The weather got hotter as the summer months began. Reiju changed into her gray gym clothes to prepare for Combat class. They were finally fighting using bladed weapons that excitement coursed through her veins.

If not for the blood she had seen with Dion yesterday, Reiju's mood would be much better.

She was agitated. It felt like the answer was staring at her face. But what is it?

Reiju took a deep breath. She grabbed her water bottle and went out, not expecting to run into the one person she wanted to avoid.

Professor Shah met her startled gaze. He was in a black and white tracksuit, standing tall and proud with his hands on his pockets. "Why are you still here?"

Reiju flinched at his sudden question. She had been so sure that he would ignore or berate her again. "Oh, that. The class hasn't started yet since Professor Clive said he was waiting--You can't mean...? Are you gonna be our teacher?"

The man shrugged and continued walking towards the gym.

"Wait!" Reiju ran and caught up with him. "Does that mean you like Kali?"

"Not really."

"What do you like then?"

He halted that caused Reiju to hold her breath as she waited for his answer. His amber eyes darkened before he spoke. "Long distance."

Reiju frowned while walked away.

Long distance?

A marksman?

"That's awesome," she muttered and trailed after her professor. There were various opinions when it came to the best method for assassination but there was no doubt that a sniper kill took the top spot. It had a high chance of success and was considered the best way to send a message.

Reiju entered the gym where a hush immediately fell as Professor Shah stood beside Clive. The girl sat on the bleachers beside Maggie but not before she caught Irina's cold gaze.

She smirked in response and listened to the two teachers in front. They demonstrated the basic moves in knife fighting before they proceeded to do a mock fight.

Professor Clive pushed down the top of his karate gi. His honed muscles were on display as he tightened his belt. "Okay! I'm ready! You should too."

A look of pure regret crossed Rohan's face. "I just said that this is a mock fight."

"A mock fight is not a thing, Rohan. Come on. Get serious!" Clive said.

Reiju chuckled as everyone focused on Professor Shah's response. Clive was like a bright sun shining ostentatiously at your face. He was impossible to ignore and a truly bad match-up for the stoic professor.

"Fine." Rohan pulled down the zipper of his hoodie, revealing the white tank top underneath. He set his jacket to the side and grabbed a training knife from the box behind them.

Reiju observed their every move, absorbing the styles they used. But her eyes eventually remained on Professor Shah. Not only because he looked sexy in a tight top but also because she had never seen him fight before.

His movements were fast and efficient. Nothing was wasted. It didn't take long for Clive's knife to fall on the gym's floor with an explosive kick.

Professor Clive Acker laughed heartily as he staggered backward. "Not serious, eh?"

The other man rolled his eyes. He turned to the students. "That's all for today's lesson. Any questions?"

Everybody knew that Professor Shah's question was rhetorical. The students who dared voiced their inquiries had been shot down with a cold gaze and Rohan's famous phrase 'Questions are for the stupid ones who didn't listen to my lesson'.

Since then, his lesson had the atmosphere of a funeral. But when did Reiju cared about that?

She raised a hand.

Maggie gasped, shooting her a scandalized look. "What are you doing?" she mouthed.

Reiju grinned as she met Professor Shah's amber eyes. "I promise sir, you can call me stupid after you hear my question."

Professor Clive cackled. A sound that reverberated in the dome-shaped building while her classmates held their breaths for the judgment from the devil.

Rohan shut his eyes for a second before he nodded at Reiju. "What's the question, Miss Tenjin?"

"Are knives much more suited to defense or offense?" she asked.

There was a wrinkle on the man's forehead. He licked his lips as his clasp on the knife tightened. Rohan Shah looked in her direction. He gestured her to come forward with a curl of his pointing finger. "Come here."

Reiju's heart pounded in anticipation as she stood up and strode towards him. He gave her a training knife before he leaned forward and gripped her shoulder with his free hand. "Just react to me."

She barely blinked when the blunt blade went for her heart.

Reiju moved on instinct. She stepped back and escaped his reach, bringing the knife down to cut the man's wrist. He smirked at her.

Confusion filled Reiju's brain that it took her a minute to realize that the professor was already speaking to the class.

"Offense and defense are both important. However, when it comes to knife fighting, defense is crucial. if Miss Tenjin decided to go for my vital points, we'd both be bleeding to death right now," he explained.

Professor Shah turned to her, guiding her hand to a defensive stance as he continued his lesson. Reiju thought hard of what to say to tease him but her mind went blank. All she could focus on was how well he spoke and how her heart lurched every time his hot skin brushed against hers. The smell of jasmine whenever he was near didn't help her concentration.

"Miss Tenjin?" he muttered, peering deep into her eyes.

Reiju shook whatever spell she was under and did whatever Professor Shah instructed her. They did three more exchanges before he was satisfied.

The man addressed the students again. "And now that you know about the pros and cons of knife fighting, you better not be an idiot and forget to apply this in real life situations. Remember, your first move may be the difference between life and death."

Professor Shah jerked her head in Reiju's direction, brown eyes sparkling with smugness. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, sir." Reiju nodded and trudged back to her spot. She felt his burning stare on her back but she was in no mood to entertain him. She let out a long sigh as she drank from her water bottle.

"You like him."

Reiju choked on her water at Maggie's sudden observation. She wiped her lips and tried to regain her composure by flicking her hair backward with a scoff. "You're wrong. He's just a distraction."

"That's all? From what I saw a minute ago, you were one second away from worshipping him." Maggie's lips twitched as she placed an arm over her shoulders. "Admit it, Rei."

"He's not my type," Reiju said, setting the bottle down.

"You slept with him," she hissed under her breath.

Reiju folded her arms as Maggie's gaze met hers. She crossed her legs and finally asked the question that could break their relationship. "How about we talk about your love life, Maggie?"

"W-what?"

"Or maybe I could ask Irina?"

Maggie blanched as understanding dawned on her face.