Looking at Kiko's face, it wouldn't be surprising if he suddenly went and bit Yman. Bob thought so. He was about to step forward but stopped on his feet when Kiko chuckled.

"..."

Yman was wondering how Kiko could act shamelessly.

"Kuku, good to see you again, my friend," he said while spreading his arms open. "Really, I did not expect that you would come back. Most of us thought that you have already transferred to a normal university. But it seems we are all wrong huh."

"..."

While Kiko was talking like a dork, Yman, on the other hand, felt ashamed in his stead. Deep inside, Yman was wondering if this Kiko turned abnormal after a month of training. This guy looked so pitiful that he was having a second thought as to whether to end him or not.

Did this guy haven't noticed that he acted so embarrassing just now? Yman wondered. Regardless, he had no time to deal with Kiko. He could also feel how plastic this person was. He acted friendly in front of other people while he was barely hiding his killing intent.

Yman had no idea why this Kiko treating him like he was someone who did a grave sin towards him. In fact, it was he who did a fault towards him. Before, he was afraid to face him. But, not now.

Even if he lost, he had already succeeded in his mission of healing his sister. So he had no regrets now whatever was going to happen with him.

"Back off…"

Yman said in a cold voice. His eyes were fixed on Kiko's eyes. 

"Wha—!"

Kiko was taken aback. Never he expected such a reply from this toad in front of him. He expected him to try to find ways to divert the talk. Or to indirectly attack him using his words. Kiko knew that Yman was capable of defeating him in words.

But his main reason that he acted in front of this person was, he purposely wanted this person to provoke him. So that, the other trainee could testify for him if ever he did an exaggeration in their fight later on. Yeah, he wasn't planning to end their fight without giving this person so much pain.

Though he wasn't sure if the two of them would come to face each other in the arena. After all, there were many strong trainees, especially those in the elite class.

Not only Kiko was stunned.

And everyone has had their mouths gaped in disbelief upon hearing his words. The time seemed to have stopped on them.

Even Bob and the others did not expect such a reply from Yman. But, Bob likes it. However, would it be fine for Yman to provoke Kiko? It wasn't like his usual way.

Bob and the other's view on Yman were capable of a calm decision. He wasn't the type who provoked his enemy blatantly.

That's why they were slightly surprised at his reply to Kiko.

"What did you say?" Kiko's tone immediately turned cold.

"Yman bro!" Bob called out and stepped in the middle. "Back off Kiko!" He said. Bob felt a bad intent coming from Kiko.

"Go away, Gorilla." Anger was noticeable in Kiko's commanding voice. Although Bob was in front of him, his eyes were fixed on the person at the back of Bob.

Even though Bob knew that he had no chance of winning against Kiko, he remained on his feet. He had no plan to step aside. He could not let this bully do something bad to his friend!

Kiko's friends were sneering at them.

"Uh, Y-Yman, let's get going?!"

Chloe stepped beside him and urged him to go. Chloe felt the situation wasn't good. It was clear that Kiko was getting provoked already. It's a matter of time before he did something bad.

However, contrary to their expectations, Yman did not move. Or did not leave. Bob felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Heh, don't get too cocky, Kiko. No one's afraid of you."

They all heard a scoff from Yman. Then he further provoked him. 

Kiko widened his eyes in anger. On the contrary, the person he hated the most had a smug on his face.

Kiko could not understand this person. But it wasn't important anymore, he clearly stepped on his land mine. 'Hehehe,' Kiko chuckled inwardly. He was too annoyed by this person. He got on his nerves.

This toad, he would be going to kill him in this competition! After all, it was Kiko's main reason. He wanted this toad to provoke him! And yes, he did it!

Now, there's no need to hold back. He would be going to defeat him in a more painful way.

"Tttooooaaadd!!!" Kiko's raspy, cold voice as he called out on Yman. His bloodshot eyes were clearly stating that he was so mad by now.

However, while Kiko was so angry at Yman's reply, Yman himself was chuckling at his reaction.

Aside from Bob and Chloe, everyone was wondering why Yman felt so proud of himself. They originally thought that he changed a lot and he looked more mature than before. But looks like they were wrong.

This guy probably felt so proud after defeating Bruno. He had no idea that Kiko was far stronger than Bruno.

If he thought that he could win against Kiko, everyone around them wanted to laugh at this thought.

Kiko was deemed as the strongest male trainee in the academy. Contrary to him, this person, although something about him had changed from before, it wasn't to the point that he could defeat the natural-born strong person like Kiko, never! Everyone thought so.

Most of the trainees around were shaking their heads.

Why did Miss Almina choose this self-indulging person over a charming prince like Kiko? They could not understand and they could not believe it.

Yman felt that just a little more and Kiko's fuse would be turned on. He was about to open his mouth when Almina and her group suddenly arrived.

"Hey, what are you guys doing—! Eh?!"

"Y-Y-Yman?!"

Almina exclaimed stammeringly upon seeing who was in the middle of the crowd. Her face instantly turned red.

Yman sighed.

Then greeted her.

"Hello, Miss Almina," He said and smiled.

Kiko showed a bitter expression. "Almina, if I were you, I wouldn't talk to this guy!" He said as he pointed at Yman.

"Eh-uh… erm…"

While Kiko was telling something, Almina's mind was already blank. She failed to hear Kiko's words.

"Hey! What did you do?" Kesha was the one who asked and looked at him. But he disregarded it and acted like he didn't hear her. In truth, he had no time to waste for Kiko and his crew, and also for this bitter girl.

Yman turned around, but he stopped and glanced behind. "Let's go, Bob!" He said then continued walking inside. "Eh! Wait, bro!" Chloe and Bob followed after him.

"Wait! Yman!" Suddenly they heard Almina's call.

He stopped and looked behind him. "Mhm?!" 

Not only him, everyone had stopped and looked at her. 

"C-can I come too…" she asked shyly.

"Mhm!" He nodded.

Almina smiled and ran towards him.

Seeing Almina running towards that person, Kiko felt a bothering pain. "Wait, Almina!" He called out, out of reflex.

Almina stopped at the sudden call and glanced to where the voice came from.

"Uh? What's the problem Kiko Sun?"

She asked.

"That guy…" Kiko gritted his teeth.

Almina blinked his eyes while frowning. 

"Don't go with him!" He shouted.

"???"

She wondered why Kiko said it.

"Uhm, is there a problem, Kiko Sun?"

"That, person, he is not suitable for someone like you!"

"?!!"

Almina could not follow up on what he wanted to say.

"What do you mean by it?" She asked with knitted brows but her face was as red as rose.

Kiko clenched his teeth. He knew that if he wouldn't do something, everything that he dreamed of would be gone for naught.

"I-I like you from the start, please be my girlfriend!"

And so, he said it. He said the word that could not be taken back. It wasn't on his plan. But he felt like he needed to say it. 

Everyone fell silent. Almina and the others were included. Even Yman himself gawked. Suddenly, he remembered that there was gossip about Almina, being in love with Kiko. He forgot about it after going to the empire. Well, it wasn't like he was interested in it.

Ah, it must be the reason why Kiko came to face him.

Actually, he was still wondering why Almina did it that time. Wasn't she supposed to be in love with Kiko?!

It probably was the reason that Kiko came to him this time. He believed that it was the case.

Regardless, what was this out of the blue confessions? Yman asked himself.

The other trainees around them were blushing, especially the girls. Kiko's crew was grinning victoriously.

Kesha was conflicted, she wanted to cheer him, but she felt sad at the same time.

Maena was surprised as well. but she wondered why she wanted Amulet to accept the guy's love towards her.

Wait! Isn't it too embarrassing to say your feelings in front of everyone? Looks like this Kiko was a commendable person.

On the other hand,

Maena thought and glanced at Yman. She wondered what his expression was like. Wait, why would she want to know his expression by the way? 

The other girls giggled and thought that Almina and Kiko Sun were more suited than that other person. Some of Almina's party members wanted her to accept Kiko's love. And some were just meh.

Everyone was waiting for her reply.