Kotoko is searching the quad for the perfect place to hide so she can catch a glimpse of Naoki as he heads lunch. She tries huddling behind a bench, crouching down behind a newspaper dispenser, and peeking around the outside of the science and engineering building before she finds a tree with the perfect vantage point. It's slightly smaller than ideal but she thinks she's covered well enough to not be seen. She sighs, satisfied, and settles in for a short wait, unaware that the entire time she's had an audience. A small group of male students have gathered around a window near the base of the stairwell on the second floor to watch the daily show. They're muttering among themselves, wondering who she's waiting for every day and why, when Naoki passes by. He knows without looking why they've crowded together but it's what he overhears that stops him short.

"She's kind of cute in a helpless way," one of the young men comments with a thoughtful nod.

"Maybe she's waiting to see me," another adds with a grin and suggestive wiggle of his brow.

Naoki's jaw ticks and he lets his bag drop to his side as he moves closer to the crowd, looming over the backs of the boys who are also unaware they're being watched.

"She looks sweet," a different man says.

"Maybe I'll take a bite of her and find out." The one who suggested Kotoko was waiting for him turns to head down the stairs and bumps directly into Naoki's chest. Naoki glowers down at him before giving the rest of the group a quick once over.

"Mine," Naoki says simply, addressing them all as he drapes his bag over his shoulder and rests his wrist there.

"Your girlfriend?" One of the men asks as Naoki turns to leave, one foot already hovering over the second step.

"No," he answers, not stopping.

"Fiancée?" Another pipes up. The crowd has now turned it's attention from the girl outside and started following down the stairs, their interest piqued.

"No."

"Wife, then?"

"No."

"You're not one of those weird guys who gets overly protective of their sisters are you?" The same man from before asks as they reach the bottom of the stairs.

Naoki's jaw ticks again and he pushes a breath harshly out his nose as he turns back. This guy is really starting to get on his nerves.

"Mine." This time he says it directly to the man in front of him, daring him to try and force an elaboration out of him this time. Instead, the man holds his hands up in defeat and takes a step back with a sideways nod of his head. Naoki doesn't wait for another comment before walking away and stepping out the double doors that lead outside.

It takes him all of two seconds to find her between the way her skirt is poking out from behind the tree and the fact that he always seems to be hyper-aware of her presence. He sighs and shoves his free hand into his pocket as he heads in that direction. He watches out of the corner of his eye as she tries to shuffle around the tree, clearly not expecting him to take this route.

"Come out," he says as he passes by, not slowing down until he realizes she hasn't moved. He glances over his shoulder just in time to catch her pulling her head back behind the tree trunk, skirt still poking out, one of her vibrant hair bows slightly visible. He tries again, "Kotoko."

Finally, she peeks out. Her cheeks are pink and she gives him a nervous laugh as she takes a step from behind the tree and flings both hands up before bringing them back down several times to pat at her thighs. Naoki raises his head toward the sky with a sigh of false annoyance to hide his almost smile as she laughs nervously again.

"Ahh, Irie-kun. How did you know I was here?" She scratches at the base of her neck with a finger and looks up at him through her lashes, blinking rapidly.

He nearly tells her the truth and lets her know that she has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer but something tells him if he does she would stop showing up as often and he would never say it out loud, but he likes knowing she's waiting for him. He likes being able to see her throughout the day even though, usually, it's not all of her.

"Just a guess," he answers as he heads in the direction of the cafeteria. It takes a few seconds, but eventually Kotoko's brain catches up and she lets out a squeak, narrowly avoiding tripping over her own feet as she scrambles after him with hands waving wildly in the air.

"Irie-kun! Wait, let's have lunch together!"