Chains Of Pride

"Big brother, you're so mean!" Haru immediately ran into Kia's embrace, totally forgetting everything relating to the Shepherd and the people who weren't his brother.

He began beating Kia with his fists as he complained in the third person, "You promised Haru that you would visit him to hang out, but even after Haru waited so long."

"Well, now that's hardly fair, you have been in the company of this lady and you make it seem as if I wasn't there, hmph, how hurtful," The mysterious beauty feigned pain at Haru's words.

Kia's attention turned to her when he heard her mention his little brother, "Hey there, ah, sorry about my little brother, he must have been a handful. Thanks for keeping him company all the time, you must have been the elder sister he always talks about, name's Kia, nice to meet you." Kia held out a hand for a handshake.

Kia didn't normally offer a handshake. It came with conditions for him. One of the conditions was for him and the person he was shaking hands with needed to establish a relationship that harboured a certain amount of strength, whether the relationship was one of hate, respect, kindness, it didn't matter, a strong feeling had to be there in one way, shape, or form.

Yet, the beauty in front of him didn't take his hand. She only looked at him with the same ever-present smile she left the carrier with.

Though the smile never left her face, there was something else. Kia wasn't sure, but he thought, that just for a moment, he could see an expression of fear that quickly flashed its way across her face, as if it were never there.

"She feels off about me, it's odd when you know the reason behind it. For that reason, it feels all so trivial now." Kia smiled to himself as he took back his hand and offered her a slight bow instead.

She found his demeanour to be challenging as she nodded in acceptance.

"Okay, now I don't want to be that guy," Gero said, unable to take the lack of progress in whatever 'this' was, "But I would like for us to address the idiot in the room."

The minute he said this, everyone's heads took a sharp turn to the side as they stared at one particular person.

When Haru saw who Gero was referring to, his expression turned from one of bliss, to disgust. The beauty who accompanied him, however, finally lost the smile she wore so faithfully before.

"Ab'hig Eediatt, so what business does the disgrace of the S-Class have with Mr Kia?"

"Kia is sufficient, no need to add Mr." Kia advised.

"Sorry, I didn't know your last name and your brother refuses to tell me what it is as we-"

"That's intentional, our last name has great significance, so we had arranged for it to be privatized," He said, cutting her off.

"And the Academy agreed to that?" Her lips evinced shock at his words. She was surprised because the level of authority needed to hide something from an S-Class Digium had to be

Though S-Class could hide their info from the watchful eyes of the public, it didn't mean there

"En," she accepted this, knowing that everyone had secrets they needed to keep.

"Oi Eediatt, based on the current situation, I'm guessing that those fodders that arrived at my step yesterday was from your so-called faction, am I right?"

Surprisingly, the one who spoke was Haru, who, until earlier, was hanging onto Kia's lower waist, since that was the maximum height he could reach being as short as he was.

Kia never took Eediatt for a threat, there had been many times in the past when, on his way to becoming an A-Class Digium, he had been on the receiving end of numerous setbacks.

It was amazing how humans on a whole could come as far as they did as a people while living in a crab in a barrel society [Author note: means if I can't have it neither can you]. Since Kia was fighting on his own from day one, a fool like Ab'hig Eediatt couldn't shake him.

When the woman who accompanied Haru heard this, she couldn't help lecturing him on the situation, "So it was you then? You were the one who sent those idiots to disturb Haru's research? You know how much the Academy values his work, disturbing him carries consequences that not even you can parry!"

Even though she was giving it to him verbally, Eediatt just stood there frozen. In fact, he had stopped moving the minute Haru jumped into Kia's embrace.

"Hey are you even listening!?" she said, poking Eediatt in the head.

"… D-Did he say big brother?" Eediatt finally asked.

What kind of retard were they dealing with? Is it not normal for a person to have a younger or older sibling?

Sure one of those siblings is working on research that can compel Cendo Academy, one of the most influential superpowers in the world to call down fire and thunder upon the unlucky soul that crossed said sibling's path but still, it is normal.

"Yes Eediatt, you idiot, he is my younger brother. However, I'll tell you this, I rely on no one to take care of those that have it out for me. Now, I don't know if you targeted me because of your hate boner for Gero here-"

"Ew," Gero interrupted.

"But know this you bad name having, girly-face looking, pansy-ass, in the beginning I didn't care about becoming S-Class. I was content with doing my thing and staying out of everyone's way… but no more!"

Kia's eyes turned severe as he quickly grabbed a hand of a glove from his back pocket.

Haru and the other spectators wore funny expressions. Where the hell did he suddenly get the gloves from?

If grabbing the gloves from his back pocket wasn't enough, his next act truly stupefied every single witness here.

WHAP!

"Wha-"

On Eediatt's cheek, a bright red mark of the glove that slapped his face could clearly be seen.

His hand subconsciously reached out to c.a.r.e.s.s the spot where the mark lived. Eediatt stood there for a good minute while Kia pocketed the glove.

"D-Did you just slap me in my face with a-a glove?" Eediatt asked shakily.

��Correction, I am issuing a gentleman's challenge. Now now don't be alarmed. You may be lacking in everything that a gentleman should be, but I should have more than enough for the both of us plus two more of you."

Eediatt stood there dazed. Who was the retard in this situation? Of course it should be the red-haired idiot in front of him!

Haru stood there with stars in his eyes as he stared at the coolness that was his older brother.

Gero, on the other hand, watched with amus.e.m.e.nt in his eyes. His brow shot up so far at the scene before him, that it was forcing his hairline into a continuous retreat.

The mysterious beauty, however, was a bit shocked, "So Haru's brother was always so… eccentric?" However, she kept this thought to herself.

"As for the challenge, well, here it is. When I go back in there and finish that Armis, I'll be taking your S-Class seat…"

"Eh…"