"Why won't you just leave me alone?" Ryan asked, staring at the girl in front of him.
Black hair in a ponytail, blue eyes studying him with that curiosity that always made him uncomfortable. He'd picked this isolated spot in the lecture hall for a reason, but ever since she started sitting here, he'd been getting death glares from other students. Especially from one particular guy.
"I just figured out something interesting," she said with that cheeky smile, completely ignoring his question.
He sighed and glanced around. Great. More attention. "Can you just go back to your boyfriend? I don't need the drama."
"Ugh," he groaned as her hand smacked his arm—harder than it had any right to be for someone who looked so delicate.
What the hell is wrong with this girl? And why is she so damn strong?
Most people knew about his past and kept their distance. They knew he wasn't exactly stable—after all, pulling a trigger on some kids tends to make people nervous around you.
"I have issues, you know," he said, trying to remind her he was dangerous.
She ignored him. Again.
"I don't have a boyfriend, and I've told you that a million times," she said. "Like I said, I figured out something interesting."
Ryan gave up. He'd already tried everything—even acted like he might get violent last time. But here she was again, acting like they were best friends.
This all started a week ago after some encounter with her "boyfriend"—his term, not hers—before a lecture. The weird part was that despite how annoying she was, he always felt... relaxed around her. A fact he'd rather die than admit.
"What?" he asked, exhausted.
"Our names are similar. Same first letters," she said with that grin.
"Really?" He feigned interest. "So what's your name?"
"Ugh!" Another punch. "Do that again and I'll—"
"Ugh!" She hit him again, this time pouting.
Okay, maybe she's the crazy one here, he thought. Maybe I should be avoiding her.
"How do you not know my name?" she asked.
"Because I don't care?"
She grabbed his bag. "Give that back."
"Just wait." She wrote something on it with a pen eraser. "R + R."
"Why the hell did you write that?" He snatched the bag back, trying to wipe it off.
"So you won't forget," she said, smiling.
He'd had enough. "Aww!" she cried as he knocked her lightly on the head.
"Why did you do that?" She rubbed her head, frowning.
He stayed silent, satisfied.
"Fine then," she said, smiling before going quiet.
After a while: "What does the R stand for?"
"Just look," she said.
He looked down and realized she'd done something worse—written on his shirt without him noticing.
"Ryan has a crush on Renay" in bold letters.
"FUCK YOU!" he shouted.
....
....
Ryan jolted awake, breathing hard. Darkness surrounded him.
"What happened?" he muttered, realizing he was on a bed. He couldn't see anything, but his hands found cold metal above him. "A bunk?"
"Zel," he called out. Silence.
"Zel!" Louder this time. Still nothing.
That's when he realized something was seriously wrong. The voice had never failed to respond before.
"Wait..." His eyes widened as a familiar sensation washed over him—something he hadn't felt since before his awakening.
"My mana... it's back! How?!"