Aurora Academy was unrecognizable that night. Colorful stalls lit up the courtyard, paper lanterns hung across the sky, and the sound of music echoed through the hallways. Students bustled back and forth, laughing, shouting, tasting food, and competing in makeshift games. It was the first big festival of the year, and everyone was excited.
Rafa and Isa arrived together, holding hands like the close friends they were. Rafa wore a stylish white blouse with a denim skirt, while Isa went with a simple pink dress that still managed to stand out.
Rafa (looking around): "Wow… the school feels like a completely different place tonight."
Isa (laughing): "Yeah, hard to believe we almost die of stress here every day."
Matheus and Diego were already there, each holding a soda. Smiling as always, Diego waved at the girls.
Diego: "You're late! The yakisoba stall is almost line-free."
Matheus: "And the shooting game starts in five minutes. I want to see if anyone can beat me."
Suddenly, a murmur spread across the courtyard. Students whispered, pointed, and within moments, the reason appeared: Claws.
He walked slowly, still marked with visible bandages, but with a faint smile on his face. He wore a casual black jacket, dark jeans, and simple sneakers. His presence drew immediate attention—some classmates whispered in awe, others eyed him with suspicion.
Rafa's eyes widened.
Rafa (shouting): "CLAWS!"
She ran to him, hugging him tightly, almost knocking him off balance.
Claws (chuckling softly): "Hey, easy, Rafa… I'm still kinda broken."
Isa quickly joined, giving him a light punch on the shoulder.
Isa: "You're crazy for coming here like this, but… I'm glad you did."
Lucas showed up soon after, more serious, but with a genuine smile.
Lucas: "It was about time you came back."
The six of them were finally together again.
---
Outside the festival, in a more secluded area of the courtyard, Mr. Gustavo watched Claws from afar.
Gustavo (whispering): "He's back… Now what?"
Principal Augusto, standing beside him, crossed his arms.
Augusto: "Now? Nothing. As long as he's here, he's just another student. I don't want scandals. We already have enough problems."
Gustavo: "But what if this affects the others? He has a reputation…"
Augusto (cutting him off): "Gustavo, don't bring it up. Leave it as it is."
The teacher didn't reply, but his worried expression said otherwise.
---
Back at the festival, the gossip had begun. Some seniors whispered among themselves:
Student 1: "Look, it's Claws. They say he's mixed up with gangs."
Student 2 (watching from a distance): "He's handsome… dangerous even. I like that."
Within minutes, two sophomore girls approached him. One of them, Juliana, twirled her hair flirtatiously.
Juliana: "You're Claws, right? Finally, someone interesting in this school…"
Her friend, Fernanda: "We were thinking of showing you the haunted house booth. Want to come with us?"
Rafa fell silent, fists tightening. Isa noticed and held her arm, giving her a warning look.
Isa (quietly, to Rafa): "Relax. You know who he really is. They just know his name."
Sensing the tension, Claws gave the girls a polite smile.
Claws: "Thanks for the invite, but I already have company."
Then he slung his arm over Lucas's shoulder on purpose, making everyone laugh.
Diego (bursting out laughing): "Hahaha, I never thought you'd be that funny, Claws!"
---
Meanwhile, Diego was shamelessly flirting with a new freshman girl, Camila. The two laughed loudly, sharing a skewer of meat.
Diego: "If I win at the fishing game, you owe me a kiss."
Camila (laughing): "And if you lose, you're buying me yakisoba!"
Matheus, on the other hand, was deep in conversation with Marina from the class next door. Unlike Diego's playful style, Matheus was direct and charming, pulling quiet smiles from her.
---
In a bolder move, Lucas discreetly managed to unlock the principal's office door. He called Diego and Matheus, who entered laughing. Inside, they found a small refrigerator.
Diego (opening the fridge): "I knew it! The principal keeps the good stuff here."
They pulled out bottles of alcohol, hiding them in backpacks and under jackets.
Not long after, they were mixing drinks at a table off to the side, trying to look casual.
Lucas (low voice): "No one can see this, seriously. If we get caught, we're screwed."
Matheus (raising his cup): "It's festival night, bro. Let's live."
Claws watched from a distance, shaking his head, but with a faint smile. For the first time in weeks, he felt he could still share normal moments with his friends, even with everything going on around them.
---
The night carried on with laughter, booth competitions, and the occasional suspicious glance thrown at Claws. But for the first time in a long while, the group was together, enjoying themselves like ordinary teenagers.
Deep down, though, they all knew this happiness was fragile. And the glow of the lanterns hid the shadows that were soon to emerge.