Creative Writing had always been a pocket of peace.
A quiet corner of campus where ideas bloomed, metaphors danced, and awkward silences were allowed to breathe. Leo liked it that way—few people, soft voices, and the occasional Kai commentary to break the stillness.
That equilibrium shattered the moment the classroom door opened.
Mr. Nakamura was in the middle of rearranging chairs when he looked up.
"Ah, our new addition," he said.
Leo didn't turn immediately. He was mid-sentence in his notebook, trying to rewrite a line that sounded too much like an accidental confession.
Then he heard the voice.
"Hi. Is this where the magic happens?"
Leo's pen stopped.
Sora stood in the doorway, her brown bob bouncing slightly as she stepped inside with the confidence of someone walking into their own house.
Kai looked up from his doodles and whistled. "Oh boy."
Yuki, sitting three rows away, perked up with interest.
Rin, who rarely looked up from her paper before class started, raised her head and blinked.
Leo, slowly, very slowly, turned his head.
Sora spotted him instantly. Her smile widened.
"Hi again."
Leo blinked. "You... you joined this class?"
"Why not?" she said brightly. "You're here. And I like stories."
Mr. Nakamura gestured toward the seating. "Anywhere you'd like."
Sora scanned the room.
Her eyes passed over Kai, who gave her a nod.
Passed over Yuki, who gave a curious once-over.
Paused—just slightly—on Rin, who met her gaze with calm neutrality.
Then landed on the empty seat next to Leo.
She walked over and sat down.
Yuki's eyebrows arched.
Rin's pen paused for a second, then resumed moving.
Kai coughed into his fist.
Leo whispered, "Did you plan this?"
Sora shrugged. "Maybe."
Mr. Nakamura clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone. Today, we're doing dialogue exercises. You'll pair up, write a short conversation, and perform it. Feel free to be creative—humor, drama, tragedy, romance. Surprise us."
Leo felt the weight of three gazes on him.
He looked right.
Sora beamed. "Guess we're partners."
---
They worked quietly—at first.
Sora leaned close to him, reading over his shoulder, making occasional comments:
"That's too poetic. You're not Shakespeare."
"Ooh, that line's good. Keep that."
"Wait, is this character me? This better not be me."
Leo tried not to react, but his ears turned a faint pink.
Eventually, they settled on a short skit:
A conversation between two childhood friends who meet again after ten years apart.
Too on the nose? Probably.
But when they read it aloud, it worked.
Leo's voice was quiet but sincere. Sora's was warm and teasing, layered with just the right amount of nostalgia.
The class clapped when they finished.
Even Mr. Nakamura looked impressed. "Excellent use of pacing and subtext. Felt natural. Real."
Leo glanced sideways and saw Rin looking at the floor.
Yuki, meanwhile, was leaning back in her chair, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
Kai just mouthed, "You're doomed."
---
After class, the hallway turned into a pressure cooker.
"Hey," Yuki said casually, slipping in beside Leo as he tried to flee toward the vending machines. "That was a cute scene."
Leo flinched. "Uh. Thanks?"
"Must've been easy. You two know each other so well."
Sora popped up behind them. "We do! Isn't that great?"
Yuki gave her a bright smile. "Super."
Leo felt a migraine forming.
Then Rin appeared, as if summoned by fate.
"Leo," she said, her voice as calm as ever. "Can we talk?"
Yuki turned. "Sure! Let's all talk."
"No," Rin said. "Just me and Leo."
Yuki raised an eyebrow.
Sora, sensing the tension, held up her hands. "No need to fight over him. I'll catch up with you later, Leo."
She vanished down the hall like a magician.
Yuki huffed. "Fine. I'll talk to someone else."
And she left in the opposite direction.
Leo stood frozen between Rin and silence.
---
They sat in the library.
Rin stared at her notebook, but didn't write.
"You don't have to explain anything," she said.
Leo tilted his head.
"But I'd like to know more about her."
He nodded slowly. "We were friends. Before I moved. She gave me a bandaid once."
Rin smiled faintly. "A powerful gesture."
He chuckled. "It meant a lot at the time."
She finally looked at him.
"Do you still like her?"
Leo opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
"I don't know yet," he said honestly.
Rin nodded. "Then I'll wait. But I won't wait silently."
Leo blinked. "What does that mean?"
"It means I intend to be visible. You'll have to decide while seeing all of us."
She stood.
"Good luck, Leo."
And she walked away.
Leaving Leo wondering if that was a declaration of war.