The second meeting

The second meeting of the debate team was far less daunting than the first. Leina walked into the room with her head held high, her usual reserved demeanor tempered by a newfound sense of determination. She wasn't sure what had changed inside her, but something about joining the team made her feel more... confident, more capable of handling the unknown.

The classroom buzzed with chatter, a mix of nervous excitement and competitive energy. The members of the debate team were scattered around, chatting and organizing their notes. Leina quickly spotted a spot at the far end of the room, away from most of the others. She preferred it that way. She was still getting used to the idea of debating, and while she wasn't shy about speaking up, she didn't exactly love being the center of attention either.

As she set her things down, her eyes flickered toward the new faces she hadn't met yet. There were a few unfamiliar students, including a tall girl with dark hair who seemed to be deep in conversation with a quieter boy, and a bubbly girl who kept glancing at her phone. Then, her gaze landed on Malvern Curtis, who was sitting at the front of the room, looking a little more relaxed than before. His usual nervous energy seemed to have faded slightly, replaced by a tentative curiosity as he scanned the room.

Leina took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. She wasn't here for the drama or to feel awkward. She was here to debate. She had agreed to do this, and she would do it well.

The debate coach, a no-nonsense woman with short hair and sharp eyes, stepped to the front of the room, her presence immediately quieting the chatter. "Alright, everyone, let's settle in. We're starting our first real debate today. You've all been paired up with your teammates."

Leina's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm. She had mentally prepared for this. Her eyes shifted to the whiteboard where the pairs were being written. The first name she saw was hers, Leina Reinhardt, and beside it—Malvern Curtis.

She blinked, her stomach doing a small flip. The realization that she was paired with him felt... strange. She had known Malvern for years but never really spoken to him much outside of school activities. He was always quiet, observant—too shy to approach her even though he was always around.

"Now, the topic for today is 'The Impact of Technology on Youth.' I want each pair to divide the subject into two aspects: one arguing for its positive effects, and the other focusing on the negative." The coach gestured for them to begin.

Leina glanced at Malvern, who looked equally surprised. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. She noted the way his eyes darted toward her for a moment before he quickly looked down at the paper in front of him, already scribbling down ideas.

"Looks like we're arguing the negative effects," Leina said, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm but assertive. She wasn't afraid to take charge of this—she had to. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right.

Malvern blinked, and for a moment, she thought he was going to say something else, but he simply nodded. "Yeah, that works," he murmured, then added a little quieter, "I'll… start brainstorming."

Leina didn't wait for him to get too far into his thoughts. She immediately started her own list of points. She had no problem taking the lead in organizing her thoughts—she had always been like that, whether in class or at home. When she spoke, she spoke with certainty. And for once, she wasn't going to let her usual reserved nature keep her in the background.

As they worked together, the silence between them became less awkward. Malvern occasionally glanced at her, and though he was still quiet, there was something different in his demeanor. It was as though he was starting to feel more comfortable around her. She noticed how his hand shook slightly as he scribbled his notes, how his brow furrowed in concentration. It made her wonder—what was it about her that made him so nervous?

As they finished organizing their arguments, they stood together at the front of the room, ready to present. The class had already divided into their respective teams, with one group debating the positive aspects of technology. Leina's stomach fluttered slightly as she adjusted her notes.

When it was their turn, Malvern started speaking first, his voice quieter than usual, but clear enough to be heard. Leina nodded as she watched him, appreciating the way he was slowly growing into the role. He was getting better at this, and she couldn't help but feel a little proud of him.

Her turn came, and with a steady breath, she launched into her counterarguments. She wasn't nervous. She wasn't timid. She spoke with confidence, each word rolling off her tongue as if it were second nature. The room went quiet as she made her points—sharp, precise, and clear. By the end of her speech, she could see some of the others nodding in agreement.

Malvern's eyes met hers for a fleeting moment, and she could see something there—a small spark of admiration. It was subtle, but she caught it, and for a second, she couldn't help but feel like he was looking at her in a different way.

But before she could dwell on it, the coach interrupted, calling the debate to a close. The class buzzed with conversation as everyone gathered their things.

As Leina started to walk back to her seat, she caught sight of Malvern in her peripheral vision. He was standing a few feet away, looking at her with a soft expression, one that she couldn't quite place.

It was then that the unexpected happened.

The door to the classroom suddenly burst open, and a tall figure stormed in. The room fell into an uneasy silence as the stranger's presence filled the space. Leina's heart skipped a beat.

Who was this?

The man stood tall, his eyes scanning the room with a sharp intensity that sent a shiver down Leina's spine. And then, his gaze settled directly on her.