This was the start of spring.Blooming rose,warm mornings and everyone around seemed to have a smile on their face... except one woman.She walked briskly down the road.She would shove people out of her way and she clearly had somewhere important to be.Her phone buzzed loudly in her pocket and she pulled it out.A dark look crossed her face as she saw it was her boss calling.
"Where are you Stephanie?Your report was due five minutes ago!"Her boss yelled over the phone.
"I'm on my way sir.Just give me some more time!"She yelled back but all of a sudden, she hit someone and fell to the ground.
"Don't you look where you're going?"She snapped.After impatiently adjusting her glasses and looking up,a bright blush grew on her face.Standing before her were two tall men.One of them wore a red jacket and had even redder hair and eyes.The other was dark and had a katana strapped to his back.
"Sorry bout that ma'am."The red haired boy apologized and reached out a hand towards her.
"S-sure"She stuttered and took After awkward clearing her throat,she ended the call with her boss and smiled."I'm Stephanie and you are?"She asked.
"I'm Diego and I actually needed your help getting somewhere"The red haired boy answer.Stephanie nodded enthusiastically.
"Anything!Just tell me where you want to go"She quickly said.
"Great.Im looking for a school named Helryn High.I heard it's somewhere around here."Diego asked.Stephanie frowned almost instantly.Everyone in the community knew that school as a weird religious school where only crazy people enrolled but she quickly schooled the frown into a smile and nodded.
"Yeah.It's a few blocks on the right.The school itself is really big so you won't miss it"She directed and her eyes locked on Frost who was standing behind Diego for a split second.Frost glared at her and she squealed in intimidation.Diego noticed and gave Frost a warning look before turning his attention back to Stephanie.
"Sorry about him though.He's not really good with crowds...thanks for your help by the way"Diego waved and walked away with Frost.Stephanie stared at them in bliss until her phone rang and she remembered why she was in such a hurry to begin with.
"See?It wasn't that hard to ask for directions was it?"Diego whispered loudly at Frost as they kept walking.
"You've spent two damn months with me Diego."Frost whispered back as well"You should know me by now"Diego sighed at Frost's words and kept walking.It had been a whole two months since Diego and Frost had paired up and left the school.By this time, Diego's grumpy mood seemed to have dulled out and he now held a light smile all the time just like before the whole incident that changed his life but Frost on the other hand didn't change at all.
"So...what exactly are we going to do back at Helryn High?You told me it was like a sister school and we had an event there but that's all I know."Diego asked.
"Like I said before.It's an interschool tournament with four schools."Frost grumbled.
"And you're planning on participating?"Diego said with a mock gasp."My goodness!Pigs must have grown wings for this to be possible"Diego teased and Frost shoved him roughly in annoyance.
"Shut up...I don't have a choice.The schools been winning for the past 6 and since this is my last year,Your principal, Ivankov wants me to win it"Frost said.
The pair stopped talking after a while and in a few minutes,they reached the majestic gates of a school with the name 'Helryn High'.Multiple troops of teenagers were walking in and they wore excited expressions on their faces.
"Here we are"Frost casually announced and walked in through the luxurious gates.Diego followed after him and he stared at the inside of the school in awe.It looked spectacular at the minimum.Fountains, perfectly trimmed bushes and buildings that were casually four to nine stories tall.And the compound was massive...so massive Diego couldn't see an end to it.
"Are you sure this is the place?It looks..."Diego blanked out at a loss for words.
"Like a shit fest?I know.."Frost said with disgust.Diego frowned at his but chose to keep his thoughts to himself.As they walked, people stole quick glances at Frost and every time Frost noticed,A scowl would grow on his face."I hate crowds"Frost muttered.
"You noticed the stares too...Was it 'fortune teller' that showed you?Diego subtly asked.
"No.I can just feel their eyes piercing into the back of my head"Frost answered and gave a cold glare to one girl who was staring at him a bit too much."And besides, Fortune teller only lets me see glimpses of the future.It's not as reliable as you think it is"He added.
"Seeing the future is still a cool trait."Diego chuckled.In the distance,Diego noticed a large tower with a countdown on it."That's odd.What's the countdown for?"Diego asked.
"It's for when the draws for the first round begin"Frost answered."That reminds me...I've got some things to do so you're on your own for now."Frost said and abruptly stopped walking.
"That's fine"Diego said while still staring at the tower."I just have to go there when the countdown ends right?"Diego asked but when he turned, Frost was already out of sight."Asshole..."Diego grumbled and decided to explore.
The place felt more like a tourist attraction than a school and everywhere Diego would go,his eyes would light up like a child seeing fireworks.Growing up,he didn't get to see much stuff like this.He would wake up,work all day and go to sleep.Fun was never really in his schedule so this was a rare opportunity he didn't plan on missing.
After he had his fill,he decided to take a quiet stroll.He could feel the light breeze,the music from a distance and the peace he could feel flowing around him but then he noticed something odd.A child standing few feet away from him.The little boy looked young.Like he was ten or eleven years old.The boy had pure white hair with blue eyes and a cold expression that made even Frost seem jolly in comparison.
"Are ya lost or something kid?"Diego asked and crouched Infront of the boy who just scowled deeply in response.This made Diego interested and in a taunting voice,he said"C'mon kid.I'll help you find your mommy.Im sure she's worried about her little baby"
The boys scowl deepened and with a low growl,'THWACK!' The boy punched Diego right in the gut.Diego stumbled back and smirked."Not bad kid but you-"Diego cut off his sentence when he suddenly began to puke out blood.He stared at it in shock.This child was strong...way too strong.
The boy then grabbed Diego by his jacket and said in a cold voice "You're still breathing because I haven't fixed that yet.The next the next hit won't be so sloppy " The boy abruptly let go of Diego's collar and walked away.Diego felt anger but something else buried deep under it...fear...
Just then,A loud bell echoed throughout the whole school.Diego turned his direction towards the tower and realized the countdown had reached zero."Shit..."He cursed and spat out some more blood.He quickly got up to his feet and rushed towards the tower.
Other students were bolting there as well and it didn't take long for him to get to the clearing Infront of the tower.There were hundreds if not thousands of other students around the clearing which clearly used to be a forest.
"WELCOME ALL!!!THE DRAWS FOR THE FIRST ROUND WILL BEGIN SHORTLY!"A loud announcement rang out from the top of the tower.He settled into the excited croud but then he felt a finger tapping his shoulder.He turned around and a stunned expression crossed his face as he saw Misa?
"Hey... it's been a while hasn't it-"Misa suddenly cut off Diego's words when she suddenly gave him a bone crushing hug."Ow ow ow too tight-"Diego tried to protest but she just squeezed tighter in response.
"You didn't even tell say goodbye to me"She grumbled and slowly let go."I was worried sick about you"
"I didn't really have much of a choice"Diego said and Misa sighed lightly."I guess we've got some catching up to do"Diego said and smiled.
"I guess..."Misa replied and so soon as she did,the large bell at the top of the tower rang out again.All eyes turned to it and that's when the projection of an old man appeared above them all.The man had black hair with a few loose grey strands.He wore a suit just like Ivankov and had multiple scars on his face.
"Greetings to you all!My name is 'Connor Daxton' and I'll be your host for this year's Tournament!The announcers projection declared."As you know,the tournament is sepereted into two rounds.The first is the knockout stage where four participants from each school are selected to fight in a knockout tournament.There will be rounds between two participants and the winners of each fight progress to the next fight until they eventually reach the finals."
"So the schools select the students who'll fight right?"Diego asked Misa.
"No.They're selected at random and believe me,the chances of any of us being selected are zero."she replied and as she did,a blue beeping dot appeared on her wrist.Diego looked down on his wrist and noticed the same thing.All the students had one on their wrist and murmurs of excitement echoed out.
"Now I'm sure you've all noticed the blue marks on your wrist."the announcer chimed."All you have to do is tap on them and that will decide whether you were selected or not"
Diego tapped his beeping dot and the colour suddenly turned golden.At that exact same time,groans of frustration and disappointment escaped almost everyone in the crowd."Mine golden.What does that mean?"Diego asked and noticed Misa's had turned golden as well.
"I...Ugh this not gonna end well..."She groaned.
"If your mark turns red,I'm sorry to say but,you haven't been selected but if it turns golden,CONGRATULATIONS!!!YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST ROUND!!! Will all the selected participants come to the stage Infront of the tower!"The announcer yelled.
"Let's just go"Misa grumbled and tugged Diego's arm as she walked to the front of the stage.It didn't take long for Diego to see the stage in question.It was elevated off the ground and there were already participants standing on it.His eye's soon landed on that little boy from earlier and a frown crossed his face."Guess we'll be fighting...I just hope it isn't against ourselves."Misa sighed and went up.
Diego took a few steps forward but then he heard the sound of familiar footsteps behind him and he turned to see It was Frost.
"You were selected...good..."Frost said and walked past him.
"Is that all you have to say? Typical"Diego grumbled and followed.He took a spot next to Frost and looked down at the crowd.They began to cheer and and some screamed Frost's name while others yelled out the name Ganyu.There were fifteen other people standing on the stage with him so he decided
"And here are our contestants!"The announcer declared and began to list off the names of those standing on the stage.Diego heard his name and he zoned out for a while until the announcer mentioned the name"ROMEO TORREZ!"Diego blinked twice and his eye's widened.Someone here had his name.He looked through the other contestants to see who it was but then his eyes landed on the boy from earlier.The boy had an equal look of shock on his face.'Torrez?' They both muttered at the same time but a hateful scowl crossed the boys face.
The announcer cleared his throat and that snapped Diego out of his daze for a moment.He looked up and that's when he saw the draws for the first round.He wasn't surprised to see his name was in the first match but then he noticed the name Romeo Torrez beside his.
"You're fighting in the first match Diego...Don't lose"Frost said and oddly enough,those were the best words of encouragement Diego had ever heard from him.
"I don't plan on losing.If I'm lucky enough,I'll make it to the finals and I plan on fighting you there..."Diego said casually.
"Keep dreaming kid"Frost said back.And abruptly made his way down the stage.
Diego followed but then he noticed Misa seemed to have a restless look on her face.Diego looked up at the match draws and saw Misa was second but more importantly,she had been paired up with a guy named Mora.The two had the same surname 'Homura' and that piqued Diego's interest.
"So you're fighting your cousin?"Diego joked.
"Worse...my brother"She groaned loudly as they made their way down the stage, eventually blending back into the crowd."He hates me because I kinda killed our parents by mistake"Misa said with an awkward laugh.
"Wow that's dark"Diego said in quiet surprise.
Night soon fell and Both Diego and Frost found an empty dorm they could share.Diego got comfortable on his bed and lay his head down.
"Frost...I've got a question"Diego said while still staring at the ceiling.
"What is it?"Frost said and placed his katana on his own bed.
"You've still not told me anything about my mother...why is that?"Diego asked.
"You never asked"Frost replied and took his shirt off.His chest and abs were broad with a few scars on them.
"I'll take it you won't answer them even if I asked"Diego muttered quietly but then he asked "Romeo Torrez...does the name ring a bell?"
"Just go to sleep.You've got a fight with him tomorrow."Frost said and lay down on his bed."And no.He doesn't ring any bells"Frost added and went to sleep.Diego sighed but slowly,he let himself drift to sleep.
When morning rose,Diego forced himself to rise with it.Frost was already wide awake by that time and he was busily tending to his katana.Diego stretched and reluctantly got ready for what the long day would hold.By the time he was done,Frost was already leaving.
"Don't lose..."Frost said and left without another word.
"Don't plan to"Diego said back and finished up.He didn't know what to expect from the boy.He was strong enough to hurt him with just one punch and there was that dark look in his eyes...like he had demons living inside him.And then there was the name...Torrez was common enough but he still couldn't shake off the feeling it was something more and the feeling gnawed at him like an itch he couldn't scratch.
He got messages directing him to the arena where he was supposed to fight and after a while,he got to a narrow tunnel.His footsteps echoed and after a while,he saw a light at the other end.He made his way towards it and when he got to the other side,he was met with...
END OF CHAPTER 6