The locker room was filled with the sounds of showers running, the occasional laughter or chatter of students, and the sharp clanging of metal lockers being shut. The air was thick with humidity, a faint mix of soap and sweat lingering as Yumi stood under the hot spray of water, rinsing away the grueling gym class that had just ended.
She kept her head down, her wet black hair clinging to her pale skin. A dark towel hung on a hook nearby, embroidered with tiny pentagrams she'd stitched on herself. Showers in Hell's high school weren't exactly luxurious, but Yumi didn't mind; it was a moment of solitude, even in a room full of noise.
Her mind wandered to the day's events, the usual chaos of high school life. For once, gym hadn't been completely awful—though the teacher, Ms. Kraktha, had yelled at them all for not running fast enough during laps. Yumi rolled her eyes just thinking about it. The woman was a demon in the worst way possible: strict, bossy, and utterly humorless.
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced up briefly, and her stomach flipped when she saw who it was.
Elnora.
Yumi's crush walked into the showers, her dark, wavy hair pulled up into a messy bun, leaving strands to frame her delicate face. Her slim figure moved with effortless grace, even in something as mundane as entering the locker room showers. She glanced around, her eyes landing briefly on Yumi, and offered a soft smile.
"Hey, Yumi," Elnora said casually as she stepped under the showerhead a few spaces away.
Yumi's throat tightened. "H-Hey," she managed to reply, hoping her voice didn't crack.
Elnora turned the water on, adjusting the temperature before stepping under the spray. Her back was to Yumi, giving her an unobstructed view of her figure as water cascaded over her skin. Yumi felt her face heat up, and it wasn't just from the steam.
Don't stare. Don't stare. Don't stare, Yumi repeated in her head, but her eyes betrayed her, flickering toward Elnora every few seconds.
Elnora turned slightly, catching Yumi mid-glance. "Everything okay?" she asked, her tone light but curious.
Yumi quickly turned away, pretending to scrub her hair. "Yeah, totally fine," she said, a little too quickly.
Elnora chuckled softly, the sound sending a small thrill down Yumi's spine. "You're acting weird," she teased.
"Am not," Yumi muttered, trying to focus on literally anything else.
Elnora shrugged, rinsing the soap from her hair. Yumi couldn't help but notice the way the water glistened on her skin, the way her muscles moved ever so slightly when she raised her arms.
Oh my Satan, get it together, Yumi thought, mentally slapping herself.
After what felt like an eternity, Elnora turned off the water and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around herself. Yumi let out a silent sigh of relief, finally able to breathe again.
"See you in the gym," Elnora said with a playful smile as she walked off.
Yumi nodded, her mouth too dry to reply. Once Elnora was gone, she let her head hit the tile wall in front of her with a soft thud.
"This is torture," she muttered to herself.
By the time Yumi made it to the gym, the students were already gathering around Ms. Kraktha, who stood with her arms crossed and a scowl plastered on her face. The demon gym teacher was tall and imposing, her fiery red hair pulled back into a severe ponytail. Her sharp eyes scanned the group, always looking for someone to yell at.
"Alright, you lazy excuses for demons," Ms. Kraktha barked. "Today we're working on coordination. Pair up and grab a dodgeball. And no slacking, or you'll be running laps until your legs fall off."
The students groaned but complied, scattering to find partners. Yumi glanced around, hoping to avoid pairing with anyone too annoying.
"Yumi!"
She turned to see Elnora waving at her, already holding a bright red dodgeball.
"Want to pair up?" Elnora asked, her smile making Yumi's heart skip a beat.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Yumi replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
They found a spot on the gym floor, standing a few feet apart as they tossed the ball back and forth. Elnora was surprisingly good at aiming, her throws precise and just forceful enough to be challenging.
"You're pretty good at this," Yumi said, catching the ball and tossing it back.
"Thanks," Elnora said, catching it with ease. "You're not bad yourself."
Yumi smirked, deciding to test her. She threw the ball a little harder, watching as Elnora caught it with a quick reflex.
"Is that all you've got?" Elnora teased, her grin widening.
"Oh, it's on now," Yumi said, her competitive side kicking in.
They spent the next several minutes throwing the ball harder and faster, laughing as they tried to outdo each other. For a brief moment, Yumi forgot about the earlier awkwardness in the shower and just enjoyed herself.
"Alright, everyone, stop what you're doing!" Ms. Kraktha's voice boomed across the gym, silencing the students instantly.
She marched over to the group, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed them. "You call that effort? Pathetic! I've seen imps put more energy into this than you lot. Everyone, drop the balls and get in line for sprints. Now!"
The students groaned again but obeyed, forming a line along the wall. Yumi ended up next to Elnora, who rolled her eyes as they waited for their turn.
"She's such a tyrant," Elnora whispered.
Yumi smirked. "That's putting it lightly."
When it was their turn to run, Yumi pushed herself harder than usual, determined not to give Ms. Kraktha any reason to single her out. Elnora kept pace with her, the two of them exchanging glances as they ran.
By the end of gym class, Yumi was exhausted but oddly happy. Elnora had made the whole ordeal more bearable, and despite Ms. Kraktha's constant yelling, Yumi felt like she'd survived another day in Hell's version of high school.
As they headed back to the locker room to change, Elnora nudged Yumi playfully.
"See you later?" Elnora asked, her eyes sparkling.
"Yeah," Yumi replied, her heart doing a little flip. "See you later."
The End of Chapter 10