The training hall, moments ago filled with Gwen's laughter and the chuckles of the crowd, fell into a stunned silence.
Then, a wave of whispers rippled through the onlookers.
"What did he just say?" someone murmured.
"Did he really say what I thought he said?" another chimed in, disbelief heavy in their voice.
"Can he really challenge a duel like that?"
In the back, Gwen's laughter abruptly died.
She stared, wide-eyed, at Kaito, then looked at Catherina beside her, whose face was a mask of pure shock.
"Your partner," Gwen began, her voice low, "is not just an idiot, but full of himself too."
Catherina clenched her fists, biting her lip so hard she tasted copper.
"What the hell is this guy thinking?!" she fumed internally, her mind racing.
"If he gets gravely injured here, he won't be able to participate in the exam!"
Darius, a grin slowly spreading across his face, nudged Eric.
"Wanna bet how long he lasts?"
Eric glanced at Darius for a second, then his gaze returned to Kaito.
A thoughtful, almost intrigued expression settled on his features.
"I don't know," he said, "I feel like we might see something more shocking than this in the duel."
As if on cue, the stunned silence of the crowd broke into a cacophony of cheers and shouts.
"Accept it!"
"Fight him!"
"Show the commoner his place!" they roared, urging the three male students to take Kaito's audacious challenge.
The three male students, initially stunned by Kaito's audacious challenge, felt their faces burn with a mix of fury and indignation as the crowd's cheers grew.
"This commoner, this nobody with his ridiculous "oven mittens" comment, actually thought he could take us all on?" The insult was unbearable.
The one in the middle, his face contorted with rage, finally found his voice.
"You... you dare?!" he roared, his finger trembling as he pointed at Kaito.
"You actually think you can face all three of us, you arrogant fool?!"
The archer beside him scoffed, "Fine! You want a fight, you'll get one, commoner!"
"But we're setting some rules."
The third, the one with the sword, stepped forward, his eyes blazing.
"No magic," he bit out, his voice tight with controlled fury.
"Just weapon arts with these wooden training weapons. The fight ends when someone gets knocked out or gives up."
He paused, then a cruel smirk twisted his lips.
"And if you lose, commoner, you have to give up your partnership with Catherina."
"She goes to whichever one of us knocks you out first."
Catherina's eyes widened in disbelief, her jaw dropping slightly at the final rule.
"What did they just say?" she fumed inwardly.
"I'm not some prize to take!"
She was about to intervene, to loudly protest the outrageous condition, but she stopped, rooted to the spot by Kaito's unexpected response.
---
Kaito, initially unfazed by the rules, raised an eyebrow at the last one.
A smirk slowly spread across his face, replacing his previous amusement with a knowing glint.
"Ahhh!" he exclaimed, a soft chuckle escaping him.
"So this is what this is all about? You want my place as Catherina's partner?"
He then burst into another fit of laughter, louder than before.
"Hahahaha! You really thought you have a chance on her?"
"Just because you look tough and strong in front of her?"
Kaito shook his head, a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Trust me, she's too perfect to be with any of you guys. You wouldn't be able to handle her."
"You probably look like a nobody in her eyes and everyone else, and nobodies always get disposed off in the story."
Gwen, who had just managed to compose herself, erupted into another fit of uncontrolled laughter at Kaito's blunt, stinging assessment of the three students and Catherina's "perfection."
Her face was bright red, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Catherina, however, was not amused. Her eyes narrowed into furious slits, fixed on Kaito.
"What the hell did he just say about me?!" she thought, a murderous intent flashing in her gaze.
"I am going to kill that guy!"
---
The three male students lost all semblance of patience.
Their faces contorted with pure fury at Kaito's latest, cutting insults.
With a unified snarl, they charged, their training weapons raised.
Just as they lunged, the large training hall doors swung open, and Professor Aurora stepped inside.
Her sharp eyes immediately assessed the swirling crowd and the four figures at its center, all clutching their weapons.
"What is happening here?" she asked, her voice calm but authoritative, cutting through the tension.
A student near the entrance quickly approached her.
"Professor! A duel was requested, and they were just about to start fighting when you came in."
Aurora's brow furrowed slightly.
"A duel? Hmm, I guess we can have this as a part of the training too."
Her gaze swept over the arena, then back to the four students now at its center.
"Well, who are going to be in the duel?" she inquired, her eyes scanning the group.
"Is this a two-against-two duel?"
The four of them, without correcting her, immediately walked onto the arena platform, weapons in hand.
Aurora followed them, then turned to the student still by her side.
"Are the rules all set?"
"Yes, Professor," another student confirmed.
"It's whoever gets knocked out or gives up is out."
Aurora nodded, then her eyes fell upon the arrangement on the arena, only one student stood on the left side, while the other three were arrayed on the right.
Her expression shifted to confusion.
"What is happening here?" she asked again, her voice betraying a hint of bewilderment.
Eric and the other members of Catherina's group quickly approached Aurora, explaining the situation in hushed tones.
After a second of thought, a flicker of understanding crossed Aurora's face, quickly followed by a sigh.
"Isn't this bullying?" she questioned, her gaze settling on the trio facing Kaito.
Gwen stepped forward, her lips twitching with suppressed amusement.
"Well, Professor," she began, pointing towards Kaito, "the three students approached him and mocked his weapon of choice and him being partnered with Catherina here."
"And they were the ones who asked for a one-on-one duel, but that guy is the one who asked them to just fight him all at once."
Aurora's surprise was evident.
She looked at the students standing next to Gwen.
"Is this true?" she asked, her gaze piercing.
They all nodded in confirmation.
Aurora then looked back at Kaito, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Is he confident, or just over his head?"
She then looked at Gwen again.
"So, what are the conditions? Any rewards for the winner?"
Gwen's eyes sparkled with mischief, and she pointed directly at Catherina.
A soft chuckle escaped her.
"Oh, her, Professor. She's the reward. Her partnership."
Catherina, her face flushing, shot Gwen a furious look, trying her best not to punch the back of her head.
She sighed, a long, exasperated sound, and then looked at Professor Aurora.
"I didn't consent to this," she stated, her voice tight with indignation.
Professor Aurora raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes despite the absurd situation.
She glanced between Catherina's furious expression and Gwen's barely contained laughter, then back at the three male students who now looked a mixture of defiant and eager.
"Well, Ms. Montaigne, a duel has been formally challenged and accepted."
"While the terms regarding... partnership transfer are highly unconventional and, frankly, not within academy regulations, it seems the general terms of engagement have been agreed upon."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled students.
"No magic, wooden training weapons, fight to knockout or surrender. Correct?"
The three male students nodded vigorously, their eagerness palpable.
Aurora sighed, a soft sound of resignation.
"Very well."
"This will not reflect on your scores or grades, but this event will affect your reputation in the class, so bear that in mind."
"Anyone of you who still wants to back out?" Her gaze settled pointedly on Kaito.
"I'm not backing out, Miss Aurora," Kaito answered immediately, his voice firm.
Aurora's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Miss?" she thought, a faint, almost imperceptible frown creasing her brow for a moment.
"Rules are set then."
"Students, stand back and give them space!" she commanded, her voice suddenly booming through the hall.
The crowd immediately pushed back, forming a wide circle around the arena.
Kaito, standing alone on one side of the platform, slowly pulled his two wooden katanas from his waist, settling them into a relaxed, ready stance.
Opposite him, the three male students adopted more aggressive poses, their wooden sword, bow, and gloved fists poised for action.
Professor Aurora raised her hand, her eyes sharp as she looked at the four combatants. "On my mark," she announced.
A moment of tense silence hung in the air.
Then, her hand dropped. "Begin!"
The three male students immediately surged forward, their faces contorted in a furious charge, while Kaito, with his two wooden katanas, braced himself to meet their assault.