The arena buzzed with wild energy as the Special Combat Pairing Test began. Every student stood with their chosen partner. A timer counted down overhead.
Jin stood beside Meiqi, his body steady—but his mind wasn't.
Across the field, Yooha stood beside Xie Luan. The two looked sharp, focused. But if you looked closer… Yooha's hands trembled just slightly.
Inside her heart, a voice whispered:
"You promised not to feel again. Not to care."
But why was it Jin's silence—his distance—that made her chest ache?
Xie Luan glanced at her. "Focus. You don't need to prove anything to him."
Yooha closed her eyes.
I'm not doing this for him. I'm doing it for me.
The horn blared—the match began.
Jin and Meiqi moved fast—blades out, Jin leading while Meiqi synced with his rhythm. Their opponent duo used shadow and flame. Jin darted forward, creating a fake opening—Meiqi slammed the shadow-user with a clean kick. Jin twisted midair, striking the flame-user's shoulder.
Victory. The crowd clapped.
But Jin didn't celebrate.
He was watching her.
On the other side of the field, Xie Luan summoned wind like knives—sharp, elegant. Yooha danced through the air, her blade glowing, her power pushing harder than ever.
But something cracked.
She hesitated.
Just a half-second.
Xie covered for her, finishing the match—but the moment echoed in her heart.
"I almost… thought of him."
As the round ended, Jin approached her. "Yooha."
She turned, surprised.
"Good match," he said, voice calm—but his eyes searched hers.
Yooha simply replied, "You too." Then walked away.
Xie Luan watched silently.
Meiqi crossed her arms. "You two are a storm waiting to happen."
Bo flopped beside Jin. "Just confess already! I'm tired!"
Rei Han nodded. "That was tension so thick, even I blushed."
But Jin… just looked at Yooha's retreating back.
He was starting to understand—
Her walls weren't built by pride… but pain.
To be continue...