Oh, so he's talking about the Harbinger's little prank, I thought, a flicker of amusement crossing my face.
"No, I wasn't," I lied, keeping my expression carefully neutral.
"Yes, you were!" the senior insisted, his voice rising in anger.
Just then, the large senior from the assembly joined the fray, his imposing figure casting a shadow over us. It seemed this was turning into a full-blown confrontation.
"Well, well, well," the larger senior sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Look who's back for more."
I met his gaze, refusing to back down. "I thought I made it clear yesterday that I don't tolerate bullies," I said, my voice calm but firm.
"You got lucky yesterday," the first senior spat. "But today, you won't be so lucky. We're not alone." He gestured towards the other seniors who had gathered around us, their faces twisted into menacing grins.
I glanced at Marcel, who had taken a step back, his eyes wide with fear. I knew I couldn't rely on the Harbinger to save me this time. I would have to face these bullies head-on.
"What are you waiting for?" the larger senior taunted, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see what you're really made of, pretty boy."
I took a deep breath, summoning the energy that coursed through my veins. The memory of Hana's tormented face flashed through my mind, fueling my resolve. I wouldn't let these bullies intimidate me. I wouldn't let them win.
"Fine," I said, my voice steely. "Let's do this."
A tense silence fell over the crowd as the two groups faced off. The air crackled with anticipation, the only sound the rhythmic pounding of my heart in my chest.
Then, with a roar, the larger senior charged at me, his fists raised.
"Slow down there, big guy!" I said, sidestepping his clumsy charge with ease.
Remembering the moves Dove had taught me, I planted my feet firmly and delivered a swift punch to the senior's ribs.
"Oof!" He let out a surprised grunt, clutching his side.
"Turns out you're just a big punching bag," I taunted, a smirk spreading across my face.
The other seniors, seeing their friend knocked down, hesitated for a moment. But their anger quickly outweighed their fear, and they charged at me like a pack of wolves.
"You can't touch me!" I shouted, channeling my inner bravado.
Harbinger, let's do that combo we practiced, I thought, my heart pounding with adrenaline.
As the first senior swung at me, I ducked under his punch and countered with a lightning-fast uppercut to the jaw, courtesy of my Harbinger's unseen fist. The senior stumbled backward, his eyes wide with surprise.
The second senior, seeing his friend fall, hesitated for a moment before lunging forward with a wild kick. I easily dodged the attack, then grabbed his leg and swept him off his feet, sending him crashing to the ground.
The remaining seniors froze, their faces pale with shock. They had never seen anyone move with such speed and agility, let alone a skinny kid like me.
To them, it looked as if I had an invisible force field around me, deflecting their attacks and sending them flying without even touching them.
"What the hell...?" one of them muttered, his voice trembling.
I stood in the center of the circle, my chest heaving from the exertion. A smirk played on my lips as I met their terrified gazes. "I warned you, You can't touch me." I said, my voice echoing in the stunned silence.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria shifted, a wave of awe washing over the onlookers.
"Did you see that?" one student whispered.
"How did he do that?" another asked, their eyes wide with disbelief.
A high-pitched squeal of excitement cut through the murmurs. "Xian, you're amazing!"
I turned to see a girl from a neighboring class, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling with admiration. Soon, others joined in, their voices rising in a chorus of cheers.
"Xian Ying! Xian Ying! Xian Ying!"
The chant grew louder, echoing through the cafeteria, fueled by the adrenaline and excitement of the moment. I basked in the attention, a warm glow spreading through me. It was a stark contrast to the isolation and loneliness I had felt before.
"Looks like you're a hero now," the Harbinger's voice whispered in my ear, a hint of amusement in its tone.
I smiled, a newfound confidence surging through me. Maybe I am, I thought to myself.
I turned to the two seniors, then to Jonathan, my eyes narrowing. "So," I asked, my voice calm but firm, "what actually happened here?"
"Well, you see that girl over there?" Jonathan pointed to the first senior's girlfriend, a pretty girl with long, dark hair. "She texted me first, flirting with me. I just responded, and then her boyfriend got mad."
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his explanation. "That's it?" I asked. "You started a fight over a few texts?"
Jonathan shrugged, his cocky smirk returning. "What can I say? I'm irresistible."
"Alright, see you later then," I said, walking away from Marcel towards the bustling crowd.
"Hey Xian! Wanna grab coffee with the guys after school?" Marcel called after me.
"I've got something more important to do," I replied, not breaking my stride. "Maybe next time."
I glanced back at him with a quick smile before disappearing into the throng of students.
Marcel jogged to catch up with me, a wide grin on his face. "Dude, that was amazing!" he exclaimed. "Were you learning some kind of kung fu or something?"
"I've been practicing some self-defense," I replied, trying to downplay the supernatural aspect of my training. "A bit of boxing and MMA."
"Woah, that's so cool!" Marcel's eyes sparkled with admiration. "But how did you—"
"Lenna!" I interrupted, spotting her down the hallway with her friends.
"Oh, Senior!" Lenna smiled and waved.
Marcel and I stopped in front of them.
"Lenna," I said, lowering my voice, "I need to talk to you after school. Is that okay?"
"... Is it about her?" she asked, glancing at her friends but subtly gesturing towards Hana.
I nodded. "Yes."
"I'll tell my mother I'm going out," Lenna said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Thanks," I replied, then turned to walk away.
"... Are they going on a date?" I heard Athique whisper to Lenna.
"N-No!" Lenna's voice was a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
I chuckled to myself as I continued down the hall, Marcel trailing behind me.
"Why the sudden meeting?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
"It's about... student council stuff," I lied, not wanting to reveal the truth about Hana just yet.
"Oh..." Marcel's voice trailed off, a hint of disappointment in his tone. He knew I wasn't being entirely truthful, but he didn't press the matter.
< Chapter 061 > Fin.