She stepped outside the gym doors, the late afternoon sun painting the sky in gold and lavender.
She wasn't alone.
"Hey."
Ciel was there, leaning against the rail, sipping the last of his juice box.
"You're still here?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Couldn't leave without my post-event debriefing partner."
Lina smiled tiredly. "What's the debrief?"
"You did amazing," he said. "A bit intense back there though. Tyron and Renzo in the same airspace? I'm surprised no thunder rolled in."
She laughed, caught off guard. "It wasn't that dramatic."
"You sure?" He leaned against the railing beside her. "From my view, it looked like a very elegant turf war."
Lina shook her head. "They were just being… I don't know. Competitive?"
"Over you," he said plainly.
She turned to him, surprised.
Ciel gave her a small, honest smile. "I get it, you know. You're… different."
"I'm not."
"You are," he said gently. "And maybe I don't say it like they do. Maybe I don't stand at the back of the room or run a school empire. But I see you too."
Her breath caught.
Before she could say anything, he reached into his bag and handed her a small carton.
"Strawberry milk," he said. "For after the storm."
She took it. "Thank you."
"I meant what I said the other day," he added. "I'm not rushing you. But I'm here."
Then he walked away, slow and sure.
————
Unseen — Above the Hall
Renzo stood behind the railing of the second floor, watching the whole thing.
He didn't hear the words.
But he saw the smile.
The closeness.
The milk.
And in his chest, something curled tight and bitter.
————
The Next Morning
Lina saw him by the lockers.
"Renzo."
He glanced at her — once — and kept walking.
No nod. No pause.
She stood frozen, strawberry milk still in her bag.
————
Renzo's Mini POV
He didn't have the right to be upset.
He hadn't said anything.
Hadn't claimed anything.
But watching her smile at someone else hurt more than he expected.
And worse?
She didn't even know why he was pulling away.