Test (2)

Yulli followed him to the changing rooms, tugging on his academy uniform—a sleek black jacket with silver trim. Well, technically sleek. His looked like it had lost a battle against a tornado. The buttons were off, the collar refused to sit properly, and no matter what he did, he always ended up looking like he had just rolled out of bed.

Meanwhile, Elchies? His uniform was pristine. Polished. The kind of neatness that felt almost offensive.

"You planning to fight someone with that shirt, or…?" Elchies quipped, raising an eyebrow.

Yulli groaned. "Don't start."

By the time they got to the cafeteria, the place was already packed—long lines snaking around the hall, everyone desperate for the academy's famous coconut rice. The smell alone was divine, rich and savoury with that perfect hint of sweetness.

Yulli took one look at the chaos and shook his head. "I'll go find a seat."

Elchies gasped. "What?! You're abandoning this delicate, exquisite, once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience?"

Yulli waved him off. "I packed lunch."

Elchies put a hand over his chest like he'd just been personally betrayed. "Unbelievable. Tragic."

"Enjoy your overpriced rice, drama queen."

As Yulli slipped through the crowd to find a table, he let out another breath, shoulders slumping. But his mind was still stuck on the instructor's words.

Last chance.

He clenched his jaw.

Next week will decide everything.

And for once, he wasn't sure if he was ready.

Yulli sat, motionless, deep in thought. Or overthinking. Probably the latter. His mind churned over the looming exams, every possible failure scenario playing on repeat like a broken record. He was so lost in it that he'd unknowingly mastered the ancient and mystical art of Standing Completely Still and Useless.

Across the table, Elchies just… watched.

For a full ten minutes.

The only thing that finally snapped Yulli out of his trance was the unmistakable, torturously good smell of coconut rice wafting through the air. His stomach twisted in betrayal.

His head lifted sluggishly. His gaze met Elchies'.

"...Why are you staring at me?"

"Oh, nothing," Elchies replied smoothly, propping his chin on his hand. "Just amazed at how focused you were."

Yulli squinted. "...How long were you watching me?"

Elchies tilted his head, completely deadpan. "Ten minutes, give or take."

Yulli let out a strangled noise before slamming his forehead onto the table with a thud. His ears burned red.

"Ten minutes?!" he groaned, voice muffled against the wood. "You couldn't have, I don't know, said something?"

"And risk breaking your sacred meditation? Perish the thought."

"Shut up," Yulli grumbled, rubbing his temples before sitting up properly. He needed a distraction. "Anyway, what did you bring for lunch?"

"Oh, right." Yulli dug into his bag, pulling out a small bundle wrapped in an old white cloth. He carefully unwrapped it, revealing a simple, worn-out bento box. Inside were sweet blue potatoes, their aroma fresh and subtly sweet, though compared to the heavenly scent of coconut rice filling the cafeteria. Yeah, not even close.

Elchies raised a brow. "Sweet potatoes? Still eating those?"

"I have to," Yulli muttered, picking at one absentmindedly. "Doc said eating these regularly will help awaken my mark faster."

"Uh-huh." Elchies gave him a sceptical look. "And how long have you been on this… highly scientific diet?"

Yulli hesitated before sighing. "Two months. And still nothing." He leaned back against the chair, staring at the ceiling. "Most people awaken their marks at fourteen. Rare cases go beyond that, but…" His voice trailed off.

Elchies studied him for a moment. "You are fourteen this year, right?"

Yulli sighed again, dragging a hand down his face. "Yes, Elchies."

"Then what's the hold-up?"

"Oh, gee, wish I knew," Yulli said, throwing his arms up. "I'm hoping it happens before the exams, but at this point, I'm starting to think I'm some kind of defective model." He took a small bite of his potato and grimaced. "That's why I keep eating these—heard they have mana regen properties."

A beat.

Elchies blinked. "…And where exactly did you hear that?"

Yulli hesitated. "...A friend."

Elchies didn't even hesitate before stabbing straight through him with a single, merciless sentence:

"You don't have friends besides us."

Yulli recoiled, clutching his chest like he'd been physically wounded. "Why would you say that?!"

Elchies just laughed, completely unfazed. "Hey, I'm just saying! But listen—" He leaned forward, tapping the table for emphasis. "You can't survive on just potatoes, man. You need some actual food in your system. Protein. Meat. Something that isn't glorified dirt candy."

"I know…" Yulli muttered, suddenly quiet.

Elchies frowned slightly. The usual bite in Yulli's tone was missing, replaced with something… heavier.

He nudged Yulli's potato box. "Come on. You sure you don't want some of this coconut rice?" He waggled his brows. "I'll even graciously allow you one spoonful from my royal platter—"

Yulli snorted, but there was a small, grateful flicker in his expression.

"...Alright, fine. But just one bite."

Elchies grinned. "See? Now that's the spirit.

They were enjoying their lunch—well, trying to—until a booming laugh shattered their peace.

"HAHAHAHAHAH!"

The force of it nearly rattled their bones. The entire cafeteria went silent for a second before the usual murmurs resumed.

"Bruce is being loud as usual..." Yulli muttered, rubbing his temple.

Unfortunately, Bruce heard him.

With the presence of an avalanche, the broad-shouldered brute turned, looming over their table with a grin that spelt trouble. His uniform looked like it had been through war—probably because Bruce fought like war itself. His greatsword rested against his shoulder, and the arrogant gleam in his eye made Yulli's stomach twist.

"Well, well, well—if it isn't Yulli, the markless!" Bruce's voice carried across the room, dripping with mockery. "I'm surprised you're still here!"

Yulli stiffened, shoulders tensing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Bruce grinned wider, taking full advantage of the attention. "I'm just saying! Since the moment you set foot in this academy, your performance has been... laughable." His voice grew louder as if making sure everyone could hear. "You're not even at the level of a commoner!"

The cafeteria was quiet for half a second before the whispers started.

Yulli clenched his fists under the table.

It was one thing to be insulted. It was another for the insult to be true.

If Bruce had been spewing nonsense, Yulli could've brushed it off. But the bitter truth was that today's practical exam had been a disaster. Everyone had seen it. And now Bruce was making sure no one forgot it.

He opened his mouth—say something, fight back, defend yourself—!

Nothing came out.

The words died in his throat, and he found himself lowering his gaze, his hands curling into tighter fists.

Elchies' voice cut through, firm and commanding. "Enough, Bruce."

Bruce didn't even flinch. He turned his attention to Elchies instead, grinning like he had just been waiting for an excuse.

"Oi, Lionheart!" He leaned in, voice mocking. "Why are you sitting with this deadweight? You know you're dragging your reputation down, right?"

A few students snickered.

"Jeez, Bruce is at it again," someone muttered.

"But, I mean… he's not wrong," another voice whispered.

"Honestly, how is Yulli still here? He's got no mark, no skills, and no future in combat."

A few girls whispered amongst themselves, their voices hushed but not enough.

Yulli heard all of it.

And no matter how hard he tried to block it out, the words got in.

The doubts, the sneers, the weight of expectation he couldn't reach.

His breath felt heavier. The noise of the cafeteria blurred into a single, suffocating wall of judgment.

Elchies' voice pulled him out of it—gentle, careful. "Do you want to eat somewhere else, Yulli?"

Yulli didn't answer. He couldn't.

Because if he opened his mouth, he wasn't sure what would come out.

Then—

BAM!

The cafeteria doors slammed open, the sound cutting through every conversation like a blade.

Students turned, eyes widening.

A presence strode in, radiating authority. Not through words. Not through action. Just being there was enough.

The first thing that caught everyone's attention—her hair.

A vibrant, striking pink, tied into a bun with a long ribbon trailing down her back. Her eyes were the same sharp shade, scanning the room with ease. But it wasn't just her beauty that left people staring—

It was her presence.

Toned muscles beneath her uniform, the confident posture, the way she walked with a kind of effortless command. She wasn't just strong—she knew she was strong.

And unlike Bruce, she didn't need to announce it.

"It's here. The beast Hare Stark"

Both Yulli and Elchies muttered the same thing under their breath.

The moment she entered, every guy in the room either admired her or feared her. One poor student got smacked by his girlfriend for staring too long.

She didn't even notice.

She walked straight toward their table.

Yulli tensed.

"Why is everyone looking at us?" she asked, genuinely confused.

Yulli groaned, slumping forward. "Us?" He gestured vaguely at Elchies and her. "Or just you two?"

She blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Are you serious?" Yulli deadpanned. "You and Elchies are like, stupidly attractive. Standing next to you two makes me feel like a Chicken!.*"

Hare looked genuinely baffled by that.

Elchies, meanwhile, snorted into his drink. "Don't be so dramatic, Yulli."

"I AM THE DRAMA."

At least that earned a chuckle from Hare.

But the tension still sat heavy in Yulli's chest. He could still feel the eyes on him. The whispers were quieter now, but they hadn't disappeared.

They never did.

Yulli barely moved. He sat still, fists clenched under the table, feeling the weight of a hundred eyes pressing down on him. The whispers had quieted, but the tension remained—a heavy, suffocating thing wrapped around his chest.

Then—

"Huh, what is it, Stark?"

Hare's voice cut through the noise like a blade. It wasn't loud, but it carried—a tone that demanded attention.

Bruce tensed. His smirk faltered for the briefest second before he sneered. "Tch. What do you want?"

Hare tilted her head, expression unreadable. Then she turned to Yulli, her sharp pink eyes scanning him like she was piecing something together.

Her gaze flicked back to Bruce.

And suddenly, her smirk turned razor-sharp.

"Ah… I get it now."

Bruce's brow twitched. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"

Hare leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table, chin resting on one hand as she eyed him like a wolf sizing up prey.

"Nothing~" she mused, voice dripping with amusement. "Just that you seem awfully desperate to put someone else down… Maybe losing that duel last time is still eating you up?"

Bruce's jaw clenched.

She grinned wider. "Or did I break that nose of yours so bad you have to start stomping on people below your level to feel better?"

A low murmur rippled through the cafeteria.

Bruce's friends stiffened, a few shifting uncomfortably. The ones who hadn't seen the fight were suddenly very interested. The ones who had saw Bruce's expression darken.

"Shut the hell up, Stark!" Bruce's voice was sharper now, defensive. "You got lucky! I wasn't even prepared that time!"

Hare sighed, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "Ohhh, is that what you're telling yourself?"

Bruce's nostrils flared.

Hare leaned back, stretching lazily before shooting him a smirk. "Well, if you ever want to prove it, you know I don't mind settling this in the official ring again. Unless, of course, you'd rather keep doing these under-the-table fights in that lovely little underground ring you're so fond of…"

Bruce froze.

Yulli's eyes widened slightly.

And Bruce's friends?

One of them, sitting at the edge of the table, stiffened. His gaze dropped.

A fraction of a second. Barely noticeable.

But Hare noticed.

Bruce followed her gaze—and immediately knew. His expression twisted.

"What?!" He shot a glare at his friend, voice nearly a growl. "You told her?!"

The guy flinched. "N-No, I—"

Hare shrugged, looking way too pleased with herself. "I know things~"

Bruce's teeth clenched so hard it was audible.

For a split second, his entire body tensed, his fists twitching like he wanted to swing right here, right now.

Then, without another word, he turned. "Tch. Let's go."

His crew scrambled to follow, their departure leaving a heavy silence in the air.

As the doors swung shut behind them, a wave of murmurs washed through the cafeteria.

"Holy shit…"

"Did she just—"

"That was the first time I've seen Bruce walk away from a fight…"

"She didn't even raise her voice…"

Yulli exhaled slowly. His shoulders finally relaxed, though his hands were still balled into fists under the table.

Elchies, beside him, let out a low whistle. "*Well, that bloke just *left.**"

Hare?

She sat down, looking completely unfazed. "Mmm, I'm starving. Hope they still have coconut rice."

Elchies chuckled, shaking his head. "You just put Bruce in his place in front of the entire cafeteria, and you're thinking about food?"

"What?" She blinked. "That took, like, ten seconds. I didn't even get to work up an appetite."

Yulli stared at her. "You have no idea what you just did, do you?"

Hare tilted her head. "I stopped an idiot from being an idiot. That's all."

Yulli exchanged a look with Elchies.

Elchies simply smirked. "Classic Hare."