The moment class ended, a ripple of movement passed through the room as chairs scraped back and students began filing out, murmuring about lunch digestion and impending doom—also known as group projects.
Rex stretched his arms lazily. "Alright, ladies," he said, flashing a harmless grin, "looks like fate—and the seating chart—has thrown us together."
Daisy gave him a side-glance. "Let’s not give fate too much credit. We chose this team, remember?"
Rex raised his hands in surrender, unbothered. "Sure, sure. Free will, democracy, and all that."
Sophie, already blowing a pink bubble of gum, leaned in with a smirk. Pop. "Well, well. Look at this little harem forming." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Nove1Fire.net
"...It’s not a harem," Rex muttered.
"Sure, Captain Rex," Sophie winked.
"Here," Hannah muttered, already pulling out a sleek tablet. "We should start by dividing roles, then scheduling milestones. It’s a two-week timeline—tight, but manageable. Assuming no one slacks."
Rex blinked. "Wait... you already made a roadmap?"
"I do that during lectures," she replied dryly, in the same tone one might use when saying I breathe air.
"...I was doodling chibi versions of the professor," Rex admitted under his breath.
"...I was doodling chibi versions of the professor," Rex mumbled.
Elara, who’d been silently clutching her notebook like it was a holy relic, finally glanced up. "I... I can do research," she offered, voice barely above a whisper.
Sophie blinked. Daisy tilted her head, appraising. Hannah just gave a short, approving nod, already adding a bullet point labeled Research Lead: Elara.
Rex noticed the way Elara’s fingers tightened around the notebook. Her bangs still shaded most of her face, unsure if she was supposed to speak.
"You’re good at digging into sources, right?" he asked gently.
She gave a small, hesitant nod.
"Then we’ve got our research lead," Rex declared, like it was a done deal. "Solid start."
Sophie grinned. "Cool. I’ll handle outreach. Got a few cousins in the industry. Actors, influencers, one dude who does stunts in tight leather pants. Don’t ask."
"I wasn’t going to," Daisy said.
"I’ll handle the structure and presentation," Hannah added. "And if no one else wants it, I’ll write the summary too."
Rex put his hands up. "I’ll take on the fieldwork and coordination—interviewing someone from a smaller entertainment company, maybe some insider insight. You know, boots on the ground."
"You mean loafers in the lobby," Daisy muttered.
"Hey," Rex chuckled, "designer loafers."
Their laughter was light, and surprisingly real. Even Elara smiled a little, though she quickly ducked her head again.
They spent the next few minutes establishing the basics
For a group that had barely formed twenty minutes ago, they were already sliding into roles naturally.
"I’ll create a shared doc," Hannah said. "Everyone add their input and availability tonight."
"Group name?" Sophie asked, grinning.
"...We’re naming the group?" Rex asked.
"Then I vote ’Beauty and the Nerd,’" Sophie said, elbowing Rex.
"I resent that," Rex said dramatically. "You’re calling me the nerd?"
"You’re definitely the nerd."
He considered that. "Fair."
After a few more ridiculous suggestions—including "Five Shades of Stress" and "Project: Please Pass,"—they finally settled on Team Spotlight.
As they walked out of the room together, the girls casually walked ahead, chattering about deadlines and diva actors. Rex hung back just a little, letting the others move ahead. Elara stayed beside him by default—quiet, shrinking slightly into her cardigan, like she was trying not to be seen.
She was fidgeting with her sleeve cuffs.
"You okay?" he asked again.
She gave a tiny nod. "They’re just... very confident."
"You will be too," he said. "One day."
"You did good back there," he said quietly.
"Speaking up. You know... for the research role."
"Oh." She paused. "Thanks. I... I just didn’t want to be a burden."
"You’re not," he said firmly. "Trust me, you’re sharp. You’ve just been hiding it."
Elara didn’t reply, but her posture relaxed just a little.
She looked down, cheeks slightly pink.
They ironed out the remaining basics right there in the hallway—milestones, rough task divisions, a tentative goal for the kind of company they might research. Indie studios. Mid-tier production houses. Something real enough to study, but small enough to contact.
"Let’s each shortlist three companies tonight," Hannah said, eyes already scanning her tablet again. "Tomorrow morning, we compare notes."
"Library?" Daisy suggested, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Third floor. That quiet zone?"
"Perfect," Rex agreed. "9 AM sharp. Don’t worry, I’ll even set an alarm that isn’t a crime against humanity."
"I don’t believe you," Sophie said flatly.
"You shouldn’t," Hannah muttered.
Elara gave a small laugh—barely a breath—but it was there.
With that, they split, headed to their final class of the day.
They ironed out the remaining basics right there in the hallway—milestones, rough task divisions, a tentative goal for the kind of company they might research. Indie studios. Mid-tier production houses. Something real enough to study, but small enough to contact.
"Let’s each shortlist three companies tonight," Hannah said, eyes already scanning her tablet again. "Tomorrow morning, we compare notes."
"Library?" Daisy suggested, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Third floor. That quiet zone?"
"Perfect," Rex agreed. "9 AM sharp. Don’t worry, I’ll even set an alarm that isn’t a crime against humanity."
"I don’t believe you," Sophie said flatly.
"You shouldn’t," Hannah muttered.
Elara gave a small laugh—barely a breath—but it was there.
With that, they split, headed to their final class of the day. It passed without incident, the professor droning on about supply chain disruptions while Rex mostly played a game of mental Tetris fitting everyone’s schedules into his own.
And then finally, finally, class ended.
Most students sprinted for freedom. Rex, though, took his usual detour—up the familiar staircase, past the dusty philosophy books, into the far corner of the third floor library.
He made a beeline for the study cubicle by the window—the one with the cracked plastic chair and permanent smell of old paperbacks.
As expected... it was empty.
He stared at the seat across from his own for a moment.
That strange, beautiful girl he’d met here once—a brief encounter during one of his rare, serious study moods. She had been there for only one afternoon. Said almost nothing. Vanished like smoke.
Rex set his bag down with a sigh, pulling out his notebook and system glasses.
"...And here I thought I had the worst attendance," he muttered under his breath. "Looks like someone’s beating me at my own game."