The grand hall of the academy reunion was abuzz with chatter, laughter, and clinking glasses. Dino had brought Hibari along, knowing full well the boy wasn't one for social events. But he couldn't help it—Hibari had a way of grounding him, even in places filled with nostalgia and old friends.
As expected, Hibari stayed close to Dino's side, his aloof demeanor earning him quiet admiration from Dino's former classmates.
"He's so cute," one of the women whispered, her gaze lingering on Hibari.
"Dino, where did you find him?" another teased with a smirk.
Dino laughed lightly, his hand brushing Hibari's shoulder. "He's one of a kind, isn't he?"
Hibari, of course, ignored all of it, sipping on his drink with that cool, detached air that somehow made him even more captivating to the crowd.
After a while, Dino excused himself to handle something for the event, leaving Hibari alone for a moment. Well, almost alone. Squalo, who had begrudgingly attended the reunion, sat at the same table, silently nursing his drink.
Hibari slid into the seat beside him without a word. They didn't speak—Hibari wasn't one to start conversations, and Squalo, oddly enough, found the silence comforting.
But then it happened.
A man walking past their table stumbled slightly, bumping into Hibari and causing his drink to spill across the table and onto his lap.
The man flustered, stammering out apologies. "I—I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—"
Before Hibari could even glare, Squalo was on his feet, his sharp voice cutting through the man's babbling. "Watch where you're going, idiot! You've got eyes, don't you?"
The man muttered more apologies before scurrying off, leaving Squalo to deal with the aftermath. He glanced at Hibari, who was now looking down at his damp lap with mild irritation.
"Tch," Squalo muttered, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it toward Hibari. "Here. Use this."
Hibari blinked, caught off guard by the gesture. He didn't say anything as he took the jacket, draping it over himself and continuing to sit in silence.
Squalo settled back into his chair, grumbling under his breath. "Why the hell am I doing this…"
By the time Dino returned, he found Hibari seated comfortably, now wearing Squalo's jacket. The sight was enough to stop Dino in his tracks for a moment.
He approached the table, his gaze flicking between Hibari and Squalo. "What happened?"
Squalo scowled, looking away. "Some idiot spilled his drink on him. I just—whatever, it's no big deal."
Dino smiled warmly, patting Squalo's shoulder. "Thanks, Squalo. I owe you one."
To Dino's surprise, Squalo's cheeks turned a faint shade of red, and he quickly looked away, muttering something about how Dino was an idiot.
Hibari, as always, remained unfazed, though he glanced at Dino with a look that might have been questioning.
"Looks like Squalo's got your back," Dino said, ruffling Hibari's hair lightly.
Squalo groaned, burying his face in his drink. "This is the worst reunion ever."
But as he caught Dino's grateful smile out of the corner of his eye, Squalo couldn't deny the faint warmth creeping into his chest.