Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 746 - 170.3 - Attention

Irina was recently in a really good mood. 
Her and Astron's trip to the city had its share of interruptions, but ultimately, it served as an unexpectedly fruitful experience for both of them. Despite the unforeseen dangers and confrontations, Irina found herself reflecting on the significance of these events as they returned to the academy. 
The journey back to the academy settled into a comforting rhythm, with Irina quietly reflecting on the unexpected twists of their recent trip. Despite the interruptions, she found herself strangely satisfied. 'It wasn't what I planned, but it wasn't bad either,' she thought, her gaze resting on the sprawling academy grounds coming into view. 
Upon their arrival, the academy was its usual bustling self. Familiar faces passed them by, some pausing to greet Irina with respect or curiosity. Her circle—Julia, Ethan, and the others—quickly caught up with her, bringing news of their own experiences and projects over the break. Yet, amid the familiarity of their interactions, Irina's mind kept drifting back to Astron. Spending an entire week with him had been enlightening in ways she hadn't anticipated. 
'A whole week,' she mused, glancing sideways at him as they walked to class. He was as calm and steady as always, seemingly unfazed by the chaos that had punctuated their trip. But Irina knew better now. 'There's no way he'll ever get rid of me now. Not after this.' The thought brought a smirk to her lips, a small spark of triumph warming her chest. 
But her mood quickly soured the moment they stepped into the classroom. There they were—those so-called admirers, buzzing around Astron like moths drawn to his unique presence. Irina's fiery gaze darkened as she watched the scene unfold, a flicker of annoyance sparking to life within her. 'What are they doing?' she wondered, her irritation growing with every lingering glance and coy smile sent his way. 
One of them, a petite girl with soft curls, leaned a little too close to Astron as she asked a question. Another laughed a little too loudly at something he'd said. Irina's smirk faded, replaced by a thin line of displeasure as her arms crossed over her chest. 
'Seriously? Now?' she thought, the corners of her lips twitching downward. 'We just got back, and they're already acting like this?' 
Astron, to his credit, didn't seem particularly affected. His responses were measured, and his demeanor was polite but detached. Still, the scene grated on Irina's nerves. She didn't like the way they lingered around him, like opportunists circling for a chance. 
Irina's amber eyes narrowed as she observed the scene unfolding in the classroom. The way the girls fluttered around Astron, their overly bright smiles and exaggerated giggles, grated on her nerves. One even leaned forward, asking in a syrupy tone, "Astron, are you seeing anyone?" 
The ripple of laughter and hushed murmurs that followed that bold question pushed her irritation to its limit. Irina crossed her arms tightly, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. 'What the hell are they doing?' she thought, her annoyance bubbling dangerously close to the surface. 'Some of them even did their makeup before coming here! Seriously?' 
Astron's reaction—or lack thereof—only added fuel to her simmering frustration. He answered with his usual composed demeanor, entirely unbothered by the attention. Yet, that very detachment seemed to draw them in even more, as if his calm mystique was an irresistible challenge. 
When one of the girls, a petite brunette with soft curls, leaned in a little too close, Irina's patience snapped. She uncrossed her arms and stepped forward, her presence radiating an unmistakable heat that silenced the surrounding chatter. The subtle warmth she emanated quickly escalated, making the atmosphere in the room distinctly uncomfortable. 
"Excuse me," she said, her tone deceptively sweet but with a clear edge of warning. The room went quiet, all eyes turning toward her. "Did I miss the announcement that this classroom was hosting auditions for desperate groupies?" 
A collective gasp rippled through the group. The petite brunette, now visibly flustered, stumbled back a step. Irina's fiery gaze swept over the lingering admirers, her lips curving into a sharp smirk. 
Astron turned his head slightly, his sharp purple eyes meeting hers. There was no surprise in his expression—just a faint, knowing flicker of amusement. 
"You know," Irina continued, her tone dripping with false sweetness, "if you're going to fawn over someone, maybe don't do it in a way that's so... obvious." Her smirk widened, and the heat around her spiked momentarily. "It's almost embarrassing to watch." 
The moment Irina's words left her lips, the room fell into an almost deafening silence. The petite brunette's eyes widened in shock, and several of the other girls exchanged uneasy glances. But the initial surprise quickly gave way to something sharper—a flash of indignation glinting in their gazes. 
'Does this bitch think she's above us just because she's Irina Emberheart?' one of them thought bitterly, her hands curling into fists at her sides. 
Another cast a fleeting glare at Irina, though she didn't dare voice her thoughts. 'Heh… that's why people always prefer Seraphine over you. Even your so-called friends only tolerate you because of your family.' 
The murmurs and whispers that had filled the room earlier evaporated into a tense, charged atmosphere. The girls didn't speak out—none of them dared—but their expressions betrayed the thoughts simmering beneath the surface. It was clear they resented the insult, but they knew better than to challenge Irina directly. Her fiery reputation wasn't just for show, and no one in their right mind wanted to risk becoming the target of her wrath. 
Irina didn't miss the flickers of anger in their eyes, but she didn't care. If anything, it fueled her satisfaction. Her smirk widened, her confidence radiating as she took a step closer to Astron. 
"Come with me," she said, her tone firm and leaving no room for argument. 
Astron blinked, his sharp purple eyes meeting hers. "What?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with faint curiosity. 
"I said, come with me," she repeated, her fiery gaze unwavering. Her tone wasn't demanding, but it carried a weight that made it clear she wasn't in the mood to explain herself. 
Astron tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable as he studied her for a moment. He seemed to be weighing her words, perhaps trying to decipher the reason behind her sudden command. Finally, without a word, he stood and gathered his things, his movements as composed as ever. 
"All right," he said simply, his calm acceptance only adding to the tension in the room. 
The girls' expressions darkened further, a mix of frustration and disbelief flashing across their faces as they watched Astron comply so easily. He didn't question her, didn't hesitate—he just followed her lead, leaving them behind without so much as a glance. 
Irina didn't spare the group another look as she turned and walked toward the door, her head held high. The heat radiating from her earlier simmered down, but the confidence in her stride left no doubt about who was in control. Astron followed a step behind her, his calm presence a stark contrast to the lingering tension in the classroom. 
As they exited, the murmurs began to creep back into the room, hushed whispers and exchanged glances filling the silence left in their wake. 
One of the girls crossed her arms, her jaw tight as she muttered under her breath, "She thinks she owns him or something." 
Another nodded, her voice low and laced with bitterness. "Of course she does. Typical Emberheart." 
Back in the hallway, Astron's curiosity finally got the better of him. "Mind telling me what that was about?" he asked, his tone neutral but edged with faint amusement. 
Irina glanced at him, her amber eyes glinting as she smirked. "I didn't feel like watching that circus any longer. And you didn't seem like you were enjoying it either." 
Astron's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. "Fair enough," he said, his voice calm. "Though I have to admit, that was… decisive. Are you sure about that? Things will no longer stay hidden anymore." 
Irina's smirk deepened as she glanced over her shoulder at Astron. The amber glow in her eyes carried a mix of determination and fire. "Now that we've already caused a commotion at the Stellamare Museum, things were bound to escalate," she said, her tone calm but edged with steel. "Our involvement won't stay hidden. It's only a matter of time before everyone here learns about it." 
Astron's sharp purple eyes studied her, his expression unreadable as always. "I see," he said quietly, the weight of her words sinking in. "Then you've already accepted it." 
"Of course," Irina replied, stopping in her tracks and turning to face him fully. Her fiery hair swayed slightly as she fixed him with a determined gaze. "Why should I hold back? They'll find out eventually. When they do, I'd rather it be on my terms, not through half-baked rumors." 
Astron tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. "And what does that mean?" 
Irina's smirk returned, but this time it carried a faint edge of mischief. "It means," she said, stepping closer, her voice dropping slightly, "you better be prepared." 
Irina stepped closer, the fiery confidence in her amber eyes shining brighter as she reached out. Her fingers brushed against the edge of Astron's collar, a light, deliberate touch that sent a faint jolt through the charged atmosphere between them. 
"Because," she said softly, her voice carrying a playful edge, "I will not really hold back." 
Astron's sharp purple eyes flickered with subtle amusement, though his expression remained composed. Before he could respond, however, a loud voice rang out, shattering the moment. 
"OOOOH! What is this?" 
The unmistakable, teasing tone of Julia echoed through the hallway, and Irina froze, her eyes widening slightly. In an instant, she stepped back, her hand dropping to her side as she straightened her posture, her expression returning to one of calm composure. 
Julia approached, her sharp blue eyes gleaming with mischief as she smirked at the two of them. "Well, well," she drawled, her hands on her hips. "Am I interrupting something? You two looked pretty cozy there for a moment." 
Irina crossed her arms, her fiery hair shifting slightly as she shot Julia a glare. "Nothing was happening," she said firmly, her tone carrying a slight edge. "You're imagining things." 
'Heh…..' 
But the faint smile on her face was unmistakable…. 
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