A Maiden’s Request, Departing School

As the classes ended for the day, Nero immediately prepared to head off to work. He looked at his side and saw Elly talking to a few of her friends, so he didn't bother to say anything. However, when he stepped out of class, a flurried set of footsteps was heard behind him as the petite Elly appeared. Her lengthy hair bouncing around while her dress shook from side to side, showing bits of her pure white and soft looking legs as she ran to his position.

Nero was puzzled; he thought she wanted to say goodbye, so he looked at her and spoke, "You were busy earlier so I didn't say anything, but it seems that I was mistaken. I'm heading off now, so see you later Elly."

Elly looked at Nero confusedly; she obviously didn't come because of some simple goodbye statement. Elly placed her two index fingers together and lowered her head as she fidgeted while speaking cutely, "W-What goodbyes? I-I'm here to ask you about something."

Nero, who was prepared to leave paused as he looked at her, he saw that she had a tinge of red on her face as if she was a bit hesitant and began to speculate.

'Could it be that she's got a crush on me.?' Nero felt strange as his heart sped up by a tiny fraction, but as he thought a bit more based on her personality, he merely shook his head and concluded, 'No that's impossible, or at least not with that mindset of hers.'

Adult Nero chuckled as he heard not saying anything, but Nero snorted inwardly ignoring the old pervert. After quickly wrapping up his thoughts, Nero looked at her feeling a tinge of softness as he spoke, "Okay, say what this issue of yours is and if I have the time I'll try to help if I can."

Elly grew excited at his words; her eyes beamed when she lifted her head and spoke, "Really?"

Nero didn't have resistance to such a cute face, he turned his face away and spoke with a snort, "Hmph! What man would I be if I were to reject the request of a girl?"

Elly gave Nero a sheepish look as she as puckered her lips and thought in a mean way, "Tsk, look at him, talking like he's all grown and big! He's trying to look down on me because of my size!"

As Elly somehow arrived at an unusual conclusion, she bit her lips and clenched her fists in anger. However, as if recalling her mother's mantra, she took a deep breath to calm down.

Elly shook her off her previous mood and stared at Nero with a pleading and embarrassed look as she asked again, "Nero, c-c-can you help to t-t-tutor me?"

"What? Tutor you?" Nero asked in surprise as he'd never thought someone who was as prideful as himself would ask him such a thing.

Elly looked at his stupefied look with a hint of anger as she spoke, "What else does it mean? As you naturally know, I... I'm not that good at some subjects, so I thought that since you've helped me before, you would be willing to aid me."

Nero thought for a bit as he looked at her and replied thoughtfully, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that, I have to work at a different job every evening of the week and weekends."

Elly was a bit surprised by this; she didn't think he was such a busy person. After thinking for a bit, she spoke again, "What if I say that I'd be willing to pay you?"

Nero hesitated at those words; he looked at her carefully before asking, "Hmm, how much money?"

Elly bit her lips and thought for a bit before she opened her ten fingers when Nero saw this his eyes beamed as he thought, 'Ten dollars per hour just to teach, I'll be a fool if I didn't take this, I could even ditch that shitty job and avoid those wretched people!'

'Is my one hundred dollars too low?' Elly thought as she looked at Nero nervously, awaiting his decision.

Soon though, Nero had made a warmer smile than the usual and spoke in a softer tone, "Elly, I didn't know that you were so generous, that should be more than enough to cover the costs. Just let me know of the days later tonight, and I can make a schedule around it."

When Nero said this, he hurried off in a jovial mood; he knew that with this job, he would be able to spend less time out and more time with his mother while earning even more money.

Elly looked at Nero in surprise, watching as he left the hallway as she thought to herself, 'He accepted it for such a low amount? Could it be that... that he's got a thing for me?'

Elly's face turned red as she thought to her, recalling his handsome and cold appearance, but as she pondered a bit more, she frowned, rejecting these thoughts, 'Hmph! As if that pretty-faced bastard can have such feelings...'

After wrapping up her thoughts, Elly prepared to leave, but soon, Kara, Clair, and a few other girls appeared.

"Let's go, Elly," Clair said as she grabbed Elly's arm, towing her along the hallway with the others as they headed towards the campus entrance.

As they all vanished from this area, the door of the classroom made a slight creaking noise, as one more person stepped out in silence as if forgotten by everyone.

Kailyn looked towards the direction Elly left with fire in her eyes; she bit her lips while darkly muttering to herself, "That bitch, I'll get her soon... I'll let those bastard deal with her tomorrow at the Playground."

As Kailyn unconsciously blurted out her wicked thoughts, she left the hallway using the opposite route as she didn't even want to stay near Elly. However, Kailyn didn't realize that despite her cautious nature, someone who was even more forgotten had stepped out behind her, the fat and muscular youth that wore a black jacket.

'So it's as I've thought, she really does keep grudges with that girl... hmm, what should I do?' Benson thought to himself, as he made a complex expression.

His thoughts rand through many scenarios, but each didn't seem feasible for the current him. He naturally knew of his limits as a person. Benson gritted his teeth as and sighed before his eyes showed a firm look as if he made a choice.

'I guess I can only seek a compromise...' As Benson thought this, he took a step towards the school entrance, soon after leaving the gloomy-looking hallway.

Away from this scene, Nero had long since arrived at the front of the campus, he saw only a few students heading off, and Avollo was standing out in the open as if waiting on something.

Nero didn't ask him anything but proceed to go about his business, but Avollo seemed to have noticed him, he turned towards him and shouted, "Hey Nero!"

Because of his shout, a few others couldn't help but turn to look at him, but Nero didn't pay them any mind as he glanced at Avollo and spoke, "I'm headed to work, what's up?"

Avollo, hearing this made a curious look and spoke, "Oh, I didn't know you were working, how about I give you a lift?"

Nero thought for a moment before he nodded and replied, "Alright, that should be handy."

Avollo laughed and tapped his shoulder as he spoke, "It's nothing, that's what brothers are for man!"

Nero smirked, not saying anything. A short moment later, a modified Porsche drove into the campus grounds. Many were already used to seeing it, so no one reacted in a major manner.

"That's our ride; let's get going," Avollo said as he walked towards the car.

Nero promptly followed behind him, as they entered the back of the car, Avollo looked at Nero and asked, "Which place is it?"

Nero replied, "It's that hub called Paradise Palace,"

"Eh? Haha, Nero, I didn't think you were a male host!" Avollo said with a laugh as his face turned to surprise.

The driver was a simple-looking man with a hat and a blue suit, he glanced through the rear-view mirror and couldn't help but feel a tinge of surprise as he hadn't seen Avollo in such a good mood in a long time.

Nero shook his head and replied, "I'm merely a runner,"

Avollo chuckled at those words, not saying anything more on the topic, he glanced at the driver and spoke, "Uncle Ian, you heard him, to the Paradise Palace, please!"

Nero was a bit surprised when he heard Avollo's form of address, he looked at the man at the front and saw that he was white, with a puzzled look Nero stared at Avollo.

However, as if the man solved Nero's current musings, the man replied, "As the young master wishes!"

Nero's eyes then flashed in realizations and shook his head in embarrassment for his silly thoughts, following this short scene, the car drove off from the campus headed into the town.