But the class didn't get a clear picture of her true feelings.
Lumina knew what Ayanami was doing, but more than that, it was obvious that it worked to her advantage.
'How did a formation question, suddenly turn to an accusation with a sabotage and murder case by one of the teammates?'
Mrs Neider was in a dilemma now and she didn't know how to handle the situation which had spiraled out of her control.
Left with no choice, she decided to go for the peaceable approach, this new development would have to be taken to the higher ups for reviewing.
"Well, wasn't that insightful? We all have come to know and love one another." Mrs Neider said sarcastically, but to be quite honest, she was secretly impressed by Lumina's answer.
Whispers filled the classroom as they started to talk to one another.
"You know, I think Lumina is right about her speculations."
"She's a disgrace to what we train for, putting her teammates in harm's way."
"That's enough!" Mrs Neider's loud voice thundered.
The students all looked ahead and a total silence swept through the classroom. They watched as her powers subconsciously activated and caused them to have a brief preview of their deepest fears.
Noticing their looks, she looked behind, waving her hands in the air and apologizing for such a mishap.
"That's it for today, I hope you all have been able to learn something new. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day." Mrs Neider said in a more serious tone, then she turned to walk out of the room.
Stopping in the doorway, she looked back as the majority of the class were startled by her uncalled presence.
"Don't cause any commotion while I'm gone, tomorrow is going to be a spectacular sparring session. There will be no doubt about it, the one who will emerge victorious will gain a prize. But for now, enjoy each other's company and prepare yourselves."
Mrs Neider walked out of the room leaving a stunned, and slightly confused Lumina and Fae looking at each other for a moment.
"Here we go again, the unfair sparring between the upper rank and lower rank." Someone spat out in spite.
"I hope I am not paired with an upper rank."
"What do you think the prize would be?"
Several upper rank gift or magic users raised their brows at the whispers their ears were feasting on. It almost looked like the lower ranks had forgotten it was a mixed class.
Ayanami looked up, taking her hands out of her hair.
She had a small smile on her face as she looked across the classroom, seeing all the eyes on her.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Ayanami asked, "You know I'm not that type of person." She said, looking down and looking at her hands.
"Lumina wasn't at all wrong, but I hope the person who had done this to my teammates, pay for their crimes." She sniffled, shedding a few tears.
Lank narrowed his eyes at her words, shaking his head. He knew the tactics of Ayanami, she might fool everyone, but definitely not him.
Sick and tired of watching her drama, he had turned his attention away and was instead startled by the sudden appearance of Gia in front of his desk.
"What the hell was that?" He said, turning his head to the side, his breathing quickened for quite some time.
Gia folded her arms and frowned at him. "My jacket."
Lank sighed and rolled his eyes, "are we really doing this right now?" He asked, his voice laced with annoyance.
He had remembered he had promised to return it when he was done with it. That definitely didn't mean the next day.
"That was one of my favorite jackets." Gia replied.
'Yet you handed it to me.'
"Then it's an honor to have used it to my advantage." He said with a grin, then added, "you'll get your jacket back when you start speaking to me in a civil tone of voice."
This was one of his favorite things to do–relishing in witnessing her reaction as he annoyed Gia.
Gia crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "I guess you need further discipline from the management."
"Like as if that ever worked out." He chuckled, "but if you make a headway do send my sincere greetings to them while you're at it."
The sudden urge to zap him with her powers was great.
'You need to calm down Gia, academy rule number 1.' She constantly repeated in her head till the urge gradually subsided.
"If you don't–"
"Well if it isn't the odd one." Ayanami interjected, looking at Lank and frowning.
"Hello Gia. How have you been?" Ayanami asked with a smile.
Gia looked at her and shrugged her shoulders, not bothering saying a word, she was trying to cut her ties with her anyways.
After what she had heard Lumina say, her suspicious level did rise more than it did when she last spoke with Ayanami. It was better to steer clear from trouble for the time being.
"What trouble have you come to stir up now?" Lank growled.
"Lank, be polite. She's an upper rank and we can't afford to be rude to her." Gia replied quickly in an attempt to calm him down.
'But... she doesn't deserve the respect. So you're free to go all out on her.' Her thoughts completed, knowing fully well Lank wouldn't listen to her words anyways.
"What would you like to be called, Gia or odd one?" He snapped.
"..."
Turning his attention back to Ayanami, "we'd know who's an upper or lower rank tomorrow." He sneered.
He very well understood his powers exceeded that of a lower rank B, what he didn't quite understand was why he was placed in a class full of them.
There were whispers behind Ayanami's back, some of the students felt the need to make a snide remark, "I heard he was meant to be in upper rank A." A student said, and then continued. "I guess he messed with higher ups."
Ayanami decided to take all that was being said to her advantage, clasping her hands together with a pout on her lips.
"Lank, I'm so sorry I upset you." She said, "I hope I didn't hurt your feelings. Please, forgive me."
"No, it's my fault. I should have been a little more polite to an animal in the form of a human." Lank retorted in a cool, calm voice.
He was quite pleased with the pun he had made regarding Ayanami's shapeshifting abilities.
Ayanami's mouth gaped open at his indirect insult, her inner self balling her hands in a fist, ready to pick a fight.
Instead she gave a nervous chuckle to ease the tension.
"Now spit out what you have to say." He replied through gritted teeth. "I'm done trying to be nice to those who don't deserve it." He said in annoyance.
The advice given to him by Nix was far from being called easy. Bullying was much easier.
Glaring at the others, they all moved away from their proximity, giving them a bit of privacy.
"If you must know, I had a bit of a run-in with Nix." Ayanami answered bluntly. She didn't like the fact that he was snarling at her. "But, I did wonder why he was in a different room than usual."
Lank could already sense the tension in the air. "Why are you telling me this?"
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