[First Chapter For the #Gift.]

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Aria noticed Adrian's actions and her gaze landed on Reina, her eyes turning cold for some reason.

Coincidentally, Hardin and Reina parted ways, Reina's eyes searching through the cafeteria finally landing on them. With a cold smirk, she started walking toward them. While Hardin directly went to Emeric's table.

Meanwhile, Adrian was already focusing on his meal once again, his indifferent and cold demeanor returning.

"Hey, you. I want to talk with you." Reina stopped in front of their table and spoke, her voice arrogant. It sounded like she was ordering.

Though Adrian heard her, he continued eating, ignoring her. Aria smiled slightly at his antics and returned to eating as well.

Lila saw Adrian didn't care about it so she didn't care as well. Kairen was always serious anyway. So, the one who was the most troubled was none other than Ardel, who was just losing his shyness.

He glanced between Adrian and Reina who was growing impatient and angry by the second.

"Hey, I'm talking to you, why are you pretending not to hear?" Reina said loudly, secretly glancing at the attention they were receiving from the others. "Don't you know you have to respect your seniors?"

"..."

Adrian's hand paused, but only for a moment.

Seeing it, Reina nearly lost her composure and slapped him. She admitted he could somehow irritate her even without doing anything.

But that wouldn't mean she wouldn't do anything.

'You brat.'

Reina's hand rose, her intention to slam the table and demand the attention she felt she deserved. However, before her hand could connect, Adrian moved with lightning speed, catching her wrist mid-air. His grip was firm but not painful, his cold gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine.

"Stop," Adrian commanded, his voice low and deadly serious. For a moment, Reina froze, her bravado faltering under the weight of his stare. She had underestimated him, expecting the same dismissiveness he had shown before. But this Adrian was different—his eyes bore into hers with a steely resolve that made her hesitate.

The entire cafeteria seemed to hold its breath, the tension palpable. Adrian's teammates watched their expressions a mix of surprise and wariness.

Reina quickly composed herself, wrenching her hand free from Adrian's grip. She straightened, her pride wounded but her arrogance intact. "I was talking to you for a while, and you didn't reply," she said, her voice sharp and defensive. "It's rude to ignore your seniors."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, his demeanor calm but his eyes still cold. "And it's not rude to interrupt someone who's eating, huh?" he replied, his tone icy.

"...T-That..."

"Besides, I didn't hear you calling me." Adrian continued not sparing the tongue-tied senior.

"Wh-what? I called you-!"

"You only said, hey, you. Right?"

"And I have a name," Adrian interrupted. "Adrian, Adrian Lighthaven."

Reina's eyes flashed with anger, but she was momentarily taken aback by Adrian's assertiveness. The entire cafeteria seemed to be watching their exchange, the tension thick in the air.

"Adrian Lighthaven, huh?" Reina sneered, trying to regain her composure. "I know who you are. Just because you managed to put up a decent fight doesn't mean you can disrespect your seniors."

Adrian's gaze remained unyielding. "Respect is earned, not demanded."

The cafeteria buzzed with whispers, students intrigued by the confrontation. Reina's face flushed with embarrassment and anger. She opened her mouth to retort, but Aria intervened, her voice calm but firm.

"Senior, if you have something important to say, it can wait until after our meal."

"Y-You." Reina was about to lash out again when a friendly voice cut through the tension, capturing everyone's attention. "Sorry, juniors, my friend just wanted to have a conversation with her junior."

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice. Standing beside their table was Rowan, a friendly smile on his face. His presence was commanding yet approachable, instantly diffusing some of the hostility in the air.

"Rowan?" Reina's tone shifted to one of surprise and respect, her earlier arrogance melting away.

Rowan nodded, acknowledging her and then addressing Adrian's group. "Hello there, I'm Rowan. I apologize if my friend here was being a bit too assertive." His tone was polite and genuine, putting everyone at ease.

Adrian, relaxing a little, offered a slight nod. "No problem, senior Rowan."

"That's good." Rowan's smile widened. "And even though it's late, it's nice to meet you all. I've heard quite a bit about you since our recent meeting. You all did quite well back then, especially considering the odds."

Reina, standing beside Rowan, seemed to shrink a little under his calm demeanor. It was clear she held him in high regard, if not more.

Aria, noticing the shift, spoke up. "Thank you, brother Rowan. We're just trying to improve and learn from our experiences."

Rowan nodded approvingly. "That's the right attitude. As expected from Cousin Aria. Every challenge is a learning opportunity. I wanted to personally come over and commend you on your performance. Not many first-years can hold their own against us second-years.

Not to mention defeat us."

Reina, now significantly more subdued, glanced at Rowan with a mixture of admiration and something else that was harder to place. "Rowan's right," she finally said, her tone much softer. "You did well. I... might have come on a bit strong."

Adrian relaxed slightly, noticing the shift in Reina's demeanor and expression. "It's fine. We appreciate the feedback and the competition. It helps us grow."

Rowan turned to Reina, his expression gentle but firm. "See, Reina? Sometimes a softer approach works better. We're all here to learn and get stronger together."

Reina nodded, her respect for Rowan clear in her eyes. "You're right, Rowan. I'll keep that in mind."

The atmosphere lightened considerably, and the tension in the cafeteria dissipated. Rowan's presence had not only defused the situation but also bridged a gap between the first years and second years.

Rowan then turned back to Adrian's team.

"Would you mind if we joined you for lunch, don't worry it'll be my treat."

"Oh, yes, please take a seat."