Chapter 10

"All right! we're saved!" Jaspher shouted as he looked down at the ground.

Everyone seemed filled with joy and relief, Elizabeth seemed like she was about to burst with tears, as Layla's eyes began to let out a tear.

Everyone was overly joyed, except for Yuji and Erina, who only had a normal expressions on their faces.

Five soldiers came close to them to check if they were ok, splitting the soldiers, most of them went toward Erina.

"Alright, if everyone is fine then come with us, we'll Evacuate this city now," said the only woman in the military group, wearing a different uniform than the others.

"Wait!" Erina said, "there's a facility nearby with other students, they're currently holding their ground there,".

"Others?" Said the women, "would you kindly specify their class?"

"Huh?" said Erina, sounding shocked.

"Can you tell us their class? that will determine if we're going to go there," said the woman.

"class..." Erina said in a low voice, she then shouted "CLASS! CLASS!? WHY DOES THAT MATTER EVEN AT THIS POINT!?"

Everyone was stunned speechless, hearing her shout.

"The government is trying to prioritize those who are likely to help humanity," said the woman, "is there anything wrong with that?"

"That's!" Erina tried to counter.

"IF YOU WANT TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE, THEN TELL ME IF THERE IS A SINGLE HIGH CLASS THERE!" the woman shouted, "that would be enough reason,".

Erina gripped her hands, and with a grumpy face, she looked away, "there's 2 I think... An A-class," she said.

"Then that should be enough reason, we're going to get them quickly and get out of this city," said the woman.

"Wait!" Ryan said, "by leaving this city... do you mean..."

"This city is done for," said the woman, "The breach was critical and an archdemon got in the city, and it's currently heading this way..."

Hearing that, everyone's faces suddenly tensed up, as the feeling of intense nervousness came crawling back at their body.

"Archdemon... is heading here?" Layla said in a shaky voice, as sweat drips from the side of her forehead.

"That's why we need to hurry," Said the woman, "You, miss S class," she said as she pointed out Erina, "You're coming with us while your friends here get taken into custody and Evacuate,".

"HUH!?" said Erina.

"Two of my men will lead them to the others, and you come with us to help show the way to this facility, it will be a lot faster that way wouldn't it?" The woman said, "or did your resolve to help changed, knowing you'll be separated from them?"

Erina looked at Yuji with a very worried face.

"I'll be ok," Yuji said "go help them, I'm going to be just fine," he smiled at Erina as he encouraged her to go.

Erina straightened her face as she looked straight at the woman.

"We don't have too much time," the woman said, "what's the decision?"

"Let's go," Erina said, as she walked forward to the woman.

The woman smiled, "you two, take them to the others," as the two soldiers gathered close to Yuji and the others.

"Others?" Yuji thought.

"Don't do anything stupid, ok?" said Erina looking directly at Yuji.

Yuji smiled and showed a thumbs up.

And so, they separated.

Erina, along with the woman had two soldiers behind them, as Yuji and the others ran in the other direction with the two soldiers leading them.

A few minutes later.

As Yuji and the others, along with the two militaries leading them, ran in the hallways, Yuji had an unsettling feeling.

"what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked Yuji, as they keep running, "it seems like, you thought of something,".

Layla slowed down matching his pace.

"What's going on?" Layla asked, following their pace

Ryan and Jaspher matched their pace as well. Not being too far from the soldiers in front of them, Yuji began to talk.

"It's just that, we've been running for a while now, and I don't see any other soldiers around..."

"Maybe they're clearing the area," said Layla.

"If they were, then how come there's Akumas right in front of us..." said Yuji.

Everyone looked forward and saw two students freshly turned into Akumas, swaying in front of them from a distance.

The two soldiers ran faster and used the back of their guns to hit the Akuma's heads.

The Akumas quickly fell down on the ground, as Everyone ran past them.

"Maybe they just missed them?" Jaspher said.

"I'm not going to say that's impossible," Yuji said, "but for Elite's to make that mistake, is highly doubtful," "you can see by their uniforms that their elites, it's unlike the ones we've seen regularly... They're the ones who take on... Special missions,"

"then, what do you think is going on?" Elizabeth said.

"This... might be a rescue mission, just for a specific person," said Yuji.

"You mean Erina, right?" said Ryan, "if that's true then why would they take Erina on such a risk, knowing that an archdemon is coming this way?"

"They probably thought that Erina won't come with them unless they help the others," said Yuji.

"You got a point, but what made them think that?" said Layla, "I mean they quickly gave in, don't you think?"

"That's because it's not the first time we met that woman," Yuji said,

"even long ago, they tried to take away Erina to City A, but she would refuse every time, saying she doesn't need to go there to get stronger. Every few days they just come and come, trying to convince Erina to go, but she just wouldn't. Until this one girl showed up about a year ago, she had long white hair, she was probably two years older than us, she was a high class, and possibly one of the strongest ones,"

"did they force their way by fighting Erina?" Jaspher asked.

"Nope," Yuji continued, "The white-haired woman offered to train Erina here, and then one day go to city A for official training," "Erina couldn't believe that she needed the extra training since she trains herself every day while keeping up with the school's regular assessment of her, after hearing that, the white-haired woman offered a sparing, with their abilities included,"

"With their abilities!?" said Jaspher, "what happened?"

Yuji giggled and said, "Erina got completely crushed, she wasn't even able to land a blow, more or less touch her,"

"That woman must be really strong," said Ryan, "what was her..."

The soldiers in front of them suddenly shouted, "we're here! everyone come quick," ending their conversation.

with that, they ran faster towards the door in front of them.

"That door... wait is that the cafeteria!?" Ryan said, "I just noticed, this cafeteria is really near the exit of the school!"

"Then they must be gathering people first before moving out," Yuji said, "the woman did say to lead us to the others..."

The two soldiers, along with everyone stopped in front of the door.

one of the soldiers knocked at the door and said " It's us!"

the door opened, and another soldier with the same uniform as the ones with them welcomed them.

They took a step inside the cafeteria and had a look around.

The other two doors leading to other hallways were barricaded by tables and chairs along with multiple people scattered in the cafeteria.

As they entered the cafeteria mumbles from people around the area started to begin.

"new people are coming," "hey isn't that?"

"Woah it's the weakling" "how is he still alive?"

"he must be really lucky" "lucky for him but not for us," "why?" "he would just hold us back, wouldn't he?" "Never mind him, look at that," "the red-haired guy, that's a high class,"

Elizabeth, Layla, and Jaspher frowned their faces as if they were irritated.

"so, you go through this kind of thing a lot huh?" said Layla.

Yuji took a look at their faces and chuckled, "are you guys getting irritated for me?" he let out a faint laugh, "you don't have to, I'm used to this,"

As they keep looking around the mumbling continued.

"Wait the red-haired one?"

"Apparently, his ability is for a high class but useless,"

"What!?, how?"

"He can make like an earthquake occur knocking everyone down except for him,"

"isn't that pretty awesome?"

"Unfortunately, he can't move as he keeps his ability active, or else he will fall too, haha" "HAHAHA, that's hilarious,"

"He's like a sacrifice,"

Yuji and the others looked at Ryan.

"I'm also... used to this kind of thing..." said Ryan, "actually I was more shocked by YOUR reactions,".

While talking, a male student with a familiar face walked toward them.

As the person got close, Yuji recognized the face, it was the rectangular-faced student, who tried to hit Yuji with a training ball, before everything that happened.

"I'm surprised to see you again," the rectangular-faced student said, as he stopped in front of them, "Where's Miss Erina? is she not protecting you?" he said in a taunting tone.

"She's out there trying to save more people," Yuji replied, with a straight face.

The rectangular-faced student chuckled, "of course, you would definitely just hold her back," he said as he continues to walk, "oh and when I said I was surprised, I meant both of you," he said as the rectangular faced student stared directly at Ryan, with Ryan staring back.

And so, the rectangular-faced student left.

"You know him?" Yuji asked Ryan.

"Yeah" Ryan replied, "his name is jack, he's also an A-class,".

After a few minutes, a soldier who was with them earlier came walking toward them.

"umm, could you kids move over?" said the soldier as he pointed his finger on the ground behind them.

they turned around and they saw a pale man laying down on the ground, with closed eyes.

"A DEAD BODY!?" Jaspher shouted.

The said dead body quickly stood up and slapped Jaspher's head.

SMACK*

"You're so loud, dang it!" said the pale man, "And who are you calling a dead body!?" he shouted.

"The dead body talked!" Yuji and the others said in surprise.

"Is it an Akuma?" said Jaspher.

"I'm not, but I just might kill you, for accusing me of one," said the pale man in a low and sleepy voice.

"That's not an Akuma," the soldier said as he chuckles a bit, "That's our vice-captain, Mr. Gin,".

Gin was wearing a different kind of uniform, it was alike to the woman with Erina but designed for men, and unlike the other soldiers, he wasn't wearing a helmet.

"All you people, always give that kind of reaction, did facing Akumas all traumatized you!?" said the pale man, as if he was insulting them.

"No," the soldier said while he let out a small laugh, "I think just seeing you lie down with your eyes closed is enough to cause a misunderstanding,".

"I haven't had a good sleep for three days, what can I do?" said Gin.

the soldier coughed as he gets back to being serious.

"Anyways ma'am said to stand by, we should be leaving soon," said the soldier.

"Hehe, as expected, she wouldn't leave with us unless we help out who we can," said Gin, "though, I didn't expect her to separate from you," he said as he looked directly at Yuji.

"Oh, you remember me?" said Yuji.

"How couldn't I, whenever we try and convince that girl you were always there with her," said Gin.

"I thought you guys weren't paying attention to me," Yuji said.

"We thought you were one of the main reasons why she doesn't want to leave, how could we not pay attention?" said Gin.

"That's stupid, she had her very reason to stay here, and just didn't have enough reason to go," said Yuji.

"How do you know that?" said Gin.

"She told me herself," Yuji replied.

"You're really close to Erina aren't you?" said Ryan.

"She didn't want to ditch her boyfriend and go to another city, but she left your side in this kind of situation," said Gin "your girlfriend sure has some faith in you," he said in a teasing tone.

"That's! she's not my girlfriend!" Yuji said being bashful.

Gin laughed at the sight of Yuji's sudden change of expression.

"Your... not her boyfriend?" said Elizabeth.

Layla's eyes enlarged along with Gin, as Gin laughed harder.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"No! it's... not like that," said Yuji, still being bashful.

"I see..." Elizabeth walks back beside Layla.

"So, this kind of thing, can get you out of your composure huh?" said Ryan in a taunting tone.

"Shut up..." said Yuji.

Suddenly all the soldier's communication tools began to ring, in an alarming tone