The next morning, Sunvale Academy looked the same.
Same grey gates. Same polished hallways. Same smell of chalk and coffee drifting from the faculty room.
But to Riven, it felt… louder.
Not in volume, but in awareness.
Every step he took from the gate to his locker came with the prickle of eyes on his back. Not all stares were sharp — some were just curious, others cautious — but they followed him all the same.
He reached his locker and pretended not to notice the small group of Science Club members whispering nearby.
"Morning," one of them finally said, a boy named Kenji who had never spoken to him directly before.
Riven raised a brow. "Morning."
The boy smiled awkwardly and went back to organizing his things, but the moment stuck with Riven. Yesterday, no one would've dared.
---
Across the hall, Eli was dealing with his own brand of attention.
A few classmates congratulated him for "being friends with the awardee," though their smiles carried that thin edge — the kind that made Eli wonder if it was praise or warning.
Someone even joked, "Careful, Eli. Hang out with Riven too much and you'll end up in trouble."
Eli didn't laugh. "Or maybe trouble will end up in me," he said, his voice cool enough to cut the moment short.
---
By mid-morning, the whispers had evolved.
Some students were genuinely impressed by Riven's award. Others speculated he'd only gotten it because the Science Club president liked him. A few still brought up his fights from last year as if they'd happened yesterday.
Riven felt each rumor like a faint bruise under his skin — not unbearable, but constant.
During break, Eli found him sitting on the edge of the courtyard fountain, staring at the rippling water.
"They're talking again," Riven said without looking up.
"They never stopped," Eli replied, taking a seat beside him. "The difference is now, some of them are saying better things."
Riven let out a low chuckle. "You call this better?"
"It's a start."
---
That afternoon, during Chemistry, their teacher paused the lecture to mention the Foundation Day awards.
"Special congratulations to Riven Castillo," she said, smiling in a way that almost made Riven uncomfortable. "It's good to see hard work recognized."
A few students clapped. A few didn't.
Eli glanced at Riven from across the room — the slight stiffness in his shoulders, the way he avoided looking at anyone.
When class ended, Eli caught up with him. "You okay?"
"Not sure," Riven admitted. "Feels like I'm being tested."
"You are," Eli said simply. "And you're passing."
---
By the end of the day, the noise around them hadn't faded, but something inside Riven had shifted.
Yes, there were still looks and whispers. But there were also nods, casual greetings, and the faint beginnings of something else — maybe not trust yet, but the space where trust could grow.
As they walked toward the gates together, Eli said, "It's only day one."
Riven smirked. "Then let's see if I can survive day two."
They stepped out into the street, side by side, both knowing the real test was only just beginning.
---