Chapter 4: The School Tour~

The hallways were silent as the two students traversed towards classroom 3A. It wasn't far, but Lephantis opted to take the long way around. Kioko, who was observing him, didn't exactly know how to broach the topic of what happened in the classroom. She could pick up on the malice that was directed towards them when Sage spoke out against him, but she couldn't really figure out why. As far as she knows, he doesn't seem like the type to boast about his power or exude his status upon other students. If anything, he seemed more meek and gauche. What is it that makes him garner such ire? "She's right, you know." Jarred from her thoughts, the sudden comment made her realize that she had been caught staring. Lephantis himself seemed fine, but the pensive frown on his face said otherwise.

Before she could ask him why, he continued. "I was going to tell you and Celena after I was done guiding her around the school. However, it seems I won't have that luxury anymore." He sighs as he takes the colorful hair band off his wrist and ties his hair back into the low ponytail. "What? Is she your ex or something?" Kioko immediately placed a hand over her mouth, cursing her blunt nature. She was getting ready to apologize until she heard what sounded like a chortle escape him. Glancing over at Lephantis, she manages to catch a smile flicker across his face. "Don't ever let her hear you say that. Like, ever!" Mimicking the accent of a valley girl, Lephantis finally makes eye contact with her. Kioko looked at him for a few seconds, then, after blinking for the second time, she shook her head in mock scolding. "Never do that again, Leph. You can pull off red, but blonde isn't your color. Tsk. tsk." She wagged a playful finger at him. A small smile returns to his face as his posture straightens up. "Noted, though, to answer your question. No, that isn't the reason why she holds such disdain for me. It's a very long story." Lephantis begins to twirl some strands of hair with his right hand. As the two walked around the corner, the placard for class 3A was visible and rapidly approaching.

Kioko's curiosity was piqued, she wanted to know how he became so notorious but decided to shift the conversation to something different. She walks ahead of him, and with a little hop, she turns to face him. "Speaking of which, I have a question for you…" She points at him, which makes him stop in his tracks just before her finger touches his chest. Lephantis was puzzled by the sudden shift in tone but nonetheless nodded for her to go on. A cheeky grin began to spread across her face as her pitch raised a little. "You don't know how to deal with girls, dontchu?" He blinked once, and then, when the question fully reached his brain, he stammered through his response as he was taken aback. "W-Wha huh? Where did that come from?!" Kioko was cracking up at his reaction but reigned herself back under control. "Oh, nowhere really, just some recent observations~." Turning towards the classroom door,which is only a few feet away, she grasps the handle. Glancing over at Lephantis, who is still trying to get his nerves about him, she waves at him to get his attention. "Thanks for walking me back. Also, one more thing..." She opens the door and takes a step inside. "I'll see you later, and don't be a stranger." Lephantis' eyes widened at the statement, and before he could protest, the door had already shut on him. "Does she not care about her social standing? Who wants to be targeted by the majority of the student body?! I sure don't…" The bell rang again, signaling that classes were to resume. Not wanting to be seen out in the hallways alone, Lephantis hightails it back to his classroom.

Inside the classroom of 3A Kioko was greeted by nearly everyone in the class, including the teacher. She had a personality that just made her easy to get along with, no matter the person's background. Taking her seat in the middle, she peeks to her left, noting the young man conversing with a classmate dressed similarly to him. Returning her gaze to her desk, she whips out her phone and opens the chat at the very top labeled Celena The Shy[1]. Scrolling through the chat logs from this morning, there were various topics spanning from greetings to finding ways to meet up on school grounds. Scrolling past those, she spots the latest message from her bestie. "Thank you very much for helping me physically grab my chance at meeting him! Sorry for smacking you, tho. I'll make it up to you later." She stifled a chuckle as a thought came across her mind. "I'm glad it worked out well for her. Lephantis overall seems like a decent guy, but I'll be sure to keep an eye on him just in case." Tapping the message box at the very bottom, she begins to type.

"No probs! You look like you're having a lot of fun when you're around him. Are you sure you're not down bad?" She immediately got a response back telling her to "stfu!" but the stickers of blush and joy following behind it tell her there isn't any ill will behind the statement. Hearing her teacher begin to lecture, she attaches the pictures she took earlier in the day, then leaves another message before silencing her phone. "Oskar is in my class, so we only need to worry about class 3A and 3B. So currently, we have Oskar at the top, followed by Ian and Sage. From what I heard around in my class, he still holds the title of strongest, and the three of them, along with one other, are at the top of the school's food chain. However, I heard that there was a rumor going around that he had suffered a crushing defeat two years ago. They wouldn't tell me the student's name or class out of fear of being bullied or expelled from the school. That's all I got for ya so please enjoy the pictures I'm about to send. I think you'll like them very much!" Sending her message, she puts her phone back in her pocket as she brings out her materials to catch up on the lecture.


Classroom 3B. 12:58:13 PM

After Lephantis and Kioko departed, the classroom was very quiet, given Machida-sensei's prior lecture. Celena leaned back in her chair, glancing at the empty seat next to her. "That look in his eyes..." The event was still fresh in her mind, as was the resolve present in his gaze as he didn't back down from Sage's accusation. It reminded her of the day when the two first met, about 10 years ago. "They were exactly the same now as they were back then when he rescued me." Celena remembers the ordeal like it was yesterday, and not a day passes by when she doesn't think about it. He was the reason she was able to blossom into the girl she is today. Thinking back on it, Celena wonders if Lephantis actually remembers her or not. "ugghh…" Placing a hand on her face and silently groaning to herself. "I should've just told him my first name, but I was just too apprehensive." When Celena was in grade school, she was way shorter, and her hair didn't even reach past her neck. Most times, she was mistaken for a boy given how she played rough and enjoyed sports, unlike most girls her age. When her fellow classmates did figure out that she was a girl, some of the students began to bully her. So when she had her run-in with Lephantis, she expected him to also pile on with the others but instead stood up for her against the other kids. "I was so flustered back then that I blurted my middle name instead and just ran with it." Reflecting on her one regret, her phone vibrates in her pocket.

Upon retrieving the device, the lock screen lights up with the background of Her and Kioko posing before their previous school with a pile of beaten-up delinquents to decorate the background. "Hm?" Unlocking her phone, she opens the message app, half expecting to be teased about her fondness for a certain redhead. At the top of the list in all caps, followed by a falling star and a heart, was the name KIYOSHI. Opening it up, she is greeted by a wall of text informing her of Kioko's findings. Celena glanced towards the back of the classroom at the two students in question. Sage and Ian were currently whispering about something, but the diva seemed particularly peeved given the way her face was contorted. Looking back at her phone, she ponders the need to even go through with what they were planning.

Kanisu is very different from Iguru, as she observed all morning, not even a scuffle occurred in between classes. Though in some parts of the school, when she was getting a feel for directions, she did see the occasional shakedown or intimidation of another student. It wasn't adding up to her, in a school just about filled with people with unique abilities, how come none of them fight against their aggressors? "There must be one other thing that we're missing here. It's almost like they're afraid of defending themselves…" Just as the thought crosses her mind, the device vibrates again.

A significantly smaller message appeared, with two pictures just below it. The message read, "You're welcome, and congrats on your first catch!" The two attachments that followed are the pictures taken earlier this morning when the two first encountered Lephantis. The first one was after they hit the floor, when the redhead tried his best to shield her from harm. He had an arm wrapped around her waist, and the other hand was cradling her head into his chest. The second one, which was the better-taken photo, was when Celena started flirting with Lephantis while they were still prone. Celena took a closer look at her facial expression in the picture and noted that the predatory smirk she was trying to restrain was still present. A groan was beginning to bubble in her throat when her friend's prior texts came flying through her head. "Am I really that thirsty…?" Lost in her retrospect, movement could be heard from her left. Shifting her gaze towards the noise, she notices that her desk has become twice its regular length. "Huh? When did…"

Hearing a chair clack next to her, she immediately looks up, spotting a very familiar face. "Welcome back to the realm of the living. I tried calling your name, but I don't think you heard me. '' Lephantis sat down next to her, placing a book in between the two. He tilted his head at her with concern in his eyes. "Was there something on the news? It is Dreamy Town, so crime is bound to happen on a day-to-day basis.'' Celena raised a brow at his question, then pointed towards her phone, trying to sneak a peek at the screen. Alarmed that her phone is still unlocked, she snatches the device and shoves it into her pocket. "Oh, uh, no! Kioko sent me a very gross joke, and I don't think you want to see that." She tried to play it off nice and cool, but she knew she spoke just a little too fast. Lephantis regarded her with a questionable stare, which made her heart pound in her chest, then his facial expression morphed due to him restraining his laughter. "I learned something new today. I didn't think she'd be the type to like lowbrow humor, the more ya know." Celena relaxed, thankful that he's still as naive as she remembers back then. Ahem. The clearing of someone's throat could be heard from the front of the classroom at a slightly raised volume.

Hiding her smile behind the booklet she was carrying, Machida-sensei eyed the two of them as she was writing on the board. She shifted her gaze over to Lephantis, silently reminding him that class had started. He nods to her, offering a placating smile, which, in turn, lets his teacher continue the lesson. Celena felt a nudge on her side, and she peered at her seatmate. He gestures for her to bring her head down to his level, to which she obliges and offers her ear to him. Using his left hand to funnel his voice. "Is there anything you want to see first when school ends?" The question itself was innocent, but the way his voice fluctuated as he tried to stay quiet sent a chill up her spine. Feeling her body heat rising, Celena didn't want to be the only one suffering from mild arousal. So she got closer than she needed to and whispered in a husky tone. "How about the gym? I'd love to have a tumble with you~." She straightened up in her seat, awaiting his reaction. Lephantis' mind was overloaded with the possible implications, causing a dark red flush to appear on his face. Satisfied with the result, Celena happily pays attention to the lecture while reading alongside a rebooting redhead.


Classroom 3B. 3:00:00 PM

The final bell of the day has rung, signaling that classes are now over. "That'll be all for today. Be sure to be careful on your way home, and I'll be seeing y'all tomorrow!" Machida-sensei closed the book in her hand and placed it back on her desk as she took a seat. Lephantis cracks his neck, followed by popping his knuckles. After working the stiffness from his body, he stands up, looking out the window. The sky was devoid of clouds, but the sun's rays were gentle on the skin. Students filled the courtyard as they went about their business of club recruitment, activities, sports, or just going home. "Well, looking back at it... Aside from the very beginning, today wasn't all bad. Not to mention Leon and the guys should be back right about now." Feeling renewed by the atmosphere outside, he sighs with relief. Lephantis' ears perked up at the sound of footsteps approaching near him, he assumed it was Celena coming to get him. Turning around, he was met with green eyes instead of lavender, his face soured.

Sage waited until most of the students left the classroom to approach Lephantis. While he escorted Kioko back to her class, Machida-sensei took her to the side and gave her an ultimatum. If Lephantis accepted her apology by his own volition, then there wouldn't be any reprimands to be faced, but if he didn't, she would see to it that she was punished appropriately for her actions. She already knows that he wants nothing to do with her, given the events that took place this morning and the past few years. "Good afternoon Lephantis, are you free to talk right now?" Her attempt at being polite to him was nearly flawless, but he could still detect the haughtiness in her tone. Lephantis looks past her to see Celena interacting with some students that stuck around to introduce themselves. Not wanting to interrupt her conversations, he refocuses on Sage. "Unfortunately, I am. What do you want?" He didn't even try to hide the scorn in his voice, which caused Sage to recoil at the statement. Her face was beginning to morph into a frown before she quickly glanced towards the sensei's table.

Machida-sensei was leaning back in her chair while she nonchalantly sipped her coffee. Initially, you'd think she was just unwinding from the day, but Sage knows very well that the maiden with the eyes of blue [2] has her under scrutiny. Taking an internal breath, she wipes the frown off her face and reaches out, grabbing his sleeve. Pulling him to the front of the classroom, well within Machida-sensei's earshot, she swallows her pride and bows her head. "Please forgive my behavior from earlier during the lunch period. I didn't mean to air out your business like that, and I had no right. I'm Sorry." Lephantis was silent as he absorbed the apology into his mind. "Of all things I thought would never happen, this is the very last thing I thought I'd ever see." Granted, he's not stupid, he knows that this apology was most likely spurred on by a higher power or teacher. He peeked behind himself, noticing that Machida-sensei's eyes were closed as she drank and pointedly not looking in his direction. Then he glanced across the classroom, noticing the lack of her followers present. He sighed. "Raise your head, Sage. I'll accept your apology, but I won't forgive you for what you did this morning." Raising her head, she looked him directly in the eyes. "I can accept that. Thanks for hearing me out." She was definitely not thinking about how she would get her vengeance on him or anything.


Classroom 3B roughly the same time

After going through a couple more introductions with the last few students of her class, Celena began to pack up her things. "Today went really well! I was expecting to get into at least a fight or two, but everything went surprisingly well. Which is a little disappointing, but what can you do? At least I got to reunite with Lephantis today!" Humming to herself, she was ecstatic about spending some more time with him after school. Turning in her seat to ask if he's ready, she is met with a backpack in his seat. "Hm? Did he step out while I was talking?" Sweeping her gaze towards the front of the classroom, she spots Sage holding him by the wrist as she drags him towards the board. Her eyes narrowed as she repressed a growl from spilling out of her throat. "What is she up to…?" Judging by her friend's facial expression, she gains the sense that he doesn't want to be around her right now. Pondering what to do to assist him, she feels a tap on her shoulder. "Hey! Celena Right?" Schooling her features back to friendly, she glanced up at the male voice off to her right. "Yup! That's me, and who might you be?" Ian chuckled at her chipper tone and extended a hand. "Ian Wright, it is a pleasure to meet you! How are you enjoying our school so far?" Celena shakes his hand. "Nice to meet you, Ian! So far, it's been a very good change from what I'm used to dealing with at my school." She smiled, glancing over at the interaction between Sage and Lephantis, then back to Ian.

"Oh, that's right! I heard from Sage that you were from Urigawa, right? That means you came from Kanisu chugakko yeah? I heard it was pretty brutal over there." Celena nodded. "You are correct! Going through those gates, you had to keep your guard up at all times. It was almost like the animal kingdom there, but if you were really strong, they seldom challenged you." Ian grinned. "Sounds like you were one of the strong ones. I can tell that you have quite the spirit on you." A feral grin revealed itself on Celena's face. "Is it my eyes? I've been told that they're the window to the soul." She makes eye contact with him to emphasize her statement while exuding her forte's aura directly on him. Ian didn't flinch from her gaze but was also finding that his heart rate was starting to spike up and his thoughts were starting to clutter. From his perspective, Celena's lavender eyes had a dull glow, and the world around him seemed to be distorted. After a few more seconds pass, he blinks, and everything is back to normal, but Celena isn't looking in his direction. Feeling a bead of sweat slide down his cheek, he was puzzled about what exactly he had just experienced. He wipes it off and presses on to what he wanted to ask in the first place. "Say, do you want a tour of the school? I'm free at the moment and wouldn't mind showing you around." He kept it mostly cool, but his heart rate was interfering with his speech.

Celena heard what he said but wasn't paying any mind to him now that the object of her affection was walking back towards his seat. "That won't be necessary, but I do appreciate the offer. I already have a guide assigned to me." When Ian looked at her facial expression, he saw how it changed from friendly to love struck. She seemed to hold a lot of adoration in her gaze before it returned to nonchalance when she got up. "That's cool, perhaps we could exchange contact information?" He dug in his pocket for his phone, but the question went unanswered as Celena was now walking out of the classroom with Lephantis in her grasp. Sage came back towards her seat, passing by Ian. Whispering to him. "I'm guessing it didn't go too well, didn't it?" Ian shook his head, restraining the frustration from showing on his face. "She's just playing hard to get. I could get her to come around." Sage scoffed at him. "You said the same thing about another girl some months ago, and yet you have not one on your arm." Ian glared at her as she went to go pick up her things. She turned to him after slinging her bag on her shoulder. "Come with me. We need to call a meeting at the usual spot." With that declaration, Ian dropped the subject, picked up his stuff, and left with Sage.


The Rotunda 3:05:13pm

At the suggestion of the redhead, The duo made their way towards the center of the school, the rotunda. "F-From here, you could easily discern where you want to go and can return here if you ever feel lost." Lephantis wanted to have the tour start here so he could easily manage where to go and how to loop to the next locations. Although he was a little on edge because of the two things he didn't take into account, Firstly, the number of students who still remained in the building. They were mostly minding their own business, but some students who caught a glimpse of them passing by were amazed by what they saw. The second, which hinges on the first, is how close Celena was sticking to him, or more like having him stick to her. Ever since they left their homeroom, Celena seemed adamant about keeping him close. So, currently, he's tolerating it, even if it's not so clear why she's acting this way. "Um… Celena. Could I get a lit-'' He felt her hold tighten, causing him to squeak. Lephantis looked up to her to gauge her response, but was only met with a smile and a subtle shake of her head. Upon receiving the answer to his unfinished question, he does his best to steel his will to put up with all the unwanted attention. "Y-You said you wanted to see the gym first, right? It should be at the very end of the hallway, to our left, by the exit doors. Usually, after school the teachers leave the storage room open for the students to access the equipment. From playing basketball to dodgeball, they always have something going on there." Lephantis, as best he could, navigated through the sea of students. Thankfully, just about all who saw the two coming made room or avoided them entirely to let them pass.

After a couple minutes, they've reached their destination, sizable double doors just slightly taller than Celena. "We're here. I don't think they started anything yet. Wanna take a look inside?" Lephantis felt the warmth on his left hip recede as Celena went for the door and opened it for him. "After you, my prince." A bashful grin appeared on his face from the blandishment, but he was prepared to be teased throughout the tour. Without missing a beat, he plays along, trying to sound posh. "Flattery will get you nowhere, but thank you for catching the door." He reached up and patted her shoulder while giving her his most confident smile, then walked in. Celena smirked as she followed him in, the door closing with a slam. Upon entry, the gymnasium is very massive, with bleachers on each side and less than half the height of the room itself. In the center of the space, a freshly painted basketball court with a bunch of balls in the center laying undisturbed. "Hmm, it doesn't seem anyone is currently present. Maybe they're still changing?" Lephantis looked around, only observing the occasional student playing on their phone or waiting for more people to come by.

He was going to push along to the next location, but he heard the telltale sign of a goal being made. Snapping to the direction of the noise, he noticed that Celena was at the half-court line, giving a little cheer. "Looks Like I still got it! Hey Leph, have you ever played basketball before?" Jogging up to her side and picking up one of the balls, he recalls during her introduction that she liked playing sports. "I have, but it was mostly for the small town I used to live in. I wasn't very good at offense, but defense seemed to be my strong suit." He took a step back from the half-court line to take aim, but his form was a little off, and he shot the ball with more strength than he intended. The ball soared through the air, and it looked like it was going to go in as it hit the square but bounced off the rim and into the stands. "BRICK!" Someone from the right side of the gym yelled out as laughter seemed to emanate from that direction.

Lephantis took it in stride and laughed at the comment. "See? I mean, it is a half-court shot and all, but I could never get the technique of shooting from afar right. Are you rea-" He went silent the moment two hands gripped his waist, and a presence was looming over him. "It wasn't a bad shot, actually. You just need to bend your knees properly and straighten your back as you shoot." It was like a switch had been flipped when she was watching him take the shot. Her brain was picking out all the mistakes in his form and immediately went to rectify them. Grabbing the last ball from the center, she tosses it to him. He nearly let the object slam into his face, but his hands caught it on impulse. "One last thing, be sure to flex while you shoot and keep your right arm straight." She winked, and Lephantis only nodded dumbly at the advice. Following what she had instructed, he took another shot. This time around, the strength he had used was perfect, and the arc of the ball as it left his hand seemed way more accurate than his prior try. With a SWISH the ball fell through the hoop and bounced against the wall, rolling back towards the center of the court. He heard clapping from his left and from those who made fun of him in the stands. He looked at his hands as his mind flooded with thoughts. "It was that easy? I could hardly make threes, let alone half-court shots!" Celena whistled as he made the goal, she walked up to him and patted his back to gain his attention. "Wow, you're a fast learner! Would've loved to have ya on our team for our pick-up games back at Kanisu." He thanked her for her guidance and offered a high five. She obliges, and after the clap of flesh, he gestures for her to help him collect the missing two balls. After locating the misplaced basketballs, Celena arranged them back to the way they were before they came in.

"Hey Leph, are you a part of any clubs for the school?" Lephantis was expecting the question to come up sometime during their excursion, but it still made him bristle as he was getting ready to lead her outside. Propping the door open for her as more students started to come in from the other entrance. "Unfortunately, no. Due to certain circumstances, you could say I can't participate in extracurricular activities." Celena paused while crossing the threshold, tilting her head at him with a curious expression. "Why is that?" At the question, Lephantis' eyes drift towards the inside, watching the other kids start a game of 21. Keeping the door open with his right hand, he steps outside and gestures for her to follow him. "I'll explain later; it's kind of a long story. Though it's not all that interesting." He nervously chuckles as he ushers her to their next destination. She wasn't pleased with his answer, but decided she would press him for details later. "Let's see what's next... Currently, we are at the back of the school. So there's the athletics building, the cafeteria, and the football field." Mumbling to himself, he snaps his fingers, with a route forming in his mind.


The back of the Iguru Chugakko doesn't have as many people roaming the place as the front or inside the school. The students that usually hang out back here are quite introverted or just looking for some atmosphere to enjoy. "I've always called this the backyard because of all the plant life that surrounds the two giant trees that are adjacent to the cafeteria. It's quite a popular spot to hang out among the students. Not to mention there's plenty of space to run around, so you can play games, have contests, and even climb the trees if you're daring enough. I will warn you, though, that during our lunch period, Oskar's group usually hangs out under that spot." He points directly where the tree roots converge. "As you've probably guessed, Sage was the one who gave life to what used to be a grassland. Oh, did I forget to mention that you can use your forte freely at the school?" Celena nodded to his latter question. "Oh yeah! Machida-sensei told me about that when I first came here. So Sage did all this?" Lephantis carefully stepped into the assortment of flowers, testing his balance. "Did she not tell you? Her forte is effectively phytokinesis—you know, controlling plants and all that? She has a deep fascination with nature and its constituents." Celena quickly scans through her memory about her first encounter with the greenette. Humming in thought, she roughly remembers when they touched upon each other's hobbies. "She made a mention of it after the fourth period ended. However, I didn't think she liked gardening on this scale."

Lephantis nodded as he offered a hand to her, which she quickly took, and carefully guided her into the greenery. "Yeah, it came as a surprise for all of us two years back. Watch your step, the ground is still soft." Feeling his hand tighten as she stepped in, she couldn't ignore the fluttering in her chest. "Thanks Leph! I didn't know chivalry was alive and well. You must have the gals quivering when you walk through~." Lephantis almost tripped at the quip, he corrected his posture and looked back at her. "Oh hush! I just do what any guy would do for a girl." He waved off the thought as he playfully rebuked her. Celena laughed at the reprimand but continued to poke fun. "Right Right Like I'm supposed to believe you never had a girl try to push you down." She placed a hand on her hip as she raised a brow in challenge. The young man in question didn't immediately respond and turned his head away from her, his ears shifting to a darker color. "Oh? Does that mean someone did try?"

Lephantis noticed that they've reached the undergrowth and decided to change the subject. "Oh, look, we made it!" Quickly releasing her hand to escape her reach, he raced towards the roots, jumping up a few feet to stand on the highest one. Celena didn't give chase, she'll wait for a chance to corner her quarry. She carefully stepped on the roots and leapt up to the top. "Well, subject change aside, this is a really nice spot. Back at my school, our "backyard" didn't look anywhere as good as this." Lephantis hummed in agreement, then pointed out the cafeteria that's about 30 feet to their right. "As Kioko said earlier, the lunchroom is huge. It can fit a couple hundred students at once, and the food is pretty decent. Other than that, down the way is the athletics building, alongside that is the track & field, and up the road is the arena." He pointed out each of the remaining locations from their spot under the trees. "We'll be heading to the athletic building next. That's where all the students who play sports for the school reside! They are really into what they do, so they may be a bit too much at first, but most of them are pretty cool people. I can't help but find their aspirations admirable." Celena couldn't help but notice how animated and excited he was regarding their next stop. "He must really like the people there if he's bouncing around like that." Not wanting to stall him any longer, she gestures for him to lead the way.

As the two were approaching the building, there were three guys idling in front of the entrance. "I'm so glad that we're in the off-season, because if you told me we had a game tomorrow, I wouldn't show up!" The tallest of the three said it with a laugh while recoiling from the internal strain. "And what? Just to run pack rats to, through, and from the arena? No thanks, you can just sign me up for that game, chief. What about you, Leon?" The broader of the three playfully jabbed the taller one in the side, causing him to recoil again, chortling at his pain. "Yeah, I'm with CJ on this one, Jase. You know how big that arena is? And how far? Yeah, you go ahead and not show up, see what happens." Leon said as he leaned against the wall, shaking his head.

Celena heard an excited gasp from her side, and she had to double take when she was met with an empty space. The puzzlement was clear on her face. "When did he? I couldn't hear him?!" Looking back towards the entrance, Lephantis was already mid-air, calling out to the boys. "Guys, you're finally back!" CJ catches the excited teen and sets him down next to Jase. All three of the guys greet the redhead, and each of them daps him up as well as hugging him. Celena was flabbergasted at his switch of attitude, from what she's seen thus far, he's been primarily demure, even when elated. "These must be his friends, and they seem really close… hnnngh." She felt a pang of jealousy at how much livelier he was with them than he was with her. Nonetheless, she pushed the negative emotion down and approached the group of boys.

Upon getting within earshot, she can hear Lephantis eagerly talking to Leon. "You guys had to do all that?! There's no way! I would've fallen over dead after the 15-minute mark!" He giggled as Leon nodded while he cracked his neck. "Yes way! You have to go through spartan training if you're going to last on the field... Hm? Hey Raika, whose this?" The three other boys turned their attention to the towering girl upon Leon's question. "Thunder flower? Is that his nickname?" Feeling their gazes land on her, Celena took an internal breath, wanting to make a good first impression. "Oh, that's right!" Lephantis removed himself from the wall Leon was leaning on and returned to Celena's side to introduce her. With a flourish of his right hand and a very silly bow. "This is Celena Brighton, she's a transfer student and is also in our class!" She offers a well-behaved smile and then quickly bows. "Good afternoon, gents! It's a pleasure to meet you three!" She internally slapped herself for letting her speech pattern leak into her pleasantries. "This is more nerve-racking than I thought. Thankfully, they don't seem to mind..." Lephantis raises his head, then looks up to her, gesturing to each of his friends from left to right.

"Right here, we have Leonhart Starling! He's my older brother, and one of the coolest guys I know! He prefers it if you call him Leon." Leon nodded to Celena. "What's good?" Leon is 5 '9 with caramel skin, hazel eyes, and cornrow braids tied into a twisted bun. Right now, like the other two, he's still in his gym uniform, which is just a T-shirt with the school's name printed across the front, brown shorts, and white tennis shoes. "Next up, we have Jase Anderson! He's a funny one and also the tallest one in our group. If that already isn't obvious." Jase, with a friendly beam, holds up a peace sign to her. "Sup!" He is 6 '1, sporting an afro, and has a similar skin tone to Leon but with green eyes.

"Lastly, we have Charles Hartman, but we all call him CJ! His strength knows no bounds, but his heart is as gentle as a giant!" Charles is also 5 '9 with a muscular build, mocha skin tone, and has a bird's fade. CJ walks up to the two of them, holding a fist up to Celena. "Thanks for the intro, Rai! A pleasure to meet you, Celena!" Celena bumps his fist, still trying to attach faces to the names. "I'll be in y'all's care from now on, and I hope we can get along! Leph here was just showing me around the school so I won't have to clutch onto him for directions~" At the word "directions" she hugs Lephantis from behind, giving him a tight squeeze and causing him to yelp. "Hey! Are you tryna choke the life outta me?!" Lephantis was staring off into space while facing the arena that stands menacingly down the street. He wasn't expecting to be grabbed so suddenly."Sorry Sorry! You weren't paying attention, so it was really hard to resist!." After his surprise waned, he leaned back in her hold to reprimand her further as she laughed in his face.

While the two went back and forth about personal space, CJ,Leon, and Jase all made eye contact with one another. Jase whispered to both CJ and Leon. "Y'all seeing this, right?" They both nodded. "Even without glasses, I couldn't miss that. I thought Rai was afraid of girls." CJ whispered to Leon for confirmation, and he just shrugged in response. "I know he's had issues with them ever since primary school until now. Maybe he's trying to get over his fear?" The three look back to the two, they were separated from each other but have now jumped onto the topic of what exactly goes on at the sports hub. Celena was hanging on to Lephantis' every word as he tried his best to explain the inner workings of the location. "Well, I think it's good progress in comparison to about a year and a half ago." Jase and Leon agreed, CJ checked the time. "Oh shoot! We need to change if we're going to make the bus on time."

Both the other boys glance over CJ's shoulder. "Shit, you're right. I wanted to watch this a bit more, but we're going to need to get going." Jase was the first to return, and Leon went to his younger brother's side, clearing his throat. Amidst his explanations, Lephantis immediately gives his attention to him with bright eyes. Celena also spared a glance at him. "Raika, we're about to head back inside to change. Do you want us to wait for you by the gate?" Lephantis hummed as he looked at the ground in thought. Leon was about to tell him that it's okay for him to say no, knowing how he is, but was quickly interrupted. "You guys don't have to! I still need to take Celena around to a few other places before I'm done. So be careful on your way home!" He gave Leon a bright smile at his declaration, and the older teen raised a forearm to him. "Alright, you be careful as well. I'll be seeing you soon."

Lephantis reciprocates the gesture as Leon looks up at Celena. "It was nice meeting you, Celena. Say, could you keep an eye on him for me? He's incredibly shy, especially in front of large groups of people." Celena's eyes widened at the request, but slammed a fist into her hand as her signature smile appeared. "No one will lay a hand on him! You can count on me!" Nodding in approval and dodging a shove from a slightly embarrassed Lephantis. "Did you really have to tell her that!?" Leon only laughed as he waved to both of them. "Love you too, Raika!" The door closes behind him, along with a chuckling CJ. Lephantis crossed his arm in minor annoyance but had a small smile on his face. Celena could only giggle as she patted his shoulder. "Where to next, boss?" She saluted him, which made him sigh and drop his act. He points towards the gate that's about 20 feet away from them. "That would be the football field! I think they recently renovated it too. C'mon, let's go!" He beckons to her as he takes the lead, with Celena following closely behind him.


The Football Field 3:15:59 PM

The Iguru Chugakko football field is styled with the colors of its namesake. The grass is a lush green with freshly painted end lines, and the track surrounding it is currently being used by some of the students. When the duo first got there, a good few of them eagerly waved and greeted them as they jogged by. "Wow! Well, aren't they friendly? Do they know you, Leph? They're more looking at you than me." Lephantis sheepishly waved back to them. "I-I think it would make more sense to say they know of me. I've had conversations with a few of them whenever they catch me within the athletics building." Celena had to lean very close to hear him as his voice lowered from the recognition he was receiving. "Oh? So you're a popular one, huh? That's nothing to be ashamed of, that means they like you!" Lephantis, feeling her breath on his ear, felt his face flush a little as she whispered to him. "Yeah, but it doesn't make it any less embarrassing…" He grumbled as he led her halfway down the track, then leaned on the fence in front of the stands. Celena did the same, surveying the area as groups of boys and girls were practicing separate events. "Welcome to our track & field! This place is also open to the general public when school dismisses for the day. Also, I believe our field had to be redone this season because they went really crazy with the Forte usage. Something about a crater in the center of the field and the stands being destroyed. It was pretty insane from what I was told." Lephantis held a finger to his lips as he tried to recall the story.

Celena inched closer to him as he thought, slipping an arm on the railing behind him. "That does sound pretty crazy! I'm assuming they were playing football?" Lephantis nodded to her question as he glanced up at her. "You are correct! I think how the story goes is that it was the final play of the game, and the enemy team was near their end zone. Tensions were high with the score being tied and they only had 25 seconds of playtime left. The opposing team snapped the ball and just tossed it down the field, but Jase intercepted it at the 50-yard line. As he prepared to run it back, I think one of the opposing players threw their shoulder into his back, and the other, who was launched by his teammate, purposefully landed on him while activating his forte. Cannonballing into him caused the giant crater that used to be in the field." As he explained how the crater was formed, he raised his arms up and spread them out to signify that it was like an explosion had taken place.

"Thankfully, due to Jase's forte, he absorbed the shock, so he was fine, but it still sparked a massive fight immediately after that happened. The refs, coaches, and authorities had to get involved, but they managed to keep injuries low and casualties zero. It was the last game of the season, but it had to be called off due to the volatile passion of both teams and the spectators." Celena's mouth hung open in astonishment. "That sounds like a complete riot! I wish I was there, it would've been fun to watch the carnage." Lephantis only chuckled at her reaction.

"Yeah, it was quite nutty. I've never seen so many people locked in combat like that!" As the two were talking, Celena was keeping an eye on their surroundings. When they strolled down the track earlier, she felt that quite a few eyes were locked onto them. Initially, she brushed it off, thinking they were just staring at her because she's new. However, now that they're sitting in one spot, most of the students went on about their businesses, but the feeling of being watched still remained. She did another sweep of the field and the stands, but then another feeling made itself known… bloodlust.

Lephantis was going to inquire what was wrong, but he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Eh?" He looked towards his right and was faced with a lush head of white hair that was cut just at her shoulders, curved ears poking out from the top, large yellow eyes with dilated pupils, and cinnamon skin. She was standing at about 5 '7, wearing white shorts with black stripes and a muscle shirt that has Strength written on the back. "You're Lephantis, right?" The striped tail behind her was raised and swayed in an eager manner. Addressed by his name, he tilts his head in confusion. He doesn't remember meeting someone with such distinct features.

Nonetheless, he offers a friendly smile and nods. "That's me! Is there something I can help you with?" The white tiger smiled at him, her canines poking out from behind her lips. "There is actually, but first, I see that your entourage isn't with you?" The panthera flicked her eyes over to his companion, noting the wariness that radiated from her. Lephantis didn't know what she meant at first, but his mind supplied to him that she was referring to his friends. He snapped his fingers in realization. "Oh! You mean Jase, Leon, and CJ? They should be going home for the day, if I recall correctly. Did you need something from them?" She shook her head, taking a half-step towards him. "Nah. Just from you." Her smile went feral as she threw a punch with her full weight behind it. "Fight Me!"

Taken aback by her sudden ferocity, Lephantis was rooted in place by her piercing gaze. Celena was already in motion the moment the punch was thrown. Grabbing Lephantis by his collar,she yanks him behind her while simultaneously intercepting the powerful blow. The white tiger clicks her tongue, growling at Celena. "Do you mind? I'm trying to fight him!" Narrowing her eyes at the statement, Celena raised a foot and drove it into the feline's stomach. The white tiger was sent seven feet away from the two with a clawed hand hovering near her midsection. Lowering her leg, Celena takes a couple steps forward and places a hand on her hip as she glares at the newcomer.

"I do mind, actually. Unfortunately for you, he's busy right now." Shaking off the stinging sensation in her palm, the white tiger points at Celena. "Outta my way before I pound you into the ground!" At her declaration, a lot of the students that were practicing nearby gave them a wide berth to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Celena only grinned at her threat as she popped her knuckles. "No can do mouser. He's my escort, and I'd be lost without him."

The white tiger bristled, clenching her teeth. "Mouser?! Oh, you're dead!" She leapt at Celena with incredible speed, her right arm already extending towards her face. Celena stifled a chuckle. "I love messing with the hot-headed." Stepping slightly to the right, causing the straight to whiff, Celena seizes the outstretched arm. After gaining a firm grasp, she uses the white tiger's momentum and spins around a full 360 before slamming her into the ground, bouncing from the impact. The wind was forced out of the feline's lungs, and she wouldn't get the chance to breathe as she was immediately punted past the sidelines. Through the air, she sailed but managed to right herself mid-flight and landed on her two feet.

The white tiger rushes back at her, but this time she has her hands open at her sides. Celena, with a mirthful expression, stepped onto the field. "I put a decent amount of force behind that kick, and she doesn't even look phased. How interesting, it looks like the students of this school may be a little bit tougher than I thought." Celena raised her guard as the white tiger assaulted her with a flurry of palms. "How's this?! Can you withstand my onslaught?!" With each strike the tiger could land, she made sure that her claws raked at Celena's skin as she tried to defend. Air escaped through Celena's clenched teeth due to the lacerations. Swinging both her arms out, disrupting the tigers rhythm, Celena throws her back into her, knocking her further infield. "For a kitten, your claws are sharp! Though it'll take a lot more than that to bring me down!" Punching her fists together, Celena runs up to the white tiger to continue their bout.


As their battle continued in the center of the field, Lephantis was starting to recover from the condition placed upon him. It was surprising that she was able to paralyze his movements with only a glare and if it wasn't for Celena's intervention he would've been on his back unable to defend himself. "I wonder if it's being part of the large feline family or the mutant types can just exude their pressure so to speak? The bloodlust seemed to be on a whole different level… but why does she want to fight me? What did I do?" Feeling the debilitation leave his body, he tests his limbs to make sure there's no sluggishness. "Looks like I have control of my body again. Now what to do about that…"

Lephantis pushes off from the fence, taking in the current situation at hand. The first thing he spots is Celena and the white tiger going blow for blow. So far they've been on relatively equal footing but Celena seems to have the edge over the tiger in terms of experience but on the other hand the tiger doesn't seem to be slowing down no matter how many times she's knocked over. Upon closer inspection, Lephantis could also see that Celena hasn't been left unscathed either. Making out the various cuts and scratches lining her arms and the traces of blood that seeped into her clothes, but one thing was very clear. The battle crazed smile that was plastered on her face made it apparent to him that she was enjoying herself.

A bead of sweat started to form the more the battle raged on. "I should probably intervene before it gets too crazy over there…" He shifted his gaze to the congregation of students watching from the high jump bar, which was behind the goal post. "Good, they already vacated the area. That makes this easy then!" Feeling the ground beneath him tremor, he almost lost his balance due to the intensity. Sweeping his gaze back to the ongoing conflict, the white tiger was pulling her fist out of the ground with Celena crouched thirteen feet away from her. "Yeesh. Just how strong is she…? I'll probably need to take an ability before I insert myself between those two, Just in case." Closing his eyes he begins to feel the familiar warmth of his forte spread through his body as he adjusts his attributes and selects a character from his collection of games. This time around his muscles feel more firm than he's felt before and the air seems to flow with ease into his lungs. "I'll never get tired of that~. Now then let's put a stop to this! May the soul brighten my world![3]" Lephantis steps onto the field.


Staring at the hole in the ground where she'd been, Celena's excitement only seemed to grow. "You're stronger than what I gave you credit for, mouser! Had I been too slow, I would've been 6 feet under!" The tiger was huffing as she stood back to full height, fixing a glare at Celena as she wiped some blood from her lip. "Shut it! I don't want to hear that from someone who's holding back!" A chuckle escapes Celena. "And a very sharp one on top of that too! What gave it away?" Standing up and cracking her neck, the tiger shakes the dirt off her knuckles.

"Enough talk! If you're not going to take me seriously, then I might as well end you." The tiger flexes her arms and grunts with effort as she begins to transform into her partial form. Fur started to cover her now-enlarged, toned legs and arms as her claws on each extremity lengthened. Admiring her adjusted form, she wriggles her fingers and then clenches them into a tight fist. "This'll do nicely! Hope you prepared your will!" Getting on all fours, she prepares to pounce on her opponent.

Celena whistled at the sight, getting chills for what's upcoming. "Now this is more like it! Don't be sorry for what's about to happen next!" Her eyes light up as she takes her stance. "I'll end this quickly so I can get back to my outing with Lephantis!" The air around her grows heavy and warps, almost like staring into intense heat. The wind blows between the two girls, tussling their respective features. After the gale died down, Celena dashed from her position, and the feline leapt from hers with immense force. Swinging her right arm out, she flexes her fingers, intending to cut her target in half. Celena jumped to meet her in the air, doing a very tight front flip, then lifting her right leg above her head."Take This!" "Die!"

"Hold It!" Both the girls are taken off guard as a familiar form jumps in between them as they are already mid-swing. "Move it!" "Get out the way, Leph!" Both of the girls yelled at him as they tried to divert their attacks. "Deflectaga![4]" Spreading his arms out, a transparent barrier in the shape of a dodecahedron erected around him as both girls struck simultaneously. DWOOM The sound emanated across the whole football field, causing their classmates to cover their ears. After a couple of seconds pass, the barrier disappears, but at the exact moment, an immense force emits from Lephantis. The two girls were sent hurtling to the earth with a violent CRASH kicking up a dust cloud from their impact. When the dust settled, both of them were groaning from their positions on the ground as Lephantis floated down, landing between them. "... Perhaps I should have used a different spell?" He sighs, feeling bad about what he had to do to get them to stop.

Hearing the sound of multiple pairs of footsteps approaching him, he turns around, flinching from the awe-inspiring stares. "Wow! The rumors were right about you Lephantis, you really are strong!" "Yeah, usually we would have to leave for the day when she's having one of her episodes." "Is there any way we can repay you?" Lephantis lets out a nervous chuckle as he scratches his cheek, flustered by the praise and the attention. "N-No there's no need. If anything, I was just trying to stop the two of them before it got out of hand. Is anybody hurt?"

Everyone shook their heads as one of the male students stepped up to Lephantis, patting his shoulder. "Nope! When we saw them scuffling near the stands, we went ahead and took cover. Since she only comes here to vent her frustrations, we got used to evading her wrath. Thanks for handling this, by the way." Lephantis glances down at the white tiger, then back to the young man next to him. "Y-your welcome! You all should be able to resume your activities. I'll keep an eye on these two until they wake up, then I'll be out of your hair." Feeling a hard pat on his back, almost knocking him over, the young man wraps an arm around him.

"No need to be so distant! You're always welcome to hang around us or at the athletics center. If anything, your presence puts everyone else here more at ease." Agreements could be heard echoing between the students. "The senpais in your year may spread lies about you, but we all know that you're a good person. So don't be a stranger, got it?" Releasing him, the young man and the rest of the crowd wave while they return to their respective events. Lephantis waves back to them, then walks over to Celena, sitting down next to her. "Getting into trouble on your first day? You were right, you really are a handful~." Lephantis smiles as he patiently waits for the two to regain consciousness.


A Few Minutes Later…

Celena begins to stir, moaning in discomfort. "Ugghh, what happened…?" Her eyes slowly blinked open, trying to regain their focus. "Oh! You're awake! Are you okay, Celena? You took a pretty nasty fall there." She felt that her head was propped on something soft yet firm. "I was starting to get worried, I thought I would have to call an ambulance for you." Her eyes were starting to gain clarity, but she could also feel the relaxing sensation of her hair being caressed. "Celena? Are you listening?" The grand blue sky was the first thing she saw before it was eclipsed by a curtain of red hair and crimson eyes. Celena's eyes went half-lidded as she reached her hands up to grip Lephantis by both of his cheeks as she made eye contact with him. "Don't worry, I hear ya~. Have I ever told you that you're a sight for sore eyes?"

Celena feels Lephantis hum as his face darkens a shade. "Sounds like you're okay if you're trying to tease me... But no, you nor anyone has ever told me that." Closing his eyes and shaking his head out of her grip, he gives her a disciplining chop to the forehead. "Ow! What was that for?! I'm injured, you know?" It didn't really hurt, but Lephantis still chuckled at her expense. "Now whose fault was it for picking a fight with a literal tiger? Hm?" She stayed silent and only whistled nonchalantly while avoiding his gaze. "Mhm! Thought so. Speaking of which..." He continued to play with her hair, which helped Celena ignore the pain just a little, then turned his gaze to the motionless tiger. "I'm not sure how long you're going to lay there, but I see your wounds have recovered, so I'm assuming you're awake?" Celena turned her head to face the tiger, who was now rising to a seated position.

Clicking her tongue, she timorously addresses Lephantis. "How long?" Lephantis tilted his head at her as if it wasn't already obvious. He raises his free hand to point to a space above his head. "Your ears were flicking, and I don't think cats do that when they're knocked out. So maybe ever since the 3-minute mark till now?" Her tail bristles from being seen through so easily. Glancing down at Celena, who seems to be in a state of bliss, she decides to take her frustration out on her. "You look like a mess. Had he not intervened, I would've had you in a puddle beneath my feet." Snapping out of her daydream, Celena rolled her eyes, displaying her displeasure. "Oh please. I could've ended the fight when you tried to punch Leph here. So don't even try that shit with me." Lephantis silently gasped at Celena's brusqueness, and the white tiger stood up, bringing her fists up. "Get up! You want to go another round?"

"You want to be put in your place that badly? I'd be happy to oblige!" Celena was going to sit up but felt herself get pushed back down in her position. "What giv-?" Looking up to Lephantis, she was met with a reproachful look that shut her right up. Directing his gaze to the white tiger, his tone held a hint of seriousness. "I can't allow that to fly since our classmates are still using the field. Please sit down." The white tiger took a step towards them, quirking an eyebrow in challenge. "Is that right? What are you going to do if I disobey you? I don't think you can take me on considering how you froze up earlier." Celena watched his expression change to something she didn't ever want to be on the other side of. "Considering the responsibility I have been entrusted with... I'd be forced to stop you by any means." Lephantis aims a finger gun at the white tiger, a light-aspected orb with chains encircling the circumference, growing at his fingertips. Between the three, it became extremely silent. The white tiger stared down at Lephantis, and unflinchingly, he stared back.

The white tiger's tail started to sway, and the excitement within her was starting to rise. She was very tempted to scrap with Lephantis right here and now, but something within her primal instincts advised her to not let the temptation take hold. She can see in his gaze that he was deathly serious, and the trick she used earlier won't work on him this time. With her options reduced and the objective set for herself not met, she slowly takes a seat and crosses her legs. With his request fulfilled, Lephantis lowers the extremity as the orb dissipates. "Thank you, and I apologize for being demanding. I-It's not really my thing to be like that." He tucks loose strands of hair behind his right ear as his countenance reverts to his previous airy expression. Celena, who released a breath she had been unconsciously holding, felt the pressure on her shoulder disappear.

Sitting up, she glanced back at Lephantis with intrigue. "Note to self... Never challenge his sense of duty. EVER!" Lephantis, feeling her stare on him, catches her eye, then clears his throat, trying to push down his nervousness. Ahem. "Might I have the honor of learning your name? You seem to know mine pretty well. Also, what year are you in?" He scooted up next to Celena as he asked the question, resting his hands in his lap and crossing his legs. The white tiger's tail stood stiff before it relaxed on the ground on her left. "Harumi Obi, third year. I prefer that you call me Haru." She looks over to Celena. "Not you, though. Until we have a rematch, you can just call me by my last name."

Celena smiled confidently. "Anytime, anywhere, Obi. I'll be looking forward to our next match." A grin started to play on Harumi's lips as lightning seemed to spark between the two girls. Lephantis only chuckled at their new-found rivalry. "You must be in 3-A, which would explain why I never saw you before. It's a pleasure to meet you! Now that we're all familiar with each other, do you have business with me?" Harumi's tail thumped against the ground as she shifted her gaze to Lephantis. "I do, but I don't like to repeat myself, so I'll ask you a question instead…" Even with her features schooled, a faint blush dusted across her face. "D-Do you train alone?" Celena raised an eyebrow at the question, but Lephantis answered without missing a beat.

"Most times I do, but occasionally Jase, Leon, and CJ train with me. Why do you ask?" Harumi's ears perk up, and her tail begins to sway rhythmically. "No reason. I wanted to ask... If you wanted to spar together sometime?" Lephantis tilted his head and raised a brow at her. "... That's it?" The white tiger nodded, causing Lephantis to sigh and Celena's suspicion to build. "You could have led off with that, you know?" Scratching the back of her head, the white tiger nervously smiled. "My… excitement might have gotten the better of me. I'm Sorry!" She lowers her head to him, and he just shakes his head.

"All is forgiven, you weren't the only one who was eager for action." He glanced at Celena, and she only smiled sheepishly at him. Harumi raised her head, her eyes shifting between the two, until Lephantis regarded her again. "I don't mind sparring with you sometime in the future. Just be sure to ask me instead of trying to punch my head off, okay? I already have enough people trying to do that to me ever so often." He stood up, then offered a hand to Celena, which she gratefully accepted and stood up. Though her gaze lingered on him as he turned to offer Harumi a hand to stand.

She was about to place her hand in his but realized that her claws were still extended. Glancing up at the red head, he only smiled and even wiggled his hand. Not wanting to accidentally slash him, she retracted her nails and took his hand to stand up. "Thank you. I'll try to remember that the next time I see you. As long as you remember that you agreed to spar with me. Otherwise, I'll have to remind you on the spot. Understood?" Lephantis hummed in agreement. "Loud and clear. When it comes to promises, I always hold true to them. Do you mind if I make a suggestion?" She raised a brow, prompting him to continue. "If you ever find yourself annoyed, you could always go to the weight room in the athletics center. They generally let everyone who enters use the equipment and the showers. You can relieve your frustrations there instead of venting them on the students out here? Please?" Harumi released his hand as she contemplated the suggestion, but her answer didn't take long to manifest. "Sure, it's not like they were much of a challenge, and I could use the muscle training anyway." She approaches Lephantis, violating his personal space, and begins to sniff his neck and upper torso. Blushing from her proximity, Lephantis leaned back a little, feeling concerned about his scent.

Celena was alarmed by her daring action, but before she could pull him away, the white tiger turned from the two, looking back as she walked away. "I look forward to training with you, Lephantis! I hope you don't disappoint!" She waved at them, while Celena only crossed her arms and glared, while Lephantis gave her a small wave. After Harumi leaves the field, Celena hears a sigh of relief. "Talking to new people is always so daunting, but at least she was able to be reasoned with… kinda." Glancing down at him, she watches as he takes deep and slow breaths. After calming his anxiousness, he looks up to her. "We need to get you to the nurse and clean those wounds of yours." Celena raised her arms to her view and inspected herself. She had horizontal and angled cuts littering her arms, her shirt suffered some minor tears and scratches around the hips and midriff, and the blood, which has long since dried, was present on various parts of her outfit. "She really did a number on me... Maybe I shouldn't have played around so much." She flexed her arms and hissed, the wounds stinging her from the exertion. "Yup, that's definitely going to leave a mark." Lephantis takes her right hand and leads her out of the football field. "Not if we treat it quick enough. To the nurses office!"


The Nurses Office 3:55:25 PM

Back inside, the halls were starting to thin out as more people went home. Lephantis quickly navigates through the halls with Celena in tow, ignoring the curious glances and murmurs as they eventually find their next destination. "This is the nurse's office! Apparently, there's a new nurse who started recently too. She's really sweet in comparison to our previous one, so that's always a plus." Lephantis opens the door and peaks his head. He didn't see her inside, so he stepped in first, wanting to thank her again. "Woods-sensei? Are you there?" There wasn't any answer, he concluded that she must be at a meeting or left for the day. He waves for Celena to come in, then shuts the door behind her. "Seems she's a no-show today." She shrugged as she looked around the room. It's in the exact same condition as it was when Lephantis had to visit this morning. Speaking of her friend, he is currently pulling up a chair in front of the nearest bed and taking out a set of bandages from his bag.

Gesturing for her to take a seat, Celena walks to the bed and sits across from him. "Will you be my doctor today, Leph?" Said doctor shook his head with a grin as he set his backpack on the floor. "I don't have my license, so I'm technically just a nurse in training. However, I've been in here enough to know how to treat some wounds and injuries. May I have your left arm, please?" Extending the limb for him to take hold, Lephantis uses both his hands to carefully inspect the various lacerations. After he was satisfied, he asked for her other arm and gave it a once-over as well. He hums for an almost exaggerated length of time. "You're in luck, Ms. Brighton. Your cuts don't seem to be deep and will heal without scarring. However, I will have to clean them." Celena nodded, stifling a chuckle at his attempt to sound professional. "Do what you gotta do, Doc. I'm a big girl, so you won't hear a peep outta me!" Lephantis smiled at her bravery, then got up to retrieve a bowl from the cabinet and set it on the bed next to her.

Sitting back down, he raises his right hand and, in a low voice, he declares. "Aqua." Before her eyes, his hand began to glow cerulean, then was encased with water as clear as crystal. "Your forte is so interesting. Creating barriers and conjuring water? What can't it do?" He giggled as he proceeded to place his hand over the bowl and wiggle his fingers, trying to reduce the size until it shrank to his liking. "Oh, stop, you're making me blush. Hand please?" Offering her left arm first, he gently takes Celena's left hand in his and begins to clean out the dirt and debris. "Still caring about others and just as kind as ever. Even after all these years, he still hasn't changed much at all. Kinda cute how he grew his hair out to wear that old thing, he must've been really looking forward to seeing me again…" Gripping the sheets with her free hand, she watches with a closed eye as he meticulously works.

"I'm nowhere near how I used to be though... Will he really be okay with how I turned out to be…? Ugh, why is being a girl so hard?!" Her eye drifts toward the colorful curio carefully tied into his hair and sparkling from the light above them. "Still… he did take very good care of it. So he must be thinking about me or using it as a good luck charm. Either way, I can't help but feel happy by his devotion…" Celena glanced down at the arm Lephantis was currently working on. He was a bit more than halfway up, and the cuts he did clean out seem to have already dried up. Standing up from his chair and resting a knee on the bed, Lephantis inspects her upper arm for damage. Due to his proximity, Celena was starting to smell the scent of his shampoo. "Peaches?" Lephantis paused in his inspection, averting his gaze from her. "My mom bought it for me. She said it should help in keeping my hair healthy and shiny…" She detected embarrassment in his tone but decided not to tease him about it. "Well, your hair was enough to make Kioko gush, so it must be working." She leaned down to take a whiff. "Not to mention, it smells very good. Your mom must really know her stuff!"

Sitting up, she only saw him nod as he finished drying her left arm, then swapped to the other side to start working on the right one. "Well, she does have a lot of sisters…" Celena moved the small dish to his side so he wouldn't have to reach over her to deposit the debris. "Hey Leph?" He hummed. "What did you mean when you said you have people aiming to remove your head?" Lephantis didn't pause in his task, but he did throw a glance at the door, confirming that no one was awaiting entry. "That kinda links in with how I can't participate in extracurricular activities…" He looks up to her, greeted by the blatant curiosity on her face. "Then spill, I think I've waited long enough, dontcha think?" She smiled at him, and he sighed. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you. Now that school has been dismissed for the day, Just let me finish treating your wounds, and I'll give you the details."

After cleaning her wounds and emptying the waste into the sink, Lephantis bandaged her arms the best he could remember. "You won't have to wear these for long, just don't scratch them unless you want to aggravate your wounds." With a snip, he was done with his final task and placed the medical item back in his bag. Standing up from his chair and sitting next to her, he contemplates how to begin. He takes a deep breath, then exhales through his nose. "Two years ago, I beat up the principal's son."


Author's Note

My Longest Chapter Yet at about 12,000 words. At first I was going to speed through the tour but I Immediately had second thoughts because why would I run through that when I can have more character interactions and another few introductions? This one I had to work on for a while because some parts I felt like just came to me in the moment while others I had to slowly inch my way through, day by day to get the ideas from my head onto the page. Anywho I thank you for tuning in on this chapter and I hope my writing style is at least somewhat bearable to you. *Bows* Till next time o/.

References:

[1]Celena The Shy- This is a reference to a character from the show Star Vs the Forces of Evil! I've always had a fascination with her name and title as a princess/queen of Mewni. Her color scheme and the moons she had on each cheek were very striking but what really captured my attention was her crippling shyness she tried to cope with growing up.

[2] Maiden With The Eyes of Blue - This is a reference to a card in yugioh. The only thing expressed here is that both the card out and this character possess the blue eyes and my brain typed that before I even realized what I was describing in that scene. So I left it as is cuz why not? :3

[3] May the soul brighten my world! - This was an offshoot, inverse of the quote "May the heart be your guiding key" Not exactly obviously but In universe I'm going to twist and pull on the identities of each game That I reference from IRL. Makes it more fun and gets the creative juices a flowing

[4]Deflectaga! - A Rename of a very pivotal spell in Kingdom Hearts 2 called Reflectaga! Effectively it does the very same thing like I described from earlier.(With it being a barrier and reflecting damage to people who strike it) Though in this case I had the effect changed to knocking back the force to the people who strike it. (Cuz if you used this spell in game it basically destroy health bars and perfectly protects you from all damage)