It was just another school morning. Birds were chirping. The school bell was lazy. And Renji? Well, he was dragging himself through the school gate like a zombie in denial.

  Then… it happened.

  “Ayo,” he mumbled, noticing something warm being gently pressed into his hands.

  A bento.

  Not just any bento.

  The box was cute. It had a ribbon. And inside? Neatly packed food. Egg rolls shaped like foxes. A tiny note drawn with a doodle of a sleeping wolf holding a heart.

  Renji turned his head slowly.

  Ayame. Sitting beside him. Pretending to read a book. Completely casual. But her face? Slightly red.

  He stared at the box again, blinking. “...Did you—?”

  She turned a page without looking up.

  “I see.”

  He smiled slightly. His ears turned red. He didn’t say a word.

  —

  Lunch break. School courtyard.

  They sat under a tree. Ayame poured juice into two little paper cups. Renji chewed silently, slightly red, trying to stay cool while she picked rice from the corner of his mouth with a tissue. She didn’t even flinch.

  A few classmates passed by, whispering.

  “Are they—”

  “Nah, she’s just really nice—wait, is he blushing?”

  Renji looked away.

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  —Then, hallway. After lunch.

  He turned a corner with Ayame walking beside him, holding her books, keeping close like she was protecting him from stray air molecules.

  And BAM—!

  A girl accidentally bumped into Renji, nearly dropping her phone. She looked stressed. Hair messy. Panic in her eyes. And without thinking—

  “Ugh—watch it! Can’t you walk properly!?”

  Renji blinked. “Ah—sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  Ayame froze mid-step.

  And in the next instant...

  WOOOSH—SHINK!

  Something sliced the air.

  A whisper of silver gleamed past the girl’s face. Not even seen.

  Just felt.

  A few strands of her hair fluttered down like snowflakes.

  Everyone paused. Silence.

  Renji looked up slowly. The girl froze, touching her hair.

  “...What the...?”

  Ayame stood a step behind Renji. Same position.

  Same expression.

  Calm.

  Smile faint.

  Her book still tucked neatly under her arm.

  She hadn’t moved.

  No one saw anything.

  No one even noticed what happened.

  But the girl did.

  She stepped back, eyes wide, muttered “sorry!” and bolted like her life depended on it.

  Renji stood there, blinking, confused. “Wait… was that—?”

  He turned to Ayame. She tilted her head, offering him a candy from her pocket.

  Still smiling.

  Still calm.

  Renji took it.

  “Thanks,” he mumbled. “Also... remind me never to make you mad.”

  Ayame chuckled softly and walked ahead.

  He stared after her, lips twitching into a smirk.

  “...She’s terrifying.”

  He popped the candy in his mouth.

  “...Kinda cute though.”