Chapter 46

After that, Ms. Ross stepped in front of the class, her presence commanding attention.

"It seems that many of you are secretly artists," she began, surveying the room with an approving nod. "And from what I know, most of you aren't involved in any clubs. So why not consider joining the Art Club? We currently have only one member, so I hope you think about it. Now, bring your artwork forward, and don't forget to write your names. It's time to grade you all accordingly."

As soon as she finished, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Travis walked out alongside Eve, while Mia had to stay behind to speak with Ms. Ross.

"Now tell me the truth," Ms. Ross said sternly, her eyes fixed on Mia.

Mia's heart sank at her words; she thought she had been clever, but reality shattered her delusion.

"When did you get this good? Last I remembered, your artwork wasn't, um... how can I put this? On this level," she remarked, a mix of curiosity and disbelief coloring her tone.

'Oh, she doesn't know,' Mia thought, relief washing over her as she prepared her response.

"I take lessons with Travis. He's my art tutor," she replied quickly, recalling the alibi they had crafted together in case this question ever arose.

"That's the first I've heard of that," Ms. Ross said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Well, I'm happy to see you've improved. I want you to join my club."

'No! That's the last thing I want,' Mia protested internally.

"Could I think about it? I can give you my answer when school is out," she suggested, hoping to buy herself some time.

Ms. Ross nodded, seemingly satisfied, and began munching on her muffins. Mia smiled and bade her goodbye before hastily leaving the classroom, her thoughts racing as she hurried to her next class.

Meanwhile, Travis was already seated with Eve in science class.

"You seem quite close with Ms. Ross. Did something happen for her to like you so much?" she asked, a hint of curiosity lacing her words.

"Are you jealous?" he teased, a playful grin spreading across his face.

"Honestly, yeah," Eve admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Travis chuckled and patted her head affectionately, mimicking the classic gesture of a harem anime protagonist.

"Don't worry, Eve, you're the only girl in my eyes, alright?" he said, his tone sincere.

She nodded, glancing away shyly, resembling the archetypal childhood friend who never gets picked in a romance anime.

Travis turned his head, trying to stifle his laughter.

'No, I can't laugh yet; I've gotta hold it in,' he thought, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched Eve's reaction.

Mia walked into the classroom just in time to see Travis affectionately patting Eve's head. A frown creased her lips at the sight, her lab coat and glasses framing her expression. She made her way over and took a seat next to them, her demeanor shifting as she attempted to mask her discontent.

"It must be nice," she said to Eve, her tone flat and laden with a hint of envy.

Eve, reveling in the moment, shot Mia a smug smile. "You've never been this close to Travis, have you?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Mia's thoughts drifted back to the events of yesterday, and a small smile crept onto her face, though it was mixed with frustration.

"Yes. I'm so jealous," she replied, sarcasm dripping from her words.

Eve caught the undertone, her mind racing as she considered the worst possibilities. Just as she was about to respond, Ms. Okita entered the room, balancing a large box filled with various supplies in her arms. She set the box down on the front desk, glancing around at her students with a calm, authoritative air.

"Today, we'll be conducting a short experiment. It's nothing major; I just want to jog your memory. I'm sure you've done this before," she announced, her monotone voice resonating in the room.

"Travis, could you go to my office and get something for me, please?"

The sound of her voice pulled Travis back from his thoughts. He got up, feeling a mix of curiosity and purpose as he approached the front of the classroom.

"Could you get me my glass beaker? It has a red substance inside. I highly recommend you do not drink it unless you want to attract every girl in this room," Ms. Okita instructed, a faint smirk ghosting across her lips.

'Who wouldn't want that?' Travis thought, the playful idea flashing through his mind as he walked towards the door, a smirk of his own forming.

He left the classroom and made his way upstairs to Ms. Okita's office. Inputting the passcode, Travis entered and spotted the glass beaker filled with a dark red liquid on her desk. Curiosity piqued, he wondered why she would leave it behind.

"She probably wants me to be her test subject. But will I die from this? Nah, my template is going to come in clutch for me," he thought with a smirk.

Without a second thought, Travis took a small sip of the liquid. Instantly, his body tensed up, and a rush of adrenaline coursed through him. Then, surprisingly, he felt a wave of relaxation wash over him, leaving his worries behind.

"Hmm, it's kinda like Zaza, but instead of making me high and calm, I'm just... calm," he mused, intrigued by the effects.

Stepping out of the office, he wanted to test whether Ms. Okita's claims about the liquid were true. He soon spotted Annie walking toward Mrs. Smith's office and, with a mischievous grin, hurried in front of her.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in class?" she asked, her tone as stern as ever.

"I am, but I'm not," he replied nonchalantly. Almost immediately, his body began to exude a red aura that flowed like a shimmering mist around him. Annie breathed it in, her cheeks flushing pink as she tried to maintain her composure.

"Listen here. Just because Mrs. Smith likes you doesn't mean you'll break this institution's rules," she managed to say, though her voice wavered slightly.

As she looked at Travis, her heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "Side effect maybe?" he thought, watching her struggle.

"Are you alright there?" he asked, stepping closer. When he placed his hand on her forehead, he was taken aback by how hot she felt.

"Damn. I should leave her before she freakin' dies from falling in love with me," he thought, a mixture of amusement and concern flooding his mind.

Annie had fallen victim to what he dubbed "love fever," an intense condition triggered by sudden infatuation. Realizing he needed to escape the situation, Travis made a hasty retreat, leaving her in a daze. In her mind, she envisioned him as a dominant male draped in leather, a whip at his side, which only fueled her fevered excitement.

"What is this feeling?" she pondered, her thoughts spiraling.

Travis hurriedly ran downstairs, the thought of attending class now the last thing on his mind. With the newfound abilities from the mysterious substance, he contemplated where to hide.

"What better place than the bathroom?" he chuckled to himself, but ultimately decided on the grounds.

Finding a quiet spot on a grassy hill, he watched other students jogging laps. His eyes landed on Ronda, who was training with her peers. Just when he thought he could remain unnoticed, she spotted him, the last thing he wanted at that moment. Determined to avoid drawing attention, he got up and dashed away, leaping over the school gate and sprinting toward the ocean.

Once he reached the shoreline, he paused, taking in the vastness of the sea.

"Fuck, this thing is good and all, but I don't want to brainwash the girls. Not that there's anything wrong with that— a win is a win at the end of the day. But for me, I'd like to take the high road for now," he thought, staring out at the waves crashing against the shore. The wind tousled his hair, and for a moment, he felt free, pondering his next move with a newfound sense of responsibility.

TO BE CONTINUED