20 Chapter 20: Declaration (2/2)

”I don't know if they're looking for a rematch!”

”I just saw them going this way!”

”They were asking you to meet them in the courtyard!”

I felt a headache coming as my schoolmates swarmed me, bombarding me with information. I honestly couldn't give a fuck about the students from Crowley's Grand Arcane Academy. We had a good match yesterday, and that was that. It was unlikely that I would ever meet them again, and I doubted I would accept a challenge from them in future.

Not that I cared – like I said, my 100% loss record wouldn't be affected if I lost to them. Maybe I should just put up with whatever revenge they had in store for me, take the beating, and then they could get lost and do whatever it was they came here to do. Then people would stop bothering me, I would lose this dumb, undeserved fame and fade back into obscurity once more.

However…

”Can't it wait? I have a class soon.” I glanced at the time. Lessons were going to begin in five minutes. And I honestly wasn't in the mood to be challenged and mocked right now. It was only morning, but it already felt like a bloody long day.

Having to avoid the press, getting mobbed by schoolmates, dealing with condescending stares and scorn, looking for ways to gently reject those who genuinely admired me…all this in the space of a single morning. I wouldn't be surprised if less than an hour had passed since I had left home, yet so many things had happened within this space of time.

Unfortunately, Fate wasn't done having fun with me. Before I could escape into the classroom, a familiar silhouette emerged. All the girls began squealing, peeling off from around me to approach the newcomer.

”Doug!”

”Sir Doug!”

”Ah…how handsome…”

I was grateful for the opening this gave me, and was about to slip away, but Doug Daniels spotted me and gave me a friendly wave.

”Hey, Richard! I'm glad I found you!”

”Um…hello?”

I wasn't sure how to respond to that. Of all the students from Crowley's Grand Arcane Academy, Doug was the only one who treated me decently. He was one of the rare few who actually respected me as a person and a fellow mage, and didn't look down on me or viewed me condescendingly. He was a genuine nice guy.

Frankly speaking, if it had been Hal Gunther, Albert Alain or any of the others, I would have just flipped them off and headed straight to my classroom without a single word. But since it was Doug, I couldn't muster any resentment.

”Our captain is searching for you. Got a minute?”

For some reason, he looked amused.

”Can it wait? I have class in three minutes.” I made a show of glancing at my smartphone, but Doug wasn't buying it.

”We'll be leaving soon, so this might be the last chance for her to speak to you.” he shrugged. ”It shouldn't take too long, and you can just tell your teacher that you're sending us off. Given how we had such a great match yesterday, he should understand.”

”Fine.” it was difficult not to be persuaded by Doug's affable manner, so I followed him. Apparently, the Crowley's Grand Arcane Academy students had all gathered on the courtyard outside the main building, waiting for the luxurious bus to come.

They really were leaving.

”Captain Cecilia! I brought him!”

Doug waved at his team. There was only Cecilia and Elena present for some reason. Most probably because the rest of the Crowley's representatives had dispersed to look for me (something I found out later) and hadn't returned. They probably were on their way back at this time, after receiving Doug's message. I could see Chang Cheng, Nick and Louis emerging from a building nearby.

”Thank you, Doug.” Cecilia flashed a bright smile at him, and then she turned to me.

Was it my imagination, or was she fidgeting a little?

”Sorry for calling you out here on short notice, but this is probably the last time I'll get to see you in a while. As you can see, we'll be leaving shortly.”

”Yeah.” I nodded, still not knowing what was going on. Cecilia took a deep breath, still fiddling with her fingers.

”Well…uh…I guess I'll get straight to the point.” She met my gaze evenly, her cheeks a little flushed. Taking a second deep breath, she then uttered a declaration. ”As the first guy in my generation to defeat me, you have the right to be my boyfriend.”