Clover High

Chapter 6

Black Bulls' Open House

Noelle took a deep breath as she stood in front of the Black Bulls' building. It wasn't a grand academy structure like the Silver Eagles headquarters. Instead, it looked more like a repurposed warehouse there was loud music thumping from inside. From the outside, the place had a chaotic charm, but Noelle felt out of place already. She had tried to fix the "mix-up" in the school office earlier that morning, only to be met with sympathetic shrugs and a polite, "The system can't be changed after assignments are finalized."

So, here she was. No going back now.

As she opened the door, the noise hit her like a truck—shouts, laughter, clattering, and what sounded like someone revving a motorcycle. A thick cloud of smoke greeted her first, followed by a large man lounging on a beaten-up couch in the lobby.

Yami Sukehiro, the captain of the Black Bulls, sat with his feet up on a table, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he scrolled through his phone. He glanced up lazily when he noticed her standing there.

"You the new kid?" Yami asked, voice gruff but casual.

Noelle straightened up. "Uh, yeah. I'm Noelle Silva. I... well, I was supposed to be in the Silver Eagles, but something went wrong, and now I—"

Yami raised a hand to stop her mid-explanation. "Don't care. You're here now, so make yourself at home. You'll figure it out." He waved a hand toward the ruckus in the other room. "Meet the crew."

Before Noelle could protest, a tall guy with long, white hair and a big, goofy grin burst through the door. His name tag read Finral.

"Hey, Yami, someone dared me to—oh!" Finral stopped when he saw Noelle. "Wow, a new face! I'm Finral. You're... from the Silver Eagles? That's, uh, different."

Noelle sighed. "Yeah, I know."

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the hallway, followed by an exasperated voice. "Finral! Quit flirting and help clean up the mess Luck made!"

Finral rolled his eyes but winked at Noelle. "Duty calls. See you around!"

As Noelle stepped further inside, she realized the place had a certain chaotic energy but not in a bad way. It was lively, unlike the strict, perfectionist atmosphere she had been preparing for at the Silver Eagles. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

A small figure zipped past her, nearly knocking her over. "Oh, sorry!" A hyperactive guy named Luck grinned at her. He was wearing rollerblades indoors, clearly trying to race through the corridors. "Are you new? Cool! Wanna race?"

"No, thanks," Noelle replied, barely managing a smile as she tried to process everything.

From the corner of the room, she spotted a large guy eating what looked like an entire pizza by himself. His name tag said Magna. He gave her a thumbs up with his free hand while continuing to shovel food into his mouth.

"Welcome to the team!" he called out through a mouthful of cheese.

Noelle just blinked. She had never seen anything like this in her life. Yet, somehow, it didn't feel completely terrible.

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Meanwhile, at School – After Hours

Nozel sat in his empty classroom, the only light coming from his desk lamp. He had been staring at the same page in his textbook for the past ten minutes, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Noelle and the Black Bulls. How could this have happened? Noelle was a Silva, for heaven's sake! His younger sister couldn't possibly fit in with that undisciplined group of delinquents.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Just as he was about to give up and leave, the door to his classroom creaked open.

"Mind if I come in?" Dorothy Unsworth's voice floated into the room, light and playful as always.

Nozel glanced up, blinking in surprise. Dorothy was a fellow teacher, known for her laid-back attitude and slightly eccentric personality. She sauntered into the room, shutting the door behind her. She leaned against his desk, grinning at him.

"You look like you're going to burst a blood vessel," Dorothy teased. "What's going on?"

Nozel leaned back in his chair, clearly frustrated. "It's Noelle. She got assigned to the Black Bulls."

Dorothy raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Oh? Isn't that Asta's squad?"

Nozel shot her a look. "Yes, but that's not the point. She belongs in the Silver Eagles. How could this have happened?"

Dorothy chuckled and perched herself on the edge of his desk, her knee brushing against his arm. "Maybe the universe decided she needed a little excitement in her life. A little fun never hurt anyone, you know?"

Nozel groaned, resting his forehead in his hand. "This isn't about fun, Dorothy. It's about responsibility. Discipline. The Black Bulls are a mess. Noelle... she deserves better."

Dorothy tilted her head, giving him a playful smile. "Are you sure this isn't about you feeling like she doesn't like you?"

Nozel stiffened at that, his frown deepening. "I don't care about that."

She let out a soft laugh, clearly not believing him. "Come on, Nozel. It's obvious she looks up to you, even if she doesn't show it all the time. But maybe—just maybe—you've been a little too... harsh?"

Nozel looked away, grumbling. "I'm not harsh. I'm just... trying to protect her."

Dorothy leaned in, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Protecting her by barking orders all the time? Classic brother move. Have you tried, I don't know, talking to her like a human being?"

Nozel shot her a sharp look, but Dorothy's teasing smile didn't waver. In fact, she moved even closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Maybe Noelle needs to see the fun side of you. Do you even have a fun side, Nozel?"

He shifted uncomfortably, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I have more important things to worry about than... fun."

Dorothy giggled, lightly poking him in the chest. "Lighten up, Mr. Perfect. Trust me, Noelle's going to be fine. You might even see her thrive in a place that's a little less... buttoned-up."

Nozel crossed his arms, still stubborn. "I just don't want her to get the wrong idea. That I'm... disappointed."

Dorothy leaned in, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. "I think you're more worried about her thinking you're boring." She gave a dramatic sigh, her hand brushing his shoulder. "It's okay, Nozel. I still think you're interesting."

Nozel blinked, suddenly at a loss for words as Dorothy stood up and stretched, her laughter ringing through the empty classroom. She turned to leave but paused at the door, giving him a final playful glance over her shoulder.

"Seriously, though. Give her some space. She'll figure it out, and so will you. And if you ever need to vent again... you know where to find me."

As she walked out, Nozel sat back in his chair, feeling more confused than ever. Maybe Dorothy was right...