The entire class stared in stunned silence, their gazes locked onto Shin and Ryuuji's clasped hands.
Their heated insults, the fierce battle at the taijutsu tournament—none of it seemed to matter at this moment. The tension in the air had shifted into something completely unexpected.
A hushed murmur rippled through the room.
"Wait… did they really just… made up?" one of the students finally asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Another immediately chimed in, nodding slowly. "Yeah… it actually looks like they did."
Gasps of awe spread throughout the classroom as the realization settled in.
The girls started whispering amongst themselves.
"Hey, girls..." A girl from one of the usual cliques spoke up, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes practically sparkling. "Since when has Shin been this handsome?"
A ripple of agreement spread through the group, and soon, even those outside of it found themselves sneaking glances at Shin.
"I swear I never noticed before… but look at him."
"His eyes… they're so beautiful. I've never seen such eyes!"
"How did we never notice how good-looking he is?"
Hearing all of this, Ayaka's lips curled into a smirk. She crossed her arms, her amber eyes gleaming with pride. Hehe, Shin. Finally, someone realizes how handsome you are... Well, not that it matters—I was the first to know.
Just then, one of the other girls hesitated before whispering, "Isn't he... even more handsome than Sasuke-kun—"
But she didn't even get the chance to finish her sentence before a loud, fierce unison shout cut her off.
"No!"
All heads turned to see Sakura and Ino glaring daggers, their faces contorted with pure, unyielding fury.
"That jerk will never be more handsome than Sasuke-kun!" Sakura seethed.
"Exactly!" Ino huffed, flipping her hair dramatically. "Sasuke is on a whole different level! He's noble, refined, and strong—no one can compare!"
And just like that, the classroom erupted into a full-blown war.
On one side, the newly formed Shin Faction, with Ayaka at the forefront, now burning with newfound determination. "Hah! As if! Shin is way cooler than Sasuke! He's strong, handsome, kind and he doesn't ignore everyone at least!"
Across from them, the diehard Sasuke Faction led by Sakura and Ino stood their ground, their loyalty unwavering.
"Tch! Shin wishes he could be as elegant and powerful as Sasuke-kun!"
"He's just a nobody compared to Sasuke-kun's greatness!"
"Oh yeah? Then tell me this—why couldn't your Sasuke-kun beat him if Shin's a nobody compared to him?"
The argument escalated rapidly, drawing in more and more students, until the entire classroom was split into two warring sides.
"Tch! So annoying!"
Sasuke scowled, arms crossed as he watched the ridiculous spectacle unfolding before him. A debate? Over him and Shin? Just when they were being assigned the sensei who would shape their future? It was utterly absurd.
Meanwhile, amidst the ruckus, Shin and Ryuuji remained locked in a silent stare.
No one was paying attention to them anymore, the classroom too preoccupied with the ridiculous debate. Even Naruto had joined it.
And in that instant, Shin's smile vanished.
His once friendly, carefree expression turned completely cold, his golden eyes narrowing as a sharp, suffocating intensity replaced them.
Ryuuji's breath hitched.
"I knew it!" Ryuuji thought, feeling a chill crawl down his spine. That fake smile… I knew there was something off about it!
Before he could react, Shin leaned in ever so slightly, his gaze piercing into Ryuuji's own.
His voice was low—quiet enough that only Ryuuji could hear him amidst the classroom's chaos.
"Ryuuji," Shin whispered, his tone chillingly composed. "If you try anything against me or Ayaka…"
His emerald eyes gleamed, dark and foreboding.
"You'll deeply regret it."
It wasn't a threat.
It was a promise.
Ryuuji felt his body tense involuntarily. Shin's presence alone suddenly felt suffocating—like a predator who had just locked its sights onto its prey.
And then…
"Hehe."
Ryuuji chuckled.
The tension in the air shifted as the boy smirked, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Did you do all of this just to tell me that?" Ryuuji mused, shaking his head as if he found the whole situation amusing.
Shin's expression remained unreadable, his gaze still locked onto Ryuuji like a hawk watching its next meal.
But Ryuuji wasn't done.
His smirk widened slightly as he continued.
"Don't worry, Shin. I won't hurt—"
Before Ryuuji could finish his sentence, a sudden clap echoed through the room, sharp and commanding.
The classroom instantly fell silent.
All heads turned toward the front, where the man with dark blue hair stood, his posture relaxed yet effortlessly demanding attention.
"Well…" he drawled, his tone as lazy as ever, as if the classroom chaos hadn't fazed him in the slightest.
His gaze flickered between the students, pausing briefly on Shin, Ayaka, and Ryuuji.
"I see that you three already know each other," he remarked, the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.
Shin's expression returned to its usual calm indifference, while Ryuuji's smirk remained, and Ayaka sighed, crossing her arms in mild annoyance. She was just about to make the Shin Faction win!
The man exhaled lightly before stretching his arms.
"Well then," he continued, pushing himself off the desk he had been leaning on. "Let's move to our newly assigned training ground."
Shin, Ayaka, and Ryuuji stood, their gazes fixed on the man with dark blue hair. Without a single word, they turned and began to walk towards him, their steps measured and deliberate as they made their way to the door. The classroom, still caught in the whirlwind of chaos, seemed to fade into the background as the trio moved in unison, the weight of the moment settling over them.
As they neared the door, Ayaka's pace slowed for a brief second, her eyes catching the sight of the Sasuke Faction still glaring at her from across the room. The argument had calmed, but the tension remained, thick in the air.
And then, as if something ignited within her, Ayaka suddenly stopped, her body turning with a sharp motion to face the Sasuke Faction. Her amber eyes burned with unrelenting determination, her voice ringing out through the silent room.
"This isn't over!" she exclaimed, her tone fierce and unwavering.
The words shot through the room like a spark to dry tinder, and in an instant, the entire Sasuke Faction erupted in unison.
"No way!" Sakura shouted, her voice sharp with fury.
"Don't get cocky!" Ino added, her eyes blazing with anger.
"Shin will never compare to Sasuke-kun!" another voice screamed.
The room seemed to explode with shouts and insults, the Sasuke Faction not holding back in the slightest. But Ayaka didn't flinch. Instead, her eyes burned even brighter as she gave them one last defiant look.
Before they could shout anything else, Ayaka spun around, her hair whipping behind her as she caught up with Shin and Ryuuji.
To be continued..
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Okay, guys, now I am exaggerating a little bit. I think I should tone down those moments. What do you think?
Be sure to check out my original novel Hyperborea!