As the day to submit the first draft for the team arrived, Ahiro found himself in an unexpected predicament. His initial plan to form a team with June had taken an unexpected turn on the first day when his words overwhelmed her, causing her to panic and flee. Since then, every attempt to approach June had been met with evasion, leaving Ahiro perplexed and frustrated.
Despite his good grades and competence, no one had approached him to form a team. Melvin, his friend, had already assembled a team, and most of the class followed suit. Ahiro felt the options dwindling day by day, with only a handful of students left unclaimed. The situation seemed dire, and the looming deadline added pressure.
Undeterred by rejection, Ahiro had approached several classmates, hoping to find willing teammates, but the responses had been discouraging. Now, with just two hours left until the submission deadline, Ahiro sat in the classroom, contemplating his dwindling options. If a team was not finalized by the end of the day, the remaining students would be forced into a single team – a situation Ahiro was keen on avoiding.
The challenge to form a team intensified, and Ahiro, fueled by determination and resilience, prepared to make a final attempt to secure teammates before the deadline approached.
Ahiro, feeling a sense of resignation, kept glancing at his watch as the deadline for forming a team drew nearer. Unable to secure teammates despite his efforts, he finally left the outcome to fate. With a heavy sigh, he put his head down, contemplating the potential consequences of not having a team.
When it seemed like all hope was lost, a tap on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts. Ahiro looked up, and there she was – Anna.
"Could we talk outside for a moment?" Anna said. Surprised and intrigued, he followed her outside as she had requested, curious about what she might have to say.
As Ahiro stepped outside with June, the chilly air embraced them. He looked at her curiously, wondering why she had sought him out. He had no recollection of having any talk before and he rarely saw her in class. The last time he saw her was during her fight against June.
"Hey, Ahiro what are you thinking so much about. " she stared at Ahiro, her eyes filled with annoyance.
Ahiro raised an eyebrow, "You are the one who brought me here and I am not allowed to even think about what is happening "
"Oh yes, well it's not me who wants to talk with you it's our team leader," She admitted and started walking. "follow me."
Ahiro was now even more confused, "What are you saying? Who is your team lead and what does he or she want with me."
Anna shook her head, "Oh well now I know you are book smart not smart smart." she said while giggling "Just follow me will you, she means our team lead will answer all the questions"
Ahiro furrowed his brows, puzzled by Anna's cryptic message. Nonetheless, he decided to follow her, suspecting it might have something to do with the team formation. He thought that if the team members were suitable, he could join the team for now and aim for a better team after the first draft.
As they walked, Ahiro contemplated the upcoming evaluations. After the first draft, there would be an assessment involving a presentation. Teams would be given a situation, and the team leader had to demonstrate how their members could effectively work together to solve the problem. Success in this evaluation would secure the team's position; failure could result in dismissal.
"We're here," Anna announced, breaking Ahiro out of his thoughts. They stood in front of an empty room at the back of the library building. As they entered, Ahiro found three individuals seated at a table.
His confusion deepened as his gaze landed on the girl in the centre, who looked back at him with white hair and a stoic expression, as if aloof from the world.
"June what are you doing here? what is happening here? asked Ahiro bewildered by the situation.
She took a deep breath before answering, "First of all thank you for coming here, would you please take a seat before I begin my explanation as to why I summoned you here."
Ahiro sat down on the empty chair "So would you tell now"
June nodded as she said, "I want you to Join my team."
"Well it's understandable based on the situation but can you tell me what changed your mind after avoiding me for whole 2 days since we talked" Ahiro had many questions and was confused about the situation but he kept his calm trying to evaluate the situation.
"It is as I told you that day, my brother wants me to join the team that has teammates of his choosing, but that's not what I want" she said.
"And to achieve that he is keeping anyone from approaching me to join their team by using force and thus we can't form a team" June said.
"What are you saying we cant form a team and that's the reason you gathered us all " Ahiro was puzzled.
"Hey, would you shut your mouth and listen to what she has to say," Anna said while hitting Ahiro's head.
"What I mean is that if we form a team early that would endanger you all because if my brother's plan fails he might take his anger out on you. So that's the reason we can form the team and the reason I have been avoiding you" June said.
"I understand, and what now," Ahiro said finally understanding June's train of thought.
"So what we have to do is simply wait for the teacher to group us all," said the other girl adjusting her glasses. Who was sitting there, Ahiro didnt know who she was but remembered her from techsynthesia classes.
"What Zoe means is that we have convinced the other 5 students to register as a team and that would leave only us 5 in a team and if we look like we are gathered like this it would save us all from the trouble that is Jade," said Anna.
"oh... " Ahiro said understanding the full picture. "That brilliant idea, who came up with it"
"of course not Anna," said the boy who had been silent till now, he was wearing an old-style hat and kept on chewing bubblegum.
"I kill you Owen" said Anna. but before she could Zoe jumped between the two and calmed them down.
"It was our team lead," said Zoe with a smile on her face. Ahiro looked at June, he understood even if she was busy with swords she still had the blood royal and if her brother could play politics so could she. "The Apple doesn't fall too far off the tree" Ahiro mumbled. As all the ones gathered around the table began telling more about themselves their powers and other skills.