Chapter 288: Chapter 288 Second Day.
On the second day of the Martial Arts Competition, The academy gates began to be opened to the public. Many figures from tourists and local residents lined up in front of the entrance to witness the match that will be held at nine o'clock.
Not just the spectators but also people from newspapers and scouts worldwide began visiting the Academy to seek the candidate for their own gain.
The sun shone brightly in the east, graced the land with its warm light. A slightly chilly wind from the incoming fall brushed past, making some people's bodies flinched. As someone who woke up earlier than usual, Soma stood in the middle of the vast area of the Academy, looking at the competition charts plastered on the billboard.
Many curious eyes gathered on the place, and Soma, who had a sharper sight, stood on the back and scanned the charts to see where he was.
"Oh, I see".
On the chart, sixty contestants proceeded to the next round, which was split into two groups, each with thirty students.
Group A, to which Soma belonged, was the same as Xiao Lian, and Leon. For the other group, there was Hina, Serafina, and Lin Fan. Soma knitted his brows, for he was a bit worried about Hina and Serafina in case they would succeed in their match and happened to meet with Lin Fan.
Today, Soma still hasn't seen how much Lin Fan has progressed in his training. Lin Fan himself avoids having a match even in class P.E. Soma has some speculation about his behavior, but he can only hope for the best for Hina.
"Soma!".
Soma felt a soft sensation stick to his back, and the familiar sweet scent tickled his nose. He parted his lips to the side and knew who it was. He placed his hand on her smooth and soft hands, which wrapped around his waist.
"Sera, Good morning".
"Good morning".
Serafina, as usual, tends to act spoiled without minding a place and time. But everyone in the Academy recognized the fact that Serafina had a boyfriend, so they could let it go easily—well, in the first place. After all this time she attends the Academy, she rarely talks about being close to a guy once. Heck, they didn't even dare to do that in the first place, knowing her background.
"Good morning, Soma. You are early as usual".
"Good morning, Hina".
Hina, with her calmness and spring-like smile, greets Soma. She stands by his left side and greets Serafina in a friendly manner.
"...Good morning…".
"Good morning, Xiao Lian! Are you okay?".
Xiao Lian, who had a hard time in the morning, dragged her heavy body while leaning her head on Soma's right shoulder.
"Mm, fine. Fwuaaah!".
"Haa, Silver hair, I told you to be prepared".
Hina, who acts like a big sister, began to stand in front of Xiao Lian while fixing some of her messy appearance and bed hair that stuck out, which made Soma chuckle when he saw their adorable interaction.
Serafina began to stand behind Xiao Lian and comb her lustrous silver hair, and Xiao Lian, who felt pleasant, almost drifted toward her sleep.
"Xiao Lian, don't sleep here, or you will fall."
Soma warned her by gently shaking her listless body, to which she replied with a single nod.
As they finished with Xiao Lian's preparation, the girls began to scan the charts and found out which group they entered and…
"I am the same with Soma!".
"Hina, we are in the same group; let's do our best if we have a chance!".
"Of course, Sera. If that time comes, I won't hold back!".
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Xiao Lian's body stiffened as she saw the chart, but soon, her fists started to clench because, once she thought about it, this could be the first time she would confront Soma in a formal match.
The two of them usually have some light sparring, but that was counted as nothing but warming up and some sort of training. However, she now had the chance to face him directly.
Something inside her began to light up, burning up the dormant embers and blaze her heart in full excitement.
"Soma!".
Xiao Lian excitedly jerked her head to the side, which Soma also realized. He then put his hand on her head and caressed it gently as if not wanting to make her hair a mess.
"I will be waiting, Xiao Lian. Let's have a good match".
"Mm!".
Hina and Serafina both smiled in joy as they looked at them; they felt very happy looking at the usually listless Xiao Lian, who had that much spirit in heart.
The atmosphere around their group was rather comforting, but not with the other students, who saw them with a gaze full of envy, resignation, and hatred for males. In the Female case, their hearts went flying away toward the cloud. Seeing the calm and handsome Soma taking care of his woman with full attention, they began to dream of entering that circle.
After that, Soma's group began to leave the place and went toward the stadium, searching for an excellent place to watch the match. As for the schedule of the match, they already took photos of the chart and can be relieved that they weren't the first ones to fight.
As they walked toward the stadium, the road was filled with enthusiastic people and students mixed together, filling the entire area with anticipation.
The girls beside Soma were fiddling with their phones because they had an incoming call from their family.
"Okay, Mom. It's okay. Um, I will be awaiting your arrival".
"...Mm, Aunt, don't worry. You can finish your job first, then come and see me!".
"Eh, you want to come. Okay, I will ask Violet to act as your guard. What are you saying? It is because of you that I am doing this far. Okay, Soma is here with me. Do you want to speak with him?
Soma, I'm sorry, but".
"It's okay!".
Soma placed the phone he had taken from Serafina and Beatrice. With a cheerful and pleasing tone that warmed his heart, he began talking with her for a brief moment.
"Okay, yeah, I will be there, thank you, Mother. Here, Sera!".
"Okay, Mama, when will you arrive?".
"Soma, I'm sorry, but".
After finishing with Beatrice, Soma began talking with Hisako, and sometimes Hiroshi joined the conversation. They seemed pleased to hear that Hina had been a good girl for him.
"You will be arriving tomorrow? Okay, then I can't wait to meet you guys, too. Okay, See you later".
"Thanks, Soma".
Soma, who got a chance to talk with other parties, turned his head to Xiao Lian, who seemed to be already putting her phone away.
"Are you done talking with your family?".
"Mm, Aunt said she will be arriving soon after finishing her job".
Xiao Lian, who rarely expressed her joy, now, after having some conversation with the closest person she had, her lips slightly lifted, and Soma, who saw her face, couldn't help but want to spoil her. Again, he placed his hand to caress her head, and Xiao Lian purred with closed eyes.
As the group approached the stadium, they began to separate themselves from the other common spectators who visited the Academy from the outside wall and joined the other students in line.
"For the visitor from outside the academy, you guys could come this way!".
"The students, you guys can come this way!".
Several male teachers, helped by some students from the council who acted as the direction, gave their instructions and tried to prevent a commotion that stuck.
Soma and the girls went along the lineup, and it was about time they saw a door that would guide them toward a spectator seat, but Serafina opened her mouth.
"Everyone, follow me!".
The three juniors turned their attention to her, and she began to drag Soma, the head of the group. True enough, Hina and Xiao Lian began to follow behind.
They bypassed several doors until, eventually, a majestic dark brown wooden door with intricate craft stood in front of them. It was decorated with a picture of a huge tree with thick trunks, and on its branch appeared a forbidden fruit that made the first Male chase away to the land.
Without any hesitation, Serafina began to push inside the door, which alerted the people inside. But once they found out it was Serafina who came, they began to shift their attention toward the other way.
"Sera, what makes you so long?".
"I'm sorry, Lucy. Everyone, don't hesitate to enter".
Hearing that, Lucy, who already predicted this would happen, could only turn to look at the other members, who also smiled wryly. Then, from behind the door, Soma, Hina, and Xiao Lian entered the place where the official stay was to take place.
The place itself had been prepared for the student council members to stay for the competition. It was also connected to the VIP room on the left side, separated only by a single thick door.
"Thank you for the invitation".
"Everyone, thank you for inviting me, and Sorry to disturb you".
"It's been a while, everyone".
Soma Hina and Xiao Lian give their greetings, and they are welcomed warmly by the other members; as to why the members of the student council are not bothered by Soma's group, it was because they felt indebted in the case of Mark, who turned into an agent from the demon side and the help of the two girls.
{Everyone, Welcome to our annual Martial Arts competition…}