The Person I Didn't Expect

Night 1:07 am
Battle Theatre

*Melvin is amazed by the duel that just ended in the ring*

Melvin still looking towards the ring: "Damn! You were right... Vampire guy won"
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"So... Ryuza.. I believe you want me to fight in that ring and earn money so you can be free?"

Ryuza nervously: "Mm, that decision is yours... I can't force it, but still, you are my only option here.
Your telekinesis was pretty good against Ethan last night, so I assumed you are a good fighter."

Melvin puts his hand on his chin and mutters: "Hmm... No doubt about that... but I'm not sure I can beat someone enough to make them unconscious. I would be exhausted till then, so I guess I need to find a way to make them accept... Bla bla bla bla*"

Ryuza: "Actually... You don't need to make them unconscious to defeat. Another way is to just throw them out of the ring. Whoever touches the ground first loses the duel immediately."

Melvin: "Huh!! Aha!" *Proceeds to tap Ryuza's shoulder continuously with confidence* "Then no worry, it's easy peasy, my telekinesis is the best thing for that. I can just pick someone up and throw them out, no worry *proud*."

Ryuza: "Umm.. but before that... You need to know something else..."

Melvin: "Hmm? What now?"

Ryuza looks nearby: "Not here... It's some secret Intel I found while spying on everything here. Let's go sit in that corner."

Melvin: "Okeeey~"

*They walked towards the place in the corner, while moving there a certain person was crossing by them, she was wearing a full-face mask and a black cloak. As she was crossing, she turns back and notices Melvin like she knows him somehow.*

Mask girl looks back towards Melvin: "Huh! Melv-" *stops without completing the word*

Melvin also heard her and looks back: "Uhh? Yes? Do I know you?"

Mask girl hesitates: "Uhh.. no, nothing.." *she continues walking on her way*

Melvin: "That was weird..."

Ryuza adds from the front: "You sure are popular?"

Melvin denies: "Nah.. maybe she mistook me for someone."

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*They both sat in a chair with a table in front*

Melvin thuds the table with his palm: "Ok... First of all.. I have more questions too..."

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"I have a doubt, why does a big area like this even exist below the academy?"

Ryuza explains: "Not just this, there are many... underground passages and areas below the academy... The question why... is unspecified, so I don't know either."

Melvin confirms: "Ok.. that clears one doubt... But how come all these gamblings and battling happening just below this theatre and any teachers or principal haven't noticed yet?"

Ryuza: "Mmmm... Principals and teachers aren't the ones who check what happens in the "whole" campus. That's the work of the academy director or CSO (chief security officer) from the security department, although your class teacher Miss Karin also works under that..."

Melvin: "Miss Karin!? Damn.. I didn't know these stuff..."

Ryuza: "It's obvious... Knowing it's only your first year."

Melvin: "First... "Month" to be honest -_-"
"But still, my question is the same... How come they haven't found this place yet?"

Ryuza: "The reason is... They know about this..."

Melvin's obvious surprise: "What!! You mean they know all this and still allow this... Betting and battling!?"

Ryuza: "It's... Kinda hard to explain..... The fact is that Ragna Ashers..... Is actually a student council member."

Melvin's eyes widened

Ryuza: "He found this place a year ago and asked the Director for permission, saying he will run some night sparring sessions, to make students more experienced in combat. But what authorities don't know is this gambling and slave shit what happens here. That's the only reason he was able to get permission for this place and no authority even comes to check this place."

Melvin crossing his arms: "Hmm... And because of the long-haired guy, they wouldn't ever find out about this...

*Sighing* I get it, Ragna is just an asshole. Thought student council members are all good... Nevermind... We can't do anything about this, let's just go and challenge someone on fight..."

Ryuza: "Wait!... I didn't tell you everything yet!"

Melvin: "What else is left to know now!?"

Ryuza: "Even if you challenge someone right now, there is no guarantee you will win."

Melvin: "What? What do you mean? Why do you think I would lose?"

Ryuza: "I don't doubt your capability...., it's the duel itself that's a problem..., you see... The duels aren't fair here."

Melvin: "Aren't fair? I don't get it!"

Ryuza: "Ragna is an even bigger jerk than you think. He rigs the fights and makes the fighter win, which he bets on. I was spying on everything here for the past few days when I found out about all this. How do you think he earns money here? By winning every single bet with cheating."

Melvin: "Wha- And... How does he rig it exactly?"

Ryuza: "With the help of his servants, of course.. Why do you think he even makes servants? As these servant things can't be used outside of this place, so the thing he uses those servants for is cheating. You know how many different types of students there are in the academy, right, and all with many types of abilities which no one can understand.

He collects these students with weird abilities and makes them his servants, then uses them again for more cheating. And that's also the reason he asked Kaya to trap me in this debt, to make me his servant too and use my blood manipulation in rigging."

Melvin annoyed: "Ughh, just when I thought I heard enough..."

Ryuza talks in a hyper-angry tone: "But guess what's more? He literally appoints his servants as match spectators, whose job is to ensure no one is "cheating" in the match! BUT the spectators themselves are the ones who rig the match! Can you believe it?

Spectators stand near the ring and cheat secretly without anyone noticing! And everyone even believes in that! What an irony! That piece of shit! I want to spit on his blood!! I will feed him to my bats! And-"

Melvin: "Aye aye, chill chill dude.... Don't pressure yourself. *Sigh* nothing surprises me anymore... He is more clever than I thought..."

Ryuza breathing heavily in bloodlust: "Just thinking about this boils my blood!"

Melvin: "Hmm.. so you're saying I can't duel anyone because of this?"

Ryuza: "There is always a chance if Ragna decides to bet on your opponent, then his servant will make you lose the duel."

Melvin: "Alright, I got it... *Gets up from his chair* let's go"

Ryuza: "What! You still gonna challenge?"

Melvin: "Nah.., as much as I hate doing this, we need to join Ragna's side.."

Ryuza gets up too in curiosity: "What! You can't be serious!"

Melvin: "Don't worry, am not "literally" joining him... We just need to make a deal with them... Like.. let's say if I win the duel, I will give them half of the money I win from the bet, so they either help me in the duel or either don't interfere in the duel.. both are fine.."

Ryuza: "But that means...."

Melvin: "I know... Means we have to double work to earn the money for your debt, knowing the situation, I don't see any other way..."

Ryuza: "Umm fine then.."

Melvin: "Now then.., you know where can I find this spectator? They could help us make this deal."

Ryuza thinks: "Hmmm one match just ended, it's gonna take some time until the next one starts, so one of them should be resting in the staff room. If we want to make a deal, now's the time."

Melvin: "Ok.. lead the way?"

*Ryuza gets up, and starts leading me the way. We both took stairs which leads to the upper floor, which was still a part of the hall. There was another bar on that floor. While walking by, a certain someone decides to greet me from behind*

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"Oh my my my~ , am I imagining, or is it really you melvy~"

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*Someone called me from behind, and I knew whose voice that was, I turned back to check and found out she was standing right behind me, close to my face*

Kaya in a playful enthusiastic tone: "Ah~ What a surprise melvy~ you always show up unexpectedly!!"

Melvin: "Kaya!"

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"As always she was way too much near me, and talking with excitement psycho tone with those big round eyes, after hearing what she did to Ryuza, I couldn't see her as a nice girl anymore."

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Kaya chimed in playfully: "You have no idea how happy I am to see you here, ha ha~ Although someone's not gonna be happy about this... Well, nevermind that."

Melvin pondered: "What does she mean by someone's not gonna be happy!?"

Kaya continued: "Anyways, what brings you here, melvy~ It's not the place for someone as good as you~

Oh! Don't tell me you're here to take part in a duel! Oh my lord~ I was looking forward to when I will see you in a fight again~"

Melvin, with a cold and unpleased expression, replied: "Sorry... that's... None of your business. We're kind of busy here kaya, so can you just F* off from here? Thank you ☺️"

Kaya noticed Melvin's change in demeanor: "Huh! Oh my! Why the rude behavior, melvy~?
*Sees Ryuza standing beside Melvin, staring at her*  Ah~ I guess Ryuza already backbit of me to you...
How unfortunate... But don't be angry because of that, melvy~ No need to ruin our friendship because of this; it's my work after all 😊"

Melvin, adopting a cold tone: "Friends or not... I despise people who do wrong work. And you are no different."

Kaya looked down in disappointment but still smiled: "Oh~ how sad~ ... Guess I lost another friend again... But.. still... *Looks up again* No matter what you think of me, I will still consider you a dear friend 😊"

Melvin sighed: "Hmm, whatever. Let's go, Ryuza; we need to talk with the spectator quickly before the next match. *Starts to leave*"

Kaya intercepted them: "Huh.. spectator, you say... *Starts laughing in amusement* ahahahahahaa~ 😆 Oh, sorry for that, haha *giggles* well, what a coincidence....."

Melvin halted, puzzled: "Huh? What's funny about this?"

Kaya controlled her laughter: "Forgive me, it's nothing.
Let me be your guide; I know which room the spectator is in. There are multiple staff rooms here, afterall."

(Melvin signed in his mind: "Ugh.. I hate to take her help... But we had to hurry too.. so I should accept")

Melvin conceded: "Hmm, fine then; show us the way."

Kaya grabbed his hand and started walking: "Alright~ just follow along *Mischief smile* "just don't get surprised after meeting the spectator."

Melvin, still confused: "Uhh.. why would I be surprised at that!?"

"She started leading me and Ryuza to the staff room; eventually, we reached it. Kaya opened the door, and we walked in, and then I understood what she meant by 'don't be surprised.'"

Kaya, walking in with an excited smile, called the spectator in that room: "Hey hey there~ look who is here to meet you~"

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"When I saw the spectator... I couldn't believe my eyes... I even doubted if my eyes are okay. Am I seeing right? Because the spectator is someone I didn't expect at all. The person who was sitting in the chair wearing specs and holding a note and pen was none other than......"
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Melvin, stunned in surprise: "Aria.....!!!"

*Aria looked at Melvin, equally surprised and shocked. The camera zoomed out s
howing both of them stunned and staring at each other*

To be continued ~