Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

The creak of the classroom door opening immediately drew the group's attention. Irina stepped in, her fiery yellow eyes scanning the room with her usual confidence, her fiery hair catching the light as she strode toward her seat. If she noticed the murmurs and stares, she gave no indication, her composed demeanor unwavering.

Julia, however, was already on her feet, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief. She practically pounced, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds.

"Well, well, well," Julia said, her voice dripping with exaggerated drama. "If it isn't our silver fire queen. Tell me, Irina, how does it feel to be the academy's hottest topic?"

Irina arched an eyebrow, her gaze cool as she regarded Julia. "Good morning to you too, Julia."

"Oh, don't play coy," Julia teased, circling her like a predator sizing up its prey. "The pictures? The headlines? The mystery romance with Mister Cold? Care to explain?"

Irina calmly pulled out her chair and sat down, smoothing her uniform without sparing Julia another glance. "Explain what? That I went to a museum?"

Julia's grin widened as she leaned closer, her tone sing-song. "With Astron? The guy who barely speaks to anyone?"

Irina tilted her head slightly, her fiery eyes meeting Julia's mischievous gaze. "Yes. And?"

Julia blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Irina's unshaken composure. "And? That's it? You're just going to sit there all cool and confident while the entire academy speculates about you two?"

Irina smirked faintly, her voice calm and unwavering. "Why wouldn't I? Let them speculate. It's not my problem."

Julia let out a dramatic groan, throwing her hands up in mock frustration. "You're no fun! Where's the blushing, the stammering, the 'it's not what it looks like'?"

"I don't do that," Irina replied, her tone as sharp as her smirk.

Julia slumped into her chair, muttering, "Of course you don't."

The rest of the group, intrigued by the exchange, leaned in as the conversation shifted to more direct questions.

Lilia was the first to speak, her red eyes gleaming with curiosity. "At that time when you mentioned that you met Astron during the break… was that over something like this?"

"Yes," Irina replied simply, her confidence unshaken. "Why not?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Why not? I mean… your mother…"

"She knows," Irina interrupted, her tone firm but calm.

Carl frowned, clearly surprised. "She knows?"
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"Of course," Irina said, crossing her arms as her gaze swept over the group. "Do you think I'm that stupid? If I'm spending time with someone, I make sure there's nothing to hide."

Julia's jaw dropped, though the sparkle in her eyes showed her amusement. "Hold on, your mother knows? The Emberheart matriarch? And she's… okay with it?"

"Yes," Irina said matter-of-factly, leaning back in her chair. "She knows everything. I'm not about to do anything that would jeopardize my family or my reputation."

Ethan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his tone thoughtful. "So, this isn't just some casual thing, is it?"

Irina's smirk deepened, a flicker of amusement dancing in her fiery amber eyes. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she looked directly at Ethan. "What makes you think so?" she asked, her tone laced with a playful edge.

Ethan hesitated, caught slightly off guard by the question. He scratched the back of his neck, his hazel eyes flicking briefly to the others before returning to Irina. "...Well… it just doesn't look like something casual."

Irina tilted her head, clearly enjoying the attention. "Oh? And what exactly does it look like, Ethan?"

Before he could fumble for a response, Julia chimed in, her voice brimming with mischief. "See? See? Even Ethan thinks there's more to it! Irina, you're seriously holding out on us."

Irina raised a hand, silencing Julia with a sharp glance. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Julia."

But Julia wasn't one to be deterred. She leaned forward with a grin, her blue eyes sparkling with glee. "Come on, Irina. You're ranked third. You're practically a celebrity around here. Don't you think this kind of thing is, you know… beneath you?"

Irina's smirk faltered slightly, her fiery gaze narrowing at Julia. "And what exactly are you implying?"

Julia grinned wider, clearly delighted to have found a weak spot. "Oh, nothing. Just that someone in the top five might want to keep a spotless reputation. You know, avoid giving the gossipers fuel for the fire."

Irina's fingers drummed lightly against the desk, her composure steady but her expression sharpening. "Are you suggesting that spending time with Astron somehow tarnishes my reputation?"

"Well," Julia drawled, her grin practically splitting her face. "He's Mister Cold, after all. Not exactly the most… relatable guy. Makes you wonder why you'd bother."

Irina's eyes flashed, and for a brief moment, the air around her seemed to grow warmer. She straightened in her chair, her smirk returning but with an unmistakable edge. "Let me make one thing clear, Julia," she said, her voice calm but carrying a distinct undertone of fire. "I don't care what people think. I spend my time with whoever I choose, and no amount of teasing from you is going to change that."

The group exchanged glances, the tension palpable. Even Julia, ever the instigator, raised her hands in mock surrender, though her grin remained. "Alright, alright. Relax, Queen of Fire. I was just joking."

"Make better jokes," Irina replied coolly, though her smirk softened slightly as she leaned back again. "And next time, think twice before bringing rank into it."

Julia chuckled, shaking her head. "Man, you're fiery today. I guess it's true what they say—Astron really does bring out another side of you."

Irina didn't dignify the comment with a response, though the faintest hint of a blush crept into her cheeks. She masked it well, her confidence radiating as she redirected her attention to her tablet, signaling the end of the discussion.

But then the group's playful banter was interrupted when Lilia, seated closest to the back of the classroom, tilted her head slightly and nudged her chin toward the door. "Oh… he's here."

All eyes turned as Astron entered the classroom, his sharp purple eyes scanning the room with his usual calm, detached demeanor. His gait was measured, his posture straight, and while his expression betrayed no emotion, there was a distinct air about him—as if he were deep in thought. The low murmur of the classroom quieted slightly as he walked in, his presence commanding attention even without effort.

Astron's gaze swept over the rows of desks, eventually landing on Irina's group. For a brief moment, his eyes locked with theirs, unreadable but deliberate.

Julia, never one to let an opportunity slip by, shot up from her chair with a mischievous grin. "This is going to be good," she muttered under her breath, practically skipping over to intercept him.

She stepped directly into his path, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief as she tilted her head at him. "So that's why you didn't choose me, huh?" she asked, her voice loud enough to turn a few heads in the room. "To think Irina got to you before anyone else."

Astron paused, his gaze shifting to Julia with his trademark calm. His voice was dry, carrying no hint of the amusement Julia was clearly fishing for. "Good morning to you, as well."

Julia blinked, momentarily thrown off before her grin returned. "Ah, good morning, Mister Cold of the Lady of Fire."

Astron's expression didn't shift, but his silence spoke volumes. Without responding, he stepped around her and continued toward his desk, his movements unhurried but purposeful.

Julia, undeterred, quickly fell into step beside him. "What? No denial? No witty retort? Come on, Astron, you're killing me here."

Astron pulled out his chair and sat down, clearly unfazed by Julia's relentless energy. As he adjusted his tablet, he finally glanced at her, his tone as dry as ever. "Do you need something, Julia?"

Julia gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Need something? I'm just trying to have a friendly chat with my dear classmate who's suddenly the talk of the academy. Is that so wrong?"

Astron returned his focus to his tablet. "Yes."

Julia laughed, plopping herself into the seat beside him despite his clear disinterest. "You know, you and Irina are way too alike. You both think you can just brush off people like me. But news flash—I'm impossible to ignore."

Astron didn't respond, though the faintest flicker of something—amusement, perhaps—passed through his eyes before it disappeared.

At their original table, the group watched the scene unfold with varying degrees of amusement.

Ethan leaned back, shaking his head. "She's relentless."

Lilia smirked. "And he's unshakable. It's almost impressive."

Irina, her expression cool and composed, watched the exchange with faint curiosity. "She's wasting her energy."

Lucas chuckled softly. "Maybe, but it's entertaining."

Back at Astron's desk, Julia continued her playful barrage. "So, come on, Astron. Be honest. Did Irina bribe you to join her team? Or was it her charm that won you over?"

Astron

finally looked at her, his purple eyes steady but devoid of any warmth. "Neither."

Julia leaned in closer, undeterred. "Then what was it? Give me something, Mister Cold."

Astron sighed softly, adjusting the tablet on his desk as if she weren't even there. "If you're done, I'd like to prepare for class."

Julia pouted, dramatically flopping back in her seat. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you alone… for now."

Astron gave no acknowledgment, his attention already back on his tablet. Julia, though thwarted for the moment, still wore a triumphant grin as she returned to the group.

"Well," she said, dropping into her seat with a flourish, "he's as talkative as ever."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly did you expect?"

Julia grinned. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe a confession? A secret love letter to Irina? Something juicy?"

Irina shot her a flat look. "Keep dreaming, Julia."