Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Irina acted before she could overthink it. In one swift motion, she stood, pushing Astron back into his chair with just enough force to make him sit down without resistance. Before he could respond, she moved deliberately, settling herself onto his lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her hand held her cup firmly, and her posture was poised-but the faint flush on her cheeks betrayed her internal

Turmoil.

Astron blinked, his sharp purple eyes widening slightly in genuine confusion. For a moment, he seemed completely thrown off, his calm composure slipping in the face of her unexpected action.

"What happened... out of nowhere?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with

Bewilderment. He tilted his head, his gaze narrowing slightly as if trying to decipher her intentions. "What are you doing, Irina?"

The sight of his confusion-a rare, almost unprecedented expression-sent a flicker of satisfaction through her. He always acted like he was in control, always the calm and collected one. But with her, he seemed to falter, to break that perfect mask of composure.

Irina took a sip from her cup, pointedly ignoring his question as she steadied herself. The warmth of his lap beneath her sent a fresh wave of heat to her cheeks, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she looked down at him, her fiery red eyes gleaming with a mixture of challenge and something softer, more vulnerable.

"You're always so composed," she said finally, her tone quiet but deliberate. "Always so calm, as if nothing fazes you. But with me..." She trailed off, letting her words hang in the air as she watched his reaction.

Astron's lips parted slightly, but he didn't respond immediately. His confusion was still evident, but there was something else in his expression now-curiosity, perhaps, or even intrigue. He remained still beneath her, his sharp gaze never leaving hers. "Why?" she continued, leaning closer. Her voice dropped to a softer tone, her eyes narrowing as she searched his face. "Why is it that you always seem so unshaken, yet whenever it's me, you look like you don't know what to do?"

Astron exhaled softly, his composure slowly returning as he leaned back slightly, his hands resting lightly on the arms of the chair. "You're unpredictable," he said simply, his voice calm but carrying a hint of amusement. "And unpredictable people tend to catch me off guard."

Irina's eyes narrowed at his answer, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Is that all?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Astron's gaze softened slightly, the faintest curve of a smile playing at his lips. "Maybe,"

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He said, his tone teasing yet thoughtful. "Or maybe it's because you're... different."

Astron's smile faded slightly, his expression growing more thoughtful. He met her gaze, his purple eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "I don't know."

But what a way to kill the mood.

"Don't evade it. How different?"

Irina's fiery gaze didn't waver as she leaned slightly closer, her fingers idly wandering along the fabric of Astron's shirt. With her other hand, she brought her cup to her lips, sipping her tea slowly, her expression unrelenting. She wasn't about to let him off the hook. řâNՕВΕŝ

Astron's purple eyes narrowed slightly, his lips twitching as if suppressing a smirk. "Different is just different," he said finally, his tone light but evasive. "Does it need a definition?"

"Yes," Irina replied without hesitation, her tone sharp and unyielding. "I want you to say it. How am I different?"

His gaze met hers, steady but guarded. He didn't answer immediately, and she could feel his hesitation like a tangible weight in the air. But she wasn't about to let him slip away. Her fingers moved deliberately, tracing a light path along his chest before curling slightly against the fabric, her touch both playful and challenging.

"Say it," she pressed, her voice soft but insistent.

Astron's lips parted as if to respond, but he hesitated, his purple eyes flicking briefly to her hand before returning to her face. The arm supporting her back shifted slightly, his touch firm but not restraining, as though grounding her in her perch.

"Say it," she repeated, a faint smirk tugging at her lips now as she felt the faintest stir of triumph. She could feel his discomfort, his usual calm composure wavering under her persistence.

His voice, when he finally spoke, was quiet but deliberate. "You're... infuriating." Irina's brow furrowed, and she leaned in even closer, her fiery hair brushing against. his cheek. "Not an answer," she shot back, her voice laced with mock irritation. "Try

Again."

Astron exhaled slowly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth now. "You don't make it easy."

"Good," she said, her tone smug. "I don't plan to."

She shifted slightly in his lap, testing the comfort of his legs beneath her. To her satisfaction, they were steady and perfectly supportive, just like his arm against her back. It felt almost too natural, the way she fit there as if his presence had been tailored to accommodate her.

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Her gaze softened, though the intensity didn't leave her voice. "So, Astron. How am I different?" She took another sip of her tea, her fingers resuming their wandering path as if daring him to evade her again.

Astron's eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite place-a mix of exasperation, amusement, and something deeper. His hand on her back pressed slightly, steadying her balance as he leaned forward, his lips mere inches from hers.

"You're the only one," he said finally, his voice low but firm, "who makes me feel like I'm losing control."

Irina froze, her breath catching at his words. The weight of his statement hung in the air, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fall away. Her fingers stilled against his chest, her tea forgotten as her mind raced to process what he'd just said. "Control?" she repeated, her voice softer now, almost disbelieving. Astron's smirk faded, his expression turning serious as he met her gaze. "You push me," he said quietly, his purple eyes steady and unflinching. "In ways no one else does. You make me question things I thought I had figured out. You... unsettle me."

Irina's heart pounded in her chest, her fiery resolve flickering in the face of his rare vulnerability. For once, she didn't have a sharp retort, her usual confidence giving way to a quiet, unspoken understanding.

But she wasn't about to let him have the last word.

"Well," she said finally, a faint smirk returning to her lips as she leaned closer, her voice teasing. "It's about time someone shook you up."

Astron didn't reply immediately, his gaze steady as he studied her, his sharp purple eyes betraying nothing. Irina was about to press him further when she noticed a subtle shift in his expression. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and before she could react, his hand moved with precision.

A sudden, sharp pinch on her side.

"Ah!" Irina squealed, her voice breaking into a laugh as she instinctively squirmed, her

Body jerking in surprise. "What are you-stop that!"

Astron's lips quirked into a faint smirk, his calm demeanor cracking just enough to

Show a flicker of amusement. "You seemed too comfortable," he said smoothly, as if his actions were entirely justified.

Irina's fiery red eyes widened as she twisted in his lap, trying to avoid his hand while maintaining her balance. "Comfortable?!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with both

Indignation and laughter. "You-bastard!"

Another pinch, this time lighter but perfectly aimed. Irina laughed again, her defenses crumbling as the ticklish sensation took over. Her movements became frantic, her tea

Cup now abandoned on the table as she pushed at his chest, trying to create some

Distance.

"Stop it!" she demanded between breaths, though her laughter betrayed her enjoyment of the moment. "I swear if you do that again-"

Astron raised an eyebrow, his mouth's curls growing slightly. "If I do what?" he asked

Innocently, his tone infuriatingly calm.

Irina's cheeks flushed as she glared at him, her laughter fading into a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "You know what!" she snapped, though the lingering smile on her lips softened her words.

"Do I?" he replied, his fingers hovering playfully near her side again.

Her hand shot out, grabbing his wrist in a firm grip. "Try me," she said, her voice low

But tinged with amusement.

"Try me?" he echoed, his tone carrying an unmistakable challenge. Without hesitation, his right hand darted toward her side again.

Irina was ready this time-or so she thought. Her hands shot up to intercept his, but Astron's movements were infuriatingly precise. His left hand caught hers mid-air, holding it firmly in place, while his right hand feinted toward the same side she was

Defending.

For a moment, she felt victorious. 'Gotcha!' she thought.

But then, in a fluid motion, Astron switched tactics. His right hand veered unexpectedly, reaching for her opposite side. His fingers found their mark, delivering

A perfectly timed pinch.

"Ah!" Irina squealed, her body jerking in response as a fresh wave of laughter burst from her lips. "You-stop it!" she gasped, squirming in his lap as she tried to twist away

From him.

The sudden movement threw her off balance, and for a moment, she felt herself

Tipping. Her heart skipped a beat as she instinctively clutched at him, her hands

Grasping his shirt for stability.

But Astron was faster.

His arm moved swiftly, wrapping around her waist to steady her. His grip was firm yet

Gentle, pulling her back securely against him. Their laughter faded as the moment

Shifted, the playful chaos giving way to a quiet stillness.

Irina's breath hitched as she found herself face to face with him, their gazes locking. Her fiery red eyes widened slightly, her cheeks still flushed from both the laughter and the sudden closeness. Astron's purple eyes, sharp and piercing, softened just enough to send a shiver through her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the faint hum of the

Kitchen, the distant ticking of the clock, and the quiet rhythm of their breathing.

Irina's hands, still clutching his shirt, trembled slightly as she tried to steady herself- not just physically, but emotionally.

"You're..." she started, her voice barely above a whisper, but the words caught in her

Throat.

Astron tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. "What?" he asked, his tone quieter now, the teasing edge replaced with something gentler.

Irina's breath hitched, her heart racing as she leaned ever so slightly forward, her fiery

Gaze locked onto Astron's lips. The quiet, magnetic pull between them seemed to draw

Her in, and for once, her mind was blissfully silent. No doubts, no questions-just the moment.

But just as she closed the final gap, a sharp voice shattered the fragile stillness.

"Young Miss."

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