The curtain had long fallen, but the buzz still lingered.
Even as the auditorium emptied, a current of excitement floated in the air—like static clinging to everyone's skin. Students chattered, parents beamed, and the faculty clapped one last time as the cast took their bows backstage.
Leo stood just off-stage, still in costume, still in a daze.
His cheeks tingled from where Yuki had kissed him, and his heart thumped in his chest like it hadn't yet realized the show was over.
He wasn't alone for long.
Kai appeared beside him, chewing on a piece of celebratory mochi. "So. Main character. Lead role. Audience heartthrob. Anything else you'd like to achieve before graduation?"
Leo gave a weak smile. "Survive."
"That's too humble. You should aim for your own fan club."
"Please don't give Yuki ideas."
"Too late. I heard she's sketching logo designs."
Leo groaned. "She's joking."
"Is she, though?"
Before Leo could reply, a wave of students flooded backstage—friends from other classes, juniors hoping to snag selfies, and club members with juice boxes like they were passing around champagne.
Somehow, Leo ended up with a paper crown on his head.
---
"Celebration starts in thirty!" Yuki called from across the room. "Cafeteria's cleared out. We have karaoke, snacks, and very questionable music!"
"Who picked the playlist?" Rin asked, arms crossed.
"Kai."
Rin visibly sighed. "So, regret."
Kai grinned. "I regret nothing."
Leo was still processing when someone tapped his shoulder.
"Leo."
He turned.
It was Hana.
Still in gym clothes, hair damp, breathing slightly heavy—like she'd sprinted just to catch him.
"You were good," she said.
"Thanks."
A pause.
"Yuki kissed you," Hana said.
Leo blinked. "Uh… yeah. Just on the cheek."
Hana studied him. "You gonna kiss her back?"
Leo looked away, scratching his neck. "Maybe. I don't know yet."
Hana gave him a nod that was half approval, half resignation. "Then figure it out. Because she's not gonna wait forever."
With that, she left.
Leo stood frozen in place for several seconds.
Behind him, Kai leaned in, whispering, "Plot twist unlocked."
---
The party was a mix of chaos and sugar.
Yuki dominated karaoke, turning every song into a concert.
Rin sat in the corner, sipping melon soda and sketching expressions of the cast on napkins.
Kai managed to turn three plastic forks into a dance routine.
Leo hovered between groups, smiling more than usual.
At one point, Yuki dragged him to the mic and forced him to duet "Snow Halation."
He did not know the lyrics.
She did. Loudly.
Everyone clapped anyway.
After two hours of junk food, noise, and spontaneous group photos, people began drifting away, pulled by curfews and tired feet.
Leo found himself sitting outside, on the school's front steps, staring at the night sky.
Yuki sat beside him.
No words at first.
Just silence.
Just stars.
Eventually, she said, "You didn't run away after I kissed you."
"I liked it."
She smiled. "Then do it again. For real this time."
Leo hesitated.
Then leaned in.
Not dramatic.
Not cinematic.
Just real.
A gentle press of lips.
Soft.
Sincere.
---
Inside, someone peeked from the window.
Rin.
She watched for a few seconds.
Then turned away, heading down the hallway without a word.
She didn't seem sad.
Just... distant.
Somewhere, deep in her sketchbook, she'd already drawn this moment.
And sometimes, watching from afar was its own kind of love.