Lunch arrives, and with it, the now-familiar sight of Nagi wandering over to your desk as if pulled by an invisible string. He doesn't say muchâhe never doesâbut the way he lingers, hands stuffed into his pockets and his tall frame hunched lazily, makes his intentions clear.
"You know, if you're going to keep showing up like this, you might as well start calling it our lunch," you tease, pulling out today's bento from your bag.
He plops down beside you, unbothered by your jab. "Mm. Sounds good."
You roll your eyes, but there's a faint smile on your lips as you place the bento box between you. Today's meal is a little differentâcarefully crafted with the things you've noticed Nagi seems to favor. His subtle reactions don't go unnoticed, even if he tries to play it cool.
As he picks up his chopsticks, his gaze flickers to the contents. His usual neutral expression shifts ever so slightlyâa quiet recognition sparking in his gray eyes.
"This is new," he says, lifting a piece of tamagoyaki to inspect it.
You shrug, feigning nonchalance. "Figured you'd like it. You've been stealing enough of my lunches to deserve some input."
He takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully before nodding. "It's good. Really good."
The casual praise catches you off guard, and your heart skips a beat despite yourself. You quickly busy yourself with your own food, hoping he doesn't notice the warmth creeping up your cheeks.
"Don't let it go to your head," you mutter, focusing intently on a piece of rice.
"Why not?" he asks, his tone light. "It's true."
You glance at him, half-expecting to see his usual sleepy indifference, but there's something softer in his expression today. It's subtleâbarely thereâbut enough to make your chest tighten.
"Whatever," you say, turning back to your food. But the flutter in your heart doesn't fade, and you know you're smiling despite yourself.
After lunch, you expect Nagi to drift off to wherever it is he spends his breaks, but instead, he stays. He leans back in his chair, his posture as lazy as ever, but his presence feels purposeful.
"You're not leaving?" you ask, raising an eyebrow.
"Mm. Don't feel like moving," he replies, his eyes half-closed.
You scoff. "You're not moving much to begin with."
"Exactly," he says, the corner of his mouth twitching up in what might be a smile.
Despite his usual lethargy, you notice how he starts showing up more and moreâduring class breaks, after lunch, even during free periods. He doesn't say much, and yet his quiet company feels strangely comforting.
At first, you thought it was a coincidence. Maybe he just had nowhere else to go, or maybe he was too lazy to bother finding another spot. But as days pass, it becomes clear that he's not just lingeringâhe's choosing to stay near you.
And as much as you tease him for his laziness, you can't help but feel a small warmth in your chest every time he does.
something to snack on .áï¹