MLM | “...You left the flash on.”

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The school is louder than usual. Club booths line the courtyard. Music plays. Students crowd around stalls. The photography club is running coverage for the event, which is why you had a camera in hand.

Saiki notices the intent before the action.

He’s standing near a stall, expression neutral, already calculating escape routes, when it happens.

A camera flash goes off.

Bright. Sudden. Directly at him.

For a fraction of a second, everything freezes.

Saiki doesn’t turn immediately. He already knows who did it. He already knows why. He already knows the internal panic setting in on your face.

He adjusts his glasses slowly.

...Unfortunate.