Chapter 81

Time had passed and more and more students came back, some empty-handed, and some looked like a mess.

"We're here..." Jasper said, sounding tired, walking along with Ryan with both of them carrying a specialized weapon each.

"You two are a mess! Are you ok!?" Layla approached both of them with a worried expression.

"We're ok... Rather than that, don't you two seem a little too clean? Did you guys get any weapons," Ryan asked.

Erina turned around, still sitting on the chair, "we got ourselves each,"

Layla smiled.

"Well that's to be expected," Ryan let out a sigh.

Meanwhile.

"Gaby?" Yukina said, searching for Gabriela, "she's not in this bathroom too..."

Yukina ran, continuing her search, "this isn't the first time she's gone suddenly missing... But this is also the first time I'm feeling so nervous about it... Why..."

Outside of the stadium, passing the road, the crowd cheered for Yuji as he ran past them, moving towards the stadium.

"How does it feel to look famous?" Alicia teased.

"Weird, I don't think I'll get used to it,"

Passing the streets, Yuji made it to the open area, nearing the stadium.

"There, I just have to pick an entrance and..."

Suddenly, someone dashed in front of Yuji, making him stop, locking eyes with the person in front of him.

"Gabriela?" Yuji said.

"Yep... It's me..." Looking at Yuji with intimidating eyes, and a suspicious smile.

Yuji felt fear slowly crawling up his body, "what do you want?" He said, trying to hide his nervousness.

Gabriela giggled, "why are you looking so nervous? I'm just here to greet you,"

Gabriela stared at Yuji with a feeling of malice emerging from her eyes.

Yuji began to be more nervous, as he had no explanation for why Gabriela's stare made him feel so uncomfortable.

"This is bad..." Alicia said.

"Yuji..." Gabriela walked closer, "do you know... Where the forest of best apples is?"

Yuji felt Alicia respond, as the name triggered a memory.

Analyzing his memory, Yuji chose to ignore it, "I'm still new to this city, I don't think I know,"

"I see... If you go north from here there's the nearest part of the wall, if you go over the corners of it, you'll find a massive forest," Gabriela began to walk away.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Gabriela stopped, not turning around, "do try your best..."

Leaving her unexplainable words, she jumped away.

For some reason, Yuji felt threatened by her tone and expression as he got a glimpse of her eyes as she left.

"What did she mean?"

"I don't know, but for now we better try and figure out, hurry!" Alicia said, sounding worried.

And so, Yuji ran inside of the stadium.

Running past the long hallway, he met up with his team who were just by the entrance he picked.

"Yuji!" Layla waved.

Taking Erina's attention, she quickly stood up and ran towards Yuji.

"Hey, did you all manage to get one?" Yuji asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Where are they?"

Suddenly, a staff approached Yuji from behind, "excuse me, sir, I'll be taking those weapons now, we'll be registering them,"

Yuji handed over his weapons to the staff left.

"What's with that? You had two?" Jasper said.

Yuji nodded, "they said any person from the team can use what they got, right? So I figured I should take more, though I didn't have the luxury to do so,"

"It's cool, I'm pretty satisfied with what I got," Erina said.

"Though more would be better, I think I'm good with mine too," Layla said.

"Same here,"

"Same here,"

"I see, I'm glad then,"

Suddenly another staff approached Yuji, "excuse me, you're mister Yuji Amanda, yes?"

Yuji nodded, feeling slightly nervous, "yes, I am,"

"Please come to the office, I believe our crew has some news for you," the staff said in a respectful manner.

"S....sure,"

"Well then, this way,"

"Wait,"

Yuji ran towards Erina, "Hey, umm... I think I'll be leaving for a little while,"

"Huh? Why? What if the next event were to start?"

"I believe there is a time for rest, please rest assured," the staff interrupted.

Yuji nodded, "so I just want to leave a message just in case,"

"A message?"

"If you see Yukina, tell her that Gabriela wants to go to the forest of best apples,"

"What now?"

"Just tell her that if you see her, please,"

"Yuji... Are you nervous?"

"Just... A bit anxious,"

Yuji turned around, "sorry to keep you waiting, let's go,"

The staff nodded.

And so, the staff led Yuji to the office she was referring to.

Layla tilted her head, "hm... I wonder what's going on,"

"Maybe he's getting some sort of special offer," Ryan said.

"What do you mean by that?" Erina asked.

"You know, in sports, where a scout sees someone they are interested in, they end up offering a deal for the person to join his team,"

"I see... You do have a point there,"

"This is a school event after all, plus it really felt like that just now,"

Meanwhile from Yuji's perspective.

"I wonder where they're taking me," Yuji thought, following the multiple staffs in front of him.

"This feels familiar," Alicia said, "maybe this is some sort of offer or something,"

"Offer?"

"You know, like in sports,"

"Oh! I see,"

"You understood really fast..."

"I think it's because of our connection,"

"Well, a bunch of memories did just transfer to you, are you feeling unwell or something?"

"No, to be honest, I'm quite fine, compared to the first time your memories got sent to me,"

After a short moment, they reached an office.

The staff knocked on the door, "Ma'am it's us, we brought him,"

"Come in!" The woman said from inside the room.

"Hm? That voice seems kind of familiar," Yuji thought.

Opening the door, Yuji followed the staff as they set foot inside the office.

In surprise, Yuji didn't know how to react, seeing a familiar face approach him.

"You seem to be doing well," Liz said.

"I'm glad it seems that way,"

"So what was that? I don't recall you having an ability like that before,"

"Long story short, a lot has happened since, and now I have an ability,"

"I see... A sudden gene evolution, is it?"

Yuji nodded.

"Did you manage to get help from a girl with long and silky black hair?"

"You mean, Yukina?"

"I see you've met,"

Yuji nodded, "she saved my life, and I owe her so much,"

"I see, I want to hear the whole story, but you said it's a long one, right?"

"Yes..."

"I haven't seen Yukina since, how is she doing?"

"She's doing fine, she's quite the lively one,"

Liz giggled, "I see, I hope I can hear the whole story from you two one day but for now congratulations,"

"On what?"

"Apparently, someone with high authority had her eyes on you, and wants to see your abilities herself,"

"Her..."

"Here, a note from that person," Liz said, giving a small envelope to Yuji, "she told us not to read it no matter what, so I guess this might be private,"

"Yuji, read the contents of that letter secretly by the corner," Alicia said.

"I'll be moving here for a sec, is that ok?" Yuji said.

"Do as you please," Liz sat down.

Moving away from all the eyes around the room, Yuji slowly opened the envelope.

In shock at what is written, Yuji shivered.

"I can see you're hiding something, if you don't want any trouble then come find me at the sweet spot, you have until noon sharp, if you don't come by then, there'll be trouble for you,"

Yuji felt nervous after reading the note.

"This is Gabriela we're talking about, I don't know what she's got, but it won't be good to leave it," Alicia said, sounding tense.

"Noon sharp..." Yuji glanced at the clock, "we barely have enough time!"

Yuji crumpled the letter headed towards the door.

"Hey! What are you...?"

"Thank you for the information, and sorry but, I have to go," Yuji said Interrupting Liz, he then ran outside the door.

"What was that?" Liz thought.

Suddenly he went back, "just one more thing, if you see Yukina, please tell her this..."