Lina chose.
"Just a minute," she said, turning to Ciel and Tyron. "I'll talk to him first."
Neither argued.
Ciel gave a small nod, but his eyes weren't smiling anymore.
Tyron said nothing, simply stepped back with the grace of someone used to losing battles he could still win later.
Lina followed Renzo down the hallway — silent, tight.
When they reached the stairwell landing, he stopped. Didn't look at her right away.
"Sorry," he said.
She blinked. "For what?"
"For… acting like you did something wrong. You didn't."
He finally looked at her. "I saw you and Ciel. I assumed stuff. It wasn't fair."
Lina hesitated. "It's okay."
"No," he said, voice a little lower. "It's not."
They stood there for a second. The air between them too full of things unsaid.
"I never used to care who you talked to," Renzo admitted. "But now? I hate it."
Lina's eyes widened.
He glanced away. "You don't have to say anything. I just— I wanted you to know."
Before she could respond, the bell rang.
Students started pouring into the hallway. Noise flooded the space.
Renzo stepped back, shielding her slightly from the crowd.
One quiet action.
And then… he left.
Without another word.
Leaving her standing there — heart thudding and answer stuck in her throat.