Dark clouds gathered over Will Stone Academy before the last lesson ended. The wind outside rattled the classroom windows, and the sky turned gray faster than usual.
Inside Class 7B, Group One sat together, finishing notes.
Renée tapped her pencil impatiently. "That sky looks bad."
Brian looked out the window. "Yeah… that doesn't look like normal rain."
Dimitris leaned forward. "Storm, probably."
Amani closed her book carefully. "Let's just hope it waits until we're back in the dorm."
Across the room, Luna glanced toward the window, her expression thoughtful.
Beside her, Daniel, still wearing the box, quietly adjusted his notebook. His hands were steady, but his mind wasn't. He kept replaying the moment from earlier—when he and Odin had both grabbed Luna to stop her from falling.
Odin sat a few desks away, arms crossed, staring at the dark clouds.
The bell rang.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
---
As the group stepped outside, rain began to fall—light at first, then heavier within seconds.
"Run!" Brian shouted.
They rushed toward the covered walkway, but the wind picked up quickly, blowing rain sideways.
Renée laughed nervously. "This just got serious!"
Lightning flashed across the sky.
A loud boom followed.
Luna flinched slightly.
Daniel noticed immediately.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
She nodded. "Just surprised."
Odin stepped closer to the group. "We should stay together."
Amani nodded. "Agreed."
Dimitris pointed ahead. "There's an old equipment shed near the field. We can wait there."
---
The rain poured harder as they ran across the field.
Water splashed around their shoes. The wind howled loudly, pushing against them.
Brian slipped slightly. "Whoa!"
Renée grabbed his arm. "Careful!"
Daniel stayed close to Luna, keeping pace beside her.
Odin moved ahead, pulling the shed door open.
"Inside!" he called.
One by one, they rushed in, slamming the door behind them.
---
Inside the shed, it was dark and dusty. The sound of rain pounding against the roof echoed loudly.
Brian leaned against the wall. "Okay… that's official storm-level rain."
Dimitris wiped water from his face. "No kidding."
Amani checked the door. "It's secure."
Renée peered through a small window. "We're not leaving anytime soon."
Luna brushed wet hair from her face.
Daniel noticed she was shivering slightly.
Without saying much, he removed his jacket and held it out.
"You can use this," he said quietly.
Luna looked surprised. "But you'll get cold."
"I'm fine," Daniel replied.
She hesitated, then accepted it.
"Thanks," she said softly.
Odin noticed the exchange but didn't interrupt.
---
Thunder cracked loudly overhead.
The shed lights flickered once—then went out.
Darkness filled the room.
Brian gasped. "Okay, I officially don't like this."
Renée laughed nervously. "Relax. We're not in a horror movie."
Amani pulled out a small flashlight from her bag. "Prepared, as always."
A beam of light filled the space.
Dimitris nodded approvingly. "Smart."
---
For a moment, everyone stayed quiet, listening to the rain.
Then Luna spoke.
"Storms like this… they make you think."
Renée raised an eyebrow. "Think about what?"
"About things you don't usually say," Luna replied quietly.
Daniel shifted slightly at her words.
Odin leaned against the wall, watching her carefully.
"What kind of things?" Brian asked.
Luna hesitated.
"Like… fears," she said softly.
The room grew quiet.
Amani nodded slowly. "That makes sense."
Renée crossed her arms. "Alright then… who's scared of thunder?"
Brian raised his hand immediately. "Me."
Everyone laughed lightly.
Even Dimitris smirked.
Then Luna turned slightly toward Daniel.
"What about you?" she asked.
Daniel froze.
Inside the box, his breathing slowed.
"I'm not scared of storms," he said quietly.
"Then what are you scared of?" Odin asked calmly.
Daniel hesitated.
For the first time in a long moment, the room felt still.
Finally, he spoke.
"I'm scared… of being seen," he admitted.
Everyone went silent.
Even the rain outside seemed quieter for a second.
Renée blinked. "Seen?"
Daniel nodded slowly.
"That's why… I wear this," he said, tapping the side of the box gently.
Luna looked at him carefully.
Not judging.
Not laughing.
Just listening.
Odin straightened slightly, paying full attention now.
"What are you hiding?" Dimitris asked carefully.
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
His hands trembled slightly.
"I'm not hiding something bad," he said.
"I'm hiding… myself."
The words felt heavy in the air.
Luna stepped a little closer.
"You don't have to hide forever," she said gently.
Daniel looked toward her voice.
Inside, his heart pounded.
Odin watched the moment closely, feeling tension build in his chest.
---
Outside, lightning flashed again.
Thunder roared.
Inside the shed, the storm continued—but something deeper was changing.
Daniel had spoken more honestly than ever before.
Odin realized Luna cared more deeply than he expected.
And Luna herself began to feel something confusing—something she couldn't name yet.
Because now, two people stood close to her.
Two people who cared.
Two people who were starting to matter in very different ways.
---
As the storm slowly began to fade outside, Group One remained inside the shed, closer than before—but also more complicated than ever.
And somewhere in Daniel's mind, a new thought formed:
Maybe… soon… the box won't be needed anymore.