Daniel barely slept.
It wasn't because of the ranking announcement—though that alone had stirred the academy into a frenzy—but because every time he closed his eyes, he felt it again.
The moment.
That subtle shift in the air.
The way Leo had felt it.
Daniel lay on his back, staring at the ceiling as the dorm slowly brightened with morning light. His chest felt tight, not with fear exactly, but something heavier. Something more complicated.
He'd trained himself for years not to slip. Not once had his control wavered like that in public.
And yet—
It had happened while holding Leo's wrist.
"That's not a coincidence," he muttered to himself.
Mika rolled over in the next bed. "You're talking to the ceiling again. That usually means trouble."
Daniel sighed and sat up. "Do you ever wish you could rewind one moment and redo it?"
Mika squinted at him. "Depends. Did you embarrass yourself or almost die?"
Daniel hesitated. "Neither. Both. I don't know."
Mika watched him more carefully now. "You're overthinking again."
Daniel grabbed his jacket. "I'll meet you at breakfast."
He left before Mika could ask more questions.
The cafeteria buzzed with energy. Everyone was talking about yesterday's evaluation—who ranked where, who surprised who, who embarrassed themselves.
Daniel kept his head down as he picked up a tray.
"Morning, first place."
His steps faltered.
Leo stood beside him like he belonged there, relaxed and annoyingly confident, holding a cup of coffee like the world hadn't nearly tilted yesterday.
Daniel forced himself to keep moving. "You're blocking the line."
Leo followed easily. "Still avoiding me?"
Daniel glanced at him. "You talk a lot for someone who doesn't say anything useful."
Leo laughed under his breath. "You didn't deny it."
They sat at a table near the windows. Ryo joined them moments later, giving Daniel a long, curious look before sitting.
"So," Ryo said casually, "that run yesterday was interesting."
Daniel stiffened. "Interesting how?"
Ryo shrugged. "Efficient. Clean. A little… intense."
Leo met Daniel's gaze over the table, eyes sharp but not unkind. "You saved me back there."
Daniel poked at his food. "Anyone would've done the same."
Leo leaned forward slightly. "Not like that."
Silence settled between them.
Mika arrived just in time, plopping down beside Daniel. "Why does it feel like I walked into unfinished drama?"
Ryo smirked. "Because you did."
Daniel kicked Mika lightly under the table. "Eat your food."
Mika raised his hands. "Alright, alright."
But Leo didn't let it go.
"You reacted before the trap even activated," Leo continued, voice low. "Like you felt it coming."
Daniel's heart thudded. "Instinct."
Leo tilted his head. "Whose?"
Daniel finally looked at him. "Does it matter?"
For a moment, Leo didn't answer. Then he smiled—but it wasn't teasing this time.
"It does to me."
Training that afternoon was worse.
They were paired again—this time for sparring drills. Physical. Close. Personal.
Daniel hated how aware he was of Leo's presence. Every movement, every breath, every shift of weight. His control took effort now, like holding water in his hands.
"Relax," Leo murmured as they circled each other. "You're tense."
Daniel scoffed. "You'd be tense too if everyone expected you to mess up."
Leo lunged, testing him.
Daniel dodged smoothly, countering with precision.
"You don't mess up," Leo said. "You adapt."
Their movements synced—strike, dodge, block. The crowd around them faded into background noise.
Then Leo stepped in too close.
Their chests nearly touched.
Daniel froze for half a second too long.
Leo didn't attack.
Instead, he leaned in slightly and whispered, "You don't move like someone pretending."
Daniel's breath caught.
"Pretending what?" he asked, keeping his voice steady.
Leo smiled faintly. "Exactly."
The whistle blew, breaking the moment.
Daniel stepped back quickly, pulse racing.
The instructor dismissed them, but Leo didn't move away immediately.
"Whatever you're hiding," Leo said quietly, "you're carrying it alone."
Daniel met his eyes. "Maybe I prefer it that way."
Leo's expression softened. "Maybe you don't have to."
That night, Daniel sat by the dorm window, watching the moon rise.
He touched his wrist where he'd grabbed Leo the day before.
Almost seen.
Almost safe.
Almost something else entirely.
And for the first time, Daniel wondered if the real danger wasn't exposure—
But how much longer he could keep pretending that Leo didn't matter.