Chapter Text
After two weeks of recess, which felt like both too much and too little, it was time to go back to school. Zelda wasn’t necessarily looking forward to it, but it's not like she didn’t do much during her time off anyway. Reading, watching comfort movies, hanging out with Riju, rinse and repeat. With the weather being too cold for certain things, yet not as pretty as a snowy winter, the mid-season always felt slightly depressing. Still, it was nice to get back into a routine. Sure, the weight of expectations could be a hard burden to bear, but school breaks had her feeling a little lost instead.
Lost in thought, she felt someone trap her from behind, taking the air out of her lungs.
“Guess who?”
“Impa!” Zelda exclaimed, immediately hugging her best friend. “You’re back! I missed you so much! How was the trip?
“Missed you too,” she smiled, pulling away. “I’ll tell you all about it later, ‘kay? The bell’s about to ring.”
No matter how silly the situation was, Zelda always felt grateful for their friendship. Even when put in different classes or when Impa left for a while, their reunion made it seem like no time had passed. Saying bye to her, Zelda made her way towards the first class of the day.
Before a single week of the trimester went by, teachers were already exhausted, their patience wearing thin. It was to be expected anyway, and she wondered why they kept getting surprised at her classmates’ poor behavior at that point. The chattering in classroom 312 had become insufferable, making the teacher snap. Those Instances didn’t phase her in the slightest, and she instead stayed quiet but observant from her seat in the first row.
“I’ve had it with you. I can’t believe that you’re making me give you fixed seats at your grown age.” Professor Gorko scoffed, crossing his arms.
He sternly made many people switch places, as per usual, but she was a well behaved student and teachers loved her. She could get away with what others couldn’t, whether that be a late assignment or a bit of chatter with Riju. Of course, she never dared to abuse it. It did, however, give her certitude that she wouldn’t be affected by sanctions like fixed seats.
“Hyule, to the back.” The man commanded, making another girl take Zelda’s place.
Or maybe not.
A complaint stayed at the tip of her tongue. What did she have to do with all of this? She wasn’t the one causing chaos. But making a scene was not an option. So, with pursed lips, she sat down at the back of the room, next to Link. She pretended that she didn’t notice Riju’s amused smile.
She didn’t outright hate him, but her unintentional grimaces and scoffs would have Impa and Riju believe otherwise. For the most part, she managed to forget about his existence. Or at least she would, if it wasn’t for people constantly bringing him up. ‘ Did you see what Link did?’ ‘That boy has a bright future.’ ‘Oh, he always looks so focused and cool!’
So what??
All he did was kick a ball and run around. Not to mention his nonexistent participation in class, his tendency to fall asleep during lectures and that constant silence. In her opinion, it had all gone to his head. The praise, the potential, the admirers– making him think he’s too well-liked to speak or something.
At least, he wouldn’t talk her ear off. That’s for sure.
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“…You will be working in pairs, and I expect you to turn in the completed assignment by the end of the class.”
She had always known it would eventually happen, but that didn’t mean she looked forward to it. As much as she enjoyed M. Gorko’s class, she didn’t get his love for partnering students up for papers that weren't even graded.
Clearing her throat, she turned to Link and opened the history book.
“You can go ahead and answer questions 1 through 3. I’ll take questions 4 and 5, and write on the final copy.”
The boy nodded in response, taking off his earbuds. Zelda had to resist the urge to scoff.
When she had finished the first question, she took a peek at his work. She would’ve done it regardless of who she was working with, but she was curious about how he was doing.
“Can I see?”
“Sure.” He said, handing her his draft.
She stayed quiet, surprising both of them. Her bias seemed to be wrong, and she had no choice but to swallow her words.
“It’s good.”
Turns out, there weren’t as many issues as she first imagined. He did his job, she did hers. It was awkward as all hell, but functional enough.
Or so she thought, for that day.
As time passed, her feelings would only grow more conflicted towards Link. He wasn’t necessarily a nuisance, but he did test her patience. She was having a migraine mid class, and him clicking his pen every few minutes or so next to her wasn’t exactly pleasant.
“Please cut it out.” She groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Her words came out way more annoyed than she intended, and she winced internally. There was no need to be mean, but she spoke without thinking.
“It’s driving me insane. Some of us are trying to pay attention. At least I know I am.”
Link simply nodded in a silent apology, putting the pen down momentarily. Somehow, his lack of real acknowledgment of her anger made her feel worse in a way she couldn’t quite understand.
But that wasn’t something she could reproach him for, was it?