In the middle of a grassy plain before the forest surrounding the Academy, countless students could be seen in different groups of three.
Before them all stood a tall man with drooping eyes, glasses and a black shirt, folded up to his bulging forearms.
"Hmm, it seems we have one more group missing a single student."
Just as Orion said this, he turned to see a boy with amber eyes and messy black hair covering his forehead walking toward them from the distance.
"Ah, Isaac, perfect timing. You'll be assigned to this group."
Isaac looked to where Orion was pointing, only to be met with two individuals he recognised.
One was Jett Hale, the very student he was supposed to fight.
Meanwhile, the other showed a displeased expression upon seeing Isaac.
"Tsk." Daniel glared at him as he clicked his teeth.
Isaac simply sighed, inwardly rolling his eyes as he walked to the group, the other students inwardly feeling a wash of relief, thinking they'd dodged a bullet, while others peered at Isaac with a jealous gaze.
However, most students were inwardly cursing their bad luck, staring at his group.
"How the hell are we supposed to beat a team with two of the Golden Six?"
"We can't. Let's just hope we don't get them as an opponent."
The only individuals who seemed casual, were Cain's group, which consisted of himself, Amy Law, the female giant and…
'What the hell is his problem?'
Isaac tried his best to ignore the last member of Cain's team, Andrew Goldfield, the bandana-wearing smoke human he punched on the first day, who stared at Isaac with a vengeful gaze.
Turning away from him, the rest of the Golden Six were quite calm, though, none of their teams were quite as powerful.
Isaac looked at his team for a second, noticing Daniel calming down. This was most likely because he thought Jett and himself would be enough to win.
Looking over to Jett, Isaac noticed the boy rapidly tapping his index finger against the side of his thigh, his expression seeming as though it were a forced smile.
"This will be a team battle exercise. Simple 3v3s." Orion declared, looking at his clipboard.
"What will be the benefit of this exercise?" A student asked, to which Orion replied while still staring at his clipboard.
"Who knows? It's fun. The first two teams will be Team Daniel vs Team Cain." Orion answered as the student awkwardly lowered their hand.
A few sighs of relief could be heard as Daniel grinned deviously.
It was clear this was what he wanted.
As the two teams disappeared into the forest, a large holographic screen appeared before all the students, showing the two teams.
"Um, can I help you…"
Before the two teams separated to head for their designated locations, Andrew walked rather close to Isaac.
"I don't know what kind of trick you pulled back on the first day, but I'd like to see you pull that crap again." Andrew hissed, bringing his face uncomfortably close to Isaac's.
"Uhh, okay." Isaac backed away.
"You must not know who I am. You don't wanna mess with me, kid. I'm crazy." Andrew widened his eyes and stared straight at Isaac.
"I believe you." Isaac nodded.
"Finally, we can prove who is really deserving of Rank 1." Daniel turned to Cain.
And despite Cain's usual empathetic nature, he welcomed the competition.
"You're right. Everyone will see why I deserve my rank, and why you deserve yours."
Amid Andrew's harassment, Isaac eavesdropped, seeing the relationship the two had.
It wasn't right to call them friends, or enemies either.
They were tied together by an intense rivalry.
Throughout this all, Jett and Amy simply walked quietly on the sides.
As the two teams parted, soon arriving in their starting locations, it wasn't long until Orion started the match.
"Begin."
Hearing this through the speakers, Daniel snapped his head back, speaking to both his teammates.
"Back me up." Saying this, Daniel dashed toward the deeper forest.
Meanwhile, as the students watched the large hologram, they chatted loudly, making their predictions on who they thought would win.
However, as everyone watched, they could slowly see Daniel detach from his group, running toward the opposite team on his lonesome.
"Who do you think will win, Mr Orion?" A chipper and high voice came from beside Orion, as he turned his head to see Ava and a few of her friends.
"Probably Daniel's team."
Heather, standing with Ava, nodded.
"Because they outrank the other team, right?"
"Well, that's true. But there's also that."
Orion nodded to the screen as Ava and Heather looked, only to see Jett standing before Cain.
Daniel seemed to see this from the distance too.
"What the hell? When did he pass me?"
"He's rather confident, isn't he?" Heather scoffed, seeing Jett put on what seemed to be mittens.
"Him? Are you kidding me? That kid is as timid as a rabbit." Orion mumbled.
However, Ava heard this.
Jett, timid? The same Jett who acted like a degenerate pervert and now challenged the rank one in the Academy?
However, before Ava could retort, she noticed something.
Jett's legs. They were shaking.
***
"I wish you luck, Jett." Cain gave a thumbs up, directing his other two teammates to go on.
"Me? Luck? I won't need it? You must not know who you're talking to." Jett put on a forced smile that slightly quivered, his voice breaking as Cain raised an eyebrow at his peculiar behaviour.
Putting on a pair of white and red mittens, Jett held a pill in his hand, soon swallowing.
As he did, in a mere second, Cain felt the aura around Jett change.
His legs stopped shaking and his expression became that of a complete calmness.
Despite his eyes being closed, he didn't seem as though he was vulnerable.
Cain didn't know how to explain it, his expression changing to a serious one, but if he had to use one word…
'Will. Complete willpower.'
"I am the tenth."
***
"Sorry Grandpa."
Throughout his life, Jett found himself repeating these words.
Whether it'd be because his timid nature interfered with the progression of his training, or he failed to stand up for himself despite his strength.
His Grandfather, being a burly and masculine man, always pushed Jett to become less of a boy and more of a warrior.
"Stop with your whining, would ya, boy? You think those other kids of the Golden Six cry and complain as much as you do?" His Grandfather would tell him.
And although Jett knew his Grandfather loved him no matter what, he wanted to make the old man proud.
He wanted to become the person who his Grandfather saw.
He wanted to become a man.
"How do you become a man? Well, that's easy. You get all the ladies, and you beat the crap out of all the strongest men."
His Grandfather was a simple man with simple ideologies. Yet, Jett took these words to heart.
Although his hands shook and his heart felt as though it'd leap out of his chest, he still forced himself to speak to women.
Although his legs trembled and his insides churned, he still forced himself to take on the biggest and strongest foe around.
He wanted to become a man…no, rather he wanted to make his Grandfather proud.
***
"What's wrong with him?" Heather asked as everyone seemed confused at Jett's closed eyes and unmoving body.
Meanwhile, despite Ava previously looking for Isaac, upon finding he too disappeared, her attention was drawn to Jett.
'What was the name his Grandfather knew him as? I believe it was Crybaby Jett.' Orion inwardly spoke.
In that second, an orange flame suddenly appeared on Jett's forehead.
[Name: Jett Hale]
[Inherited Character: Tsunayoshi Sawada (Revolver)]
[Verse: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!]
Meanwhile, a blur hung in the middle of dense leaves on a tree.
'Who will win?' Isaac wondered.
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Next chapter title: Assessing the Golden Six [3]
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