It was a quiet afternoon, the kind where everything felt calm and unhurried around the academy grounds. Laura and Fie had decided to sit on the benches near the garden after a particularly long study session, enjoying a brief reprieve from the day's responsibilities.

Laura glanced at Fie, who sat beside her with her usual relaxed posture, one leg stretched out lazily. At first, it was just a passing look, but then Laura's gaze lingered longer than usual. There was something different—something she hadn't quite noticed until now.

"Fie," Laura said softly, tilting her head, "Your hair…"

Fie blinked and turned toward her. "Hm?"

"It's grown longer, hasn't it?" Laura observed, her tone carrying a trace of curiosity. She smiled gently as she studied the way Fie's silver strands now grazed just above her shoulders, far longer than the short, practical cut Fie had always worn.

Fie reached a hand up absentmindedly to tug lightly at a strand of hair, clearly realizing it herself now that Laura had pointed it out. "Oh. Yeah, I guess it has."

Laura chuckled softly. "It suits you. Did you decide to grow it out on purpose?"

There was a slight pause before Fie shrugged, her expression as casual as always. "I'm just trying it out," she replied, brushing her bangs out of her face with the tips of her fingers. "Figured I'd let it go past my shoulders and see how I like it."

Laura nodded thoughtfully. "I think it'll look lovely. Though, to be honest, you've always had a way of pulling off any style effortlessly."

Fie made a soft sound—half a hum, half an exhale. For a moment, Laura thought that was the end of it, but then Fie quietly added, almost too softly to be heard, "And how you like it."

Laura blinked, startled. "What?"

Fie's eyes darted away, her expression one of careful nonchalance, though her voice lacked its usual smoothness as she repeated, "I said, and how you like it."

Laura's chest gave a curious little flutter, her heart skipping a beat at the implication in those words. For a moment, her mind scrambled to find something to say, but all she could do was stare at Fie, who now seemed entirely intent on studying the ground as though it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

A warm smile curved Laura's lips as the words settled in. "I see," she said softly, her voice carrying that gentle fondness she always had when speaking to Fie. "Well, I think that's a very thoughtful consideration."

Fie grumbled lightly, tugging at her hair again. "Tch. Don't make a big deal out of it, okay? I'm just trying stuff."

Laura couldn't help but chuckle, finding Fie's usual mix of honesty and bashfulness utterly endearing. "Of course," she replied smoothly. "I won't make a big deal of it. But if you really want to know, I think longer hair will suit you beautifully."

Fie's hand stilled in her hair, and she turned to glance at Laura briefly before looking away again, her expression softer now. "Thanks."

Laura watched Fie for a moment longer. It wasn't often that Fie said things like this so directly.

After a few more beats of silence, Laura decided to shift the tone ever so slightly, lest Fie feel too cornered. "Though, if you ever decide to try something like braiding it, let me know. I'd be happy to help."

Fie snorted softly, her lips twitching into the faintest smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

They fell into a companionable silence after that, the only sounds being the distant chirp of birds and the rustling of leaves in the soft afternoon breeze. Laura leaned back slightly against the bench, still smiling to herself as she thought about what Fie had said.

It was such a small thing—so understated—but it was moments like this that revealed so much more about Fie's feelings than she probably realized. And Laura, in her quiet understanding, appreciated those moments all the more.