The court had turned dead silent... Not a whisper... Not a breath.
Just Pure Silence!
Leo leaned slightly towards Kai, who was curled up in pain on the ground, his arms hugging his lower body. His eyes were bloodshot and on the verge of tears, veins throbbing on his forehead, pulsing with a mixture of rage and unbearable pain. Every throb screamed of the blow he had just taken... and it hit him hard, both physically and emotionally.
With a blank, expressionless face, Leo muttered in a low, cold voice, "I don't know what kind of past we had... but you should be grateful I don't remember any of it." He gave Kai's cheek a soft, almost mocking pat.
"Otherwise, it will be... An eye for an eye... a tooth for a tooth."
Kai clenched his teeth tightly, glaring up at Leo with trembling fury. He tried to feel his legs... no, he couldn't. Nothing below the hips.
That shot—it was a perfect hit.
A direct crack to his jewels.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, not just from the agony but from the humiliation too, and before he could process anything else, his eyes rolled back. His body slumped as he lost consciousness—before he could lose anything more important.
Leo casually glanced around. The court was still gripped by stunned silence, people frozen in shock. He knew he had caused a scene.
A big one.
But honestly? He didn't care.
Without a single word or glance back, he walked out of the court calmly, grabbing his coat and slinging his bag over his shoulder like nothing had happened.
Only after he left did the court finally breathe again. Like a spell had broken. People rushed toward Kai to check on him, still processing what they had witnessed.
Meanwhile—
"Arrgh... I'm even hungrier now," Leo grumbled as he rubbed his stomach with a slightly annoyed expression, walking down the corridor. The adrenaline from the match—and that final slam—had only made it worse. 'Maybe I should've cracked his other ball too...' he thought, groaning lightly. Just then—
"Senior Leo!!"
A cheerful, high-pitched voice echoed through the hallway. Leo blinked, looking back.
There she stood—an adorable girl with soft purple hair bouncing. Her wide, sparkling eyes were full of excitement. And behind her, a quiet blonde girl stood, arms crossed, watching carefully.
Leo blinked again. "...Oh," he murmured as his eyes settled on them.
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. He was staring at her. But not the way she hoped... it was like he didn't recognise her at all.
Seeing that look on his face—like she was a stranger—Sakura felt a tiny pinch in her chest. Her lips pouted naturally. "Don't tell me... you forgot me?" she asked softly, her voice laced with a childlike hurt, her eye shimmering as if tears might fall any moment.
Leo tilted his head slightly. 'What the heck...' he thought. But then his mind clicked. Her voice—it was the same girl who had been shouting for him from the crowds. He cleared his throat. "Of course I know you... and thank you for cheering me on," he said with a small smile.
Hearing that, Sakura's eyes brightened instantly. Her pout melted away into a beaming smile, and she stepped a little closer, her purple eyes fixed on him with soft admiration. "You look... different, Senior," she said quietly, almost like she was seeing a new version of him.
Leo scratched his head and gulped. "Well... what can I say? People grow, I guess," he said with a shrug, trying to sound casual but clearly feeling a bit awkward under her intense gaze.
Sakura just stared at him, still taking him in.
Feeling a bit tense, Leo quickly changed the topic, "Anyway, how was my match?"
Sakura blinked, then took a step back, her hands suddenly forming enthusiastic thumbs up.
"SUPER!" she exclaimed in a bubbly tone. Her face lit up like a fan meeting her favorite idol. "The way you jumped! The way you shot the ball! The way you hung from the rim like a hero! And then—bam! The way you broke his jewels—AHAHAHAA! Seniorrrr!!" And without warning, she launched forward and hugged him tightly.
Leo froze. He felt it.... Two soft, very full things pressing right against his chest. His eyes widened as his brain registered the sensation... and then they moved. He looked up and saw—
A murderous glare.
The blonde girl behind Sakura was staring at him like she could kill with just a look.
'Who is she...?' he thought, confused by the overwhelming bloodlust in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Sakura was having her own internal breakdown. 'OH MY GOD!! He smells amazing... sniff, sniff... I want to bury my face in him forever... Ahhh!!' She was practically screaming in her mind, her face buried in his chest.
Grrrrllllll!!
Sakura blinked, hearing that noise, and looked up. Leo was awkwardly rubbing the back of his head, face flushed. "...Well, I haven't eaten anything yet... so..."
Sakura blinked again, stunned.
Was her Senior always this cute?
"Don't worry! As your junior, I will take care of my Senior!" she declared proudly, puffing out her chest with determination. It jiggled slightly with her movement, and for a brief second... Leo's eyes were very visibly dragged by gravity---
Staaaareeeee...
The blonde girl—Luna—stared even harder, her eyes sharper than blades.
Sakura grabbed Leo's hand with confidence and dragged him along, a single thought echoing in her head: 'This is our first date! Eek!!'
****
Inside the cafeteria, the trio sat together at a table.
Sakura had both her hands resting under her chin, elbows on the table, as she dreamily stared at Leo with sparkling eyes. He was eating with a calm, elegant rhythm, chewing slowly, savouring each bite.
To her, it was like watching a prince dine.
Her heart fluttered as she watched his lips move, the way his tongue flicked briefly to taste the meat, the slight narrowing of his eyes with each bite.
She sighed inside her head.
'Ah... why can't I be that meat? So lucky...'
But reality was a little different.
Leo was scarfing down food like he hadn't eaten in days. Munching, chewing, gulping—far from the graceful prince image Sakura had in her mind. If anything, he looked like he was in a survival challenge.
To Luna, it was horrifying. She looked at Leo and saw nothing but a pig devouring slop.
Her expression darkened.
Leo didn't care. Not even a little. He was starving, and nothing was stopping him now. He kept eating and eating until his stomach finally started to complain.
He reached for his glass, gulped the last sip of water, and placed it on the table with a heavy sigh of relief. At last, he was full. He looked at Sakura with real gratitude in his eyes.
"I really owe you. I mean it. I'm honestly so glad you're my junior... Thank you," Leo said from the heart, his voice calm and honest.
Sakura's face softened. Her heart melted at his words. "There's no need to thank me..." she said sweetly, her voice gentle. "If it's for my Senior, I'd do anything. You just have to ask..." She shook her head softly, smiling with a kind warmth. "Honestly, this was the first time you ever asked me for help... I'm just really glad I could be useful to you."
As she leaned in a little closer, her eyes shining with affection, Leo blinked, feeling a strange warmth building in his chest.
Leo nodded, "Also... can I pack one more meal? I kind of like eating late."
"Of course!" Sakura responded instantly, her voice cheerful and sincere. "Anything for you, Senior Leo!"
As Leo walked off to order another portion, Luna leaned toward Sakura with a quiet, serious look.
"Sakura... don't you feel like something's off about your Senior?"
"Huh?" Sakura blinked, confused.
"I mean… he's acting kind of different, don't you think? And... haven't you noticed? He never once called you by your name. Something doesn't feel right to me," Luna said in a hushed but firm tone, her expression clouded with concern.
Sakura frowned, her usual sweetness sharpening. "Are you doubting my Senior?" she asked as her eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance.
Luna gulped. "No! I didn't mean it like that—"
Sakura snorted lightly. "If anything, my Senior finally realized his Junior's worth and has started to see me properly. He even asked for my help! Oh... my Senior~" she hummed happily as she turned and walked away, her steps light and floating, like she was dancing on clouds.
"..." Luna could only shake her head and sigh.
After paying for the food (Sakura paid), Leo returned with the packed meal, and the three of them walked out of the cafeteria together.
Sakura walked beside Leo with a bright, glowing smile on her face, humming a cheerful tune. Her steps had an extra spring, clearly overjoyed.
"Honestly... I really owe you, Junior. You saved me today—really. Is there anything I can do for you in return for this generous help?" Leo asked genuinely, his voice calm, his tone surprisingly sincere.
Sakura tilted her head slightly. She hadn't helped him, expecting anything. She simply wanted to be there for him—to be someone he could rely on, so that maybe... one day, he would keep relying on her.
Hehe... Ahem!
Anyway...
Seeing him so earnest, something playful popped into her mind.
She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a small sketchbook, handing it to him with a slight blush. "Since my Senior defeated the captain of the basketball team today, I want to remember this forever... So, why don't you give me your signature?"
Leo raised an eyebrow, looking amused. 'Damn... I really got myself a fan, huh?' he thought with a smirk as he took the sketchbook from her hands. He was just about to pull out a sheet of paper from his bag when—
"No! Sign here!" Sakura said, her voice innocent yet bold.
"..."
Leo and Luna froze completely when they saw Sakura pointing at the front of her shirt—right over her chest—with the most naive expression.
"...You mean... right there?" Leo asked again, unsure.
Sakura nodded without hesitation. "Yes! I need your signature he—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Luna quickly grabbed her and pulled her to the side, glaring at her in disbelief. "Do you even understand what you're asking?"
Sakura pouted, cheeks glowing with a soft blush. "I know what I'm asking. I'm not... that innocent," she muttered under her breath.
Luna's eyes widened, and she rolled them back slightly as she bit her lip in frustration. "Sakura, I understand he's your Senior and all, but doing this kind of thing is wr—wait! Where are you going?!"
Sakura completely ignored Luna's words, brushing past her with determined steps. She walked straight up to Leo, standing proudly in front of him.
"You said you'd do anything, right? Senior... then do it," she said softly, leaning forward slightly, pressing her shirt toward him.
Leo glanced around quickly. The hallway was empty. No one was around to see it.
He sighed, "You asked for this..."
If she didn't mind... then why should he?
He took the pen gently and signed on her shirt with smooth care. Not too soft, not too rough—just enough pressure to neatly leave his name there.
The moment his pen lifted, Sakura jumped up and down excitedly, "Yay!! I got my Senior's sign!! I am definitely never washing this shirt!"
Leo chuckled softly as he shook his head. He still didn't fully understand why this girl was so attached to him... but watching her made him smile without realising.
Sakura noticed his smile and gasped. Without wasting a second, she pulled out her phone and—
Click!Click!Click!Click!Click!Click!
She snapped photos faster than lightning, her fingers moving so fast that even the shutter could barely keep up. Her eyes sparkled as she shyly asked, "S-Senior... C-Can we take a picture together?"
Leo nodded casually. He was starting to like this junior more and more.
"Luna, take a photo of us!" Sakura called out, turning to her friend.
Luna sighed in defeat, her lips twitching in frustration. "...Fine," she muttered as she picked up the phone and aimed it at them.
Sakura winked at her, almost pleading silently through her eyes.
Luna rolled her eyes and gave a long sigh. "...Get closer," she instructed, gesturing for Leo to move in.
Leo stepped closer—slowly, inch by inch—until their shoulders touched. Sakura shivered slightly at the contact, her heart leaping, and then—
"Hehe..." she giggled softly, clearly satisfied.
Luna stared with a completely deadpan expression and took the photo—or so she thought—
"Using a mobile phone on campus is not permitted, isn't it?"
A cold, annoyed voice interrupted them.
Sakura's bright, glowing face instantly turned into a mix of sourness and frustration as she saw...
Leo blinked in surprise. "...Valra?" he muttered.