With class dismissed, the students didn't waste any time.
Everyone was exhausted. Bodies sore, clothes wrinkled, sweat clinging to their faces.
Luckily, it was break time now, meaning no awkward shuffle to another class or sitting stiff while a new teacher droned on.
No one had the energy for that.
Groups started leaving quickly, some in silence, others talking about the fights, and mostly about the one fight that stole everyone's attention.
Rhian stayed where he was for a second longer.
Nia didn't say much.
She simply walked past him, casually patting his shoulder like someone patting a fellow worker after a long shift.
The weight behind it made his shoulder drop slightly.
It wasn't too rough.
But it definitely wasn't gentle either.
She walked off without another word.
Rhian stared for a second, watching her leave, as a smile drew on his face.
That was when Ash smacked him in the back of the head.
Paahhhh!
"The hell are you staring for, loverboy?" Ash said, standing next to him, wide grin like always.
Rhian rubbed the back of his head with a small wince.
"It's not like that," Rhian muttered.
Ash raised a brow, clearly not believing him.
"You sure? 'Cause from here it looked like your soul left your body and followed her out the door," Ash teased.
Rhian exhaled quietly, not even denying it further. It wasn't about liking or any of that nonsense. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fight itself.
It felt good.
It felt like for the first time, he got a small taste of what real fights between carriers were like, and despite the pain, despite the struggle, he liked it.
Ash bumped him with his shoulder lightly.
"C'mon tough guy, let's grab food before my legs give out. If I pass out here and die, it's on you."
Rhian shook his head and followed.
'You didn't even fight that much'
His arms were sore.
His ribs hurt.
His legs ached.
But as he walked beside Ash, a small grin tugged at the edge of his lips.
'Yeah... I could get used to this.'
They soon arrived at the cafeteria.
It was massive.
Bigger than anything Rhian had seen before. Bright lights, long rows of tables, multiple food counters serving everything from normal food to weird energy meals specifically for carriers.
Rhian's school phone buzzed.
He glanced down lazily, expecting another schedule notification, but what he saw made him pause.
> 1000 Merit Points Transferred to Your Account
[Reason: Great Fight]
His eyes widened slightly.
'Merit points... for that?'
Ash, of course, noticed immediately.
"You just got paid for getting beat up, didn't you?" Ash leaned over his shoulder like a nosy older brother.
Rhian didn't answer.
Ash grinned wider.
"Bro, you're famous now. Probably trending on school feeds already... So, what's her name? The Muscle Monster that almost turned you into a floor tile?"
Rhian glanced sideways. "Nia."
Ash repeated it dramatically. "Nia, huh..." he nodded like it was a sacred name. "Sounds powerful. Sounds like a name you'd scream while flying across the room."
Rhian gave him a tired look.
Ash wasn't done.
"Be real with me though..." Ash leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was about to ask some life-changing question. "How'd it feel?"
Rhian raised a brow. "Feel?"
"You know..." Ash waved his hands around like words weren't enough. "Getting hit by... by that... the... the muscle... mommy... to... be thrown around like a ragdoll."
Ash's words kept breaking apart mid-sentence like even saying it was too much for him.
Rhian just stared at him in dead silence.
A long, blank stare.
Ash blinked innocently.
"What?" he shrugged.
Without saying a word, Rhian raised his school tray and smacked it lightly against Ash's arm on the way to the food counter.
"Ow, hey! I'm just asking what the people want to know!"
Rhian shook his head, biting down a small grin.
They moved around the cafeteria, grabbing food like every other student.
The school provided free meals to everyone. It wasn't anything fancy, just clean, balanced food meant to keep carriers healthy, but honestly, who was complaining?
Free food was free food.
Especially when the other option was spending money at nearby shops.
And Rhian wasn't stupid.
Why spend money on food when this place served enough to fill you up without costing a thing?
They loaded their trays with whatever was available, meat, rice, some greens that didn't look like they'd poison you, the basics.
Ash, of course, stacked his plate like he hadn't eaten in ten years.
"You think if I eat enough I'll get muscles like her?" Ash asked, still not letting go of the earlier conversation.
Rhian didn't even respond this time. He just kept walking, eyes scanning for an empty table.
The cafeteria was loud and packed, but it didn't take long for Rhian to notice something.
Their classmates.
Most were easy to spot.
Not because they were obvious.
But because they weren't hiding the fact they kept glancing his way.
Some subtle. Some not at all. Whispering. Nudging each other. Looking directly at Rhian with faces that ranged from surprise to respect to is that really the quiet guy who fought Muscle Terminator in class?
Rhian ignored it the best he could,as he found an empty table near the window and sat down, dropping his tray.
Ash sat opposite him.
And only then, finally, did Ash shut up about his fantasies of being thrown around by tall muscle women.
For about five whole seconds.
"...But for real, imagine being carried like a princess—"
Rhian calmly raised his fork.
Ash raised both hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay, I'll eat."
Peace at last.
For now.
As Rhian and Ash finally began eating in peace, or at least as peaceful as eating with Ash could get, footsteps approached their table.
Aras.
He sat down across from them, setting his tray down without making much noise. His expression was its usual unreadable self, but he nodded once at both of them in greeting.
"Yo," Aras said simply.
Ash pointed his thumb casually at himself.
"Rhian likes being thrown around by strong women."
Rhian, mid-bite, froze.
Aras paused.
Slowly, his eyes shifted from his tray… to Ash.
A long, silent stare.