Chapter 123: Exhibition Matches [1]

Two days went by in a flash.

It was currently the last day of the festival.

For two days, it was mostly just booths and stalls.

But for the last day, it was when the festival became really interesting.

In the afternoon, exhibition matches would be held. And at night was when the performances would start.

The talent show.

Brandon was one of its participants.

Using his connections with the student council, he scheduled himself to be last.

Not only that, but he was a secret performer.

No one else besides Belle and Adrien knew he was participating in the talent show.

But for now...

Bang—!

He was currently fighting in the exhibition matches.

It wasn't a full blown tournament.

Just a form of entertainment for the guests.

Each participant would have two matches scheduled.

Right now was Brandon's first match.

And he was up against Reinhard.

Voooosh—!

A torrent of flames headed towards him.

Waving his hand, the flames dissipated. But as soon as it did, a hand appeared before him.

Before Reinhard's hand could touch him, the earth shifted and a solid wall protruded from the ground.

Booom—!

An intense explosion occurred and the ground shook. Debris scattered, as rock dusts filled the air.

"Huh...? Earth...?"

Reinhard was taken aback.

Crouching down, Brandon touched the ground.

The ground shifted, and Reinhard's legs were encapsulated by a thick layer of earth.

Booom——!

The earth around Reinhard's leg ignited. Giving him no time to react, Brandon extended his palms towards him.

Fooooo—!

"Akh..!"

A gale of wind sent Reinhard hurling away.

Crash—!

And he crashed onto a nearby rock.

"Woah!"

"Wooo....!"

The audience's cheers reached his ears and echoed throughout the entire stadium

Tzz—

Empowering his legs with lightning, Brandon rushed towards him, leaving trails of blue sparks.

Flames materialized and coiled around his arm. He swung his fist at Reinhard.

Thud!

But he was stopped mid-strike as Reinhard caught his hand.

Expecting it, a gust of wind blew from Brandon's leg, and Reinhard was sent vertically up.

"Ah."

Reinhard was startled.

Suspended mid air, Reinhard recoiled upwards, igniting flames towards Brandon.

Boom— Booom——!

Dashing to the side, Brandon quickly dodged the crackling flames.

Swoosh!

Looking up, he could see that Reinhard was up even higher.

Brandon continued looking up and he closed his eyes.

He wasn't as good as Belle.

He wasn't even sure if he could master it to the same degree as Belle did.

But...

Swoosh!

Empowered by wind, Brandon was lifted up.

Swoosh, swoosh—!

He walked in the air, as if he was walking a flight of stairs, nearing close to Reinhard.

One step.

Two steps.

Three.

Fou–

"Ah."

As expected.

It was too hard for him to do the movements at the moment.

And as if he misstepped, Brandon gradually fell from the air.

Boom—!

"Me too."

A voice reached her from the side. It was Claire.

"Me too, me too."

Amy chimed in as well from Rachel's other side.

They didn't know about her plans about confessing to Brandon. The only ones who knew were Raven and Reinhard.

'I'm not confessing.'

Is what she said in her thoughts.

She just wanted to spend time with him. To see how Brandon felt about her.

Yes, her plans kept changing.

"Haha~"

She suddenly laughed.

Of course, she knew how Brandon felt about her.

It became evident to Rachel that Brandon treated her more or less like a little sister.

"Haa..."

She breathed out a sigh.

She hadn't seen him for the entirety of the festival's first day. While on the second day, there was a substantial amount of trouble that occurred.

Brandon was significantly busy yesterday. He wasn't even able to help out with their cafe.

She respected his duties and didn't bother him.

"Look, there he is."

Their heads flicked towards the entrance of the audience area. A figure emerged.

And Rachel's eyes lit up as soon as she recognized him.

Thus she called out to him.

"Brando—"

But she was halted as Brandon didn't seem to notice them. They were several meters away after all.

Rachel's eyes widened all of a sudden.

A figure approached Brandon.

Her golden locks were smooth and styled to perfection. Azure eyes that could captivate anyone who meets her gaze. Beautiful face that would leave most men breathless.

Even Rachel could admit how beautiful she was.

And she was well aware of who she was.

Amelia Constantine.

One of the most beautiful students in the academy.

Of course, she knew Amelia was the head of the Disciplinary Committee. A group that Brandon was a part of.

Unknowingly, Rachel's expressions contorted to a disheartened look.

They...

They seemed really close.

Too close as the two seemed to heartily laugh at their conversation. Amelia nudged his shoulder and Brandon pushed her back.

Too close.

Rachel's heart gripped tightly as she stared at the two.

It's...

'It's strictly a professional relationship, right?'

It should be.

But...

'Why does it hurt...?'

***

Committee duties included maintaining order during the exhibition matches.

The current rotation was Amelia and Brandon. They were stationed at the stadium. While the others maintained order in the main building.

"Those affinities... How many do you have?"

"Do I have to answer that...?"

"Not really."

Amelia shook her head.

"I heard you had quite a lot. But seeing it with my own eyes was still shocking."

"I have seven."

He actually had eight.

But Amelia didn't need to know the other one.

"Seven?!"

Amelia was taken aback.

"Monster..."

The only words she could muster up.

But Brandon shook his head.

"Not really. The only monster here is you."

"Eh...?"

The exhibition match was scattered throughout each year-level. But they could only face off against someone of the same year-level.

The match before his was actually Amelia's.

And she won by a wide margin.

—Up next. Raven Blackheart!

The announcer's voice echoed and a figure emerged from the arena's entrance.

Brandon and Amelia's heads flicked towards the silhouette.

He smiled as soon as Raven stepped foot into the arena.

'How strong have you gotten, protagonist?'