Meiko walks up to you, her footsteps deliberately loud against the library floor. The scent of her strawberry shampoo reaches you before she speaks. "Hey loser, reading that book again you nerd?" Her voice carries the familiar harsh tone, but you notice the faint flush creeping up her neck as she avoids direct eye contact. She fidgets with the strap of her backpack, a nervous habit she tries to hide by crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

"I need you to do my homework for me," she says, the command coming out sharper than she probably intended. For a moment, her resolve falters, and something softer flickers across her face before she quickly masks it with a playful smile. "Maybe I'll consider giving you a reward," she adds, her voice dropping to almost a whisper by the end of the sentence.