For once, the sky above Seika High was a flawless blue.
No clouds. No announcements. No sudden dramatic confessions.
Just the low hum of a peaceful school day.
It was rare.
And Leo, despite all the swirling emotional chaos of recent days, allowed himself to enjoy it.
---
The day started with something unusual: a surprise "Life Skills" elective session, where all second-year classes were shuffled into random groups.
"Today," the teacher said, holding up a plastic bag full of laminated cards, "you'll be working together to survive a mock disaster scenario. Cooperation and communication are key."
Leo blinked.
He'd expected math.
Instead, he was handed a scenario card titled: "Earthquake hits during class. Your building is unstable. Who do you save first?"
Around him, his assigned group took shape:
Yuki, chewing gum and already trying to peek at other groups' answers.
Sora, silently reading the fine print of their scenario with that serious, analytical stare.
Hana, who arrived last, tossed her bag down and said, "Please tell me I get to punch a metaphorical wall."
Leo looked at the card.
Then at the three girls.
Then back at the card.
> This is going to be dangerous.
---
They sat in a circle, chairs pushed together. The simulation involved choosing ten actions from a list of thirty, ranking their importance, and then defending the decisions to the class.
"Obviously, we take medical supplies first," Sora said, already organizing their priority list.
"Wrong," Yuki said cheerfully. "Food and water. You can't patch a broken arm on an empty stomach."
"You don't eat water," Hana added helpfully.
Leo tried to follow. "Wait. What about shelter?"
Yuki patted his arm. "Look at you, caring about roofs. So responsible."
"I'm serious."
"So am I," she grinned. "We'll die of boredom before exposure."
"Can we focus?" Sora sighed.
Hana grabbed the pen. "Fine. Let's compromise. First aid, water, radio, then food. Shelter can wait. Firewood is cool. I get to build a campfire."
"Why does that scare me?" Leo muttered.
---
Thirty minutes of light arguing and mild chaos later, their group was called to present.
Sora did the talking, voice steady and precise.
Yuki threw in a few jokes.
Hana pantomimed starting a fire with her shoelaces.
Leo mostly just tried not to laugh.
When their turn ended, the teacher smiled. "Excellent work. Group synergy was… unique. But effective."
Yuki high-fived Hana. "We're survivalists now."
"Let's hope we never need it," Leo said.
Sora looked at him, then said quietly, "Still… I'm glad we were grouped together."
It was small.
But sincere.
Leo felt that flicker again—the one that came when words meant more than they sounded.
---
Lunch break arrived like a gentle wave.
Instead of splitting off, the four of them stayed together.
Leo bought drinks.
Hana shared her onigiri.
Yuki tried to get Sora to laugh with a ridiculous imitation of the principal's announcement voice.
It didn't work.
But Sora smiled.
Just a little.
Leo saw it.
And something in his chest warmed.
Not in a romantic way—not yet. Maybe not at all.
But it felt like life.
Like breath after holding it too long.
---
That afternoon, club activities were suspended due to a short staff meeting.
So, with rare freedom, the four of them wandered to the courtyard.
Hana challenged Leo to a footrace around the school.
He lost. Badly.
Yuki cheered them both on while filming it with her phone and adding ridiculous commentary.
Sora… watched from the bench, sipping a canned tea, a quiet smile playing on her lips.
When Leo collapsed beside her, panting, she handed him the drink she hadn't touched.
"I guessed you'd need this."
"Are you psychic?" he wheezed.
"No. I'm observant."
He looked at her.
She looked back.
Then turned away, faint blush on her cheeks.
---
Later that evening, as the sun dipped low and shadows stretched long across the courtyard, Leo walked home with his jacket slung over one shoulder.
His phone buzzed.
Yuki: [📸 Leo running like a baby deer. Caption: "Speed: 1.2x. Dignity: 0."]
He laughed.
Then another message.
Hana: ["I'll train you. Next time, you won't come last. Probably."]
Another.
Sora: ["Thanks for today. It was… calm. I needed that."]
He stared at the screen.
Then at the sky.
And smiled.
For the first time in weeks, Leo didn't feel the weight of choosing.
He just felt—grateful.
Whatever tomorrow held, whatever emotions tangled or confessions awaited…
Today was theirs.
And it had been good.