The white butterfly tango

Chapter XXI

"Do you know where Hannes headed to? I saw him going somewhere with a girl?" Both Heth and Esma continued to sit at the canteen. Mostly, because as the first years they had no classes before the tournament. Sora disappeared somewhere with Anna and so did some of the students that didn't really like the atmosphere that built up in there.

"That was Sky. Their second person to participate for the first time." Esma explained it quickly as they were already familiar with that name.

"Really?" Heth got a bit surprised of why Hannes would be interested in that girl.

"They wanted to take a nap before the tournament, I think..." She then explained it and only then realized how stupid it sounded. Esma turned red and glanced at the confused boy.

"Wait, you really believed that?" Heth chuckled in disbelief and leaned back in his chair, unable to proceed with it all.

"Well, Hannes does sleep a lot-" She tried to escape the situation but then realized that her tries were terrible.

"He is trying to find out their power before the tournament. Esma, he does our tactics." The boy with a mullet spoke up again and smiled sincerely. At least he wasn't as sad as before. Maybe it was like Kermit once said. Someone has to be a funny disappointment.

"That makes so much sense..." Esma continued her speech but was just as embarrassed as before. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to handle her emotions as well as the buff third year.

"Mike ran away too?" the boy then leaned onto the table, giving the girl a curious look.

"He was just uncomfortable. I wanted to help him at least a bit." She answered sincerely and smiled a bit, knowing precisely, how happy Mike ought to have been.

"So, tell me... if you were to pick your way of losing. Would you prefer to be taken down in front of everyone or without anyone noticing?" Already two familiar bullies entered their field of vision and didn't look friendly at all. Heth was ready to speak up but Esma interrupted him, jumping onto them faster.

"I'm not going down easily. Prepare yourself for that... Both of you." She frowned and spoke confidently. The boy with a mullet, however, noticed how easily she turned pale again.

"Brave move. Only completely useless." James smirked, noticing that as well and knowing precisely what a big coward that girl with dark olive hair really was.

"Don't scare her away, James. We will have fun during the tournament." Otto shook his hand and chuckled sincerely, making the girl practically faint. Heth just sat there and frowned. He knew it was better to lay as low as possible. How on Earth she was able to find so many enemies during lunchtime?

"Esma. A quick word." Yuuwa Hayama appeared behind the girl who now looked like her own butterflies: white and extremely scared. She grabbed her by the collar of her blazer and pulled the girl outside.

"Okay." Esma didn't resist it, only was super surprised by the strength, the girl had in her hands as was able to easily pull another person, practically dragging her fully behind herself.

"Heth, mister Willburn wanted to see us." Kotaro appeared there as well but only chuckled to see Esma desperately trying to stand up as his sister pulled her outside.

"Sure." Heth was trying not to laugh as well but soon they both disappear.

Yuuwa let go of Esma only when they arrived at the hall. She had a dancing lesson in here but now the room was much brighter as had sun shining through the big windows.

"Thank you for saving my ass up there." The girl with olive hair sighed and fixed her blazer.

"If you were to pretend to be brave, at least control yourself. You were paler than the sheet of paper." Yuuwa sat on the floor, crossing both legs, and then pointed Esma to do the same. She was serious and just too cool to handle.