The morning sunlight began to spill over SPARK High School's soccer field, casting a warm glow on the dew-kissed grass. In one corner, the volunteer club—which Shae, Rin, and Alice had reluctantly joined—was buzzing with excitement as they recruited new members. However, the cheerful atmosphere quickly soured when a fight erupted during a soccer match.
At the edge of the field, a 14-year-old junior named Mio stood frozen. He had just scored a crucial goal, but instead of cheers, he was met with Kaiser's sarcastic jeers.
"You think you're so great? That goal was just luck!" Kaiser sneered, his words slicing through Mio's confidence.
Mio lowered his gaze, refusing to respond. Meanwhile, Shae, Rin, and Alice watched the scene unfold, their blood boiling. They had always seen Mio as a younger brother, and witnessing this injustice ignited their anger. Shae's attention, however, shifted to another figure standing nearby—Captain Levi.
Levi stood silently, his expression unreadable. To the trio, his silence only fueled their frustration. Without a second thought, Shae stepped forward, finger pointed accusatorily at Levi.
"What's your problem, Captain Levi? If you have an issue with Mio, you deal with me!" Shae's voice rang out, drawing the attention of students surrounding the field.
Levi raised an eyebrow, seemingly taken aback by the confrontation. With a resigned sigh, he replied sharply, "Oh, so you want to interfere? Get off the field if you can't play properly!"
His words stoked Shae's fighting spirit. Without hesitation, she issued a challenge. "Alright, Captain. I challenge you to a one-on-one match, right here, right now! If I lose, I'll clean the stadium for a month and carry all the soccer equipment to storage every day. But if you lose, you'll give up your captain title and become our assistant for a month!"
Excitement rippled through the crowd. All eyes were on them as the tension built. Levi locked eyes with Shae, a moment of silence stretching between them before he finally nodded.
"Fine. I accept your challenge."
As the match began, Shae unleashed her martial arts prowess, executing her signature technique, Lightning Tempest. Her rapid movements caught Levi off guard, forcing him to stumble backward until he fell onto the grass, panting heavily.
A hush fell over the field before Levi raised his hand in surrender. "Alright… I admit it. I'll accept my punishment. I don't want to cause any more trouble."
Shae grinned, and Rin and Alice quickly produced a form, handing it to Levi and Mio.
"Mio, Levi—sign here as proof that you've agreed to join our volunteer club. And remember, a promise is a promise!" Alice said cheerfully, though a hint of mischief danced in her eyes.
Still bewildered but resigned, Mio and Levi signed the form. The three girls exchanged knowing glances, small smiles on their lips—smiles full of hidden intentions.
A few hours later, they headed toward the school auditorium for an important assembly. Upon entering, they spotted a 30-year-old woman—Ms. Lily—standing at the front. Known for her strict yet caring demeanor, she clapped her hands to gather attention.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats. Today, we have a special guest. Let me introduce the CEO of BETWEENSM—"
"HELLO, students! I'd like to introduce MR. PEANUT, the CEO of BETWEENSM & H.E.X!"
The auditorium fell into stunned silence, followed by hushed whispers of shock.
"No way… he's the CEO of the largest hunter agency in the country!" Levi exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"And people say he's as wealthy as emperors and nobles!" another student murmured.
A man stepped forward, a relaxed smile on his face, yet the authority he radiated commanded silence.
"Fufu… such spirited youths," he said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
Shae, Rin, and Alice exchanged glances, a shared understanding passing between them. They knew—something significant was about to unfold.
TO BE CONTINUED…