Chapter 16. Someone Returns: A Friend from Afar

Afternoon class was nothing better than the first class, well, no class is.

Their last subject ended at 4 pm and she texted Dawn.

Hey, you're already done there?

Raii Shin waited for ten minutes but still there was no reply. Then fifteen. And then twenty. It seemed like they weren't yet finished.

Geez, how long do they need to have their meeting?

Raii Shin decided to go and wait for her outside the SC hall. Then they can go to the barbecue place together immediately.

By the time she got there, there was a crowd. But the crowd this time was different with the one that welcomed Arko. There were lots of students but they were silent. They formed a ring and luckily, Raii Shin was a small person so she was able to squeeze through.

The sight in front of her surprised her.

The student council president was showing a document. And in front of him, was Dawn with her arms crossed and her brows raised at him.

"What's the meaning of this, Arko?" Dawn's voice was different from the usual cheery tone. She was dead serious.

"It's as you can see. You are no longer a part of the League of Leaders."

"I don't have any problem with that. You know that's not my point!" she snapped at him. "I'm asking you what is the meaning behind my replacement? I can totally understand if you will change me based on your leadership standards but to think that you will kick me out of the league just because I am not famous in the other schools, that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard!"

"You dare question my decisions? I went on a school tour and I saw their preparations for the upcoming city tournament. I roamed around and I first-handedly saw their edge, especially on their captains. If you really are a prodigy that you claim to be, why don't they recognize your name? Because of that, we fall short in the pre-stages of the competition. The others don't know JADE, don't even know that there is a basketball captain among them. They don't take us seriously. I thought I made myself clear. JADE must always be number one. JADE is to be feared. The fact that our basketball team has no reputation means that we are not proving ourselves to be the only precious stone in Jazel that shines."

"That's crap!" Dawn gnashed. Her fists were already white. "In the first place, you were the one that kicked our former captain! You placed me here. I've only been the captain for two months, how can I make myself known? And where did you get your information that I proclaimed myself to be a prodigy? Huh. Looks like the student council of JADE is just a crazy perfectionist who has an obsession with flimsy titles."

More and more students gathered around but Dawn didn't seem to care. On the other hand, Arko was enjoying the presence of the people.

"Dawn Laikana, who do you think will side with you here?" He started to walk towards Dawn. When his hand went up and attempted to hold a lock of Dawn's hair, Raii Shin was suddenly at his side.

"What the–?" His hand was stopped by Raii Shin's grip on his fist.

"Back away, you creep," Raii Shin seethed. She said it so loudly the crowd gasped and murmured. Some were already filming. And most were snickering. 

"Who are you, dwarf?" Arko tried to pull away his hand but Raii Shin tightened it, making him scream.

"Ow!"

With sheer strength, he was able to pull away.

"Now, you've done it," he said while shaking his wrist. Dawn and Raii Shin realized that they were surrounded by pro-Arkos. They began taunting the two of them, shouting insults. All of them seemed to lean towards Arko. None voiced to take Dawn and Raii Shin's side. Both of them held hands as it looked they weren't about to barge out of the crowd because they were pressing in on them. If worse comes to worst, Raii Shin can just use her strength and force their way out.

"Well, well. I guess none of you will disagree if I will drag these two to the detention room, eh?" The crowd shouted in agreement and he took large steps towards them with a smirk.

But even before he could raise his hand, he was again blocked. Earlier, when Raii Shin slapped his wrists, it was just a mild one. But this time, his butt kissed the ground.

Raii Shin's jaw dropped at the sight of a slender man in front of them.

The raven-haired man looked back slightly towards Raii Shin and smiled.

"M-Minus?" Raii Shin stuttered.

"Damn it, how dare you!" Arko stood with the help of some of his supporters but his anger stilled when he saw the one in front.

"Wait…You are…"

"Nice meeting you here again, Arko Redanda. I heard that you just came from our school for a tour."

It was Arko's turn to be serious. "What is a JEWEL student doing here?"

"He has a name," Raii Shin defended. Arko focused on the ID hanging from his neck.

"Maynus?" Arko asked as if mocking him to which the crowd chuckled.

"It's pronounced as M-ee-nus," Minus replied calmly.

"Hmph. Minus Moraya. What are you doing here? Aren't you violating school rules by entering JADE's premises?"

"Is slandering two ladies not against the school rules?"

No one dared react. Even Arko was silent at that but he was oozing anger through his aura and the deep tone of his voice.

"Who allowed you to enter?"

"Your school rules. Non-JADE students are allowed to enter as long as it is dismissal time," Minus answered plainly.

"You," Arko smoldered, offended by Minus' composure. "What did you really come here for?"

As his reply, Minus looked at Raii Shin and smirked. 

"I'm just here to fetch my friend. That's all."

Minus turned towards Raii Shin and Dawn. "Let's go."

The crowd automatically parted for the three of them to exit, leaving them hanging on who the pretty and cool boy was that barged into their territory for a short amount of time but was able to capture more hearts in less than a minute than Arko could do in his whole school tour.