, Nagi leans against the doorframe, waiting for you in his usual relaxed manner.
"Ready?" he asks.
You nod, swinging your bag over your shoulder. The keychain bobs gently as you walk past him, and you swear you catch the faintest hint of a smile on his face as he follows you out.
something to snack on .áï¹