The festival preparations were in full swing.
Every corridor buzzed with activity—students carrying paint cans, wires, and cardboard props; classrooms turned into haunted houses or maid cafés; clubs fighting over the best display spots. The school had become a chaotic, colorful hive of excitement.
Leo's team, in charge of layout and logistics, was deep into final coordination.
Tension still lingered among the girls. Rin and Hana remained coldly civil, their interactions efficient but terse. Aira continued to work quietly, stealing glances when she thought no one was looking. Yuki, on the other hand, bounced between booths like a cheerful satellite, orbiting Leo just a little too often.
Leo felt like a live wire—any wrong step might set off a fire.
Then came the forecast.
A typhoon warning.
The school's announcement crackled through the speakers: "All outdoor events must be moved indoors or canceled. Festival activities may be postponed if damage occurs."
Groans erupted across campus.
Leo looked at the updated map of booth placements. Half the layout was ruined.
"Okay," Hana said, tying her hair back. "We need a new plan."
Kai groaned. "Why does nature hate fun?"
"No time to mope," Rin said. "We have less than forty-eight hours."
They scrambled to reallocate booths, redistribute power sources, and contact each club to get new approvals. It was a logistical nightmare. Tempers frayed. Voices rose. People forgot to eat.
Then it happened.
A storage room on the third floor—a temporary supply depot—flooded due to a blocked drain. Paints, props, wires… all drenched. Several club displays were completely destroyed.
Leo arrived with Hana and Rin just in time to see members of the Art Club pulling soaked canvas boards out into the hallway.
"This is bad," Hana muttered, crouching to check the damage. "Really bad."
"We need to dry what we can and contact the clubs," Rin said. "And someone has to stay behind to sort inventory. Who's available?"
"I'll do it," Leo said immediately.
"No way you're doing this alone," Hana said.
"I'll help too," Rin added.
They both turned toward each other. For a second, the room tensed.
Then Rin looked away. "Fine. Let's just get to work."
---
Hours passed.
Leo, Hana, and Rin knelt in the storage room, surrounded by piles of wet decorations and paperwork. Aira dropped by briefly to bring them water and towels.
Thunder rolled outside. The rain hadn't stopped.
"We'll need to rebuild a third of the floor layout," Leo muttered.
"I can redraw the blueprint tonight," Rin said, brushing damp hair from her face.
"I'll help digitize it," Hana added. "We can upload a revised version for all teams."
He looked between them.
"…Thanks. Really."
"You don't have to thank us for doing what's right," Rin said.
"We're all in this," Hana echoed.
---
That night, the rain grew worse.
Leo was in the school's computer lab with Hana, finishing up data entry when the power flickered.
Everything went black.
"…Seriously?"
He turned toward her. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
Lightning flashed outside.
Leo fumbled for his phone flashlight.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash from somewhere outside the building.
"That came from the gym," Hana said, already on her feet.
Without thinking, they ran.
---
The gym was partially flooded, but what caught their attention was the half-collapsed stage props stacked by the emergency exit. A waterlogged panel had fallen and wedged the door shut.
Leo grabbed one side. "We need to lift this before it damages the wall."
Hana nodded. "On three."
They pushed together. The panel moved, slowly.
Then, the floor slipped beneath Leo's feet.
"Leo!"
He barely caught the edge of a bench.
Hana's arms wrapped around him, pulling him back just before he could fall fully into the ankle-deep water.
They sat there, panting.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. Thanks."
She didn't let go immediately.
"…You're always jumping in first," she whispered. "Even when it's dangerous."
"I can't just ignore things."
"I know."
He turned to her. Her face was close. Rainwater dripped from her bangs. Her eyes searched his.
"I meant it back then," she said. "All of it."
Leo opened his mouth—
The door burst open.
"LEO?!"
It was Yuki. Soaked, out of breath, clutching an umbrella.
"I heard something fell—I thought you were—"
She froze at the sight: Leo and Hana, kneeling close, drenched.
"…Oh."
An awkward silence fell.
Leo stood up slowly. "I'm fine. We're okay."
Yuki's eyes flicked between the two. Then she smiled—tight, unreadable.
"Great," she said. "Just… great."