{Rel''s POV}


    [Pinnacle Academy Stadium 1 - Arena A: Food Court]


    The savoury crunch of thest piece of chicken katsu barely registered as I focused on the screen across the restaurant. It had been flickering in the background while I ate, showing clips of the tournament''s previous matches. Now, though, it held my attention fully as the screen projected the next uing match.


    [Arena A: Uing Matchup R32]


    [Jae Yoona (5) VS Bazz Wong (28)]


    [Match Time: 10:30 AM]


    ncing at my watch I checked to see how close the time was to the match.


    [Tuesday, 10:20 AM]


    "Oh, Shit..." I muttered.


    I quickly got up from my seat and rushed towards the register paying for my food, leaving the te half-finished.


    Jae was up? Well, I can''t wait to see her archery skills in person. I recall the days of writing her character as the perfect image of an archer, and the matchup against Her and Bazz is certainly interesting since the path to the quarterfinals was filled with extras but starting with Bazz wasn''t too bad either.


    I had to get back to the tournament stands to find a good seat, like now. Grabbing my crossbow from the side of my seat. I rushed out, leaving thefort of the restaurant for the main arena.


    haah... haah...


    Arriving at the student section, a lucky break led me to an empty spot. Or I thought it was empty. A second toote, I realized a girl – Blonde hair with an air of peace around her – already upied the seat. We bumped shoulders during my rushed,st-second seating maneuver.


    This wouldn''t have been an issue with almost anyone else in our ss, but this was different. I realized as much when her sharp gaze flitted over me, registering both surprise and something I couldn''t quite solve.


    I recognized her instantly, even after she beat my ass 8 times – Jae Yoona''s closest friend, Alice.


    Always present yet unobtrusive, known for her sharp mind and that elusive air of mysterious calm. The exact opposite of a certain loudmouthed ssmate we both expected to see soon.


    "Uh, s-sorry,"


    "Oh! Uh...sorry,"


    We both apologised at the same time and I almost mumbled under the pressure of her pure beauty.


    As I locked eyes with Alice for a moment her usualposure seemingly broken for a second. I managed, stumbling a bit in the face of her surprising and momentary shocked expression. I awkwardly took the spot that was empty right next to her.


    Of course, she was here for Jae. So I wouldn''t be surprised if she skipped out on practice just to watch Jae win. Trying to save some face, I quickly followed up with the obvious observation.


    "You''re here to watch Jae Yoona, right?" I asked.


    My question seemed to bring her back to herself. Alice nodded curtly, then quickly shifted her attention away, eyes focused on the arena below.


    Her answer, despite its simplicity, was really cute. I wasn''t sure what to make of the adorable moment of clumsiness I''d witnessed.


    Even with the briefpse restored to her usually calm expression, For some reason, I couldn''t tell if she was looking at me or not.


    nce...nce...nce...


    I thought it was my imagination, but I noticed that even with her focus outward, Alice asionally stole nces in my direction – nces I had to pretend not to notice.


    She''s been staring for a while now. Did I do something weird? Oh no...


    ***


    {Alice''s POV}


    "Why of all ces did he have to sit here?" Alice bit back a sigh.


    Not that she had actively reserved this seat - the student section rarely worked that way. And Rel - was it Rel? Rel Laurence? - hadn''t exactly barged in, either.


    No, Alice didn''t have a problem with Rel at all. It''s just she knew he was an outlier, someone she had spent the better part of the week secretly attempting to investigate why he was so good at studying.


    He had all the perfect scores, and the perfect notes, and he was what Alice called plete'' in terms of all sides of theory, she thought she could be the same if she just understood how his study routines worked but she ended up no closer to solving him.


    A few stolen nces confirmed that not much had changed nearby. Sure, there was something to be said for his focus after he''d gotten over the awkward hurdle of apologizing.


    Maybe a hint of determination that wasn''t there during everyday sses. It still didn''t exin how he had consistently excelled in the Academy''s theoretical exams.


    Note-night study sessions were witnessed in the library, and barely a glimpse of him attending extra lectures...all he seemed to do was vanish into his dorm room armed with fantasy novels she had found surprisingly captivating in her own limited investigations.


    Alice wondered how a mind focused on fictional battles tranted into practical knowledge of mana mechanics and historical analysis baffled herpletely. Perhaps he was hiding his diligence...an underdog tactic after all?


    As a keen strategizer, the idea had crossed her mind more than once when trying to solve the ''Who Rel was''. She chided herself for the overly dramatic metaphor.


    Despite the unusual nature of his talent, he wasn''t an opponent to be ovee, so why was she dwelling on this now?


    Alice shifted slightly, forcing herself to turn her attention away from the unexpected seatmate and fixate on the arena below. Any minute now, Jae would take the stage.


    The roar of the crowd faded into the background as a voice boomed across the arena.


    "Wee to the Second Match of the Round of 32! Prepare yourselves for a show, folks!" The announcer''s voice was filled with the practised drawl of someone who thrived on dramatic ir.


    As both Jae Yoona and Bazz walked onto the massive square tform at the centre of the arena, everyone was on their seats ready for the battle.


    Alice felt a surge of both pride and a familiar worry that always apanied watching Jaepete.


    From the corner of her eye, she noticed Rel straighten subtly, his usual air of detachment reced by something sharper and more alert. It wasn''t that he suddenly favoured Bazz, but He was looking at Jae Yoona with interest.


    A gasp left Alice''s mouth as she jumped straight to a conclusion that no one had ever thought of.


    Does Rel like Jae Yoona? Alice had thought, But before her thoughts coulde to a conclusion a sudden interruption had cut through,


    "Our first contestant needs no introduction! A rising star known for her precision andposure, she goes into this battle without a single defeat! It''s Jae Yoona, boasting an undefeated record of twenty wins, zero losses!"


    Apuse surged over the white stone tform, carrying the familiar admiration and cautious curiosity Jae often inspired. Her calm precision resonated less with the massespared to the sheer visceral appeal of someone like Bazz. Perhaps that was Jae''s strength and an element her opponent could underestimate.


    The booming voice echoed across the arena once more. "And taking the opposing side, he''s known for power and raw grit! A loss can happen just as easily as a victory if you take him lightly! It''s Bazz Wong, rocking a hard-fought eighteen wins and two losses!"


    This drew a roar distinctly louder than the apuse for Jae. For those craving brutal shes, Bazz held undeniable appeal.


    Alice noticed, beside her Rel''s face looked annoyed looking at Bazz waving his hand everywhere.


    ______________


    Authors Notes:


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