POV: Rylie Fuchai
I wonder if Ryan will let me reject his offer now.
Noticing my troubled expression, Ryan's grin only widened as my frown only depressed, prompting me to let out a sigh of defeat as I found myself in a conundrum.
No, there's no way he'll let me go now.
Well, if I think about it positively, all I have to do is watch over a single student and prevent him from getting into any unnecessary altercations, right?
Although that student is Rai Shinsei instead of Everett, I'm sure it can't be that hard-
"My name is Evelyn Shinsei. If my name is all you wanted to ask of me, then remove yourself from my sight."
Wait a second…
As the silence began to grow within the room, so did my curiosity as in the moment I remembered Ryan revealing the fact that he enrolled Rai personally into the academy, my mind began racing with many thoughts as the boy's surname that I once written off as a mere coincidence may not have even been one at all.
Rai's exam report stated that his Aspect was a Normal-Type that only enhanced his reflexes, but who is to say that the report isn't false as the one who tested him wasn't any members of the Council, but Ryan himself, who stated that he enrolled Rai personally into the academy.
Out of the four years that I've taught at this academy, there have only been three students that Ryan enrolled personally.
Avery Masayoshi, Zayn Shometsu and Arthur Kojiro, who are all ranked among the top three as they are considered the strongest among their generation and yet Rai, who was also enrolled personally by Ryan, is only ranked two hundredth?
I've known Ryan since I was a teenager and his judgement for talent was never this bad, meaning that Rai is most certainly a false ranker that is hiding his true abilities for a reason that is unknown to me as of now.
And even on the off chance that his exam report is true, as someone who knew Evelyn personally, her unique sky blue eyes was a distinctive trait that solely belonged to her as her eyes entranced nearly every boy within the academy and yet, not only does Rai share the same surname, but he also shares the same eyes as her.
On top of everything, Ryan also knew Evelyn, even more than I did as during our days as students, they were in the same friend group as they were all fourth-years while I was only a first-year who had met Evelyn out of pure coincidence prior to enrolling at the academy.
It can't be a coincidence anymore as I'm almost certain that Evelyn is Rai's mother, but if that's the case…
Does that mean that Ryan is his father?
No, that can't be it as Rai doesn't share the same features as Ryan and from what I know, Evelyn and Ryan didn't have that kind of relationship anyways.
Instead of pondering about it, maybe I should just ask the one who should know the answer for himself.
"Ryan, I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to answer me truthfully." I said as Ryan's amused expression remained unfazed.
"Ask away." Ryan replied, his lighthearted gaze depressing as he stopped spinning his pen around his fingers.
"Who is Rai Shinsei?" I asked sternly as Ryan's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"He's the black hair student that I placed into your class around a few weeks ago. Have you forgotten who he is already-"
"Don't feign ignorance, Ryan! This isn't something to be joking about!" I shouted, alerting Jennifer as she narrowed her eyes and began listening intently.
"Is Rai the son of Evelyn?" I asked as Ryan's silence confirmed my answer, provoking my anger as I slammed my hands onto his desk and glared directly into his eyes.
"Are you insane?! What the hell is wrong with you?! Do you have any idea what will happen to him if the authorities find out about his existence—let alone the Lyheart family!? Are you trying to have him executed?!" I questioned, exasperated by Ryan's poor decision making as Ryan's amused smile was replaced with a frown while his demeanor changed into a solemn one that was laced with mild confusion.
"You're able to remember her?" Ryan asked as his question left me perplexed, unable to understand what point he was trying to make as I found myself becoming even more furious by his ambiguous response.
"Of course I remember her. What are you on about?" I asked, confused and irritated.
"It's nothing. Do you accept my proposal or not, Rylie?" Ryan asked, his tone lacking his usual lightness as I clenched my jaw before relieving my anger with a deep breath.
"Does Rai even know the truth about his existence?" I asked, ignoring his question as my tone was laced with a tad of anger from finding Ryan's actions to be detestable, but as I expected, Ryan remained silent once more, feigning ignorance as I clicked my tongue in displeasure, turning around as I headed towards the exit of his office.
He's hiding something, but I'll let it go for now as maybe it's for the best.
"I accept your proposal." I added amidst leaving his office, leaving the two of them alone as I rubbed my hands through the bangs of my hair anxiously.
I expected Rai to be her kid as soon as I discovered his surname, but now that Ryan basically confirmed it, I don't know how to approach him going forward.
Evelyn was someone that I admired growing up and now to find out that her very own son is in my class…
It's too much for me to think about right now.
~ Present ~
Anger was clouding my judgement at the time, but had I known Rai was this strong, I would have asked Ryan to triple my pay!
"That's enough, Rai." I voiced in a jittery, yet calming tone as it required my utmost effort to restrain Rai, whose resistance slowly began to die down as within seconds, he seemed to have regained his composure as I released him from my grasp, allowing him to step forward as he looked down at Garrett, who trembled with such fear that it appeared as if Rai was the incarnation of death itself.
"Apologize." Rai uttered in a tone resembling a king giving an order as the fear ingrained within Garrett forced him to obey Rai's command without question.
Groveling before Sarah, Garrett slammed his head into floor, nailing it in place as he begged for her forgiveness and apologized for his mistakes, his humiliating actions inspiring the small crowd of bystanders to ridicule him with laughter until a few staff members began separating them, but as for Sarah, she struggled to find a proper response, rousing a vexing sigh from Rai, who was annoyed with her hesitation as he grabbed Garrett by the bangs of his hair and tossed him towards his friends, sending him tumbling through his own puddle of urine as he arrived at the feet of his friends.
With all the attention focusing on them, they buckled under the pressure as one of Garrett's friends quickly grabbed the collar of his blazer from behind and scurried away while I began aiding my fellow staff members in dispersing the nosy crowd of bystanders, sending most of them on their way to class as the remaining few chose to chatter with their friends.
After clearing up the general area, I called over a janitor to clean up Garrett's shameful incident as I then headed towards Rai, who appeared to be glaring at someone within the distance before directing his attention towards me.
"Why did you step in, Rylie?" Rai asked, his casual form of speech causing me to narrow my eyes as I approached him and chopped him in his forehead, startling him as Aria and Sarah's eyes widened in surprise.
It's because your charade of being weak would have been for naught if you were to engage in a scuffle with Garrett, but it seems like you really are the child of Evelyn as seeing you stand up against injustice is exactly what she would have done.
Despite the consequences, Evelyn also stood up for what she believed in…
"Who gave you the right to speak informally with me?" I asked with a wry smile as Rai rubbed his forehead with a startled look.
Even if the entirety of Jiyu stood against her.
"To answer your question, I simply didn't want to see any of my precious students be harmed before attending my class." I added as I began heading down the main corridor towards my classroom while Rai and his group walked alongside me.
"That doesn't sound right coming out of your mouth. You don't seem like the type to help others without money being involved." Rai remarked as he stared at me skeptically.
"You don't actually think that of your lovely teacher, right?" I questioned with puppy eyes as my insincere reaction left my three students expressionless.
"We do." They responded in chorus with a deadpan tone, rousing a smile from me as we approached my classroom.
Evelyn.
I don't know if you're still alive out there, but as long as Rai is in my hands…
I'll protect him to the best of my ability as even within this prestigious hero academy that should be a safe haven for all future heroes, his life is in danger.