Leo didn't see it coming.
In fact, no one did.
Except maybe Kai, who had apparently been plotting something in secret for weeks. Not that he'd admit to anything outright. Kai was a master of distraction—he could spin you a story about star-crossed lovers just to keep you from noticing the glitter bomb he hid in your locker.
It started on a Friday morning, when Leo found a flyer tucked between the pages of his literature book.
"Midnight Gala: A Not-So-Secret Secret Event"
Date: Saturday Time: Midnight Location: To be revealed
The bottom simply read:
> Brought to you by someone who thinks this school could use a little more sparkle.
Leo raised an eyebrow.
At lunch, he found Kai lounging on a bench near the fountain, sunglasses on despite the cloudy sky.
"I don't suppose you know anything about this?" Leo asked, waving the flyer.
Kai grinned, not even glancing up. "What makes you think that?"
"Because it smells like you. Chaos and glitter."
"You wound me. I am but a humble admirer of spontaneous joy."
"…You're the only person I know who used school funds to rent a fog machine for a poetry reading."
"That fog was atmospheric, thank you very much."
Kai finally sat up straight, eyes gleaming.
"But seriously," he said, lowering his voice. "This school's been on life support socially ever since the last spring festival got canceled. Everyone's so wrapped up in grades and clubs and applications. I thought—maybe, just maybe—we need one night. One night to pretend everything's okay."
Leo tilted his head. "So this is your way of bringing joy back?"
"It's my way of reminding people that they're still people. Not just exam scores and resumes."
Leo studied his friend.
"I didn't know you cared that much."
Kai shrugged. "Neither did I, honestly."
---
The preparations were ridiculous.
Within 24 hours, posters started appearing across campus. None of them listed a location. All of them were hand-drawn, chaotic, and undeniably Kai's style.
Yuki intercepted Leo after history class, holding a color-coded spreadsheet. "I think Kai's got us in teams. You're on decorations."
"Why me?"
"Because Rin's on lighting and he wants you two to talk more while pretending to do useful things."
"…He's matchmaking?"
Yuki smiled slyly. "You say that like it's new."
---
By Saturday evening, chaos reigned in the unused gymnasium behind the music hall.
Someone had cleared out the old mats and dusty lockers. Strings of fairy lights were half-installed across the ceiling. Cardboard cutouts of stars and moons leaned against the walls. A portable speaker setup buzzed softly in the corner.
Leo stood on a ladder, struggling to attach a paper lantern that refused to cooperate.
"Higher," Rin called.
He reached up.
"Now slightly left."
"Your left or mine?"
She smiled up at him. "You're doing fine."
Their hands brushed as she passed him the next lantern.
He didn't pull away.
Down on the floor, Yuki and Hana were setting up the snack table—if "snack table" meant "unregulated sugar bomb."
"What if we freeze the soda and call it sparkling ice magic?" Yuki suggested.
"I'm just here for the free cookies," Hana replied.
Kai, clipboard in hand, walked through like a Broadway director.
"Ten minutes to curtain, people! Lanterns go up, mood lights down, and for the love of aesthetics, someone straighten that moon backdrop!"
Leo chuckled from the ladder.
"You really went all out."
Kai winked. "I told you. One night. Just one."
---
Midnight arrived.
The gym was transformed.
Music pulsed softly, lanterns glowed like tiny stars, and a dozen students wandered through the makeshift gala with awe.
Some danced. Some sat against the walls, sipping weird soda and talking about dreams. Some stared up at the lights like they'd never seen anything beautiful before.
Leo found Kai leaning against the doorway, watching it all.
"You did it," Leo said.
Kai smiled, rare and genuine.
"For tonight, at least," he said. "No one's pretending to be invincible. And that's kind of beautiful."
Rin joined them, slipping her hand into Leo's.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Development?"
Leo flushed. Rin just smiled.
Kai stepped back, hands raised. "My job here is done."
---
They danced.
Not perfectly. Not gracefully.
But honestly.
And in the quiet between songs, when the music dipped and the lights flickered, Leo looked around and thought:
This is what healing looks like.
Not in huge declarations or final chapters.
But in glitter on the floor.
In shared smiles.
In one night carved out of time, to remind everyone: We're still here.
And that mattered.