Monday mornings at Maplewood High School were always the loudest.
Students complained about homework, unfinished projects, and the unfairness of waking up early after the weekend.
Yuri walked into the school gate with her usual dramatic energy.
"I refuse to believe weekends are only two days," she declared.
Ezra, walking beside her, smiled slightly.
"You say that every Monday."
"Because it's a serious problem," Yuri replied.
Ezra opened his locker while Yuri leaned against the one next to it.
"Did you finish the history assignment?" he asked.
Yuri froze.
"…There was an assignment?"
Ezra looked at her.
"You're joking."
Yuri slowly closed her locker.
"I am… choosing not to panic."
Ezra laughed quietly.
Just then, Michael walked down the hallway.
He nodded at Ezra.
"Morning."
"Morning," Ezra replied.
Yuri gave a cheerful wave.
"Hi."
Michael smiled briefly, but his expression quickly returned to normal.
For a moment, Ezra noticed something.
Michael seemed slightly awkward around Yuri.
It was subtle, but it was there.
Ezra pushed the thought away.
They had been friends for years. There was no reason to overthink small things.
Meanwhile, across the hallway, Aubrey watched them quietly.
She had noticed the same thing.
But she knew the reason.
And she hoped things wouldn't become complicated.
Later that day during lunch break, the cafeteria was crowded with students talking loudly.
Yuri sat at a table with Ezra while eating fries.
"These fries are the only good thing about school," she said.
"Not the education?" Ezra asked.
"Education is second."
Ezra shook his head with a smile.
At another table nearby, Michael sat with some classmates.
Aubrey walked over and sat across from him.
"You look like you're thinking too much," she said.
Michael glanced up.
"Do I?"
"Yeah."
Michael looked down at his tray.
He had been thinking about Aubrey's confession all weekend.
He still didn't know what to say.
But something about her honesty kept returning to his mind.
Meanwhile, two girls at the next table whispered to each other.
"Did you know Michael used to like Yuri?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Someone told me."
Aubrey heard the whisper.
Her expression changed slightly.
Michael heard it too.
He sighed quietly.
Rumors traveled through school faster than anything else.
Across the cafeteria, Ezra suddenly noticed the girls whispering and looking in their direction.
He frowned slightly.
"What are they talking about?" he muttered.
Yuri looked up.
"Probably something boring."
Ezra glanced toward Michael.
For a brief moment, doubt appeared in his mind.
Had Michael really liked Yuri before?
Ezra had never thought about it seriously.
But now the question suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Yuri noticed Ezra staring.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," Ezra replied quickly.
But the thought stayed in his mind.
After school, Yuri and Ezra walked toward the gate together.
Yuri was talking about a funny video she saw online.
"…and then the cat jumped on the table and the guy screamed—"
But Ezra wasn't really listening.
His mind was still stuck on the rumor from lunch.
Finally Yuri stopped walking.
"Ezra."
He blinked.
"Yeah?"
"You didn't hear a single thing I said, did you?"
"…Maybe the cat part."
Yuri crossed her arms.
"What's wrong?"
Ezra hesitated.
Then he asked quietly,
"Did Michael ever like you?"
Yuri blinked in surprise.
"What?"
"I heard someone say that today."
Yuri looked confused.
"I don't think so."
"You're not sure?"
Yuri shrugged.
"I never thought about it."
Ezra looked away slightly.
Yuri studied his face carefully.
Then she suddenly smiled mischievously.
"Wait."
Ezra looked at her again.
"Are you jealous?"
"I'm not jealous," he said quickly.
Yuri laughed.
"Ezra, you are definitely jealous."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm just asking."
Yuri shook her head, still smiling.
"You're funny."
Ezra sighed.
Maybe he was overthinking.
But even if Yuri didn't notice it…
Something about the situation still bothered him.
Meanwhile, not far away, Michael stood near the school gate.
Aubrey walked toward him.
"You look stressed," she said.
Michael rubbed the back of his neck.
"Rumors spread fast."
Aubrey sighed.
"Yeah."
Michael looked at her.
"Aubrey… about what you said the other day…"
She waited quietly.
"I still need time," he said honestly.
Aubrey nodded.
"That's okay."
Michael gave a small smile.
But none of them realized something important.
Small rumors.
Small doubts.
Small misunderstandings.
Sometimes those were the things that changed everything.
And the story of four hearts was only becoming more complicated.