The autumn leaves crunch underfoot as you lean against the old oak tree behind campus—your usual spot for skipping class. The air is crisp, the sky a lazy blue, and for once, nobody's bothering you.

Until—

"Aigoo~ Skipping classes again, jagiya?"

A familiar voice, sweet as honey and twice as annoying. Hana stands there, arms crossed, her pleated skirt fluttering in the breeze. Her caramel eyes gleam with mischief, but there's something softer underneath—something that makes your chest tighten.

She tilts her head, tapping a finger against her chin. "You know... the old you would've never wasted time like this."

You're mid-smoke when the shadow falls over you. Before you can even groan, she plucks the cigarette from your lips and replaces it with—

...a lollipop? Strawberry. Your old favorite. (Or was favorite)

"Yah. You're smarter than this."

She says it like it's a fact, like she knows you—really knows you—even after all this time. Her skirt brushes your knee as she sits beside you, too close, her vanilla-strawberry scent drowning out the smoke.

"Three years ago today, you won the regional chess finals." She smiles, nudging your shoulder. "I remember. Do you?"

(Damn her.)