My Wife Rules The World

Noah pulled Leon down the hallway, moving fast enough that Leon nearly tripped trying to keep up.

"Noah, seriously, where are we going?"

"You'll see. Just come on."

They took the stairs down two at a time, Noah still gripping Leon's wrist. The first floor hallway was empty at this hour. Noah led them past the main cafeteria toward a smaller common room at the back of the building.

The door was closed. Noah stopped in front of it.

"Okay, before we go in—"

The door burst open. Emma stood there with an exasperated expression. "Noah, you're late. We've been waiting for—oh, hey Leon."

"What's going on?"

Emma grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "Happy birthday, idiot."

The common room had been decorated. Streamers hung from the ceiling, balloons in the corners, and a table against the far wall held food and drinks. A banner stretched across one wall: "Happy Birthday Leon."

Jay was there, along with Ludwig and Ethan from Leon's class. A few other D4 students Leon recognized. Even Krai stood off to the side, looking uncomfortable but present.

"Surprise," Noah said from behind him, grinning.

Leon stared. "You... when did you..."

"Been planning it all day," Emma said. "Figured you could use something positive."

"And you turn nineteen today," Jay added. "Can't let that pass."

Leon had completely forgotten about his birthday.

"I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything," Noah said, pushing him toward the food table. "Just eat."

The table had pizza, sandwiches, chips, soda in glass bottles. At the center sat a slightly lopsided cake, clearly homemade.

"Who made the cake?" Leon asked.

Emma raised her hand. "It's not great. But it's edible."

The next hour passed easily. Just eating, talking, joking around. People deliberately steered away from serious topics. The atmosphere felt almost normal.

Around 1:00 AM, Noah pulled out a small wrapped package.

"Okay, presents time."

Leon unwrapped it. A portable phone charger and a compact first aid kit.

"The charger should last a few days," Noah said. "And the first aid kit has the basics."

"Thank you."

Emma gave him a waterproof notebook and a quality pen. "For taking notes. Won't get ruined if it gets wet."

Jay handed over a multi-tool kit. Ludwig gave him a water bottle with a filter. Ethan contributed high-calorie food bars. Another student gave him a small compass.

Krai approached last, holding something wrapped in plain paper. "I wasn't planning to come. But Noah was persistent."

He handed it over. "Open it later."

Leon pocketed it, nodding thanks.

They cut the cake around 1:30 AM. It was chocolate, slightly dry but tasted fine. Emma had attempted to write "Happy 19th" in frosting, but it had run together.

"Artistic license," she declared when Noah pointed it out.

People started leaving around 2:00 AM. Emma hugged Leon. "Try not to stress too much. You're smarter than most people here."

Jay clasped his shoulder. "See you around. Good luck."

Soon it was just Leon and Noah, cleaning up.

"Thank you for this," Leon said. "I'd completely forgotten about my birthday."

"I know. You're terrible at remembering things about yourself." Noah grabbed the last decorations. "But everyone needs something good sometimes."

Back in their room, Leon opened Krai's gift. A folding knife, well-made, and a note: "For cutting rope, preparing food, or whatever else you need. Don't lose it. - K"

"What is it?" Noah asked.

"A knife. From Krai."

"That's surprisingly generous."

Leon set it on his desk carefully.

They got ready for bed. Leon set his alarm for 7:00 AM.

"Hey Leon?" Noah said from his bed.

"Yeah?"

"Happy birthday."

"Thanks, Noah."

Leon closed his eyes and let sleep come.

Registration happened the following morning. The process was straightforward—scan your ID, confirm your CPP count, acknowledge the terms.

Twenty-one CPP locked. Forty-seven remaining.

Classes continued but the atmosphere had changed. Everyone was distracted. Leon spent time in the library reading about survival and first aid. Noah maintained basketball practice but they ran together in the mornings too.

Group assignments came a week before departure. Leon checked: Group 7. Noah was there and Krai. Ludwig and Ethan were in Group 5. Jay was in Group 6 & Emma in Group 1.

Location details arrived three days later. Group 7 would go to a mountainous forest region. Dense woods, rocky terrain, a river system, elevation changes up to 500 meters.

The night before departure, Leon packed methodically. Clothing, waterproof jacket, first aid kit, multi-tool, water bottle, food bars, Krai's knife, phone and charger. Everything fit into the provided backpack.

He looked at the bracelet on his wrist & thought about taking it off, leave it safe, but in the end decided to keep it on.

Noah packed across the room, double-checking everything.

"I keep thinking about the thirty percent elimination rate," Noah said. "That's thirty people per group."

"Yeah."

"We just have to make sure we're in the seventy."

They finished packing. Leon set his bag by the door. Buses left at 6:00 AM.

He lay in bed, knowing sleep would be difficult.

"Leon?" Noah said from the darkness.

"Yeah?"

"We're going to be okay. Right?"

Leon stared at the ceiling. "I don't know. But we'll do our best."

"Yeah. Okay."

Silence settled. Outside, distant city sounds continued.

Tomorrow morning, they'd board a bus.

Leon closed his eyes.

Sleep came eventually.