Morning sunlight spilled through the classroom windows, soft and golden, catching dust motes in the air like glitter. The air buzzed with a tension that wasn't fear anymore — just anticipation.
Every desk was occupied. Every voice was louder than usual. And in the middle of it all, Group 6 sat together, waiting.
Suki drummed his fingers against the desk. "Okay, I'm just saying — if we don't at least get 80, I'm transferring schools."
Ryuzí sighed. "You can't even transfer schools without losing your lunch money halfway there."
"That's low, even for you."
"True."
Aoi didn't look up from her clipboard. "You two arguing doesn't change the results."
Suki groaned dramatically. "You're too calm about this. Don't you care about our grade?"
"I do," she said evenly, though the pen she was twirling between her fingers had started to tremble.
Haruto noticed — how she pressed her lips together, the faint crease between her brows.She wasn't calm at all. She was trying to be.
Kenji leaned back in his chair. "I say we bet on it. Loser buys snacks."
Suki perked up. "Oh, I'm in."
Ryuzí rolled his eyes. "We don't even know what the results are yet."
"Exactly," Suki said. "It's called faith."
Aoi muttered, "It's called stupidity."
Miyako giggled softly beside her. "Maybe both."
The laughter settled everyone's nerves a little — like sunlight breaking through a cloud.
✦ The Wait
The classroom monitor entered holding a thick folder. Everyone's chatter dimmed instantly."Okay, everyone, settle down! The project grades are in!"
Suki froze mid-sip of his drink. "Oh no, oh no, oh no."
Kenji whispered, "Don't panic."
"I'm panicking!"
Ryuzí muttered, "You always panic."
Aoi took a deep breath. "No matter what it is, we did our best."
Haruto looked at her — the quiet steadiness in her eyes, the way her hand brushed briefly against his desk. "You really believe that?"
"I do." She smiled, small but sure. "And I believe in us."
The teacher flipped through the folder, drawing out the suspense far too long.
Suki groaned. "Just rip off the Band-Aid, sensei!"
"Patience, Suki," she said, amused.
"Patience is a myth!"
Even the teacher laughed. "Alright, alright… let's see…"
✦ The Reveal
Her eyes scanned the sheet. Then she smiled."Group 6… eighty-four percent."
Silence.
For half a second, no one breathed. Then—
"EIGHTY-FOUR?!" Suki screamed so loud the next classroom probably heard it.
Kenji nearly fell off his chair. "We did it! We actually—"
"Eighty-four," Aoi repeated softly, the number rolling over her tongue like a promise fulfilled.
Miyako clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide and sparkling. "That's… that's amazing!"
Ryuzí gave a rare, almost-smile. "Better than I expected."
Suki threw his arms around him instantly. "I love you, man!"
Ryuzí stiffened, glaring. "Get off me."
"Never!"
"Off."
"Make me."
Kenji cheered from behind them. "Group hug incoming!"
Aoi's laughter broke through — rare and warm. She turned to Haruto, who still looked stunned, blinking at the board like he couldn't quite process it.
Aoi didn't hesitate. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
It wasn't a hesitant hug; it was firm, full of warmth and pride and relief.Haruto froze, caught off guard, his heart tripping over itself.
Her voice was soft against his ear. "We did it, Haruto."
He swallowed hard. "Yeah… we really did."
His hands hovered awkwardly for a second before settling gently against her back. His face flushed pink, but his smile was small and real.
When she finally pulled back, their eyes met — too close, too sincere.
Suki, watching from the side, made a dramatic gasp. "Oh no, they're being cute again."
Kenji clapped slowly. "I support this emotional growth."
Ryuzí sighed. "You people are exhausting."
✦ The Chaos of Joy
Kenji turned toward Miyako. "So, since we're celebrating—hug?"
Miyako blinked, startled. "What? N-no, that's—"
"Come on, just one!"
She shook her head, cheeks flushing. "I-I'm fine! Congratulations is enough!"
Kenji clutched his chest. "Rejected in HD."
Suki patted his back solemnly. "We all saw that, buddy. Brutal."
"Don't make it sound like a sports match!"
But then, grinning wickedly, Kenji leapt forward and threw his arms around everyone — Suki, Ryuzí, Aoi, Haruto, and a very embarrassed Miyako.
"GROUP HUG!" he shouted.
Suki squealed, "You're crushing my ribs!"
"That's the sound of love!"
Aoi groaned but didn't push away. "Kenji, your arm's in my hair."
"Worth it!"
Ryuzí just sighed, enduring it. "If you don't release me in five seconds, I'm deleting your slides."
"Noted!"
They all started laughing — breathless, tangled, messy. The kind of laughter that didn't need reason anymore.
Kenji stepped back and did a ridiculous little victory dance in the middle of the classroom, wiggling his shoulders like a man possessed.
Suki joined in immediately. "This is the Victory Waltz of the Eighty-Four Percent!"
Aoi pinched the bridge of her nose, trying not to laugh. "You're idiots."
"Certified idiots!" Suki said proudly.
Haruto watched them, his smile growing wider by the second. The sound of their laughter filled the room like sunlight — bright, careless, whole.
He turned toward Aoi. "They're really something, huh?"
She glanced at the chaos — Kenji spinning, Miyako half-smiling despite herself, Suki attempting to dip Ryuzí like a dance partner.Her smile softened. "Yeah. They really are."
✦ Miyako's Laughter
Kenji tripped over a chair mid-dance and stumbled into Miyako's desk. She blinked, startled, then burst out laughing.
Not a shy chuckle — a full, unrestrained laugh.
Everyone froze for a second — even Suki — then grinned.
Ryuzí muttered, "There it is."
Kenji straightened, flustered. "Okay, yeah, I totally meant to do that. 100% planned."
Miyako was still laughing, tears in her eyes. "You're such an idiot."
"Ah, but a funny idiot," he said, bowing dramatically.
When she looked up again, he caught the faint blush on her cheeks — soft, fleeting, beautiful. His heartbeat stumbled, catching him completely off guard.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "If that laugh was my reward, I might trip more often."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile didn't fade. "Don't push your luck."
"Too late," he murmured, grinning.
✦ Lunch Break Celebration
By lunch, the whole school had heard the news.
Groups congratulated them in the hallway, the teacher gave a rare smile, and someone from Class 3 even brought cupcakes to their table "because legends deserve snacks."
Suki puffed out his chest. "We're officially legends."
"You're officially insufferable," Aoi said.
"Potato, potahto."
Ryuzí bit into a cupcake without comment.
Miyako passed one to Haruto, smiling shyly. "You earned it."
"Thanks," he said, surprised.
Aoi slid a second cupcake toward him. "Eat this one too."
He blinked. "Why?"
"You look like you forgot breakfast again."
"I didn't—okay, maybe."
Suki leaned over. "Aoi, stop mothering him. You're gonna turn into his life coach."
Aoi shot back instantly, "At least he listens to me."
Haruto blushed faintly. "I—uh—do, actually."
Kenji gasped dramatically. "Oh, it's official. The power dynamic has shifted!"
Miyako giggled again, nearly choking on her drink.
The table erupted in laughter once more — small, joyful, normal.
✦ After School
The golden hour light filtered through the windows as the final bell rang.
They lingered in the classroom long after everyone else left. The board still had the words "84%" scribbled on it in red marker.
Suki stared at it fondly. "I kinda wanna frame it."
Ryuzí muttered, "You can frame your report card instead."
"Boring."
Kenji leaned back in his chair. "So, when do we start planning the trip?"
Aoi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Tomorrow. I already have the forms ready."
Suki groaned. "Of course you do."
Miyako smiled. "She's efficient."
"She's terrifying," Suki corrected.
Aoi smirked. "You'll thank me when we don't end up stranded somewhere."
Ryuzí crossed his arms. "Stranding Suki wouldn't be the worst outcome."
"Rude!"
They all laughed again.
Aoi turned to Haruto. "You okay?"
He nodded, still smiling softly. "More than okay."
"Good," she said. "You should be proud."
He hesitated before replying. "I am. Because of you all."
Suki threw an arm around him. "Awww, he's getting sentimental!"
Haruto laughed, gently pushing him off. "Shut up."
"Love you too."
"Sure you do."
✦ Evening
The group finally stepped outside, the sky painted in shades of peach and violet.
They walked together toward the station — their laughter echoing down the empty halls behind them.
Aoi slowed her steps until she matched Haruto's pace. "Still can't believe it?"
He shook his head, smiling faintly. "Feels unreal."
"Well, believe it," she said. "You earned every percent of that score."
He looked at her — really looked — and said quietly, "We all did."
She smiled. "Exactly."
From ahead, Suki shouted, "Hey, slowpokes! Group photo before we go!"
Kenji already had his phone out, posing like a celebrity. "Smile for history, people!"
They gathered under the school gate, crammed together.
Aoi beside Haruto, Suki making bunny ears behind Ryuzí's head, Miyako laughing as Kenji leaned too close.
The shutter clicked.
In the photo, they all looked brighter somehow — not perfect, not flawless, but real.
And when Haruto looked at it later that night, he realized something simple and certain:This — this warmth, this chaos — was what home was supposed to feel like.