She slowly opens her eyes, adjusting to different brightness. She witnesses people popping out of nowhere, one by one. It seems like they are inside a large building-- a gymnasium. Are we in heaven?

Then, she saw two familiar figures. Matthew and his partner-- what is his name again? Jaby? Jaycee? She can't remember! All she know is his name starts with J!

Then, Matthew looked at her direction. He opens his mouth like he is shocked. But why? Then, he shortly looked at Shou with a sarcastic smile.

"This is where we held trainings and announcements. This place changes its form depending on the event at the moment." When he spoke, Yuki just then noticed the warmth of his hand. Magkahawak kamay pa rin kami.

"Welcome our graduates!" The surrounding got dark and a wide platform ahead only has the spotlight which reveals an old man with a large belly, wearing a white suite and a square glasses. He has a bit of tanned skin, white hair and a goatee.

"How's your work? Doing well? Hm?" He seems like waiting for an answer. But the crowd remains quiet.

"He's our principal-- the one managing this academy." Shou said.

"Ohohoh! There are plenty of new faces here!" The principal laughed. "For those who do not know, I am George Macbell-- the headmaster of Demon Hunter Academy." He formally bowed down and he looked around the crowd.

Tumingin tingin ito sa ibaba kung nasaan nakakarami. "No one died for the first few months. That's good. Well maybe this time few will die." He laughed loudly and it echoed the gym. Die? Her mind suddenly went blank.

"Yes-- as you are all thinking, there's a mission for you! But that is only for those 7 partners who will be included in..."

"...raaank! Exciting right?!"

"The event for grading your strength will be once again open! But-- with your partners! Same rule, no killing!" His smiley face suddenly becomes serious.

"Or else disqualified." He emits a scary aura.

"Aaand you already know the other consequences." His smiley face returned.

"The battle plan are already prepared-- see who your opponents are! The first round will be held tomorrow night--- Dismiss!" He disappared and suddenly, the surrounding got noisy. But something is strange. People are talking to each other while seemingly looking at Yuki and Shou?

She glances at Shou and found him staring at nothing. "Now-- What will the prodigy do?" Matthew passed by them, next is his partner who just smiled. Then, slowly people inside keeps decreasing until we are only people left. But Shou still doesn't budge.

"Shou?" When she said that, he glanced at her then let her hand go. "Let's go. Don't go wander on your own." She just follows him mindlessly.

Shou and Yuki stop by the front of a very large screen which indicate the people's names. They are inside a wide hall, and its wall serve as the screen itself. At the far center is a set of stairs towards the top and bottom.

Shou Suzuki & Yuki Domingo vs. Slyvia Ethran & Lynne Smith

Those are their opponents. They are not in A-level but that doesn't mean Shou and Yuki can underestimate their opponents.

"Long time no see, Shou Suzuki." He faced the person that called him. "Shin Takahashi."

He smiles coldly. Shin Takahashi has a light medium skin tone, long green hair, blue eyes and taller than Shou. Shin offers his hand so they shake their hands. However, he is not alone.

There is a man beside Shin. His hair looks messy enough to block his eyes. His body is petite and shorter than Shin and Shou.

"Is she your partner?" Shin observes her and she gives her usual smile but doesn't speak.

"Yeah, She's Yuki Domingo." He offered his hand to her. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Yuki. I'm Shin Takahashi." She accepts his hand. "Nice to meet you too."

"This is my partner. Introduce yourself." Shin didn't bother to take a look at the guy beside him and his smile didn't fade either. "Y-yes... I'm R-Ren Yamamoto." He's trembling approaching Shou.

"I'm looking forward to this event, Suzuki." Shou just nodded at him.

"We'll take our leave." And they left, more like Ren obediently follows Shin with his head down.

From the start, there's something behind his smile.

Then the screen flashes a new text, saying partners will be staying in the same room.

"Are they nuts?! A girl and a guy in one room? What if you're going to do something strange while I'm sleeping?!"

"H-Hey! Shut up! I'm not interested in you!"

Shou didn't to bother to look what's happening however, he can hear their loud voices. The girl sounds hysterical while the guy sounds offended.

Instead of minding them, he puts his attention to Yuki. "Do you want to eat before going to our room? "

"We can?" Biglang nagliwanag ang mukha ni Yuki. She feels really hungry but can't say so because of the tense atmosphere.

"Yeah."

"Hey you!" She peeks at the people who's making a scene and after being certain that, the index finger of the woman is pointing at them, she then faces them.

"Stop it! Quit making a scene!"

The woman is approaching their direction with heavy breathing. With her getting nearer, her face clearly shows anger.

And behind her, is the man who's previously arguing with her. The man looks pale and seems like his eyes are avoiding Shou's direction?

The attention of the crowd is again, on Yuki and Shou.

"Aren't you going to protest to this situation!?" Yuki understands why the girl in front of her is against on the situation. She's not naive enough to not be aware the danger of a man and woman inside a room alone. However, she doesn't really feel that way to Shou.

"Well, it's fine to me." The woman is surprised. Yuki doesn't really blame her. Sino bang babae ang papayag na magkasama ang lalake at babae sa isang kwarto? Siya lang siguro. Kung meron mang iba, kokonti lang. But that's not others should mind.

"Y-You!" The woman points her finger to Shou. "You forced her didn't you?!"

"Not really." Shou answered with a lazy tone.

"Heh! You're just hiding his wicked attitude since he's the prodigy aren't you?" Alanganing ngumisi ang babae at pinagpapawisan ito.

"M-Marie! You're being rude!" The guy grabs her wrist pero marahas na binawa ng babae ang kanyang kamay.

"Shut up!" Nilipat saglit ni Shou ang atensiyon kay Yuki tapos bumalik sa lalake. "You're mistaken." Yuki replied with her eyes staring right to the woman. She's not fond of these type of things.

Napamaang ang babae. "I-If I'm mistaken-- then let's be in the same room!" And that is not for Yuki to decide because she always has to follow one rule. So she looked at Shou for his answer.

"No." And Shou's mood feels like it changed. His eyes are darted to the guy.

"Enough of this Marie! You're humiliating yourself--- and me!" Then the guy grabs her wrist once again and put her behind him. She's struggling however, his hand looked tightly gripped on her wrist.

"You---You're hurting me! Jackson!"

"I-I'm really sorry for our rudeness, P-Prince Shou!" Yumuko ang lalaki at kinaladkad niya ang babae papalayo. Nagsitabihan ang mga dinadaanan nila na parang iniiwasan sila.

Pero... Prince Shou? Tama naman ang pagkakarinig ko 'di ba?

"Pfft--"

Gwapo si Shou-- Oo. Matalino at physically fit pa. Pero hindi ko alam-- nakakatawa na marinig ang tinawag sa kanya! P-Prince Shou--

"Hahaha!"

Shou looked at her with eyebrows crease. "What are you laughing about, Yuki?" The crowd darts their attention on Yuki even more.

Prince Shou? Ang mali talaga pakinggan!

Prins. Syo. Prinsyo. Prin! Syo!

PRINCE-- SHOU--

Her laugh gets louder enough for her to touch her own stomach.

"Hey! Are you okay?" 

"Haha-- P-P-Prin-- Hahaha!!!"

"What Pri!? Yuki!" 

"I'll hit your head if you're not going to explain!" Ah shit sasakit talaga ulo kapag binatukan nya ko--

pfft...

"PRINCE SHOU! HAHAHAHAHA-- Holy shit!" Aaaah! Sakit na talaga ng tiyan ko!

Prince Shou? The one that guy called me? Is that the reason she's laughing?

Some people are about to laugh but they are suppressing it. 

"BUWAHAHAHAHA!" And there a familiar voice that bursts to laugh. Matthew.

Shou looked for where he is and the others are instantly making a way for Matthew. Found him.

While Jason is behind him smiling-- like he's suppressing his laugh. "H-Hey! P-prince Shou! HAHAHAHA!" Matthew said teasingly which makes Jason titter.

"S-Sorry Shou--- I didn't mean to laugh-- Hahaha!" Jason covers his mouth while he showed his palm on Shou to indirectly say that he's trying to stop his laugh.

And there, other people started laughing-- just not really as loud as theirs. Shou stared helplessly at Yuki and Matthew who are still laughing their asses off.

He sighs.

Nasa cafeteria sila Yuki at Shou. She's eating something that resembles a meat pasta soup. However, she keeps remembering the word that made her stomach hurt.

But she instantly receives a hit on the head.
"Stop laughing!" Shit. Masakit yon! Pero kasalanan ko rin naman.

"Fine! Fine!"

While eating, she can't help but remember what happened before they went here. 

Hinintay ni Shou na mahimasmasan si Yuki sa pagtawa habang si Matthew at ang iba ay unti unting umaalis sa lugar na iyon hanggang sila na lang ang natira. Though, tumatawang papaalis si Matthew.

Nakakahawa ang pagtawa niya. Hihipan sana ni Yuki ang soup ng kanyang pagkain ngunit nangpapatawa ito ay natalsikan ng pagkain si Shou.

Oopsie.

She slowly peeks at his face and right now, he is closing his eyes as if he's controlling himself to not do something.

"Yuki..."

"Sorry Shou-- Promise I'll not laugh anymore!" Pagmamakaawa ni Yuki.

Pero huli na ang lahat. Binatukan niya si Yuki nang kalakas-lakas kumpara kanina.

~'Seven ranks' ends~

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