Chapter 82

"And it's officially the end of the first event!" The commentator said, "the list of qualifiers for the next event will be posted later on, for now, I wish for everyone to have a nice break, we'll be back by 1 pm!"

And so, the people from the stadium scattered, going in all directions.

"Yo, Jack!" Ray waved his hand, approaching Jack who was standing still from a distance, "you took a while, I'd didn't expect for you to take so long to come back, what happened?"

Without any reply, Jack scowled and moved forward, "I'm hungry...."

With a confused expression, Ray followed Jack to the exit of the stadium.

Erina looked around, "he's still not here..."

"He did say he was going to take a while," Layla said.

Jack walked closer to them, "why don't we all eat for now? I'm feeling hungry,"

"You guys go on ahead, I'll be looking around for a bit," Erina walked forward leaving them behind.

Layla glances with a worried expression, "I'll be following her for now, see ya!" She then ran towards Erina.

"Well, guess it's just the two of us," Jasper said.

Meanwhile.

"Left! Then turn right by that corner!" Alicia said as Yuji was running through the streets.

"Where are we going exactly? I probably won't make it there by running, will I? It's mostly an open field outside this district,"

"We'll go to a terminal... Over there!" Alicia pointed at what seemed to be a bus station, "go inside and ask for a van to go by the northern wall,"

Yuji nodded, running towards the register of the bus station, "seems like there aren't much people here,"

As he ran, he noticed a staff leaving the register.

"Wait!" Yuji said, approaching the staff.

"Hm? What's this?" The staff said.

Stopping, Yuji began to pant, " sir... Is there a van traveling to the northern wall by this time?"

"There will be, but it's thirty minutes from now, we're going on a lunch break,"

"Crap..."

"Ask for a private one!" Alicia said.

"How much will that cost? I don't have that much money on me,"

"You have a bank account now, right? They'll settle for credit on your account,"

Yuji stood straight and looked at the person in front of him in the eye, "can I get a ride now? A private one?"

The staff walked closer, "excuse me Yung man but... Who are you?"

"Huh?"

"What may be the reason for you to rush?"

"It's... An emergency,"

"If it is, then isn't a bus station one of the least of your concerns?"

"I just have to go there! Right now!"

"On what reason?"

Thinking, he suddenly remembered a certain item that could help him.

"Here!" Yuji pulled out Yukina's S class card, showing it to the staff, "I'm moving in accordance with Yukina Reiz, it's a task I was asked to go to myself, and it is considered to be confidential so I don't think I have the right to say,"

The staff took a closer look, "I see, Miss. Yukina, huh?"

The staff turned around, "hey you there!" The staff called out, seeing a driver out of his van, "take this man to the northern wall, fast! Payment will come later,"

Without hesitation as if he's used to it, he walked back to his van, "alright!"

"He didn't even hesitate..." Yuji said.

"You seem to be new here young man,"

Yuji nodded.

"You see, S ranks do this from time to time, it might be troublesome at times such as this, but the S classes are symbols of hope, and we hope to do at least this much, and the drivers don't complain because the payment is rather higher than normal,"

"I see..."

Suddenly, a black van stopped in front of them.

Opening the windows, "the van is all set, you're in a hurry, right, sir?" The driver said.

Yuji nodded.

"Alright, then you're lucky I'm your driver, get in!"

Yuji nodded, "thank you!" He said bowing to the both of them, he then ran inside the back of the van.

And shortly after getting inside, the van drove at a high speed, moving outside of the terminal.

Back at the stadium after some time, as Erina was looking around for Yuji, an announcement played.

"It's almost noon, the list of the participants will now be displayed, we suggest that all the students come back as soon as possible, due to a possibility of the next event to start early, that's all," the announcement ended.

"It's almost twelve noon..." Erina said looking at the clock.

"Erina!" Layla called out, "I didn't see any signs of Yuji back here too,"

"S... sorry, I got caught up, you must be hungry,"

"Eh? It's nothing really, I decided to follow you, it's not like you forced me or anything,"

"Still, that was quite selfish of me, why don't we go to the canteen for now,"

Layla smiled, "sure!"

"Thank God... I never thought she'd actually search this long..." Layla thought.

And so, they made their way to the canteen.

"Oh! I forgot to mention, Yukina asked us to look forward to the next event and wished us luck," Layla said.

"You saw Yukina!?" Erina reacted with shock.

"Eh!? Umm, yeah... Is something wrong?" Being shocked by Erina's reaction, she felt worried.

"Ah, sorry... It's just that, Yuji asked me to deliver a message to her if I see her,"

"I see, there's no need to rush, is there?"

Erina paused for a thought, "probably... Not,"

Meanwhile, at the further side of City A, nearing the walls, Yuji was running, making his way inside the forest.

"It's barely noon sharp!" Yuji thought.

"Don't worry, we'll be there in time!"

Following Alicia's sense of direction, Yuji ran past a wide forest, and eventually, he arrived at a certain location.

Leaving the shades of the trees, Yuji found a park-like area.

It was an open field of small grass and plants, and the shade was provided by a massive tree, much larger than the others.

"You barely made it in time..." A high-pitched voice emerged, coming from above the massive tree.

"Gabriela..."

Gabriela jumped down the massive branch, and as she was about to hit the ground, she gently glided down.

"How did you find this place?" Gabriela asked.

"You gave me a hint back at the stadium..."

"I see, but this is a large forest, you know... "

"I just thought my best chance was finding the massive trees as a landmark,"

Gabriela stared at Yuji, filled with suspicions, "I see," she smiled.

Yuji stayed cautious, as Gabriela slowly approached him.

"You must be hungry!" She said in a cheerful tone.

"Eh?" Yuji backed up, sounding confused.

"I'm sorry I made you go all the way here, but don't worry, this is my responsibility so I'll provide you with some food! Come, follow me,"

Looking confused, Yuji nodded, following Gabriela.

Following Gabriela with caution, she soon led him to what seemed to be a treehouse.

"Tada! It's a treehouse my sisters and I made, cool isn't it?" She smiled brightly, honestly boasting the treehouse.

Yuji smiled, "yeah, it looks great, you and your sisters made that yourselves?"

"Not by ourselves, but together! When all four of us were together, it felt like we can do anything!"

"I see..."

"Come, a special event will be announced at the stadium, let's watch inside while I prepare our lunch,"

Yuji nodded, "what's this... The aura she's emitting, it's like of an innocent child..." He thought, "and wait... There's a TV here!?"