Path of the Extra

Chapter 383: Leo Karumi [17]

”The way you’ve assigned roles to students, classes, and clubs—almost like you tailored them to bring out everyone’s full potential—is picture-perfect. With a setup like this, there’s no room for infighting over mix-ups, and people have stayed happy and motivated these past few days. Normally, by now, a lot of students would start losing that motivation and stop caring about doing their best for the festival...”

Lea kept her eyes on the documents in her hands, reading with a mix of focus and genuine admiration. Leo sat across from her; they’d pushed two tables together and taken over an empty classroom.

It was after school. Lea had asked for a report on what Leo had done so far, and Leo had agreed—hence why they were here. Before coming, he’d practiced piano at the music club, and Lea had stayed behind to finish student council work. The timing worked out.

Instructor Kaya was back, too—though Leo could only see her twice a week now instead of every day. Her brother still couldn’t manage his kids on his own, so Kaya had to pick up the slack.

Leo didn’t mind. There was rarely much she could teach him at this point, but it was still nice to have a professional around—someone who could give precise pointers when it actually mattered, even if that didn’t happen often.

”Not just that,” Lea continued, flipping a page, ”but the way you’ve managed the budget to prevent overspending on resources—and the way you set prices for food and tickets—is really good.”

Leo looked unimpressed. He leaned back and let out a quiet sigh.

”You’re overreacting. Anyone in my position would’ve done the same. Or something close to it.”

”As a middle school student? Doing it the way you did?” Lea snapped her gaze up.

”Absolutely not.”

”You shouldn’t underestimate your fellow students,” Leo said dryly. ”That’s my job.”

Lea didn’t laugh. She brought the documents down onto the table with a firm slap, hands following, eyes locked on him.

”I’m serious. Thanks to you, no one’s losing motivation. You’ve been pulling strings behind the scenes, and everyone has no idea the reason things are going this smoothly is because of your effort.”

Leo’s expression tightened—visible discomfort creeping in.

”I told you. What I did isn’t impressive.”

”But—”

”Enough.” Leo stood.

”If there’s nothing else, we’re done for today. The clubs that use the gym are already closed, but I still want to practice basketball.”

”Eh?” Lea blinked.

”You’re still going to do more today?”

”I am.”

He picked up his side of the table and moved it back where it belonged. Lea quickly got up and helped, lifting the chair and sliding it into place.

Leo headed for the door. Lea followed close behind.

”Don’t you get tired?” she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

”You really should give yourself a break. It isn’t healthy to keep pushing your body like this. Honestly, you should just go home and rest.”

Leo stopped so abruptly Lea had to halt mid-step to avoid colliding with him.

He turned, his eyes narrowing and his voice cold.

”Wasn’t it you who begged for my help and my time? Now you’re asking me to waste even more of it. Aren’t you being awfully selfish?”

Lea pressed her lips together and looked away.

”S-sorry...” she said quietly. ”I was just worried. And I felt a little guilty... that maybe because of me, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”

Leo didn’t soften.

”Whether I push myself too much or not is none of your concern.”

Lea flinched.

”And this—me helping you—is a one-time thing,” he added.

”So don’t get used to it.”

”I... I know.”

Lea’s shoulders sank, sadness flickering across her face, but she seemed to understand. Leo turned back, opened the door—

—and nearly walked into a girl with twin-tails, hand raised as if she’d been about to knock.

The moment she saw Leo’s stare, she froze, went pale, and took an instinctive step back.

”Ah... u-um...”

Leo looked at her for a second, then sighed.

”What do you want, Class Rep?”

”Class rep?” Lea peeked out from behind him, curious.

The girl suddenly bowed so deeply it startled both of them.

”I-I went to the music club,” she blurted. ”But you weren’t there anymore.”

”Why were you looking for me? And raise your head.”

”I... I wanted to thank you—on behalf of our whole class...!”

Leo blinked, not following.

”...For what?”

Still bent forward, she at least lifted her eyes—determination shining through her nerves.

”A-a few days ago, after you left—after you pointed out the disadvantages of a haunted house without a theme—we didn’t know what to do. Honestly, even up until today, we’ve been struggling. We barely made any progress with costumes.” She inhaled.

”But today members of the cosplay club came and said they were here to help us—free of charge!”

’Oh. That.’

”I see,” Leo said. ”Good for you. But what does that have to do with thanking me?”

She didn’t let him dodge it.

”They... they said you went to them a few days ago and asked them to help our class!”

Leo didn’t respond.

”And they said you knew the club would be disbanded after this year because they were one member short,” the class rep continued, voice trembling with excitement now. ”So you promised to sign up as a ghost member—just to give them another year!”

”...!”

Lea’s eyes went wide. Her head snapped toward Leo.

Leo stared at the class rep without expression.

Certainly his plan was smart. The cosplay club only had four members—tiny, obscure, and set to be disbanded at the start of next year for failing to meet the minimum requirement of five. But if Leo signed up at the last second—even as a ghost member—it would keep them alive for another year. In exchange, he’d gain four highly efficient people who were skilled at making costumes, motivated, and grateful enough to help his class for free.

Still, the act itself seemed unbelievable to anyone who knew him.

Leo glanced down the hallway. At one corner, he caught multiple heads peeking out.

His classmates.

They’d followed the class rep.

The moment they noticed Leo looking, they tried to duck away. It was a futile attempt—almost comical.

’Did they seriously stay this long after school hours?’

Leo looked back at the class rep and scratched the back of his head.

”Fine,” he said.

”I accept your gratitude. Now stop bowing, gather the others, and go home.”

Her eyes held that same grateful, admiring shine as she nodded—then bowed again anyway.

”Seriously, thank you,” she said. ”You saved us!”

”I get it,” Leo replied, already waving her off.

”Leave.”

She finally turned and hurried toward the corner where the others were hiding.

Immediately, Leo heard muffled excitement—high-fives, relieved sighs—followed by hurried footsteps as the group finally left.

Leo sighed again, longer this time, and stared at the empty hallway like it had personally offended him.

”...Why did you help them?”

Leo stood in the doorway, half-turned back toward the classroom. Lea remained inside, head lowered, keeping her expression hidden from him.

”...Because it’s my job,” Leo said evenly. ”You made me captain of the festival committee, and I promised I’d help. Besides, we’re leaving this school soon anyway. I don’t lose anything by doing it.”

”But... why?”

Leo tilted his head slightly.

’Again with this.’

”I told you why.”

”No.” Lea’s voice was steady, but soft. ”I mean why you accepted to help me in the first place.”

”...”

”Just now—and earlier—you dodged praise you actually earned, like you genuinely believe you don’t deserve it, even though you do. Then you say you’re not kind...” Her voice tightened. ”But you keep doing things like this.”

A smile tugged at Leo’s mouth, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He scoffed.

”This again? Seriously, it’s never enough for you, is it? Instead of being so overly curious and picking at me, just be grateful I’m helping and let it go. I’m not some puzzle for you to solve.”

”...”

Leo shook his head.

”If that’s all, I’m leaving.”

He turned and took a step—

—and then her voice came again, quieter, thinner, fragile enough that he almost missed it.

”I’m sick.”

Leo stopped cold.

He turned back. Lea still wasn’t looking up. Her fists were clenched so tight they trembled.

”...What do you mean you’re sick? Like... you have a fever?”

Lea shook her head. Then she lifted her gaze just a little and gave him a small, melancholic smile while her eyes were heavy with something like resignation.

”I have fibromyalgia,” she said. ”It’s a chronic pain condition.”

Leo’s eyes widened slowly.

”Believe it or not, before middle school I was homeschooled. I’ve had it since I was six...”

”Is... Is there a cure?”

She shook her head, unfortunately.

”There isn’t. But I’ve gotten much better at managing it. That’s why my parents finally let me go to middle school.”

”...I see.”

Lea watched him with a wry smile.

”Honestly, this is the first time I’ve told anyone. No one knows except my parents, the principal, and a few teachers. I guess I didn’t want anyone else to know... precisely because of the face you’re making.”

It was only natural. Even Leo—despite all his faults—couldn’t help the pity that crept into his expression.

”...It’s just weird seeing you like that,” Lea said, then giggled.

”So please don’t make that face.”

”...Sorry.”

She giggled softly again.

”Now you look apologetic.”

Leo struggled. For the first time in a long while, he genuinely didn’t know what to say—what expression to wear, or even how to stand without looking awkward.

”At least it’s refreshing to see,” Lea added.

Leo exhaled and forced himself to speak.

”Why are you telling me—of all people?”

Lea looked down again. When she answered, her tone was mellow.

”I suppose... I wanted you to understand me better.”

”...”

”All my life I’ve lived with constant pain. It’s more manageable now, but before... I couldn’t sleep, and I couldn’t get out of bed. And even when I did sleep, I still woke up exhausted and hurting. Light, sound, touch—everything bothered me. Hot, cold—it didn’t matter. It all hurt.”

Her arm shook as she held it, whether from the cold or from whatever she was keeping down.

”I couldn’t do the things other kids could. Play outside. Learn things normally. Have hobbies. I was... envious. And I was angry. Why do I have to suffer this much? It’s unfair.”

She continued.

”I think that’s why I’m always so curious. Because I missed so much, and I want to make up for it. And even now—after finally getting to be in middle school, making friends, studying... it still isn’t enough for me. It’ll never feel like enough, because I never know when a bad flare will hit again and I’ll lose everything all over.”

Her voice cracked, like fragile porcelain.

”It scares me. I’m really scared. I hate it. And even now, I’m in pain—but if it gets worse...” She inhaled shakily. ”I don’t want to leave behind everything I built. I don’t want to be alone in bed again, hurting all the time. That’s why I’m desperate to make the most of everything.”

Then she looked at him gently.

”And I can’t help it, but when I look at you... you remind me of myself.” Her eyes held his.

”I don’t know why. But I do know this: you’re chasing something desperately too, aren’t you? You say you don’t know why you act like you hate everyone... but it’s because you want something so badly that you’re willing to isolate yourself for it. Right?”

Leo pressed his lips together.

Lea continued, quieter but certain.

”Not just today. I’ve seen it a lot. Nathan’s told me too. You skip lunch, stay late for practice, push through when you look like you could fall asleep standing up because you haven’t slept properly.” She paused. ”There’s one thing you’re always dedicated to, no matter what. The piano.”

Leo stared at the floor for a moment.

”Yeah,” he said finally.

”You’re right.”

Lea looked surprised—like she hadn’t expected him to admit it so easily.

”Can...” she hesitated, then asked, ”can I ask why?”

Leo thought for a moment. Then he answered.

”I have to create the perfect piece.”

Lea’s eyes widened.

”You... have to?”

Leo nodded.

”...But isn’t ’perfect’ subjective?” she asked carefully.

”Maybe,” Leo said.

”But until it feels perfect to me... I won’t stop.”

”Why...?” Lea’s voice softened, then she seemed to catch herself. She looked down.

”Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Leo shook his head.

”It’s fine.”

”...I’m sorry for burdening you with all this. I just—”

”It’s alright.”

Leo looked at her again, his expression having changed, becoming subtler, softer.

”I understand why you told me,” he said. ”And I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

Lea stared at him for a few seconds. Then she nodded.

”Thanks... I should go.”

Leo stepped aside. Lea passed him and started down the hall.

Leo watched her back. He hesitated.

’So she’s in pain even now...’

What... a cruel life.

He made up his mind and called out,

”Memories.”

Lea stopped and turned around, confused.

”It’s different from you. But... I wanted to create something like that too. Precious memories. Or at least see if I’m capable of it.”

Lea’s eyes widened—then softened.

She gave him a smile that was both sweet and sad.

”Then... I really hope we both make memories we’ll never forget.”