The auditorium hummed with energy as the Amity Club wrapped up their final rehearsal. The stage lights flickered overhead, casting a golden glow on the floor, where Royson and his band had just finished their last sound check. Their performance? Flawless. The food exhibition? Fully organized. The fundraiser? Set to be a massive success .

And at the center of it all, like the engine keeping everything running, was Hillary.

Tyson leaned against the edge of the stage, watching her with a mix of admiration and something he couldn't quite place. She was everywhere at once—checking last-minute details, giving instructions, keeping the whole thing together with sheer force of will. He had seen her in charge before, but there was something different this time. She wasn't just organizing—she was commanding, leading, owning the moment. 

She stood at the front, clipboard in hand, scanning through the checklist one last time before tucking it under her arm. "Alright, that's a wrap for today! You guys did amazing—seriously, I couldn't ask for a better team."

A round of cheers and applause erupted, and Tyson grinned as he exchanged a high-five with Cassie. The two of them had gone through the full hosting script, nailing their timing and delivery. If he was being honest, Hillary had picked the right people for the job—he and Cassie had good chemistry onstage, balancing energy and composure perfectly.

"We're meeting here at seven a.m. sharp tomorrow," Hillary continued, "The food exhibition starts at nine, but we need everything in place before then. If you're in charge of setting up the stalls, be early. If you're helping with logistics, find me first thing in the morning. And if you're on the performance team—" she turned to Royson and his band, smirking, "—just make sure you get enough sleep. No rockstar all-nighters."

Royson let out a mock gasp. "What, and ruin my artistically chaotic persona?"

A few laughs echoed through the group, but Hillary just rolled her eyes. "Not on my watch."

Tyson watched as she clapped her hands together, eyes scanning the room one last time. There was something about the way she carried herself—confident, steady, always prepared. He had seen Hillary handle pressure before, but this was different. She wasn't just keeping things together; she was thriving in it.

This wasn't just any school event for her. This was something she had built from the ground up, something that reflected all the effort she had put into it. And the best part? It had all come together beautifully.

"Alright, go get some rest," she finally said. "Tomorrow's a big day, and I want to see all of you at your best!"

The group slowly dispersed, chatting amongst themselves, their excitement palpable. Tyson lingered a little longer, watching as Hillary checked her notes one last time before sighing in satisfaction. He should leave, but he didn't. Instead, he watched her, really watched her, the way she straightened up despite the exhaustion, the way her fingers brushed over the pages of her clipboard, the way she seemed to draw strength just from seeing everything in order.

He walked up to her, nudging her shoulder lightly. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you smile this much during an event."

Hillary scoffed but didn't bother hiding her amusement. "That's because most of the time, I'm too busy making sure everything doesn't fall apart."

Tyson smirked. "And yet, it never does. You're kind of a miracle worker."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she tilted her head toward the stage. "You and Cassie did great today. The hosting felt natural."

"We're a dream team," Tyson said, puffing his chest out exaggeratedly. "Flawless chemistry."

Hillary arched a brow. "You forgot half your lines in the first run-through."

"Details," he shot back, grinning. "I recovered, didn't I?"

She huffed a laugh, shaking her head. Then, in a softer tone, she added, "Seriously, thanks for doing this. I couldn't trust anyone else for this position."

Tyson shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It's your big event. Like I'd miss it."

For a second, her expression softened, something unspoken passing between them. It wasn't anything they'd acknowledge out loud, at least not yet. Instead, Hillary shoved her clipboard into his arms without warning. "Since you're so dedicated, you can help me double-check the seating chart."

Tyson groaned but followed her anyway, complaining dramatically about being overworked. And yet, even as he did, he knew he wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

*****

"You finished second."

The words echoed in Cassie's mind as she stepped out. It was Friday evening—the last testing day before the national competition, which was only fifteen days away.

And she, the defending champion, had placed second. In her own province.

What hope did she have now?

The coach had reassured her that the difference wasn't much, that if she worked hard enough in the next fortnight, she still had a chance. She'd even been granted permission to use the pool twice a day. But Cassie knew how unlikely such a comeback was.

She had barely ten days to improve her speed, and she still had to prepare for the diving acrobatics as well.

But what hurt the most wasn't the ranking. It was the look in her coach's eyes. Encouraging, yes. Kind, yes. But full of doubt.

Cassie stepped out of the office—and came face-to-face with Hillary.

A surge of anger shot through her like a lightning bolt.

There she was—the upstart who was taking everything from her.

First, the humiliating loss in the state championships. If not for the rule that selected the top three swimmers from each province, she wouldn't even be participating in the nationals. And then the girl had disappeared for a month and Cassie thought she could relax, that Hillary was just another passing competitor. 

Cassie had let her guard down.

Then, Hillary had returned wi.th full swing, joining the same school as her. 

She had taken over the her Amity Club presidency, claimed the school prefect position, which had been hers before and now—this. Cassie's national swim champion title.

The rational part of her mind whispered that Hillary had won fairly. That she had earned it. But Cassie's frustration drowned out that voice.

Especially now, when there was evidence.

The Bracelet.

It happened a few minutes after Kai left. Cassie stood up, brushing nonexistent wrinkles from her uniform as Hillary and Mariah made their way toward the door. She should have been focused on figuring out what to do next, but her mind was still tangled in the moment from earlier—Kai's sudden whisper in her ear, the brief kiss to her cheek, and the absolute chaos that had followed.

Then Mariah's voice caught her attention.

"That's a really pretty bracelet," Mariah said, nodding toward Hillary's wrist. "New?"

Cassie's gaze flicked toward them as Hillary paused—just for a second, but it was there. Then, she shook her head.

"Yeah, a week maybe. It was a gift."

Mariah hummed in approval. "It suits you."

It was a passing comment, casual and light, but it landed wrong in Cassie's chest.

Her eyes drifted to the bracelet.

A delicate silver chain, subtle but elegant, resting against Hillary's wrist.

Cassie's breath hitched.

It wasn't exactly the same, but it was too similar. The one on Cassie's wrist—the one Kai had given her—had Radiant engraved into the metal.

The one on Hillary's?

Resilient.

Cassie's stomach twisted.

The difference was barely there. What mattered was that they matched.

Cassie had immediately checked online. The one Hillary wore was a twin to hers—Radiant and Resilient. They were meant to be bought together. If Kai had really bought them as a set, why give her only one? What would he do with the other?

And the timing? Too convenient. Hillary had started wearing it around the same time Cassie did.

Then there were the rumors. The whispers about Hillary and Kai, ones that had existed even before Cassie and Kai had started dating.

What if Laura was right? What if Hillary and Kai were closer than they let on? Hillary obviously knew Cassie was dating him. But what if Cassie had just been a distraction? A way for Kai to get back at Laura, his ex, to toy with her while he was really with Hillary?

Hillary stood outside the office, looking almost timid. She gave Cassie a small smile as she passed.

Cassie didn't return it.

By the time she reached the changing stalls, her thoughts were a tangled mess. Thankfully, the place was empty. She changed quickly, wanting to avoid another encounter with Hillary, then stepped outside.

It had started snowing softly. The chill in the air sent shivers through her, rare for this time of year in Japan. She pulled her sweater tighter around her. She needed to get home.

Near the gates, she ran into Laura, who seemed to be waiting for her.

"Hey! What did the coach say?" Laura asked cheerfully.

Cassie opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Laura's smile faded. "Hey... is everything okay?" Her voice softened as she stepped closer.

Cassie couldn't hold back anymore. The frustration, the doubts, the exhaustion—everything came crashing down. She teared up a bit as she told Laura what the coach had said.

Laura pushed for more details as she held her. Cassie could feel Laura's frustration with Hillary building up. 

Cassie hesitated. Should she tell her about the bracelet too? The rumors? The doubts that had been eating at her since she left school?

But something held her back.

Maybe she wanted to trust Kai? Maybe she didn't want Laura to be too mad at Hillary because she hated her as it is already? Maybe she was reading too much into the lines and there really wasn't anything she had to be worried of? 

Wiping her eyes, she glanced at her watch. "We should get going," she murmured, changing the  topic. 

"Yeah, it's getting late," Laura agreed. Then she suddenly groaned. "Ugh, I forgot my purse in my locker."

Cassie frowned. That wasn't like  Laura to leave her things lying around. But she was too drained to dwell on it. "Want me to wait for you?" she asked instead. 

"No need. I'll grab it and leave. You go on ahead," Laura said, waving her off. "The weather report says it's going to snow  tonight. We should get home before it gets too cold." she reasoned. 

Cassie hesitated but eventually nodded.

She just wanted this day to end.

*****

Hillary stepped into the coach's office, shaking out the last drops of pool water from her hair. She was exhausted, sure, but it was the kind of exhaustion that came with accomplishment. Coach Osaki leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, watching her with a sharp but unreadable expression.

"Good work today," the coach said, nodding slightly. "Your endurance is getting sharper. You didn't let up, even when you were dead tired. That's the kind of discipline I expect."

Hillary smiled. "Thank you, ma'am."

Osaki tapped a pen against the desk. "You're taking on a lot, Tachibana. Training, studies, and that fundraiser you've been putting together. You sure you're not stretching yourself too thin?"

Hillary shook her head. "No. Actually... everything's working out." Her smile widened as she realized how true that was. The fundraiser was fully prepared—it was no doubt going to be a success tomorrow. She was back on track to win the nationals. Her studies were going fine, and she had even taken the first steps to reconnecting with the Bladebreakers. Life was exhausting, yes, but it was perfect.

Osaki studied her for a moment, then gave a short nod. "Good. Just remember—pacing isn't a weakness, it's a strategy. You don't have to carry the weight of the world all at once."

"I know," Hillary said, and for the first time in a while, she actually meant it.

Osaki smirked faintly. "Then you won't argue when I tell you to take tomorrow morning off."

Hillary laughed. "Nope. No arguments."

"Good. Now get out of here before I change my mind."

Hillary left the office with a spring in her step, feeling light, confident. Everything was falling into place.

Tomorrow was going to be another perfect day.

*****

Laura leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching as Hillary moved about the locker room, completely oblivious to her presence. She looked far too happy for Laura's taste.

It was irksome, really. The way Hillary carried herself—driven, talented, graceful. The kind of girl people naturally gravitated toward. The kind of girl who always did the right thing. Who always won.

Laura let the silence stretch, savoring the moment, letting anticipation coil tightly in her chest before breaking the quiet.

"You really thought you could get away with it, didn't you?"

Hillary froze.

A slight pause, a flicker of tension in her shoulders—then she exhaled, turning around with that same exasperated, haughty expression she always had when dealing with what she assumed to be nonsense.

"Laura." A pause. "What do you want?"

Laura smiled, slow and deliberate.

She took a step forward. Just one. Just enough to see Hillary shift slightly, instinctively bracing herself.

"I want you to understand something."

Hillary sighed. "Understand what?" 

Laura curled her fingers inward. "That actions have consequences."

Hillary exhaled sharply, already irritated. "If this is about the Amity Club thing, I already—"

Laura lunged.

Hillary barely had time to react before she slammed her against the lockers, the impact rattling through her bones.

Before she could recover, before she could even shove her away, Laura pressed a small glass vial against her lips.

Hillary gasped—wrong move.

Laura tilted her head back, fingers digging into her jaw, forcing the bitter liquid down her throat.

Hillary choked, gagged, fought—but it was too late.

The drug was already in her veins.

*****

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