Dakota's Pov
I'm sitting at our lunch table, staring blankly at the air while Austin and Remi announce:
"We're dating."
Just like that. Just casually dropping a nuke on my lunch break like it's nothing.
The others react in varying degrees of sanity:
Erika gasps dramatically.
Esmarie nearly chokes on her juice.
Marlon says "Called it."
Yuji gives an approving nod.
Sota was too flabbergasted to say anything.
And Sylvie claps politely like someone at a piano recital.
Me?
I smile.
A real one.
The kind that isn't forced, even if something squeezes at my chest.
Because from the bottom of my heart, I want them to be happy.
Austin beams at everyone, then sits down next to me with the smuggest grin a human has ever worn.
I elbow him: "Wipe that smug look off your face."
Austin elbows me back: "Someone's jealous."
This guy.
"Of what? Your face? Please."
Remi giggles lightly: "You two really are close."
Austin throws an arm around my shoulder: "We have seen each other naked. We're basically brothers."
Yuji: "What?"
I nod stoically: "And as your brother, I will gladly pretend I am supportive while quietly insulting you."
Austin: "See? Brotherhood."
Esmarie leans across the table, eyes sparkling: "So when did this happen?! Details! I demand details!"
Remi blushes. "U-Um… It was a few days ago. And it just felt right."
Erika clasps her hands: "I'm so happy for you two!"
Yuji sighs wondering how long they're gonna drag this. I take a sip of my drink, letting everyone else scream and swoon and ask questions.
My thoughts stay quiet.
Even if I wasn't picked, even if I wasn't the one for her—
Their happiness matters more.
Austin nudges me again: "You alright, man?"
I glance at him with a smile: "Yeah."
***
If love is war, then finals are divine punishment.
Emelio sensei stands in front of the class with the calm smile of a man who knows suffering is character development: "Good morning, students. Your final exams begin now. Please prepare your hearts, your bodies, and your wills."
"I trained a lot, but I still feel anxious."
Mike mutters: "Just don't drag me down."
Day one was written exams for every period.
Day two was practical sparring.
Day three was endurance.
Day four was joint exams where we have to demonstrate teamwork.
Day five is special exams, where Emelio sensei designs one unspeakable nightmare of his choosing.
Five days of pain.
The kind of pain poets would write tragedies about.
But… I don't hate it.
Because this time, I feel something different.
I'm motivated.
Even when Yuji hip-checks me during sparring.
I'm working harder.
Pushing further.
Laughing through it.
I genuinely want to improve.
It's a weird feeling.
***
Emelio sensei stands proudly in front of us.
His cape, is it a cape? It might be a curtain, billows dramatically.
Emelio: "Today's exam is something truly special. I have created a unique gauntlet involving puzzles, obstacles, moving platforms, and timed traps! Survival rate is historically low. Emotionally, not physically."
He claps his hands.
The doors open.
The exam room looks like a children's play place redesigned by a psychopath.
There are spinning blades, wooden, but still. There are jumping puzzles. There are rope swings. There are sections where you have to crawl, sections where you have to run, and sections where you have to contemplate life choices.
We run.
We scream.
We dodge swinging logs, fall into pits, get launched by trampolines, and slide across floors like penguins. One student nearly wipes out because he slipped on his own sweat. Remi encourages literally everyone around her like a saint. Erika parksours across the entire course like she's starring in an action movie.
By the end, we make it.
Every one of us.
Collapsed on the ground.
Exhausted.
Dying internally.
But alive.
And proud.
Summer break arrives like a long exhale.
We continue to talk to each other and send pictures of what we're doing in a group chat we finally made.
Austin and Remi go on dates.
Esmarie buys new idol merch.
Yuji trains like a man possessed.
Sylvie spends time with her family.
Me and Erika spend half the summer hanging out and the other half training.
There's a warmth to life.
Right now, it feels like I'm at the pause before the final chapter of youth.
And just like that, our senior year began.
The first day back feels… different. The academy feels smaller somehow.
Austin and Remi arrive holding hands. Esmarie waves so hard she almost falls over. Yuji looks grumpy but smiles faintly. Sylvie and Erika talk about the time they spent together over the summer. She is from the Scarlet family, so catching a few flights to see us was no problem for her.
As for me? I stand in the center of them all, heart steady. Excited and ready.
Austin slaps my back: "Yo! Last year! You ready?"
I smirk: "Born ready."
Erika beams: "Let's make this the best year ever!"
Marlon: "Let's do a whole lot of stupid stuff."
Sota: "I don't think that's a good idea."
Esmarie throws her hands up: "We're seniors! This is our era!"
Sylvie: "I hope we all make it through."
Remi smiles softly: "Let's do our best. All of us."
And just like that—
We step forward.
Into the final stretch.
Into our last year at Hunter Academy.
Into whatever future waits.