It started the way all high school rumors did—with a whisper.
By second period, the whisper had become a ripple. By lunch, it was a wave crashing through Class 2-A.
"I heard Ian Moore and Rio Wilson kissed."
"In the hallway?"
"During class?"
"No way."
"I saw them leave together. Something definitely happened."
Ren Sakamoto raised a brow as he unwrapped his sandwich. "People act like kissing is a felony."
Yuuji Aikawa, beside him, was stone-faced. "They weren't exactly subtle."
"They thought they were alone," Ren said, sipping his juice. "Some people deserve privacy."
Yuuji glanced across the cafeteria. Ian sat stiffly at the edge of a table with Will Ethan and Kenji Suguru, not touching his food. Rio wasn't even there.
"Ian looks like he's ready to punch someone," Yuuji muttered.
"He probably regrets doing it in a public hallway," Ren said, though his tone was softer now. "Not the kiss. Just… everything after."
Yuuji's jaw tensed. "Some people are already treating them weird."
Ren's eyes flicked to the far end of the room. A few classmates were whispering, eyes darting to Ian's table.
It wasn't cruel. Not yet. Just curiosity. Assumptions.
But Ren had seen how quickly curiosity turned into poison.
"We should sit with them," Ren said, standing.
Yuuji blinked. "Now?"
"You and Ian are both emotionally challenged. Maybe having someone not awkward there will help."
"I'm not awkward."
Ren grinned. "Sure, Prince of Ice."
—
Across the cafeteria, Ian was trying to become invisible.
"Are they staring at me?" he asked, eyes fixed on his untouched tray.
Kenji nodded bluntly. "Yes."
Will added, "And probably judging you. Or shipping you. It's a toss-up."
Ian groaned and shoved his tray away. "This was a mistake."
Will leaned forward. "No, getting caught was a mistake. The kiss? That was long overdue."
Before Ian could spiral further, Ren dropped his tray beside him. "Scoot."
Ian blinked. "What?"
"We're sitting here now," Ren said, already unpacking his lunch.
Yuuji followed, settling beside Will with all the grace of someone pretending he wasn't dying inside. "Hello."
Ian glanced between them. "Why are you sitting here?"
Ren arched a brow. "You think we're just gonna leave you to drown in cafeteria gossip hell?"
"We've been there," Yuuji muttered.
"Recently," Ren added.
Kenji snorted. "Wow. A table full of emotionally constipated guys. My dream."
Will raised his juice box. "To trauma bonding."
Rio appeared mid-toast, slipping into the last seat.
He looked at Ian, eyes careful. "Hi."
Ian blinked. "You came."
Rio shrugged. "It's lunch."
But his foot nudged Ian's under the table.
Ian relaxed.
Just a little.
—
Elsewhere in the classroom, students watched the growing table of misfits, curious and buzzing.
"Are they all dating or something?"
"Yuuji and Ren for sure."
"Rio too?"
"Maybe it's a group project romance epidemic."
—
Later that day, Yuuji cornered Ren at his locker.
"We should do something."
Ren looked up. "Like what?"
"Something public," Yuuji said. "So Ian and Rio don't feel like they're alone."
Ren blinked. "You mean like… hold hands in front of everyone?"
Yuuji turned slightly pink. "I was thinking sitting close in class. Or like… I don't know. Standing close."
Ren smiled. "You're cute when you're flustered."
"I'm serious."
"I know." Ren nudged him gently. "And I think it's a good idea. But we don't have to prove anything to anyone."
Yuuji's expression was unreadable. "Sometimes you do. Just to remind people that this—us—isn't something to whisper about."
Ren leaned in, lips brushing Yuuji's cheek. "Then let's remind them."
—
Meanwhile…
Rio found Ian behind the school, hands deep in his pockets.
"You okay?" Rio asked, stepping up beside him.
Ian exhaled. "Better now."
Rio hesitated. "If you want to back off… cool things down—"
"I don't."
"Even with the rumors?"
Ian looked at him, eyes clear for the first time that day. "Let them talk. They always do."
Rio's lips curved upward. "Then let's give them something to talk about."
Ian laughed, surprised. "You're really leaning into this rebel arc."
"Comes with liking you."
Ian's ears turned pink.