You've known Nagi practically your whole life. He went to the same daycare as you, attended the same schools as you, always lived nearby- yet you've never spoken to him.

You don't really know the reason why. It's not as if he's an intimidating guy; he's always been quite the opposite, a gently spoken, sleepy presence that's been consistently in the background of your life.

It's been 14 years that you've known him, and now that you're starting high school, you feel compelled to talk to him. You find yourself drawn to him, and you don't really know why- maybe it's because he's mysterious? Maybe it's the fact that you've known each other forever yet have never acknowledged it?

Either way, as of right now, you find yourself squashed up next to him in an overly crowded uniform shop, shoved in the corner of the Hakuho High School section by a sea of parents.

It's absolute chaos. For such prestige, wealthy people, you'd think that these adults would have some decorum. A mother almost shoves you face first into a rack of white blazers as she stomps past you, and an arm darts out to curl around your shoulders and pull you back before you're impaled through the head.

You look up at your saviour- of course, it's Nagi himself, standing there besides you with a tired expression on his face, grey eyes blank. His arm stays curled around your shoulder, and it feels as if he's using you as an armrest.

He's quite tall for a 14 year old- you suspect he stands at roughly 172 centimetres, which is just unfair.

"Thanks." You tell him, smiling at him pleasantly.

It's the first word you've ever said to him.

"It's fine." He replies nonchalantly. It's the first thing he's ever said to you.

His arm is still around your shoulder. You find that you don't really mind it.

"So," You say slowly. "You're going to Hakuho as well?"

Nagi hums in response. You've always known him to be a man of few words, but you're starting to realise just how few.

"I wonder if you'll be in my class." You add. A father shuffles past you, and you step back a little bit. Nagi follows.

"That would mean we've been in the same class since we were three."

"You noticed?" Your eyebrow raises in surprise.

"Obviously I noticed," Nagi shrugs. "I'm not dumb."

You look at him, and that's when you realise that he's holding a paper bag in his other hand, with the Hakuho High School logo on it.

You peek inside, and realise he's already got his uniform- there's a pack of shirts and two grey trousers in the bag, along with a dark blue tie. The only thing he doesn't have is his blazer, which is presumably why he's standing in this section.

You become horrified as it dawns on you that you've been making idle conversation with him, not realising that he just wants to grab a blazer and go.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" You exclaim, panicked. "I didn't realise you already had your stuff, otherwise I would've just left you alone!"

"Why're you apologising for?" He blinks at you. "I don't have everything, anyway. I forgot that I need a blazer."

"Right," you nod, shrugging his arm off your shoulder to move out of his way, gesturing at the racks beside you. "Here you are! Take your pick."

He frowns at the blazers, adorably confused. "Which one is my size?"

You stare at him in disbelief. "You don't know? Just try one on and see."

"That's so annoying," he huffs as he grabs one to peek at its tag. "Their sizings are different than the other clothes."

"Yeah, they do that." You shrug as you look at it. "Blazers are just special like that."

You step back to eye his torso, sizing him up mentally. You grab one of the larger sizes near the back of the rack, holding it up against his chest.

"I'd say this is your size," you offer. "Looks about right. It's a bit on the bigger side, but you'll grow into it."

Nagi doesn't even consider- he just takes the blazer from your hand and nods. "Okay. Thanks."

"You're welcome." You beam, pleased that he seems to trust your judgement.

Phew. Awkward situation, avoided.

You're rather shocked at how easily you get along with him; you'd always had the impression he was a difficult person, though you can't really say why, and his personality is quite a pleasant surprise for you.

You're more incredulous at the fact that he seems to have just accepted the fact that the two of you are on friendly terms, despite having only exchanged words for the first time ever less than ten minutes ago.

"What about you?" He gestures at your empty hands. "You didn't get anything yet?"

"I haven't been able to," you tell him with a sigh. "The parents keep pushing and shoving, so I think I'm just going to wait for them to leave."

Nagi grabs your hand. You're confused for about a second, but then he pushes through the crowd, pulling you behind him- he's actually taller than some of the fathers, and his height advantage allows him power through the crowd with relative ease. You're slightly jealous.

You end up at the shirts section, still holding his hand. He doesn't seem to notice, and looks for the smallest size on the top rack, where the largest sizes are displayed. He holds it up against you, frowning.

"This is the smallest size. Why is it still too big?"

You laugh at his confusion. "Nagi, just because you got your shirt from the top rack, doesn't mean my shirt is going to be from the top rack."

You release his hand and point at the sign above. "This is the boys section, see? Those shirts are going to be way too big."

"Oh." Nagi puts the shirt back. "I didn't know that."

"You've only ever shopped for yourself, huh?" You laugh again. "You're so oblivious."

You find your size and grab a pack, before moving onto the other components of your uniform- jumper, skirt, tie, socks. You make sure to take your time to make sure that they'll fit, slightly surprised when you see that Nagi waiting patiently for you.

"You're still here?" You ask him. "You don't have to do that, Nagi. You can leave if you want."

"I'll just wait." He replies in that monotone voice of his. "You'll get trampled without me, anyway."

You pretend to scowl at him, but a relieved smile breaks out on your face. "Thanks."

"It's fine."

Your arms are so full once you're finally done that you almost drop everything onto the floor, but Nagi graciously takes some of your stuff for you, slinging a three-pack of shirts over his arm, and you find yourself wondering why you didn't become his friend sooner.

You then head for the girls blazers, grabbing one and holding it up against your body. It's also on the bigger side, but you tell yourself you'll grow into it.

"Okay, we're done!" You chirp. "Let's go and pay."

The two of you join the line- it's impossibly long, and your legs shake as you realise just how long you'll have to wait.

Nagi digs around in his back pocket before pulling out his phone. You watch him, mildly amused, as he starts playing some game online- some fight game, you note. He absolutely demolishes everyone in the game with ease, and you have to stop yourself from bursting out laughing when he starts insulting everyone in the chat with the straightest face.

"You're mean, Nagi." You comment from where you're peering over his elbow at his screen. "You're really mean."

"I'm just telling the truth." He deadpans. "I'm not mean."

"You like games, don't you?" You ask him, more to fill the silence then to actually know the answer- you already know it.

"Yeah." He says. "Low effort and fun. All I gotta do is move my thumbs."

"I've never played those kinds of games before." You point at the screen. "Now I want to try."

"Try it." He prompts, bumping you with his shoulder. "I'll friend you."

You're about to respond when the shop clerk calls you over curtly. "Next, please."

Once you've both paid for your things, you exit the shop together. Nagi shoves his blazer into his bag haphazardly, causing it to crease, but you doubt he cares.

"It was nice talking with you," You tell him. He hums in response.

"Hey, Nagi?"

"Yeah?"

"We're friends now, right?" You try not to sound too hopeful.

Silence.

"Yeah."

When school starts the next week and you two are put into the same class, you're overjoyed, and make sure to sit at the desk next to his.

"We're in the same class again," you grin at him as you take a seat. "I'll call it the Nagi touch."

"Most people think I'm unlucky." He says, shrugging, but offers you a thumbs-up nevertheless.

"Well, you aren't for me." You say matter-of-factly. "You can be my good luck charm."

Being friends with Nagi means that a lot of people start to avoid you guys- for whatever reason, they decide that they don't like him, but it's fine with you.

At least now, you've both got each other.