To Be Antagonist Girl

8:No.1 Knight

At the end of the day, the shop owner finally arrived back at the store.

　　The middle-aged woman spoke with vigor, and with a smile, she addressed the girl who had finished packing up and was about to depart,

　　"You've done a great job today, Alia."

　　Alia responded, "It's alright, Auntie, I'm just doing my part."

　　She then added, "Since I'm starting school tomorrow, I won't be able to come here anymore. Farewell, Auntie Chikada."

　　"Farewell, take care on your way home," the owner replied warmly, nodding and smiling at Alia. It was regrettable; if not for Alia's temporary employment, she would have been loathed to lose such a valuable employee.

　　With Alia's presence, the business had flourished considerably.

　　She truly was like a benevolent angel, gentle and kind...

　　A week after her departure from the flower shop, Alia officially began her studies at the School of Business at Brooklyn University.

　　Clad in a vibrant skirt and carrying a stylish bag, Alia paused at the entrance of the business school, drawing the glances of many students who admired her rare beauty.

　　Alia thought to herself, "Finally back... Brooklyn University, which has haunted my thoughts on countless sleepless nights..."

　　She composed herself, offering a comforting warm smile to all, and proceeded forward.

　　Alia vowed, "Starting here, starting today, I will reclaim everything that is rightfully mine, and no one can evade it!"

　　Naturally, someone like Alia attracts attention, and even her quiet transfer to the business school stirred up some conversations.

　　The most affected was Noah.

　　Ryan called out, "Noah... Noah?"

　　Noah: "Ah..."

　　Only after Ryan repeated his name several times did Noah snap back to reality.

　　Noah: "What's the matter?"

　　Ryan: "What's the matter?!

　　Ryan was so furious he felt like striking him.

　　Ryan: "Training, man, training! You suddenly zone out and ask me what's up?!"

　　Noah: "Ah, I..."

　　Noah's face flushed, and he stammered, unable to articulate his thoughts.

　　Ryan: "Never mind, I'm magnanimous, I won't hold it against you."

　　Ryan pouted, took a seat on a nearby bench, sipped some water, and wiped his face with a towel: "But what were you so intently staring at?"

　　Noah: "Nothing... nothing at all!"

　　Noah hastily waved his hands.

　　But Ryan had already traced Noah's previous gaze and spotted Alia.

　　Ryan: "Oh~"

　　With a knowing expression, Ryan teased Noah, elongating his tone.

　　Ryan: "So our young master has a thing for that type of girl? She looks quite striking, appearance, figure, leg shape...

　　Ah, pfft! Almost got corrupted by Cain.

　　Ryan reprimanded himself, realizing he needed to steer clear of Cain, that scoundrel.

Beyond her looks, what was most captivating about her was her aura or perhaps her demeanor, warm and inviting, drawing people in without them even realizing it, though her true nature remained a mystery.

Ryan was deep in contemplation, oblivious to the fact that Noah's cheeks had turned a subtle shade of red.

His interest in her was not due to her being a typical type of girl, but simply because he found her intriguing.

As a late addition to the class, the homeroom teacher encouraged interaction by having her introduce herself.

Upon stepping onto the stage, Alia elicited a collective gasp from the onlookers, who watched her take her seat.

Alia mused, "There's much to be done from here on out."

During the lecture, Alia's gaze followed the sparrows outside the window, lost in thought.

Contrary to her expectations, it was Ryan, not Noah, who approached her first.

Ryan, a striking blonde, blocked her path and asked with a friendly smile,

Ryan: "Are you Alia?"

Alia: "Is there something you need?"

Ryan: "Do you know Noah?"

Alia: "Noah...?"

Ryan: "Yes, the well-known handsome guy from the Business Department at Brooklyn University!"

Alia: "Ah... you mean Noah?"

Ryan: "That's right! You know him, don't you?"

Alia: "I guess you could say that."

Ryan: "Huh..."

Ryan's frown and muttered words suggested a deeper intrigue,

Ryan: "This isn't the right attitude... I overheard Noah and Cain differently, could it be unrequited love?..."

Alia, feigning ignorance, excused herself with an apologetic smile,

Alia: "I'm sorry, classmate, I have some urgent matters to attend to."

She departed swiftly, leaving Ryan behind.

Is Ryan merely a curious and gossip-loving friend, seeking the truth on his own after hearing his friend's woes?

The real drama is yet to unfold...

In the bustling teaching building, the scene of Ryan and Alia's conversation quickly became the talk of the girls.

Alia remained unfazed by the whispers around her.

Patience is key.

As anticipated, Alia found her locker vandalized in the afternoon, her books torn to shreds.

With her head down, she left the scene, her sorrow-filled back visible through her hair.

In a secluded grove, she discarded the damaged items and looked up with a smile.

Has the initiation of newcomers begun so swiftly? Yet, it's rather clumsy. Surely there's a more intelligent approach?

Compared to Kara and Olivia, these initiators are indeed lagging behind.

In a secluded area devoid of surveillance, Alia spent her time quietly on the grass, waiting until the bell signaled the end of class before she exited the school premises.

Inside the student council's meeting room, Lucas and Cain were seated opposite each other, engaged in a discussion.

Lucas inquired, "Are you suggesting that Noah has missed several training sessions to rendezvous with a girl named Alia?"

Cain confirmed with a grin, "Exactly."

Despite the seriousness of the topic, Cain's demeanor remained lighthearted.

He continued, "Noah was initially reluctant to share, but I managed to coax the truth from him."

Over the course of those days, Noah had been absent from training for five days, evading Cain's persistent questioning about his whereabouts.

Subsequently, his behavior became more guarded, yet he still took multiple days off from training.

At this pace, he risks losing his physical conditioning, making competition a distant concern.

Cain then shifted the conversation, "Thanks to Ryan, the girls at the college have become quite active."

He arched his eyebrows at Lucas, adding, "Ryan's antics have inadvertently caused Alia quite a bit of trouble. Given that she's Noah's preference, should we consider stepping in...?"

Lucas paused, deep in thought, before responding with a glint in his eyes,

"Perhaps we should observe a little longer..."

The fact that Alia managed to secure a late enrollment with the dean's special approval, had prior interactions with Noah, and even influenced him to miss basketball training—a prestigious activity at the business school—raises questions.

For leaders, skepticism is a natural response to unfamiliar situations.

The following morning, Alia's arrival at the classroom was met with a distressing sight: her desk was defaced with graffiti, and her new textbooks were mutilated beyond recognition.

She paused by her seat before quietly taking her place. The reactions of her classmates varied; some girls reveled in her misfortune, while others expressed genuine concern.

With her head bowed and her long black hair shielding her face, Alia examined the books she had retrieved from her backpack. The sight of her hidden expression only deepened the pity of those who empathized with her.

Her introduction the previous day had been marked by a radiant and innocent smile, but now, on only her second day, that warmth was nowhere to be seen.

Alia's feelings were largely unaffected by the opinions of others. She had foreseen such treatment, having previously experienced harsher conditions at the business school.

Knowing that future interactions with the basketball team were inevitable, she had prepared herself for this. She reasoned that an early confrontation might actually be beneficial.

Later, Alia discarded her ruined textbooks in a campus trash can. The covers were missing, and the name "Alia" was barely visible on the damaged title page—a name she had inscribed herself after the initial destruction, hoping to provoke a response from the day's duty officer.

The harassment persisted until the third day, when a group of streetwise girls confronted Alia. It was then that the awaited figure, Seraphina, intervened.

Alia, appearing frightened with her head lowered, was inwardly focused on the arrival of Seraphina.

Seraphina's presence was commanding: "Hey, what's going on here?!" she demanded, confronting the group.

" Seraphina..." one girl hesitantly explained, "We just wanted to teach her a lesson."

Seraphina, with a raised eyebrow and a half-smile, responded, "Teach her a lesson? Well, I'm intrigued. Explain it to me. Listen up, Alia is my friend. Anyone who dares to harm her will face my wrath!"

This was precisely what Alia had hoped for. Seraphina, known for her loyalty, would not abandon a friend.

In her past life, Alia had relied on Seraphina's support to establish herself in the business school. Seraphina's influential family and her own unwavering loyalty made her a formidable ally. Those she befriended were fiercely protected, earning her widespread respect.