ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

After Class - Confrontations and Confessions

As Izuko made her way out of her last class, she spotted Avy by the lockers, looking more stressed than ever. Deciding it was time to talk, she approached her friend.

"Avy, hey—got a minute?" Izuko asked, her tone gentle.

Avy glanced around, biting her lip before nodding. "Yeah, what's up?"

"I know things are tense right now, and you don't have to tell me everything," Izuko started, "but... I'm here for you. Just, if you need someone to talk to, you know?"

Avy's shoulders slumped, her expression softening. "Thanks, Izu. It's just... it's so complicated, you know? I want to protect everyone, but I can't help feeling like I'm just making things worse."

Izuko gave her a reassuring smile. "You're not. And you're not alone in this either."

Avy smiled back, and for the first time in days, she looked a bit more at ease. But as Izuko walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something bigger.

That Night - Sarah's Surprise

Later, as Izuko was winding down for the night, her phone buzzed with a message from Sarah.

Sarah: Hey, meet me outside your dorm. I have a surprise.

Curious, Izuko slipped on a jacket and headed out. She found Sarah waiting with two cups of hot cocoa and a playful grin.

"Thought you could use something sweet," Sarah said, handing over a cup. "And maybe a distraction?"

Izuko laughed, feeling the weight of the day lifting. They walked around campus, sipping their cocoa and sharing stories, letting the tension from earlier melt away.

"Thank you, Sarah," Izuko said, her voice soft. "For everything."

Sarah smiled, pulling her closer. "Anytime, Izu. I'm not going anywhere."

Under the soft glow of the campus lights, their hands brushed, fingers intertwining. In that quiet moment, the world seemed to fade, leaving only the warmth of Sarah's presence.