ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

Whispers of Love and Lingering Tensions

Izuko's POV

Izuko was walking to her first class the next morning, feeling light and jittery from the night before. Her conversation with Sarah replayed in her mind, and the thought of Sarah's gentle words, her warm touch, and that feeling Izuko felt with a glow she couldn't shake.

But as soon as she stepped into the classroom, her good mood hit a wall.

Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa were all there, each of them looking more distant than the last. Rosé was sitting by herself, Jennie was furiously texting, and Lisa was avoiding everyone's gaze. Avy was there too, her face tense, darting nervous glances in Jennie's direction.

Izuko took a seat next to Alv, who leaned in close, whispering, "Looks like the storm hasn't passed."

"Clearly," Izuko murmured back. "Avy's barely looked up since I got here."

"Something big must've happened last night," Alv said, her voice low. "Jennie and Lisa got into another argument, and this time, Rosé was involved. Everyone's talking about it."

Izuko frowned. "What do you mean?"

Alv glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "Jennie confronted Lisa in front of Rosé. From what I heard, she accused Lisa of... having feelings for Rosé, beyond just being friends."

Izuko's eyes widened. "But Rosé's dating Jennie. How did she react?"

Alv sighed. "That's the thing. She didn't deny it. Jennie left the room, and Rosé didn't follow."

Izuko shook her head, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She could sense this would unravel quickly—and not in a good way.

Later in the Cafeteria

Izuko spotted Sarah at their usual table, her bright smile instantly lifting Izuko's spirits. Izuko made her way over, plopping down across from her.

"Rough morning?" Sarah asked, her tone playful but her eyes filled with concern.

"You could say that," Izuko replied, taking a deep breath. "The whole Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa thing? It's... spiraling."

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Seems like they're caught in some complicated web. But I think the real question here is—are you okay?"

Izuko's gaze softened. "I'm... managing. It's just that everyone's involved now. Avy's caught in the middle, and I feel like I can't do anything to help."

Sarah reached across the table, taking Izuko's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Just remember, you don't have to fix everything, Izuko. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is be there for our friends—and know when to step back."

Izuko gave her a grateful smile. "You always know what to say, don't you?"

"Only for you," Sarah replied, smirking. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Besides, last night... I meant every word."

Izuko's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks warming as she met Sarah's gaze. "Me too," she whispered back, feeling a sense of calm settle over her. With Sarah by her side and her other friends, she felt ready to face whatever came next.