Chapter 27.1

 Damn, Alice, Jason thought with raised eyebrows. She looks like a teen even though she's a tween, not some middle-aged woman. How's she old?

Jason tried not to grin as he attempted to blend into the background; he didn't want to be caught between the two, which was quite difficult since each of them was holding an arm of his while staring at each other. Melanie looked at Alice for a moment, observing her carefully. She felt that Alice was like her, someone who had a pretty and sweet demeanor that was merely a facade for others to see. Unwilling to stoop down to Alice's level, Melanie ignored her jab and turned to look at Jason, opening her mouth to speak when he gestured at her to remain silent.

"Give me a moment," Jason said to Melanie, who gave him a nod. Jason took Alice by her hand and led her to the school while the latter looked up at his face, her face changing.

"You're leaving me for her," Alice said and Jason looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. Why did her words sound like he was abandoning her?

"It's nothing like that, kid," Jason explained. "She's a … work colleague. And we need to talk … work. About work."

As he spoke, Jason used his Esper powers to create a blue flower while Alice looked at Jason in dissatisfaction. Did he really think she was so gullible? She knew that her father was fickle with women and assumed that Melanie was Jason's new conquest.

Jason was unaware of her thoughts, he was too focused on the flower he was creating. It was a beautiful sky blue flower with a yellow center. He lowered himself to Alice's height and showed her the flower that was resting in his palm. Her eyes widened in surprise as Jason spoke softly. "This is a forget me not flower, do you know what it symbolizes?"

"Don't forget me?" Suggested Alice cheekily.

"Well, Yeah. Sorta," Jason replied. "It symbolizes remembrance, love, and long-lasting connection."

While he spoke, Jason tucked the forget me not flower into Alice's headband. The blue flower melded with the headband perfectly and made Alice look more cute, especially when she smiled shyly.

"Thanks, dad," Alice said quietly, she understood the significance and reason behind Jason' actions.

"I'll leave you with your aunt for a sec, I'll be back soon. I promise," Jason only stood up when he saw Alice nod. Looking up at the windows, he easily found Alina's classroom. He could see her staring out the window, gazing at the blue skies with her head resting on her hand.

Using his SEC gun, Jason cast a spell. A magic circle formed on the ground below him and he jumped up after a moment. The spell lightened the strength of gravity around him, allowing him to jump into the fourth floor and into the window to Alina's classroom.

"And this is for - Jason?! What on - why - did you just jump in from the window?" Sylvia, who was teaching English, looked at Jason in shock and stuttered.

"Oh, Silvie. I got lucky," Jason said. "I, uh, have something to do. Can I leave Alice to you and Alle?"

"Normally I'd refuse requests like these," Silvia said after recollecting herself and fixing her glasses. "However, I know how well-behaved Alice is, so I'll consider it this time. Only this one time, Jason."

"I owe you one," Jason said before leading Alice to the back where she sat beside Alina. Next to her was Asami, who winked, and Michelle, who was sitting ahead of her, turned back to Alice and smiled.

Alina also smiled gently at Alice while the latter gave each of them an apologetic look. After she sat down, Jason crouched to her eye level and patted her head.

"I'll be back, kid," he said before giving a soft look to Alina. He patted her shoulder and she placed a hand over his before he jumped out the window.

Alina watched him go but stopped smiling when she saw him moving to Melanie. She looked back at Alice and knew why he left her in the classroom; he didn't want Alice to know about him being a Phantom. With a sigh, Alina patted Alice's head before turning to focus on Ms. Silvia's teaching. Asami inched her table and chair closer to Alice and Michelle returned to taking her notes, her concentration fully on Ms. Silvia's teaching.

***

"Hey, look! That's the combat teach with the student Prez!" A student cried out and several girls immediately made a beeline to the windows.

Emily, who had a migraine and a runny nose, was walking down the corridor when she heard the cry and she quickly moved to a window to see if it was true. Her heart sank as she saw Jason walking down the schoolyard with Melanie. While his hands were in his pockets, Melanie wrapped both hands around an arm of his as they walked and spoke to each other.

"So, do you think they're dating?"

"Why not, they make the perfect couple!"

"Damnit, he's only dating her cause she's in university. If only I was older!"

"You wish."

"Noo! Our Queen!" another lamented at the fact that Melanie was conquered.

Snippets of conversations seeped into Emily's ears as the hand that gripped the window tightened until her knuckles turned pale.

Why? Thought Emily agonizingly. Why is he maintaining a distance from me but not her? Am I that worthless? Is it because I'm weak?

Negative thoughts continued churning through her as her watery eyes became more determined.

I'll prove it then. I'll get stronger and prove that I'm not some weak damsel in distress. That I can stand next to him, just like her.