[BL] Challenge: 100 Baby in Fantasy World-Chapter 257: Trembling

Fian yanked Andine forward and practically threw her into the middle of the Class S students.

Andine stumbled, eyes wide with confusion. She could feel every pair of eyes on her. Judgmental, accusing, cold.

Even the students from other classes nearby were watching now. It wasn’t a good look for Class S, not with so many outsiders around.

Revan clenched his fists, trying hard to keep the situation from exploding, but deep down, he knew what Andine had done this time was serious.

Gara, on the other hand, stayed calm. He handed his water to Madha and gestured for Fian to come closer.

"Fian, over here. You need to drink this." He offered the leather water flask, already filled with his own water.

No one said a word, not even Miki. This wasn’t their fight.

Andine’s brows furrowed. Watching Gara hand water to Fian, seeing the quiet understanding between them, made her chest tighten painfully.

Once Gara confirmed that both Madha and Fian were free from the drug’s effects, he turned his attention to Andine.

His face was unreadable as he stepped closer, while Andine looked like someone who could barely breathe.

"What did you do, Andine?" Gara asked softly.

But to everyone else, his tone sounded icy. So unlike the Gara who used to speak gently to her.

"I—I..." Andine stammered, biting her lower lip to stop her tears.

"Why did you do it?" Gara pressed, still calm, still steady.

Her tears finally fell.

Revan could no longer hold back. He didn’t want Class S turning into a spectacle, not with the headmaster and vice headmaster watching from the stands.

This kind of public disgrace was the last thing they needed.

"Andine, giving someone a drug is a serious offense. You’re coming with me to see Professor Langga. Now." Revan reached out to take her arm.

But Andine’s expression changed, her sadness shifting into bewilderment.

"Drug? What are you talking about?" She quickly stepped back, dodging his hand.

"You’ll explain everything to Professor Langga," Revan said firmly, trying again to grab her, but she slipped away once more, quick and fluid like the sea she came from.

"I didn’t give anyone a drug!" Andine cried out, her voice trembling. "It’s true I like Fian, and maybe Gara hates that but I’ve been trying to move on! I just wanted to be friends with you all again!"

Tears streamed down her face.

Gara, Madha, and Fian exchanged puzzled glances.

"Who said Gara hates you for liking Fian?" Madha snapped, frowning.

"Of course he does! None of you wanted to talk to me after that! Gara couldn’t accept my feelings for Fian!" Andine sobbed harder. "But I swear, I’ve given up on him!"

"So that’s what this is about?" Miki blurted out, at the worst possible time.

"I know Gara despises me, maybe even looks down on me," Andine choked, "but I never wanted the other mermaids to suffer because of my feelings!"

The more she spoke, the more confused Gara became. Around them, the students began whispering, realizing there was something much deeper behind this strange feud.

"So... all those mermaid students who got isolated in class, it was because of Gara?" Jett asked bluntly, dropping a verbal bomb in the middle of the tense silence.

’What now?’ Gara groaned internally, his head pounding.

Andine’s sobs grew louder, drawing even more attention. A few academy staff members were already hurrying toward the scene.

Though Revan hadn’t expected a situation this tangled, he knew better than to let it play out in front of everyone.

"Andine, come with me and calm yourself," he said gently, guiding her away. This time, Andine didn’t resist.

Gara watched her back as she left, thoughts swirling chaotically. His hand unconsciously brushed over his stomach.

’If it weren’t for the fear that drug might harm my baby, I wouldn’t have caused such a scene. But now it seems there’s more to this than meets the eye,’ he thought.

His gaze swept across the Class S students— Miki, wide-eyed but oddly thrilled; Jett and Lysa, shaking their heads; Vania, sneering as usual; and Fian, who looked guilty and uneasy.

"Is your stomach okay?" Madha’s worried voice pulled Gara from his thoughts.

"I might go for a check-up this weekend," Gara murmured. Madha nodded quietly, his own worry reflecting in his eyes for both the man he loved and the life growing inside him.

The duels resumed, and the crowd’s attention shifted back to the arena, everyone’s but Gara’s.

Something about all this still felt off.

"Andine was saying weird things," Gara whispered to Madha. "It’s like she made up that story about me hating her. But Jett mentioned something bad really did happen to the mermaid students."

"Yeah," Madha muttered, his tone low. "This place isn’t as safe as we thought. Do you want us to leave?"

"It’s not safe, true. But if we leave, we’ll never uncover the truth. Running won’t solve anything."

Madha turned to him. "Then... you already have an idea who’s behind it?"

"More or less," Gara replied.

...

The second round of Class S duels officially ended after Vania’s match. She’d received the most challengers this time.

As arrogant as she was, at least her strength justified it. She could still hold her ground, even if it meant risking her life again by using her dangerous Talent.

Unfortunately, no cheers greeted her victory. No one waited at the edge of the arena to congratulate her.

All she saw as she stepped out were the backs of people leaving. The excitement was over for them.

Vania clenched her jaw, swallowing the sudden rush of emotion in her chest.

Her eyes roamed across the large field and stopped when they found a familiar figure, a pale-skinned young man with dark hair, walking briskly toward the academy tower.

A faint ache tugged at her heart before she even realized it.

The one she looked at, Gara, was hurrying after Agus Soren. He had planned to ask Revan’s help to speak with the vice headmaster, but Revan hadn’t returned to the back field after escorting Andine.

Regardless, Gara couldn’t miss this chance. He had to make his presence known.

"We don’t know when Sir Agus Soren will appear in public again. I need to meet him now," Gara said, determination in his voice.

"I know," Madha replied, staying close behind him, gently blocking people from bumping into Gara.

Fian did the same, silently protecting him from the crowd.

...