Suddenly, the chairs around the fighting ring scraped back in a loud wave as students rushed toward the winner, lifting him onto their shoulders, chanting his name. Laughter and cheers exploded from every corner.
Those who had bet on the loser sighed and began pulling crumpled bills from their pockets, shoving them into the hands of the grinning winners.
Room Zero felt alive, electric — a crowd feeding on the heat of victory.
But Aria's eyes didn't follow the cheers.
They went to the boy lying motionless on the mat.
His lip was split, one eye swelling shut, a dark smear of blood trailing from his nose.
She moved toward him slowly, weaving through the crowd until she crouched beside him.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
The boy stirred, lids fluttering. His gaze found her, and for a second, it was as if the chaos faded.
Light from above framed her hair in gold, and her blue eyes caught the glare, shining like polished glass.
His lips parted in a dry whisper.
"…Sis Luna?"
Aria blinked. "Oops… I'm not the one you're looking for, but—"
Before she could finish, a voice cut in.
"Your boyfriend?"
She spun around to find Leo standing there, smirk tugging at his lips.
"What? No, no, I just thought he needed help," she said quickly, waving her hands.
Leo chuckled, clearing his throat before speaking again.
"Zorvath's looking for you."
"Me? Why?"
He only shrugged, giving a clueless expression before walking away into the crowd.
Aria looked back at the boy.
Helping him came first.
---
A few minutes later
Sreya, Danvy, and Sona had joined her, kneeling beside the boy.
"Grab that water bottle," Aria told Danvy.
Sreya pulled a small towel from her bag while Sona fished out a half-empty pack of tissues.
They got the boy to sit up, leaning him against the edge of the ring.
He mumbled a thank you before letting them clean the blood from his face.
Not long after, exhaustion took over, and he drifted to sleep right there on the bench against the wall.
---
With the boy resting under her friends' watch, Aria let herself wander.
The buzz of Room Zero pulled her in — dice clattering at one table, the clink of coins at another. She sat in on a carrom match, her fingers deft as she flicked the striker. She lost the first round, won the second, and by the third, the crowd around the board had doubled.
Whispers began to spread.
"That's her… the one from earlier…"
"Look at her eyes… doesn't she look like…"
"Yeah… like Luna…"
Everywhere she went, glances followed her.
Not mocking, not hostile — but filled with something else.
Respect. Curiosity.
Awe.
By the time she passed the vending corner, even the younger ones were staring openly. Lily and Ruby, two juniors from Class B, stood side by side, eyes wide.
"That's Aria," Lily whispered.
"She looks like a goddess," Ruby murmured back.
From the games area, Mike called out, "Aria! Come play this round!"
And in the corner near the old iron door, Lolan leaned back in his chair, smirking as if he knew something no one else did.
The room wasn't just watching her now — it was starting to treat her like she was someone they already knew.
Someone important.
Aria finally sank into an empty, worn-out sofa tucked in the shadowy corner of Room Zero. The noise of laughter, cheering, and the occasional thud from another spar echoed across the hall.
Sona plopped down beside her, holding out a fizzy drink.
"Here. You look like you just fought a dragon," she said with a grin.
Aria took it, exhaling. "More like watched someone get torn apart."
Sreya leaned on the armrest, sipping her own drink. "You mean that boy? The one you played nurse for?"
Danvy slid onto the sofa's other side. "Yeah… you were all 'Are you okay?' like some angel in the middle of a bloodbath."
Aria rolled her eyes. "He was bleeding. Someone had to help him."
Sona smirked. "Aw, look at our sweet, soft-hearted Aria. You're in the wrong place, babe."
Sreya tilted her head. "So… what do you think of Room Zero now that you've seen it up close?"
Aria scanned the chaos—the gambling corner, the fights, the shouting. "Messy. Cruel. Like someone wrapped a circus in barbed wire and called it a school club."
Sona burst out laughing. "That's… not entirely wrong."
Just then, four juniors strolled over—Lily with her bright smile, Ruby in her oversized jacket, Mike twirling a coin between his fingers, and Lolan, who always had that lazy grin.
"Is this the famous Aria?" Ruby leaned on the sofa armrest beside her. "You look exactly like—"
"Don't say it," Mike cut in with a smirk. "You'll scare her off."
Lily plopped onto the edge of the table in front of them. "Too late. Everyone's been talking about you since you walked in."
Lolan gave her an exaggerated once-over. "Yeah… no offense, but you don't look like someone who belongs here. But somehow, you do."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "That's… confusing."
"Take it as a compliment," Ruby teased.
Sona leaned forward, grinning. "Careful, guys. She's taken."
Aria whipped her head toward her. "I am not—"
The juniors burst into laughter, Lolan holding up his hands. "We're just teasing, goddess."
"Goddess?" Aria repeated, frowning.
Mike smirked. "It's just… you look like someone important. Someone we've seen before."
Before Aria could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen.
Sinas: Where are you?
Her stomach dropped. The meeting.
She shot up from the sofa. "I… have to go."
Sreya blinked. "Wait—what? We were just getting started."
Aria was already stepping away. "I'll explain later!"
She weaved through the crowd, the noise of Room Zero fading behind her. But even as she left, she felt their eyes on her—the strange, heavy kind of attention you can't quite shake.
Aria's POV____
I stepped out of KHSS. The street outside was empty, shaded, and quiet. To the right was the road leading to GHSS, and to the left was the one I usually took home. My feet, almost on their own, carried me down the familiar path.
It was nearly 3 p.m. The weather was perfect—not too hot, not too cold. I had touched up my look before leaving, finishing it off with my iconic jasmine perfume. That little detail always gave me confidence.
When I reached the main road, a corner caught my attention. Cafe Corner. I had noticed this place before but never stepped inside. I'd heard rumors—it wasn't just any cafe. Every Thursday, they spun a lucky wheel for the night's customers. Some people won free food, surprise parties, or even strange "fantasy treatments." Some unlucky ones even ended up cleaning the entire cafe. A variety cafe, full of unexpected twists.
But today, I wasn't here for the wheel. I was here for him.
Sinas.
I didn't know what I'd say, or what we even were to each other anymore. But I knew one thing—I still carried that spark for him, glowing in my heart.
I pushed open the door. The interior burst into color. The walls were painted bright, playful shades, covered in signatures, quotes, doodles, and pictures. It felt like thousands of emotions had been poured onto those walls, each one waiting to be read.
And then, in the corner behind that mural, I saw him. White shirt. Blue jeans. Head bent over his phone.
Sinas.
My breath caught. My steps faltered. My heart screamed what do I say?
But then—he looked up. His eyes met mine. And that smile… that boyish, cute smile that once stole my heart… it was still there.
Aww…I couldn't help smiling back.
Walking toward him felt both natural and impossible at the same time. Chating in phone was simple but am not sure about this.