The shut arena gate greeted Rinalyn and Rei as they had decided to get back to the premises to watch, but only bewilderment and disappointment welcomed them.
"What the... Did it end already? But we were only gone for like an hour and a half. There's no way everyone got their turn to perform with that much time." Rei remarked, sighing in disappointment, shaking her head.
"How about we head straight to the dorms? I doubt there be anyone in the classroom either" Said Rinalyn.
"Hmm, alright. Luna and the others might be in the dorm already too."
Two of them then headed Straight to the girl's dormitory.
While heading to their room, Rei couldn't help but to worriedly glance towards Rinalyn who was oddly quiet. Usually, she'll be bringing up some interesting conversations, such as what the demons inside of her were saying, but apparently, Rinalyn did not.
Rei couldn't have the courage to speak up, in the first place, she doesn't have anything to talk to her about. Rei guessed that she'll only talk about insignificant mumbling, or perhaps another complaints about Remus. That's when she decided to just kept quiet.
The two shared a somewhat awkward silence until they have reached room 077. They were greeted by Elmira who was munching a sandwich.
***
"Oi Shiki, where are you going?" A boy with an orange hair asked as he noticed Shiki approaching the door out. But Shiki ignored him and left. "Man, he still got that cold attitude. And here I thought were becoming close."
"Dude, you shouldn't get you hopes up. As if we could get close to someone like him, he's way out of our league." Said a curly brown haired guy with freckles on his face.
"And he's even friends with a top student, Luna Vermillion!" Remarked a boy with dirty blonde shoulder length hair and was wearing rectangular spectacles.
"Oh! And do you remember her bringing him back unconscious a month ago? And said she just found him? As if!" Said the orange haired boy.
"Hmm? When did that happen?" Asked the boy with spectacles.
"Oh, we hadn't told you yet, you were sleeping like a baby that day and Hiro and I forgot about it the next."
"Wanna bet?" Suddenly intrudes the curly haired boy— Hiro with a sly smile. Making the two turn their head in a whish.
"What kind of bet?" The orange haired boy said intrigued.
"10 silver Xian if I proved that they're actually secretly dating!" Declared Hiro.
"Who's secretly dating who?"
—!!!!!
The three whish their head upon hearing the door click and a familiar voice. Hiro who had been frozen shock, when the thought of someone hearing what he just declared made him sweat cold.
Dark hair and Cyan blue eyes was staring down at them at the floor. It was their fifth member in the room, Remus.
"Are you guys just gonna stare at me like that? Who are you guys betting on, let me in on it too."
"R-remus, did you saw Shiki while in your way here?" Asked Hiro nervously.
"Yeah, but when I asked where he's going he just straight out ignored me. Oh and he looks angry, did you guys do something to piss him off?"
"Absolutely not!" The three exclaimed in unison.
How dare they to even get into a Drust' bad side. Going into their bad side would only mean death!
The Drust' is one of the most respected family, for each generation there's always one who has a position within the high ranking mages that keep this world in balance, they're also known for their immaculate strength on magic. They could crush whoever whenever they wanted to, how could anyone wants to be an enemy of that clan.
"B..by the way Remus, how's Rei doing?" Asked Hiro, obviously changing the subject. The other two seem to have caught up and went along with him.
"Y-yeah, didn't she and Rinalyn went out of the arena earlier?" Said the guy with spectacles.
"Huh? Why would you ask me about her? Tsk." Remus retorted.
"Well, err, we thought, ya know, haha..."
"Whatever, Also Zander and Roderick, clean up your mess, and Hiro, put a coaster on that damn drink of yours!" Remus started, scolding like parent on the three anxious roommates of his who immediately did what was asked them too.
The orange haired boy— Roderick halted and glance back to Remus who has an unsimiling expression monitoring them. "Um, you know Arlo..." He said hesitantly "err, I heard he's going to ask Rei for dinner on the 20th."
"Oh, I thought that was just a mere humor, it's true? Wait are they also dating like the rumor say?!" Exclaimed Hiro.
"Well, I heard about the dinner on one of Arlo's roommate, you know, that elf, what was his name again? Daryll was it? As for them dating, I'm not quite sure."
Remus stood there, listening to their yapping, uninteresting upon their chatters. He couldn't care less. It's not like he Has an obligation to step up and say 'No they can't, not on my watch' like some jealous bozos.
He likes Arlo, but Remus already knew that that feeling can't be reciprocated. After witnessing whatever he saw the other day, he knew he was no match for Rei— a girl. And to what he witnessed, the two seem to have mutual feelings for each other. Who is he to get in between two people liking one another? He's not that kind of person.
"Don't worry Remus, you still have a chance!"
Remus's thoughts was disturbed by Xander's voice. What was that sudden encouragement? Had they known he likes Arlo? Was it obvious? Had they known all along and just pretended as if they don't?
'Is it when we played truth or dare?'
"We'll help you!" The three exclaimed, making Remus even more baffled.
"What the hell are you guys talking about?"
"It's not too late for you, their dating rumor hasn't been confirmed...yet...!" Remarked Hiro.
"That's right! You still have a chance!" Roderick eyes was flaming with determination.
"No, wait, I don't understand where you guys are coming from."
"As long as they're not dating, you still have a chance towards Rei!" Zander exclaimed,as the other two nodded in agreement.
Remus stood there, somehow relieved from what they said, but as soon as he came to realization, he galred at the three.
"Eeek!" They squeled.
Ha! Of course they wouldn't know he likes the other person and not Rei. And he bet they'll only look at him with resignation when they found out the truth, it's probably better to leave the misunderstanding at that.
But him thinking about all the possible rumors of him liking Rei, annoyed him. Ridiculous.
"Listen carefully, you three idiots. I don't like that annoying woman, alright?" He said in gritted teeth before turning back as he he'd towrads the door.
"Why the hell am I being partnered up with her of all people, tsk." He muttered before completely being out of sight of the three.
When Remus was gone, the three looked at each other sighing in relief.
"I told you he doesn't like Rei to begin with." Said Roderick.
"No, no, he definitely does!" Exclaimed Zander as hiro agrees.
"Yeah definitely, he's gaslighting himself into thinking that he doesn't like her. He definitely has feelings for her!"
"Oh yeah wanna bet?!" Proclaimed Roderick
"You're on!" The two exclaimed in unison.
***
Rei anxiously look side by side from the two people she's with. A sweat of hers run cold.
A somewhat tense atmosphere has seem to blended with the surroundings. Trees rustling and the tar black sky made the tension to arise even more, adding the chilly wind that blows from time to time.
"Um, Shiki, I don't think this is a good time to be acting like this." Rei said closing in on her brother, holding his arm anxiously.
Shiki who didn't listen to her, yank his arm away and approach Rinalyn. He had a serious expression. All of a sudden Shiki snatched Rinalyn' arm, dragging her away without even listening to her plea.
"Wha— what the, Let go of me! Where are you taking me! I said— eeek!"
As to when Rei was about to get Rinalyn away from her brother, they vanished.
Everything in Rei's mind was clouded, why does his brother suddenly acted the way he is now? In the first place, he may be stubborn and persistent on getting into Rinalyn's good side again, but he never tried to approach her like that until now.
Has he gone completely crazy?
"Wha—What the hell are you thinking, Shiki...?"