Kinn stood calmly, a faint smile lingering on his face, even as three Zenith seniors tried to mock his purple hair. The atmosphere they tried to create slowly began to crack.
> "If you want to play around, go ahead… but don't blame me if you're the ones who fall first," Kinn said, his tone casual yet clearly restraining unseen power.
The initially arrogant seniors began to step back, looking uncertain. Vellion patted my shoulder, his voice cracking with laughter:
> "Hahaha! Gren, look! The seniors are confused themselves, hahaha!"
I only raised an eyebrow, watching the three seniors now retreating slowly.
> "Still want to act all powerful? You might slip before you even get a chance to speak again," I said flatly, keeping my hands in my pockets.
The seniors fell silent, none daring to meet my gaze. Kinn's subtle gravitational aura exerted a quiet pressure without being visible.
Vellion jumped to my side, still laughing broadly:
> "Hahaha! This is awesome, Gren! Kinn's style is so cool!"
I sighed softly, glancing at Kinn. There was no fear, no awe—just cold assessment. He drew attention and could handle pressure calmly… that was all.
Kinn tilted his head slightly, glancing at me with that faint smile:
> "Hmph… I like the way you handle problems. But don't think you can take all the spotlight, Gren."
I only smiled faintly. There was no rival here. No worthy opponent. All of this… were just the people around me.
Vellion, of course, didn't care about Kinn's warning:
> "Hahaha! Alright, alright… but eventually, I'm sure you'll laugh with us more often. Just wait and see!"
The Academy corridor came alive again. But this time, everyone passing by quietly noticed one thing: this new kid wasn't ordinary, and Kinn… he drew attention, but not more than anyone else around him.
We sat at a quieter table in the cafeteria, away from the main crowd. Vellion immediately brought out his bowl of soup, his eyes sparkling as he noticed Kinn still a little stiff sitting across.
> "Come on, Kinn! Don't just sit there, come closer! This soup is hot, but we can make the atmosphere warmer," he said, nudging the chair toward Kinn.
Kinn raised a thin eyebrow, a faint smile appearing but still calm, slightly awkward:
> "Hm… you're too noisy. But alright, I'll sit."
I sat across from them, relaxed as usual, hands still in pockets. I observed the two in front of me with half-lidded eyes.
> "You two are always like this, huh? Always arguing and causing a ruckus?" I asked, voice flat but casual.
Vellion laughed loudly, almost spilling his soup:
> "Hahaha! Oh Gren, you don't understand… Kinn was really cold at first, but I love a challenge! You see, now he's starting to join the conversation a little."
Kinn leaned forward, staring at Vellion with sharp light-purple eyes, but still keeping a calm impression:
> "I am not 'joining the conversation.' I'm just… evaluating how you speak. Don't get the wrong idea."
Vellion pretended to be shocked, putting down his spoon:
> "What?! Evaluating? Are you serious or joking?"
Kinn shrugged lightly, voice soft but firm:
> "Serious. But don't think this means I consider you friends."
I just smiled faintly, sipping my drink. No rivals, no opponents. Just two different characters—one flamboyant and assertive, one hyperactive and chatty—starting to create a new dynamic around me.
Vellion, of course, didn't care about Kinn's warning:
> "Hahaha! Alright, alright… but eventually, I'm sure you'll laugh with us more often. Just wait and see!"
Kinn kept staring at his soup, but there was now a faint, hard-to-hide smile—a sign he was starting to feel comfortable, though not fully opening up yet.
I watched both of them, a faint smile forming: this was just the beginning. Interesting dynamics would continue to unfold, and I, as usual, remained calm and observant in the middle of it.
I glanced at Kinn and Vellion once more, then slowly stood up, taking a short breath. My face remained relaxed, hands in pockets, but my steps toward Lunia's table felt… slightly different. Not rushed, not dramatic, but filled with awareness that this was a small moment to handle carefully.
Vellion stifled a laugh, patting my back gently with a gesture, while Kinn only watched briefly, his light-purple eyes assessing—"Hm, just wait and see," as if to say.
I approached Lunia's table, maintaining polite distance but with confident posture, as usual. Her blue eyes met mine, calm yet alert.
> "Hm… I guess I have to come in my own way," I muttered softly, my tone casual but full of charm. "Don't think I'll apologize the usual way. That's too… boring."
Lunia stared at me silently, her piercing blue eyes saying nothing—but enough to make me smile slightly.
I pulled a chair and sat down casually, hands still in pockets, face calm, while my eyes observed Lunia's reaction.
> "Alright… I'll admit it. A little. Maybe I was wrong yesterday," I said, my voice casual but still keeping my characteristic arrogance. "But don't think this means I fully submit. I… just appreciate that you're still willing to talk to me."
Lunia restrained a faint smile, watching me for a long moment. I could feel—even though she didn't say it—there was slight relief that I came.
> "Hm… you really haven't changed, Gren," she said softly, her voice flat but with a glimmer of evaluation in her eyes.
I tilted my chin, a faint smile forming—arrogant yet deliberately charming, as if challenging but wanting to be accepted.
> "That's me. But if you're willing, we can start… forgiving each other. Of course… in my way."
Lunia finally nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly. From a distance, Vellion quietly clapped, trying not to laugh, while Kinn only glanced once, his light-purple eyes assessing—"Hm, Gren is still Gren."
I sipped my drink, a faint, satisfied smile appearing. Not because I had humbled myself, but because, in my own way, this small moment had succeeded—slightly arrogant, slightly sweet, yet effective.