April twirled her fork between her fingers, processing everything.
So their Leader and Ragnarök's Leader knew each other, but no one knew how or why.
That didn't sit right with her.
"You're telling me no one has ever asked him?" she pressed, head scanning the pack.
Kai smirked. "Oh, people have asked. Just not twice."
April's eyebrows narrowed. "What, he just ignores you?"
Dante chuckled. "Nah. It's worse. He just looks at you."
April's previously narrowed eyebrows rose slightly.
Dante leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"Have you ever had a guy stare straight through you like he already knows your soul? Like he's already decided you're not worth answering?"
April went silent.
She could imagine it.
A man so sure of himself, so above explanations, that the weight of his gaze alone made you drop the subject.
Jax finally spoke. "Leader doesn't waste words. If he hasn't told you, it's because he doesn't want you guy's to know." He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.
"Maybe it's to protect you guys. Maybe it's because it doesn't matter to our mission. Either way, if you want answers, you'll have to earn them."
April exhaled slowly.
So that was it.
If she wanted to know, she had to prove herself.
She tapped her fingers against the table, then smirked. "Fine by me."
Kai grinned. "Figures you'd say that."
Dante stretched. "Alright, enough talk about the Leader's mysterious past. And let's focus on the terrifying present." He pointed his fork at April.
"Namely, you."
One of April's eyebrows narrowed. "Me?"
Saya nodded. "You unlocked your Ultima's instincts Mode—a.k.a your Partial TakeOver Mode and with it, your G-Force. That means you're one step closer to breaking your next barrier."
April leaned forward, intrigued. "Yeah… Ultima told me that would only happen during a battle of life and death."
Then her mind caught up with what Saya had said.
"Wait—what? I unlocked my G-Force? When did that happen?" she exclaimed.
The team exchanged knowing looks before Saya spoke again.
"During your fight with Jax. The energy you were releasing then? That was G-Force."
April's eyebrows narrowed.
"Okay, you gave me a basic idea of what G-Force is before, but I still don't fully understand it. If my Gear is powered by stamina, then what exactly is G-Force energy? And what's it actually used for?"
Saya let out a sigh. "If you want a full explanation, you'll have to hear it from the Leader himself. Like we said before, to get that kind of information, you need to earn his respect first. So… any more questions?"
April paused, taking in Saya's words. She turned her attention to Jax, who responded with a subtle gesture—zipping his lips shut.
Understanding the message, April lowered her head with a sigh of defeat.
Jax broke the silence. "Alright, moving on. A life-or-death battle, huh? That means we need to start preparing you. Because your next real fight… it might be the one that decides everything."
April smirked. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Kai laughed. "Damn. You're always ready to throw hands."
Dante grinned. "No complaints here."
Jax stood up. "Finish eating. After that—training starts now."
April exhaled.
This was it.
If she wanted to earn her answers—if she wanted to be ready for whatever was coming—she had to push further than she ever had before.
And she would.
—
WestGate High:
Monday dragged on, and by the time lunch arrived, April was already predicting some sort of nonsense.
Sure enough, as she entered the cafeteria, the air felt charged—students whispering, eyes darting toward her, subtle smirks exchanged between cliques.
April didn't need enhanced senses to know Tessa Lane had done something.
She calmly grabbed her tray and made her way to an empty table. Michelangelo appeared a moment later, dropping into the seat across from her.
He sighed. "You're trending again."
April didn't even look up. "Let me guess—Tessa?"
"Obviously." He leaned back, crossing his arms. "She's spreading something about you cheating on a mystery boyfriend."
April paused mid-bite. "…What?"
Mickey smirked. "Yep. Apparently, you've been 'leading on' some poor guy and toying with his feelings."
April let out a slow breath. "Does this poor guy have a name?"
"Nope. That's the genius of it. It's all vague—no proof, no real details. Just enough to make people talk."
April set her fork down. "And you're telling me this because…?"
Mickey shrugged. "I find it entertaining."
April shook her head. "I don't even talk to people."
"Exactly. Which is why this is so funny."
April rested her chin on her hand. "And people are actually buying this?"
Mickey grinned. "Oh, they want to. It's Tessa. She has influence." He tapped his fingers against the table. "She's smart. She doesn't need people to believe it—she just needs them to wonder."
April exhaled through her nose. "Annoying."
Mickey snorted. "Welcome to highschool."
April considered her options. She could ignore it, let it die out… but where was the fun in that?
A slow smirk curled her lips.
"Mickey," she said smoothly.
He raised a brow. "Yeah?"
"Feel like playing a game?"
His grin widened. "I love games."
April leaned in slightly. "Good. Let's make Tessa regret starting this one."
Mickey's laugh was low and amused. "Oh, this I gotta see."
April just smiled.
Tessa wanted a game?
Fine.
Let's play.
April didn't need to retaliate immediately.
No, she knew the best way to deal with someone like Tessa was to control the narrative.
If Tessa's strategy was to make people wonder about April's nonexistent love life, then April would do something worse—she'd make people question Tessa's credibility.
And the best way to do that?
Confusion.
So when the final period ended and students began filing out of classrooms, April deliberately waited.
She knew Tessa was watching—she was always watching.
Mickey walked past her near the lockers, hands in his pockets. "So, what's the move?"
April's lips barely moved as she responded, "You'll see."
And then she did the simplest thing.
She smiled.
Not just her usual smirk, not the subtle curve of amusement—this was a gentle, sweet, almost affectionate smile.
And she directed it at Mickey.
He raised a brow but played along, tilting his head as if they were sharing some inside joke.
A few students saw. A few more turned.
April then shifted slightly toward him, as if engaged in an intimate conversation. She even brushed a strand of hair behind her ear—deliberate, precise, calculated.
Tessa Lane, standing near the entrance with her usual group of followers molly, rose, Dina, and some extras froze.
April caught the brief flicker of confusion in Tessa's expression before she masked it with an unimpressed scoff. But it was too late.
Whispers started.
Mickey, to his credit, didn't burst out laughing. Instead, he leaned against the lockers, playing along effortlessly.
"Subtle," he murmured.
April's voice was light. "I know."
By the time she walked past Tessa, the Queen Bee's expression had tightened just a little. Not enough for anyone else to notice—but April did.
"Checkmate," she playfully whispered.