026 Saturday with Merrick - Part 3 - Mirai’s POV

026 Saturday with Merrick - Part 3 - Mirai’s POV

Professor Merrick’s voice echoed through the training hall.

"That concludes this round. One hour recess. Return on time."

I exhaled sharply, brushing strands of hair away from my face. My heart was still pounding from the last match — the adrenaline hadn’t worn off yet. Sweat clung to my skin, the sting of battle fresh in my limbs.

But none of that mattered right now.

Anna.

I spotted her sitting on the bench at the edge of the training hall, her head lowered, rubbing her jaw. My gut twisted. Without a second thought, I rushed toward her.

"Anna!" I called out, skidding to a stop in front of her. My breath was still ragged from the fight, but I forced myself to focus. "Hey—are you okay?"

Anna’s head lifted slightly. Her short, blue hair stuck to her forehead, her eyes half-lidded but still sharp. There was a faint bruise forming on her jawline — the exact spot where my kick had landed.

"Yeah," she said, her voice steady but her mouth twisting in mild irritation. "I'll live."

I winced. "I… I’m really sorry about that." I rubbed the back of my neck, my gaze dropping to the floor. "I didn’t mean to hit you that hard."

Anna’s eyes narrowed slightly before softening. She stretched her jaw with a grimace. "Don’t apologize. It’s a sparring match. You were supposed to hit me."

"Yeah, but—"

"But nothing." Anna’s gaze sharpened. "I should’ve blocked it."

My mouth opened, then closed. I didn’t know how to respond to that.

Anna stood, rolling her shoulder. "Besides…" She met my gaze with a small, sharp smile. "Next time, I won’t lose."

A small chill ran down my spine at the intensity in her eyes. The competitive spark I’d always admired — and sometimes feared — was still burning strong despite the bruise.

"I’ll hold you to that," I said, managing a small smile of my own.

Anna’s smile widened. "Good."

Mark walked toward us, looking bored.

Ron followed right behind him, a sharp contrast to Mark’s stoicism. His smile was wide and a little too bright to be natural. His eyes, however, had that glint — the one that usually meant trouble.

The air between them practically crackled with tension.

I sighed and stepped between them before whatever silent war they were fighting could escalate into something worse. "Alright, enough of that." I crossed my arms, looking between them. "You two need to stop acting so childish."

Ron’s smile twitched, but Mark’s expression didn’t change.

Anna, still sitting nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Wow, Mirai," she said, her tone light and playful. "Did you just try to play peacekeeper? Between two guys? Are you sure you’re not secretly trying to set them up?"

My face burned. "What—No!" I spun toward her, scowling. "Get your mind out of the gutter!"

Anna laughed, leaning back on her hands. "Just saying. Enemies to lovers is a pretty classic trope."

I groaned. "Anna."

She grinned. "Relax, I’m kidding."

I turned back to Mark and Ron, my scowl deepening. "Anyway," I said, "Ron, stop acting like a sore loser. Mark beat you fair and square."

Ron’s smile stiffened. "Sore loser?" He pressed a hand to his chest as if I’d wounded him. "I’m not a sore loser."

"Seriously?" I deadpanned. “It was pretty intense, ya know? Tried to egg him and everything?”

Ron’s hand dropped. "…Okay, maybe a little sore."

"More than a little," Mark said flatly.

Ron’s smile sharpened. "Oh, lighten up, Mark. It’s called bonding."

Mark’s brow twitched.

Ron’s smile widened, the tension in his shoulders suddenly easing. His usual golden retriever energy returned, practically radiating from him like sunlight. He threw an arm around Mark’s shoulders — or tried to. Mark sidestepped it with practiced ease.

"See?" Ron said, grinning. "Me and Mark are basically best friends now."

Mark’s gaze slid toward him, unimpressed. "Don’t push it."

"But you’re not denying it," Ron teased.

Mark’s eye twitched.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "You’re impossible."

Ron beamed. "That’s why you love me."

"That’s a strong word," I muttered.

Mark shook his head, but I didn’t miss the way his mouth twitched — just slightly — at the corner. A half-smile. Almost.

Progress.

"Hey," Mark said, hands stuffed in his pockets, his tone as casual as ever. "I’m going to grab some snacks and drinks. My treat. What do you guys want?"

Anna, Ron, and I all turned to look at him.

"Wait," I said slowly. "Are you… sure about that?"

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Why?"

I hesitated. "Well… you were just working at a convenience store recently, right? Weren’t you… saving up?"

Mark blinked, then shrugged. "It’s fine. My mom’s rich."

I stared at him. "…Seriously? Why work in the convenience store then?"

"Yeah." His expression was completely matter-of-fact, like this was common knowledge. "It’s just a small errand."

Did he just deflect my question about the convenience store?

Not cool…

Anna snorted. "Aw, is Mark a momma’s boy?"

Mark’s brow twitched. "It’s not like that."

"Sure, sure," Anna said, grinning. "Keep telling yourself that."

Mark ignored her. "So… energy drink for you, Mirai?"

"Yeah," I said, still processing the whole ‘my mom’s rich’ thing.

Anna leaned back, stretching her arms over her head. "I’ll take popcorn and a chocolate drink."

Ron perked up, clapping his hands together. "Oh! Let me help. I’ll grab some stuff too." He grinned, golden retriever energy kicking into full force. "Might as well treat everyone while we’re at it. No worries, my mom’s rich too. And my dad too."

It wasn’t even a competition.

Mark’s eyes narrowed slightly. "I said it’s my treat."

Ron waved him off. "Nah, nah, it’s fine. I insist." He looked over at the other classmates sitting around the training hall. "Hey! Anyone else want something?"

A bunch of heads immediately turned toward him.

"Chips!"
"Soda!"
"Jerky!"
"Candy!"
"Ice cream—if they have it!"

Ron grinned. "Got it!"

Mark sighed. "I don’t mind the help, but…"

"Great!" Ron clapped him on the back. "Team effort!"

Mark just sighed again. "Fine. Could use the extra hands, I guess."

Twenty minutes later, Mark walked back into the training hall — alone.

And absolutely loaded with snacks and drinks.

A large plastic bag hung from each hand, and another was looped around his arm. A bottle of soda rolled precariously on top of the pile. Mark’s expression was a perfect storm of mild annoyance and exhaustion.

"What happened to Ron?" I asked, standing up.

Mark dumped the bags on the floor with a heavy thud. "He ditched me."

Anna laughed, clapping her hands. "No way. Did Ron seriously make you carry all of that yourself?"

"And pay for it," Mark muttered. He shot a look toward the cluster of classmates already helping themselves to the haul. "This was supposed to be my treat. I’m gonna kill him the next time I see him."

Anna was practically in tears now. "Wow. Ron really out-stealthed you, huh?"

Mark frowned. "That’s not—"

"I mean," Anna cut in, still laughing, "you’ve got the whole calculating, strategic thing down. How did you not see that coming?"

Mark’s mouth tightened as he started handing out the snacks. "It’s not like this was a battle."

Anna wiped at her eyes. "Yeah, but it kind of was."

"Not helping."

"Totally helping."

I bent down and grabbed my energy drink from one of the bags. "Thanks, Mark."

Anna reached over and grabbed her popcorn and chocolate drink, still grinning. "Appreciate it."

Mark sighed. "You’re welcome."

"Hey, look at the bright side," Anna said, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "At least you got some merit points for generosity."

Mark handed out the last drink, his expression flat. "Do you really think Merrick’s going to reward me for getting played?"

Anna smiled. "Nope. But we appreciate it."

Mark sat down beside me with a quiet grumble, resting his arms on his knees. I took a sip of my drink, feeling the carbonation sting my throat.

"Seriously, though," Anna said, leaning toward him with a teasing smirk. "Momma’s boy and outplayed by Ron? Tough day for you, Mark."

Mark’s jaw tightened. "Next time, I’m making him carry the bags."

Anna popped another piece of popcorn into her mouth. "Sure you are."

“At least I won my fight,” added Mark.

That got Anna to shut up.

I watched as Mark handed out the last of the drinks and snacks, his expression settling back into that calm, neutral state he always wore.

Then it hit me.

"You didn’t get anything for yourself?" I asked, tilting my head toward him.

Mark blinked. "Hm?"

"You went out and bought all of this stuff, but you didn’t even get a drink or a snack for yourself."

Mark shrugged. "I had something before I left."

That… didn’t feel right.

I narrowed my eyes at him. My ESP wasn’t anything combat-focused — nothing flashy like pyrokinesis or shadow manipulation — but lately, I’d been working on a new application of it.

Heroine’s Heart: Eloquence.

Speaking through the heart with the power of luck. That was Eloquence.

It was supposed to help me sense emotions — subtle shifts in tone, micro-expressions, hidden intent. Basically… a lie detector.

I reached out with my ESP, focusing on Mark’s presence. His outward calm didn’t change, but beneath the surface… there it was. A flicker of hesitation. Slight tension at the corner of his mouth.

He was lying.

I frowned. "Here."

I held out my half-filled energy drink.

Mark’s brow furrowed. "What?"

"Drink."

"You already had some."

"And?" I pushed the can toward him. "Just take it."

Mark hesitated for a second longer, then sighed. "Alright."

He took the can from my hand and lifted it to his lips. "I appreciate it."

He drank.

And that’s when Anna’s smile sharpened.

"Aw, isn’t that sweet?" she said, her tone dripping with mischief. "Indirect kiss?"

I shot her a look. "Don’t start."

Anna grinned. "Too late."

But surprisingly, I didn’t feel flustered. Maybe it was because of that whole rooftop incident during the entrance exam — that awkward moment between us after Mark had practically carried me up there, both of us too winded and embarrassed to say anything… except throw jokes around.

This was nothing compared to that.

Mark was still drinking when Anna added, "Hey, Mirai, if you really wanted to kiss him, you could’ve just said so."

Mark’s eyes widened. He choked mid-sip.

"What the hell—"

He coughed violently, doubling over and nearly spilling the drink down his shirt.

"Mark!"

I reached toward him as he pounded his chest, struggling to breathe.

Anna, naturally, was laughing her head off.

"What the hell, Mark?" I said, exasperated.

"You're just making yourself a target!" I shot Anna a glare as Mark coughed helplessly.

Anna wiped at her eyes. "Oh, this is gold. Keep going, Mark. This is quality entertainment."

Mark finally managed to stop coughing, his face slightly red — probably from a mix of embarrassment and lack of oxygen. He handed the drink back to me without a word.

I sighed. "Why do I even bother?"

Anna leaned back, still grinning. "Because it’s hilarious."

Mark’s shoulders slumped as he muttered, "This is why I don’t drink energy drinks."

"You’re blaming the drink?" I deadpanned.

"It’s suspiciously carbonated."

Anna snorted. "Yeah, sure."

Mark sighed, rubbing his temple. "I should’ve just let Ron carry the bags."

"Too late now," Anna said, her smile practically glowing. "But hey—thanks for the show."

Mark just groaned.