Hearing the question, Audrey's eyes widened so much from shock it seemed like they were going to fall off. She immediately regretted leaving the letter in a moment of weakness.
"I...ah". She didn't know what to say.
"Don't try to cover it up, I can even show you the letter. But if you don't want to tell me, it's fine, it's your decision.... though I was starting to think that we could finally start acting like a family, I guess I was wrong. I'm tired, I'm going to sleep". Layla spoke while looking at Audrey, the more she spoke, the more tears clouded her eyes, at the end, she was even crying, which made her look away.
She then layed down on the huge blanket they had placed on the ground to sleep on claiming she wanted to sleep. Seeing this, Audrey's heart hurt, she couldn't understand how this girl still cared so much for her despite how cold she had acted all these years. She was left not knowing what to do.
What she didn't know was that even from a younger age, Layla had long figured out that she was acting, she just didn't expose the fact that she knew. Audrey was way too attentive for someone who didn't care. She provided Layla with everything she needed over the year's, sometimes even before she asked. Her reason always being "I'm keeping up appearances". And whenever Layla got sick, Audrey's act would show quite a number of glaring cracks. Anyway, what mattered the most is that both of them secretly loved each other a lot so Audrey keeping such a thing from Layla really hurt her. Especially even when she knew she already knew.
"I'm sorry Layla, but I feel that the more you know, the more my death will hurt you and I don't want that.". Audrey said while looking at Layla who was facing away from her with a sad look in her eyes as well as resolution to not say anything.
The other girls just listened on without saying anything, they felt like this was a family matter and they also couldn't do anything to change it so might as well stay silent. But of course hearing that Audrey had cancer was close to death also made them sad.
"But who said you were going to die?"
Before Layla could say anything, a male voice was heard from the door. There a young good-looking man who looked to be twenty, short black hair, grey eyes, wearing a grey track bottom, black t-shirt and a friendly smile plastered on his face.
"Who..." Audrey was about to ask who the young man was. She was so disorientated that she had forgotten seeing him beat up a whole gang earlier as well as interact with the girls.
"Muku Chisen, at your service. I'm also the proud teacher of these girls here. You must be Ms Knight, Layla's mother, nice to meet you". Muku spoke after interrupting Audrey while bowing down a bit.
"Sir!" The girls all shouted before jumping on Muku for a hug. Even the "tired and sleepy Layla". It had only been a few hours at best but to them it felt like forever. They just didn't feel their best without him in their line of sight.
"Ey!, who told you you could hug me whenever you feel like it. And all at once too, are you trying to ruin my reputation and by making Ms Knight misunderstand the situation!? Ow! Who pinched me!?, come on, do it to my face!, Jade I know it's you!". Muku was flustered by the unexpected situation, he didn't think they'd miss him so much in such little time. He the began spouting random things until somebody pinched him on the back. It was a group hug with him in the middle of five girls so he couldn't tell who did it but Jade was his first suspect for obvious reasons.
(A/N: Lucky bastard, I haven't hugged a girl since 2023!)
"It wasn't me!". Jade quickly shouted in protest as they all let go of the hug. Though the shout was more to shake off the embarrassment than to protest, though it really wasn't her. The girls now stood around Muku looking embarrassed at what they just did, especially in front of Audrey, Layla wanted to just dig a hole on the spot and hide fit eternity. Though the ever oblivious Hope still had a silly smile on her face, if it wasn't because she felt the others let go, she definitely wouldn't have. She had long started seeing Muku as her big brother, just hadn't said it yet.
"Okay brats, sit down, we have business to discuss". Muku shooed them off as he sat on a chair. The girls went back on to sit on the cloth were Audrey was. It was were they were going to sleep. All this was happening in front of Audrey's yes which had narrowed a bit seeing how four of the girls looked at Muku, including her Layla surprisingly. But seeing how he shrugged them off, she relaxed a bit, at least it didn't seem like he had done anything inappropriate to any of them. Even looked like he was fighting them off.
"Now Ms Knight, I'd like to explain my statement from earlier if you don't mind". Muku said while looking at Audrey.
"Umm, aren't you a little too young to be a teacher?". Instead of replying to what he said, she asked a question that had been bothering her since she saw him.
"Ah right that, it has been a while since someone asked me that. You see ma'am the truth of the matter is...I'm a genius like non ever seen before.". Muku replied with a serious expression as if stating nothing but fact. Audrey was dumbstruck by his reply and didn't know what to say. The girls, although familiar with his narcissism that would leak out every now and then couldn't help but roll their eyes at his statement.
"Oh.." that's the only thing Audrey could think to say even after thinking for a moment.
"Umm sir, what did you mean before?". Layla asked, she was eager to know if he had a way to save her mother.
"Right, just as I was saying, I've observed that sometimes, the way a person evolves is directly linked to their body situation. Examples of this are Tom who was likely a bodybuilder before and got a class that involves a boost in his strength, his brother is likely the same with his lanky body. An even more solid example is John the hawk eyes guy, I heard that before evolution he actually had terrible eyesight and couldn't see without glasses. Then there's an example closer to home, Jade here, she was the ace of the athletics team, so her getting a physical type class shouldn't be a coincidence....."
"....As for the rest of us with elemental powers, maybe there are hidden qualities in our bodies which led to our super high affinities with our elements, giving us our classes.". Muku paused after saying this much, giving the group some time to think on it. He really wasn't joking when he said he was super smart before, though his conjecture is something anyone would have been able to come up with sooner or later. But the difference is how he has already thought of it so soon.
"So you're saying...". Layla trailed off not daring to finish her statement in fear she might be too hopeful.
"Yes, if we get your mother to Rank One, chances are, she will awaken a class that will fix her illness. Of course I'm not a hundred percent certain so lets not get to excited until we see what happens". Muku finished her statement and made sure that they understood that it was still just a theory of his.
"Now, Ms Knight, are you willing to try it out at least?". Muku asked Audrey while looking in her direction.
"Yes she is!". Before she could answer, Layla loudly exclaimed first and decided on her behalf. Which was understandable, this was they only way they could at least had a chance to save Audrey. Hell, even if the apocalypse didn't happen, Audrey's case was already too far gone to be saved by medical treatment. The best it could do was extend her life a bit before she died.
"But...isn't it too dangerous?". Audrey was hesitant, she didn't want to endanger someone's life on her account, especially when they were just operating on a theory.
"Umm, ma'am, with no disrespect, I think you are looking down on me a bit too much. Remember how easily I beat the punk gang before?, I wasn't even using ten percent of my power then". Muku said with a serious expression.
"Wait, you are....SIR SORRY FOR BEING SO RUDE!!, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!". Audrey suddenly shouted pleading for forgiveness, startling everyone. She had finally realised she was talking to the monster who took care of that evil gang so easily without even breaking a sweat using his mystic powers. And she already knew that the world was now ruled by the strong like him, and if he gets offended by her, he could easily kill her or do anything with her and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it, and with his strength, neither will anyone else. She had forgotten that he was Layla's teacher and didn't seem to be evil, she was just that scared.
"Layla, you take care of this, I'll go outside for a bit". Muku awkwardly got up and left the room, he really didn't know what to do in the situation. The mother of one of his students was kowtowing infront of him shaking in fear. He also knew that if he stayed in the room, calming her down would be hard.
.....
As he left the rest of the girls followed behind him. They also wanted to check out the stadium and going with him would be a lot more fun.
"So, what did you do with the punk gang anyway?". Jade asked the question all the girls wanted to know as they walked around the stadium.
"I...let them go". Muku said while avoiding eye contact.