The Ancient Genes

'Hmmn?' Axel suddenly felt some movement around him. He was the kind to always end up in danger, even more ever since he met with Max. It was not a surprise that he would be very sensitive to his surroundings even while asleep.

Hence, when Erina woke up and tried to move, Axel immediately felt it through her hands.

'What in hell is she trying to do?' He muttered inwardly seeing her struggling to get her hands out. It was the same condition that he was in earlier.

'Well, let's see what she does. I was a gentleman and didn't wake her up. Let's see her true nature today,' He muttered inwardly with an evil smile and just sat there pretending to be asleep.

He was really finding it entertaining while watching her struggle.

Suddenly, she stopped and just laid down on her pillow while staring at Axel.

'Finally given up…well, at least she didn't wake me up, guess..not that bad..' He smiled internally and was about to get over with the act when Erina suddenly began to talk.

"I wonder what's going on back at home. The competition would be in Ocien as well. I don't wanna return…"

Axel suddenly stopped after hearing that. It had definitely made it the worse timing for him to get up.

He could feel her grip tightening on his hand.

Axel could only sigh internally. It was not that he couldn't understand her situation. With everything happening with her, she definitely would not want to go back home. It was more like hell than home.

"Only if he would do the job of a boyfriend and protect me.."

He could hear the joking voice with a little lamentation in it. There was also some expectation and hope even if it amounted to tiny bit.

'This girl sure is asking for a lot for a mere act. ' Axel's face twitched a bit. He definitely didn't want to die so he would be turning down that offer.

Suddenly, Erina went quiet for a moment.

Axel could feel her gaze on him. She was still looking at him.

The next instant, he felt her breath drawing closer and his body seemed to freeze for a second as he felt Erina extremely close to him. A bit more and it would lead to something...

Even though it wouldn't be the first time that it would happen, the last time was with the intention to save her from the poison. But, this time, Axel sure felt something else from her.

He slowly clenched his fist, and forced himself to stay calm. It sure wasn't easy to hold back for him even as an advocate of 2D girls.

Only god knew what would happen if he just opened his eyes right now.

'Calm….Calm…' He began to chant in his mind.

The sensation on her breath on his face as well as the sweet smell of her wafted Axel's nostrils. It asted for a few seconds before Erina seemed to have pulled her head away. Axel no longer felt her gaze on him as well. She most likely had turned her head away.

'That was close....' Axel was still a bit shocked, and he was definitely thrown into a chaos. He still seemed to believe he had just imagined things. But, reality was different.

He could feel that Erina's emotion seemed to be in a disarray in the current situation.

She was definitely feeling low, and seemed to have taken him as a source of support. It was just a coincidence that Axel had been here and nothing else.

'She is just confused,' He muttered inwardly with a sigh. There was nothing he could do for her.

He was sure that if he stood up now and hugged her, things might take an entirely different turn.

But, he was not that person for her.

He wasn't interested in taking advantage of someone like this. Nor did they match at any level. They were just a terrible combo.

These things still could be worked with, but there was one that couldn't be at any cost.

'Besides, she is a 3D girl....' He further sighed. No matter what, he wasn't going to change his life motto at this stage.

Erina would have never imagined that she would one day have lost herself to a 2D character. Her confidence would have definitely taken a hit if she had heard him for sure.

An hour later, Axel finally got up.

He looked at Erina who had her eyes closed, and didn't say a word before leaving.

'I think I have been getting a bit too involved with her. Maybe I should pull some distance away to let her see things clearly,' He muttered inwardly as he finally walked out of the place.

As soon as he left, Erina finally opened his eyes looking at the door, 'I wonder if he will come back..'

…

The day finally came to an end..

On the Competition's side, Arcane had scored a victory against West Gale in the first match while Zealand Academy defeated the Blue City Academy in the second round at a close call.

Both the matches were pretty interesting with one being a total domination that left people in amazement while the other was a nerve wracking one with no one knowing what was going to happen next.

"It's finally over.." Eren sighed as he led everyone back to their rooms.

"I wonder what's going on with others. They all missed the matches." Terry muttered, and it was the same thing that everyone had in mind.

But, no one had the answers for it.

Except for Lisa who had just kept it a secret.

"Even Beli didn't attend. She seemed to have got caught in some mess and missed her Express car," Rias said with a sigh. "Did someone curse us?'

It was really a thing to wonder about. From Max retiring from the competition to all this event, it indeed seems that someone was messing with them.

"Why don't we ask them when they return?" Kevin asked as he looked at everyone. He was worried about them as well.

"They will tell us if they can…you don't need to force it out of them." Riser looked at them with a calm look on his face.. He understood there were things which couldn't be mentioned.