Kiba took a deep, deep breath as he tried his best to enter a state of absolute focus. He glanced at Fein, who stood far away with a crossed arm on his chest. Beside him, Kate's attention was also on him, which made him a bit happy, but she would take a peek at Fein from time to time, which made him a bit annoyed.
'Hey hey hey... we had obviously been together for a long time and looked at each other's back through thick and thin. Are you here to train with us or just to see your crush!?'
Kiba didn't know that his hidden feeling for Kate had started to resurface. And he only realized after seeing Kate with another guy that he has feelings for her! He felt ashamed for a while. After all, Kate treated her as her friend already, and he also looked at her like that. But now... If not for the appearance of Fein, he would even realize his feelings!
'Should I confess my feeling? But what if...' Kiba wasn't afraid of rejection.
He just wants to say his feelings or else he wouldn't be able to sleep. And what he was afraid was that it would put a dent in their relationship permanently and make things awkward for them... He wants her, but he doesn't also want it to destroy their long-time friendship. 'No, it's not the time for this.'
Even though Kate seems to have a liking for Fein, Kiba doesn't have an ounce of dislike for him. He recognized reality. Fein is a man he also wants to be. Capable, smart, and talented. Not to mention, he stayed humble even with that and he didn't treat anyone based on status alone. A real man that doesn't put material things in his eyes.
With that kind of characteristic, Kiba didn't find it weird if Kate would have a feeling for him. Although it pained him, he can't do anything about it, right? The good thing is, he found that Fein didn't have a slight interest in Kate! What does that mean? He still had a chance!
Kiba's mood turned from annoyed to happy real quick. His thought process only happened in seconds. If Fein knew what the guy was thinking, he would kick him out of the face of the planet. It's obviously his turn to display his progress. How come his thought went astray into such a topic?
Just like that, Kiba lifted his two fingers. His degu energy flowed from his heart to his fingers, and the two fingers produced a sharp, pointed, purple light. The nails on his finger moved outward and produce a sharp glint. Veins started to pop up on the surface of the skin of his hands.
Kibe looked at his 'Dou Fingers' with satisfaction. Fein had told him that was already excellent in defense, but he lacks in offense because he tends to rely on his fist as the means to fight.
He also knew it to himself. Kiba had to admit that he lacks a lot of offensive means because he heavily relies on his abilities. 'Dou Fingers' was really suitable for him with the combination of his Black Metal Physique.
Kiba smirked, and he shifted his head at Azazel with a provocative smile. Azazel just glanced at him with an emotionless face.
'Tch, boring guy.'
"Nice job Kiba!"
Kiba heard Kate's voice, which made him feel like he was floating in the clouds. But when he turned his head in her direction, he only saw her looking at Fein while giving him a thumbs up.
The corner of Kiba's mouth couldn't help but twitch. 'If you're talking to me. Spare me a glance at least!' he could only scold Kate on his head.
"You had a good understanding of the technique." Fein wasn't stingy with praise.
Kiba felt that he was in spring after getting the recognition of the most talented person on the continent.
Fein glanced at Kate and caught her staring at him again. Kate turned her head real fast and avoided his eyes, which made Fein a bit speechless. He had obviously caught her. Why does she pretend that he didn't? Does she treat him like a fool or something?
"It's your turn."
Hearing Fein's deep voice, Kate smiled brightly. She didn't feel embarrassed at all. She walked into the place and met Kiba on the way, so she decided to greet him. "Nice job."
"Thanks. Good luck to you." Kiba stopped for a moment and answered. Then he went directly to Azazel.
"Nice job, but still a bit inferior to mine. You have to work harder." Azazel said without emotion.
Hearing this, Kiba snorted. Obviously, they just performed the same. But he has already gotten used to Azazel, who looks aloof but always finds something to compete with him. This is also the quality that Kiba thinks made Azazel, the number one in the big three.
A guy who likes to compete in everything and dislikes losing. But even if he loses, it would only boost his motivation to become better. A scary guy in his own right. That's why, even though they bicker with each other at every turn, Kiba respects and cares about Azazel a lot.
Due to his personality, Kiba witnessed Azazel compete with Fein in almost all types of weapons, but he lost horribly. It was a one-sided beating which also shows them Fein's terrifying talent.
Unwilling, Azazel challenged Fein in a game of chess, musical instruments, and mathematics. These skills were his strongest, and Azazel was most confident in them. Yet Fein outperformed him in all of them! They played one hundred won games, and he lost ninety-nine times in chess! Kiba even guessed that Fein deliberately made himself lose to not embarrass Azazel.
Kiba knew how strong Azazel was in the games of chess because he became a chess grandmaster at the age of fifteen!
Azazel didn't lose his spirit but became even more motivated, which made Kiba feel more respect and pity for him at the same time.
Kiba looked at Azazel with a complicated expression and decided to keep quiet. He thinks that Azazel just wants to outperform him this time to get back his lost self-esteem after the crushing defeat he suffered from Fein.