Despite just awakening, Mr. Abrams was quick to react and search for Noel. However, before he ended his conversation with Borg, Noel had been busy for...

*Ta - Ta – Ta!*

13 minutes... for thirteen whole minutes Noel was running without stop.

He gasped furiously while looking around for the right door.

ANY door for that matter....

...But it was all halls! He just kept running around taking turns or reaching dead ends. This act seemed to carry on and on. His eyesight became blurry while the senses numbed. Noel held his head while wobbling a tad, due to feeling a sudden case of light-headedness.

Noel: “Why... Why does everything look the same?! Weren't there supposed to be many rooms in this place?! Then why couldn't I FIND any of them?! This makes me rethink wanting to attend here... It's almost the same... as fighting an enemy that you can't see, feel, hear or touch!

…

…

...This stupid, shitty maze!!!”

Nathan Ericson: “Ha – Ha – Ha!! I've finally found you!”

Though he didn't wan't to, Noel forced his irritated eyes to gaze at the person calling out to him, and suddenly his depressed face beamed with utter joy!

Noel: “Oh thank goodness, it's a real PERSON! Aah I thought I'd never get out of these maze – like hallways and find a living soul that can guide m-”

Nathan: “No. I can't guide you, because I'm lost too. I was so busy watching your movements and trajectory, that I forgot to pay attention to where my room was. You got me lost!”

Noel: "…”

Without another word, he turned around and started to walk away.

{Wasting my precious time. Does he want me to sign an autograph or something? I don't need to entertain somebody else that's lost.}

Nathan: “Hey. Hey – Hey! What did you think about my win? I left a giant hole in the ENTIRE pathway I came from! Not even that 'Sonic Speed' whatever came close to my time~”

Noel: “Oh, yeah. I saw that. You must be proud of yourself, huh? It was fast, I guess. Now if you'll excuse--”

*Fwoosh!*

Nathan stomped on the ground and with a crash, vanished while leaving a trail-blaze of flames.

Nathan: “Don't you fuck with me, Malierano. If you hadn't come to this school, I wouldn't have been brought here! Do you have ANY idea how many babes I-”

*Vwish!*

His fist glittered bright gold, before he sent a fist colliding into...!!

...air.

Noel simply vanished from where he was standing.

With excessive perspiration beginning to form: wholly unnatural to a one second dash, Nathan's brain attempted parlously to process his 'target's possible routes. He looked to each of his sides, beneath his boot – printed sneakers and suddenly, as if realizing something incredibly ingenious – looked directly above himself. It couldn't be, right? As his gaze scanned all possible routes for his prey to escape from him, they immediately locked onto the ceiling overhead where a ventilation shaft was quite aptly positioned. Impossible! He couldn't have... escaped through the vents could he? But there was never even a single sound throughout his disappearance! Surely, a metal shaft would make noise as it was being opened and closed... right?

Noel: “I said you were fast, but that's all. Did you honestly believe that level of speed was enough to handle a Malierano?"

Concurrently, while deeply focused on his own thoughts, he heard an uncaring, yet slightly immature voice: one which held such a mocking undertone that any soft-spoken words seemed to carry equal levels of contempt. And although they were softly spoken, the verbal jab echoed loudly in this quiet, lacking-in-presence hall. Yet, the words themselves weren't what triggered Nathan. Rather, it was the very voice itself appearing directly behind him that sent chills down his spine.

.

.

How is this possible?

As they passed each other – Nathan didn't see anything at all.

Nor did he feel the faintest trace of wind brushing his golden locks up.

The smoke being blown away wasn't noticed either: He only stood, motionless, unreacting to the younger adversary's quip.

Nathan could only form a single thought in his mind: How did he get behind me?

Following that thought, came shame. And that sense of shame as he recalled his stupidly ignorant glee, that embarrassment, infuriated him to the depths of his ingrained pride.

In a bout to confirm his fears, he twisted his body 180 degrees. However, by the time he managed to turn around – Noel was already a mile and a half away nonchalantly deciding on which way to turn, left or right.

Noel: “Hmmm, now which way to turn~ there are two paths I could choose from... Ahhh, so frustrating!”

His fist clenched in anger.

Noel: “Haah. I guess I'll go with the left. I mean why not, since I can just come back here later and take the right. Jeez, I wish a bathroom would just appear before me.”

With his back turned, Noel looked very much like a helpless little lamb about to be slaughtered.

The golden-haired teen pounced forth like an enraged lion thirsting for blood.

Nathan: “I refuse...I refuse to accept it! How can Malierano scum be faster than me?! NOBODY in this school is faster than I am!! NOBODY!!”

His fist glowed a bright golden hue. And as he swung dangerously close to the back of Noel's head...

Mr. Abrams: “Be careful with your words. This school's pretty big.”

…

Borg: “*Munch* *Munch* I wonder if that Houdini managed to give them a whooping, hahaha. *Munches* I should hurry and figure this ring thing out so I can use it to check up on---”

*BAM!*

Without warning, a golden light coated fist came crashing into his right cheek out of seemingly thin air!

Suffice to say, his snack was sent flying.

Nathan: “Hm? What the h---!!”

Borg: “...him. Aha...hahaha....haha! I'll take it this is that bastard's way of telling me to 'deal with my family's rookie myself'?”

Nathan: “...*Sweats profusely* (What have I just-)

Un...Uncle? You... didn't perhaps, heheh...bring me here, did - did you?”

Borg: “...very well, hahaha. I will – I'll use him to vent my anger for causing this mess, and getting himself caught!

- Nathan, Is this your way of challenging me? Because I'm more than willing if that's what you're asking of me.”

Nathan: “N-No! No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no, NO sir! Not-uh, never never! This was all an accident! A mistake, I didn't mean to hit-”

Borg: “Oh? Then exactly who were you aiming for?”

Nathan...Ma-Malierano-- ah! That's right!! Uncle, I was trying to punch a Malierano scum!”

Borg: “So now I look like Malierano Scum? Haha...hahahahaha! You despicable bastard-”

Aeron: “Eugh, that's what I would like to say. How dare you call the amazing Malieranos a family that looks as ugly as this man. Shame on you, you brat.”

*Fwoosh*

Nathan: “*Shivers* Huh? Wh-What just--”

Borg: “Ignore it. feeding him attention is exactly what he wants. The less of it you give out, the better everyone will be.

Yes.

Just breathe... and ignore.

.

.

.

More importantly – you just earned yourself multiple rounds!

Let's step outside for a bit, Nathan. I have some pointers I know you're just dying to receive from me. Especially after that poorly thrown punch.”

Nathan: “Wha-? No, wait! Wai- no, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! HEL-HELP!! Aaaah~”

*Whoosh!*

…

Mr. Abrams: “(Glad I came on time) Noel, what was that about?”

Noel: “Hello Mr. Abrams have you finished admiring your hand?”

Mr. Abrams: “...Yes. I spent over 16 minutes to...admire my hand. Speak! Why did you sneak out of the room and rendezvous with this boy? Were you really planning on fighting that Ericson?”

Noel: “Rende-- How DARE you imply that I intentionally met up with that golden lightbulb! Didn't Oliviera tell you?! I was searching for the bathroom!”

{I wished for a BATHROOM to appear: not a nagging teacher.}

Mr. Abrams: “Hmph! How old do you think I am? Such a childish excuse would never-”

Noel: “It isn't an excuse or anything like that! I just really have to go!”

Mr. Abrams: “Haaah. Okay, let's pretend that I believe you. Then, how were you planning on making it to the 'bathroom' without even knowing where one was located?”

Noel: “...I... I assumed I could find it.”

Mr. Abrams: “...Really? That's the best follow-up you've got?”

Noel: “...FINE, okay? I thought I could ask Ian for a map since he seems to specialize in these sort of things, but then I remembered he's probably farther away from me than a bathroom is and I ended up just getting lost! Happy?”

Mr. Abrams: “No.(He's not admitting it. I'll need to take note of this stubbornness.) You're seriously lucky that I came on time. If you had fought here, then the walls and floors would have immediately reacted to the vibrations from your brawl and ensnared both of you. The runes would then have shown security what they recorded and soon, the entire school would find a strange little non-combatant in detention for fighting an elite 'Hero'.

Now let's go back to the room!”

---