Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 65: Group Test

The void orb disappeared while leaving nothing but stunned silence in the club room. Nobody moved or breathed. They all just stared at Yor’s hand like they’d seen something impossible.

Then Alice shattered the moment.

She launched herself across the room, and her arms spread wide. "Yor!"

Yor flinched while her whole body went rigid and her eyes squeezed shut like she was bracing for impact. For the inevitable draining that always came when someone touched her.

Alice’s arms wrapped around her in a crushing hug.

Seconds passed while Yor’s eyes remained closed and her breathing shallow. Reinhard smiled as he knew she was waiting for something to happen, but nothing did.

Alice’s emotions didn’t drain, nor was Yor reacting badly.

Yor’s eyes snapped open in shock. "It really works... My power isn’t acting up against Alice at all." Her voice was barely a whisper.

But it was filled with wonder and disbelief, like she still couldn’t accept this was real, even with proof literally hugging her.

Reinhard chuckled while watching the stunned expressions on Sirin, Rika, and Louis’s faces. They stood frozen while their minds clearly struggled to process what they were seeing.

"Well?" Reinhard asked with a raised brow. "What are you guys waiting for? Go give her a hug. I know you-"

He didn’t even finish the sentence before all three launched themselves forward.

Sirin reached Yor first while wrapping arms around both her and Alice. Rika crashed into them from the side while tears were already streaming down her face. Louis joined last, while his longer arms somehow managed to encompass everyone. They formed a tangled mass of limbs and bodies while crushing Yor in the middle.

She made a small, surprised sound that turned into something between a laugh and a sob.

"You’re going to be alright!" Alice said while her voice muffled against Yor’s shoulder.

"You can finally control your power!" Rika added while squeezing tighter.

"You don’t have to be afraid anymore," Sirin said while her usual composed tone cracked slightly.

"We can finally show you how much we care without worrying," Louis finished while his voice thickened.

"And we have enough proof to stop you from being punished harshly at the trial!" Alice pulled back just enough to grin.

They stayed like that while the group hug lasted long enough for Yor to stop trembling and start actually hugging back. Her arms came around whoever she could reach while her face buried against someone’s shoulder, and her whole body relaxing into the contact she’d been denied for years.

Reinhard nodded before his expression turned serious. "So how will we actually use this at the trial?"

Sirin stepped back while wiping her eyes quickly and her professional mask snapping into place. "First, we need a thorough understanding of what Yor can do with her power now. If she really has full control, then we can use that as our main evidence."

Reinhard held his chin. "We should make absolutely sure Yor can’t have those episodes anymore. That’s what they’ll question hardest."

He turned his gaze to Yor while the others gave her space. "The Void said you were listening in when I talked to Doctor Adam, right?"

Yor slowly nodded, and her expression became guarded. "I heard what you guys said about me stealing part of your lifespan and-"

"It doesn’t," Reinhard interrupted while shaking his head firmly. "My body makes it impossible for your abilities to affect me. Adam was just guessing when he said that part, but he had no actual proof."

Yor’s eyes went wide while her mouth opened, and the others blinked in surprise. She sighed in relief while her shoulders dropped and a smile spread across her face. "That’s good. I was so worried about that."

But Reinhard’s expression stayed serious. "You also heard the part about your control becoming unstable the happier you get?"

The room’s atmosphere shifted, and everyone went still.

Rika’s eyes widened. "What?"

Louis furrowed his brows. "Her happiness makes her power worse?"

Alice and Sirin exchanged troubled looks while clearly understanding the horrible irony of that situation.

Yor rubbed her shoulder while looking down. "When I heard Adam say that, I denied it at first. But it would explain how I lost control so easily with those three people in the mall."

"Speaking of the mall," Sirin said while stepping forward with her notebook appearing from nowhere. "What actually happened there? We still don’t have your side of the story."

Yor opened her mouth while hesitating, and Reinhard spoke up. "I’m guessing the three people confronting you were the siblings of the third-years whose emotions you accidentally took?"

"How did you know?" Yor asked eyes widened.

"I heard a few words before you erupted," Reinhard explained. "Enough to piece it together."

Yor sighed while nodding. "They came to ask me about what happened to their siblings. About why they’re emotionless shells now. And I couldn’t give them an answer that satisfied them."

"Which must have made them angry," Rika said softly.

"Which led to them antagonizing and insulting you," Sirin added while her expression darkened.

Reinhard tilted his head. "And also insulting us, right? I heard you scream that we were your friends."

Yor trembled while her hands were clenching. "Yeah. I got so angry when they started saying terrible things about you guys. Saying you guys only saw me as a pity case, a tragic story to be fixed. And that I would break you all just like I did others before. And I just... lost it."

Oh? That feels a bit nice... It has been a long time since he had people standing up for him. But experiencing once more felt nice.

"Don’t worry about it. I’m happy you tried to stand up for us and got angry on our behalf."

Rika nodded enthusiastically. "Any of us would have gotten angry in the same situation! They had no right to say those things!"

Louis laughed, the sound breaking some of the tension. "I’m a bit surprised, though. I wish I’d been there to see protective Yor."

Alice grinned while bouncing slightly. "Right? Oh, I wanted to see Yor’s angry face! I bet it was terrifying!"

Yor’s lips twitched, and then she actually laughed. The sound was light and genuine, nothing like the restrained noises she’d made before.

Sirin shook her head with amusement before raising one hand. "Alright, since we have the full story about what happened, let’s focus on testing Yor’s limits properly."

Everyone nodded while their expressions shifted to determination.

"What kind of tests?" Yor asked while nervous energy returned.

"Everything," Sirin said while her eyes gleamed with curiosity. "We need to see if you can maintain control under different emotional states. Happy, sad, angry, scared. All of it."

They spent the next hour pushing Yor through various trials. Reinhard asked her to summon her void while experiencing each emotion.

Alice told jokes while trying to make her laugh uncontrollably. Yor giggled and grinned while her void power stayed completely stable. The void ball she created didn’t break or disperse; it still kept the same shape.

Rika shared a sad story about a historical tragedy while watching for any slips. Yor’s eyes teared up while her expression went melancholic, but her power remained dormant and controlled.

Louis deliberately said something insulting about her sword technique while baiting her temper. Yor’s face flushed while her hands clenched and her voice rose to defend herself, but still nothing exploded.

They made her sprint until exhausted while testing if physical fatigue affected control. She panted and sweated while the void orb stayed steady in her palm.

Sirin had her maintain the orb for extended periods while documenting how long she could hold it. Fifteen minutes passed while Yor was showing no signs of strain or loss of control. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Try getting really happy," Alice suggested while grinning. "Like, think about your favorite memory."

Yor closed her eyes while her expression softened and a smile spread across her face. The void orb pulsed slightly while growing by an inch, but then immediately stabilized.

"What were you thinking about?" Rika asked curiously.

"Everything," Yor said simply while opening her eyes. "All of this. Being able to touch people again, and having friends who came to save me. I haven’t felt so hopeful in so long."

The room went quiet while everyone absorbed those words.

Sirin closed her notebook with a decisive snap. "The results are clear. Yor has full control over her void power across all emotional states we tested. This is exactly what we need."

"So we can win the trial?" Rika asked with a hopeful look.

"We can definitely win," Sirin confirmed while her smile turned confident. "With this evidence, the professors have no legitimate argument left."

Alice pumped her fist. "Yes! We actually have a chance!"

Louis leaned against the wall. "When’s the next part of the trial scheduled?"

"Tomorrow morning," Sirin said. "Ten o’clock. In the main auditorium."

The celebration dimmed slightly while reality set in. That tomorrow was their one chance to prove Yor’s control in front of the entire faculty.

"We should practice what Yor will demonstrate," Reinhard suggested while his mind was already working through possibilities. "Make it clear and undeniable."

"Agreed," Sirin said while opening her notebook again. "We need a presentation that shows both control and the healing capability, if possible."

"Wait," Yor said while her voice was uncertain. "What if I mess up? What if the pressure makes me lose control in front of everyone?"

The question hung in the air while nobody had an immediate answer because that fear was legitimate. Performing under pressure was different from controlled testing with friends.

"Then we’ll be right there with you," Reinhard said as he gently squeezed her hand. "If something goes wrong, we handle it together."

Yor smiles and nodded.

The group continued planning their strategy for the trial tomorrow. But none of them noticed the figure watching through the partially open door. A student with a communication crystal pressed to their ear while whispering urgently.

"Yes, I’m sure. She can control her power now. They’re planning a demonstration tomorrow."

A pause while listening.

"Understood. I’ll make sure the right people know. This changes everything."

The figure disappeared while leaving the door slightly ajar.