Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

The soft hum of conversation and the faint clink of coffee cups filled the air as the group of three entered the café. The atmosphere was warm, sunlight streaming through large glass windows and casting a golden glow over the wooden tables and polished floors. It was a perfect blend of calm and bustling energy, a stark contrast to the simmering tension that had surrounded their earlier discussion.

Sylvie, Jasmine, and Layla exchanged brief glances before scanning the room. It didn’t take long to spot him.

Astron sat at a corner table, his posture relaxed but upright. A worn book rested in his hands, its pages turned with deliberate care. His sharp purple eyes moved steadily across the text, completely unfazed by the chatter around him. On the table before him was a single untouched cup of coffee, steam curling softly from its surface.

Jasmine was the first to react, her lips curving into a grin as she waved. "Hey, Astron!" she called, her voice bright enough to draw the attention of a few patrons nearby.

Astron’s gaze lifted from the book, his purple eyes meeting hers with his usual calm. He gave a small nod of acknowledgment but said nothing, his expression as unreadable as ever.

Layla’s eyes widened slightly, her surprise evident as she whispered under her breath, "Oh… You’re in our team."

Jasmine chuckled at Layla’s reaction before stepping closer to the table. "Astron, meet Layla," she said, her tone playful yet warm. "I don’t think you’ve had the pleasure yet."

Astron’s gaze shifted to Layla, his expression remaining composed but polite. "Layla," he said simply, his voice even. "The tank of our team right?"

There was no grandeur to his greeting, yet his presence made it feel deliberate.

Layla raised her eyebrows, her surprise morphing into curiosity as she leaned slightly forward. "You knew?" she asked, her tone both inquisitive and skeptical.

Astron’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile, though his expression remained composed. "Irina mentioned it," he replied evenly, his voice carrying a calm certainty that made it impossible to doubt him.

Layla’s green eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. "And what exactly did Irina say?"

Astron raised an eyebrow at her question, his calm purple eyes studying her for a moment before he spoke. "Layla is our tank," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Even though your rank may not be impressive, your role as a tank in our group composition is valuable. A well-coordinated tank changes the dynamics of any fight."

Layla blinked, clearly caught off guard by his straightforwardness. She hesitated for a moment before tilting her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "And what do you think?" she asked, her voice quieter now, the question laced with genuine curiosity.

Astron regarded her for a moment, his gaze steady. "I can’t say anything without seeing you in action first," he said simply. There was no condescension in his tone—only calm honesty.

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Layla’s smile widened slightly, and she gave a small nod. "I see," she murmured, her voice carrying a note of quiet determination. "Well then… I’ll try my best."

Astron gave her a slight nod, acknowledging her resolve, before his attention shifted to the others.

On the other hand, Sylvie had taken a seat beside him, her gaze flitting between Layla and Astron as though trying to decipher the subtle exchange. Jasmine, on the other hand, leaned back in her chair with a satisfied grin, clearly enjoying the unfolding dynamic.

"Well," Jasmine said, breaking the brief silence, "it looks like you were already expecting this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, our team being together."

"Yes."

"Why? Did you know Layla beforehand?"

Astron turned his calm gaze to Jasmine, her satisfied grin met with his usual composed demeanor. At her question, he replied evenly, "Yes. I already knew beforehand."

Jasmine raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "You knew our team would end up like this?"

"Not exactly," Astron clarified, his tone measured. "But I had an idea of what most people in the class were up to."

Jasmine tilted her head, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

He leaned back slightly in his chair, his purple eyes steady on her. "I observe people in general. It’s always better to have a general idea of their strengths, tendencies, and how they might act in different situations."

’This guy really is weird indeed.’ Jasmine thought, her grin softening into something more thoughtful. "I see," she said, her tone carrying a note.

Layla, seated across from Astron, blinked and leaned forward slightly, her curiosity evident. "Wait," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Did you observe me as well?"

Astron’s gaze shifted to her, his expression calm but faintly amused. "You’re in the same class as us, aren’t you?" he replied, his voice as steady as ever.

"Well… yes," Layla said cautiously, unsure where this was going.

"Then the answer should be clear," Astron said simply, his tone making it sound like the most obvious thing in the world.

Layla stared at him for a moment, processing his words. ’He really does pay attention to everything,’ she thought, a mixture of surprise and admiration flickering across her face. Normally, paying such attention to small details about others would be considered an unnecessary waste of energy. But Astron’s calm confidence and matter-of-fact delivery made it seem not only practical but essential. ’I guess there are people like him, after all. Observant, meticulous… and completely unfazed by what others think of them.’

A faint smile curved her lips, and she gave a small nod. "That’s… impressive," she admitted, her voice carrying genuine respect. "Most people wouldn’t bother."

Astron met her gaze briefly, his expression unreadable but calm. "Most people don’t see the value in it," he replied. "But in a group setting, understanding others is just as important as knowing yourself."

’Is it really that important though?’

Layla thought for a second.

’Why even bother? Paying attention to every detail about others… it sounds exhausting.’ Yet, as she mulled over his calm and practical explanation, she couldn’t help but feel a small spark of curiosity. ’Still… he makes it sound like it’s worth the effort. Maybe there’s something to it.’

Just then, Sylvie broke the silence, her voice cutting through Layla’s thoughts. "Can you understand what I’m thinking now?" she asked sharply, her gaze locking onto Astron’s. Her tone was fiercer than usual, and her expression carried a resoluteness that startled both Jasmine and Layla.

’What’s gotten into her?’ Jasmine thought, her grin faltering as she glanced between Sylvie and Astron. Even Layla, who was usually more reserved, found herself leaning forward slightly, caught off guard by Sylvie’s sudden intensity.

Astron’s purple eyes shifted to Sylvie, his expression as composed as ever. He tilted his head slightly, studying her with quiet deliberation before replying. "What do you think?" he asked, his voice calm and measured.

"Yes," Sylvie said firmly, her tone unwavering as her glare intensified.

Astron didn’t flinch under her gaze. Instead, he remained steady, his voice carrying a faint undertone of bemusement. "I am not a mind reader," he said. "Hence, I can’t exactly know what you’re thinking."

Sylvie’s brows furrowed slightly, her sharp expression faltering just enough to show her unease. "...Then—"

"But," Astron interrupted, his voice soft yet deliberate, "I can reach some conclusions and narrow them down. Though," he added, his gaze steady on hers, "you may not possibly like hearing them."

Sylvie’s lips parted, her resolve flickering. "I want to—"

Before she could finish, the cafs entrance swung open with a sharp creak, and a presence instantly shifted the room’s atmosphere. Heads turned, and conversations hushed as Irina Emberheart strode in, her fiery red hair curled and gleaming under the sunlight streaming through the windows. Her fierce aura radiated through the café, causing a ripple of discomfort among the patrons. Even those who didn’t know her seemed instinctively wary.

Irina’s piercing yellow eyes scanned the room briefly before locking onto their group. A faint smile curved her lips as she approached, her confident stride causing a few customers to shift nervously in their seats. The air around her seemed to crackle with a barely-contained intensity, a hallmark of her presence.

"You are already here," Irina said smoothly, her voice carrying a mix of warmth and command as she greeted the group. Her gaze swept over Jasmine and Layla before briefly resting on Astron. But when her fiery eyes landed on Sylvie, a fleeting glint flashed within them—sharp and deliberate, gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

Jasmine was the first to recover from the shift in atmosphere, her grin returning as she waved. "Oh, hey, Irina! We were just killing some time while waiting for you," she said, her tone casual but cheerful.

Layla nodded in agreement, offering a polite smile. "Yeah, we figured you’d show up soon, so we were just chatting for a bit."

Irina’s lips curved into a faint smirk as she approached the table, her fiery gaze briefly scanning the group. "Good," she said smoothly, her tone tinged with warmth but underscored by her commanding presence. "Then let’s not waste any more time."

Without hesitation, she pulled out a chair and sat down on Astron’s other side, her fiery hair catching the light as she adjusted her posture. The movement was fluid and deliberate, exuding the confidence and control that seemed to radiate naturally from her.

Astron, seated between Sylvie and Irina, didn’t react outwardly to her presence at the start.

PINCH!

Until certain two fingers pinched his arm.

"Did you enjoy sitting beside her?’

Followed by a whisper.

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