---
Click.
As I stood beside the door, leaning against the wall, the door softly clicked open, making glance at it.
Christina walked out, closing the door behind her.
She halted, looking at , before gesturing for to follow her.
I walked beside her silently before she asked in a soft voice, "...Were you listening?"
"..I didn't an t—"
"Stop lying." She interrupted, glaring at . "..What were you doing close to the door then?"
"...You know," I mumbled, looking at her as we walked through the hallway, "...Your father isn't wrong."
"About what?" She asked, not particularly interested in what I was saying.
"...About not getting a second chance. Sotis things don't work out," I replied, making her halt and turn around, her eyes fixed on .
She walked closer towards , her cherry-like fragrance engulfing .
"Close your eyes," she instructed, her face inches away from .
"...Why?" I asked, doubtfully.
"Just do it." She insisted, taking another step closer. "I won't do anything bad."
"...Okay." I mumbled, closing my eyes gently.
[...You are not ready for this.]
'..What do you a—'
Slap!!
A crisp sound echoed, followed by a dull pain on my left cheek, jolting awake.
"Never say anything like that again." Rubbing my cheek, she whispered softly, glaring at .
"The fuck!?" I cursed, rubbing my cheek as she continued to walk. "What did I do?"
"Don't worry too much." She waved her hand nonchalantly, replying, "That's my love language."
"Beating soone?" I asked, quickly moving beside her, glaring. "What kind of love language is that?"
"You can do that as well if you want; I won't mind," she replied, showing her cheek, her eyes closed while her hands clasped behind her back.
"..No thanks," I grumbled, shaking my head.
Opening her eyes, she smiled softly before she continued, "Anyway, go have so rest now. The competition will start soon."
"Yeah," I agreed, separating from her and moving in a different direction.
"Az." Halting my steps, I looked back as she called .
"What?" I asked, tilting my head.
"...Nothing," she replied, shaking her head before walking away.
...What's with her?
[...Did you not notice?]
'..What?'
[...Any accessories?]
'...I an, she wore earrings and a bracelet.'
[...I see.]
'...What are you mumbling about?'
[... Aren't you going in the wrong direction?]
'Nah, I need to check the stadium first.'
I mused in my thoughts as I walked through the hallway leading towards the opening of the stadium.
The stadium itself is huge, but there were small entrances for teams.
I was just trying to find one of them.
'Huh?'
But as I moved, a group of boys standing in a circle caught my eye.
And well, I recognized all of them.
"What are you guys doing?" I asked, walking towards them, making them turn around.
"Co here." Gesturing for to walk faster, Oliver insisted, and so did Aimar.
Ethan and Chubby also stood beside them. Chubby made way for , but Ethan stood firm.
"Alan?"
Frowning, I mumbled, looking at the young boy standing anxiously, around the age of thirteen, with blue hair like his sister and eyes of the sa color, glaring at .
"Here is your brother-in-law." Patting my shoulder, Oliver said with a wide grin, "You were trying to find him, right?"
"...What happened?" I asked, looking at him as he instinctively stepped back.
"S-stay a-away from my sister!" He stuttered, glaring at while trembling slightly.
"Huh!?" Folding his arms, Oliver bent towards him, asking, "What did you say, you little brat?"
"Who do you think you are?" Aimar did the sa, glaring at him.
"...Father doesn't like you being around her!" Grabbing his pants, he scread, a hostile look on his face, "Stay away from Christina!"
"Aye, Seth, pick up that stone." Pointing towards the decorative stones placed on the side, Oliver ordered.
"The small one?" He asked, confused.
"We are not playing here!! The big one!" Oliver exclaid, glaring at him.
Chubby picked the biggest stone before passing it to him.
"Now, what were you saying?" With a bright smile, Oliver asked, both his hands holding the stone.
"..Where are you going, boy?" Aimar walked behind Alan as he tried to step back. "You aren't going anywhere before getting spanked."
"Aye, Aye, Aimar, don't let your fantasy out," Oliver scolded, looking at him with disgust.
"That's not what I ant!" He rebuked, glaring at him.
"...Sure you don't." Shrugging, Oliver mumbled.
"Anyway, what should we do with him?" His smile returned as he glanced at trembling Alan.
"Can you guys stop bullying the kid?" Ethan chid in, blocking Aimar.
And like he found his savior, Alan hid behind him, grabbing his shirt.
"Don't butt into this, commoner." Aimar growled, his expression turning serious.
"Can you guys stop?" I asked, massaging my temples. "Alan, co here."
"Huh?" Startled, he looked towards in confusion.
"Co here," I repeated my words, making him hesitantly move towards .
As soon as he walked closer, I ssed up his hair.
His body trembled in fear, but I ignored that.
"Don't worry about your sister." I said softly, "For now, do a favor and stay close to your father."
"..Why?" He asked, looking up at .
"Just to be safe." I replied, making him turn around before shooing him away.
"I thought you would join us in bullying him." Oliver comnted, throwing away the stone in his hand, "Like you always bullied him."
"...I thought that as well," Aimar agreed, nodding his head.
"....."
[...You bullied him?]
'..Well, yeah.'
....Christina cares for her brother.
Maybe it's because of the guilt she had for trying to kill him.
She makes sure that he is safe and sound.
She even stopped caring about when I killed her brother.
...That alone is enough to show her love for him.
'I just hope nothing happens to him.'
"Where are you going?" Oliver asked as I started to walk in the opposite direction.
"To have so rest." I replied, waving at them as I moved towards the opening towards the stadium.
"I hate crowded places." I grumbled, looking around the place.
The stadium was circular, with tiered seating that rose steeply, giving everyone a clear view of the ground below.
The seats were rapidly filling with an excited crowd, the air buzzing with anticipation.
Four massive displays hovered in the air above the field, each showing different angles.
'Let's see, the explosion should happen on the north side.'
Rembering the ga's event, I thought, looking at the northern part of the stadium, which was getting filled with the audience.
[...They will die?]
'..Yep.'
And it's not like I can do anything about it. Hysteria organization will use living bombs that are hard to find.
'..Not to ntion, I can't tell anyone...not when my mother is keeping tabs on .'
....Anyway.
The explosion will happen around twelve o'clock.
'...And it's eight fifteen right now.'
...Just after the explosion, they will try to kidnap or Ashlyn.
[...Why her?]
'Are you forgetting that this event was mainly for her?'
...I can't rule out the possibility that she will also be targeted.
Not when it's easy for them to get information about her.
But I know that fucker will make sure to co after .
[That mad scientist?]
....Yeah. I was his favorite toy after all.
...I wish I could rip him apart.
'...But not right now.'
I don't have the strength to kill him, not when he always has soone to protect him.
[..So what's your plan?]
'Well, first I need to finish the competition before twelve.'
...If I could do that, then it will be easy for to survive in a group.
'...But that would be hard to pull off.'
..I can probably win against most of them, but people like—Ethan, Oliver, and Arianell will be a problem.
[..And if you couldn't do that, then what?]
"...Then I will just run towards the strong individuals who can protect ."
I mumbled, shifting my gaze towards the upper part of the stadium where Christina's father sat.
'...But it would be better if I don't force him to protect .'
[...Why?]
...I don't know. I just feel anxious thinking about Alan.
[Why?]
...In the ga, he dies in every route.
If not by my hands, then by so accident or getting caught in sothing that he shouldn't be part of, and in the end, his death is always sohow related to .
His death is what always broke Christina, giving Ethan the chance to get close to her.
....This made wonder, what if his death is inevitable?
Sothing that's important to separate Christina from .
[..So, you will let his father protect him without getting close to them and becoming a burden?]
'....Yeah.'
But I still don't know if that will work or not.
[...Then what about you?]
'...Well, I will just rush towards her.'
My gaze shifted once again as I looked at the young woman with mahogany-colored hair standing with the other teachers.
[...Lauryn?]
"..Yeah." I nodded in agreent as her gaze t mine. Those eyes that held anger before now felt devoid of any emotions.
[...Are you sure?]
"..I don't have any other options."
...Then again.
'....Can I really trust her?'
User Comments
0 comments from readers