It was Wednesday, and training continued.
The sound of splashing steps echoed as Alexa felt a slight disruption in her Fiu when a powerful gust of wind came from the shore. She kept walking, paying no attention to the brunette and the blonde who passed by her sides, running normally. The boy leapt past her, covering three points at once to get closer to the warrior.
Once again, the black-haired girl felt the breeze. She heard how her companions had been thrown back into the ocean by their master, the water splashing beneath her feet. Maintaining deep concentration, she slowly approached the beach.
After a few minutes, Alexa finally reached the first goal. She smiled happily—but when she felt the wind brush through her hair, she remembered the next challenge. It was already too late. Jayden's gust of wind hurled her back into the ocean.
Emily managed to stand on the water again, pausing for a moment to regain her balance. After the waves caused by the black-haired girl's fall, she looked toward the shore, thinking, This is exhausting! I have to think… The master creates those gusts instantly—it's too hard. And my body burns from using Fiu!
At that moment, the brunette's eyes widened in realization. She slapped both cheeks to motivate herself. Enough, Emily. You can't be pessimistic. I promised myself I wouldn't back down anymore… Without thinking further, she charged toward the beach, her gaze filled with determination.
Jayden smiled cruelly. "You're not tired yet? Fine. Then I'll raise the level."
Emily ran, ignoring his words. She jumped onto the shore, digging her fingers into the sand. The adult slightly extended his arm, generating a powerful gust of wind. Emily's legs began to lift, so she concentrated her Fiu into her hands, trying to gain enough strength to avoid being thrown back.
Francesca took advantage of that moment to attempt the objective. Tyron rose from the water and sprinted toward the shore. Jayden smiled when he saw Emily resisting, extending his arm a little more, lifting the young woman's torso off the ground. Emily closed her eyes, feeling her body about to be dragged back into the sea—when she was surprised to find herself smiling faintly in gratitude. Her body no longer followed the wind's force.
Jayden grinned wildly and fully extended his arm, unleashing a gust so strong it created waves over a meter high from the shoreline. Francesca saw the wind was about to send her flying, so she skillfully performed a short dive, avoiding even the growing waves rolling deeper into the ocean.
Tyron realized too late and was blasted several meters away, bouncing across the water like a stone before sinking. Alexa, who had just begun to stand on the water again, immediately broke her concentration and dove beneath the surface.
Watching Emily cling to the sand, Jayden thought, Ha! Clever. She unconsciously concentrated her Fiu into the sand, turning it solid to some extent.
The warrior smiled maliciously, closed his eyes for a moment, and extended his right arm. His muscles tensed as he summoned an even stronger wind. Emily panicked as she was slowly lifted, along with a solidified slab of sand nearly two square meters wide.
With no other option, she released the sand, letting it return to its original state. She was launched several meters into the air as her master turned away, lowered his arm, and lay back beneath his umbrella.
The other students popped their heads out of the water, watching as their friend spun several times in the air before crashing down. Emily landed flat on her back against the water's surface with a loud smack, followed by a cry of pain. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Francesca shut her eyes, lightly biting her lower lip, imagining how painful that must have been. Tyron clenched his jaw and closed one eye, trying not to watch—though with the other, he saw his companion floating on the surface. That must hurt. I did that as a kid jumping off a diving board—this height must be hell.
Nearby, Alexa, visibly worried, called out, "Are you okay?"
"A-ah… y-yes," Emily stammered through the pain.
From the shore, Jayden's voice rang out: "Break!"
The protagonists rested on logs beneath a second yellow umbrella. Emily's entire back was now bright red from the impact. Alexa watched her with a pained expression and, out of curiosity, touched her skin.
"It HURTS!" Emily screamed, tears spilling out.
From behind them, a blonde watched with her arms crossed, turning her gaze to the ocean as she recalled how the brunette had clung to the ground earlier.
Tyron discreetly observed his companions, feeling down. Over the past few days, both Alexa and Emily had worn different bikinis—Emily now in a white two-piece with orange and purple speckles, Alexa in a two-piece with a dark pink top and black bottom.
He then looked at the blonde he had fallen for, lowered his head, and shut his eyes. This has to be a joke. These two weeks at the beach are almost over, and I still haven't told you how I feel—and worse, I haven't seen you in a bikini at all!
He blushed at the thought, frustrated. He tried to justify it by thinking his friends looked beautiful as always—but Francesca was different. Even in sneakers, athletic shorts, and a sports top, she was stunning. Surely she'd be even more beautiful in a bikini.
He remembered the missed chances to confess.
Like the morning she came back from jogging, tired, opening the fridge. He had swallowed hard, determined to face the challenge. He tapped her shoulder. She looked at him calmly. "What is it?"
He got lost staring at her cheeks, her perfect gaze, those eyes he always drowned in. Blushing, he lost his nerve. "N-n-nothing!"
She shrugged and walked away. He smacked his forehead for wasting the chance.
Or the time he woke early and met her in the hallway, messy-haired in striped pajamas. She looked cute like that. She asked, "Why are you awake so early?"
The moment he met her gaze, his legs shook. Lowering his head, he blurted out, "I—I need to pee!"
"Okay," she replied casually and went back to her room.
He dropped to his knees, banging his head on the floor. "Am I stupid or what?!"
From her room, Francesca's voice replied, "Yes, you are. Now stop making noise—it's three in the morning."
While each teen was lost in thought, the warrior watched Tyron from behind his sunglasses. Why do my students fall in love? What a nuisance.
He stared at the ocean, recalling walking through a forest flanked by two companions—one a curly-haired blond with hands behind his head, smiling; the other a taller, broader white-haired boy swatting insects.
Then he noticed two students were missing. The black-haired girl with the helmet-like haircut ran up, blushing but smiling sweetly. The warrior and his two companions turned to see the fourth teen frozen, smiling broadly while touching his cheek.
A brief, sincere smile almost appeared on the warrior's face—but vanished as memories of two students falling lifeless before a teen in a red karategi flashed through his mind.
Standing up, he approached his students. "Alright. Back to training. Into the water."
That afternoon, Carmen poured herself a cup of coffee, wondering where they went every day. Through the glass door, she saw the teens returning. Her niece looked utterly exhausted. Alexa stretched her arms. Emily was being carried on Tyron's back.
Carmen assumed the boy had given up on her niece. No… my poor girl inherited my bad luck in love!
They entered, greeting the woman as they headed for the living room. Tyron gently set Emily down on the couch.
"Thanks, Ty. That was really kind," Emily said.
"It's nothing," he smiled.
Alexa, pleased, walked up. "That was nice, Ty—but don't try to act tough." She gave him a light punch to the stomach, knocking him onto the couch beside Emily, while she sat in an armchair.
Carmen observed them closely, concluding the trio must be romantically involved. She blushed at the boldness—until she noticed her niece wasn't there.
She found Francesca in the kitchen drinking water. Seeing a smaller version of herself, Carmen rushed over and hugged her, burying her face in her chest.
Francesca sighed. Before she could speak, Carmen declared, "I'm sorry, sweetheart—it's my fault. You inherited my bad luck. But don't worry, it's just a matter of patience before we find the right one!"
Francesca pulled away, eyebrow raised. "Aunt, whatever you're imagining—I guarantee you're very wrong."
Carmen pointed at Alexa, Emily, and Tyron. "Don't lie to me, dear—they clearly have something going on!"
"They're always like that," Francesca replied flatly.
"I just don't want you to end up alone!"
"Calm down," Francesca said emotionlessly. "I'm not interested in romance yet. I'm still young—I've got time."
She walked back to the living room.
Carmen froze, repeating in her mind: "I'm still young…" Without realizing it, her beloved niece had unintentionally called her old.
At the same time, Francesca and Alexa stood up and said in unison, "I'll shower first."
They glared at each other, cracking their knuckles. Emily nervously tried to intervene, while Tyron chuckled softly. "Here we go again."
He stood to help—when his phone buzzed.
Antonio: Hey Ty, how's your personal conquest going?
Tyron: Personal?
Antonio: Yeah—you know, your bad taste.
Tyron: Don't call her that.
Antonio: Sorry, but I don't get it. Why the robotic blonde when you spend time with Alexa—friendly, kind, attractive—or Emily—sweet, gentle—or Nya—cool, smart, beautiful?
Tyron: You think Nya's better than Fran? 😲
Antonio: At least she didn't attack me with cookies for correcting a math calculation.
Tyron: She can be a bit temperamental… 😅
Antonio: She left a dent in Alexa's wall.
Tyron: That's because you reopened the wound from when Erinios beat her intellectually… for a while.
Antonio: So how's it going?
Tyron: Honestly? Not well. Every time I try, it goes wrong.
Antonio: Perfect plan: invite her for a sunset walk on the beach. Beautiful scenery. It'll move her—you can tell her how you feel.
Tyron was amazed. He typed an affirmative reply—then his mind flashed back to earlier that day.
Flashback
After Jayden dismissed them, they headed back to Carmen's house. Jayden whistled, calling Tyron over.
"What's up, Master?" Tyron asked.
"How long have you liked the blonde?"
Tyron's face went scarlet. "H-how do you know?!"
"Infatuation is a positive emotion. I can feel your Fiu rising—and it's obvious who you look at."
"So… is that why you called me?"
"No. Because of the problem it causes."
"What problem?"
Jayden tapped Tyron's chest. "Love brings joy—but also fear of rejection or loss. Those assumptions can turn it negative."
"You're worried about me?"
"No. Pain teaches lessons. What I want to prevent is you losing control of your Fiu. Your positive side is rising—but so is your negative. That imbalance can hurt someone."
"I can hurt someone just by being in love?!"
"Yes. Fiu follows emotions. Even with control training, it can spiral. Nature alone is perfectly balanced. Living beings are chaotic."
"You know about romance?"
"No. But I know life. Forcing things leads to failure—or hurting someone. Enjoy the moment. You're happy with her, right?"
"Yes."
"Then make memories. Don't hunt the perfect moment—it'll come. And you still have time to improve your taste."
End Flashback
Tyron deleted his affirmative message and typed instead: I'll think about it.
He stood to see Alexa and Francesca headbutting and insulting each other, Emily caught between them. Tyron and Emily intervened. Emily restrained Alexa; Tyron awkwardly grabbed Francesca by the waist to pull her back.
The contact made her shiver. She turned, cheeks burning, and muttered, "Pervert…"
A loud slap echoed through the house.
Carmen rushed in to find Francesca storming upstairs, red-faced and trembling. Tyron stood stunned, cheek marked. Alexa and Emily stared in shock.
Carmen thought, I don't know how to deal with teenagers… retreat! And promptly fled the house.
"Are you okay, Ty?" Alexa asked.
Emily examined his cheek with bandages. "You'll be fine. Sorry—I should've stopped them."
"It's fine," Tyron smiled weakly. The Master and Antonio are right. I have terrible taste in women.