Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 316

Chapter 316 74.3 - Suspicions

?"Well, I guess this is where we part ways," Ethan said, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Jane nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah. Thank you for spending time with me, Ethan. I really enjoyed it."

Ethan returned her smile, feeling a warmth spread through him at her words. "No, thank you, Jane. I had a great time, too."

They stood there for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence before Ethan cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I guess I'll see you around then," he said, taking a step back.

Jane nodded, her smile widening. "Definitely. Take care, Ethan."

With one final wave, Ethan turned and walked away, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. As he walked, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected friendship he had found in Jane, and he silently vowed to cherish it always.

And as he disappeared around the corner, Jane watched him go, a soft smile lingering on her lips.

'He really is different, isn't he? I had never heard someone like him from them.'

Though she didn't have that much experience with men directly, she knew how to read and surf the internet. She chatted with countless different girls online, learning from their lives. Thus, she knew people like Ethan were very rare.

'But, is this okay?'

Yet, this was the reason why she was finding it very hard to get closer to him. After all, with how things were going on her side, she knew it would be better if Ethan wasn't entangled with this mess and was focused on his own life.

'Yeah….I should keep my distance…'

Keeping the knot in her heart, she started walking, her gaze on the ground. She pulled over her hood, covering her face. There was a chance that those girls would be looking for her, so she didn't want to risk it. 'Besides, the weather is cold, so this should be fine.'

Consoling herself like that, her steps followed naturally.

As Jane walked, she made sure to stick to well-lit paths and areas with plenty of security cameras. She couldn't afford to take any risks, especially with the possibility of those girls looking for her.

Her destination was the library, her sanctuary within the academy. It was a place where she felt safe and at ease, surrounded by the familiar scent of old books and the comforting hush of whispered conversations.

As she walked, her thoughts inevitably drifted back to Ethan. Despite her efforts to keep her distance, she couldn't help but think about how sweet and genuine he was. It was rare to find someone like him, someone who made her feel understood and appreciated.

Lost in her thoughts, Jane rounded a corner and collided with someone, nearly stumbling backward from the impact.

"Oof! Sorry about that," a voice exclaimed, and Jane looked up to see a face that she was unfamiliar with.

'Hmm….'

But after a second, her gaze met with purple eyes looking at her as she remembered the moment at the entrance of the library.

'It is him…'

It was Astron, the same guy she had been talking about with Ethan earlier. He looked surprised to see her, his expression unreadable.

Jane's heart skipped a beat as she quickly composed herself, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "N-no, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention."

It was too embarrassing for her since this was the second time this had happened. She wasn't accustomed to such things, especially being in close proximity to others.

Astron nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "It is alright. But you seem to be tripping out quite a lot."

Jane lowered her gaze, feeling a pang of self-consciousness at Astron's observation. "I-I'm not usually like this," she mumbled, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Astron looked at her curiously, his expression still unreadable. "Is that so?" he replied casually.

Jane bristled at his response, interpreting it as a mocking tone. "Y-yes, it is! I mean, I'm usually posed. It's just been a bit of a hectic day, that's all."

She mentally cursed herself for stumbling over her words, feeling flustered under Astron's scrutiny. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was seeing right through her, peeling back the layers of her carefully constructed facade.

'Is that why Ethan said he is unique? He definitely feels different. What is with this gaze? It is empty!'

Astron raised an eyebrow, his purple eyes glinting with 'amusement.' "Hectic day, huh? Well, I hope it gets better for you."

'Well, maybe not.' Somehow, seeing him casually like that, she thought he may not be that bad. 'Now that looked closer, he doesn't look that scary.'

"But you are Senior Jane, right?"

Hearing her name from Astron's mouth sent a shiver down Jane's spine.

'He knows me?'

She glanced up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Y-yes, I'm Jane," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

'How does he know me? Does he know about 'that,' too? No, it can't be. He is close to Ethan….'

Astron nodded, his expression serious. "I thought so. I saw you earlier when you and Ethan entered the infirmary."

'Ah….He saw it at that time….'

Jane's heart skipped a beat at his mention of Ethan. "You did?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Astron nodded again, his gaze somehow empathetic. "Yes. You were...tattered and bruised at that time. I may not know the details, but I know what those bruises meant."

'Huh? He saw the bruises, and he knows?'

Jane's eyes widened in shock as she processed his words. "W-what do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely audible.