The class ended with no more words exchanged between them. Mira packed her things slowly, her thoughts already spiraling—not from confusion, but from sheer, simmering disbelief.

The canteen buzzed with the usual afternoon crowd, but at one particular table, all the noise seemed to fade as Mira slammed a folded note onto the table.

“I am mad. No—furious.”

Her friends, mid-bite into their meals, all turned to stare.

“Wait, what?” Camille blinked. “We were just asking about the whole Adrian thing. Why are you acting like you’re about to declare war?”

“Because I should!” Mira huffed, crossing her arms. “I treated him with respect. I was nice. But this guy—this guy—” She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Who does he think he is?”

Luca leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Whoa, slow down. We literally just heard you two teamed up, and now you’re telling us you’re fighting already?”

Naomi raised an eyebrow. “Did he say something offensive?”

“Oh, so much worse.” Mira picked up the note again, unfolding it with an aggressive snap and shoving it forward. “Look at this.”

Elias took the paper, eyes scanning it quickly before whistling. “Okay… I gotta admit, this is insanely detailed. He figured all this out minutes after the project was assigned?”

Before Mira could reply, Camille suddenly gasped, eyes widening in exaggerated excitement.

“Wait, wait, pause.” She pointed at the note. “Are you two exchanging notes in class? Oh. My. God. That is so. Ro. Mantic.”

Naomi leaned in, nodding in fake seriousness. “Secret love letters disguised as project plans? This is next-level academic flirting.”

Luca dramatically put a hand over his chest. “Mira. Since when did you become the lead in a campus romance novel?”

Mira nearly choked. “What?! No! Absolutely not!”

Her face burned as her friends snickered.

Then Valeria, who had been watching Mira’s expression closely, cut through the teasing. “Okay, but… did he actually say that?”

Mira blinked, momentarily thrown off. “What?”

Val tapped the note. “You’re mad because you think he implied you’re some weak student who leeches off others. But did he actually say that? Or are you just assuming?”

Mira hesitated.

Camille smirked. “Yeah, because from what I see, this note is more like a battle plan than an insult.”

Luca snorted. “Exactly. He probably thought you’d be impressed.”

“Impressed?!” Mira looked betrayed. “I want a teammate, not someone who just hands me a finished blueprint and expects me to nod along.”

Camille hummed. “So you’re mad because he’s too competent?”

Mira groaned, running a hand through her hair. “That is not the point.”

“Well, what is the point?” Naomi asked.

Mira exhaled, her anger simmering just slightly. “I want to contribute. I want to learn from this class. If he’s already done everything, then what’s the point of me being in the group?”

Camille chuckled. “Sooo… can I use this note for my project instead?”

Mira shot her a glare. “Be my guest.”

Valeria leaned forward. “Look, Mira, you’re one of the smartest people we know. If anyone doesn’t need to rely on someone else’s work, it’s you.”

Naomi nodded. “Yeah, I get why you’re upset. But maybe Adrian didn’t mean it the way you took it. He’s always been kind of…” She searched for the right word. “...intense.”

“That’s an understatement,” Elias muttered.

Luca smirked. “Honestly? This ship still has a chance.”

Mira snapped her head up. “Quit that joke already.”

Luca grinned. “What? I’m just saying. You two are just having your first conflict. Every great partnership has a rough start.”

Mira groaned, shoving her tray away. “You all are impossible.”

Elias shrugged. “Maybe. But we’re not wrong.”

Mira scowled, but deep down… she hated to admit they might have a point.