Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 740

Chapter 740 168.4 - Jealousy

Sylvie's gaze shifted to Irina almost instinctively, her unease giving way to a different kind of curiosity. The faint pinkish hue she saw radiating from Irina's emotional palette caught her off guard. It was a color she had never associated with the Emberheart prodigy before-soft, warm, and utterly at odds with Irina's usual intensity.

'What... is that?"

Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt as she noticed Irina's expression. She was smiling -subtle, almost imperceptible, but undeniably there. And she wasn't smiling at Julia or the others. Her focus was entirely on Astron.

'No way... 'Sylvie's chest tightened, her earlier unease replaced by a strange, twisting sensation she couldn't name.

From her vantage point, Sylvie could hear Julia's voice breaking through the crowd's hushed whispers.

"Wait, wait, wait," Julia said, her tone teasing but sharp with suspicion. "Irina, don't tell me... you knew?"

The rest of the group turned toward Irina, their curiosity immediately piqued. Ethan, Carl, Lilia, and Lucas all fixed her with questioning stares, but Irina didn't flinch under the scrutiny. Her composure was as steady as ever, the faint smile lingering on her lips.

"Knew what?" Irina replied, her tone even, though there was a slight upward lilt in her voice that betrayed her.

Julia's eyes lit up like a predator sensing weakness. "Oh, you totally knew about this, didn't you? About him-" she gestured dramatically toward Astron, still standing near the stage with his unreadable demeanor. "You met him during the break, didn't you?" Sylvie's heart thudded painfully in her chest as she listened, her attention darting between Irina and Astron. Julia's accusation hung in the air like a challenge, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though Irina might deny it. But then...

"Yes," Irina said simply, her tone calm and deliberate. "We met during the break." The admission left the group momentarily stunned, Julia included. Sylvie's breath hitched as she watched Irina, her emerald eyes steady and unyielding.

"Wait, that's it? You're just admitting it?" Julia finally asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Irina shrugged lightly, crossing her arms. "Why wouldn't I? Is it wrong for us to meet?"

The casual response only seemed to fuel Julia's curiosity. She leaned in closer, her expression mischievous. "Okay, but now you have to spill. How did this happen? Was it planned? Or was it one of those 'fate brought us together' moments?"

Irina didn't answer immediately, and Sylvie caught the faintest flicker of amusement in her eyes before she replied, "No comment."

Julia gawked at her, her jaw dropping dramatically. "No comment? Oh, come on, Irina! You're killing me here."

Lilia chuckled softly, her voice carrying a note of amusement. "Irina's being unusually tight-lipped. That's got to mean something happened."

"Exactly!" Julia exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Irina. "You don't just meet Astron-this Astron-and not have a story to tell."

Despite the playful interrogation, Irina remained composed, her faint smile never wavering. But to Sylvic, it was that same smile-the one directed at Astron moments ago that lingered in her mind. The pinkish hue in Irina's palette, the softness in her expression, the way her gaze seemed to linger on him longer than it should...

'Irina... what's going on with you?' Sylvie thought, her unease deepening. For all the changes she had seen in Astron, it was Irina's reaction to him that unsettled her the

most.

Sylvie's chest tightened as her gaze remained fixed on Irina. That pink hue, soft and warm, yet so vivid it almost overwhelmed her senses-it wasn't a color she was accustomed to seeing. In fact, she had rarely seen it at all, especially not radiating so strongly from someone like Irina.

"This isn't just any emotion.'

The realization settled over her, heavy and undeniable. Pink, in her understanding of emotions, symbolized one thing above all else. Love.

And it wasn't faint, either. The intensity of it, the way it swirled and rippled through Irina's aura like a steady flame, spoke volumes. This wasn't some fleeting infatuation or mild admiration. No, this was something deeper, something far more profound. It wasn't just love-it was intense, unwavering, and consuming.

Sylvie felt a lump form in her throat as her thoughts began to race. Her [Authority] didn't allow her to pinpoint who those feelings were directed toward-only the raw presence of the emotion itself. But she didn't need to know. Not right now.

Because the thought of guessing... of assuming...

'No. Don't.' She clenched her hands against the strap of her bag, willing herself to look away, but her eyes refused to obey. Irina's gaze was still on Astron, and that faint, almost imperceptible smile hadn't wavered.

Sylvie's heartbeat quickened as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. It

can't be. It doesn't mean anything. Just because she's looking at him doesn't mean-' But her thoughts faltered as Julia's teasing voice broke through again. "Come on, Irina," Julia pressed, her grin widening as she leaned in conspiratorially. "You can't just drop a bomb like that and then act all mysterious. You met him during the break, so spill! What happened? Did he save you from some epic disaster? Or- wait!" Her eyes gleamed mischievously. "Don't tell me... is this some kind of star-crossed romance thing?"

Irina turned her gaze from Astron to Julia, her expression steady but faintly amused. "You have a very active imagination, Julia," she said, her tone light but measured. "But no, there's no grand story to tell."

"Uh-huh," Julia replied, clearly unconvinced. "And what's with that smile, then? You're acting like you know something we don't."