The air inside the Super's room felt tense as Hanaro's gaze fell on Tarai.
"Tarai… do you really think that Sir Kraiton's son is still alive?" he asked, voice low, almost hesitant.
Tarai shook her head slowly. "I don't think so… but if it's him, then…"
Hanaro picked up a paper, eyes narrowing. "This is the paper he answered… his name is Cl—"
Meanwhile, in the main hall, Delom and Clive sat quietly on their chairs.
"Looks like we are almost about to be selected…" Delom murmured, trying to calm his racing heart.
"It's pretty awesome that we got into SKYPH…" Clive replied, eyes wide with excitement.
Just then, a cheerful boy approached them.
✰Ritaite Naro✰
"Hey there… how are you?" he greeted with a grin.
"Fine… how are you?" Clive replied.
"I'm fine too. Can I sit with you two?" Naro asked politely.
Delom's eyes flicked toward Clive before nodding. "Yes… sit here."
Naro settled into the chair beside them. "So… what are your names?"
"I am Delom… nice to meet you," Delom said with a smile.
"And I am Clive," Clive added.
"Okay… I am Ritaite Naro," he introduced himself cheerfully.
"So… how was your exam?" Clive asked.
"The exam was easy… I don't think they are testing our math IQ," Naro said, shrugging.
Delom chuckled. "It's not a rule that math problems will be hard."
"You are right," Naro nodded, smiling.
Back in the Super's room, Hanaro frowned, confusion evident.
"Impossible… it's fully matching," he muttered.
"No problem… we can test it later," Tarai replied calmly.
"Yes. And let's announce the final round," Hanaro said firmly.
Tarai nodded. "Yes, Hanaro."
Suddenly, a small tornado whirled into the main head's room. Hanaro emerged from beneath it, exuding authority.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves. Our final round will begin in twenty minutes," he announced.
Tarai followed, standing beside him. "This round is about fighting three robots," she explained.
"In this round, we'll test your physical strength," Hanaro added.
Two girls in the hall watched intently, one of them smiling.
Oragi's eyes sparkled. "Finally… something fun here," she whispered, her excitement barely contained.
Tarai continued, "Everyone ready for this round?"
"Yes!" the students chorused.
Tarai moved to an empty space, her hand tracing circles through the wind. A portal opened with a soft hum. She repeated the motion, opening thirteen portals in total.
Clive's eyes widened. "What an awesome power… Vice Head and Head really are incredible."
Delom nodded. "You're right… but focus on the round."
"Now enter these portals carefully, one by one. No chaos, and be cautious," Tarai instructed.
Naro leaned toward Delom and Clive. "Bros… my sixth sense is warning me… trouble's coming."
Delom's lips curved in a small, confident smile. I am sure Clive will perform awesome…
"Everyone has thirty minutes to defeat three robots. Defeat means crack, destroy… and yes, you can help others too," Tarai said.
The students exchanged looks, bracing themselves for the unexpected.
"Your time starts…" Tarai commanded.
Portals swirled as the students stepped inside.
Clive entered a portal just as a robot swung its fist toward his jaw. He yelped and fell hard on the floor.
"Damn it… what an unexpected one," he muttered angrily.
Another robot kicked him, sending him flying across the arena.
"Now enough…" he growled, eyes narrowing. He sprinted and delivered a precise kick to another robot's head, its neck cracking halfway.
Far away, Naro fought, glancing in awe at Clive.
"Wow… Clive, that's awesome!" Naro shouted.
He watched Clive leap and spin like a monkey, landing with deadly precision.
"Are you celebrating your move?" Naro called out.
"No… so much pain here… ah… my leg…" Clive replied, wincing.
"Oh… I'm sorry," Naro said, embarrassed.
Behind Clive, the half-broken robot toppled. Another approached, and Clive readied himself. "Looks like another problem's coming…"
Oragi, on the other side, had already defeated two robots. Now, she punched the last one's chest like a training bag, smiling.
"Now… real fun begins," she whispered, delivering a final blow that destroyed the robot completely.
Suddenly, Delom slid onto the floor before her, unable to stand.
Oragi's smile faded. "I think I know him… what's his name… ah…"
"Oragi… can you help me…?" Delom whispered weakly.
"You're Clive's friend, right?" she asked, her voice bored but calm.
"Y-yes," he replied.
"Fine… I'll help," she said, finally extending her hand.
A robot lunged toward her, but another tried to hit her from behind. Oragi caught the strike easily.
"It's cheating… I don't like cheating," she muttered, punching the robot's neck and breaking it, then kicking another robot's knee. Moments later, both were defeated.
Delom managed a weak smile. "Thanks…"
"So, someone's grateful to me. Come on, stand up…" Oragi said warmly, helping him up.
Tarai, sitting calmly on a chair, called out loudly, "One minute left, everyone."
After a tense sixty seconds, the round ended. Hanaro appeared suddenly beside Tarai.
"No matter if you defeated three robots or not, we'll select you by your skills," he declared.
Tarai added, "Results will be announced ten minutes after the final."
Hanaro raised a hand, and a paper floated to him from the wind. "The selected students are… Yuni, Karata, Inuma, Plus, Inawa, Rowa, Hinami, Delom, Kiba, Sike, Fanan, Eden, Oragi, Coro, Nancy, Angus, Clive, Rusla, Naro, and finally Alina."
Clive blinked. "Delom… so today was the qualifying day… not just the tickets…"
Delom smiled. "Sorry, I gave the wrong detail. But we're qualified… it's good."
"And our friend Naro is too," Clive added.
Oragi, standing next to Clive, suddenly hugged him.
"Yeah… I'm qualified too… I'm so happy," she exclaimed.
Delom coughed, flustered. Hey… he's not your—uhm…
Oragi quickly released Clive, cheeks flushed. "I'm sorry… got carried away…"
Clive shook his head, calm. "No need… I'm alright."
Delom watched quietly, thinking, Is this girl really like Clive… never mind… she's crazy… but if she's happy, Clive's day is perfect. They look good together.
Tarai, sitting to the right, announced, "All selected students, come here tomorrow. We'll show and explain everything. Those not selected… keep striving… one day you'll join too."
The students nodded gratefully as the day ended.
Outside the academy, Delom suggested, "Let's go to a restaurant for lunch."
Clive shook his head shyly. "You can go… I don't have money…"
Oragi, still nearby, smiled. "No problem… I have… can I join you two, please?"
Her playful, cute demeanor contrasted sharply with her usual serious attitude. Clive blushed, struggling to respond.
Delom nudged him gently. "Come on… we're friends."
Oragi's grin widened. "You will go with us," she insisted.
Finally, Clive nodded, and the three of them headed toward a restaurant, the sun shining warmly above, marking the start of new friendships—and new adventures.