It was only day two back at school, and the classroom already felt like a war zone.
Group One had claimed the back corner, papers splayed like a battlefield, pencils jammed into mugs, and Rio's energy drinks dangerously close to toppling over every ten minutes.
"Okay, so the visuals go here," Ren said, pushing his sketch toward the middle of the table. "We layer it under the main points, and then transition—"
"I still think we should keep it cleaner," Yuuji interrupted, his voice tight. "Too much clutter will ruin the presentation."
Ren frowned. "It's not clutter. It's style."
"It's distracting."
"Everything can't be black and white, Yuuji."
"Some things work better when they are," Yuuji snapped.
A silence fell over the table.
Rio slowly pushed his chair back, muttering, "I'll just… go help Ian with the slides."
"Thank you," Ian said pointedly, already halfway across the room with his laptop.
Yuuji didn't glance at him—but he noticed the way Ian smiled when Rio leaned over his screen. Noticed how close they stood. How Ian didn't back away when Rio laughed and bumped his shoulder.
He didn't care. He shouldn't care.
But his jaw was tight. His hands tense.
Meanwhile, Ren sat back and exhaled. "Is there a reason why you're snapping at me today? Or is it just, like, your thing now?"
Yuuji didn't answer.
Ren leaned in, voice quieter. "If this is still about the letter, say something. Don't keep throwing shade across the table like a dramatic villain."
Yuuji glared at him. "You think this is about the letter?"
"You've been acting weird since the bus ride."
"That's because you've been flirting with Rio like we're not in the middle of a project."
Ren rolled his eyes. "Oh my god, are you jealous?"
Yuuji opened his mouth to argue—then realized he couldn't lie without it sounding fake. "No. I just think it's distracting."
"Right," Ren muttered. "Keep telling yourself that."
---
Across the room, Ian glanced up from his screen just in time to catch Ren laughing again—too loud, too relaxed, brushing his hair back like he always did when he was teasing Yuuji.
Ian's fingers twitched.
He stared blankly at his spreadsheet for a second before whispering to Rio, "Is it just me, or is something going on between them?"
Rio hummed. "Oh, they're both in love and in denial. It's like watching a cat fight its own reflection."
Ian frowned.
Rio raised an eyebrow. "Wait… don't tell me you're jealous?"
Ian didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
---
Later, they took a break in the courtyard. Will and Ethan tossed snacks between benches. Kenji sprawled out dramatically like the sun itself was draining his will to exist.
Ren sat with his sketchpad again, headphones on, music leaking faintly into the air.
Yuuji stayed inside. Watching.
Until he saw Ian drop onto the bench next to Ren, nudging him gently.
Ren pulled his headphones off.
Ian smiled. "Need help refining the graphics?"
Ren looked surprised—but nodded. "Actually, yeah. That'd be cool."
They leaned close. Too close.
Ian tapped Ren's sketchbook, laughing at something. Ren shoved him playfully. They were both grinning.
Yuuji stood so fast his chair screeched across the floor.
---
When he stepped outside, Will raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Jealousy makes you fast."
Yuuji ignored him, walking straight toward the bench.
"Hey," he said sharply.
Ren looked up. "What?"
"We need to finalize the intro script."
Ian tilted his head. "We've got time."
"Not if you keep wasting it."
"Yuuji," Ren said, standing slowly. "Take a breath."
"I'm fine."
Ian smirked. "You don't look fine."
Yuuji's eyes flicked to him. "And you don't look like you're part of our section."
Rio coughed pointedly into his drink.
Tension coiled in the air.
Ren stepped between them, putting a hand on Yuuji's arm. "Okay, that's enough."
The touch was light—but electric.
Yuuji's eyes softened for a second. Then he pulled back. "We're presenting in front of the class next week. We need to focus."
"I know," Ren said, voice quieter now. "I'm not playing around."
Yuuji didn't respond. Just turned and walked back inside, muttering something about updating the group folder.
Ren sighed.
Ian watched him, brow furrowed.
"You okay?" he asked.
Ren gave a half-smile. "I don't know what I'm doing with him."
Ian's voice dropped. "You don't owe him anything. Just so you know."
Ren didn't answer.
Because deep down… he wasn't so sure that was true.