Liza: "Yo, Senpai, this is so embarrassing."
Akira and Liza stood close to each other after leaving the train, advancing toward the place where Cleo was supposed to be waiting.
Akira held his plastic umbrella high. He hadn't even used it earlier—he'd just rushed through the snow to find Ota as fast as possible. Now he tried to cover both Liza and himself with it, shielding them from the falling snow.
Liza: "You know... people could start to think we... we're together, you know?"
She looked up at him with a hopeful yet embarrassed expression.
Akira: "I don't care what people think. And I doubt the surrounding people care that much about us either, Liza."
Being slightly taller, he smiled down at her happily.
Liza turned her gaze elsewhere, flustered.
Liza: "Happy Senpai. Just what I needed. I wonder if you're happy because we helped the 'Pops'..."
There was a hint of irritation in Akira's tone.
Akira: "Nishioka. Mister Ni-shi-o-ka, Liza."
Liza: "Bah! That's why I don't like superheroes like you sometimes, Senpai. You're too good for regular people like me!"
Akira: "I don't think you're 'regular', Liza."
Liza blushed again.
Liza: "Ha... sweet talker, always knows what to—"
Cleo Williams interrupted them by seemingly jumping out of the crowd of moving people. She had a small knitted pink cap on her head, in addition to her regular outfit.
Cleo: "Liza! Akira..."
A look of happiness and disappointment crossed her face as she watched their closeness.
Liza rushed forward and gave her a quick hug.
Liza: "Cleo! Sweet Jesus Christ! Let me look at you."
Carefully examining Cleo's face, she saw it wasn't as badly hurt as in Dreamscape. Her hair didn't cover half of her face like before, and Liza tried to take in her whole face. Cleo only had a small bruise near her lips and a dried wound that stretched from her lower lip to her chin. A short one.
Liza: "Merlina said you'd be fine only because her healing reached you in time! I can't believe you just charged toward that beast without thinking!"
Cleo: "You don't need to shout, Liza..."
Akira stepped closer to them.
Akira: "You can always pretend you're talking about video games."
Cleo shyly tried to greet him.
Cleo: "Hello, Mister Yamauchi."
Akira: "Cleo, please. I'm so glad your face isn't badly injured. I'm not your mentor or anything—call me Akira, like you always do."
Cleo pressed her bruised lip gently.
Liza narrowed her eyes with a foxy expression.
Liza: "I know what this is all about..."
Akira: "What do you mean, Liza?"
Liza: "Girl secrets, Senpai. You go ahead without us. We need to talk. Girl business, alright?"
She turned her gaze to Cleo.
Cleo stood there, eyes wide, as if she were about to spill everything. Then she glanced back at Liza and nodded like she was agreeing to some kind of pact.
Akira: "You guys can take the umbrella..."
Liza: "What are you talking about, Senpai? You're the one not wearing a hat! This weather is insane. So is your country! Just go forward and lead the way. I need to have a few words with my 'sister' here."
Cleo looked slightly offended.
She whispered, just like she did in the Dreamscape.
Cleo: "Not fair, Liza."
Liza hissed back.
Liza: "I told you it's not like that, Cleo!"
Cleo: "Liza... Meanie!"
Liza: "Oh, sweet Mama Teresa..."
She paused.
Liza: "Look, you know Merlina's watching over us in the Dreamworld, right? You can see her in your head right now, yeah?"
Cleo nodded, trying her best to believe her story.
Liza: "Merlina would never lie to you. Especially not for my sake! I'm her natural enemy, and you're the Light of Shmeavens, or whatever she calls you in the Dreamscape. Just ask her!"
Cleo: "You mean... ask her what happened between you two?"
She shot a glance at Akira, then back to Liza.
Liza's eyes widened in comical anger.
Liza: "You dummy! Nothing happened! All we've done is help 'Pops'!"
She caught Akira's judging gaze.
Liza: "Turn around, silly Senpai! Girls' talk is not for your ears!"
Akira chuckled lightly and turned to walk ahead.
Liza: "So, like I said... You can just ask Merlina right now if I'm telling the truth or not!"
Cleo: "But you know her better than I..."
Liza: "Dummy, holy roller girl! I've known her one day longer! Twenty-four hours, you little plushie!"
She tried to slip under Cleo's arms and tickle her.
Cleo giggled, her annoyed expression fading instantly.
Cleo: "Ha-ha, stop it, Liza, that tickles!"
Liza: "Ask Merlina or I'll tickle you to death, sister!"
Cleo: "I don't need to ask her... I think... I think you're telling me the truth. But you're still... a meanie, Liza."
Liza: "Oh, so that's how it is!"
She tickled Cleo even more fiercely.
The road to RIU was a short one for a company like theirs; they walked until they spotted a group of students standing near the monument of a woman holding a sword.
Sid Naughton was there with his little band of hooligans. Even though Akira, Liza, and Zhenzhen had banished any evil presence from them not long ago, they were already stirring up more trouble. They'd surrounded a familiar-faced student with ginger hair.
Sid: "Hey, friend, how about you give us some points? We're in need, if you know what I mean."
They had him in a semicircle, blocking the path as they tried to prevent him from passing.
Joshua: "What do you mean I need to give you my points? Are they even tradable? Nobody said anything to me before..."
Cleo spotted the poor fellow and instantly rushed toward him, shielding him just like she'd shielded her friends in the Dreamscape that very night.
Sid narrowed his eyes irritably.
Sid: "Williams..."
Akira and Liza weren't far behind, trying to keep up with Cleo.
Akira stepped forward, placing himself right in front of Cleo. Liza stood at his side.
People in a hurry, or just RIU students, passed by—some slowed down, watching them like it was a street fight about to break out. A few of them turned their phone cameras toward the group, trying to catch the moment.
Akira gave Sid's group a narrow-eyed stare of his own.
Akira: "You people didn't learn your lesson the first time."
Sid blinked, puzzled. His voice trembled slightly, and his hand dropped below his waist, as if shielding his private area.
Sid gulped.
Sid: "You!"
Liza moved forward, bypassing Akira, certain of their superior position.
Liza: "Not so brave now, bully-boy, ha!"
She raised her leg as if preparing for a dramatic kick.
Sid and his crew didn't look too happy about that gesture, jolting back.
Liza: "Now listen closely, losers. If I ever hear you say ANYTHING bad to Cleo Williams again, I'm not gonna go easy on you like Akira here. I'll kung fu you so hard, you'll forget your name and your grandma's face!"
Akira cackled behind her, raising a hand to his brow.
Akira: "I didn't know you knew kung fu, Liza."
Liza blushed, spinning to face him.
Liza: "I-It's because we don't know each other that long, Senpai! But you will. One day I'll show you too... Heh."
Akira: "Need to take some lessons from you, then."
He smiled warmly.
Liza mumbled under her breath, embarrassed.
Liza: "Goofball..."
Cleo and Joshua stepped up beside them.
Joshua Abelman spread his arms wide in a loose, awkward gesture.
Joshua: "Hey guys, I hope you're not starting a fight over little old me. It's all just a misunderstanding..."
Akira glanced at him.
Akira: "Hello, Joshua! First time I'm hearing about this. What points were they trying to take again?"
Joshua: "Well... It's about the 'Rules of Nature' trial. You know—the university challenge."
Akira's Mind: "They're calling it a challenge, huh? They don't get that my father and Miss Walker were completely serious about it."
Akira turned back to Sid and his gang.
Akira: "So you want those points for yourselves?"
Sid gulped again.
Sid: "Well, yeah... We skipped yesterday's lectures, and now our points are in the negative. Every activity you do at RIU counts toward your points. You guys should check yours too, just in case... haha..."
He sounded pathetic. Once proud and mighty, now he stood outnumbered by two guys and two girls.
Liza: "You better get out of here before you earn another minus. Right in the face, nerd!"
Sid's eyes twitched, reflecting his wounded pride. You could read it in his eyes: "N-n-nerd?!"
Cleo stood in front of Joshua, striking a funny pose as if she were still holding her Dreamscape weapons—short sword and shield.
Cleo: "Don't worry, Mister Joshua. We can handle it!"
She said it like a police officer in hot pursuit of hooligans.
Joshua: "Oh, you don't have to call me 'Mister'. We didn't introduce ourselves, by the way..."
Adorable as he was, Akira and the two girls flanking him weren't joking. Maybe a few days ago, they were just regular people. But now, they had inherited the power of their manifestations. And just like Akira had used his 'Bravery' during his first official visit to RIU as a newbie student, now both girls stood beside him, looking like Valkyries.
Cleo the Paladin and Liza the Witch. Ready to unleash their power—not physically, but mentally—they were up to any danger.
Liza hissed at them loudly.
Liza: "Buzz off, clowns!"
Cleo was not far away, trying to look as bossy as her bestie.
Cleo: "I-I... I'm okay if you're trying to bully me, Sid! But for my friends, I will stand till the end!"
She sounded so adorable that a girl who was taking a video stopped recording her and started to applaud.
Sid grimaced, and both he and his minions chuckled nervously before turning away and heading toward RIU.
Liza beamed at Cleo while whispering to her.
Liza: "We showed them, sister!"
Cleo stood there, watching Sid go, then faced Liza as well.
Cleo: "Y-yeah!"
She adorably threw her hand up, clutching her little fist.
To Akira's impression, he wasn't a big fan of magical girl animation shows, but these two stood right in front of him, glowing just like ones.
Liza struck a power pose.
Liza: "Nobody stays in our way! Soul Sisters! Any bully-boy wants a piece of us, bring it on!"
Cleo adorably continued as Liza's sidekick.
Cleo: "Y-yeah!"
Now she threw her second hand toward the sky.
"Who're Soul Sisters?!"
"Maybe it's a new club?! Wow!"
"This girl showed that dude who's boss!"
The girls watching the show, not far away behind, started gossiping.
Akira got close to Liza and let out a whisper for her and Cleo's ears only.
Akira: "Not bad, Liza. Merlina and you could start your own brand in the real world. Boys, beware—We Soul Sisters! Whoosh!"
He parodied her at the last part.
Liza suddenly felt embarrassed, along with Cleo. Only now did they realise they were standing surrounded by a crowd of lazy onlookers—some of whom still held their phones up, recording their every move.
Liza: "Forget I said anything, Senpai. Let's... let's hurry to RIU. Let's go, Cleo!"
She took her friend by the hand and dashed forward.
A moment later, Liza and Cleo walked just ahead of Akira and Joshua, their faces red as plums.
Dramatically covering his mouth, Joshua leaned toward Akira.
Joshua: "So... what's up with them?"
Akira didn't bother to whisper, stating the whole truth while following the girls.
Akira: "Fame is a prison, after all."
He added with a sly grin.
Liza: "Stupid Senpai! What are you saying? How was I supposed to know there were a bunch of people recording us?!"
Akira chuckled.
Akira: "You could've just watched your surroundings, Liza."
Liza sighed with a pout.
Liza: "Stupid Senpai..."
Joshua faintly laughed.
Joshua: "Sorry I dragged you into that, Lizaveta."
Liza glanced back at him.
Liza: "Using my full name like it's a noble title... Hi, by the way, Joshua."
Joshua: "I just like how it sounds. No offence taken, I hope?"
Joshua always spoke with extreme politeness, though with a bit of spice. Wearing the same RIU uniform as the others, he tagged along with his little document case, similar to Akira's.
Liza: "I think I need to ask those girls to delete that embarrassing video."
Akira: "What do you mean? You were striking! All the boys—look out, Soul Sisters are on the move!"
Cleo blushed even harder, trying to hide behind her tousled blonde hair.
Liza hissed at him without looking back.
Liza: "Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid... Senpai!"
Joshua: "Miss Williams, right? I wanted to thank you. Although I think I could've handled the situation, your act was very brave! Are you from a different group than us? Strange how things are now... we're supposed to be enemies, not literally, I mean. As far as I understand it, we all have to work hard to stay at RIU till the end of the year."
Cleo shyly turned her head like a doll and gave him a small wave without much enthusiasm.
Akira softly shook his head.
Akira: "What do you think about all this, Joshua? Do you realise that anyone who fails will be expelled? It's not a game."
Joshua: "Well, I figured that... but I thought maybe there's a way around it. Like avoiding those 'rules' somehow."
Akira: "Very optimistic. But he meant it literally—'rules of nature'. Eat or be eaten. Sadly, my father was quite serious about that rubbish."
Joshua: "Wait, you mean you really are that politician's son?"
Akira scolded himself inwardly—he'd promised not to mention it. But the truth was bound to come out eventually.
Akira: "Well... I thought you'd figured that out already."
Joshua: "I only knew your name! So, you're famous, Akira!"
Akira: "Yeah... famous. Like a ghost haunting these parts of the city."
Liza: "Or like a ghost who whines too much, Senpai..."
Akira grimaced with a faint smile, gazing at the back of Liza's head.
Joshua pulled out his phone, eyes widening as he checked the screen.
Joshua: "We're so late, guys! It's 8:05!"
They were right in front of the gates, where Zhenzhen stood waiting with arms crossed.
Akira dashed up and gave him a firm handshake.
Akira: "Zhen! Everything alright?"
Zhenzhen looked up and smiled calmly.
Zhenzhen: "As you can see, Akira. How's Cleo?"
Akira: "Liza and I checked—she's got a small bruise and a dried cut, but it's much smaller than in Dreamscape."
Zhenzhen nodded politely. Liza, Cleo, and Joshua followed closely behind.
Liza: "Sup, Zhenzhi! Hope 'Senpai' lightened up your mood—he's on fire this morning!"
Akira: "Very funny, Liza..."
Joshua: "Oh, hi there. I think we've met before, no? You're also from a different group?"
Zhenzhen gave him a small bow.
Zhenzhen: "Zhenzhen Mao."
Joshua blinked, slightly stunned by the formality.
Joshua: "Oh. I'm Joshua... Joshua Abelman. Let's be good mates."
He extended his hand, but Zhenzhen simply bowed again.
Akira hesitated.
Akira: "Hard to explain, Joshua, but he's not from around here..."
Joshua: "Yeah, but you shook his hand just now."
Zhenzhen: "No offence, Joshua Abelman. There's a particular connection between me and Akira."
Liza cut in with her most theatrical smirk yet.
Liza: "Boy's love, ho-ho!"
Akira: "You've got no shame, Liza..."
Liza: "Right back at ya, Senpai."
Zhenzhen shook his head in quiet disappointment, like a teacher scolding a mischievous child.
Cleo stepped forward while Zhenzhen studied her face closely.
Zhenzhen: "I'm glad you're not seriously injured, Cleo Williams."
Cleo nodded.
Cleo: "Hello again, Zhenzhen."
Zhenzhen: "Your council president is waiting for us... with a graverobber."
Joshua blinked.
Joshua: "Injured...? Graverobber?! Are you guys joining some occult club or—"
Akira cut in quickly, trying to backpedal.
Akira: "Something like that. Uh... video games! Yeah."
He was a terrible actor.
Liza: "Well, like they say, you can't be good at everything. Senpai got us hooked on video games, and now look at us—talking like a bunch of weirdos! Ha!"
Compared to Akira, her performance was Oscar-worthy.
Joshua: "Seriously? I'd never have guessed you guys are gamers."
Liza: "Yet here we are! Senpai's terrible at them. I'm the best, by the way!"
Akira chuckled, covering his mouth with his fist. He gave Liza a long look, not to scold, but with a glint that said thank you. Or so Liza believed.
All of them entered RIU once again.
Akira: "You're not bothered by the weather?"
Joshua: "Not quite, although it is an anomaly and a strange one to the least. Never thought I would witness something like that happening."
A light snowfall was falling just outside the university's glass front door.
Liza snorted comically.
Liza: "Merry Christmas, Japan!"
Cleo looked at her like she was an alien.
Liza: "What?"
Cleo: "But it's not Christmas, Liza. It's still September!"
Liza gave her a narrow-eyed stare, slowly lowering her head.
Liza: "Thanks for the info, sister..."
Akira and Joshua giggled on either side of the girls. Even Zhenzhen couldn't hold back a grin—Liza was just too funny.
Mia Walker stood right in front of the schedule desk, discussing something with her mother. Surprisingly, Igor Blinov stood there among them too, arms crossed. Right then, he spotted Akira and his friends and gave him his usual snake smirk.
Akira and his companions got closer to check the schedule desk.
Mia faced him, notifying him with her firm tone.
Mia: "Late, Yamauchi!"
Kaitlyn Walker: "Don't lecture him like that, girl! You know whose son he is."
She'd been discussing something with Igor, and Mia right before Akira approached, now facing all of them as well.
Kaitlyn Walker: "You are a little late today, Mister Yamauchi. Let's hope it doesn't become a habit."
Kaitlyn Walker was dressed in a sleek red business suit with a grey knee-length skirt and white high heels. Wearing square glasses just like Mia, she addressed her daughter.
Akira politely bowed to her, placing his palm on his chest.
Akira: "Greetings, Miss Walker."
Kaitlyn Walker was one of those people who always praised other people's children, so she couldn't resist this time either.
She faced Mia again, standing behind her.
Kaitlyn Walker: "You see? That's what people call politeness, Mia! Todo always said his son ran away from him, but here he is—a cooperative and independent person! You should learn while you can to stand on your own two feet. Just like him."
Mia reluctantly nodded.
Mia: "Like you say, Mother."
Walker's mother turned back to Akira.
Kaitlyn Walker: "Well, anyway, since it's your first mistake so far, it's acceptable. Don't think that'll be permanent, though. If you want to be in the winner group, you need to start impressing people here. Join a club, be successful in sports, or take part in any kind of positive activity. If you continue to be late like this, it'll be minus points for you. No exceptions—is that clear? You included, Mister Yamauchi."
She held one arm while raising the other, a long-nailed finger pointing up.
Liza grimaced and mumbled under her breath.
Liza: "Just like Merlina said—talk about 'pompous' people..."
Cleo almost giggled but held herself back, blinking twice as hard, gazing at Madam Walker.
Joshua overheard her, and the look in his eyes clearly said: "Who's Merlina?" But he kept silent.
Almost all of them nodded politely to her, as if she were the Empress of the facility, scolding her servants for not serving dinner at the proper time.
Kaitlyn Walker: "Check your schedule quickly, and be off to your lectures. Blinov, we are not done here. I'm expecting results, not your excuses."
Igor smirked at her with his usual evil smile.
Igor: "I'll always achieve results, you can be sure, Ma'am."
Kaitlyn Walker: "Hmph."
She turned her head and set off, wearing the expression of a royal cat who was leaving a stray dog behind, only tolerating him because he might have something of value for her in the future.
She moved closer to the security guard and whispered something. He quickly nodded and tried to stand, but she gestured for him to stay seated. She left right after, leaving more than five pairs of eyes watching her go.
Igor: "Boo... Spooky."
Only one person seemed brave enough to try and break the silence left behind by Miss Walker.
Zhenzhen glared at him.
Zhenzhen: "Graverobber."
Igor: "Oh, bold one—my only weakness... Not again!"
He dramatically raised his long, muscular arms, then shifted expression in a flash, smirking again.
Igor: "Duh, just kidding. So, how's the big guy treating you..."
He fixed his gaze on Cleo, eyeing the side of her face where a bruise remained.
Igor: "Ah... Holy-one got hit by a truck, it seems..."
Liza: "Shut it... Onion!"
She pointed her long finger at him.
Igor: "Ha-ha! Onion?! Look who's talking—Edge Princess. Nice power pose, by the way. Sailor Moon would blush—along with all her magical girls!"
While he talked, he pulled a huge phone from his pocket—nearly the size of a tablet—and showed them a video of Liza standing by the monument, bragging about 'Soul Sisters'.
Igor whistled.
Igor: "Twenty thousand views and still climbing. We've got ourselves a superstar!"
Mia: "Give me that..."
She tried to snatch his phone away.
Igor: "Hey, you've got yours. I mean... I could give you mine—but only for a little smooch..."
Mia blushed like a chili pepper and abandoned her attempts.
Akira stepped forward.
Akira: "We need to talk."
Igor shrugged, still standing beside Mia, who now looked murderously annoyed.
Igor: "We're talking right now, pretty boy... Oh, you mean about that case. Well, it's Mia's call, not mine. I'm just the hired muscle."
Mia hissed at him.
Mia: "Can you hold your tongue, idiot?!"
Joshua narrowed his eyes at Igor and muttered.
Joshua: "Hired muscle?"
Then he turned to Zhenzhen.
Joshua: "Also—did I hear it right? You called him a graverobber?"
Zhenzhen glanced over calmly.
Zhenzhen: "You probably misheard. I didn't say anything."
Joshua didn't buy it, but let it go.
Joshua: "If you say so..."
Mia: "Williams. Come closer."
Cleo hesitated, then slowly stepped forward.
Liza hissed at her.
Liza: "Silly! Don't go near her. Four-eyes'll curse you or something."
Mia: "Stop muttering, Pavlenko. I just need to talk to her."
To clueless Joshua, this looked like some bizarre theatre. He had a gut feeling something was off with all of them, but couldn't place what. He noticed Cleo's bruise but didn't consider it came from anything supernatural, like, say, a giant dream monster.
Akira and Liza moved almost in unison beside Cleo, with Zhenzhen following. She stepped toward Mia as if hypnotised, though she clearly wasn't.
Mia: "Let me look at her."
Liza: "Not gonna happen, Four-eyes..."
Mia glared.
Mia: "Pavlenko..."
Akira got closer to her.
Akira: "We need to play this off as a game conversation—or we need to get Joshua out of here."
Mia nodded sharply.
Mia: "Abelman, proceed to your lecture now. We need to discuss urgent business."
Joshua startled.
Joshua: "Oh—sorry, am I interrupting something?"
He looked at them like they were about to summon Satan and wanted no part of it.
Igor stepped in.
Igor: "Nothing serious, orange nugget. Just like Mia said—be on your way, and all's fine."
Mia hissed.
Mia: "I said shut up! What's your problem?!"
Palms up, Igor smirked and shrugged in response to her.
Akira gave him a death stare, then turned to Joshua in a normal tone.
Akira: "Sorry, Joshua. It's about yesterday in the gardens—it's connected to my father. Family business. We'll follow after."
Joshua: "Ah. Alright."
He sensed something was happening, but was polite enough to leave it be. He blinked a few times and followed the path toward morning classes.
Mia returned to inspecting Cleo's face, reaching toward the dried wound at her lips.
Liza: "Hands off her!"
She batted Mia's hand away.
Mia: "Did your mother never teach you not to grab people like that... troglodyte?"
Liza glared menacingly. Mia rubbed her hand as if it stung.
Igor: "Lucky you're a girl, Cinderfella. If it were your pretty boy, he'd be dead on these stairs by now."
Liza was about to snap back, but Akira interrupted with a loud chuckle.
Akira: "Lucky you've got a big fat tongue dangling out of your mouth. A very vulnerable organ—easy to cut. If you two want to talk, talk. But don't threaten us. One thing is insulting me, but if you insult Liza—"
Liza had never seen Akira act like that. It was like the Devilish in him began to bleed into the real world, dark as Akira's expression.
They stared at each other for a moment.
Cleo: "I..."
She was cut off by Igor's voice.
Igor: "No backing down—love it, 'Uchigatana'- man. I've got nothing to tell you. Just curious how you all survived. And I don't see your magical cat here—maybe you're hiding her somewhere... or just left her behind."
Liza: "Nice deduction, onion-man."
Igor snorted.
Igor: "Sharp tongue, girlie. I'll give you that."
Mia: "No time to stand around forever, Yamauchi. At lunch, I'm inviting all of you to a tea party—everyone of you, who can enter that world. It's urgent."
Zhenzhen: "I'm not discussing anything with this fiend."
Igor sighed.
Igor: "Oh, what a tragedy, bold one. I'll miss you—except I won't."
His head tilted with a smirk.
Akira: "Didn't think you'd be so on edge after our last talk. Something happened in the tunnels?"
Mia: "Don't even bring that up..."
Igor: "Pretty boy knows everything! Wow! Just like Mia said—come meet us at lunch in the gardens. If you want to know everything."
He paused.
Igor: "And I'm not on edge. I just can't help myself when I talk to her 'mother'. I want to destroy something."
Mia: "Shut it, fool! What if she comes back?!"
Igor: "Then I'll say it to her fa—"
Mia: "Don't you dare! Alright, Williams has a small injury—nothing we can't handle. I'll take her to the infirmary right now."
Liza: "What?! If you think I'm letting you—"
Igor: "Will you ever shut up, Cinderfella?"
Akira: "You can take your own advice, ogre."
Igor snorted louder this time.
Igor: "Nice one, 'chert'. You guys just keep giving."
Zhenzhen stared him down.
Zhenzhen: "Glad you can finally see his true nature, Akira. Cleo Williams is under our protection. Neither you nor a black-hearted one's maiden can be trusted. She's going with us."
Igor: "Who asked you again, half-man shrimp?"
Compared to Igor, Zhenzhen was shorter, but he didn't even flinch as the bleach-haired student got close to him.
Akira stepped between them.
Igor: "Two on one? I can handle—"
Mia had had enough. She grabbed his shoulder.
Mia: "Quiet! All of you, stop this disaster at once! I was wrong, Yamauchi. You got that? Williams can go with whoever she wants. Her choice."
Cleo stood ready to shield her friends, still confused. Liza stood beside her, like her guardian.
Everyone felt the tension in the air.
Mia sighed, raising a hand to her brow.
Mia: "Suit yourselves. I'm honestly trying to help."
Liza: "Uh-huh."
She rolled her eyes.
Mia: "How about we both show her to the doctor?"
Liza: "What?!"
Mia: "You heard me, Pavlenko. We three go to the infirmary. If you even care about your friend."
Cleo: "Liza, you don't need to—"
Liza: "Save it, Cleo. I'll do anything for you. Lead the way, Four-eyes—but once we reach the doc, you're on your own."
Mia: "You're not in charge here."
Liza: "Neither are you."
Mia: "I'm the council president, Pavlenko. Show some respect."
Liza: "Here's your respect—"
She raised her middle finger. The tip of her long nail caught a glint of light. All the boys around watched, stunned at their wit duel.
Mia paused briefly.
Mia: "You're a menace."
Liza: "Lead the way—and shut up!"
Mia rolled her eyes behind her glasses and gestured for them to follow.
Igor watched them go with Akira and Zhenzhen.
He said nothing, slung his black bag over his shoulder, and walked off.
Zhenzhen: "We need to go too, Akira."
Akira felt it—this whole talk had been exhausting.
Akira: "Yeah, let's go, Zhen. Sad we're in different groups."
Zhenzhen gave him a tired but warm smile.
Zhenzhen: "Can't have everything."
Akira mirrored it with a grin.
Somewhere in his mind, Merlina sat like a fisherman, humming a familiar melody not far from their transcendental bodies.