The Art of PERSUASION

Leina stepped out of the sleek black car, her schoolbag slung over one shoulder as the morning breeze played with her hair. The Reinhardt estate was far from the school, and every morning, she endured the routine car ride with her brothers.

Levy stretched his arms, yawning loudly. "Alright, see you later, bookworm."

Lester gave her a small nod. "Don't let Susain get to you."

Leina rolled her eyes. "I don't."

Levy ruffled her hair. "Yeah, yeah. Don't forget Saturday!"

She swatted his hand away, already turning toward the school building.

The moment she stepped past the front gates, she heard a familiar voice.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite reluctant conversationalist."

Leina stopped mid-step, exhaling slowly.

Alexander.

She turned her head slightly, eyes narrowing as the tall, dark-haired boy approached with his usual confident stride.

"What do you want?" she asked flatly.

Alexander smirked, adjusting the bag slung over his shoulder. "What? No 'good morning, Alexander'? No 'thank you for the book you so generously gifted me'?"

Leina sighed. "Good morning, Alexander. Thank you for the book. What do you want?"

He chuckled. "Much better. Now, walk with me."

Leina hesitated but started moving toward the building, Alexander falling into step beside her.

He glanced at her. "So, how's The Philosophy of Ancient Thinkers treating you?"

Leina's fingers twitched slightly against her bag strap. "It's… fascinating."

Alexander's smirk widened. "Ah. That's the closest thing to excitement I'll ever get from you."

Leina huffed. "If that's all you wanted to talk about, I have class."

Alexander grinned. "Not quite. I have a proposition for you."

Leina gave him a side-eye. "That sounds suspicious."

"Oh, it is." He flashed a knowing smile. "I want you to join the debate team."

Leina nearly stopped walking.

"…What?"

"The debate team," Alexander repeated, looking far too pleased with himself. "You should join."

Leina shook her head immediately. "No."

Alexander tsked. "You didn't even consider it."

"I don't need to. The answer is no."

"But you love debating."

Leina frowned. "No, I don't."

Alexander raised a brow. "Oh, really? So you weren't the one arguing with Madam Beatrice last week about the ethics of historical preservation?"

"That was a discussion," she corrected.

"And the week before that? When you tore apart Henry Wilkes' argument about the economic stability of monarchies?"

Leina crossed her arms. "That was just—"

"And yesterday? When you nearly obliterated two students who tried to say reading was boring?"

Leina scowled. "That was different."

Alexander chuckled. "Sure, sure. And if I tell you that debating is basically arguing with rules?"

She pressed her lips into a thin line.

Alexander leaned slightly toward her. "Come on, Leina. You love proving people wrong."

She huffed. "That's not why I debate."

"But it's a bonus."

Leina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Even if I was interested, which I'm not, I don't have the time."

Alexander smirked. "You read for hours every day."

"That is time well spent."

"Imagine how many people you could school with all that knowledge."

Leina narrowed her eyes. "I don't care about that."

"Liar," he teased.

She exhaled sharply. "Alexander, I'm not joining the debate team."

Alexander smiled.

Because he knew he was winning.

"Leina." His voice was softer now, more serious. "You're brilliant at this. You think fast, you argue well, and you actually enjoy it—even if you don't want to admit it. So why not do something that lets you use that?"

Leina pursed her lips, her fingers tightening on her bag strap.

She hated that he was making sense.

Alexander's gaze was steady. "Besides… it's not like you have to do it forever. Just try it."

Leina exhaled, long and slow.

He wasn't going to let this go.

"…Fine."

Alexander blinked.

"…Wait, what?"

She gave him a pointed look. "I said fine. I'll try it."

A slow grin spread across his face. "Well, that was easier than I thought."

Leina sighed. "If I regret this, I'm blaming you."

Alexander smirked. "That's fair."

She shook her head, muttering something under her breath as she turned toward her class.

Alexander watched her go, his smirk softening into something quieter.

Something fond.

She didn't realize it yet, but she was slowly opening up.

She had always been so reserved, so distant. But when she debated, when she argued, she had fire in her eyes. She wasn't just the quiet bookworm people thought she was. She had passion. Strength.

And Alexander loved seeing that side of her.

He couldn't wait to tell Lester.

He could already imagine the look on his best friend's face.

"Wait, you got Leina to join something?"

Alexander grinned to himself.

Oh, Lester owes him way more than the bet they initially started with.