The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the school courtyard, casting long shadows across the neatly trimmed grass. Most students had already gone home, but a few lingered—some chatting, others studying beneath the cherry blossom trees. Lelouch Lamperouge sat on a bench near the fountain, one leg crossed over the other, a chessboard resting on the stone surface beside him. His violet eyes flicked up from his book as he sensed someone approaching.

“You’re late,” Lelouch remarked, his signature smirk tugging at his lips as he looked at Mai. “You’re not usually the one to keep me waiting. What happened?”

Mai rolled her eyes, dropping her bag onto the bench with a sigh. “Some underclassmen wouldn’t stop asking me questions about you. Apparently, they think I’m your secret keeper or something.”

Lelouch chuckled, setting his book aside. “You should start charging them for answers. I’d expect nothing less from my best friend.”

She shot him a playful glare before plopping down next to him. “Please, as if you’d ever let me make a profit off your reputation.”

He leaned back, his gaze drifting toward the sky. “Fair point. So, what’s the plan? Are we actually going to study, or should I destroy you in chess again?” He gestured to the board beside him.

Mai raised a brow, crossing her arms. “Again? Pretty sure the last match we played ended in my victory.”

Lelouch scoffed, feigning disbelief. “Revisionist history at its finest. But if you’re so confident, prove it.”

The playful banter between them was nothing new—sharp, teasing, but always laced with the warmth of familiarity. For all his intellect and strategy, Lelouch found comfort in Mai’s presence, a rare constant in his double life.

Little did she know, tonight, he would once again don the mask of Zero, stepping further into the rebellion. But for now, in this moment, he allowed himself to simply be Lelouch, her best friend.