Leo woke up earlier than usual.
He didn't know if it was the sunrise filtering through the dorm curtains or the soft buzz still lingering in his chest—but today felt different. Tangibly, unmistakably different.
He sat up slowly in bed, rubbed his eyes, and blinked at the ceiling.
> I confessed.
> She said yes.
> We're… together now.
Even thinking about it felt surreal. He reached over and grabbed his phone, almost half-expecting it to have all been a dream.
But there it was.
A message from Yuki.
> [ 7:02 AM ] Good morning, sleepyhead~ Don't forget breakfast or I'll bully you during lunch ❤️
Leo stared at the heart for a solid fifteen seconds.
Then smiled.
---
When he arrived at school, the world hadn't changed—but everything had.
The sun seemed a little brighter. The air felt easier to breathe. The once-busy hallway chatter now sounded like background music to the strange feeling swelling in his chest.
He met Yuki near the lockers.
She was already there, tapping her foot and sipping from a melon soda. She wore the standard uniform but somehow made it feel like a fashion statement. When she saw Leo, her eyes lit up.
"Yo~" she greeted, giving a lazy wave. "You're early."
"You too."
"I didn't sleep much," she admitted. "Kept thinking about yesterday. And you."
Leo blinked.
Yuki grinned. "Don't worry, it was the good kind of thinking."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Also, if you don't stop smiling at your phone in class, people are going to know."
Leo choked a little.
Yuki laughed and bumped her shoulder against his. "C'mon. Let's go be 'low-key' together."
---
Their first day as an official couple was—surprisingly normal.
They sat near each other during homeroom. Yuki passed him doodles on scrap paper. Leo stole glances when he thought no one noticed. Kai noticed immediately, of course, and mimed exaggerated fake crying across the classroom.
"My boy's all grown up!" he whispered loudly enough for half the room to hear.
During lunch, Sora sat at a distance. She smiled when Yuki waved, and responded politely when Leo said hi, but her usual eye contact had vanished. Hana seemed distracted too, poking at her food longer than usual before finally joining the group with a casual, "Yo."
Aira sat nearby in the library after school. She didn't approach—but her sketchbook had a new page titled: Two people under sunlight.
---
At the end of the day, Leo and Yuki stood by the vending machines near the gates.
"Want to walk back together?" she asked.
He nodded.
They didn't hold hands—yet. But their steps fell in sync. Conversation flowed easily. Every shared laugh felt like a promise of something new.
As they neared the dorms, Yuki paused.
"I know this might feel… fast," she said quietly, "but I'm really happy."
Leo looked at her. The sunset behind her cast a golden glow along the edges of her hair.
"I am too," he said. "More than I thought I'd be."
Yuki smiled, softer this time.
And though nothing dramatic happened—no kiss, no sudden declarations—the silence between them was warm. Real. Comfortable.
It was a beginning.