The tension between Alex and Erza was palpable. The final exam had come and gone, leaving a lingering silence in its wake. Yet, the aftermath was far from peaceful.
A week later, they found themselves in the library, a place that had become their battleground. This time, however, it wasn't a verbal sparring match. They were forced to collaborate on a group project, a cruel twist of fate that had thrown them together.
"I can't believe we're doing this," Erza muttered, her arms crossed.
Alex, equally irritated, replied, "Neither can I. But we have to."
As they began to work, the tension between them was almost tangible. Every glance, every word was charged with unspoken feelings. They argued over the smallest details, their voices rising with each disagreement.
"You're completely wrong!" Erza exclaimed, her face flushed.
"No, *you're* wrong!" Alex countered, his jaw clenched.
And then, something unexpected happened. A sudden burst of laughter erupted from Erza, catching Alex off guard. He looked at her, puzzled.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"You," she replied, wiping tears from her eyes. "You look so serious, like the world is ending."
Alex couldn't help but smile. He had never seen Erza laugh like that before. It was infectious, and soon he was laughing too.
As the hours passed, the tension between them began to dissipate. They found themselves sharing jokes, stories, and even a few secrets. They discovered a shared love of bad puns and a mutual disdain for group projects.
As the night wore on, they realized that they had more in common than they had ever thought. They were both passionate, intelligent, and a little bit crazy. And they were both starting to feel something more than just rivalry.
As they walked out of the library together, the night air was crisp and cool. The city lights twinkled in the distance, casting a magical glow over the campus.
"I guess we're not so bad at working together," Erza said, breaking the silence.
Alex nodded. "Yeah, I guess not."
A moment passed, heavy with unspoken words. Then, Alex blurted out, "Hey, maybe we could do this again sometime... just the two of us."
Erza's heart skipped a beat. She looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Sure," she replied, trying to hide her excitement. "That would be... nice."