Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 782  Chapter 181.1 - Why should I

Outside the infirmary, the evening air was crisp, carrying a faint chill that made Irina's fiery hair seem even more vibrant under the fading light. She walked alongside Astron with a spring in her step, her hands clasped behind her back as she hummed softly to herself. Her amber eyes sparkled with satisfaction, with her mood noticeably lighter. 
'That went better than expected,' she thought, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk. 'She didn't say it outright, but I could see it in her eyes—she hated every second of that.' 
Irina's steps were light, almost skipping as they moved down the cobblestone path. Her hum carried a cheery tune, and she occasionally glanced at Astron, whose expression remained unreadable, as usual. 
"Good day, isn't it?" she said, breaking the silence with a playful lilt in her voice. 
Astron raised an eyebrow, his sharp purple eyes flicking to her briefly. "You seem… unusually cheerful." 
"Why wouldn't I be?" Irina replied, her tone breezy. She spun slightly on her heel, facing him as she walked backward, her fiery hair bouncing with the motion. 
'That vexing woman didn't stand a chance. Did you see her face when I put her in her place?' 
She wanted to say it, but for some reason when she looked into Astron's eyes, she couldn't. His gaze was calm and collected, as always—a quiet steadiness that seemed immune to her energy. But something in the way his sharp purple eyes lingered felt… distant. Detached. It wasn't unusual for him to be unreadable, but this time, Irina felt a strange pang in her chest. 
'This guy… he's thinking about someone else.' 
The thought came unbidden, sharp and clear, and she couldn't shake it. She had no proof, no solid reason to believe it, but the feeling settled in her gut like a heavy stone. Her mind flashed back to the infirmary, to the way Senior Maya had looked at him—to the faint tension in his posture when she'd arrived. 
'Is he thinking about that Senior? When I'm right here?' 
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