The week following the play felt like a reset—but not in a bad way.
Classes resumed. Homework piled up again. Teachers stopped smiling and started handing out pop quizzes. But something in the air had changed. Maybe it was the crisp December chill, or maybe it was just the aftermath of too many emotions laid bare on stage.
Leo was back to walking the halls in silence. But now, people greeted him. Smiles from classmates. Waves from juniors. Even a shy thumbs-up from one of the third-year boys who never talked.
And Yuki—well, Yuki had become a walking headline.
"She kissed him after the play."
"On the cheek?"
"No, he kissed her back outside later!"
"Did anyone record it?"
"Of course! Kai posted it with sound effects."
Leo tried not to die from embarrassment every time he passed a group whispering about him.
Yuki, on the other hand, was glowing.
"Let them talk," she said cheerfully. "Free publicity."
---
Meanwhile, Hana had become quieter.
She still trained every day, still cracked jokes at lunch. But she stopped teasing Leo.
He noticed.
One afternoon, as the sky began to snow again, he found her alone on the field, kicking a ball into the net over and over.
"Hey," he called.
She didn't stop.
"Want company?"
She shrugged. "Sure. Just don't get hit."
Leo stood by the goalpost, watching her.
She finally stopped and looked at him. Her breath fogged in the cold air.
"Yuki makes you happy," she said.
He blinked. "Yeah."
She nodded. "Good. I like her."
"…But?"
"No 'but.' Just facts."
A pause.
"I had my chance," she added. "Didn't take it."
Leo stepped closer. "You're still my friend, Hana."
"I know."
She gave him a tired smile. "Now go before I get emotional and ruin my image."
He laughed. "Fair."
They stood in the snow, side by side, no words needed.
Sometimes, not every connection had to lead to love.
Sometimes, just standing there was enough.
---
Rin, meanwhile, had gone full mystery mode.
No one knew where she disappeared during lunch breaks. No one saw her at the club room either.
So, Leo decided to investigate.
He found her in the library, sketchbook open, surrounded by stacks of art history books.
"Rin?"
She looked up, startled. Then… mildly annoyed.
"You're not supposed to be here."
"Neither are you."
A silence.
He sat beside her.
"I miss talking to you," he said.
Rin didn't reply for a while.
Then she said, "It was easier when I didn't have to think about feelings."
Leo blinked. "You're thinking about them now?"
She didn't answer.
But she didn't walk away either.
She simply kept sketching.
And that, somehow, felt like an answer.
---
Later that week, the class had a snow sculpture competition.
Kai led their group. He decided they were building a life-sized dragon. The tail fell off twice. Yuki painted it pink. Hana threatened to throw snowballs at anyone who questioned its anatomy.
Rin, surprisingly, showed up.
She didn't say much.
But she sculpted a perfect dragon head and quietly placed it on the unfinished neck.
Leo looked at her.
She looked at him.
No words.
Just a small smile.
It was the first one in a long time.
He smiled back.