[Wednesday 8:16 AM]
[Class-B]
The class was filled with all the students and a quiet tension that seemed to spell the depressing mood of the class.
Iruca looked over the class with a deep and concerned gaze as others comforted those who almost had a breakdown from the horror of the VR.
'I have to do what I can.'
She stood up from her seat— drawing everyone's attention to her. Then she walked to the front of the class.
While everyone was looking at her with expectation, she suddenly did something that stunned them— she bowed ninety degree towards then.
"I'm sorry!"
Silence.
They were all looking at her with varying degrees of shock plastered on their faces. Aarav's expression cooled as he quietly watched the scene. Even he couldn't understand Iruca's actions.
"I'm sorry for not trying my best enough to find you all and allowing some of you to experience such horrifying loss. I ask that you forgive me!"
The class stilled with silence for a moment then, it erupted.
"How could you say that?! Iruca-san!"
"We only survived because of your brilliant strategy! Don't chastise yourself."
"It was my incompetence that got me killed!"
"I can't believe you're apologizing for a sin you didn't commit. This is cruel!"
"You shouldn't be apologizing."
"Yeah! It's not your fault."
Iruca looked surprised from their reactions as she had expected them to blame her and place all the fault on her.
'Isn't that how humans are...?'
'Then why? Why are they apologizing instead? Why are they not blaming me? Am I wrong about humans?'
'No-no-no. Humans are complex creatures. I guess everyone is just different. And I'm fortunate to be among the simple ones.'
Her chest tightened, not from pain but from warmth as her lips curled into a joyful smile. These people weren't rejecting her, they accepted her. It brought her warmth that she had rarely found in friends. She straightened herself and looked at them— her gaze brighter than ever.
"Thank you all. For the support you've shown me. I'll strive harder to help everyone."
However, they dissuaded her from doing that.
"Aigoo. Don't over-exert yourself, Iruca. You need to grow yourself."
"Yes, yes. Iruca. We don't want to grow over dependent on you."
They replied with smiles on their faces.
The depressing mood of the class had suddenly turned joyful and comfortable.
"It's not okay to bear everything yourself, Iruca-ji. Let us share the burden."
Aarav's words nailed it as he gently held her shoulders.
"Also, there's someone I want you to meet."
"Ah? Who's that?" She asked in a surprised tone while trying to clear the tears from her eyes.
"Ohh! It's a cool guy with brown hair and brown eyes. Said he has ties with your family." Rika butted in with a sly grin.
"Liam?"
Iruca's expression changed, gaining a hint of excitement.
"Hehe-, I can see you know him!" Rika laughed mischievously as her body shook— highlighting her supple chest and making a few guys blush.
"Rika, stop seducing the boys." Iruca said sternly.
"You're no fun! I'm not seducing, I'm just showing off my perfect form!" Rika countered with a cheeky smile as she ran out of the class. "C'mon, let's go see him before he enters the VR."
"Hey! Button up your shirt!"
"Make me! Lalalalala!"
Aarav watched them scurry off with a small smile before turning to the rest of the class.
"Alright guys. Let's have an hour of training before we move on to the VR."
"Roger that!"
...
Iruca sprinted after Rika who ran towards Liam's classroom with a big smile, trying her best to curb her chaos of a friend.
"Hello!"
Rika burst through the door of Class-D, startling the students as they all turned to look at her with varying expressions.
"Prince charming! We've come for you!"
Pak!
Iruca appeared a split second later and whacked her on the head.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"Sorry for intruding on your class so abruptly." Iruca apologized with a slight tilt of her head.
"Um, Liam? Can I speak to you for a minute?"
'Ahhh, this is so embarrassing!'
The stares of everyone made her want to bury herself in the ground out of embarrassment.
"Uh-huh sure! You're always welcome." Jose said with a bright smile as his perverted gaze shifted between the two girls— admiring their bountiful chest.
Pak!
Joshua smacked his head as he winced in pain.
"What was that for?" He whined.
"Stop staring lewdly" Joshua replied, then added in a hushed tone. "At least not so openly."
Logan steadily rose from his seat and excused himself as he guided Iruca and Rika outside.
However as she left, Iruca caught sight of a pair of green eyes and another pair of black eyes that firmly planted themselves in her mind.
'Who are those?'
...
The three quietly moved to the cafeteria and sat at a small table.
"Hey. Iruca, I wasn't expecting to see you. Not today and probably not in this school." Liam said with a polite smile filled with warmth.
"Well, I wasn't expecting it too. Aarav told me he wanted us to meet." She replied with a small smile as her eyes grew distant— remembering their past together.
"Haha. Aarav. He is a good guy. I can tell. He greatly helped me yesterday. I'd like you to thank him on my behalf." He said, feeling more comfortable. "It has been a long time hasn't it?"
"Yeah. I wish we could be back to being kids." Iruca sighed softly as she drank a fruit drink.
"That's pipe dream." Liam laughed back— his hands stretching behind his neck.
"Yeah. Yeah. I know." She rolled her eyes feeling silly for having such thoughts.
"So, how have you been doing?"
Soon, their conversation flowed into something softer and friendly— showing how close they were in the past. They reminisced embarrassing moments they had while Rika listened to them attentively. Sometimes she would butt in, laughing wildly and freely as they spoke.
However, their conversation soon became serious— their expressions now cooled.
"How is your relationship with your family?" Iruca asked.
"Still the same. Father doesn't want me back yet. Still I don't know why." Liam replied as his gaze became solemn.
"I see." She spoke in a soft voice as her hands held his. "You don't have to worry. Everything will be fine. I'm sure he has his reasons."
"Yeah. I hope so." He said as memories of the past flooded his mind.
'I really hope you had a reason. A really good one. Father. Else... You will regret it.'
He thought as his eyes burned with quiet determination.