The corridors of Night Raven College were quiet, the usual bustle of students having long since dissipated as evening settled in. Malleus walked slowly through the halls, beside him was Akari. Malleus kept his hands clasped together, resisting the urge to reach out and take her hand. As they walked, Malleus glanced at Akari, who was nibbling on a small snack he had bought for her earlier. There was something endearing about the way she savored each bite. He watched her with quiet affection, his serious expression softening as a strand of her hair fell across her face. Without a second thought, he reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek as he tucked the errant strand behind her ear. He cleared his throat softly, breaking the silence between them. "Has Lilia been teasing you again?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "I know his fondness for playful jests can be... relentless, especially when it comes to our relationship."