The morning started with thunder.
Not the sky kind—the metaphorical kind. The moment Leo stepped into the classroom, he felt it in the air.
Buzzing. Whispering. Panic.
Sora was already at her desk, calmly adjusting her glasses as if today were any other day. Hana sat sideways in her chair, chewing gum, one leg bouncing like she was ready for battle. Yuki was conspicuously absent.
Leo placed his bag down slowly, glancing around. A few students huddled by the bulletin board, whispering and stealing peeks at each other's faces. Others sat frozen at their desks, their bodies stiff, like awaiting a verdict.
Then the homeroom teacher walked in with a thick stack of papers.
And it began.
"Midterm results are in," he announced with a neutral tone, placing the pile on his desk like it was nothing more than the weekly attendance sheet.
A collective groan rippled through the room. Some clutched their heads. Others leaned forward in anticipation. One student near the back whispered, "I'm dead," and got a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
Leo's fingers twitched on his desk.
He hadn't expected top scores—but he'd tried. He really had. He thought of the hours spent hunched over flashcards, of late-night calls with Sora where she explained equations with mechanical patience, of Yuki taping absurd mnemonic songs to his dorm door to make him remember history dates. Even Hana had chimed in occasionally with casual tips while passing by.
His name was called.
He stood, legs a little shaky, and approached the front to retrieve his test packet. He returned to his seat without opening it, feeling the weight of the stapled pages in his hands like bricks.
Deep breath.
English: 84
Math: 79
Science: 82
History: 91
Leo blinked.
Not bad.
Actually… good. Really good.
He exhaled in relief.
Then noticed something scribbled at the top of the summary sheet in pink ink.
"You did it. Told you. –Yuki"
He stared at the words, heart stuttering slightly.
The door opened.
Yuki.
Out of breath, her bangs slightly damp from the humid morning air, jacket half-zipped, and her school bag awkwardly hanging from one shoulder. Her eyes immediately scanned the room.
"Are the results out?" she asked, breathless.
Leo didn't wait for her to walk up.
He stood, crossed the aisle, and held out her paper.
"I grabbed it for you."
She blinked at him, then slowly took the sheet.
Her eyes scanned the numbers.
Silence.
"…I passed," she whispered.
Leo smiled gently. "Of course you did."
"No, like—actually passed. I got a seventy-eight in math. I didn't even guess half of it. The formulas just… came to me."
"See? You just needed to believe in yourself."
She was quiet for a beat.
Then she looked at him—really looked at him. Her expression wasn't bright or mischievous like usual. It was raw. Vulnerable.
"I was so scared," she said. "I kept thinking I'd mess it up again. I didn't sleep last night."
Leo hesitated, then said quietly, "You don't have to pretend all the time, Yuki. It's okay to be scared."
She smiled faintly, almost shakily. "You're too nice."
"Or maybe I just understand."
Without warning, she stepped forward and hugged him.
It wasn't long—maybe three seconds. But it was full. Tight. Real.
Leo stiffened, unsure of what to do with his hands. He slowly brought one up to rest against her shoulder.
Then she pulled away, cheeks flushed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to—"
He shook his head. "It's okay."
"Thanks for being there," she added, clutching her paper tightly against her chest.
"Always," Leo replied without thinking.
From the side, two pairs of eyes were fixed on them.
Hana had stopped chewing her gum. Her eyebrows were drawn in, unreadable.
Sora sat completely still, one hand on her own test sheet, the other resting lightly on the desk.
Neither of them said a word.
---
After class, Leo and Yuki walked to the lockers together.
She chatted about how she might finally reward herself with melon soda and curry bread, but her tone was softer now—less performative, more genuine.
And Leo, for once, just listened. He didn't try to fill the silence or smooth things over. He let it all hang in the air.
Because somehow, he knew this was a turning point.
Not just for Yuki.
But for whatever was quietly forming between them.