She was a true powerhouse.
“Forget it!”
Thiago retrieved his jacket. “I can’t beat you. I’m done.”
“Quitting already…? Weren’t you boasting about beating me just a moment ago?” Avia Nassy asked, leaning against the hoop with a curious tilt of her head.
She had expected this spoiled rich kid to throw a tantrum, but surprisingly, he admitted defeat rather quickly.
Thiago lifted his chin, glaring at her arrogantly. “I do what I want! If I want to play, I play. If I don’t, I won’t. I love being arrogant—what are you going to do about it?”
His fierce tone made him sound exactly like the domineering boy who had stormed into her classroom earlier.
“And another thing—remember this, punk!”
He marched up to her, glaring ferociously. “I might not be able to beat you now, but I will someday! If you’ve got the guts, make it to the national tournament!”
Right now, he couldn’t win against her…
Avira Nassy…
She was terrifying, just like Theo Marker…
Both of them radiated that same fearsome, innate aura of strength. It was something they couldn’t hide, an atmosphere that marked them as true powerhouses.
Avira might not even realize it herself, but her aura alone was enough to make people tremble.
But it was okay…
If there were ten steps between them, he would take ten. If there were a hundred, he would take a hundred. If there were a thousand, he would take a thousand. Even when they stopped to rest, he wouldn’t pause for a second!
One day, he would catch up to them.
He would!
Avira squinted at him, and though he was undoubtedly spoiled, his stubbornness was almost endearing.
Like…
Hmm… like a cat with its fur standing on end!
She couldn’t help but chuckle softly, reaching out to pat his head. “You’re quite cute.”
“…”
The gesture seemed to freeze Thiago in place. His jacket slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.
He opened his mouth to say something, but for some inexplicable reason, his face turned bright red.
“Stop saying that!” he yelled, glaring at her fiercely.
“Mm… Don’t worry, I don’t even know your name…” Avira gave him a reassuring look, ready to leave the gym.
Suddenly, Thiago grabbed her shoulder. “You… don’t remember my name? Didn’t I just tell you?”
“Mm… I was thinking about cake earlier, so I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“…”
—
It was lunchtime.
The cafeteria at Eastwest Academy was packed.
The food selection was extensive, and after picking out her favorite dishes, Avira Nassy glanced around. Groups of girls shifted to make room for her, but she had no intention of squeezing into the crowd and becoming the center of attention.
Ashton followed obediently behind her, the two of them forming a pair that seemed like a prince and his loyal companion in everyone’s eyes. Ashton was always quiet and never smiled at anyone, but when he was with Avira Nassy, he was well-behaved, as if ready to spring into action at any moment.
“Come over here.”
A familiar voice suddenly sounded near her ear. Avira looked up to see George’s blue hair as he walked past her.
She paused for a moment but then followed him.
As soon as people realized it was George Backer, someone quickly cleared the table and wiped it clean for him.
Nodding slightly in thanks, George Backer sat down.
Within two meters of him, everyone ate with extra caution.
In people’s eyes, George was mysterious and hard to approach.
He never displayed any particularly cold expressions, yet there was always a natural distance that separated him from everyone else.
Avira didn’t care about any of that. She sat directly across from him, with Ashton taking the seat beside her. The three of them together instantly became the focal point of the cafeteria.
Nassy lowered her lashes, eating her food indifferently.
Sunlight fell on her eyelashes, turning them into delicate rays of light.
Backer watched her eat with that same lazy demeanor. He set down his silver knife, resting his long fingers on his chin as his deep gaze focused on her.
“I heard someone from Sandfield challenged you to a match this morning. How did it go?”
His voice was calm and steady, giving nothing away.
“He was strong…” Avira said, keeping her eyes down as she struggled to cut the steak on her plate. “His improvement… was astonishing… I’m afraid…”
The knife and fork in her slender hands paused for a moment.
“Sandfield’s basketball team… they’re a true champion squad…”
No wonder Sandfield had won the national championship every year…
