Chapter 53

"I've been wanting to talk to you," Liz said.

"Eh?" Layla said.

"Why look so surprised?" Liz said, in a calm manner, "I was one of the ones that recommended you, is it weird?".

"N... No ma'am!" Layla said, "she switched pretty fast," she thought.

"So? How was the first day?" Liz asked.

"To be honest... That was a lot to take in,"

"Ah yes, they made you catch up the knowledge we have in City A, it is pretty understandable, considering how much your City was behind in information,".

"Yes, but I think I got most of the important parts," Layla said.

"Really? Then that's great," Liz said, sounding relieved, "then do you know about the upcoming event in five days?"

"Yes, I do," Layla said, "I pretty much can understand what it's for, and how it functions too,".

"That's nice," Liz said, "then I'll be looking forward to your improvement in the next five days,"

"Eh?" Layla said, feeling confused.

"I'm going to be watching what you can do on the day of the test," Liz said, "oh! I think this hasn't been mentioned before, the test will also be considered as your entrance exam,"

"Entrance exam?" Layla questioned.

"The results of the test there will determine your place in the school, specifically your ranking, right now the uniform the two of you are wearing is already a symbol of high ranks in the school you're about to enter,".

"EH!?" Layla said in shock, "this is quite a pressure... I wonder if I'll do well," she said in a nervous tone.

"You're very perceptive and have a strong sense of awareness," Liz said, "I noticed a strong potential in you in that time when we were traveling to get here,"

Layla sat straight and paid full attention.

"Your perception, the way you handled your situation, and your call-outs were on point and was a huge help," Liz said, "in battle, not everything is about strength, thanks to you using your ability that time, you were able to give us accurate info on how much Akumas there are and their location. Everyone has a role to play, and all it depends on is how good they are at it, I picked you for those reasons. Once again, I'm looking forward to what you'll show on the day of the rank test,"

Layla smiled enthusiastically, "yes ma'am!" She said in a joyful tone, as Liz smiles back at her.

Liz stood up, "if that's all you wanted, you can leave now," she said, "I have somewhere else to go too,"

"Thank you, ma'am," Layla said, standing up, "if I may ask, how did you know what was troubling my mind?".

"Just intuition," Liz said, ", it's something I should say to you actually, the reason why you were picked,".

"Thank you, ma'am," Layla said, taking her leave with a smile.

Soon after, Layla went home to her apartment and had a change of clothes.

"Alright!" looking confident about her clothes as she stares at the mirror, "it's only about 4:30 pm, she won't mind if I visited her at a time like this right?" She thought.

And so, Layla walked out of her apartment and made her way to the stairs beside her door, " luckily she's just right above my apartment, so it's not a drag to come over," she thought.

With her newly found resolve, she smiled brightly and knocked on Erina's door.

"Who is it?" after a short moment a voice came out of the speaker beside the door.

"Oh, I've seen this before," Layla said, "if I'm right, I need to press this button so she can hear me,".

"No need," Erina said, through the speaker, "I can hear you from here as long as I keep this open,".

"Oh! I see," Layla said.

Click*

The door let out a clicking sound as it unlocked.

"It's unlocked now, you can come in, Layla,"

"She didn't sound like she was near the door," Layla thought, "then I'm coming in," she said, placing her hands on the handle.

Layla opened the door, and noticing no one near it, "so this door can remotely be unlocked," she said, "is she just lying in her room and was too lazy to pick up the door?" She thought.

Layla left her shoes out the floorboard and slowly walked through the short hall of the apartment, "I didn't know Erina could be a lazy bum sometimes," she thought, "well, there's still a lot I don't know about her, so I'm happy to get to know her more,".

Suddenly Erina appeared at the end of the hall, standing right in front of Layla.

"So, you came," Erina said, "I got some drinks in the fridge, you want some?".

"E... Erina!?" Layla said being shocked.

"Hm?" Erina tilted her head in confusion.

"What are you wearing? Were you working out just now?" Layla said, being mesmerized by Erina.

Layla was shocked Looking at Erina, as she was wearing tight cycling shorts for her bottom along with a sports bra as her top.

"She... She's extremely hot!" Layla thought, "those curve lines... That nice stomach..." She began to stare at Erina's legs, showing a slight blush, "and those..."

"Such thick legs..." Layla said.

"EH!?" Erina said in an embarrassed tone, " w... what are you looking at!?" She said being self-conscious.

"I'm going to change! sit down there while I do," Erina said.

"No, there's no need for that," Layla said, "please, stay like that a little longer," she said looking carefully at Erina's body.

"THEN QUIT STARING!" Erina shouted.

A few minutes later, Erina and Layla sat down in the living room with drinks in each hand.

"So, what did you want to talk about," Erina asked, as she opened her canned juice.

"Um, before that, can I ask something?" Layla said, "do you always work out at this kind of time?".

"Not necessarily," Erina said, "when I got the time to work out in the morning, I won't push myself at the afternoon, the important thing is I work out at least once in a day,"

"I see..." Layla said.

"There wasn't much time this morning so I only did some stretches," Erina said.

"Tomorrow we'll start some physical training, they say. are you still going to work out by then?"

"Yeah," Erina replied, "though it's probably going to be lighter than my usual ones,".

"Then... Can I join you!?" Layla said enthusiastically, "if you don't mind that is..."

Erina was slightly surprised, "can I ask why?".

"I... Want to be stronger," Layla said, "I know... Working out won't be too big of a help for my ability, but if I'm going to use my mind advantageously, I want my body to keep up!"

"That's right..." Erina said with a smile, "your way of thinking is right,".

Erina stood up from her seat, slowly approaching Layla, "being in a better shape can give you more options and advantages when you least expect it," Erina said, "you may say it's not much, but it all really depends on how much help of it you could see,".

Layla nodded, "so... Is that a yes?" She asked.

"We can start tomorrow," Erina said, "a little earlier than this would be nice, our classes take early in the morning and half the afternoon, this kind of time would be the best,".

"I see!" Layla said enthusiastically.

"But if we have time in the morning, that would be better, so if we got nothing scheduled on the morning then we'll do it then,".

Layla nodded enthusiastically.

"You're quite hyped up for this," Erina said.

"Hehe, you think so?" Layla said.

"By the way, I'm cooking tonight, you want to stay over?" Erina said.

"Woah! You can cook too?" Layla said enthusiastically.

"Tomorrow is Thursday, and the rank test is in five days," Erina thought, "we're gonna have to work hard before Monday comes,".