"How do you like it?"

"It’s quite big... there must be a lot of different sections."

They both wandered along the aisles, glancing over the shelves as they passed.

Blake wasn’t really sure why Asher would need any of these books in the first place. He was already way smarter than the average smart person. It felt a bit excessive.

At some point, they stopped in front of the novel section, the kind filled with historically relevant works, like Pride and Prejudice.

’They all sound similar to the ones I read in my past life...’

He scratched the back of his head. For some reason, it didn’t surprise him at all.

"Which one do you like the most? These literary masterpieces are incredible!"

Asher asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement. Even if science was clearly his main thing, it looked like he had other interests too.

"Mm, I like this one."

Blake pointed at a random book titled The Same Other Love. It looked like some kind of romantic drama. Even back then, he used to enjoy studying those kinds of novels at school.

"I see, you’re quite the romantic."

Blake scratched the back of his head again, blushing slightly.

"What about you?"

"Hm... The Tronilca’s Mysteries was very interesting to study."

"Ah, I remember that. We had an exam about it in December."

"It was good, right?"

Blake glanced to the side. Honestly, he had been so caught up in everything else that he barely paid attention.

"Eh, yeah. Now that I think about it, you must’ve studied it at your previous school. Was your teacher good at explaining it?"

"Um... well, yeah."

The answer wasn’t very convincing.

It wasn’t that Asher looked like he was hesitating, it was more like he looked a little sad. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Of course, Blake didn’t push it any further, but it still left him with a strange feeling.

"So," he said, breaking the silence with a smile, "if you ever need to study for hours, this is definitely the place to be."

"Yeah!" Asher nodded, smiling back.

"Now, how about we check out the second gym? It’s kind of like a backup, or just a quieter place if you don’t want crowds."

"Sounds good."

Going down all those stairs again was... honestly a bit exhausting, especially for Blake.

By the time they reached the lower level, the air felt different. Much cooler and slightly heavier, and filled with that faint rubbery scent typical of gyms.

Blake stretched his arms a little as they walked.

"Almost there," he said, glancing back at Asher.

Asher nodded, though he didn’t seem particularly tired. Of course he wasn’t, since he had to fight villains on a weekly basis.

They turned the last corner, the door to the second gym just a few steps ahead.

Blake slowed down a bit. There was something he had been meaning to ask, but didn’t really know when to bring it up.

"Hey Asher?"

"Mm?"

Blake hesitated for a second, then scratched the back of his head again. It was becoming a bad habit.

"Why did you transfer here now, anyway?"

Asher blinked at him.

"I mean," Blake continued, "it’s kind of a weird time of the year to change schools, right?"

There was a brief pause.

Asher looked at him quietly, his expression neutral at first, then softer.

"It’s just for family reasons," he said. "And, I wanted to spend more time with Anthony."

Blake stared at him for a moment.

’Yeah... no, that definitely wasn’t the whole story. Does he think he sounded convincing?’

Well, either way, it’s not like he didn’t expect him to lie.

"Ah, I see. That’s a good thing, then, since you’re even in the same class."

He nodded anyway, pretending to accept it.

Because, well, what else was he supposed to do? Call him out? Not a great idea.

Just as he was about to say something else, some voices could be heard from inside the gym.

Blake froze for a second.

’Those voices?’

They sounded familiar, annoyingly familiar.

His expression shifted, a slight frown forming.

"Wait," he muttered, stopping Asher with a hand.

Asher tilted his head.

"What is it?"

Blake didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he carefully stepped closer to the door and leaned slightly, peeking through the small window.

’Jesus, I know those guys.’

The same ones who had been beating Anthony when Blake first got involved.

Blake’s frown deepened.

And, of course, they just so happen to be talking shit about Anthony, too.

Blake pulled back slowly.

’Great. They’re insulting the hero’s cousin without a care in the world. He probably heard it as well, since he is a superhero and all.’

He rubbed his temple lightly, this was truly not ideal.

Blake honestly didn’t know what the best move here was.

Should he take Asher away?

Should he pretend nothing was happening and get in there?

He opened his mouth, ready to throw something in the air, but before he could say anything, Asher pushed the door open.

Just like that, without any warning.

Blake’s eyes widened.

’No! Are you serious right now?!’

This was exactly the kind of situation he didn’t want to deal with.

He instinctively stepped back, staying near the doorway.

’He is a hero anything, it wouldn’t be difficult to stop their attacks.’

Inside, the voices immediately stopped and, of course, the group turned toward the door.

There was a brief silence.

Then one of them scoffed.

"Oh? Look who it is."

Asher walked in calmly, his posture straight.

Blake stayed by the door, half-hidden, watching.

"Why were you talking about my cousin like that?"

Asher’s voice was steady and direct, without any hint of hesitation.

The bullies looked at each other for a moment, then smirked.

"Oh, this guy?"

"Anthony’s cousin, right?"

"Figures."

They looked Asher up and down.

And, as expected, compared to them, he did look kind of scrawny.

Blake did not underestimate him, as he was aware of his strength, but they clearly did.

’Which honestly makes sense. From their perspective, this is just another easy target.’

Blake crossed his arms slightly, watching.

’This is going to be annoying...’

One of the guys stepped forward.

"And what are you gonna do about it?"

Another laughed.

"Yeah, you gonna cry about it too?"

Blake sighed quietly.

’Classic starter pack provocation, what the hell am I even witnessing.’

Asher didn’t react immediately.

Instead, he looked at them with a calm expression.

"You’re the ones who should be ashamed."

’Ah. Here it comes.’

Blake already felt the secondhand embarrassment creeping in.

"You pick on someone weaker just to feel better about yourselves."

’Yep. Right on schedule.’

"That doesn’t make you strong... it makes you pathetic."

Blake winced slightly.

’This is so... hero-like.’

Not that it was wrong, just so unbelievably predictable.

The bullies’ expressions darkened.

But Asher kept going.

"You’re nothing but—"

He paused.

Then, with complete seriousness:

"Flies hovering around trash."

There was a short silence.

And then, Blake almost lost it.

He quickly covered his mouth, shoulders shaking slightly.

’Following that metaphor, wouldn’t Anthony be the trash?’

Blake had to physically stop himself from laughing out loud.

Unfortunately, that didn’t go unnoticed.

One of the bullies turned his head sharply.

"Hey, what’s so funny?"

Blake froze.

’Oh, come on...’

Another one squinted.

"Wait, isn’t that Anthony’s brand new friend?"

’Crap.’

Their expressions shifted from smug to irritated.

"You think this is funny, huh?"

And just like that, one of them swung at Asher pretty fast but, of course, Asher cleanly dodged.

Blake’s eyes widened slightly.

’Okay... as expected he’s pretty fast.’

The second guy jumped in.

Then the third.

And suddenly, itwasn’t just talk anymore, but a full fight.

Asher moved unsurprisingly well.

He dodged most of their attacks without much trouble.

Blake watched from the doorway, his expression tense.

’This is getting out of hand...’

He clicked his tongue. He couldn’t just stand there.

But also jumping in directly wasn’t the best idea.

Especially in his condition.

’Right... some of the teachers are still here.’

That was the smarter move: calling someone and ending this safely.

Blake turned, ready to run but, then, as he glanced back, he stopped.

All three of them were attacking at once.

Asher dodged two of them, but the third was definitely going to land.

"Hey—!"

Blake ran straight in, his head already felt a little off from the sudden movement.

’Damn it... what the hell is he even doing? You can’t hit a hero!’

Still, he reached them just in time.

He shoved the guy off Asher with what strength he had.

"Back off!"

For a split second it worked.

Smack!

The guy simply smacked his head, not even that strongly, but he still felt an unbearable pain and, the moment after, everything went blank.

His vision blurred instantly.

’Ah, right, the concussion.’

His balance gave out, and sounds became distant, muffled.

He vaguely registered someone saying something, but he couldn’t make it out.

His knees hit the floor.

And then nothing, there was only darkness.