Chapter 64

Somewhere in City A, at a park near the apartments, the sun was about set as Erina and Layla were jogging.

Erina stops, slightly panting, "let's call it a day,"

Layla stops behind her, breathing heavily, not being able to reply.

"Are you ok?" Erina asked, walking closer to her.

"I'm... Ok," still breathing heavily, "I can't believe you do this every day..."

"Like I said, if you can't handle it you don't have to push yourself to match up to me. You can have your own pace,"

Layla shook her head, "no... I can handle this... My body... Just isn't used to it yet,"

Erina slightly smiled as she recalls a memory of herself in Layla's situation.

Erina stepped back, "then, shall we start jogging back?"

"EH!?" Layla screamed, looking as if she was about to die.

Erina giggled, "I'm joking, come on let's walk," she said, as she walked past Layla, still breathing heavily.

Layla's eyes enlarged as she felt as if she saw a rare and precious sight, "she just... giggled?" She thought.

With a sudden burst of motivation, Layla ran towards Erina's back and slowly walked with her as she began to take deep breaths.

"I'll be cooking curry tonight," Erina said.

"Eh? Isn't it my turn tonight?"

"You don't want curry?"

"No, it's just..."

"Don't worry, I just feel like it,".

While walking, they suddenly crossed paths with a middle schooler-looking girl with three men in black walking behind her.

"That's!" Layla said in shock, "one of the three great sisters who are known here in City A, isn't she!?"

Erina became serious and cautious as they began to walk closer to each other, "such dignity and authority... And this aura she's emitting," she whispered.

"That's one of the strongest and top-ranked S class for you... I've only seen her in the news and pictures, but she's really like the princess of this city in person, isn't she? I wonder if her sisters are the same..."

Erina stayed silent as they came closer.

"Oh! Aren't you Erina?" The little girl said, lively running towards the two of them.

"Good evening to both of you!"

"G... good evening," Layla said, shaking with nervousness.

Erina bowed.

"Miss Gabriela! Pleases don't suddenly start running by yourself," one of the men in black said, running towards her.

"Oh come on, you guys are gonna be relieved of duty tomorrow anyway so you can take it easy,"

The soldiers stiffened, "maybe so... But we promised to do our duties till the end,"

*Sigh, "don't make such faces, will you? I'll make sure you all get a large bonus for lasting this long,"

All the men in black smiled brightly, unfitting their characters, they then bowed in sync, "thank you so much!"

"Jeez, that's what you all were waiting for weren't you,"

"What the heck is this..." Layla thought, being confused.

"Was I imagining things... Maybe overthinking?" Erina thought.

"Oh! Sorry for holding you two up. See what you guys did?"

"We're very sorry ma'am," the soldiers bowed in sync.

Erina made a blank face as Layla smiled normally, making a poker face.

"Sorry for holding you two, all I wanted to say was hi, hehe"

"That's all!?" Erina and Layla thought in sync.

"Also, I want to properly introduce myself to you two. My name is Gabriela Ainzberg, nice to meet you, and you two are Erina and..."

"Layla, ma'am," Layla said

"Ah! Yes, I'm so sorry for forgetting, I really am,"

"Eh? No, it's nothing, in fact, I'd be surprised if you knew me,"

"But I'll try to remember it now, for apologies I'll tell you a secret about the rank test that's coming in three days,"

"Secret?"

"If you win three matches in a row, you'll be placed in a match against someone with an S rank,"

"Eh!?"

"That match will serve as another test, that if you get past that S rank you'll be advancing your rank straight to the high ones,"

"That's amazing! But it definitely won't be easy..."

"Of course, it isn't, hehe, I just said that hoping that I motivate you somehow, oh! And it's probably best not to share this info with anyone so easily ok? Also, if you ever find yourself facing an S rank of this city, that means you are already sure to rank higher than normal, making you face against an S rank is just further testing of your skill after all,"

"Yes ma'am,"

"And as for you miss Erina,"

"Hm?"

Gabriela smiled and held Erina's hand, "I hope to see your best performance, I have high expectations for you..."

"I'd rather you not expect and put pressure on me,"

Gabriela let go of her hand, "Eh? I'm not pressuring you I swear! But I guess I understand why you'd see it that way, hehe,"

Gabriela looked at her watch, "oh! I forgot we still have to prepare, and it's almost dark too! I'm sorry for holding you two here so long, you two must be tired," she said as if she was in a hurry.

"No, it's been an honor," Layla smiled.

"Well then, I'll be going now!" Gabriela said, running forward.

"MISS GABRIELA!!" The men in black shouted, running after her.

"Oh! I almost forgot I have a friend who's been wanting to meet you! I'll introduce you to her someday ok!?" Gabriela shouted as she fades in the distance.

"Someone who wants to meet me?" Erina thought.

"I wonder who that could be, probably someone with a high position again!" Layla said.

"Who knows..." As if she doesn't care, Erina walked forward towards their apartment building.

After some time, darkness filled the sky as the city began to be filled with light.

"Agh!" Yukina stretched her arms as she was walking the streets, "it feels like it's been so long,"

"This place feels like a small village," Yuji said looking around, "there aren't many houses around,"

"That's because it is, This place is a small village for raising crops and other necessities for City A."

"I see, a city with a village... Hmmm..."

"Sounds kinda off, right?"

"Sort of..."

"Oh! Look over there!" Yukina pointed at the far distance, where city lights could be seen, shining from afar, glowing under the night sky.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Yukina said.

"It is..."

"That's the main part of the city, where mostly everything is,"

"Woah... This place is really big,"

"Heh, you've seen nothing yet, it took me years to actually get to every place of this city,"

"Years!?"

"Of course, finding a reason to go to those places counts, such as the budget for a semestral vacation and stuff,"

"Now that I think about it, you're still a student, right? Are you all on break or something?"

"Have you forgotten? There was a threatening situation that occurred near here too, and all of us students were put on breaks to be ready for deployment or get sent to other missions,"

"I see,"

"I know I said this before but... What happened to City D was completely unexpected, I thought I was going there just for a vacation after dealing with glutton, so don't blame anyone,"

"I'm not," Yuji smiled, "sorry, I just get reminded of that from time to time... And I can't believe it all just happened,"

Yukina placed her hand on Yuji's shoulder, "take your time,"

"EHEM!" Suddenly someone let out a loud cough from a distance.

"Sorry to interrupt you love birds but the car is full and we'll be going now," A guy in uniform said, teasing both of them.

"Oh shut up Rex!" Yukina said, being flustered, "why did our escort have to be you?"

Rex walked closer to them, "because your old man wanted someone he knows to accompany him and I was looking for a job, it's that simple,"

"Grrr," Yukina scowled.

"Anyway, we better get going," Rex said stretching his arms, "I already feel sleepy," he said as he walked away.

"You two seem pretty close," Yuji said.

"You think? I don't get along with him pretty well," Yukina began to walk, followed by Yuji, "honestly, I get along better with you despite knowing him for a while,"

"I...is that so," Yuji said, slightly being flustered as he averted his gaze.

"Huh? Are you blushing?"

"Eh!? Uh...no"

"Why are you blushing from that!?" Yukina began to be flustered.

"It's just I don't know how to react to that!"

"Oh! Yukina!" Joe shouted from a distance, "your little friend called,"

Rex laughed, "You think you're gonna get away with calling her that?" he said In a teasing tone, "Oh shut up, Yukina knows who I'm talking about, and I'll be fine, she's far from the others I believe,"

"Hmm, you think so?"

"Unless she causes some mischief again and gets carried away that is..."

Walking closer, Yuji tilted his head, "little friend?"

Yukina began dashing towards her uncle, "what did she say," she said, filled with excitement.

"She said she wanted to meet with you on that same old location,"

Yukina smiled brightly, "that's perfect! Yuji I'll introduce you to one of my friends!"