The announcement came on a sleepy Thursday morning.
"All students, please note: Sign-ups for the interclass Spring Sports Festival are now open. Each homeroom must nominate at least two volunteers for planning and logistics."
Leo barely looked up from his textbook until his name was casually called out by his homeroom teacher.
"Leo Shen, transfer student and fresh blood—how about you lend a hand?"
There were groans and whispers, mostly good-natured. Leo blinked. "Uh, sure?"
And so, he was volunteered.
He didn't even ask who else was on the list.
---
He found out the next morning during the first planning meeting, held under the gym bleachers, where dust motes floated like lazy fireflies in the filtered sunlight.
The door creaked open behind him.
"Yo, new guy."
Hana.
Hair tied up in a high ponytail, gym jacket slung over one shoulder, holding a clipboard and looking both amused and mildly annoyed.
"You're on committee?"
Leo gave a tired nod. "Apparently."
She walked past him, dropped her bag, and flopped onto the wooden bench. "Guess I'll be babysitting you."
Leo arched an eyebrow. "You're in charge?"
She grinned. "Was. Not anymore. I asked to be downgraded to assistant this year."
"Why?"
She leaned back, arms stretched. "Less pressure. More chances to run relays. I like action more than paperwork."
Leo could see that. Hana wasn't the desk type.
"So," she said, glancing sideways, "you ever helped plan an event before?"
"…No."
"Didn't think so."
"Was that judgment?"
"Observation. Maybe a little judgment."
Leo smiled faintly. "Fair."
---
Over the next few days, they worked together more often than he'd expected. Task lists, equipment checks, scheduling meetings—Hana was surprisingly organized beneath the athlete's bravado.
They stayed after school, sorting uniforms and cleaning gear, occasionally interrupted by other club members poking in to ask for ball pumps or cones.
At one point, while reorganizing boxes of banners in the dusty storeroom, Leo sneezed violently.
Hana laughed. "Bless you, nerd."
"I think I inhaled a decade of chalk."
"You'll live."
He rubbed his nose, glaring at a broken megaphone. "Remind me why I agreed to this?"
"Because deep down, you're a good guy who can't say no."
He looked at her.
She looked back.
Their gazes held, just a second longer than necessary.
---
After a long afternoon of hauling mats, they sat on the gym steps, sweaty and sore.
Hana passed him a sports drink without a word.
Leo drank, then said, "You always this intense about school events?"
She shrugged. "I like seeing people move. Trying hard. It makes me feel like the world's alive."
Leo considered that.
"You run a lot."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
She paused.
Then said, "Because when I'm running, I'm not stuck. I'm not thinking too much. Just… breathing."
Leo nodded slowly. "That sounds peaceful."
Hana gave a crooked grin. "Peaceful's boring. But it's honest."
---
They started seeing more of each other, naturally. During breaks, while setting up cones, sharing snacks, comparing shoe sizes.
At one point, Leo caught himself watching the way Hana brushed her bangs back when she was focused. The way her fingers tapped rhythmically when bored. The way her laugh echoed, loud and bright.
It was different from Yuki's sparkle or Sora's silence.
Hana was motion.
Constant.
And somehow grounding.
---
On the fifth day, it rained.
Hard.
Most students stayed indoors, but Hana dragged Leo out anyway.
"Field check," she said.
They stood on the edge of the soaked track, umbrellas up.
Rain dripped steadily from the bleachers. The air smelled of wet grass and ozone.
"Bet you didn't think event planning would be this glamorous," Hana teased.
Leo smiled. "It's been more fun than I expected."
She glanced at him. "Because of me?"
"…Maybe."
She chuckled. "Well, I'm glad. Most people don't notice me unless I'm running laps or shouting plays."
"I noticed."
She blinked.
Leo shrugged. "You're not exactly subtle."
She laughed, loud and delighted.
Then, quieter: "You're easy to talk to, you know?"
Leo turned. "That's surprising. Most people say I'm hard to read."
"Maybe. But I don't need to read everything."
There was a pause.
Then she added, almost casually:
"But if you ever want someone who runs at your pace, just say the word."
The rain softened around them.
Leo didn't reply immediately.
But he smiled.
And Hana looked away, grinning at the sky.