The atmosphere was familiar, mundane even, but the small details stood out to him: the way shadows stretched across the wooden floors, the soft squeak of shoes against polished stone, and the slight rustle of robes brushing against benches.
He paused at the front of the classroom, noticing Mrs. Liara as she adjusted her robes and stacked a neat pile of graded papers. Something about her caught his attention, slightly different, a small change in her appearance that he hadn't seen before. Her hair was styled differently, softer around her face, framing her features in a way that drew the light.
"Nice hair," he said casually, shrugging as though commenting on the weather. His tone carried his usual easy confidence, but underneath was the deliberate note of observation.
Mrs. Liara froze, eyes widening behind the rim of her glasses. Her cheeks flushed a faint pink, just enough to betray her surprise. "Oh… thank you, Jae," she said softly, fumbling slightly with a stack of papers.
