Everyone watched the scene unfold between Belle and Kris.
Necho and Thursday exchanged a knowing look, nodding in silent agreement, as if understanding the situation without needing words.
Selina stood quietly, torn as she witnessed her friend asking the boy she had just started developing feelings for on a date.
Her emotions were a mix of surprise and silent disappointment.
Chansey, on the other hand, watched the unfolding drama with a soft smile, amused by the spectacle as though it were a scene straight out of a romantic play.
Kris paused, deep in thought. Finally, he nodded.
"Okay," he agreed,
"but you'll have to wait two years before we can start dating."
Necho, overhearing, facepalmed dramatically.
"Kris, if the old Kris could see you right now, he'd probably rip his head off."
Belle's teary eyes widened in disbelief.
"Two years?!" she exclaimed, almost in shock.
'What am I, stupid?' she thought to herself.
Her face scrunched up in frustration, tears welling up again.
"No!" she protested, her voice trembling.
"You have to date me after the first round of the examination... or else!"
Her attempt to glare at Kris was anything but threatening, as her watery eyes and trembling lips made her look more adorable than intimidating.
Kris couldn't help but smile, taken aback by her determination but finding her resolve surprisingly cute.
In Kris's mind, a wave of guilt washed over him. I'm such a terrible person, he thought.
'Why don't I just date her? But instead of a real date, I'll bring Cillian along, so we won't be alone together, that's a good plan.'
"Alright," Kris finally said, giving in.
"Next week, let's go on a date."
Belle's face lit up, but she wasn't done yet.
"Before the date, you have to call me every night!" she demanded, eyes sparkling with determination.
"What? That's not part of the deal!" Kris protested, clearly not expecting more conditions.
Belle, sensing a compromise, softened slightly.
"Okay, then you have to chat with me every day!"
Kris, considering that a more manageable request, nodded.
"I'm okay with that."
Belle crossed her arms triumphantly, as if she had just won a battle.
Her face beamed with satisfaction, knowing she had secured both the date and daily conversations with Kris.
Kris returned to the monitor, studying the progress of their Data Beasts.
Meanwhile, Selina, unable to shake off her own disappointment, approached Belle.
"Didn't you hate Kris, Belle? What changed your mind?" She spoke in a calm voice, but deep down, she was frustrated for not stepping in earlier.
She had started developing feelings for Kris too.
"I fell in love with him. What's wrong with that?" Belle shrugged confidently, as if her feelings were the most natural thing in the world.
Selina raised an eyebrow, still trying to convince her. "But Belle, what about Adam?"
Belle waved off the concern with a dismissive tone. "What about him? He's the most shameless of all. I've already told him several times that I don't like him."
Selina hesitated, still puzzled. "Belle... wait, where is Adam?"
Back at the jumping course, Adam stood staring up at the tall wall with frustration.
"How did they pass this?" he muttered to himself. He glanced down at his flopping Data Beast, a fish-origin creature clearly unsuited for land challenges.
"Useless," he sneered, raising his foot as if to kick it away.
But before he could, Adam's foot slipped, sending him tumbling down the course.
"Aaaah!" His cry echoed across the obstacle course.
Meanwhile, back with Kris's group, Kris's eyes widened as he studied the monitor.
"They've already fetched your Data Beast, Chansey. They're on their way to the button now."
"Let's go wait by the door," he urged the group, confident in their progress.
Two other students, also glued to the monitor, exchanged helpless looks.
Their Data Beasts were still stuck, aimlessly circling the routes with no clear direction.
They sighed in defeat.
The room was suddenly filled with a buzzing sound as the door slid open, revealing a dark, expansive space.
The muffled sounds of their Data Beasts echoed from across the room.
Kris' group entered to the next Course.
"Terra!" Thursday called out, his voice filled with urgency.
"Tidy! We're coming!" Belle shouted excitedly, eager to share the news with her Data Beast.
The others joined in, calling for their own Data Beasts, but Kris raised his arm to stop them from rushing forward.
As the door behind them closed, darkness enveloped the room, swallowing any light.
"Hold me!" Chansey cried, hugging the nearest person.
"Get away from me!" Selina shouted, startled.
"Who touched my back?" Thursday exclaimed, alarmed.
Necho, standing beside him, groaned, "It was me, you idiot!"
Belle reached out her hands, feeling a wave of fear wash over her. As she fumbled in the dark, she suddenly grasped something warm.
"Whose arm am I holding?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"It's mine," came Kris's deep voice, reassuring her.
"Can I hold you? I'm scared, Kris," she said, hugging his arm tightly.
'He smells so good,' she thought, inhaling his comforting scent savoring it.
"It's okay, Belle," Kris replied, steadying his voice for the group. "I have a plan. Selina, call out to your Data Beast and use Light Manipulation. Focus it on the ceiling."
"Alright, Kris!" Selina cupped her hands to amplify her voice. "Luminara! Use Light Manipulation! Focus it above the ceiling!"
Her command echoed through the dark room.
The Data Beasts, sensing their trainers' voices, began to stir.
All they could see was Pyro's fiery mane, casting a warm glow.
Concern flickered among them, but Pyro reassured them with a comforting meow, as if to say,
'Trust our Trainers. They will think of a plan to reunite with us!'
Then they heard Selina's voice calling for Luminara.
Pyro meowed again, signaling Luminara to follow the command without hesitation.
With a flutter of her wings, Luminara spun, releasing a burst of light that shot upward, illuminating the ceiling.
"There they are!" Chansey exclaimed, her voice brightening with hope.
"But we need to navigate this maze first to reach them."
The light provided some illumination, but the room remained largely dark.
Kris nodded, placing his hand on the right wall, recalling a strategy he learned in the Marine Corps.
He remembered that following the wall with one hand, though slow, was a reliable method for finding an exit in mazes with simple, connected walls.
'Should I do it like that?' Kris pondered.
Necho stepped closer, sensing Kris's contemplation. "What are you thinking, Kris? Can we help?"
"Hey, Necho," Kris replied,
"I was considering the right-hand rule. You keep your hand on the wall and follow it until you reach the end. But that could take forever."
"We trust you, mate. Just do what feels right," Thursday chimed in, encouragement evident in his tone.
"You literally carried us through to the final course. Even if we fail now, I'd still be proud of what we accomplished."
Necho interjected, "Why are you trying to make this emotional?!"
Kris chuckled softly, grateful for the support from his friends despite the overwhelming darkness.
"Alright, give me a minute to prepare maybe I could think of something else."
Kris focused his thoughts and called out to Genesis in his mind.
"Host, how may I help you?" came the calm voice of Genesis.
"Genesis, can you scan the room for any other Data Beasts?" Kris asked, urgency lacing his tone.
"Alright, Host."
[Scanning the room...]
"Host, five Data Beasts have been detected, including your own."
Kris pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration creeping in. "That's our Data Beasts," he muttered, his mind racing.
"Genesis, can you locate them?"
"Yes, Host."
"Even in this dark room?" Kris's eyes widened as he questioned, excitement coursing through him.
"Yes, Host."
"Alright, do it, Genesis," he instructed.
In an instant, Kris's vision shifted, revealing five red shapes from far away it was their Data Beasts.
They were all clustered together, their forms faintly illuminated against the dark backdrop.
"Alright, everyone! I have a plan!" Kris called out, gathering his group closer.
"Let's hold hands so we don't get lost in the maze. I've calculated the path to the exit, and I'm 80% sure we can make it. If you trust me, let's go. If not, you can stay."
Everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination as they nodded in agreement.
They then turned to Kris, their voices united.
"We trust you, Kris! Lead the way!"
"Even if we get lost, I don't mind," Selina added with a grin.
"We can just surrender anyway."
With hands tightly clasped, they set off, guided by Kris's confidence.