Iris's POV
"This makes no sense."
Anya's voice was low, but the irritation in it was impossible to miss as we walked down the corridor toward the principal's office.
"We didn't even do anything that serious," she continued. "It was literally just a stupid collision."
I stayed quiet, my steps slowing slightly as the door came into view.
"I mean, okay, maybe I yelled a little," she added. "But that was justified."
I let out a small breath.
"It's fine," I said. "We'll just explain what happened."
But something still felt off.
Why would such a small incident reach the principal?
We were just about to reach the door when footsteps approached from the opposite side.
I looked up.
And froze for a second.
Kaizer.
Lux.
Walking toward the same place.
My brows furrowed slightly in confusion.
They too?
Before I could think further, I looked away and stepped forward, pushing the door open.
Anya followed right behind me, but not before throwing a look at Lux.
"Oh great," she muttered. "The disaster is here too."
Then her eyes flicked toward Kaizer, and a faint smirk appeared.
"Well… at least the calm one is also here."
I pretended I didn't hear that.
---
The principal looked up as all four of us stood in front of his desk.
His gaze moved from one face to another.
Then one eyebrow raised slightly.
"…Interesting."
That didn't sound good.
"What happened in the campus today?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.
There was a pause.
We all looked at each other briefly.
"…Sir?" I said carefully. "I don't think..."
"Don't think?" he cut in. "Then let me remind you."
His tone hardened slightly.
"Why were the four of you creating a scene in the corridor, shouting and disturbing other students?"
Anya immediately stepped forward.
"Sir, it was his fault," she said, pointing straight at Lux. "He ran into me and then started arguing."
Lux scoffed.
"I tripped!"
"And fell on me!"
"That was not intentional!"
"Oh, so accidents don't need apologies now?"
"They do, but you didn't exactly..."
"Enough."
The principal's voice cut through sharply.
Both of them fell silent instantly.
I let out a quiet sigh.
Of course this would happen.
The principal turned toward me.
"Iris," he said. "You are the school president. I expect better from you than being involved in such situations."
I straightened slightly.
Before I could respond,
"Sir, she wasn't at fault."
Lux.
All of us turned to look at him.
"Sister Iris didn't do anything," he continued. "She was just trying to calm things down."
For a second, I didn't know what to say.
The principal shifted his gaze toward Kaizer.
"And you?" he asked. "You were also present there."
Before Kaizer could respond,
"He was helping," Anya said quickly. "He told Lux to apologize."
There was a brief silence.
The principal tapped his pen against the desk.
"Regardless," he said finally, "a complaint was filed."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"A girl named Grace reported the four of you."
Ah.
That explained everything.
I exhaled quietly.
Of course it was her.
I stepped forward.
"I'm sorry, sir," I said sincerely. "It won't happen again."
There was a small pause.
"Sorry," Kaizer said as well, his tone calm and steady.
The principal nodded slightly, then looked at the remaining two.
Lux and Anya exchanged a glance.
Then, almost at the same time,
"…Sorry."
They both spoke together.
And immediately shot each other a glare.
The principal sighed.
"Apologies aside," he said, "there still needs to be a consequence."
We all straightened.
"You four will clean the school backyard after classes."
Anya's shoulders dropped.
Lux groaned softly.
I just nodded.
"Yes, sir."
---
The backyard was quieter than the rest of the campus.
Dry leaves scattered across the ground, the late afternoon sun filtering through the trees, casting long shadows around us.
And yet,
The silence didn't last.
"You know," Lux started, picking up a broom, "for someone so small, you're very loud."
Anya turned toward him instantly.
"And for someone so tall, you're very useless."
"At least I don't attack people randomly."
"At least I don't fall on people like a sack of potatoes."
"You were literally standing in the way!"
"And you were literally not looking!"
I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh.
"This is going to take forever," I murmured.
"Angry bird," Lux muttered under his breath.
Anya gasped.
"What did you just call me?"
"Nothing."
"Say it again."
"Angry..."
"Say it again and I swear..."
"Enough."
Kaizer's voice wasn't loud.
But it was enough.
Both of them stopped.
I looked at him.
Something about the way he said it… it wasn't forceful.
Just certain.
He glanced between them briefly.
"We're here to finish this," he said. "Not continue it."
Anya crossed her arms.
Lux looked away.
But they both quieted down.
And somehow,
That pulled my attention completely to him.
For a moment, I just watched him.
The way he stood. The way he seemed slightly distant, like part of him was somewhere else.
I never thought… it would be like this.
That I would actually stand here.
With him.
Talking normally.
If I wanted to.
I didn't even realize I had been staring until,
He turned.
Our eyes met.
My breath caught slightly.
I was about to say something.
Anything.
But before I could...
"Sister Iris!"
Lux's voice broke through.
I blinked, looking away.
"Yes?" I replied.
"I just wanted to say," he continued enthusiastically, "you're my ideal. I follow your study channel and everything."
I paused.
"…You do?"
"Of course," he said proudly. "Your tips actually work."
A small, genuine smile appeared on my face.
"Thank you," I said softly.
When I looked back,
The moment was gone.
---
We split the work soon after.
Anya and Lux ended up on one side, still occasionally throwing comments at each other.
"Soap brand," Anya muttered.
"At least soap is useful," Lux shot back.
"Unlike you."
I shook my head slightly, moving toward the other side.
Kaizer was already there.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then,
"Uhm… sorry for what Lux did," he said.
I looked at him.
"It's okay," I replied. "I mean… they both were at equal fault."
He nodded slightly.
"Yes."
A small silence followed.
Then he spoke again.
"What should I call you?"
I blinked.
"You can just call me by my name," I said. "Or senior… but you don't have to be so polite."
A small, awkward laugh escaped me.
He paused for a second.
Then,
"Senior… Iris."
I froze.
Just for a moment.
Something about the way he said it,
My name.
It felt… different.
I almost forgot where I was.
Until his voice brought me back.
"You took maths, right?"
"Yes," I replied quickly. "What about you?"
"Biology."
"Oh."
That was all.
But somehow…
It didn't feel empty.
---
Kaizer's POV
The air felt lighter here.
Or maybe it was just quieter.
Not completely silent.
But… manageable.
Anya's voice broke through again.
"I'm thirsty."
Iris paused.
"I didn't bring water," she said, checking her bag.
I glanced down at mine.
There was a small bottle.
Unopened.
I picked it up and held it out.
"Here."
Anya blinked.
Then took it.
"Thank you, brother," she said instantly. "You're better than your friend."
"Hey..." Lux protested, walking over. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
"You..."
Before he could continue,
A sudden gust of wind passed through.
Dry leaves fell from the trees above, scattering over all four of us.
For a second,
There was silence.
Then Anya laughed.
Iris followed.
Lux joined in.
I stood there, watching them.
And without realizing,
A small smile formed.
A quiet one.
But real.
For once…
The noise in my head didn't feel overwhelming.
It felt distant.
And for a brief moment...
I felt… light.