The academy courtyard had been transformed for the afternoon's event. A new agility and coordination challenge had been announced, with pairs assigned to navigate a complex obstacle course while retrieving a series of markers. It wasn't dangerous—but it was highly visible, and everyone would be watching.
Daniel's stomach twisted when he saw the pairing board: Daniel K. — Leo A.
Mika nudged him gently. "You should really stop looking so tense. It's a challenge, not a death sentence."
"I'm fine," Daniel muttered. But his own voice didn't convince him.
Ryo smirked. "Yeah, sure. Totally fine. Go impress the crowd, Romeo."
Daniel groaned and adjusted his gloves. He didn't have time to think about teasing, admiration, or attention. Not yet.
The crowd formed a circle around the course. Students cheered and murmured as pairs ran through their preliminary rounds. Daniel tried to focus on his breathing, the obstacles, and his footing. Everything was methodical, precise.
Leo's presence at his side made it… harder.
Not physically. Daniel could handle the pace, the jumps, the maneuvers. But every time their hands brushed, every time Leo adjusted his stride to match Daniel's, his chest buzzed with a pressure he could barely contain.
He noticed subtle glances from other students—some impressed, some curious, some teasing. But he didn't care. He couldn't.
The first obstacle approached: a low, narrow beam spanning a shallow trench. Daniel stepped onto it carefully, arms out for balance.
"Side by side?" Leo asked softly, voice low, only Daniel could hear.
Daniel swallowed. "If you can keep up."
Leo smirked, stepping onto the beam beside him. Their shoulders brushed, just slightly.
Daniel's heart skipped. He could feel the subtle warmth radiating from Leo's body, the steady rhythm of his movements. Daniel's mind whispered: Don't slip. Don't show anything.
But his instincts betrayed him.
For a brief second, he leaned too far forward, nearly losing his balance. Leo's hand caught his elbow—again, subtle, protective, and impossible to ignore.
Daniel's chest tightened. Focus.
They moved forward, each step careful, synchronized. The crowd watched, murmuring at how smoothly they worked together.
The next obstacle: a series of swinging ropes. Daniel adjusted his grip, trying to ignore the subtle brush of Leo's fingers as they passed.
"Careful with your left," Leo murmured.
Daniel's suppressor hummed faintly beneath his skin. His pulse raced. He adjusted, but the brief touch—the close presence—was already enough to make his body betray the calm exterior he fought so hard to maintain.
A small misstep—a slip of balance—was narrowly avoided. Daniel caught himself, but the heat in his chest spread, and his mind raced.
Leo's gaze lingered on him, not judging, not teasing—just observing.
Daniel exhaled sharply. Almost too close.
The final stretch was a sprint across the field, markers in hand, timing crucial. Daniel pushed himself, adrenaline surging, every muscle responding to instinct and training.
But every step carried the weight of attention: the watching crowd, Mika and Ryo whispering from the sidelines, and Leo's subtle, watchful presence.
Daniel crossed the finish line first, heart pounding—not from exertion, but from the near-overwhelming awareness of Leo beside him.
Later, as they collected their gear, Mika smirked. "You almost—almost lost it there, didn't you?"
Daniel shot him a glare. "I did not."
Ryo chuckled. "Yes, you did. We saw the flicker. The one that happens when he's near."
Daniel's chest tightened further. "You're exaggerating."
Leo, adjusting his gloves beside him, didn't speak. He simply offered a small, almost imperceptible nod—acknowledgment of Daniel's skill, and maybe, Daniel suspected, something else.
Daniel's pulse raced. Almost seen. Almost felt. Almost exposed.
He pressed a hand to his chest. One slip today, just a fraction, and the secret he had worked so hard to maintain would have been dangerously close to revelation.
And yet, a part of him couldn't stop replaying Leo's presence, the protective energy that lingered even in the crowd, even amidst teasing.
It was intoxicating. And terrifying.