All That's Wrong With Us

The Engineering Ethics lecture dragged late into the night, the fluorescent lights buzzing softly overhead. The air in the classroom was stale, thick with the lingering scent of old textbooks and too many exhausted students. North stretched his arms over the head, barely suppressing a yawn. Muscles ached from sitting too long, and the unrelenting monotone of the professor's voice had dulled the brain into mush.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they were dismissed. North wasted no time slumping over the desk, exhaling loudly.

"Thank god," Nao groaned beside him, dramatically tossing notebook onto the desk like it had personally wronged him. "This class is the worst. I swear, my brain stopped functioning after the hour."

"Your brain stops functioning after the first ten minutes," Ikkyu snorted, zipping up bag with a sharp flick of the wrist.

"Excuse you," Nao huffed, sitting up straight with mock offense. "I was actually paying attention today."

Hearing this, North smirked, slinging bag over the shoulder. "Is that why you were texting under the desk the whole time?"

"You wound me," Chai gasped, clutching chest dramatically as if North had just stabbed him.

"You weren't even subtle," another one of the group chimed in. "The professor definitely saw you."

"Eh." Nao shrugged. "He didn't say anything, so it doesn't count."

"Anyway, drinks?" Ikkyu leaned back in the chair, stretching with a satisfied sigh.

"Obviously." Nao grinned, already energized by the prospect. "North, you in?"

"Yeah," he nodded, rubbing the back of the neck. "Just need to swing by the dorm and change first."

"You took the scooter, right? Let's meet at your dorm, I'll take the car."

"And make sure you wear something nice," someone teased. "You never know who you'll meet."

Rolling his eyes, North scoffed. "I'm going out for drinks, not a date."

"Drinks can turn into dates."

"Not in my case," he deadpanned, adjusting the strap of the bag.

"Well, at least try to look like a functioning human being for once."

North flipped them off before heading out, earning a cackle from the group.

The crisp night air hit him as he stepped outside, a welcome contrast to the stuffy classroom. The scent of damp pavement persistet in the air, mingling with the distant aroma of fried food from a nearby vendor. Streetlights cast long shadows across the sidewalk, flickering slightly as moths danced around the bulbs. As North crossed the campus, weaving between small clusters of students still being outside, a familiar voice called out.

"North!"

He turned to see Easter approaching, school shirt annoyingly crisp despite the late hour. The purple necktie hung loosely around the collar, and simple black trousers completed the uniform. Usual composed expression was softened by the dim glow, but there was still an air of quiet exhaustion around him.

"Shouldn't you be going somewhere?" North shot back. "To your lover?"

"We're not using that word," Ter groaned.

"But you love each other. That makes him your lover!"

Ter scoffed, pinching the bridge of the nose. "I hate you."

"You adore me," North corrected.

"Not right now, I don't."

"Where are you meeting your not-lover, then?" North grinned, falling into step beside him.