Two Teacups (2)
Just before that knee strike could gain momentum, my fist slammed into the right side of Gideon's knee joint. It was pure instinct. His trajectory bent, and the knee grazed past my eye, tearing the skin. In that instant, the eyes we locked held nothing but pure thrill. And in his gaze, my own eyes reflected back—brimming with the exhilaration of combat.
I planted my hand on the floor, spun around, and swept his leg out from under him.
"Yes...! That's the Ilsea Alerzar I know!"
Even as he fell, he shouted it. I aimed a punch straight at his face. I knew his intentions, so I planned to pull it just enough. Show him too much fight, and who knew how big this could blow up.
But then—
An invisible force crushed my arm. Like an unseen hand gripping it. And that hand hurled me toward the corner of the classroom.
I didn't resist the power.
Thud-crash!
I slammed into the classroom wall. Gideon and his uninvited crew whipped around to face the sudden interloper. They'd lost their thrilling brawl—or their blood-pumping spectacle—and their glares were feral. But the moment they saw who it was, even they had to back down.
Because the year-top student was there.
"What are you doing in my classroom?"
Ronari Sharino pointed at them with her slender, empty hand. But they paled as if a crossbow was aimed at their heads. Gideon alone didn't seem cowed. Though even he raised both hands in surrender soon enough.
"Oh, no idea Her Majesty was here."
"Sounds like you'd have gone at it all day if I hadn't shown up. Or is that my misunderstanding?"
For some reason, it felt like she glared at me when she said "misunderstanding." Just my imagination?
"Quick on the uptake. Must be the year-top perks."
No, Gideon, you bastard—don't just admit it like that...
"I'll report this to the academy."
"Do what you want. You killed the vibe anyway. We can throw down again on the way to the staff room."
"Knock yourselves out. As long as you delinquents don't cause trouble in my class, I don't care."
Ronari's icy expression directed them to the exit. Gideon and his gang had no choice but to leave. I wanted to bail with them, but unfortunately, this was our division's classroom.
I brushed myself off and stood. "Look, to clear up any misunderstanding, this was—"
"Misunderstanding."
Ronari cut me off without mercy.
"It's fine. No need to explain to me. Tell it to the professors."
"Hey."
"What do I care what you do?"
With that, she turned and walked out. Probably off to report the incident.
"..."
My stomach twisted. I'd told myself earlier I wouldn't blame others, but this was different.
In my head, I cursed Gideon out. Gideon, you son of a bitch. You made this ten times worse. What if Ronari digs into my unauthorized overnight stays now?
I swallowed my boiling rage, righted the fallen chair. Ronari would bring Ruda back soon. Ruda, pissed about her lunch break, would wreck me. My hard-earned discipline points were about to take a hit, and...
Things with Ronari just got worse.
"Haa..."
I sighed, facing the inferno already blazing in my mind's eye. Things had gone south, so she would show up soon enough. Fanning the flames.
"Hey! Idiot! Couldn't hold it together for five minutes without me and went at it with Gideon? Word's already spreading! Half from me, sure!"
Belica's beaming face made me want to die a little.
......
"Look at the mess you've made, you bastard."
"Heh, wasn't it fun for once? Right?"
"Shut it, morons."
Ruda's switch cracked across my head and Gideon's. Damn.
"What are you, kids? Still brawling? In my class, no less. Want me to break every bone in your bodies?"
"It wasn't me who started—"
Urk!
Ruda's fist hammered my gut. Pain like my insides were pierced shut me up.
"Didn't I say shut it."
"Serves you right, dumbass."
Urk!
Gideon's smug face got the same treatment.
We dangled upside down from the highest pull-up bar in the gym, clutching our aching stomachs side by side.
"Idiots. If you can't control the stupid in your thick skulls, vent it in the ranking tournament. Not dusting up the classroom. Or do you want me to dust you?"
We shook our heads, mouths clamped shut. Satisfied with our silence, Ruda turned toward the exit.
"You morons stay like that till dinner. I'll come back after afternoon classes. Or after dinner, once you're rested. If even one's gone, I'll grind you both into paste. Got it?"
"..."
"..."
Our silence lingered long after Ruda left. I spoke first.
"So, what now, you bastard hanging next to me."
"What now, you bastard hanging next to me."
Gideon chuckled. What the hell were we gonna do?
"My points and rep are trashed because of you..."
"Your rep's been garbage since last year. Don't pin it on me."
"It was garbage, but I'd been recovering lately. Now it's all fish food thanks to you."
"Haha. Your problem."
This damn guy—if I weren't tied up, I'd kick his groin.
"And why today of all days? My luck's already in the toilet..."
"When's your shitty life not in the toilet? What, things been better lately?"
"You little shit, getting cocky—"
Hah. Forget it. No point talking.
Not like we'd throw down again. But Gideon spoke up this time.
"Seriously, though—why the climb?"
"Climb what."
"The rankings, obviously. Your rank shot up outta nowhere, so I thought maybe you were serious now. But from that attitude, nah."
I snorted. "Figured that. You pick a fight just to check?"
"Why else would I grace an ugly mug like yours? Idiot?"
"Idiot's you, starting shit in class instead of just requesting a spar."
"Like you'd show your real stuff in a spar."
"Then why drag your whole crew and make a scene?"
"What scene? Just wanted a throwdown like old times."
Hah. Absurd enough for a hollow laugh. Yeah, Gideon Hoenfried was that guy. Only knew how to talk with fists. Ignored anyone he didn't see as a rival, but charged headlong at intriguing ones. Mad dog.
Even in second year, he hadn't changed. I'd thought we were done, but Gideon was still Gideon.
"So, you kept it low-key to stay off radars. Then why smash Lorband? Had me thinking last year's mad dog Ilsea Alerzar was back."
"You're the mad dog."
"Whatever. Spill—why the sudden mood swing?"
"..."
Should I just tell him straight? I hesitated, but after getting burned yesterday for bullshitting, I didn't want more lies.
"That bastard just pissed me off."
"Ha, he does. Always chasing skirts. Wasn't it over Ronari Sharino that time too?"
"Yeah."
"But you? You've been laying low like a coward. Even taking hits first this year."
"You stalking me too...?"
"Nah, just stuff that floats around. But you? Who's tailing you?"
I shook my head. Maybe Belica's paranoia was rubbing off.
"Anyway... if not for you, my peaceful life might've held. My old notoriety was finally fading, but you..."
"Still obsessing over rep like a loser. There's a better way, y'know? Don't get why you're taking the long road."
"What're you on about?"
"Wanna flip your shitty rep? Prove it with skill. Crush 'em so no one dares talk. On the arena stage!"
Gideon said.
"Come back now. Show your stuff."
Yeah. That's what you came for. But if that fixed everything, I'd have done it already.
I shut my mouth.
"Coward."
No comeback for his mutter either.
......
By dinner, Ruda cut us loose. As I rubbed my raw ankles from hours dangling, she said,
"Ilsea Alerzar, principal's office."
I didn't blurt again? in front of Ruda. Leaving Gideon—who'd kept calling me coward—I headed there obediently. He'd get a smack from her anyway.
"Fought again? Idiot."
Teresa said it the second I entered.
"..."
Plenty to say, but I held back. Whining to her after clamming up in front of Ruda would look pathetic.
"...Sorry. Won't happen again."
"Heard that ten times last year."
She slammed a stamp on her papers. Probably my discipline point settlement.
"Can't reduce your points anyway."
"Wasn't asking. So, if we're done, respected principal, can I go?"
"Hold up, sit. Got something to say."
"Not bragging about Eli's gifts again. I don't have any this time..."
Since I ruined them.
"Not chit-chat. Sit."
"..."
I slumped onto the sofa. Teresa took the seat opposite.
"Yeah, out with it. Wanna hear and bounce."
"How about focusing on ranking tournament scores again?"
"...?"
What? Her too? Gideon poisoned her?
"What? Rankings are public, even outside academy. You'd know best, right? But why..."
"Till now, you couldn't stand out with scores. Right. Folks who don't want Alerzar rising were watching you."
"And?"
"Situation's changed."
Teresa's voice was low, serious—unlike her usual tone.