"Hey, man, it was just a joke. There is no need to get offended by it," Jason said, even though he could not help but chuckle whenever he looked at Rin's face.
"To you, it may be a joke, Jason, but to others, this could warrant some serious BTS. But in the end, fortunately, you are not a threat nor someone I need to take seriously," Rin smiled as he glanced at Jason, who instantly stopped laughing and gazed at Rin sternly.
"You know, Rin, while you may be stronger than me; strength doesn't mean everything for friendship can be as powerful as personal strength. And I have an impressive and extensive friend group if I may so say, considering while I may be weak… my strength doesn't come from me. But the powerful connections I've made over the years." Jason said with a sneer as both he and Rin stopped in the middle of the pathway to the auditorium.
"Is that a threat, Jason?" I asked lightly as tension began to build between us, causing the students around us to stop briefly and see what was happening.
***
Meanwhile, on the ledge of a nearby building, two upperclassmen could be seen sitting next to each other...
"Hmm, just what do we have here, Samuel?" One of the upperclassmen said with curiosity as he nudged his best friend, who was engrossed in a game before pointing at Rin and Jason.
"Huh? What happened, Matthew?" Samuel asked as he looked up briefly at what Matthew was pointing at. 'Is that Rin Kurma and Jason Drummond? When did those too start having issues? Welp, while interesting... sadly, they are not more important than defeating the dungeon boss of the 65th floor of Tide Variance.'
"Hey, aren't you at least curious about what could have led to this altercation, Samuel? Or at least, the possible repercussions that may follow it?" Matthew asked with hope before Samuel could unpause his game, even though he knew his friend could care less about such things.
"Matthew, while their situation does invoke curiosity within me... sadly, it isn't as important as the rewards I'm about to receive from this floor boss," Samuel replied as he glanced at Jason and Rin again before resuming his game.
"Tsk, why can't you at least entertain me, for a few minutes?" Matthew complained with a pout as Samuel ignored him and continued playing Tide Variance.
Before having to pause it once again since he could see that Matthew was about to throw a fit.
"Sigh, now Matthew, before you throw a tantrum like a baby who had their pacifier stolen; the reason why, I don't want to entertain your antics is because it would be a waste of my time, and you don't know when to stop talking. Plus, it would lead to me having to finish this battle another day, Matthew."
Samuel sighed as he closed the game and jumped down from the building, landing softly on the ground and walking toward the auditorium to escape Matthew.
"Hey, wait up, Samuel, don't leave without me! And that is not true, and you know it!" Mathew shouted from the roof of the building as he scrambled to get his things, so he could catch up with Samuel who entered the auditorium swiftly and found somewhere to sit.
"Sigh, just why is it so hard to finish a game in peace and in one play-through," Samuel muttered with frustration as he sat down even though a smile could be seen on his face.
***
A few minutes earlier before Samuel jumped down and entered the auditorium...
"It depends on how you view it, Rin, however, what I can tell you is that you do not want to make me an enemy out of me. For I can promise you, your life will be a living hell until the day you die and see the Grim Reaper's ugly face."
"Well, then Jason, it seems we will just have to see whose fist is bigger in the end! For you surely you won't be the one having the last laugh, pal," Rin chuckled before continuing, "So it was nice meeting you, Jason, but I think something you should learn is that some people just aren't afraid of death and betting it all on one shot."
"Tsk, we'll see about that, Mister All-Knowing," Jason muttered with a glint in his eye as he watched Rin disappear into the crowd.
Sometime later...
Following the Vice President's announcement, it was finally time for the Project X briefing a training camp that will start in a week and last three months. During this, the world's gaze will be focused on the strongest individuals of the younger generation.
From royalty to commoners, however, while their backgrounds and experiences may be different, only one person can acquire the title of the strongest youngster within Multiverse Z. Nevertheless, even though this was a training camp, it was also the fire that would set off a war that would span the past, present, and future.
"Silence!" The Vice President, Calvin, shouted as he appeared on the podium like a phantom, "Thank you! So, with the recent battles that commenced during the first period of all classes, we have made a preliminary list of the students who will attend Project X as representatives of FB. And with that could, Ms. Serene, please display the list of students who have been chosen as representatives for our school."
"It's my pleasure," Ms. Serene, the head of the teaching department, smiled as she clicked the tablet in her hands a few times. Causing a list of names to appear before everyone:
[First-year students nominated: Rin Kurama, Wendell Stone, Ghost, Ethan Davis, and Maze Kurama]
[Second-year students nominated: Christina Von Hall, Sofia Frost, Jimmy Joe, Alvin Falcon, and Isabella Sky]
[Third-year students nominated: Felicia Humming, Matthew Manhattan, Samuel Core, Jason Drummond, and Jinx]
[Fourth-year students nominated: Smith Winchester, David Go, Matt Joe, Hannah Cock, and Ana B. South]