Nicholas watched the growing chaos for a few minutes, then nodded to Sydney. With her help, he quietly put his plan into motion.
Sydney was surprised he'd already come up with something. He hadn't told her the details—just that he needed a box, some slips of paper, and her cooperation. Reluctantly, she agreed.
It took a few minutes to prepare, but once everything was ready, Nicholas stepped forward and clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"You're all too slow," he said sharply. "This isn't a field trip. We don't have all day."
Then, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "So I'm taking charge."
Groans rose from the crowd. A few glares, too.
Such adoring fans, Nicholas thought dryly.
"We'll pair off. Randomly. Efficiency over feelings." He held up the box, shaking it once for effect, then started pulling slips of paper.
He called out names, reading them with deliberate indifference. Murmurs erupted when Lillie and Average-kun were matched. A couple of people glanced at him suspiciously, but Nicholas didn't flinch.
"Wait, this doesn't feel right…" Someone muttered under their breath.
Yeah, since I cheated, Nicholas admitted internally.
He'd promised himself not to use his powers unless absolutely necessary—but this was barely a sin. Just a whisper of darkness tagged on two pieces of paper. Enough to find them quickly in the box.
Before the tension could build, the blond Nicholas stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his darker counterpart's shoulder.
"I think it's smart," he said calmly. "We've already lost too much time. Let's be more efficient, yeah? Besides, it's only for today."
His voice was smooth, diplomatic. It defused the room like a warm breeze pushing back a cold front.
The two Nicholases moved in tandem, handing out assignments and pairing off volunteers. Once the blond Nicholas backed him up, the resistance melted away.
Just as expected, Nicholas thought with a smirk. The golden boy had played his part beautifully. He glanced at Sydney, catching her gawking. He gave her a wink, then stepped back, arms folded, watching casually as the pairs began forming—particularly one specific pair.
Sera, from his class, was the most obnoxious when it came to this system; however, blond Nicholas was able to calm her down.
Then—footsteps.
He turned to see one of Tod's lackeys approaching.
"Uh… you called my name when you called out yours. So I guess we're a pair?" the boy asked, uncertain.
Nicholas tried to remember. Honestly, he'd zoned out during most of the name-calling, letting muscle memory and instinct take over.
"Brad, was it?"
"Yeah. Brad Wells."
"Nicholas Darklight," he said with deliberate pomp. "We've seen each other around thanks to Tod. Guess it's good we finally introduced ourselves. Since we're both his friends, right?"
Nicholas dialed up the smugness, layering his voice with as much false charm as he could.
"Uh-huh," Brad said flatly, clearly uninterested, already half-turned away.
Good. Hopefully, he won't be interested in talking, Nicholas thought, relaxing slightly.
"So, what are we supposed to do?" Brad asked.
Nicholas scowled. Just when he thought that issue was dealt with. Though to be fair, he was being a bit unreasonable.
"Cleaning," he replied flatly. "You can relax for now. No real point in tidying up while everyone's still here."
Once the others cleared out, it'd be much easier to clean the gym.
Nicholas turned his attention back to Lillie and Average-kun. They were setting up tables together and, surprisingly, getting along well. Average-kun seemed a bit shy, but that didn't stop Lillie from engaging him in conversation. She smiled, talked animatedly, and even laughed once. Nicholas allowed himself a small smirk.
"You interested in Little Lily?" Brad suddenly asked, standing a little too comfortably beside him, but his gaze was not on Nicholas but someone else.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Where'd you get that from? I'm just supervising." He quickly redirected his gaze, now focusing on the blond Nicholas and Ethan.
Those two weren't assigned specific roles. Instead, they were meant to float around and help whoever needed it—fitting, really. Especially for the blond Nicholas. Darklight still wasn't sure what to make of Ethan. Their last interaction in the vilzone hadn't revealed much, aside from Ethan's dad being the cop who'd arrested him after the circus incident.
Funny how fate works.
"Have you... heard that guy's story?" Brad asked, nodding toward Ethan.
Nicholas internally sighed. His attempt at being obnoxious to ward off conversation was clearly not working.
He was starting to get déjà vu—it reminded him of how Philip used to stick around, unbothered by his sharp edges.
"Ethan's? Yeah. I heard he was in a vilzone," Nicholas said curtly, hoping that would shut Brad up.
"Not just that… He was also saved by a hero," Brad added.
Nicholas snorted.
"What? It's true!" Brad defended, his voice earnest.
"The proper term is vigilante," Nicholas corrected, almost by reflex.
Brad frowned. "Man, I don't care what the media or Hank Khan call him. Unknown's a hero!"
There was passion in his voice. Sincere, unfiltered.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "What's gotten your knickers in a twist? You a fan or something?"
Brad didn't understand the phrase exactly, but he got the intent. "I— Sorry, it's just… Unknown saved my dad. How could I not be a fan?"
Nicholas blinked. "He… did?"
Brad's eyes seemed to glow with something—respect? Admiration?
"Yeah. Back during the whole circus freaks mess. My dad went alone that day, wanting to relive a bit of his childhood. I was supposed to come with him… but I bailed. Unknown saved his life."
Nicholas stared at Brad. Not in suspicion, not in mockery—but something closer to awe. His lips parted, but no words came out.
"I—" He cleared his throat. "Khm. Are you sure that's something you should be saying to someone you just met? Especially me?"
Brad shrugged, waving him off. "What happened between you and Tod stays between you two. I'm not gonna judge you for that."
Nicholas slowly nodded, trying to process what had just been shared.
Despite not winning a single meaningful battle… he had saved lives.
Dozens, maybe more.
His heart stirred, ever so slightly.
He didn't like it.
"Aren't you supposed to be, like, a bully or something?" Nicholas asked rhetorically. He just wanted to steer the conversation elsewhere—something safer, something that didn't make his chest feel weird.
"Bully? Nah. Obnoxious, class clown, stupid, lackey? Sure." Brad shrugged. He seemed painfully self-aware. There was a quiet emptiness in his eyes that Nicholas couldn't quite ignore.
It made him feel a twinge of pity.
So this time, Nicholas decided to actually engage. He kept his eyes on the rest of the gym—he was supervising, after all. Sydney hovered nearby like a ghost with a clipboard, watching from a distance.
Anytime someone wandered too close to Lillie and Average-kun, Nicholas gave a discreet signal, and Sydney would swoop in to redirect them. It was a good system.
Until it wasn't.
Sera decided to throw a wrench into everything. She made a dramatic fuss about being paired with Max—the spiky-haired guy—and not with Blond Nicholas.
Nicholas could feel the headache forming before she even finished her rant.
Backed by blond Nicholas (traitor), Sera managed to convince everyone to reorganize. They split into boys and girls and reassigned tasks… completely ignoring Nicholas Darklight and the guy beside him.
"What a pain…" Nicholas muttered under his breath.
"Tell me about it," Sydney said, suddenly beside him again.
He turned slightly toward her. "And what are you hanging around for, Miss Prez?"
Brad had wandered off, already starting to clean the gym's stands.
"Well, it wasn't so bad, right?" Sydney tilted toward him with a teasing grin. "They looked pretty cute together."
"An entire morning wasted, is what it was…" he grumbled.
She gave him a playful punch in the side. "Ow," he winced, and she wandered off again.
Nicholas tried to reclaim control over the group, but Sera shot him down every time, cutting him off before he could even speak. He rubbed his temple.
"Hm… Oi, Brad!" Nicholas waved him over.
Brad came quickly. "Yeah?"
"Earlier, when you asked if I was interested in Lillie… why'd you say that?"
Now that Nicholas thought about it, he hadn't even checked who Brad had actually been watching when he asked the question.
"Uhh—no reason." Brad fumbled, glancing away.
Nicholas followed his gaze, and his eyes widened.
Another boy was staring at Lillie—one Nicholas definitely recognized.
Tod, who seemed to be chewing gum and had cast his gaze onto Lillie.
Nicholas smacked his forehead. Of course. Now it all made sense.
So that's why Tod and his crew were here.
He wasn't just here to mess with people.
He was here for Lillie.
Which meant… he'd probably ask her out. Either before the dance. Or during.
Nicholas's gut sank.
This just got a whole lot more complicated.
Average-kun… it's not looking too great, pal.
By now, most people had already left the gymnasium. Their work was done, and classes were about to start. Only Nicholas and Brad remained, finishing up the cleanup.
Nicholas eventually waved Brad off. "You're free to go. I'll finish up here," he said. Brad didn't argue.
Nicholas just wanted a moment to think alone.
A short while later, the gym doors creaked open.
Nicholas looked up—and what a surprise—it was Lillie. She appeared to be searching for something.
He walked over. "Lost something?"
She nodded. "Yeah… I lost my bracelet. Though I'm not sure when I lost it…"
A bracelet? Nicholas couldn't recall seeing her wear one, but if she said she had, who was he to argue?
"I'll help you look. What does it look like?" he asked, though his distracted tone made it clear his mind was elsewhere.
"It's kind of pinkish, with a little raspberry icon on it!" she explained with a serious expression. Her high-pitched voice, though, made it hard to take her seriously.
Nicholas closed his eyes for a second, visualizing it, then nodded. "Alright. I'll see what I can do."
They searched the gymnasium together.
Even though classes had started, Nicholas had already been pardoned by Sydney, who told Ms. Heath he was helping clean. His grades were solid anyway—he didn't need to attend. Lillie had likely been given a similar excuse, probably under the "retrieving a lost item" clause.
Now that I think about it… isn't this our first time really interacting?
As he searched, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. What exactly is it that makes her so popular?
Boys would fall for her after one conversation. Girls instantly became her friend.
Nicholas felt neither of those things. In fact, if anything, he felt slightly repulsed. Though… that felt a bit harsh.
It wasn't that he disliked kind people—but he couldn't help but be suspicious.
Were they genuinely kind? Or were they just nice because they wanted something?
Well, it didn't really matter. Not unless it affected him.
She gives off little sister energy… Even though we're the same age. She's cute, kind of has that royalty vibe. Maybe it's because she's foreign? Is that why they all like her?
"Wah~! We still can't find it! I need to find it…" Lillie whined, visibly distressed. She looked like she might cry.
Something stirred in Nicholas. A strange protective instinct.
Ah… is that why?
Nicholas paused, thinking. He suddenly had an idea. "You checked under the tables, right?"
She nodded, sniffling.
"But I mean like… under the table. Not under the table on the floor, I mean the underside."
Lillie tilted her head, confused.
He walked over to the nearest table, lifted the cloth, and turned his head upside-down.
"…Oh. Didn't think I'd be lucky enough to find it on the first try. Ew."
He reached up and pulled something free—it was the bracelet, stuck to the underside of the table… with a piece of gum.
"You… You found it!" Her voice was filled with pure joy.
"Yeah. I'd suggest washing it first—ugh—" Nicholas grunted as he was suddenly tackled by the tiny girl.
He didn't fall over—his enhanced physique kept him upright—but he was still surprised.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou—"
"No hugs…" he muttered, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently pushing her off.
"But I want to thank you!" she said, giving him those puppy-dog eyes he knew all too well. Eyes so bright it was like looking into the sun.
He shielded his own eyes, looking away.
What am I supposed to do in this situation? I wasn't prepared for this.
"Oh!" she clapped her hands together, a bright smile lighting up her face. "You can come eat with us after school! I'll introduce you to all my friends!"
She seemed very pleased with this plan.
"Uh… sure…" Nicholas folded immediately. He couldn't say no—not with those eyes.
He thought he had built an immunity to them, thanks to his brother's constant use of the same tactic, but clearly, he still had a weakness.