This chapter is a few short stories that focus on a few of the established characters aside from Ez and Lux. If that doesn't sound like something you wanna read, you won't miss anything super important by skipping through them.

extra 4 – Baited and Outsmarted

The fishes weren't biting today.

With a gruff huff, Graves leaned back into his red folding chair – hands still tightly wrapped around the rod's hilt. This was what he got for listenin' to that idiot Taric and switching to bait, he supposed. He never had this much trouble with flies.

He took a sip from his flask, and peered at the small clock he'd brought. He'd been at it since one. It was nearly four.

Replacing the flask, he sat. He waited.

Exhilarating.

He eyed his tackle box, as he had a few times over the last couple hours. It would be so easy to just switch back. He could have some real action before calling it in for the day, maybe even catch somethin' worth eating.

But Taric's smug grin bubbled in his mind, and he once more grunted and put his focus to the line. Ain't no way he was givin' up and admitting he couldn't beat that idiot. Graves was the best fisherman on the staff, not him. They only had to look at the last time they faced off, and the answer was clear.

He could fish with bait.

He understood the theory.

Easy.

Ring ring

He ignored his phone. It was saturday, and nothing would interrupt his Graves time. A few rings later, and the pinging subsided.

Still no bites.

He wiggled the line a bit in frustration.

No, not frustration, it was just strategy.

Ring ring ring

Ignore.

No bites.

He wiggled.

Nothing.

He pulled the line back.

He had to be missin' something. He eyed the worm, long since ceasing movement, and frowned. This was one reason he didn't like bait, it was a waste.

But, he knew he'd never get anywhere with dead weight. He replaced the worm. He looked at the line, and glanced up at the sun overhead. It was a bright day.

Maybe the hook wasn't reaching down deep enough? The weight on the line would drop it down around five or so meters, but was that enough? He stroked at his beard.

Decided, he added another weight to the line.

He cast it out.

Ring ring ring ring

He almost moved to answer, but grunted and ignored it. He'd call whoever it was back later.

He waited.

….

Nope.

With a defeated sigh, he walked shamefully out of the Fishing Hole. The sun had long since set, and Graves could feel the lack of weight in his catch bag. Shame. Oh, how Taric would enjoy hearin' about this. He piled the various bags and cylinders into the trunk of his car. He took extra care when placing Taric's rod – he didn't have a bait rod himself, and he hated the ones the Hole rented out – and eyed it with disgust. Bait fishing was not it.

He shut the boot and slid into the drivers seat. He sighed. His pocket vibrated.

Oh right, his phone. He should probably check who'd been botherin' him all afternoon.

Of course, it was the kid. Lymere had called him thrice, before sending a few text messages after. Graves quickly skimmed through them with what he hoped was a scowl.

Didn't the kid know you shouldn't be textin' your teachers? This was his time off.

Hm.

Maybe he should take the kid with him next time.

He scoffed, disgusted at his own thoughts.

He drove back to the school.

extra 5 – Fellow degenerates

The Clubroom was so quiet without Ponytail and Zoe.

Ekko smiled, relaxing deeply into Professor Braum's fluffy chair. It was mostly Braum's on a technicality; Yasuo used it more often than not, on account of Braum always bring busy with something, leaving the club under Yasuo's care. Which meant Irelia was in charge most of the time.

Not today though. Ekko had not only arrived super early, but he knew Zoe and Irelia had somewhere to be, and Ponytail was off doing something or another with the Luminary Club guy. And keeping in mind the President's, hm, lenient approach to attendance, Ekko was all too happy to spend the start of the afternoon with some much earned r&r.

He lounged. Legs resting atop the desk, he melted back further into the chair. Very comfy. He opened his eyes and let them wander.

The room was, as usual, messy. Various tools lay around the floor, the training dummy wasn't properly packed away, and the benches had a few new stains that Ekko could only hope were coffee. Zoe had even managed to put a gaping, seared hole through one of the hanging banners – it was a real miracle none of them had burned to death.

Don't ask.

Ekko glanced at the shelves to the side. He'd always seen them from the corner of his eyes, but he'd never actually looked at the contents. All books, so he assumed they were just training manuals or whatever. But today, alone, he felt a tad curious. He kicked off the table, and lazily walked to the shelf. His brows furrowed and his mouth dropped slightly.

It was all...manga.

And Star Guardians manga, at that. The whole set, too.

Double-taking, he quickly scanned the shelves, three entire rows, and muttered in confusion. They had all thirty-three volumes.

'Huh.'

More importantly, why was the Battle Club hosting a Star Guardians collection. Was it all Zoe's? That was probably it.

Intrigued, Ekko pulled out one of the volumes at random. Twenty-six, the cover depicting the main character, Star Moon, battling it out with the fallen hero Dark Star Saturn and her lover Dark Star Deimos. Ekko huffed as he recalled the event as he'd seen it on television, all those years ago.

He flipped it open. He tilted his head. It was all in Navori. Zoe could read Navori? He supposed she was foreign.

Didn't matter. He could rely on his basic knowledge of a block of Navori from public school, and his residual memories of the show. That, and it being a comic helped. Pictures and all.

…

Oh, he remembered that. Star Moon and Star Mars having yet another argument. They did that a lot, if he recalled properly.

….

Hey, Star Venus. He felt a slight flush bubble – he had a massive crush on her growing up. He chuckled and flipped the page.

Ah, Tuxedo Glove. He'd always disliked him. Bit of a show-off, especially where Moon was concerned. Also a bit of a dick. He kinda looked like Ponytail, actually, if his hair was shorter and he dressed better. Ekko smirked and took a quick picture with his phone. He'd bring it up at dinner or something.

'Mornin'.'

Ekko jumped up at the voice, slamming the manga shut as he shot to his feet. He turned, President Yasuo waltzing into the room with a deep yawn.

He breathed out, clutch loosening on the volume. Yasuo's yawning eyes fell to the book in Ekko's hand, and brightened up.

'Doing a little bit of light reading, are we?'

'Oh, uh, no – you see...' Ekko said, growing slightly flustered. He wasn't sure he wanted Yasuo - mature, lean and cool - to see him reading a shoujo manga. Yasuo puffed up.

'Oooh, volume twenty-six, huh? Good choice, good choice; That's the one where Tuxedo Glove finally confesses to Moon, right before he gets hit by the near-fatal blast from Fallen Chaos. Shame Kateuchi didn't have the balls to actually kill him off.'

'Oh yeah, I remember that,' Ekko said, then recoiled in surprise. 'Wait, you've seen Star Guardians?'

'No, I haven't seen it,' Yasuo grinned and waggled a finger, mocking Ekko. 'I've read it. That's my collection. I'm only missing one of the Omake sets and the original printing of volume seven, but otherwise, it's complete.'

Ekko just nodded, slowly. 'I, uh, didn't picture you the type, Prez.'

'We're all the type, young Ekko,' he nodded sagely, setting his wrapped sword down at a nearby bench, then kneeling next to the shelf. 'I brought it in because Zoe mentioned she was bored one time last year – you know, do everyone a favour, keep the child entertained.' He frowned. 'Complained she couldn't read it. Ungrateful brat.'

Two questions answered, then. Ekko cleared his throat, and slid the book back into the shelf. 'It's cool of you to do that, Prez.'

'So, who was it for you?' Yasuo asked. He was grinning.

'What do you mean?'

'For me, it was Star Neptune. Cute, slim, almost out of a fairytail. Literally perfect.'

'Oh, uh, that's...an interesting choice.'

'Right, right? She just made my heart melt.'

If this situation was a comic, Ekko could already see the giant drop of sweat forming at his head. He laughed.

'You have some weird interests, Prez.'

He tilted his head. 'What's weird about it? You're a fan too, hm?'

'Well, it was more just something I watched whenever it popped up. I don't remember much about it, to be honest.'

'Now, now, don't be shy,' Yasuo grinned and draped an arm over Ekko's shoulder. 'We're basically brothers now, you can tell me everything.'

Upon further reflection, the whole situation didn't surprise Ekko one bit.

extra 6 – Water Works

'Game night!' Zoe exclaimed.

Ahri, wearing loose white sweats and a snug black crop, giggled and raised her hands in greeting. Zoe – pink shirt and bright blue shorts - ushered Ahri inside. She took a quick look around the room, smiling at the familiar divide between Zoe's blazingly decorated half and Irelia's spartan walls. Something important was missing, though.

'Where's your mom?' Ahri asked as she set down the box atop the waist-high drawer. Monopoly, a timeless classic. One that Ahri was really, really good at.

'Re-Re said she had to get something, so we can just set up first.'

'Okies.'

Ahri took a seat on Irelia's vacant bed. The sheets were a plain blue, and they were always properly set. Ahri wondered where she found the motivation to set them every day – she dumped her notes on her own more often than not. Either way, Ahri always found it cute how there were only two visible signs on the bedside table that anyone even occupied the space; a framed picture of Irelia and her brothers at a park, and an e-reader with a matte pink case. And Ahri knew that Irelia only used the case because it had been a gift from her - Irelia was easy to read in that way.

Zoe closed the door and vanished behind the divider, comically loud sounds of rummaging following shortly.

'So, so, so – we had a fun day at club today!' Zoe said, perhaps a little louder than was needed. Clothes were popping up over the dividers, before promptly falling back down and being replaced with new ones.

Ahri let herself fall back on the bed, resting her head against the pillow. At least, that was the idea, but Ahri always forgot how hard Irelia's cushions were. Weren't they all issued from the school? Maybe she filled them with rocks from the gardens.

'What'd you guys do?' Ahri called back over. More clothes flew.

'Okay, so like, there was this thing, right? New training tool came in from the 'Stache, and like, I wanted to show off a little, so then I went all brrrrrrrrr and vrrruuummmm, ya know?'

'Mhm, mhm.'

'Yeah! But then, there was like a booom, and everyone else sorta started panicking. Ezzie saved me, though!'

'Oh? Sounds like he's a bona-fide hero.'

'Yeppers! He's pretty cool, ya'know. Saving me and all.' She giggled.

Ahri chuckled. 'Don't fall too hard now.'

'I won't! I haven't tripped since I was like, what, four!'

Not what she meant, but sure.

'Zoe, don't forget the signal later, okay?'

'Hmm?' More clothes. 'Oh, yeah! Leave it to me!'

'It's super important, okay?'

'Don't worry, don't worry! I'm a natural actor.'

There was a clicking at the door. Ahri shut up.

'I'm back.' Irelia called as the door opened. Ahri smiled up at the girl, still in her uniform, as Irelia shuffled her way in to the increasingly crowded room.

'Welcome back.' Ahri said, turning to lay on her side.

'Foxy's here!' Zoe said, clothes still flying. Irelia held a hand up to shield herself.

'Yeah, I can see that.' She said. Ahri smiled up at her, tail waving. Irelia smiled back, a tiny one, then averted her gaze back to Zoe. She furrowed her brows. 'How many times have I said to be more careful when you're changing? You're making a mess.'

'Done! Ta-da!' Zoe dramatically dropped through a portal in the ceiling, landing atop the divider with a plop. She was now wearing a shark onesie, complete with a tail and a hood. Exaggerated felt teeth lined the hood. It was cute.

'Ooooh, maybe I should get one of those.' Ahri said. Zoe puffed up with a grin.

'Don't encourage her, please.' Irelia sighed and set down the plastic bag she was holding against the wall. She quickly opened up her own drawer. She still didn't look at Ahri. 'It's bad enough with the new club members.'

'Booo! Tails says it's cute! Say it's cute!'

'...It's cute.' Irelia said.

Zoe sniggered, and fell upwards back into the portal. The sound effect always made Ahri smile. Irelia, on the other hand, shook her head and hurriedly grabbed a handful of clothes from her closet, and stood back up. She nervously looked to the door. Ahri felt a flash of irritation.

'You can just change here, you know. I don't bite.'

To the untrained eye, Irelia didn't react. To Ahri, it was clear she was having a mental battle with herself. The way her lips pursed in the slightest way, and the corner of her eyes squinted just enough to form a single crease...

Ahri sighed and turned around, facing the wall.

'Wow, cool wall. Have you ever even put a finger on it?'

She heard the sounds of scurrying about. Honestly, if the ridiculousness of the situation didn't annoy Ahri so much, it would have been pretty funny.

'Alright, done.'

Ahri turned back around, Irelia now wearing a long white shirt that flowed just past her thighs. It had a print of a cut-open avocado, the pip-most side had a cute little winking face. This had also been a gift from Ahri, when she first saw the abysmal state of this girl's closet. Irelia fidgeted and sat.

This was getting stupid. Ahri would deal with this tonight.

Zoe bounced from behind her section of the room. She prodded at the bag Irelia set down. 'What's this?'

'I brought some snacks. And I needed some more lead, I was on my last canister.'

'Yay! Did you get mooncakes?'

'No, but I got some Strawberry Bites and seaweed crackers.'

Zoe stuck her tongue out. 'Blegh! You're not allowed to be in charge of snacks ever again!'

'I like the Strawberry Bites though,' Irelia said. 'They're healthy.'

'Boooo!'

'Boooo.' Ahri said, giggling. Irelia frowned.

'What are we playing tonight, then,' Irelia said. Ah, another classic tactic of hers, forcibly ignoring the issue at hand by changing the topic. Her nose wrinkled as she saw the box. 'Oh no, monopoly. You're a cheater in this game.'

'No, no, I just understand the market.' Ahri said. Irelia rolled her eyes. Still wasn't looking at her.

'Don't we need four to play this anyway?' She asked.

Ahri smiled and stretched out on the bed. 'Don't worry about that.'

'Is Sarah coming? I thought she didn't like board games.'

There was a knock at the door. Ahri grinned and hopped off the bed. 'Nope.'

Ignoring whatever Irelia or Zoe were saying, Ahri opened the door.

'Sorry I'm late, lost track of time.' Yasuo said. He was wearing a black sweater, fitted loosely, and baggy grey sweats. He had a blue gym bag slung over his shoulder, a thin cylinder protruding out the bottom. Ahri always said he loved that flute more than his sword.

'No worries, no worries – come in.' Ahri said, moving to let him through.

'Hey there, Prez!' Zoe called. She spun around.

'Oh, that's a cute onesie.'

'Heehee.'

'Okay, that's four people! Any complaints, Irelia?' Ahri said, smiling sweetly.

Irelia rolled her eyes and took a seat on a cushion.

Shortly after, they started playing.

And unsurprisingly, the game went in Ahri's favour.

She held the entirety of the reds, the pinks and both of the dark blues. She'd also lucked out with her chance cards, to the point where they were effectively a passive source of income for her. She wasn't a gambling girl, but honestly? She should consider it.

Irelia wasn't doing so hot. She had the Water Works.

The rest of the territory was divided pretty evenly between Zoe and Yasuo, who at some point had started bickering about...something. Ahri wasn't sure. She wasn't listening.

She checked the time. A little past ten. Her ears wiggled a little. She supposed it was alright.

'Yas,' Ahri said, throwing the dice down. Another double six. Irelia's eyelids narrowed by a smidge – basically a scream. 'What were you saying earlier about the acoustics in the garden?'

'Oh, right,' Yasuo said, his eyes lighting up. He turned to Zoe, who was sticking her tongue at him. 'Z, let's show you something cool. You wanna race me to the field, you little brat?'

'Kay threetwoone gooooo!' The goooo faded out as Zoe dipped through a portal. Yasuo's brows furrowed.

'Cheating little -' He jumped up and ran out the door, grabbing his flute-bag on the way out.

And then there were two. Ahri smiled. Irelia still wasn't looking at her, but she frowned.

'Looks like it's just the two of us, Miss Xan.' Ahri cooed sweetly.

'You planned this.'

'Yep!' Ahri said, happily. 'You've been avoiding me since the year started. Don't think I hadn't noticed.'

Irelia shuffled on her seat. She sucked in her lower lip a tiny bit– another one of the small tell-tales of her nervousness. She looked to one of the posters on Zoe's wall, a cartoon that Ahri hadn't heard of.

'Zoe's a big fan of that music show, isn't she? What kind of music do you like, Ahri?'

'Big THRICE fan, and no. No changing the topic.'

Irelia breathed in.

'I'm not avoiding you.'

'Hmmm, really now?' Ahri relaxed into a more comfortable position. 'You won't even look at me properly. Am I that ugly?'

'Wha- No!' Irelia's eyes shot at her, locking with Ahri's own. She actually held it as well, before red started setting in her cheeks. 'I- I'm not...'

'See. I don't bite.' Ahri closed her eyes and smiled. 'You don't have to be so awkward around me.'

They sat in silence for a moment. Ahri opened her eyes and set her lips in her warmest smile. She had to handle this delicately. 'Do you remember what you said to me at the end of last semester?'

Irelia's face went even redder, but she gave a curt nod. 'I...do.'

'Is that why you're being so weird?'

…

Ahri sighed. 'We can drop it. I just want my friend back.'

'Have you...thought...about it?'

….

'I have.' Ahri said. A little too much, even.

'...A-and?'

This was the part Ahri had not been looking forward to. She looked at Irelia, and saw the clear fear in her eyes. Her usually so cool, so calm, so collected eyes. And Ahri knew she couldn't – they were just looking for fundamentally different things.

'I stand by what I said.' She said finally.

'...Right.'

Ahri's chest tightened.

'It's not that I don't like hanging out with you, or anything,' Ahri said. Oh god, she was saying it fast. Just calm down. 'It's just, you know -'

'Is it because I'm a girl?'

'No! No, that's not...' She shook her head. 'I think we're just looking for very different things.'

'Like what?' Irelia said, voice shaking ever so slightly. But Ahri caught it.

'… I don't think I want anything serious.' She said. And she meant it. Serious never worked out.

'It doesn't have to be serious then.'

Ahri had to laugh. 'Irelia, if there's one thing you'll never not be, it's serious.' Her smile faded in a long exhale. 'I really don't want to ruin our friendship over this.'

Irelia looked down with a wry smile. 'Right.'

'Is there a middle ground we can reach here?'

Irelia took a moment to breathe in, deeply. Ahri waited. Eventually, the dark haired girl looked at Ahri, locking her in her gaze.

'I understand your decision. I'm not mad or anything. I, I – I...'

Ahri pursed her lips as a few tears formed at Irelia's eyes. Over the whole year she'd known her, Ahri had never seen her like this. And she was not ready for how hard it hit her.

Irelia's eyes fell to the single property piece she had acquired during the game – Water Works. She barked a single, short laugh. 'Now isn't that ironic.'

In almost any other situation, Ahri would've probably agreed. She looked away – this was what she was afraid of. This was why she avoided the kind of thing Irelia wanted.

And it didn't feel good to be proven right at all.

She stood up and moved next to her friend.

…."Friend", huh?

She didn't say anything – Ahri knew it would be her turn to pay the Water Works tax if she did – and wrapped Irelia in a hug.

Silently, she held her there for a few peaceful, and painful minutes.

'I'm really sorry.' Irelia eventually said, words muffled by the soft fabric of Ahri's shirt. Ahri shook her head, gently stroking the other girl's hair.

'You have nothing to apologise for.' Ahri said. 'You laid your heart out. I wish I had your courage.'

Irelia snorted, a sound which was accentuated by the sound of snot from her tear-clogged nose. 'Still. I feel like an idiot.'

'Well, don't. Seriously.' She continued to stroke her hair. It was long, silky, and...well. Beautiful.

'...I meant it, you know.' Irelia said. Quietly.

'...I can't.'

Silence.

'...Is it okay if I ask why?'

Ahri wanted to scream, but she settled for a sigh. She supposed she owed her at least this much. She braced herself. She would not tear up.

'I'm scared. I don't want to risk something like that.'

There. Simple.

They continued in silence for a few moments more.

The door swung open.

Yasuo stood, panting. He hadn't actually looked inside yet, his eyes were focused on something outside of the frame. Ahri glared at him, hoping the idiot would notice.

'Damn brat, making me buy her a damn -' He noticed the two girls, and Ahri's death glare. She wordlessly gestured him to leave. He held his hands up in surrender, nodded, and backed up. 'Ah, uh, actually, Zo, let's go take another look at that, uh, thing. Yeah. Wait, let's go get Ezreal. That's something you wanna do, right -'

He shut the door quickly.

Ahri sighed. Yasuo was a complete brick wall, but at least he'd picked up some common decency over the years. Ahri thanked her stars he wasn't as clueless as he had been all those years growing up. She looked down.

Well, it'd actually be almost impossible to misread this situation. But she had the wrong kind of faith in her old friend.

She sighed. 'Sorry, Irelia, I really didn't think they'd be back so soon.'

'I'm scared too, you know.'

...Ahri supposed she should've expected it, but she was hoping she could steer off this course before anything she might regret could happen. At least Irelia's voice was stronger now.

But what to say.

…

She was drawing a blank.

Oh no.

'That night... I was so scared. Scared of so many things. Rejection was only one of them.' She removed herself from Ahri's embrace and chuckled a little. She wiped her nose. 'Guess I should've been more scared of that one.'

'Irelia -'

'I don't want to lock you in or anything. It's just... I don't know. I can't help it. I've literally never felt like this to anything. It just happened, I guess.'

No no no no -

'Really, listen -'

'But I went through with it anyway. It was the scariest thing I've ever done – no plan, no goal, just...a desire? I don't know.' She sighed. 'My point is, um...'

She furrowed her brows in thought. Ahri waited.

'..Is -?'

Irelia smiled, wiping her nose again. She shrugged. 'I don't know. I guess that's my point.' She raised her eyes, purple and determined, straight at Ahri. 'I don't know, and that usually terrifies me. But if it's to do with you... I, uh, don't care. Yeah.'

…

….

…..

Ah, fuck.

Ahri tried to back away a little, bringing her hand up to her face. Irelia's eyes widened in shock, then extreme fear.

'No, wait, I'm so sorry, I didn't want to make you cry. Oh no, wait -'

Ahri shook her head. She didn't say anything, she knew her voice wouldn't hold.

Irelia was standing over her now, worried hands extended towards Ahri.

Oh, the irony.

'Are you mad?' Irelia whispered. Ahri shook her head, she had to bring her other hand up, now.

'I'm sorry, this wasn't what I wanted to -'

'- Thank you.' Ahri stammered out. Her voice quivered, muffled by her hands, but it held. Barely.

Irelia looked stunned. She stared, confused for a moment, before blushing and rubbing at her neck. 'You're, uh, welcome.' She looked Ahri in the eye. She was blurred. 'I mean it.'

Ahri made a sound. They weren't words. She nodded once.

'So, um, I'll just ask one more time. If you don't want to, I'll never bring it up again.' She inhaled, and wiped her face one more time. Ahri could barely see her at this point; her vision was like a raining window. 'Do you want to try this with me?'

Despite the floodgates pouring open, Ahri nodded. Another wordless sound, but she nodded. She couldn't see, but she nodded.

Ahri felt herself wrapped in the warmest embrace she'd ever been in. She finally dropped her hands from her face, and let them fall around the other girl.

Was this what being loved felt like?

Ahri always thought a lot less snot would be involved.

extra 7 – Warm-up

'You will work with a partner on this exercise. If you need help or have questions, ask myself or Professor Braum.' Professor Sylas finished, gesturing to the large man to his side, who laughed and waved. The two of them quickly numbered off the class as either ones or twos, and told the students to pair up quickly.

Most of the class found a partner quickly, leaving only a few leftovers.

Qiyana stared down at her partner for the task. He glared back.

'Let's get this overwith, I guess.' Ekko said.

'Hmph.'

The task was simple, as far as she understood it – a general fitness routine, designed to warm up the body for more specialised individual training schemes. Why they needed to be assigned partners, Qiyana had no idea. She did not need some inferior idiot slowing down her opportunity to train.

Especially not someone like this.

Ekko began to stretch. Qiyana mirrored his movements. Neither of them looked at each other, but she was acutely aware of his presence. The training mat they had been given was not large.

'So,' he said, still not looking. 'Do you want to go first, or should I?'

'I do not need your help.' She replied, leaning deep into her motion. He scoffed from the side.

'Still a joy to be around, aren't you.'

She didn't respond. Qiyana didn't have the energy to waste on the likes of him. It was extremely grating that she'd even have to do this – what kind of 'Physical Education' class was this? 'Specialised God-Weapon Training', this was not. The school was not living up to her standards.

Stretch finished, she stood back up straight and looked around her. The other pairs were doing the assigned exercises; tandem tasks that required each partner to work off the other's weight. She frowned. What a waste.

'I will perform my own routine. Feel free to do whatever you wish.' She said. See? She could be gracious.

Ekko snorted, and stood up himself. 'Do you ever get tired of being a bitch?'

'And do you ever get tired of being insufferable?'

'Nah, not really.' He rolled his neck, then stretched his arms up. Bringing them back down, he held his hand out. 'C'mon, let's just do this.'

'I do not see why I should waste my time with this.'

'It's not about you, Princess. Sylas hates me already, I don't need to give him any more ammo to chew me out with.' He pushed his hand out further.

She just stared down at it for a couple of seconds, disgusted. He raised an eyebrow.

'What, you too good to touch a commoner like me?'

'Hmph.'

She was, but she turned and presented her back to him. Gratefully, Ekko leaned against her and locked elbows.

'We start with me.'

'Aight.'

Qiyana bent forward, keeping her legs straight. Ekko pressed down on her.

'So what was all that about a few weeks ago, anyway?' Ekko said. They held the position for a moment.

'With what?' Qiyana said, slowly rising and bending back to a straight back.

'Lux. You guys nearly killed each other.' They repeated the motion, this time pressing down on Ekko.

'I do not need to tell you. Mind your own business.' Qiyana said. Ekko held the squat.

'Seriously, you're a downer.' They rose. 'What did she even do, anyway?'

'What did she tell you?'

'That you were being a bitch. Which I believe, by the way.' Qiyana went back down. She snorted.

'She insulted me. Drop it.' Hold.

Ekko shrugged against her squatting form. She nearly toppled over, but she stayed on balance. Barely. She shot a glare behind her, turning as far as she could comfortably.

'My bad.' He said.

She sighed, and they rose. Back down on Ekko.

'Yunalai! Lenare! You're too slow! Pick up the pace!' Professor Sylas called over. Qiyana would of glared at him if she could rotate her head to see him. Ekko growled.

'I hate him.' He mumbled. 'I don't know why he's got such a bone to pick with me.'

Qiyana didn't respond. They rose.

She didn't want to think about the redhead girl, so she pushed it out of mind. She made the decision to just ignore the boy. Qiyana bent down. One more, and they'd move on to the next exercise.

'No comment? I thought you'd be the type to jump at an opportunity to talk some smack.'

She ignored him.

'Well, whatever. Can't fault me for trying, I suppose. This is why you don't have any friends, you know.'

'Excuse you, I do have friends.' She said, irritated. Ekko hummed.

'Right. Like Lux?'

'Well, no -' She said.

'Wait, are we friends?' He gasped.

'No!'

'Ah, well then I'm straight out of guesses. Sera maybe? She seems nice enough to put up with you.'

'….'

He laughed. 'Oh, lighten up, Princess. I'm just messing with you.'

Done. They separated. Qiyana huffed and stretched out her arms, Ekko did the same.

She glared at him – he was a microcosm of the bigger problem with everyone at this damn school. No one held any respect for royalty, it was almost as if they thought themselves on her level. Or worse, they thought her on theirs. She frowned.

And worst of all, she had been persuaded, nay – forced, into acknowledging the sliver of truth by that woman. It made her angry just thinking about it. A commoner, on equal footing. Disgusting.

There was no phrase in Common that could accurately portray her frustration. But Ixtalli did - Saal yun esqu'uña. Common was so primitive.

Regardless, this was her duty. If this was what she had to endure to ascend before her sisters, so be it. Three years of mild humiliation was nothing compared to that. She glared at Ekko.

She would force everyone here to accept her position. She would get stronger yet, and then -

The Redhead's face flashed in her mind, the wild look in her eyes before the scruffy boy interrupted them. Her eyes narrowed to slits.

Could she even do it?

Ekko tilted his head.

'Yo, we still have like, three things to do. Hurry it up with the brooding.'

'Be quiet, you insufferable dolt.'

He snorted, and lowered into a lunge. Qiyana pushed him down, and looked around the field quickly.

They were a full task behind.

She sighed.

Graves goes fishing 2: Ezreal Boogaloo coming soontm.