Few Hours Before The Finals

The morning started slow. I was halfway through a bowl of noodles at a street vendor's stall when the noise of the bustling city began to blur into the background. Another ordinary day, or so I thought.

"Shouldn't you be doing something useful for once?"

I didn't even need to look up to know who it was. That voice had a way of cutting through everything else.

"Morning, Shadow Lotus," I said, grinning lazily as I glanced up. "Shouldn't you be busy with your finals today?"

Ying Yue stood there, arms crossed, her usual icy expression firmly in place. She didn't respond immediately, instead glancing at the food on the table with what I swore was faint disdain.

"Finals don't start until later," she said coolly. "What's your excuse for slacking off this early?"

I shrugged, slurping another mouthful of noodles. "This is productive. I'm fueling up for another long day of... existing."

Her lips twitched, like she wanted to say something, but instead, she pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.

"You're taking a break before the big test?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Never thought you'd need one."

She shot me a sharp look, but there was a flicker of something behind her eyes. Tiredness, maybe? Or was it nervous? Either way, it was a crack in her armor, and I wasn't about to let it go unnoticed.

"Not that it's any of your business," she said, brushing off the comment, "but I've prepared enough. Unlike some people, I don't waste time."

"Touché," I said, smirking. "Still, you sitting here with me doesn't count as wasting time?"

Her glare was enough to make most people flinch, but I just leaned back in my chair, unbothered. I could feel the small, unspoken shift in the air. Maybe it was just me, but the tension between us felt different today. Almost… lighter?

"You're insufferable," she muttered, looking away.

"And yet, here you are, sitting with this insufferable one," I said, gesturing around us with exaggerated flair.

Her expression softened for just a second, but then she rolled her eyes. "You're lucky no one else tolerates you. I, unfortunately, don't have a choice."

"Flattering as always, Shadow Lotus," I teased. "You have such a way with words."

For a moment, I thought she'd leave, but instead, she glanced at me, her tone shifting slightly. "You really don't take anything seriously, do you?"

I paused mid-slurp, giving her a half-smile. "Depends. Do you want the honest answer or the charming one?"

"Try the honest one for once," she said, leaning forward, her expression unreadable.

I shrugged. "I take some things seriously. Just... not the same things everyone else does. Like finals? Nah. But you? I'm starting to take you seriously."

Her eyes widened, but she quickly recovered, rolling them again like I'd said something ridiculous. "That's the charming answer, idiot."

"Can't help it," I said with a grin. "It's a package deal."

She exhaled sharply, but this time, it sounded more like a suppressed laugh. Progress.

When we finished eating, I walked with her for a while, the crowd around us shifting and moving like a living thing. She didn't say much, but she didn't leave either. It was almost... comfortable. Not the kind of comfort you get with anyone, but the kind that comes from having someone around who understands you without needing to try.

As we passed a street vendor selling little trinkets, I noticed her glance linger for a moment too long on one of the displays. Her eyes flickered from the trinkets to me, almost as if she didn't want to admit she was interested.

"Want one?" I asked, nudging her lightly.

"No," she said, her tone sharper than necessary.

"Come on," I teased. "Think of it as a good luck charm for your finals."

She huffed, clearly annoyed. "I don't need a good luck charm."

"Yeah, but you want one," I said, already handing over a few coins to the vendor. I picked out a small lotus-shaped charm and held it out to her. The little thing was simple, delicate, but something about it felt... right.

She stared at it for a moment, her fingers brushing mine as she reluctantly took it. "You're ridiculous," she muttered, but her voice was softer than usual.

"Maybe," I said with a grin. "But now you've got no excuse to bomb your finals."

Her eyes narrowed. "I don't need your ridiculous trinkets to pass."

"Sure, sure," I said, waving her off. "But it's a reminder that someone's rooting for you."

For the first time, she didn't immediately fire back a snarky comment. Instead, she looked at the charm in her hand, her expression unreadable.

"Why do you even care?" she asked quietly, almost as if the words slipped out before she could stop them.

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Guess I just like surprising you," I said after a pause, keeping my tone light. "And you're a lot more fun to mess with when you're not stressing out."

Her lips twitched, and for the briefest moment, she smiled a real one, small and fleeting. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

As the sun climbed higher, she sighed and finally stopped walking. "I need to go," she said, her usual coldness creeping back into her voice, but I could see the faintest trace of something else appreciation, maybe? Or just a sign that she was human after all.

"Good luck," I said, flashing her a lazy smile. "Not that you'll need it, Shadow Lotus."

"Stop calling me that," she muttered, turning to leave. But just before she disappeared into the crowd, she glanced back over her shoulder.

"Thanks for the... charm. Let's meet again." The words were almost too quiet to hear, but they hung in the air long after she was gone.

I stood there for a moment, watching the spot where she'd disappeared, a small smile tugging at my lips. Somehow, the city felt quieter without her. Maybe it was just me, or maybe she was more important than I cared to admit. Either way, I had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time our paths crossed.